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VOL 12 No. 1
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FORT BEND FAIR. BALANCED. INFORMATIVE. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019
P. O.BOX 623, SUGAR LAND, TX 77487-0623
Official newspaper of Fort Bend County & Missouri City
FBISD names Elementary 51 in County Judge selects new Emergency honor of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Management Coordinator During a Board Meeting on Monday, December 17, the Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees voted to name the District’s 51st elementary school Malala Yousafzai Elementary School. The school is named in honor of Malala Yousafzai, an international advocate for education and the youngest person to be named a Nobel Prize laureate. The name was chosen following a process that included submissions from the community. Earlier this fall, the District asked the FBISD community to submit nominations for the new facility, and then established a committee to select the name. More than 100 names were submitted for consideration, and the committee was comprised of District teachers, parents and students, community members,
staff and a Board member. At just 15, Yousafzai survived an attack by the Taliban while traveling home from school, and the next year, she delivered a speech to the United Nations, urging world leaders to make education a priority. Board Policy CW (Local) provides guidelines that govern the naming process, stating that the namesake, living or deceased, should have made a significant contribution to society, and the name should lend prestige and status to an institute of learning. “Fort Bend ISD is proud to name Malala Yousafzai Elementary in honor of a true advocate for education. Our FBISD Profile of a Graduate outlines the skills and attributes graduates should possess upon graduation from our schools. Through her compassion for
others and servant leadership, Yousafzai is an embodiment of these characteristics, which we are trying to instill in our students. We look forward to hearing of the many successes of the school and its students in the future,” said Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools. Malala Yousafzai Elementary is scheduled to open in January of 2020, and FBISD is currently in the process of establishing attendance boundaries for the new school. Lisa Langston, an experienced leader in education in FBISD, will serve as the principal after previously serving in that role at Oyster Creek Elementary. The school is currently under construction in the northwest area of the District, in the Aliana community.
Live music by talented local musicians in the Fort Bend Brass Quintet will be featured at Fort Bend County Libraries’ George Memorial Library on Sunday, January 20, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm, in the Meeting Room of the library. The group will play a variety of musical pieces, from the 1930s to the 1980s, arranged for a brass quintet, from jazz and Dixie to swing and contemporary. Reminisce with old favorites like As Time Goes By or Happy Trails, sway to the mellow sounds of New York, New York, or tap your toes to the Pickles & Peppers Rag, and much more! The quintet features two trumpets, a French horn, a trombone, and a tuba. Between them, the musicians have more than 100 years of combined musical experience, including performing with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra. The performance is free and Fort Bend Brass (L-R): Dan Patterson, Larry Olson, Coleman open to the public. For more Locke, Dave Terrall, Milt Cousins] information, call 281-342-4455.
Fort Bend Brass Quintet
Fort Bend County Judgeelect KP George last week announced that the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse will be the Interim Emergency Management Coordinator at the Office of Emergency Management starting on Jan. 2. George said, “Emergency Management is a top responsibility in which we must constantly strive to innovate and improve. Fire Marshal Flathouse will work to prepare a long-term, forwardthinking vision that strives to improve our communication with the public, coordinate better with partner entities, and build community confidence in an effective emergency management operation.” With this change, Flathouse will begin conducting an analysis to comprehensively evaluate the current situation and map the strategic outlook of the department within the first 100 days of the New
Administration. Mark Flathouse has been Fire Marshal of Fort Bend County since 2013. Flathouse has over twenty years of experience in public service: eight years in the United States Coast Guard with a focus on search and rescue coordination and over twelve years as a Firefighter/ Peace Officer and EMT. His last assignment prior to Fort Bend was in the Victoria Fire Department as the Assistant Fire Marshal. Flathouse holds a Master of Criminal Justice Management and Leadership from Sam Houston State University, a Bachelor of Emergency Management Administration graduating Cum Laude from West Texas A&M, and an Associate of Fire Protection Technology from Austin Community College. Flathouse currently holds the highest honors in emergency training including Fire Service
Chief Executive Officer (FSCEO); Executive Fire Officers (EFO) certification from the National Fire Academy/ FEMA in Maryland and a graduate of Fire Emergency Management (FEMT) from the Bill Blackwood Institute at Sam Houston State. He currently holds Master Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, and Arson Investigator certifications from the State of Texas; Master Peace Officer TCLOSE certification; Hazmat incident Command and maintains all NIMS level training. “I have been deeply appreciative of Jeff Braun’s county government service dating back to 2003. I know that Fire Marshal Mark Flathouse will be an exceptional interim coordinator and Fort Bend County leader moving the department forward to lead the region in Emergency Preparedness and Management,” George said.
SUSTAINABILITY STAR. Cross Creek Ranch was recently awarded a 2018 Sustainability Stars Award for the community’s Polishing Pond. Shown with the award are, from left, Todd Hamilton and Rob Bamford with Cross Creek Ranch; Karena Hauter, BGE, Inc.,; Matt Baumgarten, SWA Group; and Lee Leonard, BGE, Inc. See story on Page 3.
Childhood art education program draws plan for success
Young Rembrandts has etched its name as the leading childhood art enrichment program with the recent opening of a new location that brings its proprietary art education curriculum to more kids in southwest Houston. Locally owned and operated by franchisee Sonja Traxler Nwabuoku, the new Young Rembrandts location serves the greater Houston area, including Richmond, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Rosenberg, Stafford, Fulshear, southwest Houston and parts of Pearland and Katy. This opening builds on the momentum of a sensational national campaign celebrating the brand’s 30th anniversary in 2018, positioning Young Rembrandts to become the recognized leader in art education in greater southwest Houston. “I am passionate about serving my community and building a profitable business that
provides an important service, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Young Rembrandts family while introducing our innovative curriculum to southwest Houston and its suburbs,” said Nwabuoku. “Young Rembrandts allows me to put my business education and skills to work, but for an inspiring cause and curriculum I know will make a big difference for kids in greater Houston. Further, it gives me the opportunity to provide an important skill to children and part-time employment for many in the community as well.” A unique art enrichment program that solely focuses on cognitive development through drawing, Young Rembrandts is based on the belief that when foundational art skills are taught to preschoolers and elementary students, there is a strong correlation between that involvement in the arts and future
Nwabuoku strong academic performance and personal achievement. Nwabuoku brings a love for children’s education and a strong background in corporate finance and marketing to her new Young Rembrandts business. After earning her teaching certificate and volunteering with programs specializing in mentoring children while furthering her
corporate career, Nwabuoku decided Young Rembrandts was the perfect way for her to combine her corporate experience with her passion for providing vital services in her community, and connecting young people with art and learning. “Every time we open a new location, we have the opportunity to showcase the passion and dedication our franchisees bring to the students and communities they serve – I am confident that Sonja will continue this legacy,” said Bette Fetter, founder of Young Brembrandts. “I know that Sonja will make an outstanding new member of the Young Rembrandts family, and her commitment to teaching the children of southwest Houston will make this new location a crucial partner in helping children develop cognitively and discover their inner artist.” The opening in southwest
Houston is part of the brand’s strategic growth initiative, as Young Rembrandts targets 20 to 25 more signed agreements through 2019, in addition to the southwest Houston opening this year. Through its unique methodology that gives kids the confidence to create skilled artwork, Young Rembrandts helps boost cognitive development, hand-eye coordination, spatial learning and critical thinking skills. Unlike many other childhood art enrichment programs, Young Rembrandts provides students with a tangible takeaway project with each lesson. Students are able to learn a new technique and complete an exceptional piece of artwork within a single class period. For more information about Young Rembrandts of southwest Houston or to register for their drawing lessons, visit
www.youngrembrandts.com/ swhouston or contact Sonja Traxler Nwabuoku directly at (832) 935-8512 or at sonja. nwabuoku@youngrembrandts. com. Young Rembrandts is a recognized leader in art education, offering a curriculum focused on teaching children to draw, using demonstration and a structured step-by-step process. Through the process of weekly instruction students are exposed to a wide variety of subject matter, artistic concepts, art history and mastery of their materials. Classes are taught to children ages 3 ½ to 12 years old. Young Rembrandts teaches more than 40,000 students each week in 31 states and four provinces. Through franchising, Young Rembrandts offers individuals the chance to grow their own business while creating a positive impact within the community.