COUPLAND NEWS
Coupland Civic Organization
Coupland residents enjoyed their annual National Night Out Aug. 6 on the grounds of the Historic Depot.
The Coupland Civic Organization served free hot dogs with homemade cookies.
Barbara Piper, mayor pro tem and depot coordinator, introduced the speakers: Coupland Independent School District Superintendent Earl Parcell, Emergency Services District No. 10 Chief Mark Moellenberg, Williamson County Precinct 4 Constable Paul Leal and Williamson County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Ray Killebrew.
Plan ahead for the annual Choo Choo Fest Oct. 20 at St. Peter’s Church, 108 Wathen St. The barbecue dinner will be prepared by Coupland’s master chef Peter Wabbel and will include sausage, pork loin and chicken drumsticks. Serving will begin at 11:15 a.m. and continue until the food runs out. CCO members will provide homemade sides of potato salad, coleslaw and beans.
Desserts will be available from one of the famous Coupland bake sales. Merchandise will be for sale, including the collectible Caboose T-shirts in new colors.
From noon-2 p.m., the Kiddie Express train will be giving free rides around Coupland. Also during the same time, the free Homestead Petting Zoo will return.
It was a big hit last year with both children and their parents.
The nonprofit CCO depends on Choo Choo Fest, its biggest fundraiser, to provide financial support to the Historic Depot and caboose.
Coupland School Before school started, teachers at Coupland School participated in professional development, collaborating and learning about the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS, Resource System and TExGUIDE.
“Aligned with TEKS Resource System curriculum, TExGUIDE ensures that instructional materials and activities are closely aligned with state standards, promoting coherence and consistency in teaching,” according to a statement from Educational Service Center Region13.
The school hosted Cowboy Corral on Aug.
2 for sixth, seventh and eighth graders. The school provided pizza for lunch.
“The students met their teachers, did team building and picked out lockers,” Assistant Principal Kate Knapek said. “We had so much fun at Cowboy Corral.
The students helped define ‘The Cowboy Way.’” The school hosted Meet the Teacher Night Aug. 8, and Aug. 14 was the first day back to classes.
In September, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new middle school will be held, and construction will begin.
The campus opens in August 2026.
Johanna Hill organized a Back-to-School Evening of Prayer at the school on Aug.
12. Attendees met on the steps of the school and prayed for the new school year with the students and staff.
Johanna said attendees came together as a community and prayed for “the best little school in Texas.”
St. Peter’s Church of Coupland
St. Peter’s Church, 108 Wathen St., holds Adult Sunday School starting with coffee in the conference room at 9 a.m. Sundays, followed by discussion at 9:15 a.m. On the last Sunday of each month, the congregation enjoys lunch at the church or a local restaurant. On Aug. 25, a potluck lunch was held at the church with special music by the Johnson family.
While St. Peter’s searches for an interim pastor, guest pastors were Gerald Metzger Aug. 4, Arlene Turner Aug. 11 and Carl Schwartz-King Aug. 18.
St. Peter’s is offering rides to church. If you need a ride or can volunteer to give someone a lift in the Coupland, Taylor or Elgin area, call Charlotte Albert at 512924-3335 or email charlottealbert66@ gmail. com.
The St. Peter’s Community Senior Luncheons are on the third Tuesday of oddnumbered months, hosted by the ladies group.
The next luncheon is 11 a.m. Sept. 17. The Senior Luncheons are free, but donations are accepted. If attendees want to play bingo, bring a bingo prize worth $10. Coupland School students have been helping with serving and cleanup, and their service is appreciated very much, organizers said.
St. Peter’s hosts Community Play Days on the playground, which is open daily from dawn to dusk with equipment for children ages 2 to 12; new gear has been added. There is a covered sports court with basketball hoops and balls, and a moveable pickleball net. The church provides free frozen ice pops.
The special offering for August goes to the Coupland School Supplies Fund. Coffee Connections is 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the conference room for coffee and visiting. The community is welcome.
St. Peter’s has been publishing a monthly newsletter mailed to the community. It is now online.
“The PDF version of the St. Peter’s newsletter is packed full of information and color photos,” Dana Smith said. “We’ve added two extra pages of photos at the end.”
You can read the newsletter online by clicking the “Newsletter” button at the top of the website at StPetersCoupland.org.
Contact the church at [email protected] or call 512856-2433.
