Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Inside Spring Woods High - Tiger Pride

Take a look inside SBISD's Spring Woods High School!  See what makes our SWH Tigers roar with pride in this student produced video. Video was produced by the SWH Broadcast Program.  Student in the SWH Broadcast Program have the opportunity to create a wide range of digital media including film and graphic design, and can earn an associate certification in Adobe Photoshop.  To see more, visit the SWH TigerTV YouTube Channel.
 
Thank you to the SWHS Tigers for sharing their campus pride with us!
 




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Memorial High School Student Raises Money to Send Kids to Camp


HOUSTON—Since elementary school, Matthew Stephenson has raised money every year to send kids with cerebral palsy to the Easter Seals’ Camp Smiles.

“Everyone there just doesn’t want to leave on the last day. It’s just that fun,” he said.
Stephenson knows because he’s been a camper. Recently he appealed to his classmates to help him raise a personal record of $30,000 to send 30 kids to Camp Smiles this summer.



“He also realizes how lucky he is because his parents aren’t worried about finding money to go to camp,” said Kelly Klein, Easter Seals Chief Fundraiser. “They’re not worried about money for therapy and Matthew understood that when he was nine and he was like, ‘Who else raises money for these kids when they can’t afford it?’”

In addition to classmates, Stephenson solicits donations from those closest to him.
“I ask my friends and family to help and they usually generously help,” he said.
He has a mild form of Cerebral Palsy, a birth defect of the brain that causes complete or partial paralysis.

But nothing robs him of his fun loving outlook.

“At school he’s always talking,” said classmate Harrison Sladic. “Sometimes he gets on the teachers’ nerves ‘cuz he’s always talking, but he’s always nice saying things. He’s always complimenting people and he always just wants to have fun.”

Stephenson is in the band, plays video games and hangs with friends. One day, he said, he would like to work in the field of technology. Whatever he does Stephenson will no doubt be in a class by himself.

-- Reprinted from KHOU Houston.


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SBEF Running for the Arts


Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) will sponsor the 21st annual 5K Running for the Arts Run/Walk on Saturday, May 4, at Memorial City Mall outside JC Penney. Competitive runners will begin at 8 a.m.; 5K walkers will follow. Visit the SBEF website for more details.

The Kids K (1K) non-competitive run for participants in 8th grade or younger will begin at 9 a.m. New this year, timing chips will be used for timed runners. Chips will be distributed on Saturday morning, 6:15 – 7:45 a.m. “This is a community event that has something for everyone,” says Christine Gentil, event chair.

Running for the Arts 2012 - We had a great turn out!  We hope to see all of  you at this year's event.
“There will be families running together, elementary school students participating in their first race and professional runners who come back year after year. We’re grateful that our school district’s health fitness teachers interest students not only in Running for the Arts, but in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

A Good Time for a Good Cause

RFA proceeds provide cultural arts field trips for SBISD students in elementary and middle schools, sponsored by SBEF. Students experience performances and exhibitions by premier arts organizations such as the Houston Symphony, Houston Grand Opera or the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston – many for the first time.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Health Fitness Teachers Association.

Members help with the event. The Association sponsors college scholarships for students, teacher scholarships for professional development, community awareness programs and more.

Fun for Everyone

In addition to the run/walk, children will enjoy jump rope and hula hoop contests, face painting, a bean bag toss and other fun activities. SBISD performing arts groups, including a marching band, jazz ensembles and singers, will perform throughout the morning.

A silent art auction will be held in the Mall on race day, 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.; the auction features student works from SBISD schools. All participants are invited to the awards ceremony outside the Mall’s food court entrance. Runners will be treated to an after-race party.

Register Today!

Registration fees, which include a t-shirt and race packet, begin at $20 per person for participants 18 years and younger, $25 for adults.

Fees increase in $5 increments on Apr. 21 and at packet pick-up. Community members are invited to be a Student Sponsor at the $275 level (15 SBISD students) and $125 level (five SBISD students).

“Saturday Sleep In” sponsorships are $70 prior to Apr. 20, $75 until the 30th, and $80 at packet pick-up. These sponsorships include four Running for the Arts t-shirts, and four registrations count toward a selected school in the Highest School Participation Contest.

T-shirts should be picked up during the packet pick-up times.

Race packet pick-up and additional registration is scheduled at Memorial City Mall’s food court area on Wednesday, May 1, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Thursday, May 2, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; and Friday, May 3, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be no packet pick-up or late registration on Saturday.

Volunteer to help with the event by calling 713.251.2381.

Awards

Male and female overall winners will each receive a $300 gift certificate provided by Memorial City Mall. Overall male and female master (over age 40) winners will receive $200 gift certificates provided by Memorial City Mall.

The SBISD school with the highest participation will win a $500 gift certificate from Young Audiences of Houston and a $500 Academy Sports & Outdoors gift certificate for the health fitness department.

All other SBISD schools with a minimum of five participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of two prizes: a gift certificate from Young Audiences of Houston or a gift certificate from Academy Sports & Outdoors.

All registered runners and walkers will be eligible for numerous door prizes from community merchants. Winners must be present.

The community is generous in its support of Running for the Arts and SBISD students.

Sponsors include: Presenting Sponsor: Memorial City Mall Silver Medal Sponsors: ER24-7Plus/AOKC; Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center; Perdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins & Mott, LLP Bronze Medal Sponsors: Sue and Barry Abrams; Bernstein Realty; Johnson, Deluca, Kurisky & Gould, PC; Mallory and James Shaddix; Wright Asphalt

In-kind donors: Arts Partners, Road ID and Safeway Driving School Running for the Arts is sanctioned and certified by the USA Track and Field Association.

For more information, call 713.251.2381.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation

The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of education for every student in SBISD. Founded in 1993, SBEF provides donors with a vehicle for making tax-deductible gifts to the district. The Foundation has raised more than $7.5 million and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership.

About Spring Branch Health Fitness Teachers Association

The Association is a collaboration of health fitness specialists and instructors providing support for the learning community through continuous professional development, public relations, community service and the promotion of a healthy life style. SBHFTA supports and encourages a community culture of wellness.



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College Fair at the Reliant - April 11


Don't miss this!  The National Association for College Admission Counseling is hosting a college fair for parents and students on  April 11 at the Reliant Center.

Parents and students participants will be able to meet one-on-one with representatives from colleges and universities to discuss admission and financial aid opportunities at their respective institutions.

Before You Go

Register before the fair​ to make the most of your time onsite and ensure that colleges can follow up with you.

When You Get There

Upon arrival at the fair, pick up a map to find your best-fitting colleges. Counselors will be available onsite to help you determine the colleges that meet your requirements regarding major, location, and other areas of interest.​ ​

Event Details

Thursday, April 11 12:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. at the Reliant Center

There will be over 250 colleges represented at this event!




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Guthrie Students Get A Head Start

Twenty-one female juniors and seniors from Guthrie joined with peers from around Houston to attend HerWorld @ DeVry University on March 8th. These forward-thinking students got a firsthand look at the college and learned about the importance and need for women to fill roles in technology-related careers.



Attendees heard from DeVry Metro President (and Spring Woods Alum) Kim Nugent along with Adrienne Watson – Clinical Director for Memorial Hermann Hospital Education and other guest speakers. They participated in hands-on workshops and found out about DeVry’s exciting program Passport2College that jumpstarts 11th and 12th graders to attend college during the summer. This free program for students sounded so good to Lucero Gonzalez that she signed up to take a Psychology class during spring break.

Thanks to Abel Garza at DeVry and our own Betty Franklin for coordinating the event. 
-- Story reprinted from the Guthrie Center website.


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Stratford Orchestra Students To Perform With World Class Rock Violinist

Stratford Orchestra students plan to break the traditional orchestra mold with their upcoming “Electrify Your Strings” rock concert on April 30th at Coleman Coliseum.  Electric violinist, Bridgid Bibbens, who has performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Christina Aguilera, will play with the students as they perform well-known rock tunes with their electrified instruments. 
Some of these tunes include “Stairway to Heaven”, “Crazy Train”, “We will Rock You”, and “Purple Haze.”
 

In addition to the 115 Stratford musicians, younger orchestra students from schools in the nearby area have been invited to participate. Memorial Middle School and Spring Forest Middle School students will perform music with the older students, and pre-concert entertainment will include young fiddlers from Meadow Wood Elementary, Rummel Creek Elementary, and Wilchester Elementary.

“This is an amazing opportunity to work with a world class rock violinist,” says Stratford Orchestra director Michael Fahey, “Our students are excited to be performing non-traditional music with someone so dynamic and energetic.”

The April 30th concert will begin at 7 pm at Coleman Coliseum (1050 Dairy Ashford, Houston).
Tickets can be purchased at the Stratford Orchestra website
Adults: $12 ($15 after April 1) Students: $5

Proceeds will benefit SBISD Orchestra Programs in the Stratford Zone.
For more information, contact Michael Fahey 713-251-3428 or 832-971-6375 (cell)



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