Observe Veterans Day at Spring Branch ISD schools

Spring Forest Middle School students will deliver more than 14,000 donated items ranging from basic toiletries to snack items during their annual Veterans Day observance on Monday, Nov. 11, to a nonprofit group supporting U.S. troops serving overseas, military families and veterans.

Spring Forest Middle on Monday, Nov. 11, will host its 13th annual Veterans Day Celebration – one of the largest public school-organized honorary Veterans Day events in the City of Houston.

 Campus students and the Spring Forest Middle PTA will host a breakfast for local veterans and their families at 8 a.m. followed by a 9 a.m. patriotic assembly in the gymnasium. Spring Forest Middle is located at 14240 Memorial Drive.

Other announced SBISD campus observances on Veterans Day include a 9 a.m. program at Spring Branch Middle School, 1000 Piney Point.

At Spring Forest Middle, student donations have been collected for the CyFair chapter of the nonprofit group, Operation Independence. Chapter leader Mary Pike is expected to accept the donation during the patriotic event.

Since its founding in 2001, Operation Independence has reportedly collected more than 500 tons of goods for U.S. troops overseas, their families and veterans. The group has shipped toiletries, dried fruits and snack items in C-ration-style kits.

Event guest speaker is U.S. Air Force Capt. Charles C. Berry, based at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. In his present position as a requirements specialist, he plans for and coordinates on Department of Defense and Air Force international training and education needs globally.

Capt. Berry of Decatur, Ga., was a 2007 graduate of Troy University in Alabama. In 2012, he earned in a master of business administration degree in international relations from Oklahoma Christian University.

He served in Afghanistan, Japan and the United States, and holds numerous awards including the following military medals: Joint Service Commendation; Air Force Commendation; Afghanistan Campaign; Global War on Terrorism; and Achievement Medal.

In addition, the middle school observance will include an appearance by Texas Rep. Jim Murphy of District 133 in west Houston. He will present an American flag to Spring Forest Middle flown over the Texas Capitol.

“Spring Forest Middle School is thrilled to continue honoring these heroic men and women each year, and in turn would like to cordially invite all military veterans who are residents of Spring Branch to join us as special guests on this morning of celebration,” said organizer Jana Gwinn.

To RSVP or for more details, please contact Jana Gwinn at jana.gwinn@springbranchisd.com or call 713-251-4618.

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled this report.

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A Lesson in Understanding

Recently, students at Spring Branch Middle School participated in a 'Backwards Learning' activity as part of an introductory lesson on the Holocaust. Teachers Marianne Logan and Susan Holzhauer worked collaboratively with their campus librarian, Brandee Smith, to create a learning environment in which 8th grade students could discover, reflect and connect with history.

Students were able to explore the topic of study using a wide range of materials, and participate in a number of hands-on activities, including a mock reproduction of a prisoner transport train using during World War II.

Backwards Learning is a model of instruction which allows students to investigate an area of study using a wide range of manipulatives, ensuring all types of learners are engaged and able to use a 'best method' of instruction based on personal learning styles.

Backwards Learning naturally aligns itself with a shift in instructional 'ownership' by empowering students to own their learning, allowing for the discovery of topics and ideas that will prepare students to build their knowledge base.

"Backwards learning takes creativity from the teacher, but when implemented correctly can do amazing things for the students," said Ms. Logan.

Just as you would map a road trip to a destination, Backwards Learning focuses on the end, followed by the 'how-to' of getting there (more traditional lesson planning). This type of instruction provides students with a comprehensive understanding of their content area and a clear idea of the desired outcome of the lesson before instruction begins.

The Backwards model challenges some more traditional methods of curriculum planning in that the instruction begins with an end goal, or objective, in mind, followed by lesson planning.

"It is important to change the instructional model because students learn differently now than we did when we were younger. They learn differently than students from 5 to 10 years ago. There is brain research that because of all the technology, their brains are developing differently. We have to find new ways to reach them because they want to work in community and they want to discover things for themselves so it means something to them. If it doesn't have a purpose, they aren't as interested in learning," said Librarian Brandee Smith.

While many student participants knew about Anne Frank and the Nazi concentration camps, many had not been able to put the historical events into a context that connected with them on a personal level, Smith said.

Translating the historical events into a lesson in which students were able to map out the dimensions of a transport rail case and stand within the space brought home the reality of the day's lesson for the students.

"I asked several students what the most impactful part of the activity was and almost all of them said the Cattle Car Station. It gave them perspective about how the Jewish people were transported for days," said Smith. "The biggest thing we are trying to do is build relationships with our students and make them aware of the world around them. I am watching them as they learn and grow, and I'm seeing how what they are learning transfers to other areas of their study."

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