Cy-Fair ISD is still looking for volunteers to help out with the Bus Buddy program come this August. Bus Buddies is a three-day volunteer program where volunteers ride on school buses with elementary students to help them get off at the right stop.

The program requires one “Bus Buddy” per elementary bus the first three days of school. The approximate time commitment is from 2:45– 4:45 p.m. Aug. 23-25.

Duties include assisting the bus driver with getting the children off the bus at their correct stops.

Requirements include attendance at one of the training sessions, if not previously trained; arrival and sign-in at the assigned school where campus staff will assist you; and enjoying helping the kids and the driver.

Training sessions will be held at the Berry Center, 8877 Barker Cypress Road, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, and 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18.

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The Bridgeland community is hosting a public seminar about the many birds of prey that both migrate through and reside in the area 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at Lakeland Activity Center, 16902 Bridgeland Landing.

The event also will include a guided field trip through the community 7-11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, to view the raptors firsthand.

The class will provide an overview of native and migratory birds of prey. Students will learn when to watch for raptors, where to find them, which binoculars are best for birding and other principles and techniques for identification.

Teaching the class is Glenn Olsen, one of the Houston area’s authorities on birds. Olsen teaches bird identification, gardening and nature-related classes at Rice University’s Glasscock School of Continuing Studies. He is an instructor for the Houston Audubon Society’s birding classes and has served as vice president of education for the organization. He also leads professional birding and nature tours for groups and individuals both locally and to popular nature destinations such as Big Bend, Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands.

More than 140 species of birds have been identified in Bridgeland, which is located along the eastern boundary of the Katy Prairie. Several of the identified birds are raptors, including the great horned owl, red-shouldered hawk and Eastern screech owl, which reside in the community all year, and the bald eagle and peregrine falcon, which can be seen more frequently during winter months. With 3,000 acres of open space, Bridgeland follows a sensitive land plan that preserves and enhances several natural areas within the community, maintaining the abundant plant and animal wildlife indigenous to the area.

Cost for the class is $30 per resident and $40 per non-resident. To register, click here.

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Interested in a great experience with like-minded people for whom learning has never gone out of style?  Join the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) at Lone Star College-CyFair.

For adults ages 50 and older only, A.L.L. offers a variety of leisure classes, lectures and informal activities. An annual membership fee of $20 (September 2010 through August 2011) entitles members to student discounts and the use of the college’s fitness center.

The fall session will include a diverse set of classes in areas such as gardening, travel, history, health care, photography, woodwork, art and many others. A few classes have limited enrollment, so register early.

Fall registration will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 28, in the Conference Center on the LSC-CyFair campus at 9191 Barker Cypress.

For information, go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair-all or call the Continuing Education office at 281.290.3460.


From the Lone Star College-CyFair website

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(Cypress, TX – July 21, 2010)        HomeAid Houston scored with the 2010 Project Playhouse visit to Bridgeland recently, meeting its goal of raffle ticket sales to raise money for the homeless.

“The Vintage Astros Dugout” was on view in Bridgeland July 10, where people could purchase $5 raffle tickets to win the playhouse, built in honor of the Astro’s 45th year as a ball club. The playhouse is the perfect getaway for the young baseball fan, with bench seating from the Astros dugout in Minute Maid Park (complete with cleat marks), a wall-mounted 32-inch HDTV, a Nintendo Wii, a DVD player and an 8,000 BTU air conditioner with remote control.

Event-goers also had a chance to win autographed memorabilia, including signed items by Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Hunter Pence and Brad Mills. Adding to the fun was a free batting clinic and complimentary hot dogs and refreshments.

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Cypress, TX – July 16, 2010)        Celebrating the achievements of the more than 1,000 participants in the second annual Memorial Hermann Bridgeland Triathlon, the community is planning a festive party after the race, scheduled for Aug. 8.

The Finish Line Celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. in Festival Park with concessions geared to replenish weary athletes, as well as the awards ceremony, entertainment and activities for kids. The triathlon, sanctioned by USA Triathlon, has been sold out for months, and is expected to bring plenty of well-wishers into the community, cheering on their favorite athletes. Everyone is invited to attend the Finish Line Celebration, whether racing or supporting an athlete or just looking for an eventful way to spend the morning. The party also celebrates the accomplishments of athletes participating in the Kiwanis Kids Triathlon, happening in Bridgeland Aug. 7.

The triathlon begins at 7 a.m. and includes a point-to-point swim, flat bike course and partial trail run with shade throughout the master-planned community and along the Cypress Creek Nature Trail. Breakfast concessions will be available in the park from 7 to 10 a.m.

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(Cypress, TX – June 29, 2010) Bridgeland hopes to score a touchdown with its latest public class — a football camp for second- through sixth-graders led by Cypress Ranch High School’s head football coach Gene Johnson.

The Skills and Drills Camp will be open to second- and third-grade students July 22 and 23 from 5:45-7:45 p.m. in Oak Meadow Park. Cost is $30 for Bridgeland residents and $50 for non-residents. Registration and payment are due July 20.

Fourth-, fifth- and six-graders can participate in a three-day camp from 5:45-8:15 p.m. July 26 through 28. Cost is $50 for Bridgeland residents and $75 for non-residents. Registration and payment are due no later than July 22.

Minimum participation in each class is 15 players.

During the class, the young players will learn two-point and three-point stances, how to receive a hand-off and how to punt, pass and kick. Participants also will practice footwork and more in various agility drills.

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Langham Creek YMCA is putting a spin on reality TV with “The Show,” a series of camps for kids ages 12-14 that pays tribute to today’s real-life pop culture.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Myth Buster, July 5-9
• YMCA’s Got Talent, July 12-16
• TRL, July 19-23
• The Amazing Race, July 26-30
• Survivor, Langham Creek, Aug. 2-6
• Heroes, Aug. 9-13
• Made, Aug. 16-20

The Monday-through-Friday sessions are 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and cost $160 a week for facility members and $200 per week for program members. Activities include two weekly field trips/events, service projects, archery, swimming, skating, team challenges and more.

The YMCA also has summer camps for younger children.

Langham Creek YMCA, just 5.6 miles from Bridgeland, recently underwent an 11,000-square-foot expansion that included a group exercise studio, an expanded spinning studio, a 5,500-square-foot child watch area, lobby improvements and new cardiovascular equipment. For more information, visit www.ymcahouston.org/langham-creek. 

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Preliminary 2010 TAKS results indicate that Cypress-Fairbanks ISD will retain its status as the largest Recognized district in Texas for the third consecutive year.

Based on TAKS performance, 74 of CFISD’s 76 campuses (97 percent) are
Recognized or Exemplary using the standard accountability system—an increase from 85 percent in 2009.

The district achieved Exemplary status in 23 of the TEA’s 25 TAKS indicators, while the other two indicators are at the Recognized level. This is an increase from 18 of 25 indicators in 2009.

The district’s TAKS results are even more impressive considering that CFISD’s 2010 testing population includes 2,850 more students taking TAKS or TAKS-A over 2009.

“We are tremendously pleased with our students’ TAKS gains across the
board—namely increasing the number of indicators reaching the Exemplary level. Ninety-two percent of the 25 areas measured were at or above the Exemplary threshold,” said Roy Garcia, associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction and school administration. “We credit our students for their dedication to personal academic achievement, as well as our teachers and administrators who were committed to making these advancements.”

The official 2010 Accountability Ratings will be released on July 30, 2010.

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Young local thespians will present "Abracadabra Aladdin!" June 23-26 at the Houston Family Arts Center, 10760 Grant Road.

This adaption of the popular fairy tale is full of adventurous fun and engaging music, three genies, the whimpering "Ali Bubba," the haughty sultan's wife, and — of course — Aladdin and Jasmine.

Performances are at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased online at www.houstonfac.com or by calling the box office at 281/685-6374.

"Abracadabra Aladdin!" is part of the arts center's summer performance camps for children, where campers learn to create their own sets, props and costumes, and rehearse and perform a show in front of a live audience. Upcoming performances include "Kung Fu Kitty," July 21-24, and "Hansel and Gretel," Aug. 11-14.

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Cirque du Soleil Alegria — a baroque ode to the energy, grace and power of youth — comes to Cypress in eight performances at the Berry Center June 16-20.

The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth and more. Characters such as minstrels, court jesters, beggars, old aristocrats and children take the audience on a fanciful journey through time.

Performance dates are 7:30 p.m. June 16 and 17, 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. June 18 and 19, and 1 and 5 p.m. June 20. Ticket prices range from $32 to $95.

The Berry Center is located at 8877 Barker-Cypress Road. For tickets to Cirque du Soleil or information on upcoming events, visit http://www.berrycenter.net/.

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