Parent U Draws Record Turnout

A record crowd of parents, students, teachers and district staff members took part in the annual, half-day, conference-style program that was held recently at Spring Woods High School.

The Sept. 6 Parent U program was promoted with the tag line, “Helping you help your child get ready for, to and through higher education.” SBISD’s singular goal, known as T-2-4, aims to double the number of its graduates who earn either military certification or complete technical certification, a two-year or four-year college degree.

More than 300 pre-registered for the weekend morning programs, and many more walked up to register on the day of the event. The program was led by the SBISD Community Relations and Teaching and Learning Teams, which worked with the district’s educators, partners and higher education professional advisors.

 District and area experts led more than 50 learning sessions in English and Spanish on topics ranging from higher education finances – saving for college, scholarships and financial aid – to using Naviance, the district’s web-based platform for academic, higher education and career planning and applications.

Professional college advisors who partner with SBISD’s Collegiate Challenge program offered insights on everything from writing the perfect college essay and crafting the best college resume to how college admissions offices view the “gap year” in their admissions decisions. A standing room only crowd of parents learned the benefits of and strategies for earning high school credits while still in middle school.

Participant comments included: 

• We are so glad that the district offers this program to prepare parents for the college application process. Great resources and presentation. With the information we learned from the sessions, we already got our eldest son started on the PSAT preparation over the weekend.

• My daughter picked this one and I'm so glad we did. I had no idea how important volunteering was to a college resume and that starting early is so important. My daughter volunteers with a lot of organizations, but we've never kept track of the time. We'll start now thanks to the good advice of the teacher!

• Robert Stevenson’s paying for college tax strategies session was worth more than the price of admission! The packet is great and, as the parent of a middle schooler, I'm glad I have time to plan and work the plan, Martha Meyer and Donna Handlin's House Bill 5 session was very informative. I'm much less confused and can't wait for the rest of the information to be made available.

Based on immediate feedback and parent requests, the district will host a follow-up session, “Parent U – Back By Popular Demand,” through Naviance on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 4:30-6 p.m. inside the Wayne F. Schaper Leadership Center, located at 955 Campbell Road. 

Additional learning opportunities around the FAFSA process and financial aid will be hosted early next spring For more information or to recommend topics for future Parent U events, please contact SBISD Community Relations at partner@springbranchisd.com, or call 713.251.2468.

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Two educators named Texans Stars in the Classroom Winners

Two Spring Branch ISD educators were named new Texans Stars in the Classroom winners on Sept. 9 when Texans Defensive End Tim Jamison and members of First Community Credit Union made surprise visits to two SBISD campuses.

Winning instructors are Javier Martinez, who teaches English and creative writing at Northbrook High School, and Megan Wooten, a kindergarten teacher at Terrace Elementary School. A former student and two parents nominated them. Both attended and had sideline passes for the Sept. 7 Texans-Washington game. Each received a Brian Cushing autographed jersey during campus presentations.

Javier Martinez, English Teacher at Northbrook High School (Pictured: 3rd From Left)

At Northbrook High, Defensive End Jamison told a student group that his own path to a NFL Dream took more than high athletic ability and incredible brawn. “I struggled in high school,” he told students. “I learned in my senior year that I’d need to earn all A’s because I had not done well enough as a freshman.”

A professional football player today needs brains and brawn, he said. Players now must study hours of game films, as well as memorize opposing team strategy and tactics on a weekly basis. “You separate yourself today by how smart you are.

I really need to be smart to outmaneuver and to out think the person standing opposite me,” Jamison said. Northbrook High English teacher Javier Martinez was nominated by senior Kevin Cruz, who was enrolled in Martinez’s English III class last year. Kevin took home a signed football for his winning nomination.

“He brings charisma to class like no one else. He’s unmatched,” Kevin said of his former teacher. “He greets us at the door each day. He’s straight forward. ‘You’ll have work to do here, but I’ll do the work with you.’ He’s more like a friend than traditional teacher,” he added. Martinez, dressed in a suit and tie, was shocked by all the attention.

“We all teach students, and we don’t know what will happen when they walk out the door. This feels good,” he said. At Terrace Elementary, Jamison took time to talk with kindergartners about how important school will be in their lives.

“Listen to your parents and teachers. They want you to do your best, and to be the best that you can be,” he said. Patsy and Leobardo Mendiola nominated Megan Wooten. They are the parents of kindergartener Leo III, who was feeling a little bashful during the presentation.

Ms. Wooten has taught kindergarten, first- and second-grade at Terrace eight years now. Patsy said that Wooten impressed her by mailing postcards to students before classes even began on Aug. 25. “She wrote ‘Welcome to Kindergarten!” and that was so special. Then, at Meet the Teacher, she was so great. She made our son feel at home,” she said.

Megan Wooten, Terrace Elementary School Teacher (Pictured: 2nd Row, 2nd from Left)

“Our teachers need to get credit for what they do. [Ms. Wooten] represents all teachers.” Ms. Wooten figured out quickly what was going on after she was suddenly called out of a lunch to meet school officials near the front office where the presentation was held.

“I was surprised. I was kind of nervous when I heard that my students were all up here and gathered. That’s not a normal for a teacher to hear,” she said.

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Dream big! Achieve big! Mark your calendar for SBISD's Upcoming College Nights - Oct. 7&8

Spring Branch ISD will once again open its doors to representatives from approximately two hundred colleges, universities, technical schools, and military service branches at the annual TACRAO College Nights during the first week of October (7-8).

College Nights will be held at the Spring Woods High School campus from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. each evening.

Downloads: 

Participating Colleges & Universities (.pdf)
Sample College Questionnaire (.pdf)

Stratford High School, Spring Woods High School, and Westchester Academy for International Studies are scheduled to participate on Tuesday, October 7th and Memorial High School, Northbrook High School and Academy of Choice are scheduled to participate on Wednesday, October 8th.

Students are encouraged to review the list of participating institutions and attend on whichever evening that their selected institutions will be available. 

This is the opportunity for all juniors, seniors and their parents to talk to representatives from across the nation. They can review admission requirements, majors available, and financial aid availability as they continue to research options of either technical school, the military, a two year institution or a four year institution (T-2-4). Seniors also have an opportunity to actually meet some of the representatives who are often those reviewing student admission applications.

New this year! 

On October 7th, there will be a section in the fair featuring the T-2 Options offered at Houston Community College campuses throughout Houston. 

Some other additions to this year’s event will include:

• HCC Go Mobile will be open for seniors to register for a PIN number (needed for FAFSA) , complete HCC applications, etc. 
• Section featuring information about financial aid ; and 
• Section featuring information about scholarships. (The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show Scholarship committee and the Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF)will have a table in the gym. 
 • The Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show Scholarship committee will also hold informational sessions throughout both evenings-come and get an early start on scholarship applications! 

Students Can Register Now

We’re making the college fair circuit much more efficient for you. 

You register ONE TIME, RIGHT HERE, and you get a barcode you can take to any of the automated fairs. Put an end to filling out info cards at every table. Instead, spend your time talking with the schools and finding out what YOU want to know.

For more info on how this all works, click here.

Registration is recommended but not required for admission. 

It is quick and easy! 

• GoToCollegeFairs.com 
• Click on Register Now 
• Click on state of Texas on US map
• Scroll down and click on page 2 
• Click on “attending” TACRAO (dates 10/6/2014-10/10/2014)
• Click on Register Now and complete registration
• Submit and print your bar code for use at Spring Branch ISD College Nights on October 7th and/or 8th College Representatives

If your college/university is not listed, please contact Hortencia.vega@springbranchisd.com by September 31^st to include your institution.

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SBISD’s New Teachers inspired to be here

Kari Young chose Spring Branch ISD for her own children. Today, this University of Houston Student Teacher of the Year teaches eighth-grade science at Spring Oaks Middle School. “I chose SBISD both for my children’s education and for my employment because I love that Spring Branch has its own vision of student success which does not rely exclusively on high stakes, standardized tests for validation.

SBISD aims to educate the whole child – physically, socially, emotionally, and, of course, academically,” Kari says. Kari Young joins 322 other new teachers this year in choosing the SBISD classroom as their educational home. Their choice was based on a variety of reasons: education and research, a good work-life balance, and school and community relationships for those who grew up in Spring Branch and Memorial.

Kari grew up in Burleson, Texas, outside Fort Worth, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Rice University. Three children and almost 17 years later, she earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Houston to help her re-enter the workforce as a teacher.

Over the decades, she was drawn to the classroom as a volunteer in the Berkeley Adult School where she taught English as a Second Language and U.S. Citizenship to recent immigrants. She observed classes in Malaysia and in the United States.

A student teacher last year at Spring Oaks Middle and Westwood Elementary, Kari was awarded the UH Student Teacher of the Year recognition. She completed her master’s program in May 2014. Teaching in SBISD, as well as teaching science, are intentional and thoughtful choices on her part. 

On SBISD, she says: “SBISD is on a mission to help each and every student reach his or her full potential by completing some form of higher education. Both the goal, and the methods the district is employing to reach that goal, are strongly supported by the research I studied in graduate school. It is such a pleasure to put all of my hard work in graduate school to immediate use in the classroom.”

On teaching science, she says: “I hope to guide my students to a successful path. I chose to teach science because it seems to me to be the most relevant topic for many students and it encompasses, or at least connects to, all of the other disciplines. The history of the world is the history of scientific discovery and technological advancement, especially in more recent years. Math is the language of science. Scientific knowledge is advanced through the medium of language and communication. The holistic nature of science appeals to students and to me!”

Kari hopes to find time to stay committed to running half marathons and seeing the world. Some of her favorite places in the world include Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Cocoa Island in the Maldives, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, where she has lived. Her energy and sense of adventure are boundless.

She climbs high mountains and volcanoes, swims with dolphins, hikes glaciers, and likes to scuba dive and rock climb. “I hope that my students will get swept up in my enthusiasm for exploring and learning!” she exclaims.

Equally enthusiastic about SBISD is Lauren Roberts, a Memorial native who is a graduate of Frostwood Elementary, Memorial Middle and Memorial High schools. In May, Lauren graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She’s now teaching prekindergarten at Sherwood Elementary School.

She student taught in Lubbock in a Title 1 campus where difficult situations brightened when students in her care made sudden academic connections. Lauren always felt that teaching called to her, but it wasn’t until she was a senior in high school that she was certain. Lauren participated in Future Teachers in high school and was placed at Bunker Hill Elementary.

There, she was supported and influenced by teachers Jenny Lewis and Amy Schendel. “They were two amazing teachers and I wanted to be just like them when I had my own classroom! I still have a close relationship with them and they continue to help me to this very day. I would suggest Future Teachers to every high school student who is interested in going into the education field,” Lauren says. Just for fun, Disney World is a favorite place, and Rockin’ Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror her favorite rides.

On weekends, she likes deer hunting with her dad, riding four-wheel vehicles, and being around a camp fire. Angelica Contreras was born and raised in Laredo, but she moved to Spring Branch as soon as she could. She is teaching seventh-grade math this year at Spring Woods Middle School.

After moving to Houston and then marrying in 2003, Angelica and her husband moved to Spring Branch. Her daughter attended the Lion Lane School for Early Learning and Housman Elementary. 

Angelica went back to school at Lone Star Community College, where she received an associates degree in teaching four years ago. In May, she received the bachelor’s degree in Teaching and Learning, Mathematics 4-8, from the University of Houston.

“When I was required to do my observations for my education courses, I immediately chose SBISD as my first choice because of how welcoming my daughters’ teachers had made me feel. I visited several schools in the district and the more I got to observe, the more I knew I wanted to one day work in SBISD,” Angelica says.

“When I was offered a position at Spring Woods Middle School I was beyond excited. I knew I was home!” Angelica’s mother, a cosmetology instructor, is her inspiration in teaching. Her mom taught a man who is legally blind to cut hair professionally. “I knew I wanted to teach and reach the lives of students when I saw the progression of a legally blind student obtain his cosmetology license. My mother dedicated all of her spare time and effort to teach him the cosmetology trade,” she says.

“She believed in him when others didn’t. She changed his life, and she helped him prove that anything is possible. I knew then that I wanted to do the same, and that I wanted to be a teacher.”

For more inspirational stories about educators in SBISD, visit our I Am SBISD Video Playlist. Go there now >>

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Broadway Star Will Mann visits Memphis, the Musical

Students from Memorial and G.W. Carver Magnet high schools were thrilled on Saturday, Sept. 6, by a surprise visit from Will Mann, who played the role of Bobby on Broadway and in the first national tour of Memphis, the Musical.

 The students from the two high schools in separate school districts collaborated on a rare joint production of the show last weekend. Mr. Mann flew in from New York City for the day to see the show, which is one of the few high school productions ever to be staged with white and African-American students cast in specific roles.

Show co-directors were Roshunda Jones of G.W. Carver Magnet High School and Nicole Morgan of Memorial High School. The Broadway star also met with the students before and after the show.

 “I’m so proud of what you’re doing,” he told the students at Memorial High. When he asked how many of the high school students were interested in pursuing theater as a professional career, many hands went up among the cast and technical crew.

 Mr. Mann advised them, “If you’re going to do it, do it all the way. Commit to it.” He warned that people would tell them they had to have a “backup plan,” but that he had purposely chosen to focus only on singing and acting in college. “If you have no choice but to succeed, then you will,” he told them.

Mann is currently playing Judah in the North American tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

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One goal. One family.

It’s often a small world in Spring Branch ISD. Just ask Shelby Zachary and Will Handlin. The two new Spring Woods High School teachers met years ago as babies: the two were cared for by the same babysitter.

At Spring Woods High this fall, the familiar phrase, “One Family,” has a vivid meaning for a handful of families. Six staff members have genetic ties that bind – mother and daughter, father and son, grandmother and granddaughter.

Like many SBISD campuses, Spring Woods High recruits and retains many of its own. At least 15 Spring Woods High graduates teach at the campus, and as many as 30 faculty and staff have graduated from the district’s high schools. Emma Slattery Knowles now teaches at Spring Woods, her former high school. Lisa Slattery, her mom, teaches business at the school.

It's all in the family for six staff members at Spring Woods High.  From left, Will and Bill
Handlin;  left middle, Emma and Lisa Slattery; and left bottom, Shelby and Belle Zachary.

“As my mom says, it’s a good thing that we like each other!” quips Emma, a Social Studies teacher and a swim coach. Bill Handlin, Will’s dad, has taught mathematics for 31 years at Spring Woods.

An authority in Algebra who has helped write national textbooks, Handlin has a reason for looking forward to the new school year – his son Will’s first year on campus as an Algebra teacher. This all-in-the-family history at Spring Woods runs deep. Will’s godfather was Coach Charlie Maiorana, for whom the campus baseball field was named.

Young Will “grew up” on the Spring Woods High campus and he knew famous baseball player Roger Clemens. Will later pitched for Kentucky’s Murray State University baseball team. Bill Handlin has coached baseball for many years, too. “It will be a thrill for me to teach with William,” he says. “William took his own path into teaching. He always had an affinity for helping others learn, but you never truly know what God’s plans are for a person.” Last year, the father-son Handlin team taught math class together.

“That was truly a dream come true,” Bill says. “SBISD is a great place to teach because it’s one big family,” Will says. A grad of Meadow Wood Elementary and Spring Forest Middle schools, Will served first on campus as an Academic Advisor before joining the math department. His babysitting companion, Shelby Zachary, teaches Special Education students this year.

Her grandmother, Belle Zachary, has worked 25 years for SBISD, many of them as a department support specialist at the high school. Shelby graduated from Katy High School and earned her bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University, but Spring Woods High wasn’t a strange place to her. She’s been visiting Spring Woods High since she was 3 months old. Her father and uncle are Tiger grads, and her dad atteneded with Roger Clemens, too.

“I think that Spring Branch is a great place to teach because ‘they take care of their own.’ I have found so much support here from everyone I have met, and it feels to me like ‘One Family’ here,” she says. Shelby is certified in Social Studies.

“This spurs me on to be the best teacher that I can be. It makes a difference to students when the faculty is so supportive.” Emma and her mom both note that Lisa Slattery first taught at Emma’s elementary school. Lisa was an active middle school volunteer, and then began teaching in the business department while Emma was at Spring Woods High.

The history resulted in a family joke. “It became a running joke in our family, and at Spring Woods, that my mom was also going to follow me to college,” Emma says. “When I started applying for colleges, I even threatened to attend the University of Texas just because I was sure that she wouldn’t follow me there!”

Emma graduated from Texas A&M University in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences-Youth Development. She was certified in Social Studies and also coaching when a position at her old high school opened. “My mom did not go with me to college, but here we are five years later, and now I’ve followed her to Spring Woods!” Emma proclaims, adding that “once my husband and I found out we were moving back to Houston, working in Spring Branch was the only thing I would consider!”

Lisa Slattery couldn’t be happier with the turn of events. “I love that she is working alongside the same coach and teachers that she had when she was here as a student, and I love that – once again – we get to see each other at school every day,” she said.

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Educators from 19 SBISD campuses awarded Mini-Grant stipends

Educators from 19 separate Spring Branch ISD campuses were named winners recently in the 25th annual J. Landon Short Mini-Grant program. In all, winning educators shared more than $16,700 in awards.

The award program is named in memory of founding SBISD Partners in Education Advisory Board member Landon Short. Endowment funding was provided by The Robert & Janice McNair Foundation to launch the program.

The Spring Branch Education Foundation and district partners Nexen and First Community Credit Union provided funding for this year’s program. The competitive awards are designed to support teachers and innovation in SBISD.

More than 60 applications were submitted during this year’s competition. All applications were reviewed in a blind judging process by two or more review panel members. Many community members and SBISD staff served as judges.

Highlights of this year’s competition:

• 19 separate campuses are represented among the Mini-Grant Winners (See chart below)
• 10 winning grants were submitted by teams of teachers
• 16 grants were issued for projects in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
• Nine grants were issued for Literacy related projects
• Three grants were issued in General Education areas
• Two grants fund campus Health & Wellness projects
• Single grants were issued in both the Fine Arts and Career & Technical Education areas

Please join SBISD in congratulating the following teachers:

2014 SBEF J. Landon Short Mini-Grant Winners
Applicant	Co-Applicant(s)	Campus	Project Title
Jacob Barton		Cornerstone Academy	The Hour of Code
Kandi Bartling		Cornerstone Academy	Now You See It!
Maureen Ucles	Jamie Vendetti, Maria Sagredo, and Eduardo de La Paz with Consultation from Karen Justl	Edgewood Elementary	The Digital Literacy Club
Maureen Johnson	Alicia Doffing, Eric Becker	Memorial High School	Hands on Ionic Bonding and IMFs
Kayman McIver	Mark Miller, Anna Helm	Memorial Middle School	Owl Pellets
Allison Kohtz		Memorial Middle School	Breakfast on Mars
John Markert		Northbrook High School	Singing Beyond the High School Classroom!
Sabrina Lay		Nottingham Elementary	Mathematic Super Powers
Annie Mitchell		Nottingham Elementary	Heroes Among Us
Omayra Hernandez		Panda Path	Amazing Insects
Theresa Schwab Trevino	Stacye Foster	Rummel Creek Elementary	Programming and Robotics
Kristian Lenderman		Shadow Oaks Elementary	edMosphere - Using Socio-emotional Information to Improve Teaching and Learning
Assael Guzman	Jasmine Gutierrez, Luis Gonzalez, Linda Savcic	Sherwood Elementary	STEM Lab: A Place Where Curiosity Grows
Melissa Ramirez		Sherwood Elementary	Making Connections to Make Lasting Impressions: Parent/Child Books Clubs at SWE
Andrea Stallworth		Spring Forest Middle School	Middle School Statistics and Infographics
Donna Ward		Spring Forest Middle School	Blended Learning Classroom
Kaitlyn Schwartz		Spring Woods High School	Increased Literacy through Writing
Robin Kohler		Spring Woods High School	Increasing Literacy in Science
Jamie Flint		Spring Woods High School	Visualizing and Talking Chemistry
Shawn Mustain		Spring Woods High School	You can do THAT! with DNA?
Joseph Maurer		Spring Woods Middle School	Graphing Explorations
Suzan Lynch		Stratford High School	Shoot Sports Photos Like a Pro
Betty Franklin		The Guthrie Center	Rolling with Hair Rollers
Greissy Lara		Treasure Forest Elementary	Imagination Comes to Life: Bringing Writing Back
Katie O’Brien	Samantha Winkelman	Westchester Academy	Catapulting Candy
Jim Isleib	Seda Dawson	Westchester Academy	Westchester Pocket Prairie
Ann King		Westchester Academy	100 Mile Challenge
Kristin Thompson	Rachel Rose, Vanya Dimitrova, Jeremy Reese	Westchester Academy	No Child Left Indoors
Hector Gonzalez		Westwood Elementary	Water Rockets Applied Science
Joanne Lim	WWE 5th grade team 14-15	Westwood Elementary	Girls in Engineering
Penne Irvin		Westwood Elementary	Ludic Reading Library
Cathy Roth		Woodview Elementary	Bridging a Generation Gap through Reading: A WVE Parent/Child Book Club

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SBISD students outpace state, national ACT averages

District student average scores on the ACT college-readiness assessments continue to outperform Texas and the nation, according to recent results on this well known college-readiness test.

In addition, Spring Branch ISD students tested increased their performance in four out of five categories against SBISD students tested the previous year. The district had 984 students, a five-year high, take the ACT.

SBISD test takers outperformed their peers and the state average in the following categories: English, Reading, Science, and Composite (all tests). In Mathematics, district students tied the average score of the previous year’s district average, but scored more than 3 points higher than the Texas average. (See the 5-Year Trends chart at the bottom of this posting)

On the ACT Composite, SBISD students averaged 23.8 compared to 20.9 in Texas and 21.0 nationally. (See Chart below) ACT district, state and national highlights:

ACT Subject	SBISD	Texas	National
English	23.0	19.8	20.3
Reading	23.8	21.1	21.3
Mathematics	24.5	21.4	20.9
Science	23.4	21.0	20.8
Composite	23.8	20.9	21.0

Additional highlights of SBISD results for the Class of 2014 include:

·        Five-year Trends Show Increases in Performance and Participation. From 2010 to 2014, Participation by SBISD students has increased from 874 to 984 students, or 12.6 percent, including the highest number of students to take the ACT in a senior class.

·        SBISD Annual Performance Continues to Exceed the State Average. SBISD students continue to exceed state averages by 2.4 to 3.2 points, a significant measure in ACT attainment and measurement.

·        College-Ready Levels Are Well Above the State in All Subject Areas. The percentage of SBISD students performing at or above college-ready levels continues to exceed state rates by 16 to 22 percentage points. College Algebra exceeds state performance by the greatest margin for the sixth year in a row at 22 points higher than the state average (69 percent in SBISD versus 47 percent in Texas. Also 22 points higher than the state average is Biology (58 percent versus 36 percent).

·        College English Composition Is Strongest of Four Subject Areas. In 2014, 76 percent of the SBISD students taking College English Composition performed at or above the college-ready level and 16 percentage points above the state average of 60 percent.

·        College-Ready Rates in Four Areas Are Well Above the State. The rate of SBISD students performing at or above the college-ready level in four areas was 23 percentage points above the state rate (49 percent for SBISD versus 26 percent for Texas).

Five Year Trends – Average ACT Scores *

Total Tested			English		Math		Reading		Science		Composite
Year	SBISD	State	SBISD	State	SBISD	State	SBISD	State	SBISD	State	District	State
2010	874	92,615	23.4	19.7	25.3	21.4	23.8	20.8	23.8	20.9	24.2	20.8
2011	861	101,569	22.9	19.6	24.7	21.5	23.2	20.7	23.0	20.8	23.6	20.8
2012	887	110,180	22.8	19.6	24.9	21.4	23.4	20.8	23.2	20.8	23.7	20.8
2013	939	109,841	22.5	19.8	24.5	21.5	23.4	21.0	22.9	20.9	23.4	20.9
2014	984	116,547	23.0	19.8	24.5	21.4	23.8	21.1	23.4	21.0	23.8	20.9

 *Source: August 20, 2014, ACT College Readiness Letter for Spring Branch ISD

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SBISD Fall Fine Arts Season Offers Events For All

The curtains are rising on another crowd-pleasing season of student theater, fine arts events and group performances. Campus offerings range this fall from choir and orchestra concerts to new musicals and dramas, as well as the annual district marching band show, Bandstravaganza.

The season opens early with Memphis, The Musical!, a high-tempo, joint production between Memorial and G.W. Carver Magnet High School in Aldine ISD. Half of the Memphis cast attends Carver, and half is from Memorial High. With one exception, Memorial students play white actor roles, while the Carver students play roles that require African-American players. In October, Memorial will showcase The Diary of Anne Frank. Northbrook High plans to perform the one-act play, Ducks, early this fall, too.

In October, the highly acclaimed and award-winning Stratford Playhouse will present Chicago, the Musical, and then follow up in November with a three-day public production of Radio Plays. Chicago, so famous for its song-and-dance routines, wowed Broadway and was made into a hit film. Radio Plays is a staged drama involving old-time media.

The Spring Woods Safari Players start their season in October with Neil Simon’s comedy, The Odd Couple, an audience favorite. The Tony Award winning classic features Felix and Oscar, and Florence and Olive for double the laughs. The high school will present The Addams Family early next year. For the first time, a free Nexen Dessert Theater series of Black Box theater performances will be offered this fall, too.

In January 2015, Memorial will present The Drowsy Chaperone. Next spring, Memorial presents The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged and High School Musical. The new year will ring in Stratford High’s main production musical, Bye, Bye, Birdie. Also in planning for the Stratford Playhouse season is The 39 Steps. District fine arts performance listings include:

September 2014

6, Memphis, the Musical!, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

7, Memphis, the Musical!, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.

15, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

18-19, Ducks One-Act Play, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

October 2014

1, SBISD Band Extravaganza, Tully Stadium, 6:45 p.m.

2-4, The Diary of Anne Frank, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.

4, The Diary of Anne Frank, Memorial High Black Box Theatre, 2:30 p.m.

6, Band Fall Concert, Memorial Middle School Auditorium, 4:30 p.m.

7, Fall Short & Sweet Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

7, Stratford High Symphony Concert, Tallowood Baptist Church, 7:30 p.m.

10, Fall Orchestra Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

11, Spring Branch Middle Choir’s Singing with the ‘Stangs, Tully Stadium, 7 p.m.

16, Choir Fall Concert, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

16-19,Chicago, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

19,Chicago, Stratford High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

20, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

21, Choir Fall Concert, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

23, Fall Concert, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

23-25, Chicago,Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

24-25, The Odd Couple, Spring Woods High MiniAuditorium, 7:30 p.m.

25, The Odd Couple, Spring Woods High MiniAuditorium, 2:30 p.m.

25, Chicago,Stratford High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

27, The Odd Couple, Spring Woods High MiniAuditorium, 7:30 p.m.

28, Fall Choir Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

30, Band Concert, Spring Oaks Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

28. Fall Band Concert, Spring Forest Middle Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

30, Fall Concert for Everybody, Stratford High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

November 2014

1, African Safari with SBISD High School Choirs, Symphony’s Jones Hall, 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.

1, The Odd Couple, Spring Woods High MiniAuditorium, 3:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

3, UH School of Music High School Choir Invitational (Stratford High), Moores Opera House, 7 p.m.

4, Stratford High Choir at School Days, Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texas, All-day

7, Murder Mystery Dessert Theatre, Memorial high School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

11, Veterans Day Program, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 9 a.m.

13-15, Fall Theater Play, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

13-15, Radio Plays, Stratford High Black Box, 7:30 p.m.

14, Region 27 Choir Concert, Tallowood Baptist Church, 4 p.m.

17, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

18-22, It’s Showtime! Show Choir Camp/Concert, Memorial High Performing Arts Center, 2 p.m.

December 2014

2, Winter Concert with Combined Memorial-area Choirs, Memorial High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

2, Winter Band Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

3, Winter Choir Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

4, Orchestra Winter Concert, Northbrook High Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

4-6, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

6, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever with Kids Camp, Memorial High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

7, Stratford Choir Annual Wassail Dinner, Norris Conference Center at City Centre, 6 p.m. (fee)

8, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

9, Winter Concert, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

9, Memorial Middle Band Winter Concert, Memorial High Auditorium, 6 p.m.

9. Band Winter Concert, Memorial High School Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

11, Winter Band Concert, Spring Oaks Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

11, Winter Extravaganza, Northbrook High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

12, Orchestra Winter Concert, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

12, Orchestra Christmas Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

15, Band Winter Concert, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

                                                                                                

January 2015

12, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

16, Choir Pop Show, Northbrook High Auditorium, 6 p.m.

29, Fundraiser Dinner & Concert, Memorial Middle Auditorium & Cafeteria, 5:30 p.m.

29-31, The Drowsy Chaperone, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

29-31, Bye, Bye Birdie, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

30, Dinner With the Stars, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. (fee)

30-31, The Addams Family, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

31, The Addams Family, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

31, Bye, Bye Birdie, Stratford Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

February 2015

2, The Addams Family, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

5-7, The Drowsy Chaperone, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

5-7, Bye, Bye Birdie, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

6, Talent Show, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 4 p.m. & 6 p.m.

6-7, The Addams Family, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

7, The Addams Family, Spring Woods High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

7, The Drowsy Chaperone, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 2:30 p.m.

7, Bye, Bye Birdie, Stratford High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

16, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

20, Masterworks Orchestra Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

26, Chamber Music Concert (Camerata Green & Symphony), Stratford High Auditorium, 6 p.m.

March 2015

3, Symphony Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

7, Spring Branch Girls Choir Concert, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 4 p.m.

9, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

10, SBISD High School Choir Festival, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 4-10 p.m.

12, Spring Band Concert, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

25, Concert Band Festival, Memorial High School Auditorium, 4 p.m.

31, Pre-UIL Choir Concert, Northbrook High Auditorium, 6 p.m.

April 2015

9-11, Spartanaires Spring Show, Stratford High School, TBA

9-11, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged, Memorial Black Box Theatre, 7 p.m.

14-15, Spring Play, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

20, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

23-24, High School Musical, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

30, The 39 Steps, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

May 2015

1, Bandoleras Spring Show, Northbrook High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

1-2, The 39 Steps, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

5, Choir Talent Show, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

5, Spring Pop Concert, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

6-9, Musical Theater, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

8, Spring Orchestra Concert, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

8-9, The 39 Steps, Stratford High Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

9, The 39 Steps, Stratford High Auditorium, 2:30 p.m.

11, Spring Band Concert, Spring Forest Middle Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

11, Nexen Dessert Theater, Spring Woods High Black Box Theater, 7 p.m.

12, Band Spring Concert, Memorial Middle Gymnasium, 6:30 p.m.

12. Orchestra Spring Concert, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

12, Spring Concert, Spring Branch Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

12. Band Spring Concert, Memorial High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

14, Band Concert, Spring Oaks Middle School Auditorium, 6 p.m.

14. Band Spring Concert, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

14, Spring Concert, Stratford High School Auditorium, 7 p.m.

14-15, Memorial Choir Pop Show, Memorial High School Performing Arts Center, 7 p.m.

15, Choir Pop Show, Stratford High Auditorium, 7 p.m.

19, Band Spring Concert, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. 

21, Orchestra Spring Concert, Northbrook High School Auditorium, 3:15 p.m.

21, Spring Choir Concert/Pop Show, Spring Forest Middle School Auditorium, 6:30 p.m.

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