The district will continue benchmark testing in Math after the Christmas break in hopes to improve student scores on the fast approaching TAKS testing. Students who don’t pass the benchmark tests will be assigned mandatory after-school TAKS tutoring until they can pass the TAKS tutoring benchmark. Come visit with your child’s teachers and get involved in your child’s education.

The Lady Coyotes basketball team now 9-4 on the season. The Lady Coyotes won third place in the Cherokee tournament. The Varsity boys are 3-1 on the season. The Coyotes also won third place in the boy’s bracket in the Cherokee tournament. The Varsity girls played the Rochelle Lady Hornets at the Rochelle gym this past Tuesday, and both boys and girls will play Evant at Richland Springs gym on Dec.19th. The Junior Varsity boys will kick-off action against the Evant JV boys beginning at 3:30 p.m. The Varsity games will begin immediately afterward. The Junior High girls are 3-1 and the Junior High boys are 0-4. Both teams played at Rochelle this past Monday.

Tony Dodson is again hosting the Coyote Hardwood Classic basketball tournament during the Christmas holidays. The tournament is on Dec. 29, 30 & 31 at the Richland Springs gymnasium. The games begin each day at 12 noon and the last game begins at 7:30 p.m. Come out and enjoy some high school basketball during the holidays. The admission price for each game is $4 for adults and $2 for students.

FFA members distributed the fresh fruits this past week as part of the annual FFA fundraiser. The red grapefruit were some of the best I have ever eaten. Mr. McKee reminds all competitors to exercise their show animals. The San Saba County Stock Show beginning on Friday, January 16th is fast approaching. Contact Mr. McKee for assistance with your stock animals as needed.

The holidays are upon us. School will release at 12:54 p.m. on Friday Dec. 19, 2008 and resumes on Monday, January 5, 2009. Come visit with your child’s teachers and get involved in your child’s education.

Congratulations to Jordan Gossett for winning a new bicycle in the bike safety poster contest sponsored by Central Texas Telephone.

Jordan was presented a new bicycle by CTC representative Claudia Morrow this past Monday. I wish you could have seen the smile on Jordan’s face when she saw her new bike.

It’s great to see our community supporting students in their efforts to achieve. We have a great community, students, teachers and staff. It takes everyone working together to achieve success.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR.