Tax-Free Weekend on School Supplies is Aug. 7-9

You know it’s Back to School time when Texas announces its annual Tax Holiday on essential school and office supplies. This tax-free weekend begins Friday, Aug. 7, and will run through store closings on Sunday, Aug. 9.

The sales holiday was created as one way to save money on essentials, but there’s a few rules: Items are only tax free if they cost less than $100. Many items, such as student clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks, sell for under $100, and thus are exempt from sales and use taxes during this weekend.

Under the tax holiday exemption, shoppers can save about $8 on every $100 spent.

In Spring Branch ISD, please visit your neighborhood campus website for school supply lists, or call the campus directly. Some stores may have campus lists, too.

Tax-free clothing and supplies include:

Standard School Supplies Items

• Backpacks/Book Bags
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Pens
• Rulers
• Paper
• Notebooks
• Markers/Highlighters
• Binders
• Composition Books
• Folders
• Crayons
• Erasers

Standard Student Clothing Items

• School Uniforms
• Shirts
• Shoes
• Jeans/Pants
• Socks
• Underwear

The tax-free weekend has expanded to include many recreational items. For a full review of the so-called “fine print” on the Sales Tax Holiday, please visit website postings on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts page at this location:
http://comptroller.texas.gov/taxinfo/taxpubs/taxholiday/d/

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Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces New Board Members

Lisa Schwartz, Spring Branch Education Foundation Chair

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) has named new members to its Board of Directors for the 2015-2016 term. SBEF provides a vehicle for donors to make tax-deductible gifts to benefit Spring Branch Independent School District to enhance the education of its 35,000 students.

Lisa Schwartz, co-owner, Balfour Yearbooks, Houston/European office, is the Board’s chair, and J. Carter Breed, owner, REMAX Memorial Town and Country, is secretary/treasurer. Both are completing two-year terms.

New members to the SBEF Board of Directors, serving three-year terms, include: Jennifer Cobb, assistant superintendent for research, Spring ISD; Becky Fenn, aggieTEACH coach, Texas A&M; Sheri Leigh-Gross, community patron; Tamma Howell, community patron; Daniel Irving, pastor, Memorial Drive United Methodist Church; Marc Magness, DDS, orthodontist, Magness Orthodontics; Jeff Majewski, chief operating officer, CBRE Capital Markets; Vincent Montalbano, store manager, Montalbano Lumber, and owner, Montalbano Auction Company; Dr. Scott Muri, superintendent, Spring Branch ISD; Kristi Robishaw, community patron; Warren Sloan, agent owner, Allstate, Sloan Insurance; Laura Stein, development manager, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation; Dmel Tatum, community patron.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated almost $9 million to the district and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

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SBEF Selects Dates for Signature Events

Season begins with annual Style Show

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) has announced dates for its 2015-16 signature events. The season kicks off with an October style show and luncheon and ends with the Bright Stars award event for scholarship winners, as well as Teachers and Principals of the Year.

“Our events continue to grow as our community becomes more familiar with the successful mission of SBEF,” says Debbie Slack, SBEF executive board member and Special Events Committee chair. “All funds raised in our events, are used by the Foundation to fund programs that enhance the education of every student and support every teacher in the district. We have something for everyone – from a fashion show to sporting clay and golf tournaments to the popular Running for the Arts. The most important aspect of all these events is the money that benefits SBISD’s 35,000 students.”

Save the Dates
SBEF’s fundraisers have become not-to-be-missed community events. For more information, call 713-251-2381, like SBEF on Facebook and/or follow @SBEF93 on Twitter and Instragram.

• Friday, October 9, 2015 – Style Show and Luncheon – Co-Chairs: Lara Bell and Patty Busmire
• Saturday, November 21, 2015 – Magical Masquerade Ball – Chairs: Melissa ad Mano DeAyala
• Tuesday, February 16, 2016 – Sporting Clay Tournament – Chair: Kirk Guilanshah
• Sunday, April 3, 2016 – Golf Classic – Co-Chairs: Doug Goodson and Rob Stewart
• Saturday, April 30, 2016 – Running for the Arts
• Thursday, May 19, 2016 – Bright Stars of SBISD – Co-Chairs: Michelle Majewski, Leanne Newton, Casey Rowe

About Spring Branch Education Foundation
Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated almost $9 million to the district and received the Houston Business Promise Award from the Greater Houston Partnership. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

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Area Groups Offer Free/Low Cost Child Immunizations

Several Spring Branch area organizations are offering free or reduced cost immunizations for students up to 18 years old who meet qualifying criteria. (See details below). All Spring Branch ISD students need to be current on all required vaccines to enroll and to continue enrollment. Vaccines protect our youths from numerous preventable diseases.

Under the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) Program, the following groups of children are eligible to receive free vaccines: uninsured or underinsured children (vaccines not covered at 100 percent); children who are covered by CHIP; children who are Native American and/or of Native Alaskan heritage; and children who are on Medicaid.

A child’s parent or a legal guardian must accompany children for vaccinations. The student’s immunization record or a request from a school nurse is also needed.

To learn more details, please visit the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) website located at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize.

Free Childhood Immunizations

• Ninth Annual Back to School Health Fair

Spring Branch Family Development Center
8575 Pitner, Houston TX 77080
Saturday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m. until noon
Phone: 713-996-8781

For this annual event, families must bring their child’s immunization record or a request from a school nurse. Free school supplies will be distributed and adult health screenings conducted. Please visit www.sbfdc.org for details. The annual health fair is made possible through generous and ongoing support by area sponsors.

• Spring Branch Community Health Center

8575 Pitner Road, Houston TX 77080
Aug. 29 9 a.m. until noon
Phone: 713-462-6545
Please call for additional information.

• Spring Woods High School

2045 Gessner (Bus Circle Entrance) Houston, TX 77080
Tuesdays from 4-6:30 p.m. on these dates only: Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10

• St. Thomas Presbyterian Church

14100 Memorial Drive, Houston TX 77079
Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. on these dates only: Aug. 18 and Oct. 20

• Memorial Assistance Ministries

1625 Blalock, Houston TX 77080
Aug. 26, 3-6:30 p.m. only, and Sept. 23 and Oct. 28
Phone: 713-468-4516

Low Cost Vaccines & Child Immunizations

Low cost vaccines/immunizations may be obtained at the following announced locations:

Blalock Medical Center
1304 Blalock, Houston TX 77055
Phone: 713-461-4171.
Hours are 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Vaccine is $10 for child 18 years and younger;
Meningitis vaccine for student 19 years or older is $95

Doctors Clinic Houston/Viviane Nguyen, NP-C
14770 Memorial Drive, Ste. 100, Houston TX 77079 
Phone: 281-496-7333.
Hours are 8:30 a.m. until noon and 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Vaccine is $22 for child 18 years old or younger who is self-pay or on Medicaid.

Please Note: The SBISD Health Services Department strives to provide information that is as accurate as possible, but the department makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the providers listed here above.

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