At Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we know that joint pain affects every part of your life. With treatment plans customized for you, our specialists offer a full range of advanced nonsurgical and surgical techniques. Our expert joint care includes:
• Innovative pain control methods
• Physical therapy to improve mobility and range of motion
• The latest technology, including minimally invasive surgical techniques that help reduce recovery time
an appointment: houstonmethodist.org/jointpain
April 2023
ON THE COVER
The saying is “April showers bring May flowers,” and as the spring sun shines brightly on our little corner of Houston, I’m hopeful that there will be enough rain to wash away the pollen and water our flora. April is a busy month — it’s tax season (yuck), crawfish season (yum), April Fool’s Day, Easter, and our SBISD students and administrators are winning awards and having garage sales and wrapping up theater season left and right. This month, we’re featuring a local interior designer who is passionate about helping her clients design their dream spaces — perfect if you’re looking for a spring refresh of your home. We also have Easter basket filler tips, where to get crawfish, and a round-up of summer day camp options in the Houston area. Happy spring!
Email: springbranchplus@gmail.com
Phone: 713.828.4604
AYour Neighborhood iNterior desigNers
By Judy Buchanan
pril is National Interior Design/Decorating Month. What a great time to get to know exactly what this field is all about. The key differences between designers and decorators are purpose and education. To call yourself an interior designer in the state of Texas, it is necessary to have a degree and many years of experience. A license to practice is also required. To become licensed one must pass the National Council for Interior Design Qualification exam and take continuing education classes every year. With this education and experience a designer can work with architects and contractors to create a new space or redo an existing one. A decorator does not need any of these qualifications because they are only dealing with the aesthetics of a space. Most interior designers are also decorators, working past the construction to furnish and complete each room. It is a process of evaluating and following a systematic methodology to complete a project. Talent, communication, and creativity play an important role.
I have been a designer for almost 40 years. I started working in high school at the only interior design firm in my hometown, and fell in love with the process of helping people enjoy their homes more fully. I received a degree and worked in various jobs in the interior design field. I have helped build new homes from the ground up and I’ve been involved in many remodels. I have changed layouts of homes to function better and have sketched many cabinet designs. Immersing myself into a home is the beginning of creating a dream home. It is individual for each family. It is so interesting getting to know each new family and listen to their plans and then help make those ideas come to reality. My favorite part is seeing the look on my clients’ faces as they see the project completed.
It is far more than picking out the perfect countertop or putting pretty fabrics together. It is a process of listening and hearing the needs and wants. It is a labor of love coordinating all of the tradespeople, placing orders, and scheduling it all to come together.
Fifteen years ago I created Kaleidoscope Studio of Interior Design. I took all of the best things I had learned from the people I had worked with and built a company based on providing clients with a great experience, excellent quality, and a good value. I have had the pleasure of working with so many families and making a difference in their homes and lives. I have trained many designers over the years and enjoy seeing them grow and become successful. Every project has been an unforgettable experience. The greatest feeling is to see the difference a welldesigned home can truly change the way people live in their homes. People have a tendency to entertain more when they are pleased with the way their home looks and flows.
The process of creating a well-functioning home is more complicated than most people realize. Each project requires different skills. Most clients have worked with an architect to design their new home. Before things are finalized and sent to an engineer is the perfect time to consult with an interior designer. We will notice things that might have been overlooked.
It is important to look at the flow of the house and make sure it will function as intended. I am conscientious not to suggest any ideas that would change the basic layout or expand the footprint. However, making a few changes to door placement, shortening a hallway, or flipping the way a bathroom is laid out can make a huge difference. Changing a few lines on the blueprint at this stage is much easier than changing things after the construction begins. Remodeling is very different. An interior designer can help put ideas together to make an existing home flow and function better.
At the beginning of every project I am constantly envisioning the finished product. I imagine each family living in their home once it is complete. Whether it is the entire house or just a room, the same process is used. Personalizing everything to each family’s taste and desires.
Being an interior designer is truly the most rewarding career. Working with people to create their dream home is very fulfilling and makes all of the work worth it when you see that smile! Give us a call and let us help you create your dream home.
While many parents see Easter as a sort of second Christmas as far as gifts go, I take the opposite tack and keep it simple, sticking with useful and/or consumable gifts as opposed to those that create more clutter (such as toys, stuffed animals, bunny-themed trinkets, or other dust collectors). Granted, my daughter is 15 and I don’t feel the pressure to go overboard, but my take on filling her Easter basket has always been including just a few small things that suit her interests, even when she was a wee tyke. That being said, here are some fun ideas that can easily be adapted for each age group — and no, I’m not suggesting that you put everything on this list in your children’s baskets. Pick and choose a few of your faves and keep the expectations low for the gift-giving aspect of this holiday. (If you’re wondering, I’ll be putting some candy, a gift card to her favorite boba tea place, and some cash in her Easter basket.)
• For the kid with a sweet tooth: chocolate or candy (chocolate bunnies, Reese’s eggs, fruit snacks, or my personal favorite, Cadbury creme eggs)
• For those who are a bit “salty”: individual bags of chips, popcorn, pistachios, crackers
• For the kid who can’t wait to hit the beach this summer: goggles, a beach towel, sunglasses, sunscreen, diving rings, a sun hat
• For the teen who loves eating out: a gift card to Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, a boba tea shop
• For the Scrooge McDuck in the family: a golden egg with cash
• For the über-competitive: a fun, simple game that the whole family can play together (Bananagrams, Uno, Old Maid, Exploding Kittens)
• For the tween who loves to indulge: self-care items (body spray, face masks, travel-size lotion, chapstick, small candle)
• For the burgeoning artist or daydreamer: a notebook and a new pen
• For the bookworm: a favorite book from a series
The Nation’s First 3D Printed House Lands in Spring Branch
By Liz Clearman/ Press release from building partners
If you’ve ever watched a 3D printer at work, it’s pretty amazing technology. My daughter used to have a 3D printing pen where she could design whatever she wanted just by pushing a button that forced out a thin, plastic thread (this process is called called filament deposition modeling or FDM, where the plastic is melted and then hardens into whatever shape it’s “printed” into). You might have even seen some of the bigger 3D printers in various SBISD schools, and heard about human body parts — yes, ears, kidneys, livers, blood vessels, skin, and bones — produced by medical professionals and scientists using special 3D bioprinters. The possibilities are endless, and the proof is in our backyard.
Printing began back in September 2022 in Spring Branch on the country’s first-ever multistory 3D printed structure. This two-years-inthe-making project is a major collaboration by HANNAH, an experimental design and research studio working across scales from furniture to urbanism; PERI 3D Construction, a firm that aims to revolutionize construction with 3D printing technology; CIVE, an upscale design-build firm specializing in top-down building processes driven by value engineering; architectural designers and assistant professors from the College of Architecture, Art, and Planning at Cornell University; and other building industry partners.
Quikrete, the largest manufacturer of packaged concrete in the United States, was selected for their new generation of specially formulated 3D printable concrete, while Huntsman Building Solutions’ research and development team brings their closed-cell foam insulation system to the house. The hybridized construction uses Simpson Strong-Tie’s anchoring systems for both the 3D-printed elements and wood connections, and Toshiba Carrier’s state-of-the-art Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology is the basis for an efficient HVAC system that can translate to larger-scale housing and multifamily construction.
“For the design of the project, we developed a hybrid construction approach that couples innovations in concrete 3D printing with traditional wood framing techniques to create a building system that is structurally efficient, easily replicable, and materially responsive,” said Leslie Lok and Sasa Zivkovic of HANNAH. “The project also highlights the exciting design potential of mass-customized architectural components to meet homeowners’ needs and to simplify building system integration. These design efforts aim to increase the impact, applicability, sustainability, and cost efficiency of 3D printing for future residential and multi-family buildings in the U.S.”
The entire design of the house, which is a series of printed cores that contain functional spaces and stairs, is a scalable design and construction process approved for both multifamily housing and mixed-use construction using the COBOD BOD2 gantry printer. With a new hybrid approach that will help revolutionize the future of housing, the 4000-square-foot structure will showcase the possibilities of 3D printing technology, mass customization, and design solutions that also integrate conventional construction methods such as wood framing combined with concrete 3D printing. “We are incredibly proud to not only showcase the possibilities of the BOD2 3D construction printer but also our extensive know-how in planning, engineering, and printing on this project, which is the seventh and largest one we printed so far,” said Fabian MeyreBroetz, CEO of PERI 3D Construction. “We are convinced that it will set new standards from a design as well as printing execution perspective and underlines our role as the forerunner for this new construction technique.”
“Having the opportunity to be the engineers and general contractor for the first multistory 3D printed structure in the U.S. has been an honor,” said Hachem Domloj, CIVE president. “We can see how this technology and our team’s approach is providing the scalability to larger commercial developments. Collectively, we’re changing the way our country builds, and paving the way for more affordable housing, higher structural integrity, and faster building capabilities. The possibilities of 3D printing are endless!”
You can read more about each firm on their respective websites: hannah-office.org, peri3dconstruction.com/en, and cive.com.
Photo credit: Anthony Vu
SBEF Sporting Clay Tournament is a Win for Spring Branch ISD
SBEF Press Release
Fifty teams gathered on a beautiful February morning to participate in the Spring Branch Education Foundation Sporting Clay Tournament, co-chaired by Doug Goodson and Rob Stewart. The event broke records again this year, raising more than $75,000 to be used for grants to support innovative Spring Branch ISD campus and district programs.
Chair Doug Goodson was amazed by this year’s event. “Every year, the SBEF Sporting Clay Tournament gets better. We are continually impressed by the way this community comes together to meet a need, and we do so with enthusiasm and passion. This year, the SBEF Sporting Clay Tournament participants showed their dedication to the staff and students of Spring Branch ISD and through their generosity in supporting this event, we will be able to offer district- and campuslevel grants to fund innovative projects expanding the educational experiences of every child in SBISD.”
Since 1993, Spring Branch Education Foundation has worked alongside Spring Branch ISD to support both students and educators. SBEF partners with Spring Branch ISD and the community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare our students for the future. For the last seven years, SBEF has given more than $1 million to Spring Branch ISD annually. In 2022, SBEF also funded every SBISD teacher grant request, provided school supplies for each economically disadvantaged student at every SBISD Title I and non-Title I pre-kindergarten, elementary, and middle schools, and awarded $209,000 in scholarships to graduating SBISD seniors.
The Orange Show’s 36th Annual Houston Art Car Festival & Parade Takes Over the City
April 6-16
Release
The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art — one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the country dedicated to the preservation, documentation and exhibition of visionary and outsider art — announced the lineup for The Orange Show’s 36th Annual Houston Art Car Festival & Parade presented by Team Gillman. Following a record year in 2022, the oldest and largest celebration of art cars in the world will take over the city of Houston from April 6th–16th — with the big parade being held on Saturday, April 15th — showcasing more than 250 mobile masterpieces from across the country, including nearly 100 new, never-been-seen creations, while engaging the public with over 10 days of opportunities to express their personal artistic vision.
Team Gillman, one of Houston’s most established auto retailers, will continue its presenting sponsorship of The Orange Show’s Houston Art Car Festival & Parade into 2023, providing invaluable support needed for the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art to continue giving the city the beloved annual event while also helping to support the organization’s ongoing arts education and outreach designed to spark creativity in young minds across the region. “Since we were founded in 1938, the Team Gillman family has loved supporting and being a champion for Houston’s creative communities. Through our continued partnership with the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art and The Houston Art Car Festival & Parade, we look forward to many more years of celebrating the hard work and dedication to personal artistic vision that is showcased during this iconic event,” said Team Gillman Owner/CEO Chris Gillman.
Admission to the parade is free. For more information, check out thehoustonartcarparade.com.
Press
(Top to Bottom) Warren Matthews, Warren Miller, Nelson Thompson, and Eddie Romeo
Low Tide Sweeps Rodeo’s Best Bites
Top Appetizer Spot
By Liz Clearman
They entered, they competed … and they won! Spring Branch’s very own Low Tide Kitchen & Bar participated in the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s Uncorked! Roundup and Best Bites competition on February 19th, entering their ceviche in the Trailblazing Starter Competition. Impressing the judges with the dish’s fresh white fish, cucumber, onion, cilantro, citrus, and tomato served over crispy corn tortillas, owner Alli Jarrett and her team dominated the category and took home the coveted Trailblazing Starter Grand Champion winner’s buckle.
Stop in and dive into Low Tide’s ceviche, among other delicious low country fare, at 2030A Bingle Road, and congratulate Alli and her amazing staff on their victory!
1 April Fool’s Day
Stratford High School’s Big Day of Community Service @ various locations
Just Between Friends consignment sale @ Splat Zone, 8 am
Egg-stravaganza egg hunt @ Duncan Family YMCA, 1 pm
American Shuffleboard Tournament & Queen of Hearts Drawing @ VFW Post 8790, 2 pm
Queen of Hearts Game @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
3 CityCentre Running Club @ lululemon, 6 pm
4 Parent U: Keeping Your Child Safe in the Online World (K-12) on Zoom, 6 pm
6 Yoga for Beginners @ VFW Post 8790, 5 pm
Spring Branch Super Neighborhood Central meeting @ 1560 Foley St., 6:30 pm
May 20th: Woodlawn Funeral Home’s Park Revitalization Day @ 1101 Antoine Drive, 10 am
Memorial High School Garage Sale is Back This Year!
Press Release
Acommunity favorite is back again. The Memorial High School Garage Sale is returning to offer everything from designer clothing and accessories to housewares to seasonal décor and much more. Shop the treasures as Memorial-area families donate items to benefit the MHS Class of 2025.
This year’s garage sale is chaired by MHS Class of 2025 parents Berklee Baay, Kimberly Davis, Suzanne Farrow, Trish Kyle, Shelly Newton, Kathryn Van Wie, and Laynie Vandor. Due to a generous donation of a space by Prologis, the Memorial High School Garage Sale will be held at 1297 N. Post Oak Rd.
If you have items to donate, volunteers will be available at 1297 N. Post Oak Rd. on March 19 (2 pm – 5 pm), March 22 (10 am – 1 pm), March 25 (10 am – 1 pm), April 1 (10 am – 1 pm) and April 12 (10 am – 1 pm). We cannot accept items in poor condition or with missing parts.
The garage sale will open the doors to early bird shoppers for Preview Night on Thursday, April 20 from 5 pm to 8 pm for a $20 cash donation, or free with an SBISD employee ID. The final two sale days are Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22 from 10 am to 3 pm. This year’s sales categories include men’s, women’s and tween/children’s clothing and accessories, shoes, designer clothing and accessories, luggage and bags, furniture, lighting, home goods, linens, art, books, toys, sporting goods, bicycles and riding toys, and outdoor and seasonal items. Shop early for the best selection!
All garage sale proceeds will benefit the MHS Class of 2025 to fully fund prom so every student can attend in their senior year. Taxdeductible underwriting and sponsorship opportunities are available through the Spring Branch Education Foundation at sbef.ejoinme.org/ mhs2025.
If you have questions about the garage sale, please contact MemorialHighSchoolGarageSale@gmail.com.
(back row, left to right) Andrew Baay, Will Van Wie, Ryan Newton, Tommy Vandor, Jack Kyle (front row) Alden Farrow
The Good: Crawfish Season
By Liz Clearman
WAY MORE F u N THAN TA x ES, CRAWFISH , CRAYFISH , AND M u DBu GS — WHATEVER YO u CALL THEM — ARE IN SEASON , AND H O u STONIANS TAKE THEIR CRAWFISHEATING VERY SERIO u SLY. T HERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF RESTAu RANTS ARO u ND THE CITY THAT OFFER THE POP u LAR MINI - LOBSTER - LOOKING CR u STACEANS D u RING THIS TIME OF YEAR ( THE SEASON TYPICALLY R u NS FROM ABO u T F EBR uARY OR M ARCH u NTIL M AY AND SOMETIMES INTO Ju NE ), SO LET ’ S E x PLORE WHAT DELICIO u S CAJ u N FARE AWAITS u S IN AND ARO u ND THE S PRING B RANCH / M EMORIAL AREA — AND A LITTLE BEYOND
88 Boiling located at 1910 Wilcrest Drive (a bit outside of Spring Branch in 77042), open Tuesday-Sunday 12 – 10pm
BB’s Tex orleans located at 1275 Eldridge Parkway (in 77077), open seven days a week from 11am – 10pm
Bayou seafood & Wings located at 10123 Hammerly Blvd., open seven days a week 11am – 9pm
CraB ave. located at 9435 Kempwood Drive, open Monday-Friday 11am – 10pm, Saturday-Sunday 12 – 10pm
la CraWfish
located at 1005 Blalock Road inside 99 Ranch, open Monday-Thursday and Sunday 10 am-9 pm, Friday-Saturday 10am – 10pm
loW Tide KiTChen & Bar located at 2030A Bingle Road, open Monday-Thursday 11am – 9 pm, Friday 11am – 10pm, Saturday 9am – 10 pm, Sunday 9am – 9pm
PaPPadeaux
located at 10499 Katy Freeway, open Sunday-Thursday 11am – 9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am – 10 pm
The Bad (and the Ugly): Tax Season
I T ’ S EVERYONE ’ S FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR — TA x PREP ! (I HOPE THE SARCASM DRIPPING FROM MY WORDS IS EVIDENT.) W HILE SERVICES LIKE TA xS LAYER , Tu RBOTA x, AND H&R B LOCK ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE ONLINE , IF YO u’ RE u NFAMILIAR WITH FILING TA x ES, HAVEN ’ T DONE IT ON YO u R OWN BEFORE , OR J u ST GET OVERWHELMED WITH THE WHOLE PROCESS, OR IF YO u’ RE LOW- INCOME OR u NDER - RESO u RCED, THERE ARE SOME GREAT OPTIONS THAT WILL G u IDE YO u THRO u GH THE HOW- TOS AND MAKE S u RE YO u GET EVERYTHING IN ORDER SO THAT BY THE TIME A PRIL 18 TH ROLLS ARO u ND, YO u CAN S u BMIT YO u R TA x ES WORRY- FREE
BakerRipley Neighborhood Tax Centers offer free tax prep at 12 locations around Houston for families and individuals earning up to $58,000. In Spring Branch, they will be at Memorial Assistance Ministries (1625 Blalock Road) from January 17th-April 18th and are open Monday-Friday 1-7 pm, Saturday 9 am-3 pm, and Sunday 12-5 pm. They are closed on April 9th. Find out more at bakerripley.org/services/baker-ripley-taxcenter.
Through AARP’s Tax Aide program, you can choose between several different options from having an IRS-certified volunteer review your taxes with you to a
drop-off visit to a totally online experience. This service is geared toward those over 50 or who are low- to moderate-income, and lasts from February 1st to April 18th. The closest locations in Spring Branch are the Hillendahl Neighborhood Library, the Trini Mendenhall Community Center, and the Kendall Neighborhood Library. Check taxaide.aarpfoundation.org/#about for more information and to locate the site nearest to you, as well as to read more about the choices available to you from AARP.
While not as involved as BakerRipley and AARP — you’ll be filing online and with no in-person guidance — the IRS offers free tax
By Liz Clearman
prep through their Free File program online, where you’ll see if you qualify for the service. If you have an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $73,000 per year, you should be eligible to use one of their partner sites (such as TaxSlayer and TurboTax) to prepare your taxes for free. Go here for more information: irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxesfor-free. In addition, the IRS provides a list of other no-cost tax prep options sorted by zip code and distance here: irs.treasury.gov/ freetaxprep.
Register Now for Summer Camps!
By Liz Clearman
I T FEELS LIKE I J u ST WROTE AN ARTICLE ABO u T SPRING BREAK CAMPS FOR THIS YEAR ( SPOILER ALERT: IT WAS IN F EBR uARY ’ S ISS u E ), AND WHILE A PRIL SEEMS “ EARLY ” TO BE DISC u SSING S u MMER DAY CAMPS, I CAN ASS u RE YO u — AS SOMEONE WHO SPENT YEARS CAREF u LLY CRAFTING S u MMER CAMP SPREADSHEETS FOR MY DAu GHTER AS A F u LL - TIME WORKING PARENT WHO NEEDED F u LLTIME CARE — IT ’ S NOT. I N FACT, MANY CAMPS OPEN u P REGISTRATION AS EARLY AS F EBR uARY OR M ARCH . H O u STON HAS NO SHORTAGE OF S u MMER CAMP OPPORT u NITIES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES, SO I’ VE COMPILED A LIST OF SOME OF THE MANY OPTIONS ARO u ND TOWN . (D ISCLAIMER : A S ALWAYS, S PRING B RANCH P L u S DOES NOT G uARANTEE AVAILABILITY OR ANYTHING ELSE ABO u T ANY PARTIC u LAR CAMP. T HIS LIST IS STRICTLY S u MMER DAY CAMPS AND DOES NOT INCL u DE SLEEPAWAY CAMPS. S EVERAL OF THE CAMPS LISTED DID NOT HAVE 2023 INFORMATION LISTED ON THEIR WEBSITES AS OF THE TIME OF P u BLICATION .)
ANImALS & NATuRE
Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary @ Houston Audubon: houstonaudubon.org/programs/youth/camps/edith-moore.html
Houston Museum of Natural Science: hmns.org/education/summer-camp
iCode Memorial: icodeschool.com/memorial/camps
Language Kids World: languagekids.com/camps
Lavner Education Camp Tech Revolution @Rice University & The Village School: lavnercampsandprograms.com
Little Beakers Katy/Memorial: littlebeakers.com/mini-camps
The Health Museum: thehealthmuseum.org/summer-camps
Space Center Houston: spacecenter.org/education-programs/explorer-camps
Second Annual Spring Branch Color Run Smashes Fundraising Goals
By Liz Clearman
On February 18th, the second annual — and very successful — Spring Branch Color Run left its powdery, colorful mark on the participants as over 300 community members ran, walked, danced, and lobbed cornstarch-laden “color bombs” at their friends and teachers. Rebecca Barbier, Color Run chair and a current Spring Woods High School parent, had the idea for the event last year when she realized that both Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools simply didn’t have the resources to give their seniors the end-of-year sendoff through prom. “I grew up in Spring Branch, my kids go to school in Spring Branch, my husband teaches in Spring Branch. This was all inspired by us saying, hey, we can handle ourselves. We love our community. We want our kids to know that we love them. We want them to do well in school, we want to be there for them. So, what better way to do that than to have an event that celebrates kids?” said Rebecca.
In 2022, the run raised $27,000, giving both northside high schools the opportunity to grant their seniors full-blown proms. This year, due in large part to the efforts of Rebecca and her dedicated team of volunteers through ticket sales, merchandise, and other donations, the Color Run brought in a whopping $32,500. Spring Woods and Northbrook high schools will each receive $10,000, and any remaining money will go toward the small bit of overhead that the run requires while the rest is earmarked through the Spring Branch Education Foundation for future proms. Rebecca is adamant that the kids have skin in the game, and each class is responsible for helping fundraise for the event and for their proms.
The emcee of the event was Juan Gabriel Pareja, who plays Morales in the hit show “The Walking Dead” and is a Northbrook High School alumnus from the class of ‘97. Other notable faces were Houston City Council Member Amy Peck, unofficial mayor of Spring Branch Kyle Pierson, SBISD board of trustees members Chris Gonzalez and Minda Caesar, former state representative candidate Stephanie Morales, state Representative Lacey Hull, and state Representative Mano DeAyala.
Three Spring Branch ISD Educators Selected
as H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards Individual Finalists
SBISd Featured News
As a result of their commitment to educating Every Child, Jennifer Collier, Spring Woods High School (SWHS) principal, Ryan Beeler, SWHS teacher, and Betsy Young, Memorial High School (MHS) teacher were recently named H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards individual finalists. Collier was recognized as a Secondary Principal finalist, Beeler was named a Rising star Secondary Teacher finalist and Young was named a Leadership Secondary Teacher finalist. Each finalist was surprised at their campus with the recognition and received a $1,000 check. “I am honored to receive this recognition from H-E-B as it reflects the incredible work that the staff does at SWHS,” said Collier. “Their relentless efforts to ensure Every Child is successful makes me proud to lead such an incredible community.”
Forty teacher and principal finalists have been announced from schools across Texas. The finalists are invited to compete on a statewide level for larger cash prizes totaling more than $400,000. A panel of judges conducts a personal interview with each finalist to select the winners in each category. Winners will be announced during the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on April 30 in San Antonio, Texas. Each winning principal receives $10,000 for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools. The winning teachers include one elementary and one secondary teacher in each of three categories:
• The Rising Star Award: Winner receives $5,000 for themselves and a $5,000 grant for their schools.
• The Leadership Award: Winner receives $10,000 for themselves and a $10,000 grant for their schools.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award: Winner receives $25,000 for themselves and a $25,000 grant for their schools.
“I am so appreciative that H-E-B seeks to support educators and students throughout Texas, and this award is truly an honor because I know how many great and worthy teachers I am among,” said Young. “As an English teacher, my goal is always to meet students where they are and take them as far as they can go in reading, writing, and critical thinking. Receiving this award from H-E-B is just a little extra motivation to go the extra mile for them.”
Each year, teachers, principals, districts, early childhood facilities and school boards are nominated by community members. Each nominee is sent an invitation to complete an application online and is asked about their professional experiences, educational philosophies and achievements both in and out of the classroom. A team of judges reviews the applications, narrowing the field to semi-finalists. From that pool, five regional judging panels select 40 teacher and principal finalists. “I am extremely grateful to be recognized for this award,” said Beeler. “It means so much for someone to take the time to nominate me and encourages me to work even harder for my students every day.”
Spring Branch ISD was also selected as a 2023 Large District Finalist for the H-E-B Excellence in Education Award. The winning large district will also be announced during the awards ceremony on April 30.
Spring Branch FFA Students Raise More Than $330,000 During Show & Sale
SBISd News
SpRing BRAncH iSD’S FuTuRe FARmeRS oF AmeRicA (FFA) HelD iTS 45TH AnnuAl SHow AnD SAle on FeB. 9-11, wHicH yielDeD moRe THAn $330,000 in Revenue FoR STuDenTS. SponSoReD By THe SpRing BRAncH FFA Alumni ASSociATion, THe THRee-DAy evenT BRingS STuDenTS THe oppoRTuniTy To SHowcASe THeiR woRk To THe communiTy. THe FFA STuDenTS ARe pART oF THe SpRing BRAncH iSD’S cAReeR AnD TecHnicAl
eDucATion (cTe) AgRiculTuRe, FooD AnD nATuRAl ReSouRceS pRogRAm, wHeRe THey gAin knowleDge THRougH clASSRoom inSTRucTion, AS well AS By woRking HAnDS-on wiTH AnimAlS
Sarah, a student at Stratford High and an FFA member, mentions that Show & Sale starts months before the event, as it begins when the students receive their animals. “We learn many lessons while raising our animals including responsibility and time management,” said Sarah. “We are rewarded at Show & Sale where we get to show off all our hard work. It’s great to see how excited and proud we all are of what we accomplished.”
The first two days of the event consist of shows and judging and the final day brings the auction. The students are expected to seek out buyers and donations, by applying marketing skills learned in the classroom.
The Show & Sale gives students insight into real-world experiences, strengthening SBISD’s T-2-4 vision where every graduate attains a technical certificate, military training, or a two-year or four-year degree. “We were excited to show our diligent work from the past few months,” said Katie, a student at Westchester Academy for International Studies and FFA member. “Our final show demonstrates our early mornings, late nights, long hours and the several life skills we have learned from this program. It also rewards us with high profits that we can later use for future projects and college funds.”
SPRING BRANCH FFA SHOW AND SALE CHAMPIONS
LIVESTOCk
Broilers (Chickens)
Grand Champion: Catherine Perez, Stratford High; Reserve Champion: Ben Barrett, Stratford High
Goats
Grand Champion: Wilson Swinbank, Memorial High; Reserve Champion: Gabriella Thurow, Stratford High
Heifers
Grand Champion: Christian Cavazos, Stratford High; Reserve Champion: Abby Burkhart, Memorial High
Lambs
Grand Champion: Gadiel Montero Perez, Northbrook High; Reserve Champion: Ana Correa, Stratford High
Meat Pen Rabbits
Grand Champion: Vittoria Ricciardo, Stratford High; Reserve Champion: Sebastian Gonzalez, KIPP Courage – Landrum Middle
Steers
Grand Champion: Savannah Cornelio, Memorial High; Reserve Champion: Brayden Jones, Stratford High
Swine
Grand Champion: Emily Valicek, Memorial High; Reserve Champion: Katie Brackin, Westchester Academy for International Studies
Turkeys
Grand Champion: Katherine Brackin, Westchester Academy for International Studies; Reserve Champion: Elise Bernadac, Westchester Academy for International Studies
NON-LIVESTOCk
Overall High Points: Katie Brackin, Westchester Academy for International Studies
Grand Champion: Christian Cavazos, Stratford High
Reserve Champion: Porter Lippold, Stratford High
Agriculture Mechanics
Grand Champion: Porter Lippold, Stratford High; Reserve Champion: Garrett Green, Memorial High
Creative Arts
Grand Champion: Abby Green, Memorial High; Reserve Champion: Katie Brackin, Westchester Academy for International Studies
Horticulture
Grand Champion: Catherine Perez, Stratford High
Reserve Champion: Olivia Nugent, Stratford High
Photography
Grand Champion: Sophie Bernadac, Westchester Academy for International Studies
Reserve Champion: Elizabeth Ann Ridge, Memorial High
