UPCOMING EVENTS

Feb. 16 City Council Special Meeting, 7 p.m.

Feb. 17 Stafford MSD Education Foundation “Mardi Gras” Themed Gala, 7 p.m. Stafford Centre

Feb. 17 Boys/Girls Soccer vs. Needville, 7 p.m.

Feb. 18 Stafford MSD Band Boosters Father/Daughter Dance, 7 p.m. Intermediate School Gym

Feb. 21 Stafford Baseball Season Opener vs. Fort Bend Marshall, 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 Stafford Boys Basketball Playoff Game vs. Bay City or El Campo at Needville HS, TBA

Feb. 23-25 Stafford Softball Tournament

Feb. 24 Black History Month Program, Stafford Elementary School, 8:30 a.m.

Feb. 24 Black History Month Program, Stafford Intermediate School, 10 a.m.

Feb. 24 Boys/Girls Soccer vs. Bellville, 5 p.m.

Feb. 27 Black History Month Program, Stafford Primary School, 8:30 a.m.

Feb. 27 Read Across America, Stafford Primary School, all day

Feb. 28 Mobile Cow, Stafford Elementary School, 9-11 a.m.

March 2 Rock & Read, Stafford Primary School, 5:30 p.m.

March 3 SMSD “Home of Champions” Event, 4-6 p.m.

March 9 Intermediate School Career Fair, 9 a.m.

March 10 Super Senior 55+ Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.

March 11-17 Spring Break

SMSD FACEBOOK COMMENT OF THE WEEK:

Phyllis Peterson Arnold:

“Thank you for protecting our greatest assets. Stafford MSD the BEST!!!!!!”

SMSD EDUCATION FOUNDATION GALA TOMORROW NIGHT

The Stafford MSD Education Foundation, a 501© 3 non-profit, has awarded 150 teaching grants totaling more than $120,492 impacting over 3,400 classrooms and 200 classroom teachers. Its net-financial impact in grants and scholarships is $267,918. The Education Foundation will be hosting a Mardi Gras-themed Gala on Friday, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. the Stafford Centre. To find out how you can help the Stafford MSD Education, e-mail Foundation President John Ferro at foundation@staffordmsd.org or call 281-208-6134.

DR. BOSTIC, CO-CHAIR OF

MICROSOFT K-12 ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Stafford MSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic is a Technology-oriented leader. He is well-respected for his

expertise in the field of Technology Education so much that Microsoft Corporation (yes, that Microsoft) asked

him to serve on its K-12 Advisory Committee as a co-chair of the Committee, which is comprised of

educational leaders from all over the United States.

He is currently the only Superintendent serving on the Committee, which addresses school challenges, develop product solutions, and advocate for priorities to Microsoft leadership.

Last week, Dr. Bostic met with the Committee at the Microsoft Corporate Headquarters in Redmond, Wash. –

near Seattle.

We are fortunate to have a Superintendent who always has his pulse on the forefront of Educational

Technology.

SMSD TEACHER SPOTLIGHT:

STAFFORD HIGH’S CAMILLE MERCK

Stafford MSD is committed to preparing students for College & Career, without remediation. Stafford High Teacher Camille Merck – the SHS Teacher of the Month for January -- is 100 percent committed to that goal....

SPARTANS SPORTS CENTRAL TELEVISION SHOW

Stafford High senior Rodas Brhanemeskel was featured in the “Player Profile” as part of the 2017 debut

of “Spartans Sports Central”, which aired several episodes in 2016.

Brhanemeskel is an exceptional student who led the SHS Girls Basketball Team to its second playoff

appearance in three seasons.

The program also featured interviews with SHS Boys Basketball Coach Torrence Botts and his team’s

District Championship, Softball Coach Christian Arrambide on the Softball Field Renovations set to begin

on March 1, and soccer coaches Angel Maldonado (Girls) and Ruben Perez (Boys) on their respective

teams’ beginning District competition last week.

To view the follow episode, click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X3evp-Z3nY

BAND BOOSTER CLUB FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE

The Stafford MSD Band Booster Club Father/Daughter Dance will be held at the Intermediate School Gym from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18. All proceeds will go toward senior scholarships. It is open for PK-5th grade students. We are selling corsages and boutonnieres as

well as photographs that we will take that night. The tickets, corsages, boutonnieres, and photographs are $5 pre-sale and $7 at the door (corsages/boutonnieres are limited supply at the door and are first come/first serve. Contact Sherri Hobbs for more information at shobbs@staffordmsd.org

STAFFORD MSD LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

Stafford MSD is working hard to ensure that the District's needs are addressed at the State Capitol in Austin.

State Rep. Ron Reynolds is sponsoring a bill for municipal school districts to receive adequate

transportation funding for students that ride buses in a reduced radius of miles to the school

campuses. It is listed as House Bill (HB) 601.

SMSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Bostic met with District 27 (our District) Representative Reynolds (pictured

above) recently, as well as the offices of State Senators Campbell and Taylor. He met with Lt. Governor Dan

Patrick's Office and shared SMSD's Legislative Agenda.

Dr. Bostic had an opportunity to discuss "A-F Legislation" and how it impacted SMSD. He propo

Here is a link to the information below and how you can directly contact your state officials (from the Stafford area and members of the House of Representatives Public Education Committee).http://www.staffordmsd.org/cms/One.aspx?portalId=895956&pageId=16856942

SMSD HOME OF CHAMPIONS EVENT ON FRIDAY, MARCH 3

The Stafford MSD Home of Champions Event will honor Academics, Band, Athletics and more. There

were will be food at very reasonable prices (courtesy of the Stafford HS Athletic Booster Club),

Entertainment, Giveaways and More!

The event takes place from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, March 3 at the Stafford High Competition Gym.

This is a great opportunity to celebrate Stafford MSD, and to let all of your friends, neighbors and family

members know about all of the great things we’re doing in the District.

Stafford MSD – as many of you know – is the Home of Champions because of our performance in the

classroom (16 Texas Education Agency Distinctions), and on the fields of Athletics (Track, Football, etc.) and

Music (Band).

SHS BOYS BASKETBALL SET FOR POSTSEASON

The Stafford High Boys Basketball Team won its Third District Championship in seven years with a perfect 10-0 District Record. The Spartans have now won 12 of their last 14 games.

Stafford awaits the winner of tomorrow night’s El Campo-Bay City game. They’ll face the EC-BC winner on Tuesday night in Needville in the first round of the UIL Class 4A Playoffs.

The Spartans will look to reach the State Semifinals for the seventh time in program history.

STAFFORD MSD ADDS ASSISTANT CHEF

Chef Courtney Ralls has done an exceptional job with the Stafford Culinary Arts Program.

The Program has grown exponentially, and we’re happy to announce the hiring of a new staff member,

Assistant Chef/Teacher’s Assistant Deidre Goodhue.

The Culinary Arts program currently caters for various events (on/off campus), and serves lunch to SMSD

Employees once per week. They also prepare breakfast for the Super Senior 55+ Breakfast once per month.

STAFFORD STUDENT ENTREPRENEUR FEATURED IN

LOCAL NEWSPAPER, BUSINESS JOURNAL

Stafford MSD is so proud of Stafford High senior Madison Gage, an Entrepreneur who started her own

business while she's been in high school.

Gage was recently featured in the Fort Bend-Katy Business Journal and the Fort Bend Star newspaper.

To read the story, click the link below:

http://www.fortbendstar.com/stafford-high-candy-maker-overcomes-disability-to-become-successful-

business-owner/

BENEFIT FOR FORMER SMSD EMPLOYEE ON SATURDAY

The Munoz Family is hosting a benefit for Tina (Martinez) Munoz, a proud Stafford High graduate and former Stafford MSD employee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday (Feb. 18) at Legends Bar & Grill, 12914 Murphy Rd. in Stafford. Her husband, Robert Munoz, is a current SMSD employee. There will be BBQ Plates ($8 apiece), Baked Goods and Raffle Baskets. All proceeds will go to Mrs. Munoz's eye surgery.

STAFFORD SOCCER TEAMS TO HOST NEEDVILLE FRIDAY

The Stafford High Girls Soccer Team enters tomorrow’s game against Needville with a 2-0 District Record.

The SHS Boys (1-1) also host Needville tomorrow night.

SMSD FACEBOOK LINK – GOAL: 2,400 FOLLOWERS

Stafford MSD’s Facebook page has been a great communications tool for our community. We’ve been

able to post pictures of events, communicate key information and answer and/or direct questions to

parents and community members.

It is a great way to keep up with daily updates at SMSD.

We currently have 2,299 followers, as we’ve been growing rapidly, since we only started it about eight

months ago. OUR GOAL IS 2,400 FOLLOWERS BY SPRING BREAK 2017. WE KNOW IT’S A LOFTY GOAL,

BUT WE KNOW OUR SMSD KEY COMMUNICATORS CAN HELP US GET THERE.

The link for our Facebook page is: www.facebook.com/SMSD82

The ‘82’ is a nod to the year classes started in our district.

Be sure to share the link with friends, family and neighbors!