Thursday, November 6, 2014

Great Pumpkin Fun Run


More than 900 students, parents and family and community members took part in the second annual Great Pumpkin Fun Run, hosted at Cedar Brook Elementary recently.

The Great Pumpkin Fun Run was held Oct. 18 at the campus Spark Park. Event organizers report that this special event produced many big smiles, much physical activity, good encouragement and bright memories.

Almost 300 students participated in either the 1 mile race or optional 2 mile route that circled the entire Cedar Brook Elementary campus. The campus fun run was organized by Courtney Roberts and Marla Squires. The Cedar Brook Elementary Health Fitness Department/CSHAC Committee was the event host.

More than 50 members of the school faculty and staff assisted. Faculty and staff provided scholarships to students in need, arrived early to help set up, assisted at running stations, and stayed late for to break down equipment and clean up. Cedar Brook Elementary’s Student Council helped with set up early, and then helped clean up, too.

Multiple participation level options encouraged as many students and families to participate as possible. Runners received a bright, orange pumpkin and other awards to mark event achievement.

The Bunker Hill HEB provided post-race bananas and water for runners. A special appearance was made by HEB’s Buddy mascot.

In addition, bagels were provided by the New York Bagel Shop.

Meadow Wood Elementary Preps for 50th Birthday

Meadow Wood Elementary School will celebrate 50 years of educational excellence during the 2014-15 school year.

The campus is now planning a golden commemoration that will include a birthday party for students, parents, teachers and administration on April 29, 2015. A community spaghetti dinner is planned for May 1.

Work is under way on a 50th anniversary cookbook, which will be sold for $15. The cookbook will include recipes collected from present and former parents, teachers and principals, alumni and community members.

As one part of planning, Meadow Wood organizers would like to hear and learn from those who came before them. The school is seeking letters from alumni detailing their memories as Meadow Woods students.

Photos which help to capture the school’s history and its spirit, as well as related memorabilia, are being sought for display during next semester’s Celebration Week.

Photographs, letters and memorabilia may be submitted electronically to croninpublicrelations@gmail.com, or by mail to: Meadow Wood Elementary, c/o 50th Anniversary Celebration, 14230 Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77079.


For other queries, please contact croninpublicrelations@gmail.com.

Via Colori Festival Artist Named

SBISD Via Colori Apprendista artist Kira Slentz poses with the artwork she
will recreate at the festival at the intersection of  Bagby and Walker.
Spring Woods High junior Kira Slentz has been selected as this year’s Via Colori Apprendista artist for the annual downtown street painting festival.

Kira will recreate an unusual fantasy character that she first created in soft pastel chalk on a downtown street during the Via Colori Street Painting Festival, which will be celebrated Nov. 22-23.  Her artwork will be located on a six by six ft. square at the intersection of Bagby and Walker.
Spring Woods High senior Lilya Gehman was also selected to participate in designing one of the the SWHS ten by ten ft. group squares.  Multiple SWHS students will create the final street painting masterpieces.

The Via Colori Street Painting Festival is a free, two-day event that attracts up to 25,000 visitors annually. The streets of downtown Houston become a giant canvas during the festival for artists that range from students like Kira to professional street painters from across the nation and Mexico.

SBISD Via Colori Apprendista artist Lilya Gehman was selected
as one of the artists to create a group street painting at the
intersection of  Walker and Smith.  Her work is shown above
(right).
The theme for this year’s festival is “The Art of Sound.” Street artists young and old will draw inspiration from music and nature to remind festivalgoers of the amazing gift of sound. The festival benefits The Center for Hearing and Speech, for which it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. LINN Energy is this year’s festival sponsor. 

Several other Spring Woods High student artists are expected to join Kira and her teacher, Crystal Fiocchi, at the downtown festival. Several Spring Woods High teachers and students have been featured in recent years at this festival.

This year’s event will include several new features:  Tromp I’oeil, a 3-D chalk art section; strolling performers; and an exclusive Mood Lounge.

Returning popular features include Via Bambini, a street chalk section for kids; IKEA Scavenger Hunt; live music on three stages; a Family Zone; and food and drink vendors.


For details on Houston Via Colori, please visit www.HoustonViaColori.com.


Veterans Day at Spring Forest Middle School


The 14th annual Veterans Day Celebration at Spring Forest Middle School will be observed on Tuesday, November 11. Since its founding, this west Houston public celebration of military veterans and their families has grown into one of the city’s top gatherings of veterans and students. Spring Forest Middle School is located at 14240 Memorial.

This year’s Veterans Day Celebration is expected to attract about 125 veterans and family members for a morning breakfast and school-wide ceremony. The breakfast will begin at 8 a.m. It will be followed by a 9 a.m. patriotic assembly. The keynote speaker will be Retired U.S. Army Col. Ed Dyer, who served from 1964 until 1996 and was awarded two Purple Hearts. Col. Dyer’s many assignments include deputy for policy analysis on the staff of Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney, 1989 to 1992. Texas Rep. Jim Murphy, District 133, and other area dignitaries will also attend.

The patriotic assembly will feature performing groups ranging from student choir, orchestra, concert and symphonic bands, to theater students. Emcees are officers with the Spring Forest Middle School National Jr. Honor Society and the Student Council. SBISD’s Naval Jr. ROTC will present the colors at the assembly.

Col. Dyer of Katy is a native of Waco. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University and a master’s degree from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. His awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, five Meritorious Service Medals, three Army Commendation Medals and two Purple Heart medals. He ended his military career as the Executive Officer to the Commanding General at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio.

As part of the Veterans Day Celebration, Spring Forest Middle students will collect funds for the local nonprofit group Operation Interdependence through an effort called “Postage for Patriots.” The nonprofit group sends care packages to military worldwide. All funds collected will help with mailing costs of the care packages.

Heritage Texas Properties and the school PTA are sponsors for the Spring Forest Middle School Veterans Day Celebration. All veterans and family are invited to the event. To RSVP, call Eighth-Grade Counselor Jana Gwinn at 713-251-4618.