The Art of Recognizing Your Strengths

Heading back to class can be a stressful time when faced with making new friends, attending a new school or simply planning for the the changes that come with the start of a new year. A recent lesson in viewpoint in Meadow Wood Elementary Art Specialist Debbie Guelzow's art class helped students focus on their personal strengths, while empowering them to be innovative problem solvers.

Fourth-graders in Guelzow's class took time during the first week of class to study the self-portrait. Their lesson focused on Picasso and the theory of Cubism.  Students applied their learning by creating self-portrait masks in oil pastels. By flexing their creative muscles, students were able to expand their self awareness and turn perceived differences into personal strengths.

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SBISD Fall Fine Arts special events are announced

The stage curtains will soon rise on another crowd-pleasing season of student theater and other fine arts events and group performances. This year’s offerings range from choir and orchestra concerts to popular musicals and dramas, as well as the annual district marching band show, Bandstravaganza.

In theater, the Spring Woods High School Safari Players will kick off the high school’s 50th anniversary with a tribute to Judge Roy Bean, the “The Law West of Pecos,” with a mini-theater production of West of Pecos. The players will follow up a month later with a three-day run of A-Haunting We Will Go. The production centers on glamorous, young television producer Norma Corwin, who spends a night alone in an eerie hotel, The Inn of the Three Sisters. The high school will also present State Fair in January 2014.

In September, Memorial High will present A Night of Theatre, featuring student competition offerings, followed by Little Women, the Musical. In October and November, mystery will fill the high school’s Performing Arts Center stage as students present Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and then Whodunnit and You Solve the Mystery during its 10th annual Murder Mystery Dessert Theatre event. In January 2014, the high school will present Shrek, the Musical.

The award-winning Stratford Playhouse will present a fall production of Legally Blonde, the Musical, a fun, upbeat adaptation of the novel and 2001 film about Harvard’s Elle Woods, who takes on the East Coast campus in pink and blonde during a journey of self-discovery. In January 2014, the Playhouse will present West Side Story, famous for both its love story and music. A later production of Almost, Maine will be presented next spring.

Shakespeare’s most well-known comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, will be presented at Westchester Academy for International Studies in November.

Several SBISD high schools will continue to offer the fun, fast-paced, improvisational comedy shows that are great family entertainment as part of the popular ComedySportz High School League. In these student contests, two teams match wits as they make up scenes, games and songs on the spot. The audiences vote for the winners. A uniformed referee calls the fouls.

Tickets can be purchased online or through the following campus box offices:

• Stratford Playhouse – www.shsplayhouse.com
• Memorial High Theater – www.mhstheatre.com
• Spring Woods Safari Players – www.safariplayers.com/tickets
• Westchester Academy for International Studies Theater – www.seatyourself.biz/wais

September 2013
19, West of Pecos, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 6:30 p.m.
19, A Night of Theatre, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.
19-20, West of Pecos, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 3:30 p.m.
27-28, Little Women, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
29, Little Women, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.

October 2013
2, Bandstravaganza band exhibition, Darrell Tully Stadium, 6:45 p.m.
3, SWHS ComedySportz, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
8, Choir Fall Preview Concert, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
8, Stratford High Symphony Concert, Tallowood Baptist Church, 7:30 p.m.
10, Fall Choir Concert, Spring Forest Middle Auditorium, 7 p.m.
11, String Orchestra Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
11, Classical Choir Concert, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 7 p.m.
15, Fall Choir Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
17, Orchestra Fall Concert, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
17-18, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
22, Fall Choir Concert, Spring Branch Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
22, Memorial High Choir Fall Concert, Spring Branch Middle School, 7 p.m.
24, Halloween Concert, Spring Oaks Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
24-26, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
24-26, Legally Blonde, the Musical, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
25, A-Haunting We Will Go Dinner With Stars, Spring Woods High, 6:30 p.m.
26, A-Haunting We Will Go, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 3:30 p.m.
26-27, Legally Blonde, the Musical, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
28, A-Haunting We Will Go, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7:30 p.m.
29, Fall Concert for Everybody, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
30, Memorial High ComedySportz, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.

November 2013
1, Spring Woods High Comedysportz vs. Cy Falls, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
1-2, Legally Blonde, the Musical, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
2, Legally Blonde, the Musical, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
5, Comedy Sportz Memorial vs. Spring Woods, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.
8-9, Region 27 Choir Concert, Tallowood Baptist Church, 4 p.m.
11, SBISD Veterans Day Tribute, Spring Forest Middle Gym, 8 a.m.
14-16, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
15, Choir Talent Show, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
15, Murder Mystery Dessert Theatre, Memorial High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
15-16, Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., Cornerstone Academy Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

December 2013
5, Orchestra Concert, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
5, Pot Luck/Stratford High Orchestra Winter Concert, Korean Central Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m.
6, Orchestra Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
6, Winter Choir Concert, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 7 p.m.
8, Stratford High Choir Wassail Dinner Concert, Norris Conference Center, 6 p.m. (Fee)
10, Christmas Choir Concert, Spring Branch Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
10, Choir Winter Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
10, Choir Concert, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
10, Band Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
12, Christmas Concert, Spring Oaks Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
12, Winter Choir Concert, Spring Forest Middle Auditorium, 7 p.m.
12, Band Concert, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
13, Choir Winter Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
15, Memorial High Feast of Carols, Norris Conference Center, 6 p.m. (Fee)
21, 50th Anniversary Performing Arts Alumni Cabaret, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

January 2014
10, Comedy Sportz Faculty Match, Memorial High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
17, Spring Woods High ComedySportz Match vs. Taylor & Seven Lakes, SWHS Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
30-31, West Side Story, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
30-31, Shrek, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
31, State Fair Opening Night/Dinner with Stars, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

February 2014
1, Shrek, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.
1, West Side Story, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
1, West Side Story, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
1, State Fair, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
1, Shrek, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
1-2, State Fair, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
6-8, Shrek, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
6-8, West Side Story, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
7-8, State Fair, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
8, Shrek, the Musical, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.
8, State Fair, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
8, West Side Story, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
18, ComedySportz Memorial vs. Seven Lakes & CyFalls, 7 p.m.
20, Choir Pop Show No. 1, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
21, String Orchestra Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
22, 50th Anniversary Golden Apple Luncheon, Spring Woods High, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
24, Chamber Music Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 6 p.m.
25, ComedySportz Memorial vs. Katy Taylor, Memorial Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.
27, Spring Woods High ComedySportz Match vs. Katy, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.

March 2014
4, ComedySportz Memorial vs. Cy Ranch, Memorial Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.
7, Pop Show, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
7, Choir MadJazz Show, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
11, SBISD Spring Pre-UIL Festival & Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 4 p.m.
13, Spring Woods High ComedySportz vs. Faculty, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
27, Spring Choir Concert, Spring Branch Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.

April 2014
1, Choir Pre-UIL Concert, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
3, SBISD ComedySportz Home Match & Dinner Theater, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
4-5, Children’s Show, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
5, Theatre Kids Kamp Children’s Show, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.
11, Carnegie Preview Orchestra & Band Concert, Memorial High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
15, ComedySportz Memorial vs. CyFalls, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.
25-26, Tigerette Spring Show, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
25-26, Almost, Maine, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
29, ComedySportz Memorial vs. Faith West, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.

May 2014
1-3, Almost, Maine, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
3, Almost, Maine, Stratford Playhouse Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.
8, Pop Choir Concert, Spring Branch Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
8, Orchestra Concert, Spring Woods High Mini-Theatre, 7 p.m.
8, Band Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
9, Orchestra Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
9, Choir Pop Show, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
9, Spring Concert, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 7 p.m.
15, Spring Concert, Spring Oaks Middle Auditorium, 6 p.m.
15, Choir Pop Show No. 2, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
16, Spring Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
16, Choir Pop Show, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.
18, 50th Anniversary Birthday Party & Picnic, Spring Woods High, To Be Announced
22, Band Spring Concert, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7 p.m.
24, A Night on Broadway Gala, Westchester Academy Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

June 2014
13, It’s Showtime! Choir Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 6:30 p.m.

Note: Special reservation and pricing policies may apply for some theater and other campus events. Seniors who are 65 years old or older seeking STARCard discounts for events should always check special reservation and pricing policies ahead of time.

Additional events listings will be posted online to the District Calendar at: http://cms.springbranchisd.com/calendars

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New school year heralds 50-year celebrations in Spring Branch ISD

Fiftieth anniversaries will be celebrated at three Spring Branch ISD campuses in the months ahead. Now marking 50 years are Spring Woods High School, Memorial Middle School and Westwood Elementary.

Students, staff and alumni at Spring Woods High School began preparing early for a great 50^th year with a student poster contest and calendar planning that includes at least one theme event every nine weeks. Proceeds from ticketed events and activities will fund scholarships for Class of 2014 Tiger graduates.

Senior Lorelei Shannon credits her winning 50^th anniversary poster submission on a failed effort years ago to sign up for volleyball. Instead, she enrolled in a digital graphics class, and from that moment her budding interest in art as a career has buoyed her on and carried her forward.

“I was definitely surprised to hear that I had won,” Lorelei said. “It’s exciting, and something I’m proud to be a part of. I did not know before this contest that the school was as old as it is.” Lorelei received a $75 Amazon gift card for her winning poster idea.

In her poster, a green-eyed tiger pops through an orange numeral 50. Below it states, “Spring Woods High School: Celebrating 50 Years of Tiger Pride.”

The poster’s top headline, “R.O.A.R. to Excellence,” reflects the school’s four main points of Tiger pride – Respectful/Responsible; On-Time/On-Task; Accountable; and Ready for Post-Secondary Success. The high school’s new principal this year is Jennifer Parker.

A cartoonist like her older brother for the school newspaper, The Regit, Lorelei hopes to attend Savannah College of Art and Design. Her interests run from “art painting to graphic designs to comics.” She hand paints white canvas shoes through an online hobby site, charging up to $90 per shoe order. She fills worldwide orders for her painted shoes.

Spring Woods High’s 50^th anniversary plan will include at least one major event every grading period. Momentum will build this fall with pre-game tailgating activities at Tully Stadium. The parade’s floats will reflect each decade. Alumni and Tiger supporters are encouraged to join in.

Other 50^th activities include a ticketed Performing Arts Alumni Cabaret Show in December, an alumni “Golden Apple” Luncheon in February 2014 with U.S. Congressman Ted Poe, a Spring Woods High graduate, and a school-wide 50^th Birthday Party and Picnic next May.

Organizers hope to set a new Guinness World Record during the end-of-year party and picnic by collecting in one spot the most stuffed tigers ever. All the stuffed animals will be donated to Texas Children’s Hospital, says organizer and school theater department chair Anne Yancey.

“We hope to set a world record. We are asking people to bring us their stuffed tigers. We’ll find a place to store them between now and then,” she said.

Event planners worked hard last spring to develop a plan that includes open and ticketed events, highlights separate groups in the Spring Woods High family with each event, and directs dollars donated and ticket funds raised to a scholarship fund for the Class of 2014.

At Memorial Middle, meanwhile, organizers are still finalizing plans for the school anniversary. At this time, a special event or activity may highlight past principals and staff members. A time capsule from a previous class buried on the school grounds might be located and dug up, too.

Memorial Middle’s PTA plans to present the school with a bronze eagle for permanent display. A separate assembly may be conducted. Memorial Middle’s principal is Lisa Weir.

At Westwood Elementary, staff proudly wears t-shirts that proclaim: “Celebrating 50 Years of Learning.”

Westwood’s anniversary t-shirts and posters also state the following: “The past 50 years has taught us that our WWE family is built on the foundation that every minute is an excellent opportunity to learn about, with, and from each other.” School principal is Kay Kennard.

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College Colors Day 2013 at Westchester Academy

College Colors Day is an annual celebration dedicated to promoting the traditions and spirit that embody the college experience by encouraging students, educators and community members across the nation to wear their favorite college or university apparel throughout the day on Friday, August 30. Westchester Academy for International Studies was a registered participant in the event this year. 

On Friday, campus faculty and staff donned their college colors, becoming 'walking billboards' for the college experience.  By participating in this special day, staff were able to build student awareness about college and career planning. College Colors Day exposures students to the various options they have after high school graduation, providing a great opportunity for conversation about life after high school graduation.

Westchester Academy and SBISD are committed to the post secondary success of every child in our system. For more information about College Colors Day, visit their website.

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