Dekaney High School Students Earn Top Honors at Texas French Symposium
For Spring ISD families, academic competitions often offer a glimpse into what students are capable of beyond daily classroom routines. That was the case late last month, when a group of students from Dekaney High School traveled to Clear Lake to compete in the Texas French Symposium (TFS)—and returned with statewide recognition.
Thirteen students from the Spring campus participated in the annual event, held March 27–28 at Clear Lake High School, joining roughly 600 students from more than 50 schools across Texas. The competition focuses on practical use of the French language, with categories that range from speaking and writing to drama, music, and visual arts.
A Statewide Competition Focused on Real-World Language Skills
Unlike traditional testing environments, the Texas French Symposium is structured to evaluate how well students can apply language skills in realistic and creative settings. Students are asked to interpret, perform, and communicate in French, often in front of judges and live audiences.
For sophomore Maravilha Macosso, the experience stood out for both its challenges and the connections it created.
“I had so much fun,” said sophomore Maravilha Macosso. “After all the hard work, the awards ceremony felt really special. Connecting with students from other schools was a highlight. I even made a TikTok with students we had just met. Even though performing in front of the judges was a little nerve-wracking, I leaned on all the practice and encouragement from my teachers”
Individual Honors Reflect Depth of Student Preparation
Dekaney students placed in multiple categories, signaling a strong showing at a highly competitive event.
Junior Dhalila Rivera earned 4th place in Bande Dessinée (French comic strip), while Macosso placed 6th in Interpretive Reading Comprehension, ranking both among top performers statewide.
“My favorite part of Symposium was exploring all the different ways you can interact with French language and culture,” Rivera said. “Everyone there was so creative—it felt like I found my people.”
Group Performance Advances to Finals
In addition to individual awards, Dekaney’s drama group advanced to finals with their performance of Les Trois Petits Cochons (The Three Little Pigs), delivered entirely in French. The group included Macosso, Taniyah Green, Heylen Hernandez, William Jimenez, and Josiah Russell.
For Jimenez, the event offered a chance to connect personal interests with academic work.
“It was genuinely an interesting experience to combine my love for music and French,” Jimenez said. “I was really proud to make finals, and I’m excited to come back next year and aim even higher.”
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Educators Emphasize Growth Beyond the Classroom
Teachers involved in the program said the competition provides a different kind of learning environment—one where students can build on skills that aren’t always visible during regular instruction.
“What impressed me most was seeing just how much talent our students have that often goes beyond what we can fully showcase in a traditional classroom,” said French teacher Jennifer Daniels. “With Symposium, we were able to build on their strengths and push them to take communication off the page and truly connect with an audience. Every student kept raising their own ceiling, and that’s something incredibly special to witness.”
Daniels noted that preparation extended well beyond class time, with students attending extra practices, refining performances, and applying feedback over several weeks.
District Support Behind the Scenes
The effort was supported by multiple educators across campuses, including French teachers Jennifer Daniels and Myriam Remond of Dekaney High School and Terrell Quillin of Spring High School.
At the district level, Kathryn Heinze, Spring ISD LOTE/World Languages Multilingual Coordinator, coordinated logistics and helped ensure students had the resources needed to participate.
“These experiences are where learning truly comes to life,” Heinze said. “Our students are not just studying a language—they are finding their voice, building confidence and learning how to connect with others in meaningful ways. When we create opportunities like this, we’re not only preparing them for academic success, we’re preparing them to thrive in a global world.”
What It Means for Spring ISD Families
For families in Spring ISD, outcomes like this point to how academic programs—particularly in world languages—are being applied in meaningful ways. Competitions like the Texas French Symposium give students opportunities to test their skills in unfamiliar settings, work collaboratively, and engage with peers from across the state.
They also highlight the role of preparation, mentorship, and consistency in student achievement—factors that extend beyond a single event.
With this year’s results, Dekaney students have already set a foundation for future participation, as many look ahead to returning to the competition next year.
For continued coverage of Spring ISD student achievements and local education news, stay connected with My Neighborhood News.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.