The School Zone

Artwork by Ellie Antestenis

If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then Elisa Barry’s Advanced Placement art students delivered tens of thousands of words of strength, compassion and love to those grieving after the tragic Florida shootings.

Art teacher Barry recently mailed art work and personal cards by Memorial AP students to one history teacher at Stoneman Douglas High School who asked online for support in the aftermath of the deadly shooting incident in suburban Broward County.

Art images and student-created cards were mailed in individual envelopes so that as many Florida students as possible might be reached personally.

“I approached this project as a way for students to create something that would express kindness in a visual form,” Ms. Barry recalls. “I was deeply moved and touched by the images our students created and by how they reached out to comfort students thousands of miles away. I’m so proud of them and for their compassion for others.”

Senior Sarah Cowan was first moved to do something when she reflected on the Florida shooting, noting that the Stoneman campus and its student body resembled Memorial to her.

Friends showed her the history teacher’s post asking for letters, which she posted on her Instagram and Snapchat social media feeds. Barry saw one of them and suggested the class project.

Cowan thought hard about her own message. “I wanted to let the students know that they were not alone. I decided on a piece in the style of [artist] Keith Haring, one that resembled love spreading from so many places and from unified love and support.”

She was surprised by how big the art project became, and by the interest it generated among fellow students and from the wider community, including one KHOU TV-11 news posting.

“I did not expect this big a thing, but I’m very happy. The pieces created by people are gorgeous, and receiving art work in the mail is always special,” said Cowan, a National Merit semifinalist and Memorial co-valedictorian.
The range of student responses to the art project prompt are captivating in many ways, but emotionally perhaps above all.

Junior Ellie Antestenis created 17 flowers to reflect the 17 people killed. On her mailing card, she wrote: “Sending light to your beautiful garden! The 17 flowers will continue to grow among the angels.”

Junior Christina Ofori’s image was in an abstract style. “You can interpret it however you want to,” she said.

“I saw this project as something more than just a moment of silence. I can’t relate to what actually happened there, but I can relate to their emotions. I don’t know what they went through there, but I did want to connect to the emotions they must be feeling,” Ofori also said.

The Houston chapter of a foundation founded in loving memory of a Memorial-Spring Branch child invites the local community to stand up to pediatric brain cancer by walking, running or strolling the Memorial High School track seven times on Saturday, March 24.

The 7 Rings of Gold Walk, as it this annual fundraising event is known, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on March 24.

The Cure Starts Now Foundation was formed seven years after Nicole, a daughter of Althea and Henry Lee, lost a hard-fought, 18-month long battle with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) – a rare, inoperable pediatric brain cancer that attacks the brain stem.

Nicole, who was 7 years old when she died, would be a Memorial High sophomore this year if she were alive. Her sister, Natalie Lee, is a senior at the high school.

Nicole’s parents founded the Houston chapter of The Cure Starts Now Foundation seven years after her death. The foundation’s mission is to find the “homerun” cure to her disease through research into pediatric brain cancer.

Last year, the 7 Rings of Gold Walk netted $40,000, with 97 percent of proceeds going to fund pediatric cancer research, the foundation reports. The year, the goal has been set at $100,000 to fund research through a grant.

Through fundraising events like the 7 Rings of Gold Walk, crucial and vital funds are raised for DIPG and other pediatric cancers research. Currently, the federal government funds 7 percent or less of all research into pediatric cancer.

Event walkers and runners will enjoy a variety of food and entertainment options that include PitaPit, Chick-Fil-A, bake sale, music, games, raffle and auction. Top highlights include Houston Rockets tickets and a signed George Springer World Series’ jersey.

Individual and team registrations are available. Entry fee is $25/person, $100/4-person family now through March 23; $30 for walk-ups on walk day.

To register for this family-friendly event, please visit Rings of Gold.

For more details or queries, email Althea Lee at althea.lee@thecurestartsnow.org.

Screenshot courtesy of KHOU11

It was music – specifically, Bach – that won a round of sky-high applause from passengers earlier this week.

The two young violinists strolling the aisles on the New York to Houston bound United Airlines flight were Stratford High Orchestra students.

On March 5, students Andrew Askounis and Max Heitmann performed Concerto for Two Violins by J.S. Bach during the flight. They were recorded and their performance posted to Facebook by several passengers, including a United flight attendant. The Stratford High School Orchestra was on its way home after performing at the famed Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

The young violinists won first place for their performance with the SHS Orchestra at Lincoln Center, where they also performed music by Mozart, Peter Warlock and Astor Piazzolla. Since it was posted to Facebook, thousands of views have watched and heard a beautiful piece of music. Several local TV stations have posted the spontaneous performance, too.

Watch the video on KHOU11's facebook page >>

Forty-nine Spring Branch ISD students enrolled in prekindergarten through 12th grade were honored as Character Without Question Award recipients during a recent public ceremony for the students and their families held at Northbrook High School.

This year’s annual award presentation was conducted at the Feb. 26 Board of Trustees meeting. Youth of all ages were honored during a special event presentation that attracted many family members.

SBISD’s Character Without Question Award honors students who exhibit a variety of great character traits and habits. They include honesty and integrity, responsibility and dependability, respect, perseverance and effort, courage, caring and kindness, and citizenship and civic virtue.

“You are receiving this award because of the outstanding character and positive actions you have demonstrated to your teachers and fellow students,” said SBISD Superintendent of Schools Scott R. Muri, Ed.D., in a prepared statement for the annual awards.

“According to them, you are responsible citizens who show respect, caring and kindness to everyone and are always ready to ‘do the right thing’ in all situations. You truly make a difference in your school, your community, and in the lives of others,” Dr. Muri also said.

As a part of this year’s event, all student award winners received a book, Be Brave, Little One, by the Marianne R. Richmond as well as a framed, personal photograph

The awards presentation program and pre-event reception are supported by Wells Fargo and the Spring Branch Education Foundation.

SBISD parent Tom DeBesse, who is Wells Fargo-Houston North regional banking area president, was the presenter this year for Wells Fargo.

Additional support was provided by Northbrook High School and by Lion Market Catering at Landrum Middle School. SBISD Community Relations Program Specialist Sarah Murphy and Paul Bryant with Communications provided planning and publication support.

2018 Character Without Question Award Recipients

Schools for Early Learning (Prekindergarten)
Bear Boulevard – Rosangel Vasquez
Lion Lane – Josiah Davis
Panda Path – Madison Gonzales
Tiger Trail – Audrey Ferguson
Wildcat Way – Laila Rezanejad

Elementary Campuses
Buffalo Creek – Navaeh Love, 5th Grade
Bunker Hill – Mary Claire Pounds, 5th
Cedar Brook – Emily Garcia, 5th
Edgewood – Nayeli Onofre, 4th
Frostwood – Marin Goebel, 5th
Spring Branch Academic Institute – Sarah Haywood, 5th
Hollibrook – Angel Miranda, 5th
Housman – Isabella Romo, 5th
Hunters Creek – Cydney Lopez, 5th
Meadow Wood – Ben Pearce, 5th
Memorial Drive – Bella Blasi, 5th
Nottingham – Luke Rasch, 5th
Pine Shadows – Nabil Tlass, 5th
Ridgecrest – Eliana Rivera, 2nd
Rummel Creek – Haley Alexander, 5th
Shadow Oaks – Janet Cortés, 5th
Sherwood – Alexis Martinez, 4th
Spring Branch – Brenda Ortega, 4th
Spring Shadows – Sydney Elizabeth Leal, 5th
Terrace – Braden Rentrop, 5th
Thornwood – Nicole Delgado, 4th
Treasure Forest – Kendy Pavon, 5th
Valley Oaks – Joely Nguyen, 5th
Westwood – Emily Limas, 4th
Wilchester – Camden Grace Hopper, 5th
Woodview – Ivory Tran, 5th

Middle School Campuses
Academy of Choice – Emanuel Flores, 6th Grade
Cornerstone Academy – Emily Camden, 8th
Landrum Middle – Karla Sanchez, 8th
Memorial Middle – Carissa Nair, 8th
Northbrook Middle – Edwyn Gonzalez, 8th
Spring Branch Academic Institute – Will Larrabee, 8th
Spring Branch Middle – Devesh Achari, 8th
Spring Forest Middle – Valentina Chelala, 8th
Spring Oaks Middle – Hannah Kmiecik, 8th
Spring Woods Middle – Jahyden Franklin, 7th
Westchester Academy – Divine Ozomma, 7th

High School Campuses
Academy of Choice – Emanuel Padilla, 10th Grade
Guthrie Center for Excellence – Santiago Arzate, 12th
Memorial High – Daniel Ramos, 12th
Northbrook High – Kendrick Coleman, 12th
Spring Woods High – Addison Jacobs, 12th
Stratford High – Steven Bradshaw, 12th
Westchester Academy, Angelo Teco, 11th

Northbrook High School YES Prep student team photo: From left to right, Kaitlyn Menchaca, Sarah Garcia, Rachel Ochoa, Daniella Covarrubias, Nicholas Garcia and Dylan Phan

Seventeen Odyssey of the Mind campus-based teams will represent Spring Branch ISD at the upcoming state finals after regional competition was held recently at Waller High School.

More than 100 SBISD students will now advance to state finals April 14 at Paul Revere Middle School in Houston. Teams composed of five to seven students collaborate on group problems and solutions in Odyssey. Teams ranked from first to sixth place for each problem will advance to state.

Spring Forest Middle School team photo (Renatra Fusca Award): Photo includes Avery Cooper, Holly Kiker, Bradie Babin, Katie Donnel, Adam Shugart, Camden Graham and Devon Schwartz

In February regional contest results, a Spring Forest Middle School student team was awarded the highly coveted Renatra Fascia Award for the team’s outstanding creativity and risk taking.

Odyssey of the Mind, also called OM, is a creative, problem-solving group competition open to students at all grade levels. Student teams deliberate on a pre-set, or Long-Term Problem, during local, regional and state-level competitions.

During competition, OM teams must also solve a problem for the first time to find a Spontaneous Problem solution or response.

This year, students competed to build vehicles for triathlon use. They also used digital emojis, or icons used to express ideas or emotions, to silently communicate; created a “Mockumentary” to present so-called classics with a twist; built balsa wood structures in animal shapes for strength tests and crushing experiments; and they visited Stellar Hangouts to discuss space treasures. Kindergarten through 2nd grade students created their own team cooking shows.

To win the Renatra Fusca Award, the Spring Forest Middle students built a foundry to melt aluminum cans they collected in a can drive. The team then makde “molds” of gears out of Styrofoam and forged two gears which were used to propel their car’s axle.

SBISD campus teams advancing to state finals include:

Problem 1: Triathlon Travels
Ridgecrest Elementary, 2nd place
Meadow Wood Elementary, 4th place
Rummel Creek Elementary, 6th place
Spring Forest Middle School, 2nd place
Cornerstone Academy, 3rd place

Problem 2: Emoji, Speak for Yourself
Meadow Wood Elementary, 5th place
YES Prep at Northbrook High School, 1st place

Problem 3: Classics . . . Mockumentary! Seriously?
Valley Oaks Elementary, 2nd place
Ridgecrest Elementary, 3rd place
Westchester Academy, 2nd place

Problem 4: Animal House
Rummel Creek Elementary, 5th place
Memorial Middle School, 3rd place

Problem 5: A Stellar Hangout
Wilchester Elementary, 4th place
Terrace Elementary, 1st place
Cornerstone Academy, 3rd place
Spring Oaks Middle School, 5th place
YES Prep at Northbrook High School, 2nd place

For more details about Odyssey of the Mind in SBISD, please contact Iris Story, district Council of PTAs coordinator, at omers5@aol.com.

Health fitness and art teachers, PTA presidents and members, and Spring Branch Education Foundation volunteers gathered on March 23 to kickoff plans for this year’s SBEF Running for the Arts Fest.

The community festival is slated for Saturday, May 5, at 901 Yorkchester on the campus of the Westchester Academy for International Studies. For the second year, the event has expanded into a community Arts Fest with an art auction and arts marketplace for shoppers.

Each year, more than 2,000 students and competitive runners vie for awards in a sanctioned 5K that begins at 8 a.m. A non-competitive KidsK follows at 9 a.m. as well an awards ceremony and breakfast for runners. Students and community members may register for the run at Running for the Arts.

Middle school teachers on hand for the kick-off (l. to r): Ryan Harvey, Spring Forest Middle; Hope Grochmall and Leticia Hogeda, Northbrook Middle; Kaylee Zarate, Spring Woods Middle; and Mitchell Maxwell, Landrum Middle.

Artists and artisans will display and sell their art in a marketplace on the campus until noon. From paintings to pottery, there will be something for every shopper with favorite local artists, as well as new ones from around the city, represented. To register for a booth in the vendor marketplace, contact Stephanie Walton at stephanie.walton@springbranchisd.com or visit Running for the Arts.

The Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum will host an art auction the week prior to the run; it will culminate at the Arts Fest. Local artists who donate to the auction will showcase their work to the public within the museum setting. Community members may view and bid on the art Monday, April 30, through Thursday, May 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

In addition to the 5K, vendor marketplace and art auction, the morning will include street art as it is created; musical entertainment by student ensembles, community groups and garage bands; a Kids Zone with face painting, myriad activities and games; and food trucks serving breakfast and lunch.

Proceeds from the auction will benefit the museum. Proceeds from the Arts Fest and Run benefit SBISD’s fine arts and health education programs. All donations through SBEF are tax deductible.

Board President Karen Peck, Luisa Rodrigues and Dr. Muri.

Luisa Rodrigues, the parent liaison at Pine Shadows Elementary, has been honored as a state recipient of the 2017 Healthy Kids, Healthy School Hero Award by the nonprofit Texas Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK).

Rodrigues, who has worked at Pine Shadows for a decade and 22 years in the school district, was honored publicly by the Spring Branch ISD’s Board of Trustees during its regular monthly meeting on March 26.

She was also awarded the December 2010 SBISD Employee of the Month recognition.

Texas AFHK encourages school professionals, families and communities to take action to improve childhood health, nutrition and physical activity. Goal of the state nonprofit group is to make all youth healthy, active and ready to learn through volunteer work in schools and communities.

Rodrigues was nominated for recognition by health fitness instructor Kiera Ruck at Pine Shadows Elementary.

She was nominated for her dedicated work in several program areas:

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for both English and Spanish speaking parents
Agrilife sponsored food and nutrition classes
Parent and student yoga classes
Parent Book Club discussions on better living
Budget, money management, credit information and adult identity protection sessions
School courtyard gardening lessons and healthy cooking classes
Student and campus recycling efforts

“I believe Luisa’s highest achievements are in creating many great learning opportunities through monthly classes for our parents that provide them the tools to be successful and healthy individuals,” Coach Ruck said.

“Luisa builds positive relationships with community members who partner with Pine Shadows on many student needs, and she also gives students the opportunity to give back to the community,” the coach also said.

Rodrigues is a member of Pine Shadows’ Campus School Health Advisory Council (CSHAC), where she ensures that all parents have access to new programs, ranging from ESL classes to volunteer gardening.

She considers her career in SBISD as a lesson in being a people person. She has served Pine Shadows and Shadow Oaks elementaries, and she began her career at Northbrook High School.

“As a parent liaison, my goal is to bring together people and resources in the greater goal of parent involvement and student achievement. I always try to establish a good relationship with parents in order to maximize their involvement for the benefit of students,” she said.

Rodrigues is known for bringing programs and classes to parents based on school and community interests. A six-week cooking class, for example, grew out of green courtyard gardening yields – kale, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, basil and parsley. She hopes to get a local chef to teach cooking classes this year.

Parent volunteers are close to her heart, and several volunteers have later become district employees. “I’ve developed authentic relationships with them. This makes me happy. Parents will respond, even if their situations mean they can only volunteer for one single day because of their family or work situations,” she says.

When informed that she had won the 2017 Texas Action for Healthy Kids award, Rodrigues said she believed that it must be a mistake. She was unaware of Coach Ruck’s nomination of her work.

It came at a much needed time, too. Rodrigues, like many other SBISD teachers and staff members, was flooded out of her home by Hurricane Harvey.

Reflecting on her 2010 Employee of the Month award, she noted that the role of the parent liaison is similar to that of the symphony conductor.

“As each person brings forth his or her talent, it is my responsibility to orchestrate their efforts to create a harmonious symphony, to better the lives of all in the Spring Branch community,” she said of that award.

At the national level this year, Oliver Foundation Program Director Sandy Bristow of Houston was one of 12 people honored for school and student wellness initiatives by the nonprofit Action for Healthy Kids.

“We are inspired by the thousands of committed and passionate volunteers who go above and beyond their call of duty to help create healthier learning environments for the nation’s 50 million students,” Action for Healthy Kids CEO Rob Bisceglie said.

“It’s always difficult to choose the winners from so many outstanding nominees. All these individuals are exemplary in their efforts to affect change in their schools and communities to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn each day,” he said in a recent press release.

To learn more about Action for Healthy Kids, please visit:

The Addams Family

Stratford and Spring Woods high schools have earned nine Tommy Tune Awards nominations collectively for recently performed musicals. Theater nominations range from Best Supporting Actor/Actress to Best Direction.

Stratford High earned eight nominations for its production of The Addams Family. Spring Woods High was nominated for Into the Woods. The list of district nominations includes:

Best Supporting Actor

Kyle Goodson as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family (Stratford)

Best Supporting Actress

Faith Berrigan as Alice Beineke in The Addams Family (Stratford)

Best Ensemble/Chorus

Stratford High School – The Addams Family

Best Costume Design

Stratford High School – The Addams Family

Best Lighting Design

Stratford High School – The Addams Family

Best Stage Crew & Technical Execution

Spring Woods High School – Into the Woods
Stratford High School – The Addams Family

Best Direction

Stratford High School – The Addams Family

Musical theater directors and teachers at Stratford Playhouse include Cece Prudhomme, David Clayton and Christian Holmes. At Spring Woods, Terry Hibbert and Chrissie Cutler direct the student Safari Players.

Into the Woods: Angel Cienfuegos (Jack), Anyelin Ayala (Jack’s Mother) and Chase Smesny (Narrator)

The 16th annual Tommy Tune Awards will recognize and reward excellence in the production of musical theater by high school students and instructors.

This year, 45 public and private high schools participated in judging. Best Musical nominations were announced recently on Facebook by Jim Parsons, a Klein Oak High graduate famous now as over-the-top sitcom character Sheldon Cooper on CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory.”

The Tommy Tune Awards are named for renowned Houston native, Lamar High School grad and top Broadway performer, director and choreographer Tommy Tune. The awards event will be conducted on Tuesday, April 17, at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, 800 Bagby.

For more information on the Tommy Tunes Awards Nominees, please visit Tuts.

Left to right: Jackelyn Saldana, Jessi Jose Chavero

Two fifth-graders at Buffalo Creek Elementary were honored earlier this year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston for their participation and achievements in group after-school activities.

Jackelyn Saldana, a Buffalo Creek Boys & Girls Club member for three years, was named as the 2018 Junior Youth of the Year by Boys & Girls Clubs officials in January.

Named as a Junior Youth of the Year Finalist was fifth-grade classmate, Jessi Jose Chavero, also a Buffalo Creek Club member.

Youth of the Year and Junior Youth of the Year are recognition programs that celebrate the achievements of Boys & Girls Club members. To earn these honors, candidates must embody values of leadership and service, academic excellence and healthy lifestyles.

Top recognition must also show the critical impact that Boys & Girls Clubs have on the lives of young people.

Jackelyn Saldana credits the Buffalo Creek Club for new friendships and the Club staff for encouraging her to never give up and keep trying.

She enjoys Club programs like Smart Girls, a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of young girls. She also assists Club staff.

Her creativity was sparked by art classes. She also learned how important good grades can be for success, and she adopted the Club’s 3 B’s – Be Safe, Be Respectful and Be Responsible.

“When I wasn’t a part of the Boys & Girls Club, I would go to school, come home and have nothing to do,” Jackelyn said in a Boys & Girls Club news release. “I do love the Boys & Girls Club because the staff always has so many fun activities and games for us, and I am never bored. That makes me happy.”

The 11-year-old plans to attend college after graduation.

The Spring Branch ISD Teacher of the Year Committee has announced its finalists for SBISD Teacher of the Year.

Committee interviews will soon be held with six finalist candidates. The new SBISD Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year will be announced publicly during the annual Employee Service Awards celebration.

This year’s Employee Service Awards will be held on Tuesday, April 24, at Minute Maid Park downtown. Superintendent of Schools Scott R. Muri will likely announce new Teachers of the Year during the seventh-inning break in the Houston Astros baseball game.

District winners will receive a trophy-style Golden Apple award, plus related awards and recognitions that also include a $1,000 cash award and $2,000 professional growth stipend.

Elementary Teacher of the Year Finalists

Kate Zuelke, Edgewood Elementary. Kate is a Math Resource and In-Class Support teacher;

Stephanie Chambers, Bendwood School. Stephanie is a Gifted and Talented teacher;

and Heather Bothe, Frostwood Elementary. Heather is campus librarian.

Secondary Teacher of the Year Finalists

Holly Hartman, Memorial High. Holly is a journalism teacher and the newspaper/yearbook adviser;

Ryan Beeler, Spring Woods High. Ryan is a science teacher;

and Janice Cummons, Stratford High. Janice is a journalism teacher and newspaper adviser.

Campus Teacher of the Year candidates are first nominated by the district’s students, parents, teachers and interested community members. This year, more than 1,400 individual nominations were received; in all, 871 teachers in SBISD were nominated.

Members of the SBISD Teacher of the Year Committee read and reviewed all campus Teacher of the Year applications, including videos submitted by candidates. These applications detail the unique perspectives and the rich, varied backgrounds of our outstanding educators.

When named in April, the Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year will go on to compete in the Region IV Teacher of the Year Competition. If successful there, they move forward to annual Texas Teacher of the Year competition.

SBISD’s two new Teachers of the Year will also be entered into the annual Houston West Chamber of Commerce teacher recognition event.

During its history, SBISD has had four teachers named regional and Texas Teachers of the Year. Many more district educators have been recognized as regional-level finalists, or they have won separate awards and honors.

During its history, SBISD has had four teachers named regional and Texas Teachers of the Year. Many more district educators have been recognized as regional-level finalists, or they have won separate awards and honors.

View the full list of campus Teachers of the Year

Dancing Under God’s Gray Skies by Bailey Hill

Fifteen Spring Branch ISD high school art students have advanced paintings, mixed media works, photographs and ceramics into judging in the April 28 state Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE).

To earn a state-level ranking, student works had to receive a top rating of 4 during recent regional VASE interviews with certified jurors held at Stratford High School.

Purple Hue by Adam Leif

The juried VASE event, now in its 24th year, is sponsored by the Texas Art Educators Association (TAEA). VASE is reported to be a one-of-a-kind event where students bring their classroom works to a juried event that also includes an interview, standards-based rubric, and student-juror discussions about the development of the artwork.

SBISD student works advancing to VASE state review and judging include:

Memorial High School
Lauren Dickerson, “Kk,” Colored Pencil
Marie Gulstad, “Nature Finds a Way,” Digital Photography
Bailey Hill, “Dancing under God’s Gray Skies,” Acrylic Painting
Jaqueline Morris, “Charging Cowboy,” Charcoal & Pencil
Kimia Samiee, “Camel of Chalus,” Digital Photography
Lauren Tucker, “Desperation’s Grip,” Charcoal & Colored Pencil

Spring Woods High School
Dorian Jordan, “Cherry Hill”

Stratford High School
Logan Allwein, “Willow,” Watercolor & Ink
Audrey Kate Ford, “Modern Cowboy,” Painting
Adam Leif, “Tatum,” Digital Photography
Erin Newsom, “Ballerina,” Digital Photography
Cristian Pena, “Dad,” Digital Photography
Belynne Rice, “Deer,” Digital Photography
Emma Spilios, “Cabbage Patch,” Sculpture
Amie Yoo, “Bravest Warrior,” Mixed Media

High school art instructors include Elisa Barry and Elizabeth Carney at Memorial High; Rebekah Tee at Spring Woods High; and Kathleen Buys, Jennifer Clouse and Bess Garison at Stratford High.

A Cornerstone Academy seventh-grader and Frostwood Elementary fourth-grade student finished first and second place during the Spring Branch ISD Spelling Bee, conducted Feb. 21 at Westchester Academy for International Studies.

Representing SBISD this Saturday, April 7, for the regional Houston Public Media Spelling Bee will be Jacob Smith of Cornerstone Academy. Runner-up was Leah Hwang of Frostwood Elementary, a fourth-grader.

Smith and Hwang had a final round spell off, which Smith won by correctly spelling the word “hanji,” which describes Korean handmade paper. Smith won first place after missing a previous spelling word, then recovering.

He was the runner-up in the Cornerstone Academy campus spelling bee. “It shocked me that I had co-won the Spelling Bee because I did not study. My parents were surprised and happy that I had won,” he recalls.

As district winner, Smith received a special medal and trophy, and he was awarded a Kindle Fire HD 8 tablet.

Smith competed in the district bee for the first time this year, a second time for him at the campus level. He considers himself more a good speller than a student speller who memorizes lengthy word lists.

In advance of the Houston Public Media’s bee this weekend, however, he’s worked hard to prepare with volunteer Roberta Smiley, who was the district bee’s pronouncer this year and is also a National Spelling Bee finalist.

“I’ve done a lot of work to prepare for this event. I’m hoping to finish in the Top 10,” the Cornerstone Academy student said.

Smith will join 52 spellers representing grades second through eight in the 2018 Houston Public Media Spelling Bee, now the nation’s largest regional spelling bee. It will be held at Baylor College of Medicine Academy housed at HISD’s James D. Ryan Middle School.

Final rounds and highlights of the regional spelling bee will be broadcast at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, on Houston Public Media’s TV 8.

The top two regional spellers advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. That bee will be held May 27 through June 1 in Washington, D.C. Regional winners placed fourth and fifth in last year’s national contest.

Twenty-four SBISD elementary and middle schools sent winners and runner-ups to the auditorium at Westchester Academy for the district spelling bee.

Roberta Smiley, the longtime district Spelling Bee advocate who provides free spelling instruction to winners, served as the district bee pronouncer.

She was joined by three judges – Jessica Hughes, district director of Innovative Resource Media Systems; Natalie Fikac, district director of Guidance and Counseling; and Rebecca Singley, who is Learning and Design Specialist with the district Professional Learning Team.

SBISD’s Spelling Bee was sponsored by the Advanced Academic Studies Dept. Amy Ellingson is department facilitator.

Campus Winners and Runners-Up

Elementary Schools

Buffalo Creek Elementary– Josefina Colato, Winner; Amy Mireles, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: David Rodriguez

Bunker Hill Elementary– David Lee, Winner; Caroline Thomas, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Jill Melancon

Cedar Brook Elementary – Ariel Robles, Winner; Isabella Conner, Runner-up
Campus Coordinator: Stella Artamayo

Edgewood Elementary– Samuel Degroot, Winner; Emily Flores, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Priscilla Griffin

Frostwood Elementary– Leah Hwang, Winner; Patrick Young, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Cheryl Mallette & Shelley Stalnacker

Hunters Creek Elementary– Natalie Jones, Winner; Skyler Marich, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Natalie Castellanos, Angie Murray & Beth Silsby

Meadow Wood Elementary – Hadley Perego, Winner; Joe Selesky, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Kay Taylor

Memorial Drive Elementary– Brooks Edwards, Winner; Shirin Shatery, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Amy Lindsay

Nottingham Elementary– Madisyn Chu, Winner; Vi Pham, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Stacey Zubair

Pine Shadows Elementary– Jessica Guzman, Winner; Samuel Sanchez, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Josephine Stringer

Ridgecrest Elementary– Omar Salgado, Winner; Josue Sidonio, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Elizabeth Jacobs

Shadow Oaks Elementary– Leah Ramirez, Winner, Anthony Murillo, Runner-up
Campus Coordinator: Lauren Redden

Spring Branch Academic Institute– Brooke McAfee, Winner
Campus Coordinator: James Lefeber & Ashlee McCauley

Spring Branch Elementary– Jose Mejia, Winner; Naima Coronado, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Allison Burt

Terrace Elementary – Yaved Gomez, Winner; Jocelin Jimenez-Muñoz, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Veronica Evetts

Valley Oaks Elementary– Canryn Do, Winner; Daniyal Salman, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Becky Reese

Westwood Elementary– Daria Derscheid, Winner; Izaiah Brasfield, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: HaLam Tran

Wilchester Elementary– Noah Fortin, Winner; Gavin Nguyen, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Jeannie Cataldo

Middle Schools

Cornerstone Academy– Annika Vivekananthan, Winner; Jacob Smith, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Holly Smetek

Memorial Middle– Molly Higgins, Winner; Joshua Tolentino, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Ellen Green

Spring Branch Academic Institute– Emily Hopkins, Winner

Spring Branch Middle– Matvey Kurlyand, Winner; Joshua Wagema, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Sarah Miller

Spring Forest Middle– Emma Manalo, Winner; Isabel Keery, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Terri Cyphers

Westchester Academy– Daniel Rampersaud, Winner; Jonathan Barnes, Runner-Up
Campus Coordinator: Patty Carr

Read more about the Houston Public Media Spelling Bee

The 2017 bond program right now is kind of like a swimming duck – not much appears to be happening but beneath the surface the paddling is intense.

District staff are those paddles, busily planning the work approved by voters in November. And on Monday, March 26, Trustees gave approval for up to $200 million in bonds to be issued for upcoming work and purchases.

District voters in November of last year approved by 80 percent a 10-year, $898.4 million bond package that included, among other things, a rebuild of nine elementary schools and Landrum Middle School, and no increase in the district’s tax rate.

Proceeds from the first bond issue will be used to:

Purchase fine arts instruments and uniforms
Purchase buses
Update technology
Update CTE equipment
Hire architects
Begin work on preK centers
Begin work on three elementary campuses not being replaced and not rebuilt as part of 2007 bond
Begin pre-design work on Hunters Creek Elementary and Landrum Middle
Begin work at the four comprehensive high schools, including preparing MHS for its partial reconstruction

Trustees also approved seven architectural firms to be used for the construction projects. The approval culminates a months-long process involving the submittal of bids, information and interview sessions, and final selection of firms. Architects were chosen based on their particular experience and expertise not only with schools but with the unique challenges around each rebuild site.

Other bond-related action from the March Board of Trustees meeting included a resolution to defease – pay off principal – several issues from the 2007 bond program, and a resolution allowing the district to use its general fund to pay bond-related expenditures, then pay itself back from bond sale proceeds. The resolution covers the lag between the authorization to sell bonds and the receipt of proceeds.

A Bond Oversight Committee has been formed and had its initial meeting in February. The BOC is charged with ensuring fidelity between what was promised and what’s being delivered.

View more information about the Bond Oversight Committee

Bond funds are separate from general funds, as required by state law. Entirely under local control and not subject to recapture (Robin Hood), SBISD’s bond fund is vibrant and healthy.

Thirteen elementary schools and SBEC were rebuilt as part of the district’s successful $597.1 million 2007 bond program, which also provided for the purchase of school buses, technology upgrades and safety and security measures at each district facility.

By By Tracy Maness/Memorial Examiner, A division of the Houston Chronicle

DeCory recently performed on "Showtime at the Apollo." Photo: Courtesy Photo

He is just 14 years old, but his vocal performance is set to be featured on national television soon. His 2016 cover of "Billie Jean" complete with Michael Jackson dance moves at Spring Branch Middle School has over 2.4 million views on YouTube. Now musician and performer DeCory should appear on "Showtime at the Apollo" as early as April 12 at 8 p.m. on FOX.

DeCory said he chose to use his own name as his stage name because it was different and unique. D'Juan Baham, his father and manager, worked in the entertainment industry when he was growing up, and DeCory inherited his love of music and has been singing since age four. Today, he sings and dances in his pop and rhythm and blues style mixed with old soul.

The Apollo Theater is one of New York City's musical landmarks and has helped launch artists like James Brown, Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill into stardom. In March, DeCory and Baham had the choice to perform at a showcase at Austin's South by Southwest Festival or to fly to New York and stand in line for hours to audition for the Apollo's amateur night. He chose the latter, and the judges in New York liked his performance of "When A Woman Loves" by R. Kelly so much that they selected him to appear on the TV show. DeCory said it was a awesome experience.

"It was truly amazing. To be on the same stage where great stars [had] stood, it made me feel like I had made it [and was] closer to my dreams," he said. "Having the opportunity to perform for one of the livest audiences made me feel like I had made it to the big league."

Originally from Atlanta, Decory has lived in Spring Branch for three years and is in the ninth grade.

"I like Spring Branch because they've truly welcomed me into their community and have supported my goals from the moment I arrived. The opportunities have been amazing," he said.

DeCory said he loves how he gets to interact people and build bonds with them as he performs.

"My favorite part about singing and performing is the energy I feel from the audience. Their energy ignites me and transfers through my performance. It's like the moment I get on stage, we are building a relationship and feeding from each other. It's truly magical," DeCory said.

DeCory decided years back that he wanted to be an entertainer, and Baham told him that if that was his decision, he was going to have to make it a priority in his life.

"The moment he told me he wanted to become a full-fledged entertainer, I explained to him the sacrifices it was going to take to achieve greatness," Baham said.

These days DeCory works on his singing about 30 hours a week and has been taking vocal lessons for about two years, he said. He regularly sings and dances in a variety of venues, community outreach locations, conventions and festivals in Texas and Louisiana.

To build momentum leading up to show's airing, on DeCory released his new single "Wait a Minute" March 27, which he said he wrote with those who might steer him away from the plans he has in mind.

"The song talks about the peer pressure of people attempting to distract me from my goals. I wrote it because I wanted to send a message to everyone who might be in my same situation. I've learned when great things are happening in life, people or things will try to keep you from experiencing the greatness God has for you," DeCory said. "'Wait a Minute' is my response to anything trying to deter me from succeeding-just give me a minute and I'll show you greatness."

"Wait a Minute" is now available on ITunes, Spotify and Pandora. Learn more about DeCory at www.facebook.com/imDeCory, @ImDeCory or www.youtube.com/channel/UCzM8fz3rg9eyv5TVkCpoErA. "Showtime at the Apollo" runs Thursdays at 8 p.m. If you don't see DeCory's performance of April 12, stay tuned for future episodes.

Stratford High School will have its annual Garage Sale benefiting the Jr. Class Project Prom on Saturday, April 21.

Stratford High School* GARAGE SALE
Saturday, April 21
9AM-3PM
SHS Cafeteria
Free to the Public!

*Benefits SHS C/O 2019 Project Prom

Kate Carmain, a Kinkaid junior and founder of a non-profit that provides books for children who need them.

Landrum Middle and KIPP Courage students flooded into the LMS library last week for library books – the kind they could keep rather than borrow.

The books were gathered from the Kinkaid School’s middle school library by Kate Carmain, a Kinkaid junior and Hunters Creek resident. Carmain started a small non-profit when she was in eighth-grade that collects books and distributes them to children who need them.

She and a group of fellow students helped students select books and decorate writing journals. They also provided snacks, always a hit.

“I always loved to read and wanted to share that with others,” Carmain said.

A member of the Rosebud Sioux tribe, Carmain makes an annual trip to South Dakota to deliver books to tribe children.

Librarian Jimmy Mai was happy.

Students file past a pile of book bags last week at Landrum Middle School.

“This is great – this is a great way to create partnerships,” he said, as LMS and KIPP students streamed by, many with questions for Mai. “We can’t do this alone – we need to form partnerships with other schools.”

Mai had to tell several disappointed students that the library was out of the red bags emblazoned with the Landrum logo. Several students wore the bags as improvised jester hats while they perused the available books.

The books went so fast that what was scheduled to be a two-hour event was largely over in an hour.

Pam Carmain, Kate’s mother, was talking with her neighbor, former SBISD trustee Mary Grace Landrum, about Kate’s book projects. Landrum, also a member of the Landrum Campus Improvement Team (CIT), said that she knew of need closer to home if Kate wanted to pursue one. Turns out she did and the Landrum-Kinkaid project was on.

Jimmy Mai hopes it’s not a one-time thing.

“I hope we can do it again,” he said. “I hope we can continue the partnership.”

Early voting for two SBISD Board of Trustee positions opens on Monday, April 23, and ends on Tuesday, May 1. Election Day is Saturday, May 5.

Early voting will be held at the following locations:

Wayne F. Schaper Leadership Center (SBISD Administration Bldg.)
955 Campbell Road, 77024
(April 23-27 and April 30-May 1 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; April 28 – 8 a.m.-noon)
Don Coleman Community Coliseum,1050 Dairy Ashford, 77079
(April 23-27 and April 30-May 1 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; April 28 – 8 a.m.-noon)
Holy Cross Lutheran Church 7901 Westview, 77055
(April 23-27 and April 30-May 1 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; April 28 – 8 a.m.-noon)
City of Piney Point Village 7676 Woodway Suite, #300, 77063
(April 23-27 -- 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; April 30-May 1 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m. No voting at this location on Saturday)

On Saturday, May 6, voters may cast ballots at their zoned middle school:

Election Precinct No. 41 – Landrum Middle School, 2200 Ridgecrest, 77055
Election Precinct No. 42 – Memorial Middle School, 12550 Vindon, 77024
Election Precinct No. 43 – Spring Branch Middle School, 1000 Piney Point, 77024
Election Precinct No. 44 – Spring Woods Middle School, 9810 Neuens, 77080
Election Precinct No. 45 – Spring Forest Middle School, 14240 Memorial, 77079
Election Precinct No. 46 – Spring Oaks Middle School, 2150 Shadowdale, 77043
Election Precinct No. 47 – Northbrook Middle School, 3030 Rosefield, 77080

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 5.

Competing for Trustee Position 3 are Minda Ceasar, 51, who lists her occupation as community leader, and Noel Lezama, 36, an insurance agent. Current seat holder Katherine Dawson is not seeking re-election.

Trustee Chris Vierra, 49, a small business owner, is unopposed for a third-term in Position 4.

All positions are for three-year terms.

For assistance on where to vote, or if you have any other questions, please call 713-251-2217, or go to www.springbranchisd.com.

On Saturday, the Memorial High School girls soccer team received their trophy for winning the Region II Final match vs. Round Rock.

The Memorial Mustangs girls soccer team is writing Spring Branch ISD history this week as it advances to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) State Soccer Tournament.

The Mustangs are the first girls soccer team ever in SBISD to win regionals and head to state-level playoff competition. Last Saturday, April 14, Memorial defeated Round Rock in the UIL 6A Region II Regional Tournament finals in Austin to qualify as one of four state-bound teams.

The UIL 6A Girls State Soccer Tournament begins Friday at the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex and Birkelbach Field. The Memorial Mustangs head into the state semifinals as the No. 1 seed in the Girls 6A division, with the best record of qualifying teams at 26-0-1.

Mustang girls made 18 consecutive playoff appearances in previous years before making it past the third round this season, a delighted and determined Coach Lindley Amarantos notes.

“Our message this week is to keep our eye on the prize, but to approach each day one at a time. Obviously, everyone is good at this point in the playoffs so it is going to come down to who can capitalize at the right time, who can be disciplined in the game, and who can take advantage of the opportunities that pop up,” Coach Amarantos said. “These girls are all about breaking records and we aren’t done yet!”

The Mustangs will face a McAllen team in the semifinal match Friday at 9:30 a.m. If they win, Memorial advances to the state championship game where they face the winner of the Cinco Ranch/Lewisville Marcus game. The state championship will be played this Saturday, April 21, beginning at 4 p.m.

If the Mustangs season seems like a wonderful dream, it’s one where team and players have hit every goal that they set as both a team and individually, the Memorial coach said.

“These girls are a family. They really love and care for each other and that comes out in how they play. They want to be successful for each other. They want to win for their teammates. There are no weak links. We are strong from No. 1 to No. 24. And they are all committed to each other and to goals we set as a team,” Coach Amarantos also said.

“We have hit every goal that we have set both individually and collectively,” she adds.

The Mustangs were undefeated 15-6A district champions. They have now defeated Eisenhower High, the defending state champions, as well as Pflugerville Hendrickson, Round Rock and the Woodlands to advance to state competition.

Memorial was ranked No. 1 for Region II by the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) in its rankings at the end of regular season team play. The achievement so far means so much to a team that planned for success and then made it happen.

“This season has meant so much to the girls and to our staff,” Coach Amarantos said. “We lost last year in the second round of playoffs in penalty kicks to the eventual state champions [Pflugerville Hendrickson]. We were a very young team and returned 10 of 11 starters and 16 total players.”

“Day 1 of post-season last year, the girls decided we had a new goal – to make it to state this season and we were going to do any and everything to make that happen. We hit the weight room, we re-evaluated our off-season, and the girls got together and planned workouts that took them through the whole summer,” the coach said.

“They would met up at the field and push each other in workouts. Overall, it has meant so much to have a goal, to work hard for that goal and then to see it realized. It really is a testament to what these girls can do when they put their mind to it,” Coach Amarantos also said.

The Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex and Birkelbach Field is located at 2275 N. Austin Avenue, Georgetown, TX 78626. Birkelbach Field is located just behind Georgetown High School. Ticket prices are $12 for adults and $7 for students. A $5 parking fee will be charged for Saturday’s state championship.

In separate but related SBISD soccer news, the Spring Woods High boys soccer team lost 1-0 in the Region II playoffs held last weekend, April 13-14. The Tigers fell to Coppell in double overtime. Before its loss, the team was named Team of the Week by a local TV station, KUBE 57.

Memorial High Girls Soccer Team Roster

Kelsey Hranicky, midfielder (sophomore)
Addie Gaetano, defender (senior)
Reagan Goodwine, defender (sophomore)
Mary Grace Sullivan, forward (senior)
Suzanna Jinks, defender (senior)
Gillian Holloway, midfielder (sophomore)
Callie Hurley, defender (sophomore)
Blakeley Buckingham, midfielder (sophomore)
Berkeley Prewett, forward (forward)
Ashley Arbour, defender (freshman)
Kate Jones, defender (junior)
Grace Collins, forward (junior)

Team Managers:

Sarah Sarver (senior)
Yesel Garcia (senior)
Sofia Casar (senior)
Chiori Aizu (sophomore)

Memorial Girls varsity coach assistant is Gilberto Velez. Mikel Collins is also part of the Memorial High team staff.

Student trainers run a short sprint after spinning several times with their foreheads on baseball bats. The first student in each race to pick up a ball at the other end gets a chance to answer a question on training/anatomy.

Paige Hershey says that one of the biggest compliments she ever received involved Spring Branch ISD’s student athletic trainers.

Hershey, SBISD executive athletic director, said she was talking with one of the district’s football coaches about a football program in a neighboring district that doesn’t have student trainers.

“(The coach) asked, ‘How do they practice without trainers?’” she said, addressing a group of SBISD student trainers last month at Don Coleman Coliseum.

“Sometimes you’re so good at what you do that people take you for granted,” she said. “But, know that they do appreciate you.”

Do they ever.

All four SBISD comprehensive high schools – Memorial, Northbrook, Spring Woods and Stratford – were recently designated Safe Sports School 1st Teams by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

The designation, based on an application process that considers processes, procedures and policies in place in the high schools’ programs, positions the schools as (leaders) in sports safety and a community concerned with its student athletes and their care, according to NATA.

Students label anatomy on a paper cutout last month at student trainer workshop.

NATA defines athletic trainers as a “health care professionals who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states’ statutes, rules and regulations.”

“Our trainers put in incredible hours and do amazing work, but are a group that works behind the scenes and is never recognized,” said Hershey. “I’m very proud of them.”

SBISD student trainers work under the direction of certified trainers at each high school.

Hershey said the student trainer program in SBISD is unique in how it operates and prepares students for potential careers in not only athletic training but also other area of health care.

The student trainers this year went on field trips to Texas Lutheran University in Seguin and the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. The trainers have also been to the Houston Ballet, where they first saw the dancers and how trainers help handle their injuries, then stayed for a performance.

The student trainers were at Coleman that day in March participating in an all-day workshop designed to enhance skills and breadth of knowledge. That day, the trainers studied eye anatomy, got CPR certified, heard from Dr. Jack Jensen of the Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Center (an SBISD team doctor), and participated in a taping contest and team building activities.

Several trainers received scholarships to summer camps designed to further enhance their skills.

Lead district trainer Tyra Harrell of Spring Woods High School said the day promotes not only training but a district standard, so that student trainers at each campus learn and know the same procedures – and where the equipment is on every campus.

The workshop provides a “standard of information” for the trainers, Harrell said, and is also a team-building day.

NATA defines an athletic trainer as a “health care professional who render service or treatment, under the direction of or in collaboration with a physician, in accordance with their education and training and the states’ statutes, rules and regulations,” according to their website.

SBISD student trainers work under the tutelage of certified trainers at each high school.

Early in the afternoon of the training day, the student trainers participate in one of those team-building exercises. A group of four students are asked a question from that day’s training. Given the command to “go”, they place their foreheads on the end of a baseball bat and spin around five times, then race a short distance toward a colored ball that represents their team. The first one to pick up their ball gets to answer the question for the win. If that person can’t answer another competitor gets a chance.

It’s big fun and the student trainers enjoy themselves, and like the athletes they support the trainers are pretty competitive. But the exercise has an underlying purpose – to demonstrate that a trainer has to stay focused regardless of external factors.

The day ends with the awarding of both post-secondary scholarships and scholarships to a summer sports medicine camp.

Eleven seniors were awarded post-secondary scholarships from the Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, including Lauren Weber, $1,000, Memorial; Esmeralda Salais, $500, Spring Woods; Maria Isabel Gutierrez, Northbrook, $300; Maria Hernandez, Northbrook, $300; Nicole Hernandez, Northbrook, $300; Rosa Jimenez Bielma, $300, Northbrook; Daniella Oropeza, $300, Northbrook; Rebecca Zambrano Villasana, Northbrook, $300; Evangelina “EV” Covarrubias, Spring Woods, $250; and Jesenya “JC” Clark, Spring Woods, $250.

Awarded scholarships to the Longhorn Sports Medicine Camp from Athletic Orthopedics and Knee Center were Ubakum Mere of Stratford High School and Haley Jimenez of Spring Woods High School. Awarded a camp scholarship from UT Physicians Orthopedics at Ironman Sports Medicine Institute was Gina Perez of Northbrook High School.

The designation is for three years, through 2021.

Nicole Toro of Thornwood Elementary with Cecilia Abbott (left), wife of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in Austin

Nicole Toro's winning work

A Thornwood Elementary School fifth-grader who loves art and reading has been named the top elementary winner in the Texas Art Education Association’s annual Youth Art Month Contest for flag design.

Photographed recently with her winning work and standing with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s wife, Cecilia, is Nicole Toro.

The Thornwood student’s flag design was named the 2018 Elementary School Flag Design statewide winner, a remarkable award.

According to art teacher Claudia Galena, Nicole is highly passionate about drawing, writing, theater and cats. “Her dream is to become a journalist and to travel the world,” Thornwood’s Galena said.

“When learning she had won the state-level contest, she cried tears of joy. Her family is very excited for her and they were so happy to be invited to the awards ceremony in Austin,” the instructor also said. “They are all very supportive of Nicole’s dreams.”

National Youth Art Month was celebrated in March. Texas is viewed as a leader in Youth Art Month celebrations nationally.

The Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) sponsors its own flag design contest, a 100-piece student art exhibit, and a special Youth Art Month art exhibit at the State Capitol in Austin.

This year, TAEA held its awards ceremony and a special reception at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, also in Austin.

The Youth Art Month Flag Design Contest is held to represent the state nationally. Nicole’s flag design depicts her love for her hometown’s own beautiful buildings – Houston in miniature.

Cecilia Abbott, who posed with Nicole, was a teacher, vice-principal and principal at several Roman Catholic schools, including as principal at the Cathedral School of St. Mary in St. Mary.

View an archive of top TAEA flag design winners.

Advanced Placement Art Class Reaches Out to Florida Students

7 Rings of Gold Walk Honors Memorial-Area Student

Stratford High Violins Delight United Passengers 30,000 Feet Up

Character Without Question Awards

Odyssey of the Mind Teams Prepare for State Finals

Teachers and PTA Members Kickoff SBEF’s Running for the Arts Fest

Healthy Kids, Healthy School Hero Award Winner

Two High Schools Earn Tommy Tune Nominations

Boys & Girls Club Student Honors

SBISD Teacher of the Year Finalists Named

Visual Arts Scholastic Event State Finalists Named

Winner Named in District Spelling Bee

Campus Winners and Runners-Up

Trustees Approve First Sale from 2017 Bond Program

Teen's Performance at the Apollo Theater to Air on FOX

Stratford High School Annual Garage Sale

Landrum, KIPP Courage Students Enjoy Books from Kinkaid

Early Voting for SBISD Trustee Election Opens April 23

Memorial High Girls Soccer Makes History

SBISD Athletic Training Staffs Earn Safe Sports Designation

Thornwood Student Wins Flag Design Contest