tudents at Bill Childress Elementary School, in the Canutillo Independent School District, performed a variety of cultural songs and dances for parents, staff, students, and teachers recently during the annual Mother’s Day Program.
Students performed to a variety of dances including the “Chicken Dance” and “La Raspa”. The choir sang the traditional Mexican favorite “Las Mañanitas”, and second grade students also recited a poem both in English and Spanish.
“Preparing for the Mother’s Day program gives students the opportunity to develop an interest in songs and dances from across the United States and around the world,” said Lorena Salas, Mother’s Day Program Coordinator and BCE teacher.
The Mother’s Day program has been a tradition since 2000 for BCE students. Parents contribute and support students by volunteering and assisting in making the costumes for the performances.

tudents, teachers and staff at Bill Childress Elementary School (BCE), in the Canutillo Independent School District (CISD) recently celebrated Dr. Seuss Reading Day during the National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America Celebration. 

The campus scheduled several activities to commemorate Dr. Seuss Books.  BCE students participated in a poster contest requiring students to draw and color a character from the book, “Horton Hears a Who”; students, teachers and staff wore blue and red; and the school cafeteria served green eggs for breakfast and green applesauce for lunch, students also learned the song, “Read Across America”, and signed a “Pledge to Read” certificate.

The Cat In The Hat was on hand all day, as guest readers visited the BCE library throughout the day to read to each class from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.  Guest readers included Mayor Madeleine Praino of Vinton, employees of the Kohls’ Department Store, CISD administrators, and BCE principal and assistant principal.

“Having individuals from different walks of life read to the students and participate in this event helps stress the importance of literacy in our schools as well as our community,” said Jerrie Wilson, BCE librarian and event coordinator.

ill Childress hosted three science fair events this January 31st, February 7th and 12th. The fair was broken up in a three day events by grade levels. The 4th and 5th grades projects were judged on January 31st, Pre-K, K and 1st were on February 7th and finally the 2nd and 3rd grades were on February 12th.

 On the last day of the fair’s event the parents were invited to view all the projects that were up on display in the gymnasium for a viewing night for all grades.  The turn out was wonderful.  Forty one parents came to see the projects and they showed such pride in their children’s work.

Judges from UTEP’s geology departments, EPCC’s collaborative teams, International Water and Boundary Commission’s biologist and engineers volunteered their time along with our teams such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters, our talented specialists, and middle & high school science teachers from our very own sister campuses in Canutillo. They all came to help out our wonderful science fair. We would like to thank them all for making our students feel like true scientists!

“It was a lot of work, but it was well worth seeing our students shine like stars with their outstanding projects. We know that they worked so hard towards presenting their investigations.” “We had some tough judges, but our kids were up for the challenge and like true Eagles they soared high and proud.” said, Dennise Borunda. “They are all winners at Bill Childress Elementary!!

Bill Childress had a total of 391 science fair entries.  Places are as follows for school wide:
Sweepstakes winners: 35 students to compete in District
First Place: 86 students
Second: 119 students
Third:   103 students