I am currently a middle school librarian in Grapevine, TX. I am interested in using Wikipedia as a tool to instruct students in research methods, writing and critical thinking. I have a bachelor's degree in English from The University of Texas at Austin and master's degrees in secondary education and library science from The University of North Texas.
The current coaches for the CTMS basketball teams are Billy Krause, Phillip Lentz, Jerry Schroeder, and Jeffery Gott. The teams compete in twelve six-minute quarter games a season against Coppell, Southlake, Grapevine, Colleyville, Keller, and Northwest ISD middle schools.[4][5]
The Cross Timbers Middle School band is divided into four sections: Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Honors Band. Beginning Band is for 6th graders who are learning to play an instrument. The CTMS band has won 58 trophies in its fourteen-year history. The current band director is Paul Najera.[11]
CTMS has a 6th grade concert choir, a men's and women's a capella choir, and a treble chorale. Several former CTMS choir members are now notable singers and performers, including Demi Lovato[12], a 2005 Concert Choir member, Lindsey Black[13], currently on the Disney program “As The Bell Rings,” Nichola Kouzes[14], a popular local Grapevine singer who now performs at the Grapevine Opry and Johnny High’s Country Music Revue, Sarah Diviney, a local performer and recorded Nashville artist, Carly Waddell[15], an Off-Broadway performer, Michael Bird, a featured dancer in a production with the Dallas Symphony, and Alissa Koonce Taylor, a finalist for the Dallas Opera, who is also a current voice teacher at CTMS. The average choir enrollment at CTMS is around 120 singers. The choirs compete in UIL competitions as well as the annual Sandy Lake FunFest. Mr. Daniel Oberlender has been the CTMS Choir Director for 14 years.[16]
The Cross Timbers Playbill organization is an audition-only class for students who are interested in theatre and performing onstage. To audition, students must memorize a monologue and perform it for the drama teacher and other judges (typically past students). About 20 students make the class each year.
Playbill was founded in the school year of 2004-2005. The idea was implemented by the theatre directors of Cross Timbers Middle School and Heritage Middle School. Though they have different names at different schools, the concept is the same--an advanced theatre class in which students compete as well as perform onstage. The Cross Timbers Middle School Playbill directors have been Mr. Grant Hahn and currently Mrs. Emily Nalepa.
The students participate in many exercises throughout the course of the year. At the beginning of the year, the students compete in drama tournaments and write and perform their own children’s show for elementary schools in the area. Playbill students also perform lip syncs at school pep rallies and work on improvisation exercises in class. In the spring, students work on, perform and compete with a UIL One-Act Play. Lastly, most Playbill students are in the cast or crew of the CTMS annual musical.[17]
Available elective art classes include pre-AP art, regular art, intro to art, and exploratory art. The art students make field trips to area museums such as the Amon Carter, Fort Worth Museum of Modern Art, and the Kimball.[18]
Cheerleading at CTMS began the first year the school opened in 1996, sponsored by language arts teacher Kathy Bloyd. No boy has ever been on the team, but anyone is eligible to try-out. However, the campus mascot, a wolf, has been filled by both sexes. Grades, conduct,and attendence count for 25% of the student evaluation to become a CTMS cheerleader, and the rest of the 75% is cheer quality, tumbling ability, "spirit," jumps, dancing ability, and enthusiasm. There is a maximum of 36 spots on both the 7th and 8th grade cheer teams. The cheerleaders take turns being captains of smaller units of cheerleaders to cheer at various sporting events, while the entire squad performs at every pep rally. The teams compete in local, regional, and national competitions.[19][20]
Cross Timbers' dance team is known as the Alpha Dancers. Tryouts are held to determine members and the team performs at sporting events and pep rallies as well as in dance competitions.[21]
In 2003, Project REACH began under the coaching of Cross Timbers language arts teacher Twyla Tasker. The students' mission was to reach out to students on their campus with special needs. To gain information, they read and researched books they could read to the students and planned events for outings with the special needs students. They read to the students, taught them the value of money, and helped them write their names. They also attended a Grapevine High School play and saw the movie The Polar Express with the children. They made Halloween cookies, Thanksgiving crafts, Christmas cards, kites, and books. They helped with the Special Olympics and organized a bake sale to raise money to buy books for the children. They were an international finalist and won the state Community Problem Solving competition.[22]
In 2003, Project PEACE began also under the coaching of Cross Timbers language arts teacher Twyla Tasker. Their mission was to reduce the amount of bullying going on in their district. To gain information, they conducted a bullying survey, a "Wear Grey" day, and promoted peace signs on campus. Some of the fundraising they did was "Pennies for Peace" during which students donated money during their lunch period, as well as a raffle, all for GRACE[23], a local charity. They helped with Santa Cop[24], promoted the anti-bullying program "Invisible Weapons" [25], had a no-taunting pledge signed by nearly all of the students, subscribed to Teaching Tolerance magazine [26], and promoted random acts of peace. They won state in the division and received an award of appreciation from the Grapevine Police Department.[22]
In 2006, Project SOAP began also under the coaching of Cross Timbers language arts teacher Twyla Tasker. Their mission was to help hurricane evacuee students in their area. To gain information, they interviewed hurricane victims and compiled a list of what they might need. They had a week of giving during which students were to give a certain item on the list each day of the week; they had a canned food drive, and collected baskets of soap and other cleaning products to give to the victims. They helped with Santa Cop [24] and promoted Random Acts of Kindness [27] to lighten the mood of their school. They published a "Welcome to Grapevine" pamphlet to welcome newcomers to their area. They also helped Words of Hope (an organization which donates journals to recent hurricane victims so that they can write down their feelings). They won state in the intermediate division and were published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. They also received the Human Services Award. [22]
In 2007, Project HOME began also under the coaching of Cross Timbers language arts teacher Twyla Tasker. Their mission was to help orphans manage life everyday. To gain information, they had a guest speaker from All Church Home [28], Valerie Heath, and they also called orphanages to see what supplies the orphans needed. They then had a fundraiser at Boston's Pizza and put together backpacks for the orphans which they distributed at a Christmas party. They raised awareness in their area by supporting National Adoption Month by speaking at a pep rally. They also distributed a pamphlet over Christmas volunteer opportunities. They were published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram and received first place in the leadership division at the state Community Problem Solving competition.[22]
In 2008, Project SOS began with the coaching of Terry Wied. Their mission was to provide the Scottish Rite Hospital with a trampoline and basketball game so that the patients could have more fun while in the hospital. Fundraising activities included a float in the Grapevine Parade, a fun-run for the students of Cross Timbers Middle, a raffle during lunch time, a district-wide social, a carnival, and donation jars. They gained information by taking a field trip to the hospital, presenting their ideas at the Lion’s Club meeting, talking to the kids at the hospital, and coverage in the local newspaper. They raised a total of $2,177.60. [22]
The Spirit Club cheers at the annual CTMS Black-Out Pep RallyStudents participate in Project iGrow
Other clubs at CTMS include Project iGrow[29], Art Club[30], Library Council[31], Spirit Club[32], Step Team, Math Science Team[33]. Project iGrow is an effort of the 6th grade Community Problem Solving team with the idea of encouraging students to recycle and eat healthier foods. Activities have included building a greenhouse and holding healthy cooking classes. The art club meets every other week and coordinates various creative art projects for the students. The library council meets every Tuesday and helps the librarian, Julie Brem, select books for the library in addition to writing reviews, creating book trailers and helping with book fairs. The library council is also active on Goodreads. The spirit club meets on Friday afternoons and works to increase school spirit by making posters, signs, and more. The spirit club is reserved front row seats a pep rallies to lead the school in cheering and attends school sporting events to do the same. The recently-formed step team is practicing right now for its first performance. The math and science club meets one to two days a week and also competes in area math and science competitions on some weekends.
