Guest speaker Dr. Stephen Klineberg will share his insights on how shifts in Houston's social, economic and demographic patterns impact the Spring Branch Community and T-2-4.Friday, January 31, 2014
In January, 138 Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) 11th graders spent three days gaining exposure to various career paths. From Microsoft to Memorial Hermann, Phillips 66 to SBISD’s own Lion Lane School, students traveled across Houston to learn about career research and preparation, job-hunting tools, professionalism and ethics in the workplace and professional action plans.
This is the second year WAIS has offered such a job shadow week to their students. Growing on the strengths of their program last year, WAIS partnered with Junior Achievement this year to develop four industry tracks and supporting job shadow visits within each one.
Tracks this year included: Information Technology, Service & Education, Engineering & Business, and Health. Tracks were developed based on students’ career cluster results provided by student survey results. Students selected one career visit within each of the tracks each day.
The week culminated with all 138 juniors attending and participating in JA’s Finance Park, a financial literacy center where students immerse themselves in a reality-based decision-making process addressing specific aspects of individual and family budgeting, including housing, transportation, food, utilities, health care, investments, philanthropy and banking.
Director of WAIS, Jennifer Collier, continues to support and endorse the Job Shadow Week experience because of its deep alignment to the district’s and school’s T-2-4 goal.
“Students were given a variety of unique experiences and opportunities throughout the week which help them to make crucial decisions about their future,” says Collier.
“WAIS would like to thank all of the business and industry partners for allowing our students to come and learn about their careers and expand their knowledge of the ‘real world’ after high school.This experience is one that the students and faculty who were fortunate enough to participate will never forget.”
Experiences such as these support the work SBISD teachers are doing each day to ensure all of our students are prepared for higher education success and understand the opportunities available to them.
As the WAIS juniors move through their second semester and into their senior year, understanding the myriad of career options that lie ahead of them helps make their path more meaningful, targeted, and ultimately, successful for each student.
This is the second year WAIS has offered such a job shadow week to their students. Growing on the strengths of their program last year, WAIS partnered with Junior Achievement this year to develop four industry tracks and supporting job shadow visits within each one.
Tracks this year included: Information Technology, Service & Education, Engineering & Business, and Health. Tracks were developed based on students’ career cluster results provided by student survey results. Students selected one career visit within each of the tracks each day.
The week culminated with all 138 juniors attending and participating in JA’s Finance Park, a financial literacy center where students immerse themselves in a reality-based decision-making process addressing specific aspects of individual and family budgeting, including housing, transportation, food, utilities, health care, investments, philanthropy and banking.
Director of WAIS, Jennifer Collier, continues to support and endorse the Job Shadow Week experience because of its deep alignment to the district’s and school’s T-2-4 goal.
“Students were given a variety of unique experiences and opportunities throughout the week which help them to make crucial decisions about their future,” says Collier.
“WAIS would like to thank all of the business and industry partners for allowing our students to come and learn about their careers and expand their knowledge of the ‘real world’ after high school.This experience is one that the students and faculty who were fortunate enough to participate will never forget.”
Experiences such as these support the work SBISD teachers are doing each day to ensure all of our students are prepared for higher education success and understand the opportunities available to them.
As the WAIS juniors move through their second semester and into their senior year, understanding the myriad of career options that lie ahead of them helps make their path more meaningful, targeted, and ultimately, successful for each student.
Ten highly talented Spring Branch ISD high school students have earned the highest honor possible in their area of musical study. These students have been named Texas All-State winners in orchestra, band, and choir.
About 1,500 students from across Texas were named All-State winners recently after an orderly, planned testing process that began with tens of thousands of students from across the state competing to be named to one of 13 separate performance music ensembles. Individual student musicians begin the All-State selection process by learning and performing music selections for a panel of judges.
Through the ranking process, a select group of musicians and singers advance from their local region to competitions that qualify to perform in Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State music groups.
This year, four Memorial High Orchestra students were named All-State.
Sophomore violinist Catherine Cai qualified for a second year in a row. Last year, she played viola. Memorial High Orchestra students named All-State are:
• Catherine Cai, 10th grade, violin
• Tiffany Hu, 11th grade, cello
• Irene Oh, 11th grade, cello
• Jonnathan Sullins, 12th grade, piano
Memorial High Orchestra directors are Bingiee Shiu and Danielle Prontka. Three separate Band students from Memorial, Stratford and Spring Woods high schools qualified for All-State honors.
Senior Victor Rangel-Comacho of Spring Woods High, has been named to All-State Band for a third year.
Band students honored include:
• John Pruitt, 12th grade, trumpet, Memorial High
• Joon Lee, 11th grade, clarinet, Stratford High
• Victor Rangel-Comacho, 12th grade, bass clarinet,
Band directors include David Kastor of Memorial High; Monty Morris-Brame of Spring Woods High; and Richard Graham of Stratford High.
Two SBISD soprano students were also named All-State Choir members. They are:
• Georgia Bates, 12th grade, soprano, Memorial High
• Eliza Masewicz, 10th grade, soprano, Stratford High
Choir directors are Lawrence Johnson of Memorial High and Peter Steinmetz of Stratford High.
About 1,500 students from across Texas were named All-State winners recently after an orderly, planned testing process that began with tens of thousands of students from across the state competing to be named to one of 13 separate performance music ensembles. Individual student musicians begin the All-State selection process by learning and performing music selections for a panel of judges.
Through the ranking process, a select group of musicians and singers advance from their local region to competitions that qualify to perform in Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) All-State music groups.
This year, four Memorial High Orchestra students were named All-State.
Sophomore violinist Catherine Cai qualified for a second year in a row. Last year, she played viola. Memorial High Orchestra students named All-State are:
• Catherine Cai, 10th grade, violin
• Tiffany Hu, 11th grade, cello
• Irene Oh, 11th grade, cello
• Jonnathan Sullins, 12th grade, piano
Memorial High Orchestra directors are Bingiee Shiu and Danielle Prontka. Three separate Band students from Memorial, Stratford and Spring Woods high schools qualified for All-State honors.
Senior Victor Rangel-Comacho of Spring Woods High, has been named to All-State Band for a third year.
Band students honored include:
• John Pruitt, 12th grade, trumpet, Memorial High
• Joon Lee, 11th grade, clarinet, Stratford High
• Victor Rangel-Comacho, 12th grade, bass clarinet,
Band directors include David Kastor of Memorial High; Monty Morris-Brame of Spring Woods High; and Richard Graham of Stratford High.
Two SBISD soprano students were also named All-State Choir members. They are:
• Georgia Bates, 12th grade, soprano, Memorial High
• Eliza Masewicz, 10th grade, soprano, Stratford High
Choir directors are Lawrence Johnson of Memorial High and Peter Steinmetz of Stratford High.
A foundation established by popular Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has donated after school athletic equipment valued at more than $5,000 to a Spring Branch ISD middle school.
Sixth-graders at Spring Oaks Middle School, 2150 Shadowdale, will be able to learn tennis and play basketball, volleyball, soccer and 7-on-7 flag football through the generosity of the Justin J. Watt Foundation.
The donation to Spring Oaks Middle’s after school Advanced Movers athletics programs matches up with the goals of the school, district and foundation. Texas sixth-graders are barred by University Interscholastic League rules from competing in district competition. SBISD’s Advanced Movers program was established, in part, to provide sixth-graders with developmental athletics that they might not be exposed to otherwise in after-school programs.
The Watt Foundation donation, which was announced recently, will pay for a range of athletic equipment at Spring Oaks Middle that includes a variety of athletic balls and game essentials, and fitness and activity equipment. This year, the middle school’s Advanced Movers offerings will include Quick Start Tennis sponsored by the Houston Tennis Association, as well as a basketball league, volleyball and soccer intramurals. Track and cross country offerings are also planned for students, too.
“The Justin J. Watt Foundation is providing this funding as a means of support for your extracurricular and athletic activities that give children the opportunity to learn the basic character traits of accountability, teamwork, leadership, work ethic and perseverance while in a safe and supervised environment with their peers,” Foundation Vice President Connie Watt said in an acknowledgement letter.
“Thank you for what you do to help the kids.” “We feel very fortunate to have received this donation,” Spring Oaks Middle Principal Paul Seuss said. “We are very excited and, without a doubt, our students will benefit from the equipment your donation will allow us to purchase.”
SBISD’s Advanced Movers program at the middle school is designed to bridge a gap athletically during sixth grade. Program offerings at the middle school are also intended to bridge a gap found among sixth-graders across the school district. “Equipment received from the J.J. Watt Foundation will be used to enhance our programs by ensuring we have developmentally appropriate equipment, and that each participant will be able to be ‘hands-on’,” SBISD Athletics states.
The donation to Spring Oaks Middle’s after school Advanced Movers athletics programs matches up with the goals of the school, district and foundation. Texas sixth-graders are barred by University Interscholastic League rules from competing in district competition. SBISD’s Advanced Movers program was established, in part, to provide sixth-graders with developmental athletics that they might not be exposed to otherwise in after-school programs.
The Watt Foundation donation, which was announced recently, will pay for a range of athletic equipment at Spring Oaks Middle that includes a variety of athletic balls and game essentials, and fitness and activity equipment. This year, the middle school’s Advanced Movers offerings will include Quick Start Tennis sponsored by the Houston Tennis Association, as well as a basketball league, volleyball and soccer intramurals. Track and cross country offerings are also planned for students, too.
“The Justin J. Watt Foundation is providing this funding as a means of support for your extracurricular and athletic activities that give children the opportunity to learn the basic character traits of accountability, teamwork, leadership, work ethic and perseverance while in a safe and supervised environment with their peers,” Foundation Vice President Connie Watt said in an acknowledgement letter.
“Thank you for what you do to help the kids.” “We feel very fortunate to have received this donation,” Spring Oaks Middle Principal Paul Seuss said. “We are very excited and, without a doubt, our students will benefit from the equipment your donation will allow us to purchase.”
SBISD’s Advanced Movers program at the middle school is designed to bridge a gap athletically during sixth grade. Program offerings at the middle school are also intended to bridge a gap found among sixth-graders across the school district. “Equipment received from the J.J. Watt Foundation will be used to enhance our programs by ensuring we have developmentally appropriate equipment, and that each participant will be able to be ‘hands-on’,” SBISD Athletics states.
Maria Cuervo, a senior at Westchester Academy for International Studies, confidently took the stage at the National School Choice Week Kick-Off Celebration to share her student voice and perspective on School Choice.
This national event
took place Saturday, January 25, at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston was chosen as the host city for the kick-off celebration this year because of the many high-quality school choices made available to parents across the city. “If I did not have this choice to attend Westchester Academy for International Studies, I would not have this opportunity to attend Swarthmore College, the school of my dreams,” Cuervo said at the end of her well-organized and compelling speech.
The National School Choice Week organization provides an opportunity through whistle-stop tours throughout the country to shine a positive spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children. This organization’s belief, as reported on their website,is that parents should be empowered to choose the best educational environment for their children.
took place Saturday, January 25, at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Houston was chosen as the host city for the kick-off celebration this year because of the many high-quality school choices made available to parents across the city. “If I did not have this choice to attend Westchester Academy for International Studies, I would not have this opportunity to attend Swarthmore College, the school of my dreams,” Cuervo said at the end of her well-organized and compelling speech.
The National School Choice Week organization provides an opportunity through whistle-stop tours throughout the country to shine a positive spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children. This organization’s belief, as reported on their website,is that parents should be empowered to choose the best educational environment for their children.
Two Memorial Middle School eighth-graders joined dozens of other young runners from the Memorial and Stratford communities during the recent Chevron Houston Marathon 5K to raise $12,500 and benefit hundreds orphans living in Nairobi, Kenya.
Memorial Middle School eighth-graders Avery Agosto and Katherine Kaiser led and helped organize a district-based team that raised funds during the Marathon weekend for Oasis for Orphans, which supports two orphanages in Kenya’s major city. Joining Agosto and Kaiser and two dozen other Memorial- and Stratford-area teenagers Jan. 18 in the Marathon 5K was Kenyan runner Sarah Kiptoo, a world-class marathoner.
Also supporting their cause was Kenyan runner Pius Ondoro. The Kenyan runners raced in the Jan. 19 Marathon. The spirited middle school runners and budding philanthropists were joined by 34 district runners in all, including 10 Memorial Middle students, eight Stratford High students and a Memorial High student supporter.
The group ran with bright orange T-shirts that proclaimed, “We Run for Kenya.” All the young SBISD runners finished the recent Marathon 5K with times that ranged from 32 to 45 minutes, and all crossed the finish line with smiles, reported parent Craig Kaiser. The student fund-raising team totally swept past their initial goal of raising $3,000, with students themselves raising more than $6,000 of the $12,500 total.
Click here to make a donation >>
Donations can still be made online for several weeks. (To donate, visit this link: Insert link here) Katherine Kaiser and Avery Agosto chose to do their part for Kenyan orphans as Team Oasis leaders in Houston. Oasis for Orphans is a faith-based, Chicago charity with a small local support group. According to newspaper accounts, Oasis currently serves 151 orphans in Kenya, including a dormitory facility in Nairobi.
The charity is in the process of building a family-style home to serve 50 more children. Avery, Katherine and a family member raised $3,000 for the charity several years ago by conducting a “Chicken Dance” to support chicken coops for the Nairobi orphanage.
Kenya reportedly has more than 2 million orphans due to a series of natural disasters, disease outbreaks and national turmoil. “It’s pretty great how all our friends are ready to pitch in and help us. We feel pretty great about it,” Katherine told the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Team Oasis Director Kim Huffman told the newspaper that she was totally impressed to see teenagers running for orphans who live an ocean away.
“It’s a pretty powerful connection when kids in America who have everything can give of themselves and do something hard and sacrificial for the sake of kids in Kenya,” she said. Elite runner Sarah Kiptoo was eager to meet the SBISD teens.
“I feel so good and happy because they’re helping our people,” Kiptoo told the Houston Chronicle. “We appreciate and are happy to know that there are other people that care for us.”
Memorial Middle School eighth-graders Avery Agosto and Katherine Kaiser led and helped organize a district-based team that raised funds during the Marathon weekend for Oasis for Orphans, which supports two orphanages in Kenya’s major city. Joining Agosto and Kaiser and two dozen other Memorial- and Stratford-area teenagers Jan. 18 in the Marathon 5K was Kenyan runner Sarah Kiptoo, a world-class marathoner.
Also supporting their cause was Kenyan runner Pius Ondoro. The Kenyan runners raced in the Jan. 19 Marathon. The spirited middle school runners and budding philanthropists were joined by 34 district runners in all, including 10 Memorial Middle students, eight Stratford High students and a Memorial High student supporter.
The group ran with bright orange T-shirts that proclaimed, “We Run for Kenya.” All the young SBISD runners finished the recent Marathon 5K with times that ranged from 32 to 45 minutes, and all crossed the finish line with smiles, reported parent Craig Kaiser. The student fund-raising team totally swept past their initial goal of raising $3,000, with students themselves raising more than $6,000 of the $12,500 total.
Click here to make a donation >>
Donations can still be made online for several weeks. (To donate, visit this link: Insert link here) Katherine Kaiser and Avery Agosto chose to do their part for Kenyan orphans as Team Oasis leaders in Houston. Oasis for Orphans is a faith-based, Chicago charity with a small local support group. According to newspaper accounts, Oasis currently serves 151 orphans in Kenya, including a dormitory facility in Nairobi.
The charity is in the process of building a family-style home to serve 50 more children. Avery, Katherine and a family member raised $3,000 for the charity several years ago by conducting a “Chicken Dance” to support chicken coops for the Nairobi orphanage.
Kenya reportedly has more than 2 million orphans due to a series of natural disasters, disease outbreaks and national turmoil. “It’s pretty great how all our friends are ready to pitch in and help us. We feel pretty great about it,” Katherine told the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Team Oasis Director Kim Huffman told the newspaper that she was totally impressed to see teenagers running for orphans who live an ocean away.
“It’s a pretty powerful connection when kids in America who have everything can give of themselves and do something hard and sacrificial for the sake of kids in Kenya,” she said. Elite runner Sarah Kiptoo was eager to meet the SBISD teens.
“I feel so good and happy because they’re helping our people,” Kiptoo told the Houston Chronicle. “We appreciate and are happy to know that there are other people that care for us.”
Artwork by 15 elementary, middle and high school students in Spring Branch ISD will hang for public display in the Hayloft Gallery during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in the weeks ahead.
Earlier this month, SBISD hosted its annual K-12 Rodeo Art Exhibit at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum, which drew hundreds of district students and family members during a public viewing and official Rodeo judging session.
“The judges thought that the district show was great, and we were awarded the most awards they have ever given a school district,” reports SBISD Fine Arts Coordinator Sally Doyle. “We have 15 student works going to the Rodeo and an additional four pieces were recognized Special Merit, which gives our students 19 pieces total. That is amazing!,” she added.
Most students who were awarded Best of Show, Gold Medal and Special Merit will have their original art displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at Reliant Park. The Houston Rodeo will be held from March 4 through March 23.
During the upcoming Rodeo, several dozen student artworks from across the region will be chosen during Grand Prix judging for an art auction, which can result in thousands of scholarship dollars for young student artists who are included in the auction event.
District winners headed to the Houston Rodeo for public display include:
Elementary
Best of Show – Aaron Wu, Wilchester
Gold Medal – Tommy Willis, Westwood Elementary
Middle School
Best of Show – Kathryn Love, Memorial Middle
Gold Medal – Ivan Zuniga, Landrum Middle
High School
Best of Show – Seo Woo Jong, Memorial
Gold Medal – Hee Jung Kim, Memorial
Gold Medal – Ha Bee Lee, Stratford
Special Merit – Ashley Park, Memorial
Special Merit – Juwon Yoo, Stratford
Special Merit – Anna Cho, Memorial
Special Merit – Anna Lai, Memorial
Special Merit – Julia DeLaney, Memorial
Special Merit – Woohyun Cho, Stratford
Special Merit – Erica Kim, Memorial
Special Merit – Bethany Ochs, Memorial
In addition, the following students were awarded Special Merit by Rodeo judges, but the student art pieces will not be displayed.
Inchan Huang – Memorial High
Emily Castillo – Stratford High
Marie Bolt – Memorial High
Minkyung Yun – Memorial High
“The judges thought that the district show was great, and we were awarded the most awards they have ever given a school district,” reports SBISD Fine Arts Coordinator Sally Doyle. “We have 15 student works going to the Rodeo and an additional four pieces were recognized Special Merit, which gives our students 19 pieces total. That is amazing!,” she added.
Most students who were awarded Best of Show, Gold Medal and Special Merit will have their original art displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at Reliant Park. The Houston Rodeo will be held from March 4 through March 23.
During the upcoming Rodeo, several dozen student artworks from across the region will be chosen during Grand Prix judging for an art auction, which can result in thousands of scholarship dollars for young student artists who are included in the auction event.
District winners headed to the Houston Rodeo for public display include:
Elementary
Best of Show – Aaron Wu, Wilchester
Gold Medal – Tommy Willis, Westwood Elementary
Middle School
Best of Show – Kathryn Love, Memorial Middle
Gold Medal – Ivan Zuniga, Landrum Middle
High School
Best of Show – Seo Woo Jong, Memorial
Gold Medal – Hee Jung Kim, Memorial
Gold Medal – Ha Bee Lee, Stratford
Special Merit – Ashley Park, Memorial
Special Merit – Juwon Yoo, Stratford
Special Merit – Anna Cho, Memorial
Special Merit – Anna Lai, Memorial
Special Merit – Julia DeLaney, Memorial
Special Merit – Woohyun Cho, Stratford
Special Merit – Erica Kim, Memorial
Special Merit – Bethany Ochs, Memorial
In addition, the following students were awarded Special Merit by Rodeo judges, but the student art pieces will not be displayed.
Inchan Huang – Memorial High
Emily Castillo – Stratford High
Marie Bolt – Memorial High
Minkyung Yun – Memorial High
Fifth-grade students at Thornwood Elementary School taking part in a mentoring program through the ConocoPhillips Asian American Network (AAN) joined their adult mentors recently at the Houston company’s global headquarters.
The SBISD students are tutored and mentored by ConocoPhillips AAN volunteers, who work with the fifth-graders weekly on math skills. Over the recent holiday season, students visited the ConocoPhillips campus where they were given a peek into the work performed by their adult mentors on a daily basis.
The fifth-graders heard presentations from a geologist and financial analyst, who explained to their young visitors how they apply science and math in their work to find and produce oil and natural gas. “After eight weeks of tutoring, the Asian American Network hosted the students and volunteers at ConocoPhillips global headquarters,” reports Communities in Schools Project Manager Jose Gonzalez. “Our students had the opportunity to see where their tutors and mentors work, and to experience a corporate environment.”
The mentoring program supports Spring Branch ISD’s goal for every student to attain technical or military certification, or a two- or four-year college degree – known as T-2-4. “At Thornwood Elementary, our focus is aligned with SBISD’s T-2-4 goal,” Gonzalez said. SBISD students at several campuses are supported by adult volunteers and by the nonprofit Communities in Schools organization.
Information in this report was reviewed and edited by ConocoPhillips.
The SBISD students are tutored and mentored by ConocoPhillips AAN volunteers, who work with the fifth-graders weekly on math skills. Over the recent holiday season, students visited the ConocoPhillips campus where they were given a peek into the work performed by their adult mentors on a daily basis.
The fifth-graders heard presentations from a geologist and financial analyst, who explained to their young visitors how they apply science and math in their work to find and produce oil and natural gas. “After eight weeks of tutoring, the Asian American Network hosted the students and volunteers at ConocoPhillips global headquarters,” reports Communities in Schools Project Manager Jose Gonzalez. “Our students had the opportunity to see where their tutors and mentors work, and to experience a corporate environment.”
The mentoring program supports Spring Branch ISD’s goal for every student to attain technical or military certification, or a two- or four-year college degree – known as T-2-4. “At Thornwood Elementary, our focus is aligned with SBISD’s T-2-4 goal,” Gonzalez said. SBISD students at several campuses are supported by adult volunteers and by the nonprofit Communities in Schools organization.
Information in this report was reviewed and edited by ConocoPhillips.
Cadet students in the Navy Jr. ROTC program based at Spring Branch ISD’s Guthrie Center were honored by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and by City officials during the unit’s recent annual Area Manager’s Inspection (AMI).
By official proclamation, Mayor Parker declared Tuesday, Jan. 14, as Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Day in recognition of the cadet unit’s exemplary performance and outstanding contributions to the community.
The proclamation was delivered by retired U.S. Navy Commander Mike Hale, who is the Navy Jr. ROTC program area manager, during the Jan. 14 inspection held at the Guthrie Center located on Hammerly Boulevard near the West Sam Houston Parkway.
“The purpose of the AMI is to provide a formal opportunity for our cadets to showcase what they have learned through drill performances, personal inspections and reviews of the supply, material and administrative records that the cadets administer, which are required by the program,” reports unit U.S. Navy Commander Jerry Coufal, senior naval science instructor for the program.
As a part of the annual inspection, the cadet Company staff must formally brief the inspecting officer on their goals for the company for this school year, as well as their personal student goals after graduation. Cadet Sr. Chief Luie Soto, a junior at Stratford High School, described the recent inspection as a detailed and thorough experience.
“As the company supply officer, I learned a great deal from Commander Hale about how to keep our inventory control system running even better. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to brief my supply department to the Commander and the guest inspectors.
Overall, the inspection was one of the most outstanding events I have had the opportunity to attend,” Cadet Sr. Chief Soto said. Naval Science program instructors from Kingwood, Mayde Creek, Spring and George Bush high schools were invited to assist with the inspection.
The Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Company is led by Cadet Commander Mirna Cardenas, a senior at Northbrook High School who has been accepted to Texas A&M University.
Information in this report was provided by the Navy Jr. ROTC program.
By official proclamation, Mayor Parker declared Tuesday, Jan. 14, as Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Day in recognition of the cadet unit’s exemplary performance and outstanding contributions to the community.
The proclamation was delivered by retired U.S. Navy Commander Mike Hale, who is the Navy Jr. ROTC program area manager, during the Jan. 14 inspection held at the Guthrie Center located on Hammerly Boulevard near the West Sam Houston Parkway.
“The purpose of the AMI is to provide a formal opportunity for our cadets to showcase what they have learned through drill performances, personal inspections and reviews of the supply, material and administrative records that the cadets administer, which are required by the program,” reports unit U.S. Navy Commander Jerry Coufal, senior naval science instructor for the program.
As a part of the annual inspection, the cadet Company staff must formally brief the inspecting officer on their goals for the company for this school year, as well as their personal student goals after graduation. Cadet Sr. Chief Luie Soto, a junior at Stratford High School, described the recent inspection as a detailed and thorough experience.
“As the company supply officer, I learned a great deal from Commander Hale about how to keep our inventory control system running even better. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to brief my supply department to the Commander and the guest inspectors.
Overall, the inspection was one of the most outstanding events I have had the opportunity to attend,” Cadet Sr. Chief Soto said. Naval Science program instructors from Kingwood, Mayde Creek, Spring and George Bush high schools were invited to assist with the inspection.
The Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Company is led by Cadet Commander Mirna Cardenas, a senior at Northbrook High School who has been accepted to Texas A&M University.
Information in this report was provided by the Navy Jr. ROTC program.
A foundation established by popular Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has donated after school athletic equipment valued at more than $5,000 to a Spring Branch ISD middle school.Sixth-graders at Spring Oaks Middle School, 2150 Shadowdale, will be able to learn tennis and play basketball, volleyball, soccer and 7-on-7 flag football through the generosity of the Justin J. Watt Foundation.
The donation to Spring Oaks Middle’s after school Advanced Movers athletics programs matches up with the goals of the school, district and foundation. Texas sixth-graders are barred by University Interscholastic League rules from competing in district competition.
The Watt Foundation donation, which was announced recently, will pay for a range of athletic equipment at Spring Oaks Middle that includes a variety of athletic balls, game essentials, and fitness and activity equipment.
“The Justin J. Watt Foundation is providing this funding as a means of support for your extracurricular and athletic activities that give children the opportunity to learn the basic character traits of accountability, teamwork, leadership, work ethic and perseverance while in a safe and supervised environment with their peers,” Foundation Vice President Connie Watt said in an acknowledgement letter. “Thank you for what you do to help the kids.”
“We feel very fortunate to have received this donation,” Spring Oaks Middle Principal Paul Seuss said. “We are very excited and, without a doubt, our students will benefit from the equipment your donation will allow us to purchase.”
SBISD’s Advanced Movers program at the middle school is designed to bridge a gap athletically during sixth grade. Program offerings at the middle school are also intended to bridge a gap found among sixth-graders across the school district.
“Equipment received from the J.J. Watt Foundation will be used to enhance our programs by ensuring we have developmentally appropriate equipment, and that each participant will be able to be ‘hands-on’,” SBISD Athletics states.
Artwork by 15 elementary, middle and high school students in Spring Branch ISD will hang for public display in the Hayloft Gallery during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in the weeks ahead.
Earlier this month, SBISD hosted its annual K-12 Rodeo Art Exhibit at the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum, which drew hundreds of district students and family members during a public viewing and official Rodeo judging session.“The judges thought that the district show was great, and we were awarded the most awards they have ever given a school district,” reports SBISD Fine Arts Coordinator Sally Doyle.
“We have 15 student works going to the Rodeo and an additional four pieces were recognized Special Merit, which gives our students 19 pieces total. That is amazing!,” she added.
Most students who were awarded Best of Show, Gold Medal and Special Merit will have their original art displayed in the Hayloft Gallery at Reliant Park. The Houston Rodeo will be held from March 4 through March 23.
During the upcoming Rodeo, several dozen student artworks from across the region will be chosen during Grand Prix judging for an art auction, which can result in thousands of scholarship dollars for young student artists who are included in the auction event.
District winners headed to the Houston Rodeo for public display include:
Elementary
Best of Show – Aaron Wu, Wilchester Elementary
Gold Medal – Tommy Willis, Westwood ElementaryMiddle School
Best of Show – Kathryn Love, Memorial MiddleGold Medal – Ivan Zuniga, Landrum Middle
High School
Best of Show – Seo Woo Jong, Memorial High
Gold Medal – Hee Jung Kim, Memorial High
Gold Medal – Ha Bee Lee, Stratford High
Special Merit – Ashley Park, Memorial High
Special Merit – Juwon Yoo, Stratford High
Special Merit – Anna Cho, Memorial High
Special Merit – Anna Lai, Memorial High
Special Merit – Julia DeLaney, Memorial High
Special Merit – Woohyun Cho, Stratford High
Special Merit – Erica Kim, Memorial High
Special Merit – Bethany Ochs, Memorial High
In addition, the following students were awarded Special Merit by Rodeo judges, but the student art pieces will not be displayed.
Inchan Huang – Memorial High
Emily Castillo – Stratford High
Marie Bolt – Memorial High
Minkyung Yun – Memorial High
The SBISD students are tutored and mentored by ConocoPhillips AAN volunteers, who work with the fifth-graders weekly on math skills. Over the recent holiday season, students visited the ConocoPhillips campus where they were given a peek into the work performed by their adult mentors on a daily basis.
The fifth-graders heard presentations from a geologist and financial analyst, who explained to their young visitors how they apply science and math in their work to find and produce oil and natural gas.
“After eight weeks of tutoring, the Asian American Network hosted the students and volunteers at ConocoPhillips global headquarters,” reports Communities in Schools Project Manager Jose Gonzalez. “Our students had the opportunity to see where their tutors and mentors work, and to experience a corporate environment.”
The mentoring program supports Spring Branch ISD’s goal for every student to attain technical or military certification, or a two- or four-year college degree – known as T-2-4.
“At Thornwood Elementary, our focus is aligned with SBISD’s T-2-4 goal,” Gonzalez said.
SBISD students at several campuses are supported by adult volunteers and by the nonprofit Communities in Schools organization.
Information in this report was reviewed and edited by ConocoPhillips.
By official proclamation, Mayor Parker declared Tuesday, Jan. 14, as Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Day in recognition of the cadet unit’s exemplary performance and outstanding contributions to the community.
The proclamation was delivered by retired U.S. Navy Commander Mike Hale, who is the Navy Jr. ROTC program area manager, during the Jan. 14 inspection held at the Guthrie Center located on Hammerly Boulevard near the West Sam Houston Parkway.
“The purpose of the AMI is to provide a formal opportunity for our cadets to showcase what they have learned through drill performances, personal inspections and reviews of the supply, material and administrative records that the cadets administer, which are required by the program,” reports unit U.S. Navy Commander Jerry Coufal, senior naval science instructor for the program.
As a part of the annual inspection, the cadet Company staff must formally brief the inspecting officer on their goals for the company for this school year, as well as their personal student goals after graduation.
Cadet Sr. Chief Luie Soto, a junior at Stratford High School, described the recent inspection as a detailed and thorough experience.
“As the company supply officer, I learned a great deal from Commander Hale about how to keep our inventory control system running even better. I especially enjoyed the opportunity to brief my supply department to the Commander and the guest inspectors. Overall, the inspection was one of the most outstanding events I have had the opportunity to attend,” Cadet Sr. Chief Soto said.
Naval Science program instructors from Kingwood, Mayde Creek, Spring and George Bush high schools were invited to assist with the inspection.
The Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC Company is led by Cadet Commander Mirna Cardenas, a senior at Northbrook High School who has been accepted to Texas A&M University.
Information in this report was provided by the Navy Jr. ROTC program.
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