THE LEADER May 25, 2017
La Porte Independent School District Every Student’s Success Is Our #1 Priority
La Porte High School seniors prepare for May 26 commencement The graduation ceremony will also be video streamed on the district’s website, www.lpisd.org. The broadcast will begin at 6:45 p.m. Those who would like to watch the ceremony online should look for the LP Broadcasting logo.
The top 10 academically ranked students in the Class of 2017 at La Porte High School prepare for this year’s commencement ceremony, which will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Bulldog Stadium. Graduates and their class ranks include, seated from left, Kirsten Spacek, tenth; Izza Chatta, valedictorian; Kallie Juel, salutatorian; and Micaela Torres, seventh. In back are principal Todd Schoppe; Jadyn Reis, sixth; Rebecca Salinas, third; Chase Sellers, fourth; Casey Boriskie, fifth; Isis Hernandez, eighth; and Emma Bradstreet, ninth.
Members of the La Porte High School Class of 2017 will celebrate their accomplishments at the commencement ceremony planned for 7 p.m. Friday, May 26, at Bulldog Stadium. Those who plan to attend the ceremony are reminded that the start time for this year’s ceremony is 7 p.m., an hour earlier than in previous years. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
Due to limited parking at the LPHS campus because of construction, shuttle buses will be provided beginning at 5:15 p.m. until the start of the ceremony. Attendees may ride the shuttle buses from La Porte Elementary School, 725 S. Broadway; La Porte Junior High, 401 S. Broadway; First Baptist Church, 310 S. Broadway, the La Porte ISD Special Programs Center (former Neighborhood Center), 526 San Jacinto St.; Evelyn Kennedy Center, 618 San Jacinto St.; Sylvan Beach parking lot (by the skateboard facility); and the former Kroger parking lot next to Walgreens (Auto Zone). Shuttle buses will pick up at these locations and drop off at the north stadium parking lot across from the LPHS baseball field. Following the ceremony, shuttle buses will pick up guests at the north stadium parking lot and drop them off at the parking locations. In the event of bad weather on May 26, a decision will be made by 3 p.m. to postpone the ceremony until 8 p.m., relocate the LPHS ceremony to the main gym for a 7 p.m. ceremony, or postpone the graduation until Saturday, May 27, at 9 a.m. at Bulldog Stadium. Students and their families will be notified through phone calls, and information will be posted on the La Porte ISD website at www.lpisd.org A push notification would also be sent through the new LPISD mobile app, available for iPhone and Android devices, available at the Apple and Google Play stores.
Twenty-eight LPHS graduates earn associate degrees through ACE program Twenty-eight La Porte High School graduating seniors will have also earned their associate degrees from San Jacinto College as they walk across the stage to receive their high school diplomas on May 26. The group is the first from LPHS to complete the ACE (Accelerated College Education) program, having started taking college classes in the summer of 2015, just after their sophomore year of high school. Through the program, students who met expectations received both high school and college credit for the courses they took at San Jacinto College Central. They spent mornings taking courses at the college during their junior and senior years and then returned to the LPHS campus in the afternoon. An additional advantage for the ACE students’ families is that La Porte ISD pays for their tuition and books, thereby helping to offset the cost of their college education. LPISD also covers these costs for students who take dual enrollment courses at the LPISD/San Jacinto College Center located on Broadway. “Words can’t express the pride we feel toward our first group of La Porte High School ACE graduates,” said Dr. Kade Griffin, associate principal at LPHS. “The students in this program have worked tirelessly for the past two years, and overcome obstacle after obstacle toward their goal. This graduating class has completed a total of 1,746 credit hours toward each of them completing an associate’s degree from San Jacinto College. “The program is truly a blessing in these students’ lives, and has amounted to a two-year scholarship for all participants,” he continued. “Each one of the students will now be able to enter the four-year university of his or her choice as a junior.”
“We are extremely proud of our students who have earned their associate degrees at the same time they have earned their high school diplomas,” said Danette Tilley, executive director of secondary education. “What is especially impressive is that many of these students are among the top 100 academically ranked seniors, serve in leadership positions on campus and are actively involved in extracurricular activities. They have made many sacrifices balancing their traditional high school activities while carrying a full academic load, and we commend them on this significant accomplishment. They have truly set high standards for themselves and are an inspiration to those students who will follow them.” The ACE graduates include Gentry Blagg, Johana Campos, Alex Cantu, Payton Cavazos, Laura Ceron, Nathan Evans, Amy Frias, Celeste Garza, Donovan Goins, Lauren Gutierrez, Isis Hernandez, Marisol Hinojosa, Kallie Juel, Jordan Land, Karina Martinez, Angel Mascarenas, Shazeena Mohammed, Lizzett Mora, Abigail Ochoa, Kendra Ralston, Jadyn Reis, Olivia Robles, Savannah Rose, Lauren Sampson, Chase Sellers, Madison Smith, Kirsten Spacek and Bryan Yanez. They will be recognized for their achievement during the La Porte High School graduation ceremony set for 7 p.m. May 26 at Bulldog Stadium.
La Porte ISD schools participate in LyondellBasell groundbreaking
Newly elected trustees take oath of office during May 16 board meeting
Newly elected members of the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees take the oath of office at the May 16 Board meeting. From left are Dennis Slate, who was elected to the Position 3 seat; Kathy Green, who was re-elected to Position 2; and Lois Rogerson, who was re-elected to Position 1. Administering the oath is Ruth Lynd, LPISD administrative assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Trustees.
La Porte ISD Superintendent of Schools Lloyd W. Graham, left, introduces U.S. Congressman Brian Babin to La Porte High School Band members following their performance on the steps of the San Jacinto Monument. At right is LPHS band director Mark Nichols. The band performed as guests arrived for the LyondellBasell groundbreaking celebration for the world’s first commercial Hyperzone Polyethylene Plant on May 15 at the San Jacinto Museum of History. The LPHS JROTC color guard also presented the colors, and the Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary Choir performed the national anthem.
La Porte ISD participates in City of La Porte’s 125th Anniversary celebration
Members of the Lomax Elementary School Choir, under the direction of Cecilia Diaz, left, perform the national anthem at the Kids’ Rodeo of the City of La Porte’s 125th Anniversary Celebration.
Members of the La Porte ISD Board of Trustees ride in the City of La Porte’s 125th Anniversary parade on May 13. In the foreground are David Janda and Dee Anne Thomson, and in the background are Charlcya Wheeler and Dennis Slate.
La Porte High School seniors honored for community service commitment
La Porte High School track standout Ryan Schoppe, left, cuts the ribbon for the start of the City of La Porte’s 125th Anniversary 5K Run on May 13 with the help of City of La Porte Mayor Louis Rigby. Just two days earlier, Schoppe, a freshman, placed sixth at the state track meet in the 3200-meter run in Austin.
KTRK’s David Tillman visits with students at Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary
La Porte High School students who earned over 300 hours of community service hours while at LPHS include, front row from left, Briana Hale, Anthony Green, Marlyn Beltran and Alicia Hale; middle row, Minerva Hernandez and Natalie Chavez; and back row, Bryanna Guerra, Laura Benavidez, Taylor Rabel, Mikayla Platt-Wheeler and Rebecca Salinas.
Twenty La Porte High School seniors combined academics with community service, earning 300 or more volunteer hours during their four years at LPHS. Minerva Hernandez led the group with 757.5 volunteer hours while at LPHS. Other outstanding volunteers include Tori Guerrero, 561.5 hours; Mikayla PlattWheeler, 511.1 hours; Alicia Hale, 413 hours; Izza Chatta, 391.5 hours; Briana Hale, 373.5 hours; Bryanna Guerra, 372.5 hours; Kallie Juel, 372.5 hours; Taylor Rabel, 372 hours; Marlyn Beltran, 371 hours; Charity Little, 361.5 hours; Rebecca Salinas, 357.5 hours; Laura Benavidez, 354.5 hours; Cristina Puente, 343 hours; Jacqueline Cantu, 341.75 hours; Johana Campos, 340.5 hours; Natalie Chavez, 338.5 hours; Heleina Chaplin, 319 hours; Kelli Parasiliti, 311.25 hours; and Kimberly Garcia, 305.5 hours.
La Porte High School soccer team receives ethics, academic honors
David Tillman, right, meteorologist with KTRK Channel 13, guides third grader Jared Calvillo as he creates a weather graph during Tillman’s visit to Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary School on May 17. Tillman conducted an interactive weather workshop with students at the school, demonstrating how predictions of weather are made.
James H. Baker Sixth Grade campus honors fallen veterans at program
Representatives of the La Porte High School soccer team show the recent awards they received for ethics and academics. From left are Sergio Calvillo, Jonnathan Olivarez, head coach Bryan Hayman, Miguel Lopez, Chris Cook and Foster Hilborn. The team earned the prestigious Team Ethics Award of Merit from the National Soccer Coaches Association, while the five seniors earned Academic All-State honors from the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches.
Members of the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus Choir sing the Star Spangled Banner to open the annual Memorial Day Program on May 23. Melanie Stapleton is the director.
La Porte Independent School District 1002 San Jacinto Street La Porte, Texas 77571 www.lpisd.org 281-604-7000 The Leader is a publication of the La Porte ISD Communications Department. The newsletter is published bi-weekly for the La Porte ISD community. Inquiries should be directed to Terri Cook, Director of Communications, at cookt@lpisd. org or Kimberly Culver, Communications Coordinator, at culverk@lpisd.org.
To the well-behaved go the rewards. And in the case of La Porte High School’s varsity soccer team, it’s a rare award, indeed. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America has bestowed its prestigious Team Ethics Award of Merit upon the Bulldogs for the 2017 season. The Silver Award, as it is known, is given to teams that go an entire season without a player being ejected and have an exemplary behavioral record. La Porte players received only three yellow card cautions in 21 games during the recent season. To date, only 18 soccer programs in the country have been awarded the Silver Award, according to Head Coach Bryan Hayman. This is also the first time in Hayman’s 16-year head coaching career that one of his teams has earned the honor, he said. In addition, the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) and the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) honored several soccer team seniors for academic excellence. Sergio Calvillo, Chris Cook, Foster Hilborn, Miguel Lopez and Jonnathan Olivarez were named TASCO Academic All-State. Cook, Hilborn and Lopez also were named THSCA Academic All-State Second Team, and Olivarez earned THSCA Academic All-State Honorable Mention.
La Porte Elementary School holds enrichment showcase May 18
Presley Nolin, right, fourth grader at La Porte Elementary School, chats with Erin Van Selous, Second grader Allison Pedroza explains her project on the breed of boxers to La Porte also a fourth grader, about her project during the Enrichment Showcase at the campus on Elementary fourth grade teacher Carol Jetter during the May 18 Enrichment Showcase at the May 18. Presley created a video presentation as she made steamed pork dumplings with school. ginger soy sauce.
Students compete in Robotics Expo and Battle Bots competition May 17 Students from seven La Porte ISD elementary and junior high schools competed in the district’s annual Robotics Expo and Battle Bots competition at the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus on May 17. Approximately 80 students and 22 teams participated in the event. “We are excited to have the program double in size from last year and can’t wait for the 2017-18 robotics season,” said Shannon Fanning, Leo A. Rizzuto Elementary School teacher who organizes the competition. “Special thanks to the La Porte Education Foundation that sponsored the original kits for the program in 2016 and the iPad tablets in 2017.” After many rounds of “battling” in which the teams faced off to see which robot could move the other robot out of the marked “arena” first, Lomax Junior High School emerged as the winner. Heritage Elementary School, which won first place last year, took second. Family members and representatives from LPISD and participating schools watched as the students enthusiastically showed off their robot designs for the competition. “The La Porte ISD robotics program is so wonderful in the way that it shows students the amazing side of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics),” said Jimmie Pierce, CPA, whose son, Sam, is on the La Porte Junior High School robotics team. “It gives students a chance to see what they themselves can truly build and accomplish in a fun way. We live in a society where these subjects need so much more attention and representation. This program bridges that gap.”
Heritage Elementary School students, from left, Ethan Garza, Sarah Cody and Yasmine Mohammed fine-tune their robot prior to the La Porte ISD Robotics Expo and Battle Bots competition held on May 17 at the James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus. Ethan and Sarah are fourth graders, and Yasmine is a fifth grader at Heritage.
Eight La Porte High School softball players earn All-District honors Eight members of the 2016-17 Lady Bulldogs Varsity Softball team have been named as 22-6A All-District. Five members, meanwhile, made the 2017 Academic All-District Team. Though the initial outlook for the 2017 team – even among the players – was that they would compete and try to lay a foundation for the future of the program, their competitiveness landed them in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. “The 2017 softball season was both extremely challenging and extremely rewarding,” Head Softball Coach Bryant Upshaw said. “We lost quite a few close games this year, by one or two runs, but the team remained focused and continued to demonstrate the competitive spirit that a coach hopes to see.” The All-District Team honors individual efforts both on the field and in the classroom. Players are nominated by their coaches, then voted on by a panel of coaches from across the district. 2016-17 Softball Honors Triniti Kendzior (Senior)- 1st Team All- District 1st Base, Academic All-District Brianna Pena (Senior)- 1st Team All-District Utility Player Emilee Anderson (Junior)- 1st Team All-District At-Large Pick, Academic AllDistrict Among the La Porte High School softball players who received All-District honors are, from left, Emma Staes, Layla Soto, Emilee Anderson, Kirstyn Gomez, Kaleigh Alberts and Brianna Payton Cavazos (Senior)- 2nd Team All-District Utility, Academic All-District Kirstyn Gomez (Junior)- 2nd Team All- District Pitcher Pena. Not pictured are Triniti Kendzior, Payton Cavazos and Allie Harris. Layla Soto (Sophomore) -2nd Team All- District Catcher Allie Harris (Senior) – Honorable Mention All-District, Academic All-District Kaleigh Alberts (Junior) Honorable Mention All-District Emma Staes (Sophomore) – Academic All-District
LPHS seniors visit former elementary schools in their graduation regalia
La Porte High School seniors Haylee Hiser, left, and Marissa Adams look at old College Park Elementary photo albums with College Park teachers Laura Teepe and Angela Weldon. LPHS seniors visited their former elementary schools on May 23, walking down the halls in their caps and gowns as current elementary school students cheered them on.
La Porte High School baseball team advances to regional quarterfinals
Congratulations to the La Porte High School baseball team on a stellar season! The team advanced to the regional quarterfinals May 18 and 19 after defeating state-ranked George Ranch High School in the area playoffs the week before. North Shore won the first two games of the series to advance to the regional semifinals. We are proud of our Bulldogs!
LPISD District Calendar 6/25/17 - Thursday Last Day of School for 2016-17 - Early Release: Grades 9-12 - 11:20 AM Grades PK-5 - 12 PM Grades 6-8 - 12:30 PM Child Find Meeting - 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM - La Porte ISD Special Programs Center 526 San Jacinto St. Viola DeWalt High School Commencement - 7 PM - LPHS Sonja Angelo Theater
Jennie Reid Elementary presents its Roadrunners of the Month for April
5/26/17 - Friday La Porte High School Commencement - 7 PM - Bulldog Stadium 5/29/17 - Monday Memorial Day - All campuses and district offices are closed in observance LPHS - Lady Bulldog Softball Camp - 7 PM - 9 PM 5/30/17 - Tuesday LPHS - Freshman Soccer Camp - 3 PM - 5 PM LPHS - Lady Bulldog Softball Camp - 7 PM - 9 PM 5/31/17 - Wednesday LPHS - Lady Bulldog Softball Camp - 7 PM - 9 PM 6/1/17 - Thursday LPHS - Lady Bulldog Softball Camp - 7 PM - 9 PM LPHS - Freshman Soccer Camp - 3 PM - 5 PM La Porte ISD Service Awards - 5 PM - 7:30 PM - Heritage Elementary 6/2/17 - Friday LPHS - Freshman Soccer Camp - 3 PM - 5 PM LPHS - Lady Bulldog Softball Camp - 7 PM - 9 PM 6/5/17 - Monday LPHS - Summer School Session I - 9:00 AM - 1:40 PM - La Porte College Center ELL Summer School - 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Bayshore Elementary 5th Grade SSI Summer School - 8:00 AM - 1:15 PM - Bayshore Elementary LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 4-8 year olds - 9:30 AM -12 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 9-14 year olds - 1:30 PM - 4 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Tennis Camp - Beginner to Intermediate - 8 AM - 9:15 AM LPHS - Tennis Camp - Intermediate to Advanced - 9:30 AM - 12 PM LPHS - Bulldog Soccer Camp - 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Jennie Reid Elementary announces its students of the month for April. They include kindergarten students Chance Lamell, Kaylynn Lopez and Bentley Canizales; first graders Connor Kline, Brooklyn Malone and Hannah Stafford; second graders Leah Lyon, Candice Cortez and Andrea Silva; third graders Audrey Cox, Jewel Bass and Shelby Sorrell; fourth graders Aidan Fullbright, Aidan Casey and Emily Marroquin; and fifth graders Florentino Mendiola, Emily Robinson and Destiny Pete. Assistant principal Lisa Basile is pictured with the honored students.
Lomax Elementary honors its Lions of the Month for April
6/6/17 - Tuesday LPHS - Summer School Session I - 9:00 AM - 1:40 PM - La Porte College Center ELL Summer School - 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Bayshore Elementary 5th Grade SSI Summer School - 8:00 AM - 1:15 PM - Bayshore Elementary LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 4-8 year olds - 9:30 AM -12 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 9-14 year olds - 1:30 PM - 4 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Tennis Camp - Beginner to Intermediate - 8 AM - 9:15 AM LPHS - Tennis Camp - Intermediate to Advanced - 9:30 AM - 12 PM LPHS - Bulldog Soccer Camp - 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM 6/7/17 - Wednesday LPHS - Summer School Session I - 9:00 AM - 1:40 PM - La Porte College Center ELL Summer School - 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM - Bayshore Elementary 5th Grade SSI Summer School - 8:00 AM - 1:15 PM - Bayshore Elementary LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 4-8 year olds - 9:30 AM -12 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Bulldog Youth Baseball Camp - 9-14 year olds - 1:30 PM - 4 PM - Bulldog Baseball Field LPHS - Tennis Camp - Beginner to Intermediate - 8 AM - 9:15 AM LPHS - Tennis Camp - Intermediate to Advanced - 9:30 AM - 12 PM LPHS - Bulldog Soccer Camp - 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM This is the calendar information that is available at press time. Please refer to the La Porte ISD district calendar at www.lpisd.org for changes and additional information.
Baker students win gift cards in annual LEPC Wally Wise poster contest
Lomax Elementary announces its students of the month for April. They include kindergarten students Aubri Choates, Jacey Pargac and Ava Valde; first graders Maecyn Chauvette, Temprince Yoakum, Mia Schriever and Damian Palacios; second graders Taylor Banki, Macey Jewkes, Kingston Whorton, Caden Miller and, Kira Palermo; third graders Cheyenne Page, Gabby Miller, Abigail Williams, Jayleen Aviles and Reid Hill; fourth graders Cason Smith, Dominque Garcia, Allyson Bozant, Realynn McClain and Evan Montanez; and fifth graders Kera Arrington, Lauran Nguyen and Joseph Saladana. Assistant principal Tami King and principal Patricia Herrera-Johnson are pictured with the honored students.
La Porte High School senior signs to play softball with Trinity University
The La Porte Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) held its annual Wally Wise Poster contest judging at James H. Baker Sixth Grade Campus on May 15. In front from left is the second place winner of a $100 gift card, Hayden Paul; the first place winner of a $150 gift card, Kaylee Mericle; and the third place winner of a $50 gift card, Barri’yan Parker, third place winner of a $50 gift card. In back are Clayton Hackett, LEPC President, Jessica Rose, assistant principal, Miindy Evans; principal; Shelly Simon and Jeff Suggs, LEPC members. The winning posters are on displayed at La Porte City Hall. The La Porte Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex or disability in providing education services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Title IX Coordinator is Angela Garza-Viator, Executive Director of Human Resources, 1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Telephone (281) 604-7113. The Section 504 Coordinator is Cynthia Anderson, Executive Director of Special Programs, 1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Telephone (281) 604-7034. El Distrito Independiente Escolar de La Porte no discrimina sobre la base de edad, raza, religión, color, origen nacional, sexo u discapacidad para proveer servicios educacionales, actividades y programas, incluyendo programas vocacionales, de acuerdo con el Título VI del Acta de Derechos Civiles de 1964, como fue enmendada; Título IX de las Enmiendas Educacionales de 1972; Sección 504 del Acta de Rehabilitación de 1973, como fue enmendada; y el Título II del Acta de Americanos con Discapacidades. La Coordinadora del Título IX es Angela GarzaViator, Directora Ejecutiva de Recursos Humanos,1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Teléfono (281) 604-7113. La Coordinadora de la Sección 504 es la Cynthia Anderson, Directora Ejecutiva de Programas Especiales, 1002 San Jacinto, La Porte, Texas 77571, Teléfono (281) 604-7034.
La Porte High School senior Brianna Pena signs a letter of commitment to play softball at Trinity University in San Antonio this fall. Congratulating her on this achievement are her parents, from left, Gonzalo and Maria Pena, and her coach, Bryant Upshaw.