The Pirate Post: giant snow hill, Christmas events, ...

The Pirate Post Community Opportunities, Resources, & Advertising The Pirate Post is intended as a resource for Crandall ISD families. Use this website to learn about activities, events and other programs available for your child within the CISD community. Outside opportunities do not fall under the jurisdiction of Crandall ISD; links are provided for your convenience and are not an endorsement. To request to add a post, email aroberts@crandall-isd.net   North Pole Kaufman is happening THIS weekend! 🎅✨ Join FBC Kaufman Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 PM for their tree lighting, SNOW HILL, crafts, hot chocolate, and a visit with Santa! Address: 1906 W Fair St, Kaufman, TX 75142 Don’t miss the magic! ❄️❤️   🎄 Holiday Story Time! 🎄This Saturday, Dec. 6 Join us at the Crandall-Combine Community Library on Dec. 6 from 10 AM–12 PM for cookie and ornament decorating, a holiday story, a movie, and photos with Santa! 🎅✨ 📍 500 W. Lewis St. Come enjoy some festive fun with the family!   Winter Arts Festivals Are Almost Here! Join us for an unforgettable season of music, art, and holiday magic across Crandall ISD! Heartland Middle School – Tuesday, Dec. 9 Central Middle School – Thursday, Dec. 11 Crandall High School – Tuesday, Dec. 16 Secure your seats now and come support our amazing student performers! Get your tickets: bit.ly/4i1sgyS Or scan the QR code on the flyer! Come celebrate the talent, creativity, and holiday spirit of our Pirate family!   City of Crandall's Hometown Christmas Festival Saturday, December 13th, from 9am to 3pm is the City of Crandall’s “Hometown Christmas” festival! The parade is at 10am, featuring the 25th anniversary of Dr. Seuss' “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”.  Shop, stop, and eat as you stroll craft and food vendors and experience a full day of FREE entertainment – including inflatables, train rides, face painting, balloon twisters, rock wall climbing, and Santa Claus at the gazebo (after the parade) for your holiday pictures. The Hometown Christmas festival is located on Main Street in downtown Crandall. Parking is in various locations, including the lot behind Brookshire Brothers.   Free Food Fridays See dates below for CISD families from 4:30–6:30 PM at Martin Elementary for free food. This is a first come, first served event. We hope to see you there! Martin Elementary | 11601 US Frontage Rd   Creative Talent Clinic Crandall FFA Alumni & Supporters are hosting the Creative Talent Clinic on January 10, 2026 at The Women’s Building in Kaufman, and you’re invited! From mixed-media collage to boot decorating, button art, and even Morse code friendship bracelets — there’s something for every young artist. his Pre-register now and SAVE $5!  www.SupportCrandallFFA.org Workshop Highlights: – Ages 11+ choose between two 9AM workshops – Ages 11 & under join 10AM/11AM classes – Supplies included – Optional entry into the judged showcase at 12:30 PM! Awards for Class 1, Class 2, Adult divisions, plus Grand & Reserve Champions! Don’t miss this hands-on creative experience — rooted in gold and built for all ages!   Free Food Bank - Janis Evans Memorial @ First Baptist Church Crandall 🍞 WHEN: Every 2nd & 4th Saturday WHERE: 400 E. Mowry St., Crandall, TX 75114 COST: FREE Questions: call or text: 972-972-0602   Access local resources with LINKaufman Get instant access to community resources with LINKaufman. Whether you’re seeking support from local non-profits, churches, health services, or other organizations in Kaufman County, this app connects you directly to sources offering support. Find up-to-date contact details, driving directions, hours of operation, and a list of services offered by each organization. Plus, the interactive map makes it easy to locate the services closest to you. Free from Apple and Google. https://thecenterkaufman.org/get-help/  

Thursday, Dec 04 2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, Pirate Nation! Crandall ISD will be closed November 24–28 for Thanksgiving Break. We hope you enjoy a safe, restful, and joyful holiday with family and friends! See you back on Monday, December 1st!

Monday, Nov 24 2025

🍎 This Friday, November 14, is our next CISD Free Fo...

Pirate Families, This Friday, November 14, is our next CISD Free Food Friday. We invite all Pirate families to stop by for free food distribution in partnership with the North Texas Food Bank and The Center. Location: Martin Elementary Address:  11601 US Frontage Rd Time: 4:30–6:30 PM  (or until supplies run out) No registration is required. Families may drive through to pick up items while supplies last. Please feel free to share this information with any Pirate families who may benefit. Thank you for helping us support our Pirate community. Crandall ISD

Tuesday, Nov 11 2025

November 2025 CISD Newsletter

Crusader: District Newsletter Crandall ISD: November News and Updates Dear CISD Community, Welcome to this month’s Crandall ISD Newsletter! Inside, you’ll find key updates and helpful information — including: Exciting district news Voting information Job opportunities ParentSquare tips Important dates to remember And more! Thank you for staying connected and engaged. Together, WE ARE ONE — celebrating student success, supporting our staff, and strengthening our Pirate community every day.   First Division rating at the UIL Marching Contest! We are incredibly proud of our students for earning a First Division rating at the UIL Marching Contest! Their dedication, focus, and hard work throughout the season showed in their performance. It’s a privilege to see their commitment and effort pay off in such a meaningful way. See all the photos from the UIL Region Marching Contest here.   Election Day is this Tuesday, November 4 — your last chance to vote! Crandall ISD is on the ballot, and your vote matters. For about $5 a month, CISD voters can help bring in $4 million annually to support our students and staff through the Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) — also known as the school funding election. This funding is already allocated to: Increase salaries to stay competitive with surrounding districts Support classrooms and student programs Strengthen safety and security Crandall ISD is one of the few districts in our area that has not yet passed a VATRE, which means we currently receive less state funding and have a harder time recruiting and retaining quality teachers and staff. 📽️ Watch Dr. Murry’s short explanation video below to learn how the VATRE works, where the money goes, and why it matters for Crandall ISD or learn more here: www.crandall-isd.net/vatre Spanish Version of Video   Crandall ISD is hiring! With our fast-growing community, we are always looking for great people to join the Pirate family — and right now, we have several immediate openings. Do you know someone who would be a great fit? Please share and help us bring the best to Crandall ISD! Positions 👮 Police Officer Work with students and help keep our schools safe Summers & holidays off Learn more & apply or contact: Chief Timothy Payovich — tpayovich@crandall-isd.net 🚌 Bus Drivers Perfect for stay-at-home parents, retirees, or those wanting flexible hours Training provided — we’ll help you get qualified! Parents can bring their young children (ages 3+) on the bus Apply here or contact: Johnny Cana — jcana@crandall-isd.net 🥗 Child Nutrition / Food Service Staff Work in a positive school environment Enjoy a supportive team culture Help fuel student success every day Apply here or contact: Tim Davis — tdavis@crandall-isd.net Come grow with us — Be a Pirate! 🏴‍☠️ Visit our Careers page to apply and learn more. www.crandall-isd.net/jobs   October Principal Appreciation Month We just ended Principal Appreciation Month! Make sure when you see your child's Principal to thank them for all they do!   Election Day is Tuesday! We hear it often — “Crandall ISD taxes are high.” Let’s take a look. Crandall ISD’s current total tax rate is $1.1692, which is lower than many surrounding districts, including Forney, Kaufman, Royse City, DeSoto, Lancaster, Sunnyvale, and Ennis ISDs. Even if the CISD VATRE passes, we still have a lower tax rate than most districts. These districts can pay teachers more because their VATREs have already passed, raising their Maintenance & Operations (M&O) rates — the portion of school funding that supports salaries and classrooms. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4. For about $5 a month, you can help Crandall ISD fill the gap. Learn more: www.crandall-isd.net/vatre   Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers or Master's degrees Wilson para Ashlyn Chism shares how the Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers changed her life — and how you can apply, too. Don’t miss this opportunity to get financial support and join a community of passionate Texas educators. Follow the link to learn more and apply: https://charlesbuttfdn.smapply.io   ParentSquare Parent Tips - Notifications & Language Settings As we continue improving our communication systems and adjusting to a new tool, we encourage all families to check their ParentSquare settings to ensure you are receiving messages the way that works best for you. FIRST - download the ParentSquare app on your phone or go online to www.parentsquare.com/signin. Sign in using your phone number or email you used when registering your student on Skyward Family Access. Do forgot password, to set a password.  You can update your: Notification Preferences (instant, daily digest, email, text, app alerts) Language Settings (automatic translation available) How to Adjust Your Settings Open the ParentSquare app or log in through the website Tap your Profile in the upper right corner Select Notifications or Language Make any updates needed to customize your experience Watch video tutorials and learn more at www.crandall-isd.net/parentsquare.   What's for Breakfast & Lunch? CISD Food Menus   Free & Reduced Meals Children need healthy meals to learn. Crandall ISD offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $2.25; lunch costs PreK-5th grade is $3.50, and 6-12th grade is $3.75. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-meal prices. Reduced-price is free for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. Contact amitchell@crandall-isd.net for questions. Remember to (re)apply for free or reduced school meals for the 2025-2026 school year online.  Apply here!   Attendance Matters! Did you know that missing just two days a month can add up to 18 days a year—almost an entire month of learning lost? Consistent attendance is one of the biggest predictors of student success. As you plan doctor appointments, family trips, or other events, keep our Fall 2025 “No School” days in mind: Nov. 7, 24–28 Dec. 18 (Early Release), 19, 22–31 Help your student stay on track—every day counts! Find our District Calendar at www.crandall-isd.net/calendars Student Holidays English Student Holidays Spanish   Upcoming Events: Note Student Holidays - no school See all campus calendars here: www.crandall-isd.net/calendars November 2025 Tuesday, November 4: Election Day - CISD is on the ballot  Fri 11/7 • Student Holiday/ Staff Learning Day Saturday, Nov 8 - Crandall Harvest Fest (City) & Battle of the Badges  Mon 11/10, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm • Regular Board Meeting Open Session Friday, November 14 - Free Food Friday at Martin Elementary 4:30=-6:30  Mon 11/24 - Fri 11/28 • Student Holiday/ Staff Holiday December 2025  Mon 12/08, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm • Regular Board Meeting Open Session  Thu 12/18 • Early Release/ End of Semester  Fri 12/19 • Student Holiday/Staff Work Day  Mon 12/22 - Fri 12/26 • Student Holiday/ Staff Holiday  Mon 12/29 - Fri 1/2 • Student Holiday/ Staff Holiday   You have questions. We have answers. Let’s Connect. Crandall ISD is introducing Let’s Connect—an interactive customer service platform designed to provide official feedback for our CISD community. With Let’s Connect, anyone can submit a question, idea, concern, or compliment any time of day—or night—and receive a timely response from a CISD staff member. Let’s Connect will make sure your questions get the correct answers. So, rather than rely on social media for questions and answers, Let’s Connect instead. A connection with any of our departments is just a click away. To start your conversation, simply complete the form below. Let's Connect   Follow us on our socials! www.crandall-isd.net Facebook @CrandallISD Instagram @officialcisd Twitter @officialcisd YouTube @officialcisd

Sunday, Nov 02 2025

Student Meal Support and Application Information

CISD Parents and Guardians, During the ongoing Federal government shutdown, we understand that some families in our Crandall community may be experiencing added stress or financial uncertainty. Please know that the Crandall ISD Child Nutrition Department is here to support you and your students. Our priority has always been ensuring every child has access to healthy, nourishing meals each school day. If your family qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, we encourage your student to participate in both breakfast and lunch at school. As a reminder, as of September 1, all students who qualify for reduced-price meals now receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. All meals served in our schools meet USDA nutrition guidelines, and we take pride in offering options that fuel learning, comfort, and well-being. We also provide multiple entrée choices at breakfast and lunch for students who may not prefer the featured item. Over the coming months, we will also introduce new items, including smoothies and kolaches at breakfast and tamales at lunch. If you have questions, need assistance with the meal application process, or have been impacted by the shutdown and believe your eligibility may have changed, please reach out to our team. You may also complete or update an application online at: www.crandall-isd.net/freereduced In addition, Crandall ISD offers a list of  CISD and  local community support and assistance resources , which may be helpful for families during this time. You can find them here:  www.crandall-isd.net/community-resources Together, we will ensure every child in Crandall ISD is cared for, supported, and ready to learn. Sincerely, Tim Davis Child Nutrition Director & Team tdavis@crandall-isd.net or 972-427-6000

Thursday, Oct 30 2025