New Library Tables Make Digital Research Easier

Specially designed library tables will be installed on most district campuses soon so that students can easily access digital learning devices like netbooks, iPads and MacBooks. The tables will be installed in all campus libraries that have a librarian, with a few exceptions.

Installation of the new library tables makes it possible to move mobile devices out of the locked charging and security carts that were previously used and accessible to students all the time. The challenge for librarians in the past was securing and charging such devices and also making them easily available to students.

“Equipment would be charged and secured overnight and between classes, then checked out to students when they visited libraries. This required librarians to frequently unlock, unplug, and check out the device to users, as well as keep an eye on the checked-out devices, check them back in, reconnect to power sources and re-lock the cabinets. This was repeated many times daily, and quite a lot of management was involved in that process,” said Monty Miller with SBISD’s Technology Services Dept.

Working with the Superintendent of Schools and Chief Information Officer Venu Rao, Miller worked on several designs before the final new library tables were installed. “Simply displaying devices on counters and tables, where those exist at campuses, wasn't an option due to our security concerns and the inability to monitor them. Also, crawling under a standard counter or table to lock/unlock and plug in our unplug devices proved unattractive to librarians – they just don't have the time to manage a daily physical task so involved,” Monty also said.

With a similar appearance to the tables found in Apple stores, these specially designed display tables provide a solution to management and security concerns while making mobile devices available to users at all times.

Each 8-foot table can display up to eight MacBooks, eight netbooks, eight Kindles or eight iPads, or any combination of these devices. Two tables allows up to 20 devices to be displayed for use.

Other features include:

• Cabled security
• Locking table bases for nesting devices when needed
• Featherweight security cables for holding handheld devices like iPads
• Hidden cables for a clean, attractive table appearance
• Tables can be unplugged and moved for cleaning or other needs

The new tables can be powered from ceilings, floors or walls, and columns. Each is fitted with a unique, coiled retractile cable. Students can also work at the tables standing rather than sitting. Campus exceptions for installation of new tables include Spring Oaks Middle and Edgewood Elementary schools. Both schools already have other infrastructure that is used to display the mobile learning devices in those libraries.

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Stratford High School Presents “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”

The award-winning Stratford High School Playhouse opens their new season on Oct. 18 with the musical comedy, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Directed by CeCe Prudhomme, the student production revolves around the famous comic strip character, Charlie Brown, created by Charles Schultz in “Peanuts.”

In the production, Charlie Brown sets out on a rollercoaster quest to discover how to become a genuinely good man. As he goes through a series of up and down events, Charlie finally comes to realize that being a “good man” means trying your best, and making the most of the things you've been given in life. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Oct.18-20 and Oct. 25-27, with matinees Oct. 21 and Oct. 27 at 2:30p.m.

Tickets for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” are $16 in advance and available online. With online purchasing, theatergoers are able to choose specific seats, have 24-hour ticketing access, and exchange tickets from home when needed.

Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office beginning Monday, Oct. 15. The Box Office is located at the Stratford High campus. Box Office hours are 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.shsplayhouse.org.

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Four high school productions compete for Tommy Tune nominations

Four high school theater productions will compete in the 11th annual Theater Under the Stars (TUTS) Tommy Tune Awards.

Among the 45 regional high school competitors this year are Memorial High School’s “South Pacific,” Spring Woods High School’s “Children of Eden,” Stratford High School’s “Crazy For You” and Westchester Academy’s “Into the Woods”. Created by TUTS in 2002, the Tommy Tune Awards celebrates musical theater excellence at the high school level, honoring outstanding student achievement in a total of 15 categories.

Throughout the 2012-13 school year, a team of Houston-based theatre professionals will evaluate the invited high schools and announce the winners at the Tony-Awards style ceremony to be held on April 16, 2013, at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

The event will showcase musical numbers from the nominated productions as well as reveal the winning performers, directors, choreographers, orchestras and designers who have shown theatrical excellence during the course of the 2012-2013 school year. TUTS Tommy Tune Awards are named after Tommy Tune, a Houston native with more than 50 years of stage presence. He has been a performer, director and choreographer.

Tune has received nine Tony Awards for his work in a variety of productions, including “Seesaw,” “My One and Only,” “Grand Hotel,” and the “Will Rogers Follies”. He also received the National Medal of Arts in 2003 from President George W. Bush.

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled this report

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Pinwheels for Peace projects results in 640 positive messages

All 640 students at Woodview Elementary School students “planted” pinwheels with individual messages of peace on Sept. 21 as a part of an international art and literacy project.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project started by two art teachers seven years ago in Florida. The project was founded as a way for students to express their feelings about what is going on in the world and in students’ own lives. For “Ten Days of Peace” prior to the installation, which began on Sept. 11, students created their pinwheels in the art room.

Daily announcements related to violence prevention, bullying, gossip and teasing were also discussed. At Woodview, educators and students focused on creating peace inside the school, and how to turn that into creating peace for the world.

As part of the project, Woodview students viewed a map of the world with the location of their elementary school and all of the other participants around the world at the Pinwheels for Peace website. “Having the chance to literally see the vast group of people who took part in the Pinwheels for Peace project, students gained a greater understanding of global citizenship,” organizers said.

In its first year, groups in more than 1,325 locations worldwide were able to spin about 500,000 pinwheels. Last year, more than 4 million pinwheels spun as a part of the project in over 3,500 locations, including the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, Africa and South America.

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled this report

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Fund-raising Festivals Announced

Fall is a season full of vibrant leafs, giant pumpkins and special campus fund-raising festivals. Among others, The Bendwood School and Northbrook Middle School will host special fall festivals to raise funds for various school improvements and top bring together Spring Branch groups and communities.

The Bendwood Fall Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m.

This annual bazaar has been uniting families in the community for the past 25 years. The Bendwood School is the learning home to Gifted and Talented students and special needs students in the district. With tax dollars being stretched further each year, The Bendwood School relies heavily on bazaar proceeds to help fund teacher workshops, curriculum support, classroom resources and special student field trips.

With the holiday season near, more than 70 merchants are expected at this year’s bazaar. Raffles and giveaways will be held throughout the day. Food vendors are expected to include Skeeter’s Mesquite Grill, California Pizza kitchen, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt and the Kona Ice Truck.

While parents are shopping, children can stay occupied with the ever popular “Kids Zone.” The Kid’s Zone includes inflatables and carnival-inspired games ranging from face painting to cake walks. The Bendwood School is located adjacent to Town and Country Village and new City Centre at 12750 Kimberley Lane.

Northbrook Middle School will host its annual Fall Craft Market on Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The market will feature crafts, direct sales, holiday goodies and gifts for all ages.

All proceeds will be used to benefits the school’s popular Art Department programs. Northbrook Middle is located at 3030 Rosefield.

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled this report

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Future Engineers

Twenty students from Memorial and Northbrook high schools joined their instructors Sept. 29 for the Houston Community College Chancellor’s “Symposium on Engineering” held at the Johnson Space Center. During the weekend event, students were given the opportunity to listen to NASA engineers currently working on the new Orion spacecraft and new Mars rover, which is called Curiosity.

Students also got the chance to talk with representatives from local colleges and universities about engineering and engineering technology programs. Memorial High’s Shelly “Monty” Tornquist leads the Academy of Engineering program, a designated Project Lead The Way School.

At Northbrook High, John Hansen, Ed.D., directs that high school’s Academy of Engineering program. Students attending the program included the following:

Memorial High School
Zainab Ahmed, Shams Al-Bayati, Sally Al-Bayati, Sam Brittain, Alondra Garcia, Raphael Hey, Kevin Hwang, Dustin Jaoude, Michael Ju, Melissa Kowahk, Kaveet Laximidas, Tanner Lievois, Roberto Miranda, Stephen Snow, Michael Walker

Northbrook High School
Freddy Corrales, Kimberly Gonzalez, Melissa Franco, Luis Olivares, Ashley Smith

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled this report

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