Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Tully Stadium Up Close

 
On Saturday, Nov. 9, more than 550 students from nine elementary and three middle schools in the Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools feeder patterns visited Tully Stadium and had a special opportunity to walk around the football field and run through their high school’s mascot run-through inflatable that is used by the football teams.
The special stadium visit was organized as part of the district’s Advanced Movers program led by the Health Fitness Department and supported by the district athletics department. Students from the following campuses took part: Buffalo Creek, Edgewood, Hollibrook, Housman, Pine Shadows, Ridgecrest, Spring Branch, Westwood and Woodview elementary schools. Landrum, Northbrook and Spring Woods middle schools took part, too, including middle school athletes wearing team jerseys.
 
“As part of our Advanced Movers Initiative, we are trying to provide access to extracurricular and recreational opportunities that our students may not otherwise get without these types of events being put on,” said Westwood Elementary’s Samuel Karns.

“The purpose and intent behind this event was to expose students to the variety of opportunities that they will have access to when they reach high school. The students got to stand on the field in their respective feeder patterns, and walk or run through the jumbo blow-up mascots with the schools they will go to when they are older. This helps plant the seed of higher education at the secondary level, and motivates them to work hard now,” Karns also said. 
The visit coincided with an afternoon Spring Woods-Northbrook football game. Students were recognized for their attendance and support on the stadium speakers.
“For many of our students, this was their first time to ever go to Tully Stadium and see football played at the high school level. For many others, it was the first time to hear a band, or observe cheerleader routines, and the drum line,” Karns also said. “It was an amazing day.”
The Health Fitness Department created Animoto video highlights from the special day:

Book Parade at Rummel Creek Elementary

The annual Book Character Parade at Rummel Creek Elementary brings literature to life. On Nov. 7, prekindergarten and kindergarten students dressed up as their favorite book characters and then paraded the school halls in front of cheering students, parents and staff.

 Many students walked during the Friday parade with their favorite books, and many teachers in the two grades also donned bookish costumes.

Photographed (from left) dressed as their favorite costumed book characters were kindergarten students Alex Zilafro, Audrey Cook and Kyan Rensink.




Also showing their brightest colors to celebrate the book parade were (from left) Ann Mitchell in pink; Michelle Rincon in green; Rebecca Robbie in blue; and LouAnn Timmreck in yellow.

 Photos are courtesy of Shannon Otermat.

Great Pumpkin Fun Run

Almost 300 students and family members registered for the first-ever Great Pumpkin Fun Run at Cedar Brook Elementary School held on Oct. 26. As many as 600 people attended the family fun run, which include both a half-mile and 2-mile marked course for different student age groups.

 Both prekindergarten and first-grade students walked and jogged a half-mile course. Students in second grade, or older, navigated a 2-mile course with adult family members.

Pumpkin Fun Run proceeds will go to campus beautification projects and the health fitness department. “This run was a huge success,” organizers report. “The Great Pumpkin Fun Run at Cedar Brook Elementary served as a fun and healthy way to welcome the beautiful fall weather and encourage students and their families to get outside and exercise.”

Students share views with Greater Houston Partnership committee

Thirteen high school students in Spring Branch ISD met Oct. 25 with members of the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) Workforce Development Committee at the Guthrie Center to help the local business group identify workforce supply and needs for the city’s future.                              

The students told members of the region’s largest business organization about their career goals and post-graduation plans, including military, technical, and college and university enrollments. Under SBISD’s T-2-4 goal, the district is focused on doubling the number of its graduates who earn either a technical, two-year or four-year degree in the years ahead. 

Serving on the GHP Regional Workforce Development Task Force are prominent local leaders from business, education, workforce training and social services. The group is chaired by Gina Luna, who chairs JPMorgan Chase in Houston, and Bruce Culpepper, executive vice president with human resources at Shell, Americas. SBISD Superintendent Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., is a task force member. 

The task force is interviewing a variety of groups – from high school students to business CEOs – to assess where Houston is today and study where it needs to be in the future to meet all of the region’s workforce needs. 

A planned research study will evaluate the region’s situation ranging from existing talents and skills to career programs and industry category needs. GHP is projecting that the greater Houston economy will add 76,000 new jobs this year. Since 2005, the Houston region has created an estimated 428,000 jobs. 

SBISD students shared their career plans and views about training, college and careers with the committee during a lunch meeting at the Guthrie Center. 

By show of hands, most students grew up in Houston, but many of them would work and live elsewhere. Most have taken one or more Advanced Placement courses, and most have also taken SAT or ACT classes and learned about college and career options through their high schools.

Still, a few students were interested in careers that do not require lengthy education or training. Most in the group, however, are not interested in construction-related careers.

“My dad says to find a job you love and all the rest will be OK,” said Daniel Plum, who has an ambition to work on an oil or gas rig. He’s heard that the oil and gas energy boom in Texas has made good-paying jobs possible without a four-year college or university degree.

Joshua Castro is thinking about teaching history one day. His passion for learning is far bigger than the test-taking requirements in high schools today. “One of the greatest teachers I have is about taking what we learn in the classroom and applying it to regular life. It’s not just about a grade or passing a test,” he says.

Matching today’s young adults with future careers is vital. “We must ensure that Houstonians have the skills and opportunities to enter the workforce and build successful careers, raise families and prosper,” GHP President and CEO Bob Harvey said. “At the same time, we must see that the workforce needs of our rapidly expanding economy are met. These are two sides to the same coin.”

Greater Houston Partnership Workforce Development Committee meeting attendees
Caroline Alexander – TIP Strategies (Consultant)
Wanda Bamberg, Ed.D. – Superintendent of Schools, Aldine ISD
Elaine Barber – Vice President for Public Policy, Greater Houston Partnership
Rick Franke – President, Junior Achievement
Katrina Kersch – Executive Director, Construction Career Collaborative
Richard Meserole – Representative, Fluor Daniel Corp. (Sugar Land)
Tom Stellman – Consultant, TIP Strategies
Mike Temple – Director, Houston Galveston Area Council – Gulf Coast Workforce Board
Spring Branch ISD student Community Conversation participants
Jonathan Martinez – Guthrie Center
Mirna Cardenas – Guthrie Center
Joshua Castro – Northbrook High School
Lauren Lozzio – Northbrook High School
Janeth Maldanado – Academy of Choice/Spring Woods High School
Nora Ruiz – Academy of Choice/Northbrook High School
Chris Rice – Spring Woods High School
Marissa Clark – Spring Woods High School
William Hendrickson – Stratford High School
Mohammad Almassi – Stratford High School
Michael Baker – Stratford High School
Blake Berry – Memorial High School
Sarah Stubbs – Memorial High School

Good Neighbor program honors area church and business partners

A local faith community has adopted Spring Branch ISD’s goal to double  the number of district graduates who pursue either technical certification, military training, or a two-year or four-year degree.
Chapelwood United Methodist Church was honored Nov. 5 during the eighth annual Good Neighbor Recognition Program held at the Omni Houston Hotel Westside. Church leaders and volunteers were spotlighted at the annual dinner program for adopting SBISD’s five-year goal, known as Spring Branch T-2-4.
In all, 219 groups and individuals have been named as Good Neighbors for their efforts during the 2012-2013 school year. The Good Neighbor designation is earned by individuals, groups, campuses and organizations that perform three or more activities that support the district, an individual school or the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF). SBISD campuses may also earn the designation by giving back to the community.
At Chapelwood, dozens of volunteers support district programs ranging from Collegiate Challenge mentoring based at Northbrook High School to Students With Amazing Potential (SWAP) programming and meetings at Spring Oaks Middle School.
In addition to honoring Chapelwood’s volunteers, event organizers announced new corporate donations from two energy-related businesses at the dinner. They are:
·       NexenThis area energy firm has donated $35,000 to the district, including $10,000 to support the SBISD Mini-Grant program for teachers in literacy and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) areas; $10,000 for Spring Woods High School Theatre Arts Department; and $15,000 to fund projects with Stratford High School’s Academy of Science & Engineering.
·       BP America IncThis energy corporation has donated $15,000 to buy two 3D digital printers for Project Lead the Way’s engineering classrooms at Northbrook and Spring Woods high schools; fund additional needs in digital film/photography at the Guthrie Center; and support student competition for Stratford’s Robotics program. In addition, BP will support two Project Lead the Way program scholarships.    
Eight years ago, the Good Neighbor program held it first-ever dinner and gave its designation to 55 groups and individuals. Today, four times as many of the annual designations are issued, and registered SBISD volunteers have increased to 10,000 or more – up more than 1,500 since the program was launched.
Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman, the event master of ceremonies, noted that the Good Neighbor program began as a grassroots community effort to make SBISD the place in Houston to live, work, play, raise a family and educate children.
“This program has been nurtured by SBISD,” she said in opening remarks at the Omni, “by our education foundation, and by you – the corporations, businesses, faith communities, nonprofits, governmental entities, educational institutions and individuals here tonight.”
“You believe that our schools and our community are inextricably linked; that a strong educational system is vital to a successful community; that the support of a strong community is vital for successful public schools; that your investment of time and financial support increases student achievement and develops healthy, caring and responsible young people,” she added.
Chapelwood United Methodist recognition at this year’s dinner connects the Good Neighbor program to SBISD’s singular T-2-4 goal. The church’s adoption of this goal included an informational event for key lay leaders where volunteers pledged their support to SBISD students and schools.
The Rev. Jim Jackson, senior pastor at Chapelwood United Methodist since 1994, called the honor “amazing.” He told the packed Omni ballroom that he’d shared his own personal struggles with poor school grades and dyslexia earlier in the day with a teenager who had just dropped out of school.

“Some of the dumbest people I know are college grads,” Rev. Jackson quipped. He made the joke to point out the need to reach out to young people and support all of them as they climb into adulthood. Many successful adults were not high achievers as students. He also said that “[education] is critically important. I hope that all of our faith communities can come together to do this important work.”
The Rev. Jackson and Amy Taylor, Chapelwood’s Director of Local Serving, received the annual special recognition during the community gathering. This year’s spotlight program included church volunteers and students:
·       Chapelwood United Methodist’s Barby Bogart, who volunteers her time reading with students at Panda Path School for Early Learning, shared the stage with James Ulloa, a former prekindergarten student – dressed smartly in a coat and tie – who captured hearts as he read aloud his remarks clearly. “James is a reader, and that is a testament to Panda Path [School for Early Learning],” Barby said.
·       Spring Branch Elementary School volunteer and attorney Jim Byerly told PrincipalAnita Lundvall that his time at the school was the top hour of his week. “We love what all our volunteers do, and I’m proud to be at a school with volunteers like you,” Principal Lundvall said.
·       SWAP high school students Priscilla Lopez and Nirka Flores and sixth-graderJose Escobar described how SWAP’s Saturday meetings motivated them each month. Spring Oaks Middle School sixth-graders like Jose apply for admittance. Chapelwood volunteers now mentor 60 youth in a program started by retired SBISD teacher Janet Simms, a church member.
·       Academy of Choice graduate Zarahi Martinez praised her mentor, Susan Parish. “I’m so proud of her because she helped me graduate. I never thought that I’d graduate, but I did. She is my force. She is my strength. She keeps me going,” Zarahi said.
·       Northbrook High student Lauren Iozzio and Collegiate Challenge graduate Isabelita Mercado shared their experiences. Isabelita’s faith-based mentor stayed in close contact with her throughout her four years at the University of Texas at Austin. She teaches today at SBISD’s Panda Path School.
What makes Spring Branch ISD different, said Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., is its high level of community involvement, including faith-based congregations like Chapelwood United Methodist.
“It’s because of all of you that we can do so much. Chapelwood has taken 18 to 19 programs and put them all under one umbrella, and that’s helping us achieve T-2-4,” Dr. Klussmann said.
A separate video broadcast during the event dinner spotlighted several more Good Neighbors:Allison Gower for extensive program support in athletics and in other areas; Flight XXV for its mentoring support for Landrum Middle and Northbrook high schools; the University of Houston-Downtown’s Houston Prep Program, led by Sangeeta Gad; and Kirksey Architecture, which offers design workshops and other support for Architectural Computer-aided Design students at the district Guthrie Center.
Research compiled by the Houston Endowment in a recently released report found that only 22 percent of all Texas students earn a degree or certificate, and less than 13 percent of African-American and Latino students meet the same achievement.
In SBISD, those averages are higher, almost double the state, but the district still will need to increase Good Neighbors and volunteers “exponentially” to meet its goals, the district Superintendent said.
In her closing remarks, Community Relations Officer Buchman noted that Houston Endowment’s leading officers Larry Faulkner and George Grainger couldn’t find a ‘silver bullet’ to raising college-degree attainment, or what they have described as 'the Number.'
But, the two men also wrote, “The real question to be asked by anyone interested in the health and strength of our communities, or with responsibilities anywhere in the educational chain, is, ‘What can I, or my organization, do this year to improve the Number?”
SBISD’s Buchman said that there may not be a silver bullet in greater Houston, but “here in our small corner of the world, there are Good Neighbors, and while we cannot affect the outcomes for the entire nation, or even the state or city. . . You are, in a sense, our silver bullet – the hope on the pathway to brighter futures that our kids need, want and deserve.”

This year’s Good Neighbor dinner program ended with a call for guests to sign T-2-4 stickers pledging their support to students, similar to Chapelwood’s earlier call to action with its volunteers. In SBISD, the future is bright!
SBISD’s Abby Walker and the Community Relations and Communications departments supported this event with pre-planning, materials, decorations, publications, videos and other needs. Retired Partnerships & Volunteer Coordinator Sue Loudis contributed to the success of the event before retirement. 

Memorial High's Little Library

The Memorial High School Book Club will host a reception and ribbon cutting at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, for the Little Free Library #8714, which will be posted on a pole outside the high school, but inside the property’s gated area.

The reception for this novel book-sharing idea will be conducted near the Gaylord Crosswalk, outside of the high school’s Aqua Wing. The public is invited to share in this special moment.

 A Little Free Library is a box filled with books where anyone can stop and pick up one or more books, or leave one or more books for others to share. These libraries began with Todd Boll of Hudson, Wis., who built a little library box resembling a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former teacher who also loved reading and books. He put a sign on the box that said FREE BOOKS.

 Boll later met a Madison, Wis., man named Rick Brooks, who saw an opportunity in the Little Free Library to spread positive value messages about reading, books, libraries and building social communities.

These so-called Little Libraries have now spread to most states, and it is estimated that there as many as 15,000 little free libraries in countries worldwide.

 The Memorial High School Book Club intends to stock its Little Free Library with a variety of quality books that will interest area neighbors. Residents are invited to stop by and take whatever interests them, then return them, or bring other books to keep the box stocked. The books offered are always free, never for sale.

 For more information about the Memorial Little Free Library, please contact Sherri Boyd at 713-251-2679 or email sherri.boyd@springbranchisd.com.

Going Pink at WAIS


Quick Pic: Staff and students at Westchester Academy for International Studies donned a sea of pink in support of Ms. Debbie, their campus custodian, upon her return to work recently following successful treatment for cancer.  Campuses around the district participated in a range of activities during the month of October in support of the national Go Pink campaign as part of breast cancer awareness month.

Landrum Fall Festival Marks Successful Revival

The Landrum Lions Alumni Association Committee hosted the first Fall Festival at Landrum Middle School in more than a decade recently. The festival held on Nov. 2 ranks as an amazing revival story all its own, raising thousands of dollars for new scholarships to benefit seniors who graduate from Northbrook High School and are Landrum Middle alumni.

 Last year, the association awarded six student scholarships. This year, the group hopes to award even more awards as support from fund-raising events like the festival and community donations add up in the weeks and months ahead. The fund-raising event supports the Spring Branch T-2-4 goal to double within five years the number of graduates who earn a technical, a two-year or four-year degree that supports their career dreams. The last Landrum Fall Festival was held 15 years or more ago, organizers said.


The Landrum Fall Festival kicked off the day with the Dia de los Muertos 5K Fun Run. Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann blew the race whistle. Next up, eight student soccer teams competed in a soccer tournament for the top title. In addition, three live bands performed including Alpha Dogs, El Ejemplo and Pulso Electrico.

The bands kept the crowd pumped and energized throughout the festival run. A separate car show included classic models, hot rods, low riders, low rider bikes, and racing cars. Food options ranged from delicious enchiladas, plátanos fritos, chicharrones, corn in a cup, sausage on a stick and tamales to nachos, frito pies or American-style hot dogs.

Other gastronomical delights included cold snow cones, cotton candy, candy apples and pan de muerto. As parents filled themselves with homemade food, their children enjoyed games and bounce houses. Booths set up by vendors, companies and school groups and organizations were also popular attractions. “Many of those that attended claimed the festival brought on a sort of small-town feeling.

This success couldn’t have been possible without the help and tremendous commitment of numerous faculty members, students, parents, alumni, friends and family members,” said committee member and festival organizer Andres Bautista. In addition to Bautista, Landrum Lions Alumni Association Committee members are Aby Flores, Yolanda Macias, Mari Olivarez, Lenin Santana, James Girard, Priscilla Griffin, Molly Haas, Daniel Lopez, and Lenin Santana. All are reported eager to host the second annual Landrum Fall Festival next year.

Superintendent serves as Texas School Alliance President-Elect

Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., is currently serving as President-Elect of the Texas School Alliance (TSA), an influential alliance of 39 of the largest school districts in Texas representing more than a third of public school students in the state.

 Based on current officer appointments, Dr. Klussmann will serve next school year, 2014-2015, as TSA President. The Texas Legislature will meet beginning in January 2015. Dr. Klussmann also served as TSA president in 2008-2009. In addition to Dr. Klussmann, current TSA officers include: Dr. Brian Gottardy, North East ISD, President; Dr. Ryder Warren, Midland ISD, Vice President; Dr. Kay Waggoner, Richardson ISD, Secretary; Alton Frailey, Katy ISD, Treasurer; and Dr. Jesus Chavez, who is retired from Round Rock ISD, Past President.

 The 2013-2014 TSA Board of Directors include these superintendents: Mike Miles, Dallas ISD; Walter Dansby, Fort Worth ISD; Dr. Danny King, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD; Dr. Gary Mooring, Tyler ISD; Dr. Wanda Bamberg, Aldine ISD; Dr. Rod Schroder, Amarillo ISD; Dr. Robert Muller, Killeen ISD; H.D. Chambers, Alief ISD; Dr. Carol Ann Bonds, San Angelo ISD; and Dr. Sylvester Perez, San Antonio ISD.

 A Texas native, Dr. Klussmann grew up in Brenham and Huntsville. He has held a variety of key positions in public education during the past several decades. Before becoming superintendent in SBISD, he worked as a classroom teacher, a tennis coach, an assistant principal, school principal and an administrator serving in finance, operations and support, as well as in academic areas.

 His education credentials include the bachelor of business administration degree in international business and finance from the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and a doctorate in education through Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.

Dr. Klussmann and his wife, Marissa, are the parents of three school- and college-age children. TSA held the first alliance meeting in 1990. School districts present at that initial meeting included Abilene, Arlington, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Houston, Spring Branch, Waco, Wichita Falls and Ysleta. The creation of the alliance formalized the already strong working relationship between these school districts.

Links of Interest:

Visit the Superintendent's website now >>
Watch the latest videocast now >>

Stratford High Boys Cross Country No. 1 in Texas

Stratford High School’s boys cross country team won the state Class 4A UIL team title on Saturday, Nov. 9, during a meet held in Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

 Spartan junior Austin Richard finished Saturday’s race second overall in a time of 15:56 in cold and windy conditions, while his teammate Brian Quinlan took eighth place with a time of 16:06.82 to lead the Spartans to a winning 75-point performance total.

 The second-place team was Lucas Lovejoy from Lovejoy ISD in Collin County. Kingwood Park High School was eighth overall in 4A UIL state competition, the highest place claimed by a Houston-area high school team after Stratford.

 “After we finished the race, I had no idea where we stood (as a team),” Austin told the Houston Chronicle. “But then after they announced us as first place, it was just a rush of emotion. Everyone was jumping up and screaming; it was crazy.”

 The Stratford High team’s overall performance included the following runners and times: Hayden Richard, 16:34.43; Jake Roberts, 17:00.71; Nick Terrazas, 17:09.17; Paul Brastrom, 17:36:24; Douglas Baker, 17:41.73. Spartan team coach is Tony Brillon.

“The greatest enjoyment is to watch these young men put in enormous hours of work on a daily basis to reach a common goal – to win state. They are just a very dedicated group, and they never gave up," he said.

 Stratford High’s state title comes after several years of hard work. In 2011, the Spartans placed 11th overall at the Class 4A state meet. The boys’ team finished this year as 4A state champions.

 In separate but related 5A and 4A state UIL news:
 · Memorial High School sophomore Khayla Patel was a cross country district champion, winning the girl’s 5000-meter race in 18:06:99, and advancing to State finals were she finished 15th overall with a time of 18:49:78.

 · Memorial Varsity Tennis took second place at the Class 5A UIL State Team Tennis Tournament held on Nov. 4-5 at the Texas A&M University Tennis Center in College Station.

The Mustangs won their State semifinals match on Nov. 4 against El Paso Coronado (10-4), but lost to their rivals, the New Braunfels Unicorns, in the Team Tennis State finals held Nov. 5.

 This was Memorial High School’s fifth consecutive year to advance to the UIL State Team Tennis Tournament.

Communications Dept. student intern Kali Venable compiled  and wrote this report.