Coupland held Choo Choo Fest Oct. 15

Coupland held Choo Choo Fest Oct. 15

Susan Garry Coupland columnist

Coupland Civic Organization

The Coupland Civic Organization met Monday, Sept. 25, in the Fellowship Hall of St. Peter’s Church of Coupland. Attendees enjoyed a taco salad supper followed by two speakers. Michael Roepke, Vice President of the Coupland Independent School District board of trustees, presented a design and construction update on the new middle school and other news about the school.

The School Board wants to work with the community; they have placed a community representative on the design committee, Susan Schmidt, the CCO President. Two board members, Terry Wallin and Mike Welch, have resigned, and it is unclear how they will be replaced.

Following Roepke, there was a talk by Will Vermillion, owner of Vermillion Farms, an environmentally controlled greenhouse in the Coupland area that uses aeroponic technology to produce leafy greens, vegetables, and herbs.

Aeroponics is similar to hydroponics but instead of the root system growing in water it grows in air. The 4300-square-foot environmentally controlled greenhouse contains over 100 towers of fresh produce.

The annual Choo Choo Fest was held at St.

Peter’s Church on Oct.

15. Coupland’s Master Chef Peter Wabbel provided a barbecue dinner with pork loin, sausage, and chicken drumsticks.

CCO members provided homemade sides of potato salad, cole slaw, and beans. There was a bake sale, and Coupland T-shirts and other items were for sale. The silent auction offered art, crafts, décor items, toys, vintage items and more.

Kids, and their parents, too, enjoyed the Georgetown Homestead Mobile Petting Zoo.

Owned by Jaycee Ortiz and Austin Luke, the zoo provided an entertaining and educational look at a calf, goats, sheep, pig, rabbits, ducks, chickens, prairie dog, ground hog, sugar glider and assorted lizards.

On Sunday, Oct. 29, at 6 p.m. in front of St.

Peter’s Church the CCO will sponsor Halloween Trunk or Treat. Residents decorate trunks or SUV’s with Halloween decorations, wear costumes, and hand out treats to the children. There will also be games. Trunk or Treat is a safe and fun way to celebrate Halloween.

Coupland School

Susan Schmidt, Coupland Civic Organization President, reports, “I am the community member on the design team for the new Middle School. It was a pleasure to see the Claycomb Architect firm in action. The team met with teachers, coaches, technology director, and librarian to discuss the wishes for the new Middle School.” She adds that progress has been made toward construction of the Middle School. A survey company, geo-tech company, and an at-risk construction company have been hired.

Schmidt notes that Michael Roepke, Vice President of Coupland Independent School District School Board, spoke at the CCO’s September meeting. He announced that every other month, beginning in November, two board members will be present to meet with members of the community to let them know what is going on in the district as well as an opportunity for community members to address any concerns.

Schmidt says, “If you want to keep abreast of happenings with the School Board or there is an issue you would like to discuss, plan on attending these meetings.”

Assistant Principal Kate Knapek says, “We had an amazing turn out for our second annual Cultural Night. Our second through fifth graders and our eighth-grade Spanish students sang songs they learned in Mrs. Delancey’s Spanish Class.” Parents brought dishes from different countries, including Germany, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, El Salvador and Mexico.

Knapek says, “Thank you to Donna Reynolds and Kara Kerlin of Citizens National Bank and our Coupland community for the generous donation of school supplies. We are so thankful to have such amazing support from our community.”

The Cowboys and Cowgirls football and volleyball teams are having great seasons.

Congratulations to Coaches Rinderknecht, Lester and Moore. This year, the school is having pep rallies to celebrate the teams and UIL participants, and to promote school spirit. The new pep squad leads the rallies.

Regarding Grandparent’s Day Breakfast, Knapek notes, “Thank you to our amazing cafeteria staff.

Martina Pena, Bertin Arellano, Josie Nira and Christina Alderete for preparing meals for about 130 grandparents.”

St. Peter’s Church of Coupland

Charlotte Albert announces that the November Senior Luncheon has a new date due to Thanksgiving.

She says, “We will have Senior Luncheon on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 11:15 a.m. This will be our traditional Thanksgiving luncheon, serving turkey, dressing, and the trimmings. Bingo and 42 dominoes will follow the meal.”

Pastor Scott Wasdin will continue the sermon series for October and November taken from the Parables of Jesus.

Coffee Connections is every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room.

On Oct. 19, the St. Peter’s Diners met at Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in Hutto, coordinated by Jim and Cindy Alexander. St. Peter’s celebrated Kirchenfest (church festival) on Oct.

22, which honored past Confirmation graduates and celebrated the history of the church. Attendees enjoyed a catered dinner.

Everyone is welcome at St. Peter’s worship services at 10:15 a.m. on Sundays. For more, email stpeterscoupland@gmail. com or go to the website stpeterscoupland.org and click on the calendar link at the top.