Weekly Update 30
April 14th 2025
Greetings CityLab and IDEA families,
We have incredibly reached 13.5 million dollars in scholarships this school year. When we hit 15 million, the students will dump Gatorade on me. I welcome it, as that is an incredible milestone. We also were able to celebrate Assistant Principals Week, and we welcomed a new staff member.
This week our students will be taking their Biology and US History STAAR exams. Thank you to Ms. Toomer and Mr. Sharp for preparing the students. Parents, please talk to your student about these exams, remind them to take their time, sleep well the night before, and take them seriously. The STAAR exams are a requirement to graduate high school.
We are still accepting 2025-2026 applications for 9th/10th grade. As parents, please share this information with your friends, families, neighbors, etc. You know the unique opportunities we offer at both CityLab and IDEA and your perspective is extremely important as undecided families are making their decisions. The application link is above.
Attendance for Credit has begun. This is counterproductive for student learning. Parents, if your child is ill, please keep them home, if they are not, we need them at school and on-time. AFC will begin this week. Students who owe hours must make up seat time to be awarded credit.
Sincerely,
Alan L Varney
Principal
Mr. Andrew Henery
Mr. Henery is Teacher of the Month for his ELAR leadership, engaging lessons, and high-quality essay feedback to students.
Mrs. Martha Deavila
Mrs. Deavila is Staff Member of the Month for her incredible dedication to students with Attendance for Credit, and stepping up to support the daily operations of our campus.
Dress Code Information
Students are expected to be in dress code outlined below starting on the first day of school. Joggers are OK. We will have some available shirts and pants that students may borrow should they have a dress code issue.
Se espera que los estudiantes cumplan con el código de vestimenta que se describe a continuación a partir del primer día de clases. Los corredores están bien. Tendremos algunas camisas y pantalones disponibles que los estudiantes pueden tomar prestados si tienen algún problema con el código de vestimenta.
Talking Points
Hello Parents and Guardians,
As we approach the end of the first grading quarter, we want to ensure you have a reliable way to stay in touch with your student’s teachers. At Fannin, we utilize the Talking Points app, a convenient platform for communication between teachers and families.
Through Talking Points, teachers can send important updates such as classwork photos, announcements, and reminders. The app also automatically translates messages into your preferred language for ease of use. Teachers regularly share information regarding student grades, upcoming activities, exams, class expectations, and more.
We encourage you to use this app to ask questions about your child's progress, inquire about grades, or address any concerns you may have. Additionally, responding to teachers’ messages is essential to ensure effective communication. Even a simple thumbs-up or heart lets them know you've received and acknowledged their message.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your student's education.
The IDEA/CityLab Team
Hola padres y tutores,
A medida que nos acercamos al final del primer trimestre de calificaciones, queremos asegurarnos de que tengan una manera confiable de mantenerse en contacto con los maestros de sus hijos. En Fannin, utilizamos la aplicación Talking Points, una plataforma conveniente para la comunicación entre maestros y familias.
A través de Talking Points, los maestros pueden enviar actualizaciones importantes, como fotos del trabajo en clase, anuncios y recordatorios. La aplicación también traduce automáticamente los mensajes al idioma de su preferencia para mayor comodidad. Los maestros comparten regularmente información sobre las calificaciones de los estudiantes, actividades próximas, exámenes, expectativas de la clase y más.
Les animamos a utilizar esta aplicación para hacer preguntas sobre el progreso de su hijo, preguntar sobre calificaciones o abordar cualquier inquietud que puedan tener. Además, responder a los mensajes de los maestros es esencial para asegurar una comunicación efectiva. Incluso un simple pulgar hacia arriba o un corazón les permite saber que han recibido y reconocido su mensaje.
Gracias por su continuo apoyo en la educación de sus hijos.
El equipo de IDEA/CityLab
CityLab Teacher of the Year; Megan James
Ms. James, so deserving to be named Teacher of the Year. Not only is she an incredible educator, but she does so many additional things for the school, such as; recruiting, senior sponsor, FFA sponsor, CTE Lead, and many more. We are very grateful to have such an amazing educator on our campus doing so much to ensure our students are prepared for their future. A huge High Five to Ms. James.
IDEA Teacher of the Year: Rachael Esquivel
Ms. Esquivel, so deserving to be named Teacher of the Year for IDEA. She is an amazing educator who takes on the roles of teacher, instructional coach, data analyst, tutoring coordinator, and she has been supporting our math vacancy. She does a great job meeting the needs of students to ensure they are successful. We are very lucky to have such a tremendous educator. Ms. Esquivel the next Starbucks is on me.