Red Ribbon Week

Many Spring Branch ISD campuses found visible ways to show their commitment to a drug-free nation through activities associated with Red Ribbon Week, which was recognized Oct. 23-31 this year.

At Rummel Creek Elementary, student “socked-it to drugs” during Red Ribbon Week through a variety of daily activities that included wearing their shirts inside out, wearing crazy hats or hair, and wearing neon-bright clothes.

Celebrated across the city and nation, Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s older and largest drug and alcohol prevention program of its kind. The yearly Red Ribbon Campaign began after drug traffickers killed DEA agent Kiki Camarena in Mexico City.Red ribbons are displayed as a symbol of intolerance towards use of drugs. Parent and educator training and support help keep the campaign alive.

On Oct. 25, more than a dozen Westwood Elementary School students attended a Red Ribbon Rally held at City Hall downtown.

Nineteen student members of the campus K-SHAC group and President’s Club at the school took part in activities that were held from 9 a.m. until early afternoon. City Hall activities included working on an anti-drug city ordinance for youth and hearing a presentation by U.S. Olympic welterweight boxers Mark and Steven Lopez.

“This was a life-changing event for all of our students because they were given a voice that was heard by government officials,” said health fitness instructor Samuel Karnes, who sponsors the K-SHAC group at Westwood.

“This took weeks of prior planning where our students worked on city ordinances at school, and then saw them brought to real life at City Hall. They had a blast!’ he exclaimed.

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Crystal Awards Gala Chairs Named

Mary Grace and Michael Landrum have been named chairs of the 20th annual Crystal Awards Gala slated for Friday, Feb. 8, 2013. The Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) event, tittled “High Hopes for Generations,” will recognize four outstanding educators selected from the greater Houston area, 46 Spring Branch ISD Teachers of the Year and two SBISD Principals of the Year.

Mary Grace Landrum has served on the SBEF Board of Directors for 10 years. “The Gala offers the community an opportunity to show our teachers how much we appreciate them – while raising money to support our children’s education. The Foundation uses the funds to enhance education of SBISD students,” she said.

Co-chairing the event is an act of legacy for Michael Landrum. An attorney, his roots in public education are deep. His father, Dr. H. M. Landrum, came to Spring Branch in 1941 as first principal/superintendent. Early in his tenure, he also served as substitute bus driver, secretary and nurse for the growing district. He retired as the district’s superintendent of schools in 1975.

In addition, Michael Landrum’s great-grandfather moved in 1854 to Liberty Hill, Texas, where he was the area’s first teacher/preacher.

“The importance of education cannot be overstated. It is about building a stronger community,” Michael Landrum said. “We can contribute to the welfare of our community, state and nation by helping students become the best they can be. The Foundation helps us do that.”

Proceeds from the Crystal Awards Gala benefit educational and enrichment programs for SBISD and the Chronicle’s Readers Are Leaders program. Individual and corporate sponsorships are available. Call 713-251-2381 for more information.

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Via Colori Street Painting Artists

A junior at Spring Woods High and an art teacher at Landrum Middle will be featured artists during the upcoming Via Colori Street Painting Festival, which will be conducted Nov. 17-18 on Houston’s streets downtown.

Spring Woods High’s Lorelei Shannon is one of 10 area students whose special artistry has been chooses as among the best emerging high school-age young artists. Her Thanksgiving-related work is part of the festival’s 2012 Apprendista Artist line-up and will be displayed alongside professional artists. Lorelei is taught by Crystal Fiocchi at Spring Woods High.

Lorelei was named a featured festival student artist last year, too, and her street work titled “All Creation Sings” was also displayed. The Via Colori event benefits The Center for Hearing and Speech, a nonprofit agency supported by United Way of Greater Houston that teaches children with hearing loss skills related to listening, speaking and literacy.

In addition, Landrum Middle School art teacher and professional artist Andres Bautista has been named Linn Energy’s Featured Artist at the festival. Andres has been active in the street festival since its initial beginning in 2006. He was named a “fan favorite” in the 2010 and 2011 festivals.

Many Landrum Middle art students also take part in the annual street painting festival. In naming Andres its Featured Artist this year, Linn Energy officials said that the involvement of so many students led Linn to honor the SBISD art teacher. A reception hosted by Linn Energy was held in his honor Oct. 25.

“The mentoring he provides his students reflects his passion for these children, as well as his art. We are honored to have Andres as our featured artist and hope that he will partner with us for many years to come,” Linn Energy’s Kristin Midgett said.

Andres Bautista is also a former SBISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.

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