Some say it takes a village, but at Valley Oaks Elementary
it’s all about community.
The new Valley Oaks Elementary opened with students on Jan.
6 of this year, after spending some 18 months at the East Transition Facility
(the former Edgewood Elementary). Valley Oaks is the 12th elementary
school rebuilt as part of the 2007 bond program.
At the Thursday, Jan. 22, grand opening, with some 150
dignitaries, district officials and members of the Valley Oaks community on
hand, talk was about that Valley Oaks community.
For instance, Hedwig Village Mayor Shannon Whiting, herself
a Valley Oaks parent, said that she could see Hedwig’s City Hall from where she
was standing as she spoke, from the stage of the new cafeteria.
“(The new VOE) is a feather in the cap for our community,”
Whiting said.
Whiting was followed by Spring Valley Mayor Tom Ramsey, who
said that Valley Oaks Elementary was part of Spring Valley, although it’s
technically in the city of Houston.
“Valley Oaks has to be the most important thing in Spring
Valley Village, even though it’s not in Spring Valley Village,” said Ramsey,
adding a little later that he’s looking forward to his own grandchildren going
through the school.
The $597.1 million 2007 bond program originally called for
12 schools to be rebuilt over 10 years, but the program was accelerated early
on – and a 13th school scheduled to be rebuilt – to take advantage
of savings from highly favorable construction costs and interest rates during
the nation’s economic downturn in 2009-10.
Rummel Creek Elementary is scheduled to open in January
2016. Ground is expected to be broken in May for reconstruction of the Spring
Branch Education Center (SBEC) – the former Spring Branch High School – on
Westview, the 2007 bond program’s last major project.
Superintendent Duncan Klussmann recognized the bond
program’s progress during his opening remarks.
“We’re celebrating the 12th school of the
original 12 promised (in the bond program), ahead of schedule and under budget,”
said Klussmann.
Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees President Chris Viera
said that she knew the rebuilt Valley Oaks would be “amazing” from the time she
first saw the design. “I especially love the beautiful cafeteria,” she said,
“letting the outside in with walls of windows; the bright blues & greens
everywhere you look; and the inspirational murals seen around the campus.”
Principal Gary Henry – only the school’s eighth principal in
its nearly 60-year history – called several specific students to stand on stage
with him, later to reveal that all those students were at least second-generation
Valley Oaks Eagles. Henry noted that SBISD Project Manager Kris Drosche, who
worked on the Valley Oaks reconstruction, is himself an alumnus of Valley Oaks.
Henry said that the original parcel at 8390 Westview was
purchased 60 years ago from “Mr. A.L. Hillendahl and Mr. Holdreith for a
staggering $77,000”( Mr. Hillendahl was a “tough negotiator,” he said). Total
cost for the original school, which opened on Sept 10, 1956 with 822 students,
was $367,350.
The new Valley Oaks, with its 117,872 square feet and 800 student
capacity, cost nearly $24 million to build. The new school was built largely on
the former building’s footprint but turned to face Pech Road rather than
Westview, which allows for better traffic flow in the mornings and afternoons.
And the new building has a two-story classroom block, which allows more of the
site to remain green.
District A Council Member Brenda Stardig, a Spring Branch
native and graduate of Spring Branch schools, echoed the community theme: “I
love the Spring Branch community,” she said. “This is what Spring Branch is all
about – community.”
State Rep. Dwayne Bohac, whose District 138 includes Valley
Oaks, presented a Texas flag that has flown over the Capitol in Austin. He
thanked taxpayers, Klussmann, the board of trustees – “leaders with the right
core values,” he said – and the parents and teachers at Valley Oaks.
State Rep. Jim Murphy, represented by District Director Deanna
Harrington, presented Henry a resolution commemorating the day.
Former PTA President Karin Donovan, who served on the new
campus’ design team, praised principal Henry for “valuing everyone’s voice.”
She too stressed the value of the school.
“(Valley Oaks) is the very heart and soul of the community,”
she said. “(It’s a) great place for Eagles to soar and learn.
The Valley Oaks 5th Grade Choir performed their
version of “My Favorite Things,” replacing items favored by Julie Andrews with
“things” from Valley Oaks Elementary, then rounded out the program with the
Valley Oaks school song.
Current PTA President Ann Novero said that she and her
children – Valley Oaks students – watched the new building’s progress over the
last 18 months, from demolition of the former building to site prep, pouring of
concrete, the raising of the steel frame, installation of windows, brick by
brick, “right before our eyes.”
“It’s been a joy watching this building being built,” she
said. “Truly – there’s no place like home.”
Valley Oaks Elementary
8390 Westview
Houston, Texas 77055
Principal: Gary Henry
Architect: PBK Architects
Builder: Durotech Construction
Capacity: About 800 students
Building Size: 117,872 square feet
New Campus Opening: Jan. 6, 2015
Original Campus Opening: Sept. 10, 1956
TEXT FROM PRESENTERS
Chris Viera,
President, SBISD Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, thank you for joining us
for this long anticipated grand opening of Valley Oaks Elementary. I want to thank
- the Valley Oaks community,
- teachers and staff,
- PTA and building committee
- all our amazing students,
- and of course the Spring Branch ISD community for their
continued support of and commitment to the 2007 Bond Program.
Ever since I saw the designs for
this school, I knew it would be an amazing campus.
How amazing for the students,
teachers and staff to learn and work in this beautiful, new, state of the art
facility.
I especially love
- The beautiful cafeteria letting the outside in with walls of windows,
- the bright blues & greens everywhere you look,
- and the inspirational murals seen around the campus.
We have been looking forward to this day for a long
time.
Good afternoon. My name is Gary Henry and I proudly serve as
the principal at Valley Oaks Elementary School.
I would first like to take this opportunity to thank our
school board, taxpayers and community members for approving the bond which made
the new Valley Oaks a reality. Along
with that I would like to thank our superintendent of schools, Dr. Duncan
Klussmann, for his outstanding leadership throughout the building of our new
school. Although he is retiring at the
end of this school year, his legacy lies within the walls of Valley Oaks along
with the other thirteen new school facilities which are within the scope of the
2007 Bond Program. Please join me in
thanking Dr. Klussmann and our school board for their support of our campus.
Sixty years ago, Spring Branch ISD purchased this land from
A.L. Hillendahl and Mr. Holdreith for a staggering $77,000. I understand Mr. Hillendahl was a tough
negotiator throughout the purchasing process.
The total construction of the building, including architect fees and
equipment, was $367,650. Valley Oaks
opened its doors with 24 classrooms on September 10, 1956 with an enrollment of
822 students. Serving those students
were 24 teachers each with their own classroom.
That is roughly 34 students per teacher.
The first principal was Mr. L.R. Tatum, who served for 14 years. Believe it or not, I am only the eighth
principal who has served Valley Oaks over the past 59 years.
You see there is great history at Valley Oaks. The history remains with the people and the
community. I always tell people the
beauty of Valley Oaks lies within the community. The people and the history makes Valley Oaks
special. As you notice, I have some
students with me this afternoon. To my
right, your left, are Carlos, Ryleigh, Andrew, and Allison. These wonderful students not only attend
Valley Oaks themselves, but their parents also attended Valley Oaks.
I spoke to each of their parents about their memories of
Valley Oaks. Carlos’, Ryleigh’s, and
Allison’s mothers all have great memories of the Western Jamboree. In fact, Carlos’ mom told me the Western
Jamboree was her favorite event and looked forward to it every year. She also remembers many of her teachers and
administrators. Both Andrew and Carlos’
parents had Ms. Coffman as their teacher.
Mr. Byrd and Ms. Hardway were their principals. Allison’s mom said that Valley Oaks was the
best school she could have ever think of going to and wanted the same for her
children. Ryleigh’s mom recalls square
dancing during P.E. classes and the Wheel of Fortune at the Western
Jamboree. Her favorite teacher was Ms.
Petrick. She told me that Valley Oaks
has a long history of always putting students first, we have a close-knit
community and, of course, a wonderful PTA.
Throughout its long history, even today, Valley Oaks has
placed a high priority on character and values.
We all know the importance of good character and the power of building
positive relationships. These four
students, Cade, Caroline, Dominic, and Andrea have been chosen by their peers
as finalists for the Valley Oaks Character without Question Award. These four students represent what we hold
dear to Valley Oaks Elementary, positive character. We are lucky to have so many wonderful
students at Valley Oaks.
This morning I spoke to each student and asked them what
makes Valley Oaks so special. Of course
they mentioned the teachers. Dominic
told me at his old school it was difficult to really get to know other students
since they all lived in different parts of town. However, at Valley Oaks with our close knit
community, there are more opportunities to be social outside of school with
other students. Cade told me that Valley
Oaks is not like the school portrayed in “The Diary of a Wimpy Kid” where kids
are running all over the place. He said
kids get along which makes it easy to do the right things. Caroline said that she thinks all schools in
Houston are nice, however Valley Oaks is the best. Andrea and Caroline both agreed that the
students, teachers, and assistants are all very nice and understanding.
I think our former Valley Oaks alumni will agree that what
began 59 years ago as developing ethics and morals in students is better than
ever today.
As you tour the campus this afternoon you will notice
graphics on the walls related to character development and positive
relationships. You will also notice a
subtle Texas theme along with a sports/university theme. As it began 59 years ago, Valley Oaks remains
a very happy place in 2015.
Thank you for joining us this afternoon. I would like to turn the podium over to our
past and current PTA Presidents. Both
who have had an extremely integral part in continuing the long positive
traditions at Valley Oaks.
Karin Donovan, Past
President, Valley Oaks PTA
I am
very honored to be here. I am speaking to you today, as a former Valley Oaks
Elementary parent, a current VOE substitute teacher, and the PTA president
during the time when this building was being designed.
I would
like to read something from this almost 60 year-old book that I found in the
PTA closet in May of 2013 when we were cleaning it out in preparation for the
demolition of our old school building.
“The
organizational meeting of the Valley Oaks Elementary Parent-Teacher Association
was held in the school auditorium on October 8, 1956 at 8 P.M.”
These
are the actual minutes from that very first Valley Oaks Elementary PTA
meeting, which it says was attended by Superintendent Landrum among others. At
that initial meeting, the slate of officers was presented and Mrs. W. E. Little
was elected as the first president, and Mrs. T. H. Rosenstein was elected as the
first historian. I think it is indicative of our community spirit that those
leaders of our inaugural VOE PTA have great-grandchildren at our school right
now, and that Kelli Little and Monica Rosenstein, the wives of their
grandsons, currently serve on this very PTA board! That first year, the VOE PTA
raised $1,537 for items like library books, a PA system, bicycle racks, coffee
urns, a record player and athletic equipment. In reading through these
historical documents, it surprised me how the more things change, the more they
stay the same. The PTA still buys some of these types of items for our school.
I cannot imagine that parents and teachers back in 1956 ever dreamed of a
school this incredible for our children.
Mr.
Henry believed that collaboration was the key to the successful design
of this building. He assembled a Building Task Force, which met beginning in
April of 2012 to help design this amazing school. Gathering parents, teachers,
neighbors and community leaders and allowing them to influence design of this
structure was very brave, but what came out of those meetings is the
feeling that the community was an integral part of this magnificent building.
If you were on that Building Task Force will you please stand? (WAIT) Thank you
all for being a part of this important and collaborative effort.
Mr.
Henry went one step further by assembling a Playground Task Force made
up of a few children from each grade to help design the new playground. Now,
that REALLY was courageous! My son served on that task force, and even
though he and my daughter are now in middle school, he feels more a part of this
beautiful school because Mr. Henry took the time to solicit his input as a
student.
Thank
you, Mr. Henry, for valuing the ideas of our parents, teachers, neighbors,
local leaders and our children; and for spending countless hours making
this new school, truly, a community effort. After reading through all of
the minutes from that very first meeting, it is apparent that Valley Oaks
Elementary is the heart and soul of our community, and this new building is the
perfect place for our future eagles to learn to soar.
I would
like to present this piece of history, which contains 23 years of Valley Oaks
Elementary PTA minutes, to Mr. Henry and Ann Novero, our current PTA president,
for safekeeping; hopefully, for the another 60+ years.
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