Copper Village October 2017

Students exit buses Sept. 11 th at Bridgeland High School on the first day of classes.
The Bridgeland High School student body fills up the competition gym Sept. 11 th on the first day
of classes. CFISD’s 12 th high school opens with freshman and sophomores and is one of three
new schools to open its door in the 2017-2018 school year.
Jim and Pam Wells (Center) join Wells Elementary School Principal Cheryl Fisher (teal shirt) in
greeting students and families Sept. 11 th on the first day of classes. Jim and Pam Wells served a
combined 66 years in CFISD and are the namesakes of the new school.
Christina Getschmann (left), a primary instructional coach at Hoover Elementary School,
talks with students Sept. 11 th on the first day of classes.
CFISD Welcomes An Expected 116,000 Students On First Day Of School
Cheryl Fisher’s Fitbit says she slept four hours, but the principal at brand-new Wells Elementary School was pretty sure it was less. The first day of
school still has that effect on Fisher. Despite a start date pushed back two weeks due to the effects of Hurricane Harvey, CFISD classes began September
11 th , with approximately 116,000 students filling the halls of 91 campuses. That included three new schools: Wells and Hoover Elementary schools and
Bridgeland High School. For those teachers, staff members and administrators, reaching the first day of classes marked an accomplishment in itself.
“Seeing those kids come in the first day of school with their smiles - that would be the pot of gold at the end of this whole thing,” said Fisher, who
spent eight years as the principal at Keith Elementary School before she was named to her new post - and subsequently spent much of the spring and
summer alone or with little staff in preparing. “There is a building, there is a complete staff of super-excited teachers and staff members and these
happy children came in and they deserve the best.”
Said Michael Smith, Bridgeland’s principal after more than nine years at the same job at Cy-Fair High School: “Whenever you have a new school, you
have to be flexible. Not everything went perfect, but the staff and the students were great. A lot of energy and a lot of excitement.”
The first day also meant bridging CFISD’s history with its future as the namesakes of both new elementary schools were on hand, welcoming students
in the morning before walking the halls and returning to volunteer as Bus Buddies in the afternoon. “I went around to every classroom this morning
and gave all the teachers a hug,” said Janet Hoover, the namesake for Hoover Elementary School who retired in 2010 after 36 years in CFISD. “It’s the
best atmosphere I’ve seen in a long, long time. It’s a very special place.”
CFISD’s original start date was August 28 th , but was postponed due to Hurricane Harvey. The district and community rallied and did its part while
employees, families and students waited to start the 2017-2018 school year. The Berry Center transformed into a massive point of distribution
center with a workforce of CFISD volunteers, funneling donations to families in need. In addition, numerous school organizations and athletics teams
volunteered in the relief effort.
But the waiting finally ended. School buses and lines of cars rolled September 11 th . Students posed for photos. Smiling employees greeted everyone
at the front doors. “I’m a little nervous but I’m very excited,” said Paige Hintz, a third-grade language arts teacher at Jowell Elementary School. “I’ve
prepared all of this stuff and finally just getting to actually do it. I’m ready to meet my kids and get it started.”
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