SHOOT FOR THE STARS
By Fabianna Blanco
“I thought to myself, all week I have been thinking about all the dreams we had for my son that he wouldn't get to do.”
Three years ago Argyle High School Teacher, Mary Betzhold, found her beloved 13-year-old son, Alex Betzhold, passed away on his bed. He was in seventh grade, he was a great student, he loved sports and had very good grades. He passed unexpectedly in his sleep.
“There was no indication that he was sick. He played on the basketball team at the middle school. He was a big kid, he played football, and never complained of any health problems at all,” Betzhold said.
“I thought to myself, all week I have been thinking about all the dreams we had for my son that he wouldn't get to do.”
Three years ago Argyle High School Teacher, Mary Betzhold, found her beloved 13-year-old son, Alex Betzhold, passed away on his bed. He was in seventh grade, he was a great student, he loved sports and had very good grades. He passed unexpectedly in his sleep.
“There was no indication that he was sick. He played on the basketball team at the middle school. He was a big kid, he played football, and never complained of any health problems at all,” Betzhold said.
Betzhold’s parents later found out that he had a heart condition they did not know anything about. As a result of this, Julie and Steve Sheridan came up with the idea to create an event to raise money for the school. The first Shoot For The Starts’ event had a marathon in the school’s gym and a silent auction, which raised $30,000.
“One of the coolest things you have to know for the name ‘Shoot For The Stars’ is that the week we lost our son, the school was so kind to hold a prayer vigil in his memory. Everybody gathered on the tennis courts and his friends all spoke, and coaches and teachers for an hour, but as soon as my husband took the microphone to talk about his friends, across the sky the biggest shooting star just streak across the sky. Somebody said: ‘Look a shooting star!'” Betzhold said.
“As soon as that star came across the sky, I just knew in my heart that God was going to use Alex and his death in the most beautiful ways and that God’s plans for Alex were way bigger than any earthly dreams that my family had for him.”
The nonprofit organization Living for Zachary, which was started by Karen Shaw after her son passed away of sudden cardiac arrest on a football practice, gives free heart screenings for youth. Living for Zachary told Betzhold they were willing to donate to the Argyle community.
“It was such an incredible event. The numbers in that event were so significant. The whole thing seemed like such a God thing,” Betzhold said.
In 2013, Living for Zachary contacted Argyle ISD and said that they would participate every year and provide free heart screenings. Former Argyle ISD High School principal, Mr. Jeff Butts, had the idea to make the event open to the Argyle community.
They had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and a silent auction. “Each year we have added a few things. We have had vendors, project graduation groups, a lot of different organizations have profited during the event, the Bird Dogs band has performed at every event, as has Zach Nytomt, and a lot of students have also joined us,” Betzhold said.
Last year they incorporated other families in the community who have lost a child and they added a bike rally. This year, on May 8th, they are planning to allow students, who do not go home early, to have the opportunity to participate in some school events and on May 9th they will have another 3-on-3 basketball game, a color run, a car show, a silent auction and the music performances will be at that night at Fuzzy’s.
The money raised in the Shoot For The Starts event will go to the Alex Betzhold Memorial Fund. That money is used for Argyle’s schools and community.
To participate in this year's Shoot for The Stars visit http://www.shoot4stars.org/
For more information about Argyle ISD please visit http://www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/shoot-for-the-stars/
“One of the coolest things you have to know for the name ‘Shoot For The Stars’ is that the week we lost our son, the school was so kind to hold a prayer vigil in his memory. Everybody gathered on the tennis courts and his friends all spoke, and coaches and teachers for an hour, but as soon as my husband took the microphone to talk about his friends, across the sky the biggest shooting star just streak across the sky. Somebody said: ‘Look a shooting star!'” Betzhold said.
“As soon as that star came across the sky, I just knew in my heart that God was going to use Alex and his death in the most beautiful ways and that God’s plans for Alex were way bigger than any earthly dreams that my family had for him.”
The nonprofit organization Living for Zachary, which was started by Karen Shaw after her son passed away of sudden cardiac arrest on a football practice, gives free heart screenings for youth. Living for Zachary told Betzhold they were willing to donate to the Argyle community.
“It was such an incredible event. The numbers in that event were so significant. The whole thing seemed like such a God thing,” Betzhold said.
In 2013, Living for Zachary contacted Argyle ISD and said that they would participate every year and provide free heart screenings. Former Argyle ISD High School principal, Mr. Jeff Butts, had the idea to make the event open to the Argyle community.
They had a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and a silent auction. “Each year we have added a few things. We have had vendors, project graduation groups, a lot of different organizations have profited during the event, the Bird Dogs band has performed at every event, as has Zach Nytomt, and a lot of students have also joined us,” Betzhold said.
Last year they incorporated other families in the community who have lost a child and they added a bike rally. This year, on May 8th, they are planning to allow students, who do not go home early, to have the opportunity to participate in some school events and on May 9th they will have another 3-on-3 basketball game, a color run, a car show, a silent auction and the music performances will be at that night at Fuzzy’s.
The money raised in the Shoot For The Starts event will go to the Alex Betzhold Memorial Fund. That money is used for Argyle’s schools and community.
To participate in this year's Shoot for The Stars visit http://www.shoot4stars.org/
For more information about Argyle ISD please visit http://www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/02/13/shoot-for-the-stars/
ARGYLE CHAMPIONS
Argyle High School girls basketball players won the state championship against Abilene Wylie in the UIL Class 4A game on Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
During the rematch game on Friday, which was the game that lead the Lady Eagles to the state championship, Argyle sophomore, Vivian Gray, scored 36 points and 13 rebounds. Argyle ended up winning that game against La Vega 58-54.
Gray scored 21 points this time and 12 rebounds leading Argyle to the win. She was named the championship game Most Valuable Player.
Argyle player, Jesse Sheridan, is also a very valuable team member for the Lady Eagles. She scored 13 points and had an amazing performance this Saturday.
Argyle ISD is very proud of our Lady Eagles! Good job ladies!
For more information about Argyle ISD please visit http://www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/argyle-champions/
During the rematch game on Friday, which was the game that lead the Lady Eagles to the state championship, Argyle sophomore, Vivian Gray, scored 36 points and 13 rebounds. Argyle ended up winning that game against La Vega 58-54.
Gray scored 21 points this time and 12 rebounds leading Argyle to the win. She was named the championship game Most Valuable Player.
Argyle player, Jesse Sheridan, is also a very valuable team member for the Lady Eagles. She scored 13 points and had an amazing performance this Saturday.
Argyle ISD is very proud of our Lady Eagles! Good job ladies!
For more information about Argyle ISD please visit http://www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/09/argyle-champions/
ARGYLE STANDS OUT AT THE TMSCA STATE MEET IN SAN ANTONIO
By: Fabianna Blanco
This last Saturday, March 28th, our Argyle high school students went to the TMSCA State Meet in San Antonio. The event is organized by the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association and it takes place in San Antonio in March each year.
Argyle’s UIL Academic Coordinator, Cliff McCurdy, said he is very proud of our students. “Our kids did very well and we are especially proud of our two seniors who won money in the top gun competition.”
This last Saturday, March 28th, our Argyle high school students went to the TMSCA State Meet in San Antonio. The event is organized by the Texas Math and Science Coaches Association and it takes place in San Antonio in March each year.
Argyle’s UIL Academic Coordinator, Cliff McCurdy, said he is very proud of our students. “Our kids did very well and we are especially proud of our two seniors who won money in the top gun competition.”
“We qualified 43 kids for the region meet. Our One Act Play also advanced from district to bi-district. Hopefully they will eventually qualify for region” McCurdy said.
There are still two more qualifying rounds to go through. At the San Antonio State Meet, Argyle came first in sweepstakes, accounting, calculator, mathematics, science and top gun categories.
“We had a very good day as Abilene Wylie, Spring Hill, Wichita Falls Hirschi, and Wimberley are very good teams” McCurdy said.
These are the School’s Total Scores for the 2015 UIL District Academic Meet:
1st Argyle 675
2nd Aubrey 268
3rd Gainesville 167
4th Celina 110
5th Krum 81
6th Sanger 96
For more details of the results from the District and State UIL meets visit http://www.tmsca.org/
For more information about the high school and Argyle ISD visit http://www.argyleisd.com/
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/argyle-stands-out-at-the-tmsca-state-meet-in-san-antonio/
There are still two more qualifying rounds to go through. At the San Antonio State Meet, Argyle came first in sweepstakes, accounting, calculator, mathematics, science and top gun categories.
“We had a very good day as Abilene Wylie, Spring Hill, Wichita Falls Hirschi, and Wimberley are very good teams” McCurdy said.
These are the School’s Total Scores for the 2015 UIL District Academic Meet:
1st Argyle 675
2nd Aubrey 268
3rd Gainesville 167
4th Celina 110
5th Krum 81
6th Sanger 96
For more details of the results from the District and State UIL meets visit http://www.tmsca.org/
For more information about the high school and Argyle ISD visit http://www.argyleisd.com/
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/argyle-stands-out-at-the-tmsca-state-meet-in-san-antonio/
SUSAN STEVENS CRUMMEL VISITS HILLTOP ELEMENTARY
By: Fabianna Blanco
Author of picture books for children, Susan Stevens Crummel, visited Hilltop elementary this past Monday.
She gave presentations to different grades explaining where her ideas come from and she showed them that ideas are everywhere. “You can write about anything and use your imagination to enhance the story” Crummel said.
In her presentations, Crummel likes to show the children different voices for the different characters in her books so they can get a feel on how a character would talk. She also tries to encourage the children to read and write their own stories.
She gave presentations to different grades explaining where her ideas come from and she showed them that ideas are everywhere. “You can write about anything and use your imagination to enhance the story” Crummel said.
In her presentations, Crummel likes to show the children different voices for the different characters in her books so they can get a feel on how a character would talk. She also tries to encourage the children to read and write their own stories.
“My sister and I work together. She draws the pictures, but we write the words together” Crummel said.
Before becoming an author Crummel had been a math teacher for 31 years. She taught in the Fort Worth Public Schools for 11 years and at Fort Worth Country Day School for 20 years.
She began her writing career 18 years ago when her sister, Janet Stevens, called her with an emergency. “She needed a story and she needed it fast. So I stopped teaching that day and didn’t grade papers that night. I poured my heart into writing a story for her that was due in four days, because she procrastinates. That is how I jumped into doing this” Crummel said.
“My sister is the idea person. She is very creative and she comes up with these multiple ideas and off we go” she said.
Her sister is an illustrator and by the time Crummel started writing she already had 70 books out. Crummel is very proud to have 17 books out so far and she plans to have much more to come.
She travels across the world sharing her stories with thousands of youth, adults and librarians.
“My favorite thing about this is talking to the kids. I love the writing and I love working with my sister, but when you talk to the kids and you see them get so excited about a book. Not a TV show, but a book, then I’ve done my job” she said.
For more information about the author visit http://www.susanscrummel.com/
For more information about Hilltop Elementary and Argyle ISD visit http://www.argyleisd.com/
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/susan-stevens-crummel-goes-to-hilltop-elementary/
Before becoming an author Crummel had been a math teacher for 31 years. She taught in the Fort Worth Public Schools for 11 years and at Fort Worth Country Day School for 20 years.
She began her writing career 18 years ago when her sister, Janet Stevens, called her with an emergency. “She needed a story and she needed it fast. So I stopped teaching that day and didn’t grade papers that night. I poured my heart into writing a story for her that was due in four days, because she procrastinates. That is how I jumped into doing this” Crummel said.
“My sister is the idea person. She is very creative and she comes up with these multiple ideas and off we go” she said.
Her sister is an illustrator and by the time Crummel started writing she already had 70 books out. Crummel is very proud to have 17 books out so far and she plans to have much more to come.
She travels across the world sharing her stories with thousands of youth, adults and librarians.
“My favorite thing about this is talking to the kids. I love the writing and I love working with my sister, but when you talk to the kids and you see them get so excited about a book. Not a TV show, but a book, then I’ve done my job” she said.
For more information about the author visit http://www.susanscrummel.com/
For more information about Hilltop Elementary and Argyle ISD visit http://www.argyleisd.com/
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/11/susan-stevens-crummel-goes-to-hilltop-elementary/
HILLTOP ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES TEACHERS’ APPRECIATION WEEK
By: Fabianna Blanco
Argyle’s Hilltop Elementary has been celebrating Teachers’ Appreciation Week since this past Monday, March 23rd. Hilltop’s Hospitality chairs for PTA, Jennifer Burns and Carla Hilburn, are in charge of the event and decided to have a different lunch with a different theme everyday this week for the teachers.
“These teachers really deserve this. Today, in fact, there was a lady that was getting a snack out of the snack machine and I go ‘oh we are getting ready to do the luncheon,’ and she said ‘well, this is for one of my students, whose mom sometimes forgets to pack a snack'” Hilburn said.
Their main theme is “We have the best teachers in the world,” but everyday Burns and Hilburn choose a country and provide a themed lunch matching the country of their choice.
“Everyday we are going to take the teachers to different locations” Burns said.
New York themed lunch on Tuesday, March 24th
This last Tuesday, March 24th the theme was New York and they treated teachers with subs and a coffee bar. “We have two lunches and a treat everyday” Burns said.
There is also a theme-oriented gift for the kids to give the teachers everyday. On Tuesday, since New York is called The Big Apple, the kids were instructed to bring a snack for their teachers, like a candy bar or a gift card to their favorite restaurant.
“These teachers really deserve this. Today, in fact, there was a lady that was getting a snack out of the snack machine and I go ‘oh we are getting ready to do the luncheon,’ and she said ‘well, this is for one of my students, whose mom sometimes forgets to pack a snack'” Hilburn said.
Their main theme is “We have the best teachers in the world,” but everyday Burns and Hilburn choose a country and provide a themed lunch matching the country of their choice.
“Everyday we are going to take the teachers to different locations” Burns said.
New York themed lunch on Tuesday, March 24th
This last Tuesday, March 24th the theme was New York and they treated teachers with subs and a coffee bar. “We have two lunches and a treat everyday” Burns said.
There is also a theme-oriented gift for the kids to give the teachers everyday. On Tuesday, since New York is called The Big Apple, the kids were instructed to bring a snack for their teachers, like a candy bar or a gift card to their favorite restaurant.
This week’s Teacher Appreciation Week schedule:
Monday, March 23rd: Paris – The City of Love
Tuesday, March 24th: New York – The Big Apple
Wednesday, March 25h: London – Jolly Old England
Thursday, March 26th: Africa – It’s a jungle out there!
Friday, March 27th: Bali – Paradise
Thank you to all Argyle ISD teachers for all your hard work and dedication. We appreciate you and are very thankful to have you!
For more information about Hilltop Elementary and Argyle ISD visit www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/hilltop-elementary-celebrates-teachers-appreciation-week/
Monday, March 23rd: Paris – The City of Love
Tuesday, March 24th: New York – The Big Apple
Wednesday, March 25h: London – Jolly Old England
Thursday, March 26th: Africa – It’s a jungle out there!
Friday, March 27th: Bali – Paradise
Thank you to all Argyle ISD teachers for all your hard work and dedication. We appreciate you and are very thankful to have you!
For more information about Hilltop Elementary and Argyle ISD visit www.argyleisd.com
Link to original story: https://argyleisd.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/hilltop-elementary-celebrates-teachers-appreciation-week/