The School Zone

The award-winning Stratford Playhouse will open its new musical season Oct. 20 with the laugh-out-loud musical Avenue Q School Edition, the school adaptation of the smash Broadway hit that includes equal parts hand puppetry, comedy and a terrific musical score.

The light-hearted musical tells the story of recent college grad named Princeton who moves into a shabby New York City apartment all the way out on Avenue Q. His new neighbors and friends seem nice, but not ordinary. Together, they struggle to find jobs, dates and ultimate life purpose.

The original musical production won the Tony “Triple Crown” for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book on Broadway. To bring this incredible show to the Stratford High stage, a 15-member student cast will portray three human characters and 12 puppets who interact as if they were also human, much like on Sesame Street.

The Spartan actors operate these puppets in full view, using both hands while singing, acting and dancing at the same time. A two-day puppet training workshop was conducted to help actors who guide a dozen puppets learn proper puppet handling, speech-mouth coordination and movements, and more. “I never knew how heavy a puppet could be,” one student said in a show press release.

Playhouse directors for the season opening musical are Marcie Baker and Christian Holmes. The student director is Kate Schageman.

Tickets for Avenue Q School Edition are $16 in advance. Performances are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. from Oct. 20-22 and also Oct. 27-29 with a matinee planned on Oct. 29 at 2:30 p.m. All tickets are available online or can be purchased at the Box Office at Stratford High School.

For more information or to buy tickets visit www.shsplayhouse.org or call 713-251-3449. Avenue Q School Edition” is being presented through special arrangements with Musical Theatre International (MTI). Parental guidance is suggested for children under 13 years old.

Read the full Stratford High Playhouse press release >>

The Houston Super Bowl Mascot, TD, visits students Liam and Dashel Leonard and all students at Wilchester Elementary.

Save this most important date if you or someone you know has a family or close connection to Wilchester Elementary School – 4-5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 27.

That’s the time and date set for current and former Wilchester Wildcats, community members, former school staff and students to stop by the campus to share stories, meet old friends, learn what is currently happening at the recently rebuilt elementary school, and walk down memory lane.

The school, located at 13618 St. Mary’s Lane, was one of 13 district elementary schools rebuilt under the 2007 Bond Plan. This striking, new two-story campus opened for prekindergarten to fifth-grade students in August 2011. The new school includes 35 regular classrooms with additional resource, special education and fine arts classrooms. High quality materials and finishes were chosen with community input.

Light cake and punch will be served Jan. 27 during the 50th anniversary celebration. Visitors will reminisce about the school and special events from the 1960s through 2016. Wilchester’s school doors opened in 1966. Decorations and music for the special event will reflect all five decades.

At 5 p.m. on Jan. 27, the 50th anniversary party will transition into a short ceremony as well as an expected dedication of a PTA gift to the school. Former and current school principals, along with Board of Trustees and other officials, will speak.

Anne Ross, Sean and Lucy Roche gather at Wilchester Elementary's Dads and Donuts.

For details or more information, please contact Wilchester Elementary Principal Rian Evans at rian.evans@springbranchisd.com, or find out more at Wilchester Elementary’s own Facebook page.
Wilchester Elementary – past and present – hopes to see everyone there so save the date!

Bridgette Stinnett says that she knew something was up, but not sure what when campus leaders told her not to dress up in her Westwood Elementary lion mascot costume one recent Friday morning.

During a 9 a.m. live broadcast hour on Sept. 30, Cristina Kooker, a reporter with the Great Day Houston local show on KHOU-TV 11, led school and community members into Bridgette’s kindergarten class for a big teacher surprise.

Watch KHOU-TV 11 video >>

Bridgette, who has taught kindergarten boys and girls for 23 years, including 14 years at Westwood, soon learned on the air from Ms. Kooker that she was being named Great Day’s Star Furniture Red Apple Recognition Award winner.

Her live TV honors included a framed certificate and a signature Star Furniture Red Apple statue.

In addition, Houston City Council Member Brenda Stardig presented Bridgette with a special city proclamation honoring her work with kindergarten students.

Named campus Teacher of the Year twice, Bridgette is known across the district for her roles as early elementary teacher and a campus/community role model:

The SBISD Board of Trustees honored her last year for supporting the most student teachers in the district.
She provides kindergarten after-school programs for Westwood students.
As the campus mascot lion, Bridgette appears at special occasion events ranging from Carnival to high school Homecoming parades.
She helps sponsor Family Library Night once a month.
Bridgette is known by many for her incredible love of Kermit the Frog. Students will give her frog gifts. Her kindergarten class is represented by one animal – known as The Froggys, of course.

“With Bridgette, no child is ever left behind no matter the personality, or ability, or behavior involved,” Westwood PTA’s Dee Carlson said. “She has the ability to bring the best out of every child.”

PTA’s Carlson – like so many others – should know. Her own child had Bridgette as a kindergarten student.

“Those fortunate to have here get someone special. She is able to open their minds to do what they think they cannot do. To children, she is as energetic and truly full of life as a pop-up book,” she also said.

Twenty seniors from Spring Branch ISD high schools were named recently as National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalists or National Hispanic Recognition Program student award recipients. These district students rank among the nation’s best young minds.

Many students were honored Oct. 24 during the regular monthly meeting of the SBISD Board of Trustees. Thirteenstudents from Memorial and Stratford high schools were named as National Merit Semifinalists earlier this fall.

Memorial High has 11 students honored with this national recognition. They include RichardAnderson, William Caesar, Connor Callahan, Joshua Glass, Trent Herndon, Tiger Im, Davis Kirchhofer, Runlin Liu, Lan Nguyen, Mark Oldham and Frank Yang.

At Stratford High, this year’s National Merit Semifinalists are Caleb Ginn and Heream Yang.

Students become eligible for the national scholarship program when they take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test as juniors. Semifinalists represent less than 1 percent of the high school graduating class in Texas and rank as the nation’s highest scoring test takers. These Semifinalists now have an opportunity to qualify for National Merit Finalist awards, which will be announced in spring 2017.

Seven SBISD students were named finalists in the annual National Hispanic Recognition program. These students, also known as National Hispanic Scholars, include Memorial High’s Miguel Caranti, Carson De La Rosa and Kate Sparenberg.

At Stratford High, the National Hispanic Scholars this year are Jordan Meza and Alec Milazzo. Westchester Academy for International Studies also has two finalists in this category. They are Roldan Santiago Moreno-Duarte and Paloma June.

To earn this highly regarded recognition, students must be at least one-quarter of Hispanic/Latino descent, attain a high performance level on the PSAT, and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of their junior year. Each year, up to 5,000 students nationally earn this recognition.

In addition, more than 30,000 students nationally are designated each year for National Merit Program Commended recognition for high scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. They earn the recognition for Selection Index qualifying scores, which may vary each year. Generally, these students score within the 96 percentile of all college bound juniors across the nation.

Memorial High School this year is home to 31 National Merit Program Commended students. They include Brett Bays, Alexis Bennett, Audrey Beyer, Elizabeth Bik, Baily Black, Austin Bopp, George Chirapurath, William Choi, Margaret Coulter, Daniel Fonseka, Connor Hanna, MaxHardy, Vincent Huang, Benjamin Hughes, Rebecca Kroger, Samuel Kroger, Claire Miller, JoannaMoy, Fischer Nordin, Davis Palmie, Jihwan Park, Juliette Pferdehirt, Maya Prakash, TuckerReinhardt, Andrew Su, Luke Tesarek, Annie Titterington, Robert Trout, Grace Winburne and Liyun Xu.

Eight seniors at Stratford High have been named National Merit Commended students. They are Kyle Brastrom, Joshua Chan, Caroline Crawford, Mark Duna, Matthew Hopper, Jordan Meza, Alec Norman and Juwon Yoo.

At Westchester Academy for International Studies, senior Rachel Connelly also won National Merit Commended recognition this year.

The 16th annual Veterans Day Celebration at Spring Forest Middle School will be observed on Friday, Nov. 11. Since its first year, this celebration of U.S. military veterans and their families has become one of the top gatherings for students and veterans across west Houston. The campus is located at 14240 Memorial Drive.

Due to extensive road construction work along Memorial Drive, including in front of the middle school, a shuttle bus will operate from 7:15-11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11. Veterans and their families are encouraged to park at Don Coleman Coliseum on Dairy Ashford and take a free shuttle bus to the program.

This year’s observance will include an 8 a.m. family breakfast followed by a 9 a.m. program in the school gym. Guest speaker will be U.S. Army Col. Bernie McCabe, who is the grandfather of a Spring Forest Middle seventh-grader. His Army awards include the Silver Star, two Bronze Medals for Valor and three Purple Hearts.

Col. McCabe, a Houston resident, served in the Army for 30 years, beginning with the Vietnam War. In 1966, he served with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division and Special Operation units. As a commissioned second lieutenant, McCabe spent three tours in the 82nd Airborne Division. He was later chosen for 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (Delta Force) and served in operational position. In 1992, he was assigned Deputy Commander of Delta Force, and assumed the group command two years later.

His educational history has included a bachelor of science degree from Cameron University in Lawton, Okla., a master of science degree from Harvard University while at the Naval War College, and special military education through his Army command and General Staff College. He has taught military history and political science at the college level.

He retired from Marathon Oil Corp. as global security manager, and is the current owner of Sandair, an aviation and security consulting firm. He is a vice president with Universal Safety and Security Solutions, too. A Spring Forest Middle student, Mac Konitzer, is his grandson.

At the Spring Forest Middle observance, the Patriot Paws chapter based at Texas A&M University will honor the school for its past support. A special fundraising effort with this military-related philanthropy is also under way this year.

Heritage Texas Properties and the school PTA sponsor this annual event. All local veterans and their families are invited. To RSVP or for questions, please call Jana Gwinn at 713-251-4618.

Several other Veterans Day events are planned at local campuses on the same day.

Five Spring Branch ISD elementaries and one middle school have earned the Early Bird Achievement Membership Award from Texas PTA for recruiting 100 percent of last year’s membership this early in the current school year.

SBISD campuses earning this state group honor include Bunker Hill, Nottingham, Pine Shadows, Rummel Creek and Terrace elementaries. Cornerstone Academy, a district-sponsered charter school, has also been named an Early Bird Award winner.

In addition, several other SBISD schools have earned separate Texas PTA awards.

“When families and members of the community join their local PTA, they are simultaneously committing to engagement in the schools, empowering themselves as parents and caring adults, and pledging to be an advocate for the children and youth who call Texas home,” a Texas PTA news release stated about the awards.

The Texas Legislature will begin work in January on its annual, two-year budget and other education related matters, including public school financing.

“Every member counts when we work to make every child’s potential a reality at the Capitol,” the parent-driven education advocacy group also said.

To Learn more, visit Texas PTA.

Students celebrate America Recycles Day at Wilchester Elementary.

Several elementary schools celebrated America Recycles Day recently by taking part in a friendly contest to see which SBISD campus could recycle more plastic bags – an endless element of life in modern America, especially for those do the family grocery shopping.

On Nov. 15, Frostwood and Wilchester elementary schools accepted clean and dry plastic bags as students arrived at campus and also during the school day. In related recycling action, Nottingham Elementary held a fifth annual school-wide recycling competition between grade levels, also on Nov. 15.

A Frostwood Elementary student holds up a plastic bag chain made from bags collected for the school-wide recycling competition.

Several other SBISD schools took part as well, based on related recycling reports.

Frostwood and Wilchester competed to fill large bins, with a winner chosen based on full bins and extra bags. All agree that Mother Earth was the really big winner!

At the final tally, Wilchester Elementary filled one bin completely as well as a dozen 55-gallon drum liner bags of all types. Frostwood students filled one bin with plastic bags.

Both schools registered their recycling effort with America Recycles Day, which is a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful. More details can be found at the America Recycles Day website.

America Recyles Day is designed to increase awareness about the importance of recycling for the future health of local communities, business and industry, as well as the planet itself. Recycling now plays an important role in sustainable materials management, and is a first link in the manufacturing supply chain.

The U.S. recycling industry now transforms more than 135 million metric tons of used or obsolete materials into useful raw materials for manufacture into new and valued products. Such recyclables were valued at $80 billion last year, a three-fold increase since 2000, reports Keep America Beautiful.

America Recycles Day also educates students, parents and families on plastic bag recycling, a growing interest. Many grocery stores now provide collection area or containers for these plastic bags.

At Nottingham Elementary, the recycling effort encourages students to participate in recycling at school and at home. The campus recycles paper, plastic, glass and metal every day, reports school PTA Recycling Chairperson Ruth Parks.

Fun facts about recycling were announced during morning announcements before the grade-level competition.

“On the morning of the competition, students bring paper to recycle and place it in their grade level boxes in front of the school. They are also encouraged to bring the paper from their classroom recycling bin to be included. The paper is weighed and the grade level with the most paper by weight wins a popcorn party for the entire grade,” she said.

Nottingham fifth-graders were the popcorn party winners this year. At Frostwood and Wilchester, student groups recruited helpers. Wilchester’s new KSHAC(Kid School Health Advisory Council) and the Frostwood Tigers were active in plastic bag collecting and recycling.

Wilchester KSHAC students helped promote the recycling event by making plastic bag chains to decorate campus and created signs. They even inspired a third-grade teacher to reuse plastic bags to refresh and refill classroom bean bag chairs.

Student KSHAC group members included Ian Ong, Iris Hanszen, MacSwain Melcher, Holly Horton, Anisia Gibson, Sheza Khan, Macy Delgadillo, Morgan Swearer, Lucy Grace Guthrie, Andrew Cannon, Campbell Woodard, Danika Franckaerts, Morgan Suman, Jack Paris, Noah Kassner, Topher Smith, Haran Park and Addison Eccles.

Stratford High Orchestra violinists Isabella Bengochea, on left, a senior, and Catherine Wu, a freshman

Two Stratford High Orchestra violinists have been selected for the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State Orchestra, the highest honor awarded across Texas for excellence in music.

Chosen for the TMEA All-State Orchestra are Isabella Bengochea, a senior, and Catherine Wu, a freshman.

All-State Orchestra is the highest honor a Texas music student can receive. Every year, more than 1,500 high school students are selected by TMEA for performing ensembles in band, orchestra and choir through highly competitive auditions.

A series of auditions winnow down tens of thousands of students to the “best” in state. Small groups of judges begin the individual ranking system.

At this time, All-State winners in band and choir have not yet been announced.

Bengochea and Wu will travel to San Antonio in February to rehearse and then perform with highly rated students like them at the TMEA convention. Students rehearse with a nationally recognized conductor and then perform at convention.

Orchestra students from only two high schools in TMEA’s Region 27 have been named All-State nominees for the 2016-17 school year, according to a local music official.

Michael Fahey is the orchestra director at Stratford High School.

“The show must go on!” It’s a famous saying in world theater, but at one recent middle school musical production, the line proved both prophetic and a testament to one school district’s strengthening commitment to its core values.

Cornerstone Academy’s entire cast and crew learned the real-world meaning of the district’s Collaborative Spirit core value as three performances of Aladdin Jr. were held recently at Spring Woods High School.

Cornerstone Academy students and staff have made a temporary “home” in the old Edgewood Elementary facility, or East Transition Campus, as a new middle school campus is built at their Spring Branch Education Center site on Westview.

The middle school’s planned production of Aladdin Jr. began in August after a 30-member cast and 11 crew members were selected by audition. The East Transition campus lacks an auditorium rehearsal space so the middle schoolers improvised.

“We rehearsed all of the scenes, dances and music inside the former kindergarten classroom, which also doubled as a costume closet, set building and painting area, and as a storage unit,” recalls Cornerstone theater arts teacher Juli Pendergrass.

“Imagine students learning a dance in a space a fourth of the real stage without sets, without curtains, without exits, without a backstage area and without lights. The cast and crew leaned to use their imaginations,” she said.

Spring Woods High School graciously provided the middle school students with a full week of auditorium time – enough for four rehearsals and two performance days in early November.

On Nov. 7, SBISD’s Maintenance Dept. transported Cornerstone sets and costumes to the Spring Woods High stage. The Cornerstone director gave permission to crew members to miss a few classes so they could set up for the rehearsal. Student actors joined them after school.

“We definitely got a taste of what it would be like to be part of a touring show – such hard work, but a rewarding experience,” Pendergrass said.

Three separate performances of Aladdin Jr. were held Nov. 11-12. The cast and crew favorite was the daytime show for prekindergarten and kindergartens from Cedar Brook, Housman and Valley Oaks elementaries.

Some of the wide-eyed, eager audience members wore Aladdin-style tall hats and Jasmine tiaras. The matinee for several elementary schools has been a Cornerstone Academy tradition – one that proves the show still goes on!

“We learned firsthand what collaboration in SBISD does look like. Middle school students, who had taken a district school bus, performed for elementary students, who had also taken SBISD buses, in a high school auditorium where the sets and costumes were transported by district Maintenance, or even borrowed from other SBISD schools,” Pendergrass said.

The Aladdin Jr. cast and crew at Cornerstone Academy included:

Cast
Narrators – Sabine Waldron, Kori Jane Spaulding, Leah Holewyne, Eliza Khan
Jasmine – Hanna Landa
Aladdin – Dylan Dial
Genie – Bianca Gordon
Jafar – Sergio Castagnoli
Iago – Zac Gould
Sultan – Omar Diaz
Razoul – Cassie Harbison
Guards – Nicholas Rhew, Jackson Dixon, Callum Glover, Parker Webster
Harem Girls – Kaylee Terrell, Ava Shea, Victoria Turner
Shopkeepers – Julia Chapman, Katie Donnel, Emily Gomez
Townspeople – Mona Darvishi, Lucia Romo
Matron – Lulu Sawaf
Prince Baba of Ganoush – Ethan Schmidt
Prince Dahdu Rahn-Rahn – Ben Stelmak
(The) Prince Formerly Known as the Artist – Devon Schwartz
Thief – Kyle Zoboroski
Carpet – Zari Abraham
Snake Charmer – Micah Gordon

Crew
Stage Managers – Kate Crow, Solana Ripple
Sound – Sam Puhala
Lights – Laurie Trevino
Costumes – Emily Camden, Ednaliz Pereira
Props – Carrie Humphrey
Backstage – Quillan Ham, Chris Vukadin
Spotlights – Jack Hopper, Lee Seelig

The boys cross country coach at Stratford High School was honored recently as the University Interscholastic League(UIL) Coach of the Year.

Tony Brillon, an eight-year coach at Stratford High, earned his recognition during a special presentation held at Old Settler’s Park in Round Rock, Texas, soon after the annual state cross country meet concluded.

Brillon has been the Spartans head boys cross country and track & field coach for the past seven years.

A biology teacher, Brillon has coached state-level winning teams four times in the past seven years, and his teams won back to back state championships in 2013 and 2014. Two of his runners have also earned top individual state meet awards.

“It’s just a tremendous honor as there are so many great coaches out there. I really believe it’s really the kids who deserve this award,” Brillon said. “You are a great coach only if you have great kids, and there has been quite a lot of team success at Stratford.”

“Average kids can do great things,” he also said. “It comes down to training in the cross country field, coupled with drive and work ethic.”

At just 53, Brillon already has a storied coaching career and a life story shaped by strong personal decision-making.

He has taught and also coached cross country for more than 20 years in Cypress-Fairbanks and Katy ISDs, and in middle and high schools in The Woodlands.

To serve his country, he took a four-year teaching break and worked for U.S. Navy’s Combat Information Control (CIC) in radar and intercept technology.

His passion for formal science, as well as the science and art of coaching runners, found expression in a bachelor’s degree from Beaumont-based Lamar University, located in southeast Texas. “I always knew that I wanted to be coach, but I loved science,” he recalls.

SBISD Executive Director of Athletics Paige Hershey said the district is fortunate to have Coach Brillon at Stratford High and in the district.

“He has made great contributions to the success of our athletic program, and he’s never let that success deter him from continuing to want to do and to be more. He doesn’t rest on his laurels,” Executive Director Hershey said.

Coach Brillon is set apart by his own work ethic, drive and desire to do it all. As a head coach, Hershey said he learned to channel more of his time to coaching all of Stratford’s runners, and let go of superficial distractions involved with race-day or district-level duties.

Few people may know that Brillon helped coached Stratford football while heading up the state-winning cross country program, and also teaching biology. “That’s just the kind of guy Coach Brillon is. That’s an example of his desire to give of himself to his school and athletic program,” Hershey said.

Former SBISD coach Jason Reed, who is now with Katy ISD, encouraged Brillon to join him at Stratford cross country based on his high reputation for managing an effective, full-time running program.

“Not too many people are going to outwork Coach Brillon, He is a great motivator who holds kids accountable, and the kids love him for it,” Reed said.

Some of the sights and sounds associated with the recent Veterans Day in Spring Branch ISD ranged from fun hallway parades and library receptions at elementary schools to the 16th annual school-wide recognition event for veterans and families held at Spring Forest Middle, one of the biggest gatherings held in west Houston.

At Nottingham Elementary this year, the Student Council sponsored a first annual A Salute to Heroes with more than a dozen veterans related to students or staff, as well as first responders from SBISD’s Police Dept. and from Precinct 5 Constable offices showing up for their Nov. 11 special program.

Local military veterans and first responders paraded through the hallways while a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s God Bless the USA played through the PA system.

View more photos >>

Students lined the hallways, waving flags and cheering on their guests, who were high-fived throughout the school’s brightly decorated corridors.

At a later breakfast reception, Student Council members handed out certificates of thanks to veterans, police officers and sheriff’s deputies.

Campus counselor Stacey Zubair helped organized the event, which she described as beautiful. “Most of those in attendance couldn’t help but shed a tear as our local brave men and women were honored,” she said.

At nearby Spring Forest Middle School, hundreds of students, staff and community members gathered for the 16th year in a row to honor the U.S. military veterans and family members who gather there for an early breakfast and formal program.

One compelling and emotionally charged moment every year at Spring Forest is an opening program march by veterans into the school’s gym where each vet earns the warm, enveloping applause of hundreds. The applause continues for many minutes, as long as the veterans keep coming.

Student Council members host the program and have key speaking roles. Local and even state-level politicians often make a point of attending.

This year’s guest speaker was retired U.S. Army Col. Bernie McCabe, grandfather of a Spring Forest Middle student. His awards include the Silver Star, two Bronze Star Medals for Valor and three Purple Hearts.

One highlight this year was a big student and staff fundraising effort. They raised $15,700, well over an initial $10,000 goal, for the Patriot Paws chapter at Texas A&M University. The College Station-based group trains local service dogs for returning vets who have special needs.

Lakoda, a 1-year old Labrador in training, attended the Spring Forest program. In honor of this year’s Patriot Paws gift, Texas A&M volunteers plan to appear at the school on Tuesday, Nov. 22, and announce that their next service dog trained will be named by the SBISD middle school.

Patriot Paws administrator Sarah Porper notes that service dogs can have a healing and calming effect on veterans, some of whom return to civilian life with anxieties and even panic attacks due to their experiences. Service dogs can save lives, too.

“They can be trained to get wheel chairs. They can get medicine bottles. There are dogs that get phones. One of the vets we serve had a stroke, and his dog picked up and brought a phone to him and he dialed 9-1-1,” she said.

Spring Forest Middle’s Jana Gwinn has helped organize this event for many years. Heritage Texas Properties and the school PTA play a key role as sponsors and day event volunteers.

Many other SBISD campuses support local or neighborhood campus events much like Nottingham Elementary.

Turner Snelling, Carson Barker, Caleb Touchstone and Harris Cooley recently earned their Eagle Scout awards. Photo: Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, courtesy of Memorial Examiner

Four high school students from Spring Branch ISD were named Eagle Scouts recently at a Court of Honor ceremony held at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church.

The new Eagle Scouts are Turner Snelling, a senior, and juniors Carson Baker and Caleb Touchstone, all of Stratford High School, and senior Harris Cooley of Memorial High School.

To earn Scouting’s highest honor, the four SBISD students all undertook and accomplished special projects for area groups, nonprofit organizations and a church. The projects include:

Turner Snelling followed his passion for animals by building two large raccoon habitats and 24 squirrel boxes. He raised $1,600 and then led 14 Scouts and volunteers to finish the project in three weekends. The Wildlife Center for Texas, the project beneficiary, has recognized the project as an outstanding Eagle Scout project.
Carson Barker led 10 other Scouts to build four picnic tables and assemble a bike rack for the Outreach Center of West Houston, which is affiliated with a well-known local group, Family Point Ministry.
Caleb Touchstone installed a rock garden, planted flower beds and shrubs, and installed a new American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant patio for Vita-Living, a group that assists individuals with mental and physical handicaps.
Harris Cooley, working with Memorial Drive Lutheran Church, built four new benches for an outdoor gathering area at the church. He also built an outdoor ga-ga pit, an octagonal shaped, wooden ball playing structure for children.

The four new Eagle Scouts were honored in a Boy Scout Troop 642 ceremony held Oct. 19.

Signing Day

Memorial HS state tennis team, 2016 UIL 6A State Runner-Up

Nine student-athletes at Memorial High School signed NCAA National Letters of Intent recently, signaling their intent to bring the college or university recruitment process to an end and to focus on the next chapter in their athletic-academic lives.

Memorial High student-athlete signings on Nov. 9 included:

Justin Collins, Rice University, baseball
Christian Roa, Texas A&M University, baseball
Brent Bishop, Mercer University, Macon, Ga., lacrosse
Kayla Keeling, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, softball
Carli Jones, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, softball
Blaire Evans, University of Texas at Dallas, softball
Lauen Coerver, Blinn College, Brenham, Texas, softball
Cooper Wozencraft, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va., swimming
Alexis Pratt, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, La., volleyball

Devin Fahey, SHS State Qualifier, and Coach Tony Brillon at state meet

In addition to the Nov. 9 signings, Stratford High School officials report that player Sam Miller made a commitment to play college football at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

His college signing and presentation may occur later this fall, district officials said.

Dr. Zachary Hodges (left), President, HCC Northwest; Hunter Clay, Stratford High School graduate and Chapelwood Foundation scholarship recipient; Teresa Cannon, Executive Director, Chapelwood Foundation; and Dr. Scott Muri, Superintendent, Spring Branch ISD.

The Chapelwood Foundation’s biannual “Path With a Purpose” scholarship luncheon on Oct. 18 at Chapelwood United Methodist Church honored recent collegiate recipients while building awareness of the transformative community outreach program.

Several Spring Branch ISD students were recognized during the luncheon and program, including Hunter Clay, a Stratford High School graduate who has been able to pursue a college degree because of help from the Chapelwood Foundation.

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program targets and identifies highly performing Houston area high school students who lack the financial resources necessary to attend college and take the next step to higher education.

SBISD Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri spoke regarding the strong partnership between the district and Chapelwood United Methodist Church, and the specific ways in which the program fills the void for these students.

“Spring Branch ISD is incredibly fortunate that Chapelwood United Methodist Church and its members place a high priority on investing in the education of our 35,000 students,” Muri said. “The Foundation’s deep and sustained generosity to fill both financial and resource gaps through college scholarships and mentoring assures that more of our graduates fulfill their potential and helps us meet our T-2-4 goal for Every Child. “Muri spoke of the “village” and how Every Child can benefit from his or her village. “Because of this ministry at Chapelwood,” he said, “many more of our children have the right people in their village.”

Current scholarship recipient Hunter Clay spoke about the impact the support of the Foundation has had on his life. A former Stratford High School (SBISD) student, Hunter is putting himself through school and is attending Blinn College and will transfer to Sam Houston State to major in accounting.

“Without the support from the Foundation, I truly do not know where I would be today,” Clay said. “More than just the money, the Foundation has provided such a network of people to guide me to where I want to go and how to get there. Everyone should be given a chance to attain higher education no matter the situation or background they have.”

Another SBISD student, Northbrook High School graduate Elizabeth Torres Santiago, spoke via video about her gratitude for the Chapelwood Foundation and the help provided her. A student at the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston and the first in her family to go to college, Santiago said that it’s important to her that her 4-year-old sister both sees her in college and sees her graduate.

The keynote address, “Reflections on Higher Education,”was given by Dr. Zachary R. Hodges, President of Houston Community College-Northwest, which includes HCC’s Spring Branch campus. Hodges said that “human capital development equals economic development, which equals community development. The more people (earn), the more they give back … why wouldn’t we want everybody to go to college?”

Since its inception in 2005, the Foundation Scholarship Program has awarded approximately $765,528 in scholarships to 186 student scholars providing them with much needed assistance to reach their higher education goals. Foundation scholarships are offered for the entire college experience and are renewable each semester if the student maintains a 2.5 GPA and participates in a community service project.

All students in the Foundation’s Scholarship Program have a connection to either a Chapelwood member or a Chapelwood ministry. The majority of the students in the program come from the Collegiate Challenge Program at Northbrook High School in Spring Branch ISD in which mentors are assigned to students and help them navigate the college admissions and scholarship application process. Criteria for student applicants includes stellar academic achievement as well as a high level of financial need. Although the majority of recipients come from SBISD, students from Katy ISD, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Aldine ISD are also represented.

“As Executive Director of the Foundation, I have had the privilege of walking beside and glimpsing the amazing character of these hard-working, motivated, courageous students as they daily take the difficult steps to move beyond the limitations imposed by poverty and life circumstances,” said Teresa Cannon. “They are changing the world for themselves individually as well as for their families for generations to come as many are the first in their family to attend college.”

The Chapelwood Foundation is a permanent endowment program which serves as a ministry of Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Valued at more than $6 million dollars, the Foundation annually awards grants and scholarships of up to 5 percent of its three-year average assets to selected missions and ministries.

Left to right: David & Mary Beth McIver and Lisa and Bill Schwartz

Spring Branch Education Foundation raised a record-setting $172,000 at its annual gala. Co-chairs Melissa and Mano DeAyala and Sheri and Wayne Gross were all smiles on Nov. 19 when they welcomed excited guests to the Winter Wonderland gala. The Omni Riverway ballroom was transformed into a fairyland of twinkling lights and winter expanses warmed by guests eager to support grants and scholarships for Spring Branch ISD students.

SBISD PTAs made the evening a huge success by donating unique gift baskets to the evening’s silent auction. The 28 baskets brought in $7,095. When it was time to raise the paddles to fund scholarships, guests were eager and donated $13,150!

Gala attendees enjoyed aerialists and an artist, vied with friends over exceptional auction items, played unique games and danced to the tunes of The NiteBeat Band. The pre-Thanksgiving extravaganza kicked off the holiday season in style, thanks in large part to presenting sponsor HEB.

Left to right: Melissa (Co-chair) and Mano DeAyala and Sheri (Co-chair) and Wayne Gross

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. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $10 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing visited Ridgecrest Elementary to recognize First Community Credit Union Stars in the Classroom recipients Lorenza Garay and Danielle Potts.

A teacher librarian and kindergarten teacher at Ridgecrest Elementary School were both honored with Stars in the Classroom awards by an area credit union recently. Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing visited the campus and surprised the two instructors.

Honored with First Community Credit Union Stars in the Classroom recognitions were librarian Lorenza Garay and kindergarten teacher Danielle Potts. The Spring Branch ISD employees were nominated by students and received prizes, including autographed Houston Texans footballs.

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Stars in the Classroom is an ongoing partnership between First Community Credit Union and the Houston Texans. The recognition program honors 10 instructors all over the Houston area for the difference they make at their schools. Students nominate teachers during an annual campaign. At present, the nomination process is closed.

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“I was very surprised,” said Mrs. Potts, who is teaching kindergarten for the first time. She was a third-grade teacher for five years, and also taught fifth grade a year. She has taught in SBISD for three years, and she also taught in Spring ISD.

Ridgecrest fourth-grader Arianna Flores nominated her. Mrs. Pott’s family was at the school to surprise her on Nov. 29, too. She was nominated by first-grader Nydia Perez.

“I’ve been nominated as Teacher of the Year several times, and that is great. Being nominated by a student for me is a great honor because that truly is why we’re here – to help students learn and grow,” she said.

Campus librarian Lorenza Garay was totally surprised when her name was announced. Officials with the school, credit union and Houston Texans had set up for the recognition event inside her library without ever letting on that she was one of the Stars in the Classroom award winners.

She was anxious, in fact, that her husband Julio had stopped by to drop off a set of household keys, but didn’t appear to want to leave. “I really thought that he might get me in trouble,” she recalls, laughing.

Mrs. Garay taught fourth- and fifth-graders at Ridgecrest for five years before taking on the library’s instructional and regular duties. Before joining the school’s teaching staff, she worked at Neighborhood Centers Inc. for eight years.

She favors teaching and the classroom over more administrative duties, which led her to Ridgecrest.

“I do feel that it was a calling for me to be here. I think that the excitement and curiosity of kids is just so empowering. I love to see students have that moment in life when they get it, and when someone believes in them. I don’t get that from working with adults,” she said.

Mrs. Garay also received an autographed football. Both teachers also received tickets for the Dec. 24 game between the Texans and Cincinnati Bengals.

More than 2,300 eighth-graders from Spring Branch ISD middle schools and a charter program began identifying their future educational paths and career options during a special program hosted recently by the district and Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.

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The two-day program, called JA Inspire, was held at Spring Branch Middle School, and included hundreds of eighth-graders from all SBISD middle school campuses, as well as KIPP Courage charter program students who are based at the Landrum campus. It was held Nov. 16 and 17.

JA Inspire is designed as an interactive, three-section rotating program for students to expose them to the great variety of local career and training, college and career-related opportunities available to them.

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Eighth-graders gathered inside the Spring Branch Middle auditorium to hear about the “soft skills” they will need to meet, greet and interview successfully. They also heard directly from adults working in a variety of fields about how they gained job opportunities and made a career choice during industry panel presentations.

Finally, dozens of local companies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations helped students ask questions and gain face-to-face information about their firms and organizations in a traditional career-fair setting inside the middle school gym.

“There is a perceived divide between education and the worlds of work so what we are trying to do here is work with districts, and with students and teachers, to build a bridge,” said Rick Franke, president of JA of Southeast Texas.

“JA Inspire builds a bridge between education and these young people as they prep for going to work. This helps kids understand that there really is a place for them out there. A lot of these students will go on to a four-year college, but it’s also very important for them to understand that there are many jobs that don’t require a four-year college degree,” he also said.

SBISD’s single-focused T-2-4 goal calls for district graduates to be prepared for a four-level set of opportunities – military training, technical certification, or a two- or four-year college degree. The career fair’s industry presentations, career station displays and focus on soft skills also supports high school endorsement tracks that are part of Texas House Bill 5.

"JA Inspire highlighted one of SBISD’s greatest strengths – our community’s investment in our students. The Collaborative Spirit of all partners helped create meaningful experiences for our students throughout these two days," said Abby Walker, district Coordinator for Strategic Partnerships and Volunteer Programs.

"This event was a unique opportunity for students to gain awareness and understanding of the various opportunities available to them, as well as begin to forge connections with local industry professionals – something that would not have been possible without the gift of our partners’ time, talent and treasure," she also said.

“We have so many opportunities and different openings in so many fields, it’s just crazy,” said Meoshe Hennesy with NRG Company, one of the businesses set up in the school gym. “We want to get them all prepared for college, and let them know that if you take four years to follow through, here’s the opportunities you have and how much you can make.”

Many working professionals counseled students to take more than annual salary or pay scale into consideration in what may be a major career and life choice.

“Think about who you are and what you are passionate about, not about how you’ll make a lot of money,” educator and artist Diane Rios said in one gathering. “I want you to know that wherever you come from, whatever you desire to do, that is really possible for you!”

Memorial Middle eighth-grader Zane Pramudji knows exactly what he wants to do. He aims to earn an engineering degree like his father, and add either a medical or electrical engineering degree onto his professional portfolio.

His father is an engineer and patent attorney. Zane has a patent pending. His mom has a medical degree.

“I think it’s important for schools to have career fairs like this because if they don’t we may have more people living at home with their parents,” he said. “It’s also real important that we all provide for ourselves and society.”

Valeria Justo of Northbrook Middle school has her college and career plan, too. “I would like to be an anesthesiologist. It would be an opportunity for me to have the medical career I want, and to make some money,” she said.

“This career fair gives us options and helps us all prepare for the future,” she adds.

JA Inspire is presented by:

Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
Offshore Technology Conference
Lyondellbasel
Spectra Energy
Quanta Services
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Dow
Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas

JA Inspire in SBISD was made possible through the support of these local underwriting partners:

CenterPoint Energy
Community Health Choice
Chick-fil-Aat I-10 and Silber Rd.
Amec Foster Wheeler
CITGO
Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America
NOV
BP
HR Houston Human Resource Management Association

By Ludguin Ruiz, Northbrook High School Student from Houston
Submitted to and published in American Dreamers, The New York Times

“Keep walking. Do not give up. We are almost there,” said my mother. At six years old, I am walking across the hot blazing desert with cracked lips praying for water. I can feel the 98 degrees of heat, the 300 tears of sweat, and the 35 miles fighting against me. I finally make it, but I still do not know what awaits me. I am simply lost in the imagination of a six-year-old excited to see his father. “El Rio Bravo,” the monster many people cross to escape the lack of education, presence of violence, and oppressive poverty is now behind me.

Eight months later, I was using a piano box as a dinner table. Three years later, I was sleeping on the floor. Four years later, I was calling a stranger my stepfather. All along I was just looking to be rescued by the “American Dream,” - the idea that hard work and determination would allow me to build a life without so many struggles. Instead of wasting time wondering if it will all be worth it, I chose to push through poverty, culture shock, and being undocumented when it would be much easier to give up. I have learned to manage the obstacles that are constantly thrown at an undocumented student. These obstacles have strengthened my character: individualism, determination, and optimism.

In August 15, 2016 President Obama commenced a policy for young people that came to the U.S. as children. The policy is known as DACA which gives an individual a two-year period deferred action from deportation and the eligibility to obtain a work permit. Finally, the light of hope began to show . DACA meant that I no longer had to minimize my success to graduating from high school. Being in the top ten percent of my graduating class is not enough for me to go to college. A class rank does not guarantee that I will be in this country tomorrow. This is why DACA is the only thing keeping my dream alive.

Now my question is, why is it that I am considered an alien? Please do not let a piece of paper define me. I grew up in this country. I pledge of allegiance to the flag. I want to go to college. I am here to stay. This is my country.

This year’s Bookworm Festival will feature author and keynote speaker Adam Rex, who will share his newest picture book, XO, OX.

Five popular and award-winning authors and illustrators of books for teenagers and young people will appear at the 2017 Bookworm Festival, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017 from 9:30-11 a.m. at Spring Oaks Middle School, 2150 Shadowdale. The book festival is free and open to all community residents.

The Bookworm Festival for Young Readers was established by Spring Branch ISD campus and public librarians and Blue Willow Bookshop to celebrate emerging readers and those who write for them.

This year’s Bookworm Festival will feature author and keynote speaker Adam Rex (Twitter: @MrAdamRex), who will share his newest picture book, XO, OX. Rex has written several books for young readers including the New York Times-bestselling Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich and The True Meaning of Smekday.

His previous picture book, School's First Day of School, has earned seven starred reviews and was also a New York Times Bestseller.

Other featured panelists who will share their published work include:

Varsha Bajaj, This is Our Baby, Born Today
Adam Lehrhaupt, I Will Not Eat You
Heidi Schulz, Giraffes Ruin Everything
Mary Sullivan, Treat

“Being the chair of Bookworm gives me a front-row seat to something magical. I get to watch children and families connect with authors and illustrators, as they instill a love for books and reading for the entire family,” says Melanie Scales, chair of the Bookworm Festival planning committee.

The festival is supported by a grant from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, provided by Phillips 66, as well as the Spring Branch Education Foundation. Books are provided by Blue Willow Bookshop.

For more information and the full festival schedule, see the Bookworm Festival website: www.bookwormfestival.org

Other links:
Twitter: @bookwormbkfest #bookwormhouston @BlueWillowBooks
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bookwormhouston

MEDIA: contact@bookwormfestival.org
Cathy Berner
(832) 452-2160

Doug Goodson (left) and Rob Stewart, co-chairs of the Spring Branch Education Foundation’s fifth annual Sporting Clay Tournament, are set to challenge more than 60 teams to win top prizes on Monday, February 20 at the Greater Houston Gun Club. Besides bragging rights and prizes, the men are promising great weather, good food and fun fellowship. Visit https://sbef.ejoinme.org/sportingclay to register your team of four or get on board as a sponsor. The event, a favorite for Memorial residents, raises funds for grants and scholarships for Spring Branch ISD’s 35,000 students.

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. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $10 million to the district. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

Stratford Playhouse Presents Puppet Musical

Guess What School Is Turning 50?

Star Furniture Red Apple Recognition

National Merit Semifinalist and Related Honors Announced

Veterans Day at Spring Forest Middle School

PTA Early Bird Awards

America Recycles Day

All-State Orchestra Nominees Named

Aladdin Jr. Showcases District Collaborative Spirit

Coach of the Year Leads Stratford High Runners

Veterans Day in Spring Branch ISD

Eagle Scouts

National Signing Day

Chapelwood Foundation Celebrates Scholarship Recipients, Programs

SBEF Hosts Spectacular Winter Wonderland Gala

Ridgecrest Stars in the Classroom Award

Eighth-graders Prep for Future Careers

American Dreamers

Authors Announced for 2017 Bookworm Festival

Sporting for Spring Branch Education Foundation