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Veterans Tied Into Fabric of Spring Branch

November 21, 2014, 4:46 pm
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Many of the veterans recognized and honored at Spring Forest have ties to the school, the community, or both. Former Army 1st Lt. Jim Duncan, who lives in Wilchester West and whose two oldest children went to Spring Forest, fought in the Korean War. He said that after talking with younger veterans, particularly those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, he’s encouraged by their dedication to service.

Read about the Veterans Day Celebration at Spring Forest Middle >>

“For my generation, it’s reassuring,” said Duncan, dressed Tuesday in a dress uniform from the Korean War era.

Duncan said that he’s the “black sheep” of his family – his father and uncle were career military. His father was a balloon observer in World War I, then later served as a commander in World War II. His uncle, James, was a machine gunner in World War I.

“The military’s been part of my family’s life,” he said.

View photos of the Spring Forest Veterans Day Event >>

For Perry Sontag, a co-teacher at Spring Forest, military service was just as important if somewhat less recognized when he served in the Air Force, from 1984 to 1988. “I think it’s great the way they honor veterans now,” he said. “When we served, there wasn’t the same level of respect.”

Sontag served as a morse code operator/analyst in England and at the National Security Agency during his enlistment, then earned a teaching degree and a master’s in counseling after discharge. He taught at Housman Elementary for 10 years, then after a brief stint in Cy-Fair ISD he returned to Spring Branch ISD and Spring Forest Middle.

He said events such as the one at Spring Forest are special.

“I look around at others who have served and it makes me proud to be a part of it all,” he said.

Librarian Richard Fanning spent four years in the Air Force – two years in the security service in Thailand near the end of the war in Vietnam, then two years as a medical technician at Lackland AFB (so he could with be his wife, Diane, now a district iCoach). A teacher since 1999, Fanning has taught at Channelview High School, Spring Woods High School and Spring Forest.

He like the veteran’s event for a number of reasons. For the students, he said, it’s “primary source learning.” But for Fanning personally, it’s far more than that.

“Before I experienced this (at Spring Forest) I had never been honored for my service,” he said. “It means a lot to me.”
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Class of 2014 Good Neighbors Celebration Marks Partnership High

November 21, 2014, 6:15 pm
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A record 220 separate partnerships were honored during the recent, ninth annual Good Neighbor Recognition Program held at the Omni Houston Hotel Westside.

Recognized Nov. 6 at the annual dinner and program were individuals, groups, campuses and organizations that perform three or more activities that support Spring Branch ISD, an individual school, or the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF).

Highlights during the annual celebration event included a tribute to Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann, Ed.D., who will retire by next summer, and several  singing performances by the 60-member Landrum Middle School Advanced Choir. The choir, under the direction of Jaime Trigo, includes Landrum Middle School and KIPP Courage charter program seventh- and eighth-grade students. Both groups are based at Landrum Middle.

View Good Neighbor celebration photos >>

SBISD Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman led the public tribute to Dr. Klussmann early in the evening program. During a point of personal privilege, she described how the superintendent changed her life when he asked her to become a community relations officer.

“In the same way we aim to instill in every student the belief that they can achieve more than they think possible – you did the same for me!,” she proclaimed, saying in her tribute much more:

“Tonight, as our Good Neighbor program launches its milestone 10th year – and as you enjoy your milestone 10th and last year as a our superintendent – on behalf of everyone in this ballroom who has been privileged to work with you as parents, partners, volunteers and community members to bring to fruition the key tenet of our Good Neighbor program – that the Spring Branch ISD area is the best place in Houston to live, work, play, raise a family and educate kids. We thank you for valuing the notion that together, we are better.”

Six community members and former colleagues joined Mrs. Buchman on stage to honor Dr. Klussmann with an award and recognition as a special member of the Class of 2014 Good Neighbors. They were part of the first Good Neighbor event and organizing group.

They included District A Houston City Councilwoman Brenda Stardig; Shadow Oaks Elementary Principal Julie Baggerly; Al Russell, retired community member; Spring Branch Management District Director Victor Alvarez; Spring Branch Family Development Executive Director Ricardo Barnes; and former district Partners in Volunteer Programs Manager Sue Loudis, who is also retired.

“We have one of the greatest school district superintendents in the whole country,” Councilwoman Brenda Stardig said. “Because of Duncan Klussmann being such a Good Neighbor, we are all Good Neighbors.”

Superintendent Klussmann thanked everyone for the award, but joked that he heard a new research report on the radio recently that suggests school superintendents are the least effective agents for student achievement gains. “All these kind words here are so nice, but all of you had the greatest impact on what we do,” he said.

In prepared remarks, Dr. Klussmann focused on the need for the district to remain committed to the Spring Branch Plan T-2-4 Goal to double the number of students completing a technical certification, military training, or two- or four-year college or university degree.

Nationally, only a third of students who enroll complete college, and those who do graduate from college tend to be from affluent families (82 percent) versus those in low-income households (8 percent). African-American and Latino students are less likely than white students to graduate, too.

“We can’t sustain what we are and have been as a state or country with those rates of completion, or those statistics,” he said. “And we can’t sustain our standards of living in this state with those kinds of numbers. The work we need to do is great.”

Despite his recent retirement announcement, Dr. Klussmann remains committed to making sure that all students achieve the district’s T-2-4 goals and their promise in the future. To help T-2-4 happen, the number of Good Neighbor partnerships and adult mentors needs to double. “We can never stop doing this work in the Spring Branch community,” he said.

Six separate individuals, groups and programs were highlighted in a special video. They include:
  • Nexen Petroleum USA Inc.:This energy corporation provided employees to mentor students at Woodview Elementary School through the SpringBoard Mentoring program. Nexen supports the Spring Woods High School theater arts program financially, and provided support for and judged the J. Landon Short Mini-Grant awards program.
  • Stratford High School Community: Among more than a dozen community projects, Stratford High School hosted a school wide Saturday event called Big Day of Service, during which 500 students gathered to help many area businesses and residents clean up, beautify and improve the neighborhoods surrounding Stratford. The high school is led by Principal Chris Juntti.
  • Assistance League of Houston: This nonprofit group donated free uniform packages to about 800 district students through its annual Operation School Bell program. The League gave scholarships to 12 district seniors, and also supports Payless Shoe Vouchers for students who need shoes.
  • Sandra Newton: Sandra Newton, who helps students and families navigate the college admissions process through her business, The College Resource Center, has volunteered nine years with SBISD’s own Collegiate Challenge program, which helps many of our high school students move from college dreams to admissions and scholarships. She mentors and co-coordinates the Spring Woods High Collegiate Program, provides mentor training, and also has conducts annual Parent U sessions on higher education preparation and essay writing.
  • Memorial Drive United Methodist Church: At Thornwood Elementary alone, this congregation stepped up to provide lunch for teachers and staff, dinners for families at Literacy Night, new cabinets for the Parent Center Room and development help for the Blessings in a Backpack program. In addition, this church’s volunteers serve many other schools, and it supports and organizes mentors for Hollibrook Elementary, Northbrook Middle, and Northbrook and Spring Woods high schools.
  • Seitel: Doctor Seuss Day at Panda Path School for Early Learning would not be the success it is without Seitel’s many volunteers who read with students, don Seuss hats, perform “Cat in the Hat,” and provide each student a Doctor Seuss hat and book. Seitel’s volunteers are active in the Collegiate Challenge program and they mentor 18 students at Spring Oaks Middle through the SpringBoard Mentoring program, too, among other activities.

The60-member Landrum Middle School Advanced Choir, led by director Jaime Trigo, wowed the ballroom crowd with stunning performances of “Circle of Life” from The Lion King and Katy Perry’s “Roar” with its uplifting chorus. The young singers won standing ovations.

Joining Director Trigo was KIPP Courage instructor Jason Farovitch, who played bass; KIPP fifth-grade student Josue Iglesias, on drums; Landrum Middle eighth-grader Joshua Rosendo, keyboards; and three student soloists – Landrum Middle eighth-graders Blanca Rendon and Kristen Reyes, and seventh-grader Ja’Liyah  Holmes of KIPP Courage.

The Good Neighbor program is coordinated by Abby Walker with considerable help and support by Community Relations and Communications team members.
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Two SBISD Schools Join SPARK Week Celebration

November 24, 2014, 12:18 pm
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Dedication ceremonies were held at two Spring Branch ISD campuses on Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 to mark the 31st year of the SPARK School Park Program, which has now built and opened 200 campus-based, family friendly parks across Houston.

Six schools were featured during Spark Week, including SBISD’s Spring Forest Middle and Pine Shadows Elementary schools in SBISD. Dedications were also held at four HISD campuses.

Most  of SBISD’s 18 Spark Parks are based at elementary schools, but the Nov. 18 dedication at Spring Forest Middle School showed what can happen when students, parents and a school team dream big about a secondary-level campus.

Spring Forest’s new Spark Park includes a giant, two-story wall mosaic of 190 flags at the entrance of the school created by students and artist Rose Toro. “Flags represent what it means to be a multicultural campus in the middle of a big, multicultural city like Houston,” the artist said after the recent dedication.

The middle school art project incorporates mosaics into several murals or related signs. Mosaics were installed at the entrance to the music and fine arts wing. Mosaic sports balls and an inspirational word wall stand at the rear of the school.

Highlights include a huge, spirited Bobcat painting on the competition gym wall; large, colorful banners posted at the rear entrance; welcome signage front and back; inspirational courtyard quotations; a multi-use sport court; and native Texas landscaping, new benches and trash cans.

Stratford High School senior Andrew Ford, a Spring Forest Middle School graduate, put more than 50 hours of work into the acrylic Bobcat painting. A fan of classic modern auto design, the senior had never before painted such a large animal figure.

“I was skeptical at first about doing it, but I was glad that I did,” said Ford as he stood next to his large-scale work. His future goal is an industrial design career.

Jennifer Bradshaw, Spring Forest Middle’s PTA Park Project chair, said that students had sold lollipops and the PTA held a letter-writing campaign to families, area businesses and firms. The group was able to raise more than $80,000 through candy sales and letter appeals.

SPARK Park donors are listed on a huge, “Giving Tree” style mosaic of glass and tiles. Other funding for the park includes $5,000 from SBISD and $10,000 from SPARK.

The Spring Forest Middle School Park dedication event included remarks by SBISD leaders. Houston City Council’s Jack Christie, a three-term SBISD and State Board of Education board member, told students and parents to think positively about their middle school.

Student groups performed songs and dance routines as part of the indoor dedication, which was held inside due to cold weather.

“You are in Spring Branch, Texas, the best place in the world, and Spring Forest Middle School, the best school in the world!” Christie exclaimed. (See detailed list of dedication special guests at Spring Forest Middle below.) 

Dedication ceremonies for Pine Shadows Elementary’s SPARK Park were held Nov. 19. The new park, called a re-SPARK project, resulted from the rebuilding of the elementary school as part of the 2007 Bond program. Thirteen elementaries have been or are being rebuilt under the plan.
 
The Pine Shadows Park includes new playground equipment and an outdoor classroom. The four-seat walls of the outdoor classroom are decorated with student-made tiles. Art teacher Alyssa Beauchamp and a SPARK Park artist, Rose Toro, assisted students.

The Pine Shadows project cost roughly $125,000, of which $98,000 was paid for by Community Development Block Grant funds obtained through the City of Houston. The park design was led by SHW Group, LLP, now called Stantec.

Pine Shadows PTA, staff and student fundraising efforts included the sale of commemorative bricks, SPARK Park T-shirts, water bottles, and appeals for donations. Spring Branch ISD has donated $5,000. Other donations included $5,000 from Harris County Precinct 4, Jack Cagle’s office, and $10,000 from Spring Branch Management District. Bayou City Fellowship made a donation to the school-community park, also.

Special guest speakers at the outdoors Pine Shadows dedication included Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig and Neal Rackleff with the City of Houston’s Housing and Community Development Dept.

“I went to school next door at Spring Woods Junior High,” Councilwoman Stardig said. “I want to thank the SPARK Park Board for being here once again, and stepping up with another project. This we know: SPARK Parks help the neighborhood and schools.”

The City of Houston’s Neal Rackleff noted that President Barack Obama, through federal funds used to build the park, deserved some public credit. As a first-generation college graduate, and a law school graduate, he encouraged students in the Pine Shadows Fifth-Grade Choir to reach for the stars in their own lives.

“Education has been a huge blessing in my life. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t go on to college, or find your dream!” he proclaimed.
Spring Branch ISD Superintendent Duncan Klussmann, Ed.D., praised the ongoing commitment of the district and the SPARK Park Board and its dedicated executive director, Kathleen Ownby. (See detailed list of dedication event special guests at Pine Shadows Elementary below)
Dedications were hosted at four HISD campuses: Chavez High School, Revere Middle School, and Helms and Port Houston elementary schools.

Spring Forest Middle School SPARK Park – Dedication Details

Spring Forest Middle School is featured inside the new 2015 SPARK Art Calendar for June.
Trees for Houston, with assistance by volunteers from College of Wooster, planted 30 trees.

Special Guests included the following:
  • Emily Taylor with District 7 U.S. Rep. John Culberson’s office presented a flag flown over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
  • Wendi Lojo with Texas Sen. Dan Patrick’s office presented a flag that flew over the Capitol in Austin.
  • Deanna Harrington with District 133 Texas Rep. Jim Murphy’s office presented a certificate of recognition.
  • Spring Forest Principal Kaye Williams, Ed.D., was master of ceremonies for the event.
  • Spring Forest Middle Spark Committee and PTA members Jennifer Bradshaw, Alison White and Roxanne Yose were introduced.
  • Stratford High student and artist Andrew Ford was introduced as a special student artist.
  • Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan made special remarks.
  • SBISD Associate Superintendent Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D., represented the district superintendent.
  • SBISD Trustee and Spark Board Member Chris Gonzalez made special remarks.
  • SBISD Spark Liaison Kris Drosche attended representing SBISD Planning and Construction.
  • SPARK Board members Michele Fraga and Massoud Dioun attended.
  • Also scheduled to attend were Al Sloan with College of Wooster and Trees for Houston representatives.

Pine Shadows Elementary re-SPARK – Dedication Details

Pine Shadows Elementary is featured in the 2015 SPARK Park calendar for November.
All Pine Shadows students received a SPARK Coloring Book to celebrate the occasion.
Trees for Houston with Carlson Wagonlit Travel volunteers planted 26 park trees.

Special Guests included the following:
  • Pine Shadows Elementary Principal Joyce Olson helped dedicate the new SPARK Park.
  • The lead architect was Ashlea Hogancamp, and the contractor was E-Contractors.
  • Heather Ramsay of District 2 U.S. Rep. Ted Poe’s office presented a flag that flew over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
  • Texas State Rep. Dwayne Bohac’s office provided a flag that flew over the Texas Capitol.
  • Brenda Deruen of Texas Sen. District 15 John Whitmire’s office presented a certificate of recognition.
  • SPARK Park artist Rose Toro attended.
  • Elizabeth Stinsman with Precinct 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle attended.
  • SBISD Trustee and Spark Board Member Chris Gonzalez made special remarks.
  • David and Josh Hawes with the Spring Branch Management District attended.
  • SBISD Spark Liaison Kris Drosche represented SBISD Planning and Construction.
  • SPARK Board members Michele Fraga, Mark Lee and Massoud Dioun attended.

For more SPARK Park information:
www.sparkpark.org
(832) 393-0911 
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Valley Oaks Students Have Kid’s Eye View

November 24, 2014, 1:18 pm
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Several Valley Oaks Elementary students may become TV stars soon as a segment from their “Kid’s Eye View: Real World, Real Fun,” travel and culture video show is broadcast twice in the weeks ahead on KHOU-TV Channel 11.

The student-based holiday special, titled “Kid’s Eye View, the Hunt for Holiday Magic,” will be broadcast 7-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, after the highly popular SEC Championship Football Game. A re-broadcast of the special is planned at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Program hosts are Valley Oaks Elementary students Delaney Polocheck, a fifth-grader, and younger sister, Nicki Polocheck, who is in third grade. Their mom is Jeanne Polocheck, who is a former TV11 producer.

Other Valley Oaks students featured in this program are fifth-graders Shelby Rall, Carson Zahn and Dominic Bujanos, and third-graders Campbell Zahn and Jeanette Belt.

The new, student-focused program, “Kid’s Eye View: Real World, Real Fun,” will be part of permanent programming in the Children’s Museum of Houston in 2015, airing in the museum’s Brown Auditorium.

Jeanne Polocheck left the television station to produce the travel and culture show and to encourage more Texas families to explore their world. Her family shot first season segments in France, Spain, Italy, Austria and Germany.

Narrated by her daughter, Delaney, with cameos by Nicki, she gives parent views and trip tips so that families can plan their own adventures. In the first season, the segments included an art conservator in Madrid, a Mediterranean spear fisherman, truffle farmers in the Provence region of France, and a chaplain to Monaco’s royal family.

“Kid’s Eye View introduces culture and travel to kids in a fun and entertaining way, while they’re learning what life is like around the world,” Polocheck says.

She hopes the series will win new fans in the classroom, too, and be introduced into classroom curriculums in the future.
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Jason Project Researcher Will Speak on Next-Generation Spacecraft

November 24, 2014, 2:52 pm
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Jason Project researcher and Boeing Space Exploration mechanical engineer Tony Castilleja Jr. will speak about his passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and how it influenced his studies and career during a special public talk at Spring Woods High School on Thursday, Dec. 4. This special public talk will be held from 6:30-8 p.m. in the high school mini-auditorium, and is open to all interested SBISD students, families and staff.

The program is hosted through the district’s Jason Project and is funded through a generous grant from Chevron.

Tony Castilleja Jr. is employed as a mechanical engineer with the Boeing Space Exploration Division. He helps develop and market the next generation of space aircraft, and has worked on the design of Boeing’s CST-100 spacecraft. He also will speak to students during the day on Dec. 4 at Westchester Academy for International Studies, Memorial High School and Landrum Middle School.

Mr. Castilleja holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from Rice University. He has served as a panelist at the U.S. Dept. of Education for STEM Best Practices for English Language Learners, and he co-founded the Dream Outreach Program that promotes STEM careers by pairing Houston area high school students with a team of Rice Engineering students as mentors.
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SBISD Libraries Featured at National Meeting

November 24, 2014, 7:29 pm
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Several Spring Branch ISD school libraries, campus librarians and administrators and principals are featured in a corporate video created by North Mankato, Minn.-based children’s book publisher Capstone. 

The publisher’s video, titled “School Libraries Matter: The Changing Role of the School Librarian,” was broadcast in October at the annual School Library Journal Conference, which was held in Minnesota.

A Capstone-based video crew visited Rummel Creek Elementary School and other district campuses last year to support a publisher’s book series titled “Pebble Go.” 

While visiting SBISD, the video crew interviewed two librarians, Karen Harrell of Rummel Creek and Karyn Lewis of Meadow Wood Elementary. Also included are Meadow Wood Elementary Principal Pamela Redd and SBISD’s Director of Innovative Media Resource Systems JoAnn Conlon.

The video also features positive remarks about changing trends in children’s books and school libraries by Sylvia Knight Norton, executive director with the American Association of School Libraries and Rebecca Miller, who is the editorial director of the School Library Journal.
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Art Students Color Downtown Houston

November 24, 2014, 8:33 pm
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Kira Slentz
Spring Woods High junior Kira Slentz was selected as this year's Via Colori Apprendista artist for the annual downtown street painting festival – Via Colori Street Painting Festival.

Lilya Gehman
Spring Woods High senior Lilya Gehman was also selected to participate in designing one of the the SWHS 10-by-10-foot group squares. Multiple SWHS students created the final street painting masterpieces.

Spring Woods High School took a bus of students to the festival on Sunday since the festival was canceled on Saturday due to the weather, said Crystal Fiocchi, Spring Woods High School Art Department chair.

Landrum Middle School also had an art square on Sunday as well, she said.
Read more >>
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The Kids’ Reading Room Adds Third Apartment Site

November 25, 2014, 10:55 am
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Several Spring Branch area apartments have added children’s reading rooms as a new building amenity thanks to a Spring Branch ISD educator whose passion for literacy has sparked a nonprofit movement now growing apartment by apartment.

Aided by student volunteers from a high school club, leaders of The Kids’ Reading Room project opened its third children’s reading room recently in a Spring Branch area apartment complex, the Hammerly Walk Apartments.

The three separate apartment reading rooms are the book loving brainchild of Trish Schappell, who is a Rummel Creek Elementary School Interdisciplinary Coach, or iCoach.

The three brightly lit reading rooms are staffed by adult and high school volunteers weekly. Students can check out and return books on an honor basis. The rooms and all books, furniture and supplies are funded by private donations.

Schappell’s simple goals are the key building blocks for student success in school – literacy for all and instilling the love of reading in children.

At the Hammerly Walk Apartments located across from Cedar Brook Elementary, student volunteers with the Spring Woods High Key Club and a teacher volunteer joined dozens of students of all ages one recent afternoon after school.

In a large second-floor room, they sat on couches, beanbags or at tables, sprawled on a carpeted floor, paged through picture and chapter books, and browsed shelves of various book options – from Magic Tree House to Big Natebooks, from pop-up books to tales about fairies.

Thanks to generous donors, there is a big selection of books to choose from.

Schappell read aloud a holiday-themed story, Halloween Night, and encouraged all the students to find books to take back to their apartments and read for the week ahead.

The honor system works well: Children put their decorated rulers into the stacks to mark where their books should be re-shelved when returned.

“This is an awesome opportunity for children to be educated and learn not just at school, but at home. It’s designed to be one-on-one between a volunteer and their child,” says Sharon Santos, the Key Club president at Spring Woods High.

“I would have appreciated something like this when I was younger, because it’s almost like having a mentor. As Key Club members, we all can take the initiative here to help younger students,” adds Santos, a senior.

“Most of my students live in apartments just like this one. Most of them don’t have a lot of reading material at home,” says Lindsey Copp, a SBISD prekindergarten teacher at The Lion Lane School for Early Learning. “This may be an option for my school.”

The Kids’ Reading Room, a nonprofit organization, was established about a year ago by Schappell and her husband, Vincent. The couple has worked tirelessly to find books and shelving donations, set up and organize rooms, and find willing volunteers.

“This is absolutely the most challenging thing I have ever done, yet it brings me such joy! Through the reading rooms, I discovered what I was meant to do,” Schappell says.

The Kids Reading Rooms have taught her valuable lessons about leadership and perseverance, and she knows that it could not happen without others. “I am tremendously grateful to my husband for all his effort and understanding, for the support of SBISD, and for all the volunteers that make this happen. Working with the students and volunteers is one of the highlights of my day,” she says. 

The nonprofit started its community work in November 2013 when Castlewood Apartments Manager Joei Hayes opened up a space to create a “public” reading and meeting room for residents there.

Housman Elementary iCoach Shelene Livas and others have helped to pass fliers out to bus students that serves Castlewood Apartment as meeting reminders.

Since then, the Kids’ Reading Room at Castlewood has received many book and shelving donations from Rummel Creek Elementary parents and teachers, as well as from neighborhood and other donors.

Recently, the group received a huge surprise with a $5,000 anonymous donation. Another funding group, thepollinationproject.org, gave the Schappells a $1,000 grant to help them establish nonprofit status. 

The second reading room opened in February at Gentry House Apartments. Story time is provided for children there and all students are encouraged to read on their own, with friends, and with volunteers. Nearby Edgewood Elementary promotes that reading room to apartment parents, students and teachers, too.

At Hammerly Walk Apartments, Cedar Brook Elementary encourages its students to attend. More than 30 students have attended recent Monday afternoon openings there.

Eagle Scout candidate Josh Castro and his friends have collected more than 3,000 books and 17 bookshelves for that reading room.

In recent weeks, The Kids’ Reading Room has added a new website and put out a call for more volunteers. Schappell hopes that more students will step up to help in the future.

Trish Schappell’s view only gets bigger. Next year, she hopes to open several new apartment reading rooms. She believes that the SBISD community is ready to partner with her to help meet her vision of a world filled with young readers.

To learn more about The Kids’ Reading Room:

www.kidsreadingroom.org
www.facebook.com/thekidsreadingroom
thekidsreadingroom@gmail.com

Volunteers Needed

Adult and student volunteers are needed to help maintain three reading rooms.
Professionals with fundraising experience are needed especially.

Where: Castlewood Apartments, 7000 Westview
When: Mondays, 4:15-5:30 p.m.

Where: Hammerly Walk Apartments, 8787 Hammerly Blvd.
When: Mondays, 4-5:15 p.m.

Where: Gentry House Apartments, 9001 Kempwood
When: Tuesday or Thursday, 4-5:15 p.m.

Contact Trish Schappell
281-235-9620
thekidsreadingroom@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/thekidsreadingroom
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November T-2-4 Spotlight Educators Award Honors Four District Specialists

December 3, 2014, 2:21 pm
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Four of the district’s leading authorities on teaching, curriculum and instruction were named as the November 2014 recipients of Spring Branch ISD’s Spotlight Educator recognition during the recent regular monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Receiving this award at the Nov. 24 Board meeting were Donna Handlin, Martha Meyer, Alana Morris and Ro Luecken. The four received special recognition for their incredible years of work and achievement with Operation Graduation, a special program that helps identified seniors in our high schools to graduate on time with their class.

The SBISD Spotlight recognition shines a light on educators across our system who embrace the Spring Branch T-2-4 goal and who actively go above and beyond to demonstrate a commitment to, and actions in support of, this goal and the T-2-4 belief statements that undergird it.

SBISD’s T-2-4 goal focuses on doubling the percentage of our graduates who complete technical certification, military training, or a two- or four-year college degree. Trustees reaffirmed its own belief in this goal during a recent meeting in a unanimous vote.

During the past five years, Operation Graduation has helped more than 150 seniors who were at risk of not graduating with their peers meet their credit goals and graduate on time. SBISD’s four award honorees and other district educators have managed a six-week program for these seniors.

Operation Graduation students began their final school year on track to graduate on time, but found themselves struggling for a variety of reasons or circumstances. Students are identified and selected through their high schools. The selected students are immersed in seminar-style classes in required subjects needed for them to graduate.

Jarett Hernandez, a 2011 graduate of Spring Woods High School and Operation Graduation, told Trustees how this program changed her views on education after she was injured in her senior year in a bad car accident.

Today, she is a teacher assistant in a high school Special Education Adaptive Behavior setting. She has taken classes at Lone Star College, and dreams about a future medical career. Recent graduate Anne Ho, now a University of Texas freshman, spoke about how she was aided, too.

“Without Operation Graduation, I probably would not have this dream or even have graduated from high school,” Jarett said. “The person that I was three years ago is very different from the me you see here tonight.”

She added: “When I first came to Operation Graduation it seemed a little scary and impossible to do, but after a while I became convinced that I could do it. In fact, I loved it. The staff who taught Operation Graduation were so supportive. No matter what excuse one had, the staff found a way to make it all possible, and no matter how negative we were they never gave up on us.

“Instead they lead us on the correct path and made us believe in ourselves all over again. The tests were a little hard, and you had to pass each and every one of them to keep going. At times it seemed impossible and insane to think that I was going to make it. The day I heard we'd be getting our caps and gowns for free, I knew that I had made it. I was going to walk and graduate with my class. This to me was beyond shocking and exciting. For the first time in a good while I actually accomplished one of my goals without giving up or placing it on hold. “

Joining Jarett during the Nov. 24 Board Meeting was Anne Ho, who also praised the honorees for their support and encouragement. A high performing student, Anne nonetheless struggled as a senior due to a medical condition that has sometimes required hospitalization.

T-2-4 award recipients Martha Meyer, Donna Handlin, Alana Morris and Ro Luecken are some of SBISD’s best and brightest – with or without special recognition. All four have been District Instructional Specialists at one time.

Martha Meyer, who earned bachelor and master’s degrees in geology from the University of Michigan, worked several years as a geologist in New Orleans for Amoco before moving here with her family and starting an education career. She has served 24 years in Texas education, including 11 years with SBISD with instructional support and teacher coaching.

Operation Graduation will always be one of her best memories. “I am honored to be able to work with our Spring Branch seniors every year to help them attain their goal of a high school diploma and formulate plans about their future,” Martha says.

“When I think about the highlights of my career, Operation Graduation tops the list and is the most rewarding work I have done. We start the program every year thinking about how we are going to help change students’ lives by giving them opportunities they might not otherwise achieve, and every year they touch our hearts. We grow from building relationships with our students. It’s an honor to be an Operation Graduation mom!”

Donna Handlin has taught 31 years in Spring Branch, including 24 years as a math teacher and math coach at Spring Forest Middle School.  In addition to working more than two decades in math education and instructional coaching, Donna is known by many for her math family ties, including husband, William, a longtime Spring Woods High math instructor, author and coach, and her son, Bill, who is now teaches at the high school, too.

A native of Illinois, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University. If math is her enduring career love, Operation Graduation is a highly cherished memory.

“Operation Graduation is one of the most rewarding experiences I have each year. There is no greater satisfaction than working with students to support them in their journey of achieving their high school diploma. In the six week journey of Operation Graduation, we truly get to know students’ dreams, goals, and fears and are able to help them begin to formalize a plan for success after high school. Watching these students flourish and grow in confidence as they fulfill their goals and plan for the future is beyond gratifying,” Donna says.

Alana Morris, a K-12 Literacy Specialist, has supported reading and writing instruction and teacher training and support in SBISD for the past seven years. She has 27 years in Texas education, and is nationally recognized as a top teacher trainer with Abydos, formerly known as the New Jersey Writing Project. She is the author of the 2005 book, “Vocabulary Unplugged.”

She earned bachelor and master’s degrees from North Texas State University, now known as the University of North Texas. Literacy has been Alana’s highest passion since she was a child. She is currently working toward a doctorate in Literacy at Sam Houston State University.

One Operation Graduation student writing sample that Alana cherishes was written by a young man after attending a Teen Book Con event and observing what “real” writers do to create their books. “I almost messed up my whole school year,” that teen wrote, “but now I feel like I got a second chance. I won’t screw that up. I’ve worked too hard. So many times I asked for help, but I didn’t. I wish I could have changed that.”

Ro Luecken has 19 years in Texas education, including 13 years in SBISD. As District Instructional Specialist, she has worked for the past four years in science leadership on team building, lesson design, science literacy and professional development throughout the district.

She attended Woodview Elementary School as a child before moving with her family to Ohio, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.  She returned to Spring Woods High school as a sophomore and graduated with her class in 1979.  Shemarried her high school sweetheart, Rick Luecken, who went on to play professional baseball. She earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and physical education from Texas A&M University in College Station.

After teaching science at Memorial Middle and Spring Forest Middle schools for eight years, Ro was a ScienceInstructional Specialist at Spring Woods and Landrum middle schools for one year prior to her current position.

Ro also has served as the lead for three years on the JASON/Chevron STEM Implementation Grant. The grant supports teacher training and development, JASONHost researcher visits to district schools, and the JASON National Argonaut Teacher and Student program, which has resulted in international research trips and travel for our students and teachers.

“Operation Graduation has been an opportunity for me to step back into the role of being a science teacher,” Ro says. “It is a great feeling to empower students who feel as if they have not been given a fair shake, or just need the extra time, effort and encouragement to believe that “Yes, I can do this!”

“The thing that I remember best during my first year with the Op Grad team was the consistent encouragement and creativity that this group used to set in place a 6-week plan to help these students earn credit, recover credit, and serve their (absence) hours,” she adds.

Like other honorees, Ro enjoys attending high school graduations each year and seeing smiles on the faces of Operation Graduation students as they realize what they have achieved. “There are hugs, tears and ‘Thank you for believing in me’ statements as they walk by us on the way to their seats. It is a great feeling!”
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The Gift of Learning Through Fund For Teachers

December 4, 2014, 8:53 am
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On this #GivingTuesday, Fund for Teachers is asking our community to give the gift of learning. How can you help? Tell a teacher, friend or school community member about Fund for Teachers. The 2015 application is available now, and proposals are due January 29.

Fund for Teachers will be hosting our last in-person information session of the grant cycle, Monday, December 8 at 6:00pm. Participants will be walked through the FFT grant proposal, section by section, and have the chance to ask any questions about the process. Register Online >>
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Join Us At Santa's Farm

December 4, 2014, 9:20 am
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It’s time again for Santa’s Farm at the Ag Science Center (located 1905 Brittmoore) Friday, December 5 from 5 to 8 PM.

This annual event developed and put on by our FFA students, families, sponsors and other Guthrie Center groups provides Spring Branch children a chance to go on a hay ride, enjoy a petting zoo, participate in arts and crafts activities for the holiday season and, of cours, get a photo with Santa.

There is no charge for the event. Food concessions will be available at a nominal cost.

We hope to see you there. The farm is located about 1/4 mile north of Hammerly on Brittmoore.
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Superintendent Attends White House Event with Charter Leaders

December 4, 2014, 1:43 pm
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Spring Branch ISD Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., and several area public charter program leaders will join college presidents and other higher education leaders today in a special Washington, D.C., event, the White House College Opportunity Day of Action.

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are expected to announce new actions to help more students prepare for and graduate from college at this event.

Dr. Klussmann joins several other Houston-area public charter school leaders at the White House. They include Sehba Ali, Superintendent of KIPP Houston Public Schools; Mark Dibella, YES Prep Superintendent in Houston;  and Jason Bernal, YES Prep Public Schools President.

SBISD, KIPP Houston and YES Prep formed an alliance known as the SKY Partnership several years ago. The two public charter school systems opened programs inside two SBISD middle schools. The SKY Partnership has spurred SBISD to help more students achieve college and career-focused goals and be college ready.

Related actions and programs include the addition of new academic advisor positions in all district high schools, development of innovative senior year courses in partnership with Houston Community College and Alief ISD to assure college readiness in math and language arts, and an ongoing program known as Collegiate Challenge that pairs adult mentors with juniors and seniors, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college or university.

In addition, SBISD’s Board of Trustees and leadership have approved and recently re-affirmed the district’s commitment to a single-focused goal, Spring Branch T-2-4, that aims to double the number of graduates completing some form of higher education as defined as a technical certificate, military training or two- or four-year college degree.

The White House College Opportunity Day of Action supports President Obama’s commitment to partner with colleges and universities, business leaders and nonprofits to support students across the country to help meet a national goal of leading the world in college attainment.

President Obama is expected to announce new administration steps at the White House event to meet goals in four areas: promoting college completion; creating partnerships focused on college readiness; investing in high school counseling; and increasing college graduates in STEM fields, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 
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All-State Orchestra Students Named

December 10, 2014, 2:31 pm
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Stratford HS Seniors Wilson Hui (left) and Kevin Han (right) 
Photo by Texas Group Photo
Six highly talented Spring Branch ISD high school students have received the highest honor possible in the musical field: They’ve been named to the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Orchestra.

Cellist Tiffany Hu of Memorial High School was selected for this honor for the fourth consecutive year. Violinist Catherine Cai, a junior at Memorial, has been selected for a third consecutive year.

All-State is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. Each year, more than 1,500 high school students are selected for ensembles in band, orchestra and choirs through a competitive winnowing process that begins with 50,000 or more students. Individuals begin by performing musical selections for small groups of judges.

The All-State Orchestra winners will perform at TMEA’s Convention early next year in San Antonio. The following SBISD orchestra students have qualified for All-State performances:
  • Catherine Cai, Memorial High junior, violin
  • Tiffany Hu, Memorial High, senior, cello
  • Jonathan Keith, Memorial High, junior, bass
  • Meredith Aucock, Memorial High, junior, violin
  • Kevin Han, Stratford High, senior, cello
  • Wilson Hui, Stratford High, senior, violin
  • Christopher Matias Hivnor, Spring Woods High, senior, violin
In addition, Memorial High junior Meredith Aucock has been named an Alternate No. 1 in violin. If other students drop out, she will qualify to move up.

During the annual TMEA Clinic/Convention, All-State students participate in three days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors. Their performance selections are heard by thousands of attendees during the annual state gathering.

Band and choir student selections will be announced soon.

SBISD orchestra directors include Bingiee Shiu and Danielle Prontka at Memorial High; Michael Fahey and Peter Jagdeo at Stratford High; and Michael Chandler at Spring Woods High.
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Student Council Advisor of the Year

December 10, 2014, 2:43 pm
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Talk about best in class. Terri Cyphers, a longtime Spring Forest Middle School Student Council Advisor, was recently named the Texas Association of Student Councils (TASC) Middle Level Advisor of the Year.

The award was announced Nov. 21 in San Marcos, Texas, during TASC’s Middle Level Conference. Terri has taught language arts at the SBISD middle school for 19 years, the last four years at the eighth-grade level.

In addition to serving as Spring Forest’s Student Council Advisor for the past 10 years, she has guided TASC District 7/13 as president, and is also a TASC board member. She has helped guide her Spring Forest students to Outstanding Student Council and Sweepstakes awards. She’s a frequent presenter at TASC conference sessions, and she is a director and advisor consultant at summer leadership workshops.

Terri also serves as an elected advisor to the TASC State Board of Directors. She was still surprised to be named advisor of the year despite her group involvement.

“There were five or six other nominees recognized before they ever announced the winner. While I wasn’t totally surprised, I wasn’t ever positive that such an award would go to me,” she recalls.
Others are not so surprised. “It is not often that a teacher displays the qualities that this advisor does. Through Student Council, she has helped create a culture that is energetic and compassionate about ‘paying it forward,’” said Spring Forest Middle Principal Kaye Williams, Ed.D.

One of Terri’s former Student Council presidents told the association this: “My advisor made a lasting impression on each of us. I am confident that was material in establishing my passion for student government. . . Through example, she taught me compassion, pride, respect for myself and others, a desire to do my best, (and) how to lead, listen and problem solve. My Student Council time with her is both cherished and missed. I will always be grateful to her for all she has done.”

A graduate of Cypress Creek High School and Stephen F. Austin State University, Terri has also taught at Housman Elementary and in Aldine ISD for five years. She is the mother of two adult daughters, both of whom attended Spring Forest Middle.

TASC is the largest student leadership organization in the United States.
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Scholarship for Champions

December 11, 2014, 6:53 am
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A Stratford High School senior who became legally blind and deaf at age 11, but overcame those disabilities to earn a berth on the high school’s varsity golf team was one of eight students in Houston to receive a $5,000 scholarship through the Reliant ninth annual Scholarship for Champions program.

Golfer Keith Woodruff joined his parents, Angela and Randy Woodruff, on Dec. 1 in the school cafeteria as Houston Texans Ambassador J.J. Moses presented Keith with his scholarship award. Also present were his coach, Tim Johnson, and retired coach Mary Stephens.

Keith has been accepted by Texas A&M University in College Station, but he has applied to Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., and is waiting to hear from the college admissions office there, school officials report.

The Scholarship for Champions award was created as a partnership between NRG Reliant and the Texans. It celebrates an athlete's academic performance, as well as the values and dedication to his or her community and high school sports team.

All winners play on varsity teams, and they maintain a minimum 3.0 grade point average with plans to pursue a college degree.

NRG Retail and Reliant President Elizabeth Killinger said that all student athletes honored were simply amazing in a prepared statement.

"Their stories are inspiring and demonstrate how courage, hard work and perseverance have laid the foundation for them to become leaders and make a difference in their communities," Killinger said. "These scholarship winners represent the next generation of leaders. It's truly a privilege and an honor to recognize them and give back to the various communities Reliant serves."

A judging panel with representatives from Reliant selected the winners, who were surprised at their schools and then recognized during a special, on-field ceremony held during the Nov. 24 Texans game. Reliant’s full list of student winners:
  • Chirac Hitimana of Davis High School - Chirac plays on his high school varsity soccer team. He has faced many challenges in his life but has remained determined to move forward. Whether on or off the field, Chirac is a great team player, partnering with his teammates - to develop their skills, score goals or cheer them on from the side lines.
  • Jaron Dillard of North Forest High School - Jaron plays varsity football. He is a leader on his school's campus and excels both in the classroom and on the field. He consistently demonstrates his maturity and intelligence in his daily dealings with his teammates, classmates and teachers. Additionally, Jaron is active in his community and church.
  • Emily Burns of Waller High School - Emily is the catcher on her softball team. According to her coach, "Emily is a young lady who never quits, and she is truly an admired young lady with so much heart, dedication, fire and fight to achieve her goals." Additionally, Emily started working at the age of 16 to pay for select ball so she could continue improving her skills outside of her school sport.
  • Tyler Twardowski of Waller High School - Tyler has played football and baseball throughout his life. During his senior year of high school, he experienced several debilitating injuries that he has learned to accept through courage and faith. Tyler now wants to become a physical therapist so he can help others navigate through experiences similar to his.
  • Joshua Cooper of Summer Creek High School - Joshua is the varsity track and field captain at his school. His strength and confidence have been a beacon of light for the rest of his teammates. He is constantly giving them positive advice and encouragement to do their best, not only in the realm of athletics, but also in their academics.
  • Victoria Meza of Clear Creek High School - By participating in her school's wrestling program, Victoria has made a dramatic transformation in her health. Not only is she the wrestling captain at her school, she is a band section leader, Girl Scout, and honor student.
  • Keith Woodruff of Stratford High School - Keith plays on the varsity golf team. At age eleven, Keith became legally blind and deaf. In spite of his disabilities, Keith has succeeded in overcoming any obstacles thrown his way.
  • Sarah Redding of Friendswood High School - Sarah is captain of her school's varsity volleyball team and can always be counted on to put her team first. She is also involved in other activities for church and is a volunteer at a youth camp.
Since its beginning in 2005, Scholarship for Champions has awarded more than $325,000 to 65 students from the Houston area. For more information about the program, visit http://scholarship.myreliantenergy.com/. 
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The Gift of Knowledge

December 11, 2014, 7:19 am
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This holiday season, every Spring Branch ISD third-grade student received “the gift of knowledge” thanks to The Dictionary Project, a program sponsored by the district’s Community Relations department.

Ten years ago, Housman Elementary School volunteer Ormonde Smith spotted a Wall Street Journal article about the Dictionary Project, an effort to promote language arts skills among the young by giving them a main tool for reading, spelling and oral pronunciation. What began as a gift of a single dictionary from a mentor to his student, The Dictionary Project continues to be an annual district-wide initiative.

Thanks to the generosity of community members and organizations, more than 2,500 third-graders took home their dictionaries this year along with supporting lessons about spelling, reading and proper word use.

Sponsors of the program this year include United Way of Greater Houston, the Village Republican Women, Larry and Patricia McDowell, Doug and Pam Goodson, Joni Baird, Mary Sherwood, the Spring Branch Lions Club, Katherine Dawson, Chris Gonzalez, Barbara Potts, Germaine Champion, Kids Hope Mentors at Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Church, Theresa Kosmoski, and Daniel Measurement & Control. Additionally, a grant from the Houston CPA Society was used for a second year to support a number of the district’s Title I campuses.

“Thanks to the continued generosity of our community members who believe in our students, our schools and this wonderful program, this year we distributed more than 2,500 dictionaries,” program coordinator Abby Walker says. “Providing this gift of knowledge is a powerful way to ensure we are instilling a love of learning in our students for years to come.”

Supporting the Dictionary Project is just one of the ways community members participate in SBISD’s Good Neighbor program. To learn more about the Dictionary Project or the Good Neighbor program, please contact Abby Walker at 713.251.2289 or visit our website: www.springbranchisd.com/goodneighbor.
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Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces Fall Grants

December 11, 2014, 10:57 am
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 10, 2014
Contact:  Elaine Reeder Mayo, 713.882.2517

Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces Fall Grants
$82,228 Awarded to Projects for SBISD students

At its November Board meeting, Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) approved $82,228 in grants to fund diverse education-enhancing projects throughout Spring Branch Independent School District.

Twice each year, the Foundation calls for grant applications, up to $5,000 each, from any of its 46 school campuses. District-wide projects are eligible for larger grants. Both faculty members and volunteers are encouraged to apply.

“Through these grants, the Education Foundation provides students and staff with opportunities for innovative projects,” said Donnie Roseman, a member of the SBEF Board of Directors and chair of the Program and Assessment Committee. “Donations to the Foundation and fund-raisers make these grants possible.”

On a district-wide level, the Foundation awarded $6,000 to the Spring Branch ISD Council of PTAs to underwrite scholarships for SBISD college-bound students. A grant of $9,500 will subsidize an Operation Graduation Post-Secondary Success Facilitator who will guide students at risk of not graduating. The Early Childhood department received a grant of $5,000 to fund instruction for kindergarten teachers at Spring Shadows, Hollibrook and Edgewood Elementary Schools to focus on early reading behaviors.

The balance of the money was designated for projects on SBISD campuses:
  • Bendwood Elementary – SPIRAL Gifted and Talented students will build and program functional robots.
  • Hollibrook Elementary – Students, K-5, will benefit from portable labs for hands-on science exploration.
  • Hunters Creek Elementary – Students will learn good citizenship as they maintain several campus gardens and a school-wide recycling program.
  • Landrum Middle and Northbrook Middle – Graphing calculators, available to 7th and 8th graders, will help students master higher math reasoning tasks.
  • The Lion Lane School – Toddler siblings and parents will be invited to the school for a young reader program; they will receive books to begin a home library.
  • Memorial High – Language Arts III students will use iPads and apps for advance placement and college-level coursework.
  • The Panda Path School – Staff development for Pre-K teachers will focus on science activities involving water, structures and young naturalist projects.
  • Pine Shadows Elementary – An action-based learning lab will support physical and academic growth for K-2 students.
  • Rummel Creek Elementary – iPads and appropriate apps will be used in the music classroom to teach creative techniques.
  • Sherwood Elementary – The art classroom will receive a drying rack for art projects.
  • Spring Forest Middle – A multi-sensory lab will provide Life Skills students with stations and activities to help improve motor and social functioning.
  • Stratford High – This grant will help defray the expense of providing each student with an academic planner.
  • Westwood Elementary – Netbooks will be available to third graders for research and project-based learning.
“We encourage PTAs, principals and teachers to apply for these grants,” says Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director. “Our next call for grants is February 2015, and the recipients will be announced in May.”

Community members who wish to support a specific program at a designated campus can make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation and earmark it for that school. Call 713.251.2381 or visit sbef@springbranchisd.com for more information.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has raised more than $8 million and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership.

Download press release >>
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Hundreds of Advanced Placement (AP) Awards Won

December 12, 2014, 7:07 am
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Earlier this year, the College Board publicly recognized 588 Spring Branch ISD high school recent graduates and currently enrolled students who earned hundreds of separate Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar Awards.

These students were honored for high scores on numerous AP Exams administered during the 2013-2014 school year.

Students in the Classes of 2014, 2015 and 2016 (May 2014 graduates, current seniors and current juniors) completing rigorous, college-level courses were eligible for these nationally recognized tests. In many cases, high scores like those earned here will earn students college credits as well as advanced placement in colleges and universities.

The AP Program offers these awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated a high level of college achievement through AP courses and exams. High student performance can be reported to colleges and universities of a student’s choosing.

National AP Scholars Award
In all, 37 SBISD students were named National AP Scholars. To earn this distinction, students must receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of the exams. Five is the highest possible grade a student can receive on any AP Exam.

Memorial High School

Class of 2014: Kendra Andersen, Callie Beard, George Chen, Jonathan Chung, Ryan Cowell, David Cremins, Sima Daneshvar, Kristina Dickman, Monica Faith, Tejesh Guddanti, Tan Haigh, Evan Heaton, Carroll Herring, Yae Jee Hong, Grant Kirchhofer, Anna Lai, Justin Lee, Yuyan Mai, Runjia Mao, Rajat Mehndiratta, Vitoria Moreno-Costa, Matthew Nguyen, Corinne Nordt, Shannon Peifer, Amanda Phan-Dong, Byoung Ug Ryu, Kaitlyn Shanks, Stephen Shuchart, Alision Strealy, Adan Vinall, Tiffany Wu, Winnie Wu

Stratford High School

Class of 2014: Nathaniel Barbour, Katherine Kennedy, Kristen Laws, Benjamin Riedel, Anya Ye

AP Scholars with Distinction Award
One-hundred and sixty-six SBISD students received the AP Scholars with Distinction Award. To earn this distinction, students must receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. In all, 166 SBISD students received the AP Scholar with Distinction Award.

Memorial High School

Class of 2014: Kelly Abshire, Lakshmi Achan, Kendra Andersen, Jessica Anderson, Joaquin Badgen, Callie Beard, Annie Belleville, Brenna Black, Christopher Boyd, Brianna Burns, Jenny Cale, Madison Chambers, George Chen, Laurent Chenet, Joseph Chenoweth, William Chiu, Jonathan Chung, Ryan Cowell, David Cremins, Sima Daneshvar, Marcus Deayala, Kristen Delossantos, Neil Desai, Kristina Dickman, Charles Dixon, Katherine Duncan, Anna Economos, Kathryn Ellis, Jane Etringer, Monica Faith, Emmalie Ferazzi, Christopher Gale, Sierra Gaw, Daniel Gawerc, Elizabeth Gentry, Ceana Ghadiri, Benjamin Graber, Tejesh Guddanti, Zacharyk Haber, Tan Haigh, Helen Hammon, Evan Heaton, Carroll Herring, Yae Jee Hong, Ellie Hurwitz, Hanae Islam, Molly Jones, Lauren Kerby, Alexander Kersey, Grant Kirchhofer, Nikhil Kumar, Haley Kurisky, Mary Kvinta, Hannah Lafferrandre, Anna Lai, Brianna Lanclos, Sarah Lanford, Kaveet Laxmidas, Justin Lee, Nam Hoon Lee, Soyeon Lee, Michael Limbaugh, James Livingston, Alexander Lostak, Yoseph Maguire, Runjia Mao, Ryan Marritz, Trent McGuinness, Rajat Mehndiratta,  John Meredith, Darya Molavi, Jose Molina, Michael Moody, Vitoria Moreno-Costa, Erin Morris, Matthew Nguyen, Phoebe Nguyen, Tiffany Nguyen, Corinne Nordt, Adair Odom, Michelle Oh, Jeongah Park, Shannon Peifer, Katharyn Peterman, Quinn Peters, Amanda Phan-Dong, Erin Pisters, Erin Powers, Melissa Putterman, Erin Roberts, Mary Rotan, Byoung Ug Ryu, Fatema Sabir, Megan Shaffer, Kaitlyn Shanks, Margaret Sherwood, Stephen Shuchart, Stephen Snow, Alison Strealy, John Strutton, Jonnathan Sullins, Flore, Alexandria Toledo, Jessica Ustick, Aura Velarde Ramirez, Adan Vinall, Andrew Wheeler, Cordelia Wilks, Tiffany Wu, Winnie Wu, Xiayu Xu, Madison Zellers, Xinyi Zhang

Class of 2015: Hee Won Cho, Aaron Genin, Rebecca Grekin, Sean Gu, Madeleine Hamilton, Min Ju, Mirae Kim, Jordan Koeller, Sergey Koryakin, Malina Maharana, Yuyan Mai, Thevoux-Chabuel, Kaela Todd, Joanna Yang

Northbrook High School

Class of 2014: My Pham

Spring Woods High School

Class of 2014: Marissa Clark, Alexander King, Lilly Mendoza, Christian Rice, Lorelei Shannon

Class of 2015: Annie Lui

Stratford High School

Class of 2014: Nathaniel Barbour, Abigail Brown, Abril Brugo, Ahmed Butt, Hernan Cepeda, Philip Chen, Weijie Cheng, Emily Crawford, Billy Graves, Sarah Henkel, JohnRyan Hormell, Caroline Kelly, Katherine Kennedy, Stephen Krueger, Kristen Laws, Elaine Parizot, Brian Quinlan, Justin Raine, Benjamin Riedel, Campbell Ross, Diana Ruiz, Stockton Schipul, Kelly Snyder, Caroline Stone, Jeremy Tushnet, Leila Wahab. Anya Ye, Christian Young, Christy Zhang

Class of 2015: Kylen Chen Troester, Julio Colby, Timothy Purvis

AP Scholars with Honor Award
These students received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of the exams. In all, 103 SBISD students earned this recognition.

Memorial High School

Class of 2014: Hasan Baig, Holland Chaney, Alexander Chou, Matthew Collins, Megan Copeland, Joshua Cox, Alexandra Cumberland, Travis Curry, Haley Dickinson, Benjamin Feldman, Caroline Funderburk, Kasra Ghadiri, Jae-Hoon Heo, Katherine Hickey, Regan Howard, Sehwa Kang, Colton Muncey, Edward Rizk, Stefanie Rowsell, Jin Ryou, Harrison Sladic, Megan Snodgrass, Caroline Street, Emily Talbot, Yu-Hsiang Teng, Faith Tolson, Rachel Weingeist, Sophie Wilczynski, Tiffany Zhang

Class of 2015: Emily Almarez, Ming Chung, Michael Evans, Anneysa Gaille, Abigail Glatman, Presley Good, Bailey Henkel, Bo Hu, Tiffany Hu, Donghwi Jung, Rebekah Koehn, Christopher Lee, Brian Lin, Kyle Loggenberg, Saul Martinez, Mitchell McAlister, Travis Miertschin, Hirad Moradi, Michelle Nguyen, Margaret O’Donnell, Katherine Ohman, Andrea Olvera, Leela Rao,
James Roberson, Thomas Schatzman, Hellen Wainaina, Siying Wang, Clayton Wiggins, Melissa Wong

Spring Woods High School

Class of 2014: Maximiliano Rombado, Mark Schoenemann, Nicholas Zander, Jonathan Zapeta

Class of 2015: Jacobo Frech

Stratford High School

Class of 2014: Ryan Balke, Madeline Byers, Reese Davis, Sarah Davis, Axel Garcia, Rachel Hancock, Wendy Holloway, Zeriba Jahangir, Elizabeth Jones, Joseph Kwak, Yichien Lee, Katherine Leggett, Kassidy Lupardus, William Mask, Katherine Mavegeorge, Zachary Miller, Reason Russell, Justin Tung, Anya Vaporciyan, Ashley Wood

Class of 2015: Charles Boyle, Paul Brastrom, Nathan Brown, Ryan Dodds, Benjamin Fairchild, Emily Fishman, Jordyn Folh, Polina Golikova, Alyssa Hauser, Erin Higgins, David Humphrey, Peter Kwak, Javier Lehtinen, Kyle Mosby, Sarah Nash, Adrian Sanchez Lohff, Justin Todes

Westchester Academy for International Studies

Class of 2015: Matthew Bunting

AP Scholars Award
These students completed three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher. In all, 319 SBISD students received the AP Scholar Award.

Memorial High School

Class of 2014: David Adkins, Chandler Anderson, Douglas Andress, Cameron Bain, Brooke Berry, Francesco Bruno, Melissa Caldera, Michael Caplan, Christopher Chou, Kelly Clifford, Robert Corner, Jennifer Denkler, Matthew Deshong, Jessica Do, Richard Dobbins, Leighton Duke, Katherine Dukes, Michael Furrow, Mary Gilbert, Alexandra Glenn, Lauren Grenader, David Hartmann, Romelia Herrera, Connor Hodam, Kirgan Hopkins, Stephen Horacek, Madeline Horton, Brandon Howell, Benjamin Im, Chanel Johnson, Andrea Karpen, Kevan Kasraei, John Kellagher, Adam Khalifa, Neik Khansari, Nak Kim, Yae Eun Kim, Christiana Kirkpatrick, Isabel Le, Christian Ledgard, Jee Lee, Kenneth Levy, Julianna Lewis, Tanner Lievois, Parker Long, Swati Mahaptra, Austin Marks, Lauren McKinley, Matthew Moses, Theodore Nash, Haley Needham, Emily Neyland, Macey Noon, Nousha Nowamooz, Bethany Ochs, Dahye Ok, Lorenzo Pacheco, Camila Perez, Ashley Pilcher, John Pruitt, Evan Rauch, Riley Reese, Domenique Rieder-Gasca, Jonathan Rosen, Elaine Russo, Shiza Said, Yunhye Seong, Sydney Shin, Aubrey Siller, Elizabeth Smith, Alyssa Snider, Shirin Soleimani, Sarah Stubbs, Angel Su, Asmita Talukdar, Marlee Tarwater, Graham Taylor, William Thompson, Allison Tinsley, Jordan Trammell, Kendall Troup, Julia Tuma Santos, Kelli White,  Davis Wong, Rita Wood, Courtney Wright, Emily Wright, Erica Yim

Class of 2015: Amanda Ackerman, Ahmad Ali Saadi, Molly Balderach, Brittany Becker, Blake Berry, Pierce Beyer, Alexandra Buscher, Emma Campbell, Victoria Caranti, Zihan Chen, Lauren Deutser, Natalie Dickman, George Doykan, Griffin Doyle, Anneka Farid, Mackenzin Finklea, Peyton Hance, Anthony Hubbard, Meredith Hughes, Daniel Jimenez, William Johnson, Anuj Kadakia, Hee Jung Kim, Seoyoung Kim, Christopher Koontz, Brian Lake, Pamela Li Ou, Matthew Marion, Ryan Mc Arthur, Megan McMillon, William McNulty, Sabina Mehdi, Sarah Moinuddeen, Dawit Molla, Sofia Morales-Bello,  Abigail Mueller, Scott Myer, Nancy Nguyen, Preston Quine, Skyler Quine, Noelle Simon, Thomas Sowell, Marshall Stallings, Sarah Thomas, David Van Slyke, Rachel Wilson, Thomas Winfield, Justin Yoon, Marwan Zelmat

Northbrook High School

Class of 2014: Diego Hernandez, Edwin Palacio, Isaiah Rodriguez, Jessica Sanchez

Spring Woods High School

Class of 2014: David Castilla, Megan Chesser, Hannah Cochran, Raul Garcia, Veronica Gonzalez, An Ho, Jim Im, Baotran Ma, Anjanee Munidasa, Maria Palomares Carra, Avery Reinhart, Rebecca Royall, James Schneider, Jacqueline Silva, Gail Thompson, Erika Villafana, Roy Wheeler, Raquel Yusef

Class of 2015: Henry Aguilar, Isaac Aguilar, Viridiana Carmona Serrano, Jaquelyn De La Garza, Dominic Johnson, Seok Kim, Jack Liu, Emily Mitchell, Lilian Monteiro, Dania Reames, Mario Rios, Austin Ritch, Pedro Sandoval, Haley Schild, Bharti Sharma

Class of 2016: Patrick Revilla

Stratford High School

Class of 2014: Sana Ahmad, Sue Ahn, Divya Ahuja, Syed Ali, Claire Allen, Madison Allred, Raj Aragon, Taylor Aycock, Caroline Baerg, Jae Marielle Barroga, Anna Bergersen, Clementine Berranger, Jonathan Bouwhuis, Madison Brazan, Murphy Brennan, William Bridges Jr., Nicholas Butler, Ashton Cabla, Adrian Charles, Blake Denney, Valerie Dietz, Charles Edwards, Gloria Elizondo, Fiona Fahey, Sarah Finkelstein, Alexis Frederick, Elizabeth Gahn, Helen Galbraith, Katy Gallion, James Gex, Karla Gonzalez, Mary Goss, Margaret Gray, Samantha Grooms, William Hachtman, Jay Harper, Brandon Hay, Trevor Hennington, Caroline Hilton, Sabrina Horn, Leah Hunt, Fariha Jawed, Jacqueline John, Arden Johnson, Parker Jones, Zeb Kaminski, Eisha Khan, Chae Kim, Jamie Kruseman, Martha Kuhn, Makayla Lara, Ariana Lee, Christian Lee, Sangheon Lee, Allyson Levine, Caitlin Makin, Matthew Martin, Jonathan Martinez, Manuel Martinez-Alvare, Amy Mata, Margaet Mathias, Rachel McCleary, Nicholas McMahon, Callie Michaud, Ella Motley, Farah Nematpour, Haley Newbanks, Elliot Nirider, Annie O’Keefe, Jenny Payton, Kevin Perez, Frederick Price, Mack Ragland, Richard Robinson, Kylie Schaper, Sarah Shelton, Hyunwook Shin, Henry Sides, Trenton Simpson, Amanda Singley, Andrea Sklar, Sydney Sprague, Samantha Stazo, Elyse Stieber, Rebecca Swan, Taylor Troutman, Alison Utz, Claire Van Wart, Kali Venable, Kaysey Weber, Joshua Weyer, Walker Wichmann, Emily Wissel, Jo Ellen Witte, Sarah Wong, Debra Yang, Michelle Yang, Sabrina Yun

Class of 2015: Kathryn Arcy, Douglas Baker, Travis Bostick, Michaela Cherry, Stephen Clines, Joseph Fox, John Goss, Reginald Green, Riley Green, Kevin Han, Katherine Hulbert, Noor Humphreys, Emily Hunter, Mustafa Irfan, Courtney Jackson, Shelby Kallus, Seungjun Lee, Jack Lin, Emily Lindsey, Carlos Martinez, Julia Matteucci, Makenzie Moriarty, Jong Min Park, Chance Parker, Sarah Peterson, Alexandra Pierce, Anna Powell, Griffin Rathgeb, Austin Richard, Amy Ross, Harley Rowland, Kendall Viator, Kendall Ward, Jackson Whitaker, Rebecca Williamson, Bronwyn Wismer

Westchester Academy for International Studies

Class of 2014: Paola Gutierrez

Class of 2015: Joshua Diaz, Andrew Fowler, Oscar Rivera, Alexey Schmidt, Emma Westwick

Class of 2016: Matthew Nepo, Diana Villareal
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Reading with the Pros Promotes Literacy

December 15, 2014, 7:25 am
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Houston Texans guards Wade Smith and Brandon Brooks were among notables in the professional sports world who teamed up Nov. 18 at two elementary schools in Spring Branch ISD to promote reading and youth literacy goals.

Smith, offensive left guard with the Houston Texans, is also founder of the Wade Smith Foundation, which includes the literacy program Reading with the Pros, an effort to encourage sustained daily reading by students through special classroom visits and pep talks by professional athletes and other local celebrities.

In his studies, noted U.S. education psychologist Richard C. Anderson found that students who spent 20 minutes per day reading on their own were exposed to 1.8 million words during a typical year, and they scored highly on standardized tests.

At Shadow Oaks Elementary, Smith was joined in an assembly of third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students by Houston Texans guard Brandon Brooks and track and field Olympic hurdler Meka Thompson. The athletes talked about the importance of reading and then spent time reading in classrooms to first- and second-graders. Shadow Oaks Elementary students have set a goal of reading 50,000 books by the end of this school year.

At Woodview Elementary, Smith was also joined by Brooks and Stephen Reed, a Houston Texans sportswriter. Since 2012, the Wade Smith Foundation’s Literacy Tour has held 25 reading events at schools or libraries in Houston and Dallas, the group’s organizers say. The appearances at the SBISD schools were coordinated by Amerigroup with collaboration from Communities in Schools.

For details on the Wade Smith Foundation, please visit:
www.wadesmithfoundation.org
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Meningitis Vaccination Requirements

December 15, 2014, 12:24 pm
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Beginning on January 1, 2012, all entering students are required to show evidence of an initial bacterial meningitis vaccine or a booster dose during the five-year period preceding and at least 10 days prior to the first day of the first semester in which the student initially enrolls at an institution. In an effort to assist our students, Spring Branch ISD is hosting vaccination clinics using the school day for juniors and seniors.

What is bacterial meningitis?
Bacterial meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness can progress rapidly and cause death or permanent disabilities, such as hearing loss, brain damage, or loss of limbs. Studies suggest that college students have a slightly higher risk of contracting the illness because they live and work in close proximity. More information is available online at www.cdc.gov/meningitis.

Where can you get the meningitis vaccine? 
Spring Branch ISD will be providing an opportunity for juniors and seniors (18 and under) who have not received their meningitis vaccination during the school day on February 19 and February 26 at Spring Woods High School and Northbrook High School.   If the clinic is not on your campus, bus transportation will be provided.

Schedule:

February 19
9am -12pm
Northbrook HS
(designated for Memorial HS and Academy of Choice students, also)

February 26
9am - 12pm
Spring Woods HS
(designated for Stratford HS and Westchester Academy students, also)


What does it cost?
It is FREE for children 18 or under who are not insured or whose insurance does not cover 100% of the cost.

What will students and parents need to do? 
Complete packet (below) giving permission for their child to get the vaccine and be bussed to the closest location if not at their child’s high school.  Turn in the packet to their child’s nurse by:  TBA.

What entities are involved? 
  • Each campus nurse will be responsible for passing out and making sure that the appropriate paperwork is completed correctly.  (He/she might also partner up with you to promote the initiative.) 
  • The To and Through team will be responsible for securing and scheduling transportation.
  • Principals will also be asked to assist in providing orange juice and donuts for all students that receive the vaccination that day.
Download Meningitis Vaccination Packet with Forms (English/Spanish)>>
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