KIPP Courage College Prep at Landrum Middle School holds special ribbon-cutting event for new SBISD student program

Several hundred students, staff, parents, elected officials and community members gathered at Landrum Middle School for a Sept. 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of an exciting new student program – KIPP Courage College Prep at Landrum Middle School.

On Aug. 13, more than 100 fifth-graders began the new school year as the inaugural class at KIPP Courage College Prep.

A lottery will held next spring to fill the next fifth-grade class, and in four years the program will send its first class to high school. SBISD has also teamed up with YES Prep Public Schools to enroll about 140 sixth-graders at Northbrook Middle School in the new YES Prep Northbrook program.

Together, the two programs and SBISD have formed an innovative alliance known as the SKY Partnership.

The Sept. 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony included remarks from KIPP founder Mike Feinberg, new program School Leader Eric Schmidt and fifth-grader Alyssa Vargas. Local leaders in attendance included six Board of Trustees members, SBISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Duncan Klussmann, several Houston City Council members and Dr. Zachary Hodges, who is president of Houston Community College (HCC) - Northwest. KIPP Courage School Leader Schmidt thanked parents in English and Spanish for being “a big reason for the success that we have had over the last two months” and for their support and permission to work with their children.

He also thanked the KIPP teachers. Schmidt noted that his staff and the fifth-graders, or “big KIPPsters” and “little KIPPsters” as they are called in the charter program, had given him many ways to answer this simple prompt: “Tell me about a time you showed courage.”

Some of the answers included the following, he told the attentive audience:

• “Courage is coming to school even when your mom hasn’t had the chance to clean your KIPP shirt that you worked so hard to earn during Summer Session.”
• “Courage is coming into school to work on Saturdays so that on weeknights you can get home to see your significant other before they work the night shift.”
• “Courage is looking at the full moon on Thursday night when you left work and seeing it in the same spot on Friday morning when you came back.”
• “Courage is learning how to do your multiplication in 3 minutes and 20 seconds for 100 facts.”

Fifth-grader Alyssa Vargas spoke for students, saying that “KIPP is a school that has a bunch of courage.” She will graduate in 2020. Her “college” at KIPP Courage is Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

The charter program has a longer school day and school year. KIPP students attend school at Landrum from 7:25 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday; their day ends at 2 p.m. on Fridays so that their teachers can meet and plan weekly.

“What KIPP means to me is team and family,” Alyssa told the gathering. “It is a pretty long day for KIPP Courage students, but we have fun and learn new kinds of things.” Students in the program took part in the ribbon cutting.

Each used a small scissors to clip off gray strips of ribbon as a personal memento and reminder of the day’s ceremony.

Other speakers included Dr. Klussmann and KIPP founder Mike Feinberg. Students were also told about the importance of learning by Houston City Council Member Jack Christie, a former SBISD Board of Trustee member. City Council Member Helena Brown and staff representative for City Council Member Melissa Noriega also attended.

“It’s a real honor to be here, and to be known as a big KIPPster,” SBISD’s Superintendent quipped. “As a school system, we (in SBISD) want to provide as many student options and program possibilities as possible, and that is what KIPP Courage is doing here at Landrum Middle School.”

For more information about the KIPP Courage College Prep program at Landrum Middle School, please call 713-251-3800.

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J. Landon Short Mini-Grants awarded to educators

Every year, J. Landon Short Mini-Grants for Educators awards small grants valued at up to $500 towards projects that will help Spring Branch ISD students learn and grow. This year, 17 project winners were chosen from 47 grant applications In all, 23 teachers won either individual or campus team awards. A panel of judges chose the winning competitive applications.

District Coordinator for Partnerships & Volunteer Programs Sue Loudis announced the winners during the Sept. 24 monthly meeting of the SBISD Board of Trustees.

The Mini-Grants competition is named for lifelong education advocate and supporter J. Landon Short. Mr. Short, who is deceased, was a founding member of the SBISD Partners in Education Advisory Board.

About $9,500 was awarded this year through the permanent endowment of The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, and through gifts from the Spring Branch Education Foundation and First Community Credit Union. A pre-meeting reception was held for teachers who won grants this year. Ridgecrest Elementary teachers Ryan Ferrugia and Rebecca Riegel were chosen as one of the winning teams.

They received a Mini-Grant to help their students explore the world of music though an unusual instrument, the ukulele.

The Mini-Grant awarded to the two teachers will be used to buy 25 ukuleles. As students learn how to play the ukulele, they will learn how to read music and have the opportunity to transfer this newly acquired skill to other musical instruments, such as the guitar.
Spring Oaks Middle teachers Betsy Foye and Valarie Nappier won another Mini-grant.

Through their project, eighth-grade students will pick a cause that they feel needs attention and write a persuasive letter in an attempt to convince the class to vote for their cause as the most worthy.

After the students complete their research, write their letters and chose a winning project through a class election, the students will carry out the project.

“This mini-grant will give students the opportunity to work together and realize that they do make a difference in both their school and community. When each class completes their project, they have a sense of accomplishment and better understanding of the result of positive actions,” the teachers wrote in their application.

In addition to these chosen mini-grants, 15 others will help improve the lives of SBISD students and expand their knowledge during the upcoming school year.
2012-13 Winning Mini-Grants

To view all 47 mini-grant applications including the 17 chosen grants click here
Communications Dept. Intern Kali Venable compiled this report.

2012-2013 Winning Mini-Grants

• Jeanette Choy - Terrace Elementary
• Ryan Ferrugia, Rebecca Riegel - Ridgecrest Elementary
• Christine Chumillo - Wildcat Way School
• Ann King - Westchester Academy
• Theresa Schwab Trevino, Sally Craddock - Rummel Creek Elementary
• Valarie Nappier, Betsy Foye - Spring Oaks Middle
• Teresa Dolan - Treasure Forest Elementary
• Mary Beth Lynch - Westchester Academy
• Jim Kirkwood - Spring Woods High School
• Wanda Lamb - Hunters Creek Elementary
• Karen Harrell, Dorothy Thompson - Rummel Creek Elementary
• Virginia (Ginny) Huff - Spring Oaks Middle
• Judith Drilling - Sherwood Elementary
• Tracey Jensen - Stratford High
• Robye Snyder, Ashley Johnson, Margaret Lee - Meadow Wood Elementary
• Christine Englund - Terrace Elementary
• Mario Romero - Thornwood Elementary

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Administration Building employees earn No Place for Hate Designation

For the second time in three years, staff in SBISD’s Administration Building has earned a No Place for Hate Designation through Houston’s Southwest Regional office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The award was presented on Sept. 24 during the monthly meeting of the SBISD Board of Trustees. ADL Board Members and Spring Branch community residents Jay Harberg and Janet Pozmantier presented the award. More than two dozen SBISD campuses have also earned the No Place for Hate Designation for their ongoing efforts to operate inclusive and respectful environments.

“We are thrilled that Spring Branch and Spring Branch ISD schools are involved in this program,” Jay Harberg said. Janet Pozmantier noted that one of the activities performed by many Administration Building employees is student mentoring.

Employee volunteers meet weekly with Spring Woods High students who are interested in post-graduation training and education. “You walk the walk,” she said. “We think that this kind of community service helps you be the best school district in the city, state and nation.”

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Honoring Our Police Officers

Two police officers honored for helping break up gang activities Spring Branch ISD Police Officers Jesse Diaz and Dwayne Hernandez have been honored for their work with area law enforcement agencies to halt local gang activities.

 

The officers were honored in a special presentation at the regular monthly meeting of the SBISD Board of Trustees held Sept. 24. In August, the two officers earned the Chief of Police Unit Citation from the Houston Police Dept. as part of the Houstone/Tango Blast Violent Gang Initiative. During the summer of 2011, Officers Diaz and Hernandez helped dismantle the leadership of a violent criminal street gang known as Juntos Queridos Assesions (JQA) while working with Gang Division investigators assigned to a multi-agency gang initiative.

 

Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Northwest Division Gang Unit were also involved in the anti-gang operation that broke up activities ranging from drug trafficking to home invasions. Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland Jr. presented the officers with the Chief of Police Unit Citation on Aug. 6 for their dedication, exceptional investigative skills and teamwork.

 

SBISD Police Chief Chuck Brawner introduced the officers and explained their work with student contacts during the recent Board meeting.

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A Record Fund-raising Goal for SBEF

Spring Branch Education Foundation hits new record fund-raising goal

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) officials presented a record-setting, symbolic check to district officials for school and student programs during the Board of Trustees regular monthly meeting on Sept. 24. Mike Rome., chairman of SBEF, presented to district leaders the annual check representing gifts and scholarship awards totaling $615,191 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

This amount marks a new fundraising record for the Foundation. “I want to praise all of the volunteers who are committed to the Board and its goals, and to all of the volunteers that do the fundraising. They are very committed to giving back to the teachers and students,” Foundation Chairman Rome said. “This $615,000 contribution reflects many grants for students and teachers. Without it, a lot of the programs that we all know would not be available.

“We are just excited to support and to be a part of the education of all students in Spring Branch, and to help our teachers in any way that we can,” he also said. SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson assisted in the Board presentation. Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman introduced the annual check presentation event, speaking highly of the nonprofit organization and its leadership. Earlier in the Monday meeting, Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., described the Foundation as “the best school education foundation in the nation.”

The mission of the Foundation is to enhance the quality of education for every student in SBISD. Since its founding, the Foundation has provided more than $7 million in financial support to district students and teachers. To support programs, the Foundation hosts both annual and special fund-raising events.

These include the fall SBEF Golf Classic, the springtime Crystal Awards recognizing outstanding teachers and the Running for the Arts 5K Run and 1K Run/Walk, which supports the arts and physical education programs. This fall, SBEF is sponsoring two new, special fund-raising events – An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group on Nov. 19 and High Heels and High Hopes, a style show and luncheon on Nov. 16.

To learn more, visit the SBEF website.

SBEF is seeking additional funds to meet its Fund for the Future Endowment goal of $1 million to maintain program donations on an ongoing basis.

Your donations can help!

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Tax Rate Remains the Same

After recent Board of Trustees action, Spring Branch ISD homeowners will see no change in district tax rates. They will also continue to receive the 20 percent homestead exemption.

Board of Trustees adopts unchanged 2012 tax rate

Following a second public hearing Sept. 24 on the proposed 2012 tax rate, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to adopt a tax rate that maintains a combined or total tax rate of $1.3945 per $100 of assessed valuation.

Spring Branch is one of the few school districts in Harris County and the region that continues to give its homeowners the 20 percent homestead exemption. The vote by Trustees also maintains $1.09 as the General Fund Tax Rate for maintenance and operations, and $0.3045 for the fourth year in a row as the Debt Service Rate set for approved bond issues.

The combined or total tax rate of $1.3945 is now four years old; the $1.09 General Fund Tax Rate has been maintained for six years. For the owner of a $200,000 home in Spring Branch qualifying for the full 20 percent homestead exemption, estimated school taxes paid on a $200,000 home will be about $2,022, or about the same as last year.
For Houston area school districts, such school taxes average $2,400 by comparison. Property values in Spring Branch increased by 3 percent, but district revenues did not increase due to the state’s current school financing plan. By current law, the State of Texas funds less so school revenues do not increase.

The Texas Legislature meets again in January 2013.

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