Thorndale ISD

Volume 2, Issue 10: 1/17/25

Greetings Bulldogs! Happy Friday.

No School Monday - MLK Day:

Please enjoy this long weekend for its historical importance and as a great way to catch your breath and get healthy. Recently, many students and staff have been hit by the flu. strep, or other cold weather sickness. 

Please keep washing your hands and don't eat or drink after others!

Winter Weather on the Forecast:

I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the process that guides us for school closures and delays.

If you look at the weather forecast below, Tuesday of next week has the combo of freezing temperatures and precipitation. Thus, we will be watching that weather closely on Monday to make decisions.

First, as many of you have experienced, I have experienced school being canceled and the weather changing to being sunny and perfect. I have also experienced schools NOT closing and then the weather takes a turn for the worse and accidents and issues pop up because of it.

Thus, I like to err on the side of caution IF the immediate predictions and circumstances warrant it, especially since we have many county roads that become even harder to navigate.

I will be on numerous superintendent and meteorologist regional Zoom calls leading into Tuesday to see how the weather progresses.

Ideally, we will have enough information to make a decision Monday afternoon (I am NOT a fan of “day of” decisions unless of course they are warranted by changes). If it is too hard to tell if a closure is necessary, then our scout team which typically includes folks from our transportation department, some city staff, and sometimes myself will carefully navigate a few areas around the district early in the morning on Tuesday to check the conditions.

If the call is made for a delay or closure we will use parent square for staff and for parents, as well as the website and social media to notify everyone. 

So… stay tuned and stay warm!

School Board Appreciation Month:

There are a lot of people who help make Thorndale ISD excellent, but probably none have a more thankless role than that of a school board member. Countless hours of volunteering their time, attention, and energy towards policies, procedures, events, meetings, functions, etc. etc. etc.

I have seen many school boards in my time as an educator, and it is easy for me to say that we are VERY lucky that we have such a good group. They are devoted to our students, our staff, and our community and I think it shows clearly in the decision we make for our district.

So, the next time you see any of those folks, please help me by thanking them for all that they do.

• David Hall, School Board President
• Kimberly Biar, School Board Vice President
• Ann Glenn, School Board Secretary
• Kirk Becker, School Board Member
• Adam Fisher, School Board Member
• Kimberly Jordan, School Board Member
• Taylor Rowe, School Board Member

THSBCA Assistant Coach of the Year!!!:

Congratulations Coach Kirk Wagner!

We are thrilled to announce that Coach Wagner has been awarded the 2A Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) Assistant Coach of the Year! This is an incredible honor, and we are so proud of his dedication and hard work. Well-deserved, Coach Wagner!

TISD Alumni Spotlight December:

January Alumni Spotlight: Courtney Melde, Class of 2009

Thorndale ISD is proud to shine the spotlight on one of our outstanding alumni, Courtney Melde, from the Class of 2009. Throughout her time at Thorndale, Courtney was a vibrant and active student, participating in various athletics including volleyball, basketball, cross country, track, and tennis. Her dedication extended beyond sports, as she was also a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and Thorndale Cares.

Courtney's journey after high school is a testament to her perseverance and ambition. After graduating from Thorndale High School, she pursued higher education at Concordia University in Austin, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry in 2012. Driven by her passion for medicine, she worked at a surgery center for two years before taking a significant step to Grenada to attend medical school. Courtney spent two years in Grenada completing her basic sciences before transitioning to New Jersey/New York City for her clinical rotations, where she gained invaluable hands-on experience in diverse medical settings.

Achieving a major milestone, Courtney graduated with her Medical Degree and embarked on her Family Medicine Residency in Temple, Texas. Her dedication and excellence did not go unnoticed, as she was named Resident of the Year for 2020-2021. Additionally, she took on the role of Chief Resident during her third year of residency, demonstrating her leadership skills and commitment to her field.

In a joyous turn of events, Courtney married Caleb Melde in the fall of her final year of residency, stepping into her new roles as a wife and bonus mom to three wonderful children, all on the same day. By June 2023, she celebrated another significant achievement by becoming a board-certified Family Medicine Physician. Today, Courtney resides with her family in Granbury, Texas, where her children attend Glen Rose Intermediate and Junior High. Her husband, Caleb, works as a Physical Therapist, while Courtney serves as an Attending Physician at Baylor Scott and White in Fort Worth, continuing to make a positive impact in her community.

Reflecting on her time at Thorndale ISD, Courtney fondly recalls her junior year when Coach Dickerson printed "DR" for Drum Roll on the basketball team shirts. That year, the team reached the state tournament and had the incredible opportunity to play at the Drum/Erwin Center. Although they didn't win state, the experience remains a cherished memory, especially as they witnessed the boys' team achieve back-to-back state championships. These moments encapsulate the essence of teamwork, perseverance, and community spirit that Courtney holds dear.

Courtney encourages current students to immerse themselves in teams or organizations such as athletics, band, UIL, or FFA. She believes the lessons learned from being part of a team are invaluable, fostering personal growth, resilience, and a sense of belonging that extends beyond school years.

Thorndale ISD is incredibly proud of Courtney's achievements and the positive impact she continues to make in her community and profession. Her journey from a dedicated student-athlete to a compassionate physician exemplifies the spirit and resilience of our Bulldog alumni. Courtney’s story serves as an inspiration, showing that with dedication, hard work, and a supportive community, remarkable achievements are within reach.

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

To read about prior Alumni Spotlight individuals, click here: TISD Alumni Spotlight 

(Action Item) Reminder - Summer Meals Survey:

Thorndale ISD has been offered the opportunity to participate in the Summer Feeding Program (SFP). The Texas Department of Agriculture funds the SFP to ensure all children (not just students) have access to a FREE breakfast and a FREE lunch during the summer when school is out.

Who Qualifies:

ANY child from newborn to 18 years qualifies for this free opportunity. Also, currently enrolled students with disabilities (SPED or 504) up to the age of 21 qualify. Adults are welcome to get a meal as well, for the low price of $4.00 for breakfast and $6.00 for lunch.

NOTE: Students do NOT need to qualify for free or reduced lunch during the school year to participate in these free summer meals.

The Process:

The Thorndale ISD cafeteria would be open in the morning for breakfast and then later for lunch. The meal would be prepared in the Thorndale ISD kitchen, similar to our daily meal process during the school year. Breakfast and lunch menu options would vary from day to day. Individuals will be able to get their meal and eat it in our cafeteria or to go.

NOTE: Thorndale ISD will NOT be providing transportation.

Interest Form:

Before Thorndale ISD starts this process, we need to know if students/families in the community would utilize this great opportunity. Please use the quick questionnaire below to let us know if you think this is something you would take advantage of.

Please click this link to complete the form:  SURVEY FORM  (Due by Tuesday, 1/21/25)

2024-25 Thorndale ISD Yearbooks Pre-Orders:

The 2024 - 2025 Yearbooks are available for pre-order. Go toFacebook Facebookyearbookordercenter.com, job #6682 to pre-order yours today.

Please reach out to Mrs. Bouldin at lacie.bouldin@thorndale.txed.net with any questions.

Basketball Updates:

The boys & girls have been battling hard in district play since the Christmas break. Both teams are looking good to start the season. The boys are currently sitting in 1st place in the district and the girls are in 2nd. Come join us tonight for some great games vs. Milano!

In case you missed it, the teams played in some tournaments recently and here are some results!

The Boys Varsity team won 3rd place in the silver bracket at the Tenaha Tournament taking down Frankston in a great game 65-53. Sophomore Case McDaniel named all tournament team!!

Last week, the 7th and 8th Grade both finish 2nd at Mumford Tournament each beating Snook and losing to Mumford.

Thorndale FFA:

Thorndale FFA members Riley Clinard and Riley Shock attended the Texas FFA Excellence Leadership Conference at Texas A&M in College Station on Monday January 13th.

About Made For Excellence conference:

These conferences foster professional growth and empower students to harness their unique strengths. Focusing on the wisdom, courage, and resilience needed to thrive, it equips participants with the tools to grow as confident leaders who can inspire and influence others and empowers them to build a strong foundation for their future.

Thorndale FFA kicked off their CDE judging season at the Brazos County Expo horse judging contest. Congratulations to Grace, Layne, and Hestin on a successful contest!

Results: 8th place team overall, 8th place team halter, 7th place team performance, and 4th place team questions. Grace also placed 10th individually in the halter classes.

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Most sincerely,

Zack Kleypas
Superintendent
Thorndale ISD
#TISDStrivingForExcellence

“Keep improving, always, in all ways.”