Monday, November 4, 2013

MDE's Dia de los Muertos: A Collaboration

To celebrate Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, an altar with many ofrendas was erected in the library at Memorial Drive Elementary to welcome loved ones home.

The calaveras shaked, rattled and rolled as they celebrated the biggest event of the graveyard’s social calendar. A collaborative effort between the Art teacher, Spanish teacher and the Librarian  brought this joyful celebration, with its unusual traditions to life.

In  art classes, Mrs. Guelzow, worked with the third graders making sugar skulls with chalk and glue.
The fourth graders fashioned skeleton marionettes, while the fifth graders crafted sugar skulls on papel picado. Mrs. Medina worked with the second through fifth graders in their respective Spanish classes making angelitos.



Each colorful paper angel had a handwritten note, in loving remembrance, to honor those who have passed.

Ms. Gabriel traced the origins of Dia de los Muertos from its conception, when the Aztec civilization reigned supreme, then followed it through European conquests to the current, often secular, celebrations.

Three Student-Athletes Recognized at the Positive Coaching Alliance Scholarship & Awards

MHS senior, Jessica Ustick, Stratford Spartan, Abigail Brown, and Spring Woods Tiger, Marissa Clark, were honored as finalists for the PCA Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship at a breakfast held on Saturday, October 26, 2013, at the River Oaks Country Club.

SWHS Senior, Marissa Clark, who is a stand-out swimmer and cross-country runner for the Tigers, was of the scholarship recipients. Marissa is also a recipient of a recent $5,000 Reliant Scholarship, that recognizes top high school scholar-athletes in the Houston area. Marissa has been recently named a National Merit Commended Student.

Positive Coaching Alliance is a national organization committed to providing all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building youth sports experience. PCA-Houston has over 200 partner schools and youth sports organizations, of which the SBISD secondary schools are a part.

Two Student-Athletes to Be Recognized at the Touchdown Club’s Scholar-Athlete Luncheon

Matt Collins of Memorial High School and Zachary Miller of Stratford High School are two of twentyfive football players who will be recognized by the Touchdown Club of Houston at their Football Scholar-Athlete Award Luncheon on Wednesday, November 6, 2013, at the J.W. Marriott.

Nominees were selected by the Presidents of Rice, Texas Southern and the University of Houston. Each finalist will be eligible to receive $500.00 in scholarship aid. Additional scholarship money will be presented to the top three finalists. Candidates for this honor must be a senior starter on his football team, with a strong academic record.