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Posted on Jul 6, 2010 | Tagged in: Lakes of Savannah , education , Alvin ISD
According to the preliminary TAKS test results released earlier this month, Alvin ISD students performed well on their tests, which were given earlier this year. Although results are still unofficial, overall test scores indicate that Alvin ISD may be closer than ever to receiving the coveted Exemplary rating!
The final results will be determined by factors including individual campus scores and their completion rate. If ASID predictions are accurate, the school district will have more Exemplary rated campuses than ever before in a given school year.
“Alvin ISD is extremely pleased with the efforts and hard work of our students, teachers, support staff, board and community members,” said Brent Shaw, Director of Accountability and Testing for Alvin ISD.
“This is great news and is what we expected because it has been our goal to reach Exemplary status again,” said Tommy King, Interim Superintendent. “The students and teachers are working in the classrooms, the Board and support staff working in the background, and parents working with students at home are what make this happen. I am so proud of everyone,” he said.
Way to go Alvin ISD students! An especially big THANKS goes out to all the hard-working teachers and staff who are excelling at educating Lakes of Savannah children.
Posted on Jun 25, 2010 | Tagged in: West Ranch , honors , education
The Friendswood Independent School District is again earning attention for its outstanding schools with the most recent focus on Friendswood High School, just ranked among Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s Best High Schools 2010.
Newsweek selects the best high schools in the country each year, based on the hard work of school staffs and their challenge to students with advanced placement college level course and tests. This year, just over 1,600 schools – only 6 percent of all public schools in the United States made the list.
Friendswood High School was developing its AP program less than 10 years ago, and today, according to the magazine, the percentage of students enrolled in the AP courses compared to the number of seniors, earned the school its coveted ranking.
The Friendswood Independent School District reports that what Newsweek did not measure that is equally important, is how well students perform on the exams.
An impressive 77.4 percent of the total of Friendswood High School AP test takers (831) earned a 3 or better on the AP exams, thus qualifying to place out of college level classes.
Posted on Mar 4, 2010 | Tagged in: education
Friendswood Development Company recently hosted and sponsored a Mandatory Continuing Education (MCE) class for Houston area Realtors at the Lodge in Heritage at Towne Lake – an active adult community designed for residents age 55 or Better.
More than 140 agents attended “The Investment Cycle, Buy, Manage and Sell,” taught by Dave Roedel, who is also the author of the course. Friendswood Development Company provided lunch and a gourmet coffee bar by Java Gypsy. The class fulfilled a part of the mandatory education credit hours required by Realtors each year.
A few lucky Realtors went home with door prizes, courtesy of Friendswood Development Company, a few of its builders and Caldwell Companies, developer of the Towne Lake master-planned community.
In addition to receiving required MCE credit, Realtors in attendance were given news and updates on Towne Lake and Heritage at Towne Lake as well as inventory and updates on Friendswood Development Company communities throughout the greater Houston area.
This was the first of a series of free MCE classes sponsored by Friendswood Development Company in Heritage at Towne Lake that are scheduled for this year. Classes planned will include Ethics, Legal Updates, and for the first time, The Active Adult Buyer. The free MCE classes sponsored by Friendswood Development Company will be held in the Lodge at Heritage at Towne Lake on April 16, June 18 and September 17.
Posted on Jan 15, 2010 | Tagged in: education
Forbes and the Center for College Affordability and Productivity (CCAP) recently published their second-annual ranking of America's Best Colleges. Six hundred undergraduate institutions were ranked based on factors that directly concern incoming students and their families - the quality of education the school provides, the experience of the students and student achievement during and after graduation.
Given that only 600 colleges were ranked it is important to note these are the top 15% in the nation of over 4,000 colleges in the U.S. and it is no surprise that Houston area colleges made the list. As parents are looking for the best education for their students the Houston area is an excellent place to call home for economic stability, but it also offers a place of great education for area and incoming residents.
Heart Attack & Stroke Prevention
Please join Village Builders in Heritage at Towne Lake on Tuesday, October 13 for affordable, painless ultrasound tests of your arteries and bones. Unfortunately, insurance companies typically won’t pay for ultrasound testing unless you have symptoms. But, 50% of sudden cardiac death victims and 80% of stroke victims have no symptoms. That’s why a preventive screening is so important to keep you and your loved ones healthy and independent.
Three Tests for $130.95
These painless tests often cost more than $1,000 in hospitals.
Stroke / Carotid Artery Disease Test
80-85% of strokes result from clots that break off, traveling to smaller arteries in the brain. Carotid Artery Disease is a leading cause of these clots. We use ultrasound to identify dangerous plaque build-up.
State Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and State Representative Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) were the keynote speakers at the Focus on Government Day event held Saturday, September 26 at the Lodge in The Heritage at Towne Lake.
Focus on Government Day began at 10 a.m. and concluded with a lunch sponsored by Friendswood Development Company, at 1:00 p.m. The event, which focused on issues of concern among citizens in their district, topics related to the growing active adult market and what the lawmakers say did not happen in Austin during the past legislative session.
“We’re honored that these two important members of our state government came to this event,” said Christine Draughn of Friendswood Development Company and Marketing Director for Heritage at Towne Lake. “We had a great response.”
The Academy of Lifelong Learning (ALL) is a membership community for seniors age 50 and up, and focuses on enriching the lives of empty nesters and active senior citizens by providing useful classes, seminars, social activities and skills development and opportunities for personal growth. The event was free and open to the public.
Posted on Aug 21, 2009 | Tagged in: healthcare , education
Texas kids are getting ready to go back to schools, and for many children, preparation includes getting a few more immunizations. This year, big changes have been made in immunization requirements which will impact incoming kindergarten and seventh grade students.
The changes to the requirements were made to bring Texas into line more closely with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory committee on Immunization Practices recommend. These changes started on August 01 and include:
- Hepatitis A Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubelle (MMR) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten will be required to have two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- Varicella (chickenpox) Vaccine: All students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have two doses of the Varicella vaccine. However, a written statement from the parent/guardian, school nurse or physician attesting to the child already having had chickenpox may replace the vaccine.
- Tetanus, Diptheria and acellular pertussis-containing Vaccine (Tdap): All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of Tdap vaccine. Students in the 7th grade are required to have a booster shot of Tdap only if it has been five years since their last dose. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster shot of Tdap if it has been ten years or more since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine.
- Meningococcal Vaccine: All students entering 7th grade will be required to have one dose of meningococcal vaccine.
For more information on immunization requirements for Texas kids:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/IMMUNIZE/
Posted on Aug 4, 2009 | Tagged in: Lakemont , education , Alvin ISD
In its first year, Lakes of Savannah Elementary, located in the Lakes of Savannah master-planned community, earned an “Exemplary” rating by the Texas Education Agency. The district in which it is located – Alvin Independent School District, has earned the acclaimed “Recognized” rating – an accomplishment that represents hard work and outstanding achievement by students and teachers.
Overall, nine Alvin ISD campuses achieved exemplary status while 10 were recognized in the 2009 TEA ratings released this week.
Nolan Ryan Junior High School also in its first year and serving children in Lakes of Savannah, achieved a “Recognized” rating. And, Manvel High School, where high school-age students living in Lakes of Savannah attend, received a “Recognized” rating as well.
Alvin's "Recognized" rating is comparable to Pearland ISD and higher than Ft. Bend ISD's rating which is "Acceptable."
“This is an outstanding accomplishment for the schools and the district, and shows the commitment of teachers, students and parents,” said Misty Watkins, Marketing Director for Lakes of Savannah. “Children at all levels are receiving an outstanding education in the Alvin ISD – a district in which we are proud to be located.”
Our Houston area communities will all soon be sending their scholars back to school for the 2009-2010 school year, and we at Friendswood Development Company could not be prouder. As we reflect on the past productive school years with the Houston communities and imagine the even greater things to come, we predict one of the most successful school years in the Houston area yet.
A Legacy
Friendswood Development has become a foundation for the Houston population and its future. The communities we have developed span across an array of award-winning school districts. Our communities' educational repertoire now includes: TEA Recognized Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D., Lamar Consolidated I.S.D., TEA Recognized Alvin I.S.D., TEA Recognized New Caney I.S.D., Conroe I.S.D., and TEA Recognized Friendswood I.S.D.
Posted on Jul 13, 2009 | Tagged in: Lamar CISD , Lakemont , education
McNeill Elementary School Principal Ken Davis is the Texas 2009 Elementary Level National Distinguished Principal. McNeill Elementary School serves elementary school age children living in Lakemont.
Davis is described as an incredible role model who believes in every child, every day and although he is highly admired and respected by his students and colleagues, he was surprised with the recent announcement that was made before more than 2,300 educators at the Texas Elementary Principals & Supervisors Association’s (TEPSA) Summer Conference.
Davis received a check for $10,000, and will represent Texas at the National Distinguished Principals program held in Washington, D.C. in October.
