Dr. Hudson's Weekly Family Message

One day.

That’s how much time scholars had in the classroom upon their return from Christmas Break.

Scholars and staff were grateful for the extended break that Mother Nature provided last week. We had additional time to re-charge our batteries and return ready to learn.

With school back in session today through May 22, the importance of attendance cannot be understated.

Studies have linked school attendance with higher performance and better educational outcomes for scholars. At the elementary and middle school levels, it is a collaborative effort between parents and scholars. At the high school level, scholars are largely responsible for ensuring that they attend school.

Educators have a role to play as well, in providing engaging content that scholars won’t want to miss.

From a practical standpoint, attendance and state funding are linked, so we’re all in this together.

If a few scholars do not attend, it affects funding for everyone.

The reasons mentioned above are why we will be launching the “Horns Show Up” Attendance campaign to try and boost our attendance numbers in 2025 and beyond. Some of you have asked will we have to extend the school year due to the winter weather days.

Horns Up!

Dr. Gerald B. Hudson

Superintendent

Cedar Hill Independent School District

The Cedar Hill Independent School District and the Cedar Hill ISD Education Foundation (CHEF) will co-host the 2025 CHISD State of the District from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, February 26 at the JoLynn Maddox Teaching & Learning Center, 1533 High Pointe Lane.

The event will provide a comprehensive look at CHISD’s achievements and challenges over the past year. The theme is “Expressions Of Us” with a focus on the district’s Fine Arts Programs.

The Cedar Hill Independent School District mourns the passing of Dr. Peggy M. Wilson, a pillar of the Cedar Hill community, who passed away at age 97 on December 29.

Memorials may be directed to the Dr. Peggy M. Wilson Memorial Fund of the Cedar Hill ISD Education Foundation (CHEF) through this link: https://givebutter.com/DrPeggyMWilson.

CHISD named its Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) Center, 1515 West Belt Line, to honor Wilson in the summer of 2021. Mayfield was born in Austin on March 24, 1927. Wilson, an accomplished scientist, education advocate, and North Texas civic leader, died in Belton, Texas, on December 29, 2024, at the age of 97. She studied at The University of Texas at Austin and became the first female student to earn a Ph.D in Chemistry, in 1952.

She overcame significant barriers to become the first female Ph.D employee at Magnolia Petroleum Company (which is now ExxonMobil) in Dallas, in 1953. She authored numerous technical patents in the United States, Canada and Europe. She retired in 1989 after 36 years with the company.

At that time, Wilson was just getting started in terms of community involvement. She became a leader of Cedar Hill’s economic development program in 1991 and was the first female elected to the Cedar Hill City Council in 1994.

Wilson was the first recipient of the Cedar Hill Chamber of Commerce’s 2001 Golden Cedar Award for Lifetime Achievement. Eleven years later, the City of Cedar Hill honored Wilson with the Distinctive Character Lifetime Achievement Award.