Thorndale ISD

Volume 2, Issue 6: 10/25/24

Greetings Bulldogs! Happy Friday.

One 9-Weeks Down, 3 Remaining:

It is hard to believe that one 9-weeks is already over. October is coming to an end and we are about to enter November! I believe we have had an awesome start to the school year and much to celebrate. As always, the end of a 9-weeks is a great time to reflect on what has occurred so far, especially in the classroom. What do we need to keep doing? What can we improve?

I always welcome your feedback if you have anything you would like to share with me:

Zack.Kleypas@thorndale.txed.net 

Reminder - Fall Festival Saturday (10/26/24)!

Thorndale Elementary PTO and the TMS Middle Matters parent groups are excited for the Fall Festival on Saturday, October 26th from 6-8 PM!  Enjoy games, a haunted house, Chick-fil-A & pizza, face painting, trailer jail, a book fair, and a silent auction!

Come join the fun—we can't wait to see everyone’s costumes! 

Also, don’t forget it is Book Fair time at the elementary school!

Fun Activities Around the Elementary School:

Kindergarten field trip to Sweet Eats Farm:

Pre-K visits a pumpkin patch in Taylor:

3rd Graders Classroom Transformed into a Surgery Center to learn context clues, themes, text structures, main idea, and supporting detail with a bit of hands-on opportunities to spice it up!

Hall of Honor Dinner & Recognition:

Thorndale ISD had the inaugural Hall of Honor awards ceremony  for past Thorndale athletes to recognize their accomplishments. The selection committee selected the following individuals to be recognized in the first year of the recognition:

• Lee Roy Caffey, 3 time Super Bowl Champion
• Bob Evans, former NFL player and holds THS Shot Put record
• Donald Beard, University of Texas track athlete who still owns a state record in the hurdles (180-yard hurdles)
• Newton Butts, former athlete, coach, and volunteer announcer for the Thorndale Bulldogs
• Renee Jackson, the first girl athlete to compete at a state track meet
• Don Cowan, Head Coach for 3 State Championships in football at THS

Recipients and family members spoke on behalf of each representative at the evening's event. It was yet another event that highlights the years and years of excellence in Thorndale ISD.

TISD Featured Alumni:

Check out our most recent alumni spotlight: Heather Merz!

October Alumni Spotlight: Heather Merz, Class of 1995

Our October Alumni Spotlight shines on Heather Merz, a proud member of Thorndale High School's Class of 1995. As salutatorian of her class, Heather was an active participant in many school activities, including the Bulldog Band, cheerleading, volleyball, National Honor Society (NHS), and Future Homemakers of America (FHA).

After graduation, Heather attended Texas A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and a Master of Science in Finance through the Professional Program in Accounting. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and shared her college years with her best friend and fellow 1995 THS graduate, Wendy (Fuessel) Kovar.

Heather earned her CPA license in August 2000 and went on to work for Ernst & Young for seven years in Audit. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Principal at Paradigm Commercial, LLC, a commercial general contracting firm based in Georgetown, Texas.

In July 2000, Heather married her high school sweetheart, Jeremy Merz, also a THS graduate from the Class of 1995. In 2020, the couple made the decision to return to Thorndale—a choice Heather describes as the best they’ve ever made.

Heather and Jeremy are raising two boys who continue the Bulldog legacy: Luke, a 2023 graduate, and Cayson, who will graduate in 2027. Heather is also an active community member, serving as Treasurer of the Thorndale Athletic Booster Club for two years and starting her fourth year as a member of the Thorndale ISD Community Involvement Program. She is also Co-Chair of Thorndale United: Empowering Educational Excellence, the Political Action Committee formed to promote the 2024 TISD Bond.

Heather’s connection to Thorndale ISD runs deep. Her mother, Donna Kerlin (Class of 1975), her brother, Chris Kerlin (Class of 2000), and her maternal grandmother, Janell Felton (Class of 1952), all graduated from Thorndale. Ms. Felton dedicated much of her life to Thorndale ISD, working as an aide with a special passion for the SPED program alongside the beloved Ms. Betty Cuba.

Favorite High School Memories: One of Heather’s fondest memories from high school was Mrs. Culp’s Chemistry class, where laughter often filled the room—especially during lab sessions—while still learning important lessons. She was also part of the band and a cheerleader when Thorndale won the State Championship in football. Traveling to the playoff games with packed stands full of cheering community members is something she’ll never forget.

Heather’s Advice to Current Students: “My advice is simple: don’t focus on what larger schools might offer. Instead, appreciate the unique advantages a small school like Thorndale provides. Here, smaller class sizes allow for more personalized attention from your teachers, helping you build stronger relationships and succeed academically.

You also have the opportunity to be involved in multiple sports, band, FFA, FCCLA, and other academic organizations—something that isn’t always possible at larger schools. In Thorndale ISD, teachers, coaches, and staff serve as mentors who offer real guidance. You’ll receive leadership opportunities in both school and community roles, which will help you grow as a person. There’s a sense of safety and support, knowing that everyone knows and cares about each other.

Whether it’s the Superintendent walking the halls or community members filling the stands at events, Thorndale will always have your back. The hands-on experiences, deep traditions, and mentorship you receive here will shape you into a confident and well-rounded individual, ready for whatever comes next.

Through all of Heather’s achievements, her family has been her biggest support system, encouraging her to dream big and pursue her goals. No matter where life takes her, home will always be waiting. Heather’s story is a testament to the strength of Thorndale’s community and the lasting impact of its values.

Go Dogs!

Nominate a TISD alumni for an upcoming highlight by scanning the QR code or visitingFacebook https://forms.gle/fxupqaC6yLNd1M6n8.

To view prior featured alumni please visit this link: TISD Alumni Spotlight 

Real World Opportunities:

Real-life experiences from Coach Kovar’s Professional Communication class! Each student crafted impressive cover letters and resumes, then had the opportunity to email Mrs. Warner and interview for positions at her Feed Store. Mrs. Warner was truly impressed by their skills and professionalism. Great job, everyone! 

Thorndale HS Students Visit Cosmetology Opportunity:

THS seniors interested in cosmetology had the opportunity to visit The Salon Professional Academy in Georgetown. Each senior paired up with a salon student who walked them through several hands-on demonstrations. These girls did great and loved every minute!

Presenting: The 2024-25 TISD Bass Club:

The fishing team would like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all their sponsors. They received their new jerseys and they look great!

Drug Prevention Presentations - Brazos Valley Council:

Our middle and high school students attended a drug prevention presentation given by the Brazos Valley Council. They shared a lot of important facts related to the dangers of drug use and finished up their presentation with an obstacle course.

Fightin’ Band from Bulldog Land Update:

Congratulations to our Fightin' Band from Bulldog Land on their stellar performance earning them a Division 1 rating at their Region Marching Competition! Keep up the hard work! We are so proud of you!

They will now compete at the Area competition on Saturday November 2nd.

FFA Updates:

Thordale was represented WELL at the Rockdale Fair! Check out these results:

Also congratulations to two Thorndale ISD Students: Jordan Stutts (Miss Rockdale Fair Queen) and Ailyn Alfaro (2nd Runner Up)! Way to represent Thorndale!

We even had our very own Board President David Hall winning at the 42 Tournement. As I have been told, they tied for first, but lost by 1 point in the tie breaker. Way to represent!

Also, our FFA Chapter is hosting their annual fundraiser and orders are due by Nov. 5th:

Cross Country Updates:

Congratulations to FOUR Thorndale Bulldogs who will be advancing to STATE in cross country (note: all 4 are sophomores!)

Both teams placed 6th overall, with the girls' team narrowly missing a spot at State by just a few points. Great job to all our athletes!

Lady Dog State Qualifiers:

• Raven Sandoval - 6th place
• Skielee Bear - 7th place
• Nadia Gonzalez - 9th place

Bulldog State Qualifier:

• Case McDaniel - 5th place

Full results can be found @UIL Region 4 XC Championchips 2024 https://nebula.wsimg.com/04e62e9e40d4a22a8687d3636fce8d86...

Also, a huge congrats to all of our runners who made it to Regionals and represented TISD well.

Also, shout out to the lone senior cross country runner and the three managers:

Volleyball Updates: 

Can you say DISTRICT CHAMPS!

Lady Dog Volleyball continued its dominance in district play with a straight set sweep of Bartlett (25-8, 25-14, 25-9) last week. The Lady Dogs celebrated Pink Out today and remembered family members who had fought against breast cancer.

The JV Maroon won in straight sets also (25-10, 25-12).  The JV Gold had the day off.

Then, the Lady Dog Volleyball teams traveled to Granger this week and defeated the Lady Lions in straight sets (25-19, 25-11, 25-13) to claim the District Championship. They improved to 8-0 on the season with 2 games left to play.

The JV Gold lost in 2 sets and the JV Maroon lost in 3 sets.

The Lady Dogs will take their last road trip of the district season on Saturday to McDade. The JV Maroon will play at 1:00pm with the Varsity immediately following. The JV Gold has the day off.

The JH Vball came to an end this week with 3 WINS against the Holland Hornets.

Great season Lady Dogs!

Football Updates:

The JV and Junior High football teams took on Johnson City Thursday night and battled hard, but both finished short. 

The varsity football team has moved to 4-3 after a hard fought loss to a tough San Saba team last week. They will travel to Johnson City tonight for a 7pm kick off. We wish the boys good luck as they travel.

Basketball Season:
Can you believe we are approaching basketball season already? Check out the graphic below to save the date for your favorite teams:

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Most sincerely,

Zack Kleypas
Superintendent
Thorndale ISD
#TISDStrivingForExcellence

“Keep improving, always, in all ways.”