Saturday, December 20, 2014

IB DP Students present on Ebola

Juniors and seniors enrolled in International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) sciences at WAIS held a special presentation event at the school to share their work and ideas on the Global Effects of the Ebola Outbreak.

The special public presentation involved groups of students in biology, chemistry and physics working as teams as they brainstormed, and created comprehensive plans focused on team research, exploration and design related to Ebola.

Read the rest of the article on SbisdSnapshots.blogspot.com



Saturday, December 13, 2014

Important: MySBISD.com Accounts going away

Secondary students will no longer have @mysbisd.com accounts, and will instead have @mysbisd.org accounts. This does include a few new features. However, and most importantly, any files, emails, or sites you've created, worked on, or received on your mysbisd.com account will be deleted on December 19th.

You will have to transfer over any work that you want to keep.

Please see the video on YouTube on how to transfer files in Google Drive to the new account. Please see the video on Vimeo on how to transfer a Google Site to the new account.

You may also find the following article from lifehacker useful:
How to Migrate your Entire Google Account to a New One

Friday, December 12, 2014

Students Participate in Hour of Code

More than 20% of WAIS students participated in Hour of Code. Many of those that did, participated in multiple hours as well. Over half of sixth and eighth grade participated, as well as a fair number of high school students in tech/design courses and many in upper level math courses. See our Hour of Code page for examples of just a few of the ways our students participated.

Hour of Code started as a US initiative to increase exposure and awareness of Computer Science, and quickly became a worldwide event, across 180 countries. The demand for computer scientists and programmers is expanding much, much faster than our society creates. This isn't because its hard or because the pay isn't good. Programmers and computer scientists make good pay and have a lot of benefits. The bigger issue is a lack of awareness for students.

Many countries around the world begin teaching computer science in elementary, some at the same time they begin teaching children how to read. At most US schools, students are lucky if they have the option to take a computer science course by the time they get to high school. Only around 10% of high school students nationwide have the option of taking a computer science course, because roughly only 1 in 10 high schools in the US offer Computer Science.

Sure, not every student is going to become a programmer, but not every student is going to become a scientist, writer, historian, or mathematician either. Let your student try an Hour of Code; because they should at least have the opportunity to try programming. Learn more about Hour of Code at Code.org.

Monday, November 24, 2014

West Houston students invited to Nov. 22 leadership summit

Excerpts:
The summit has attracted top Houston-area leaders to participate. Harris County Judge Ed Emmett; Spring Branch Independent School District Superintendent Duncan Klussmann; District 139 State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston; KTRK ABC-13 Reporter Miya Shay; and Harris County Republican Party Chair Paul Simpson, among other leaders in their fields have been invited.

A sampling of the schools participating include Kinkaid, Northbrook, St. Agnes, St. Thomas, Strake Jesuit, The Guthrie CenterWestchester Academy, Westside, Memorial and Stratford.

See the full article on Chron.com

Sunday, August 31, 2014

First SBISD Code Camp

Spring Branch ISD students gathered on July 28 at the Technology Training Center to begin a four-day camp revolving around what many believe to be the language of the future — coding. 

Excerpt: The older group — grades 6-8 — was taught by Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) technology teachers Cheryl and Shaun Wegscheid...

See the full article on SBISD's School Zone

Friday, August 22, 2014

Vietnamese group honors 4 SBISD valedictorians

Four valedictorians from Spring Branch Independent School District high schools were honored recently during theVietnamese-American Youth Excellence Recognition Luncheon held Aug. 3 at the Kim Son Bellaire Ballroom in southwest Houston.
The Vietnamese Culture and Science Association reports that it honored 28 regional high school valedictorians and salutatorians at the 18th annual event.
Spring Branch ISD student honorees included the following Class of 2014 valedictorians: Alyssa Nguyen and David Pham ofWestchester Academy for International Studies, Bao Tran Ma of Spring Woods...

Thursday, August 21, 2014

WAIS & SHS Leadership take the Ice Bucket Challenge

Jennifer Collier & Chris Juntti and their leadership teams take the Ice Bucket Challenge on the WAIS campus on August 19th. The Ice Bucket Challenge is an effort to bring awareness and increase donations for ALS research. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive degenerative disease that affects neurons in both the brain and spine.

It is believed that roughly 30,000 americans are afflicted with the disease. Causation is linked to genetics in roughly 10% of cases; there is no known cause in the other 90% of cases. ALS has cut short the lives of people all over the world, including famed athletes, actors, musicians, artists, and even a former vice president; as well as wives, husbands, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, cousins, class mates, co workers, and friends.

Since July 29th, the Ice Bucket Challenge brought 700,000 new donors to the ALS Association, raising over $40 Million USD. Jennifer Collier and Chris Junti nominate the leadership teams of Northbrook, Spring Woods, and Memorial High Schools. Chris Junti also nominates the SHS coaches.

Watch the video on YouTube.



International Baccalaureate Diplomas awarded to Westchester Academy for International Studies grads

Printed in the Memorial News of Houston Chronicle

"Eleven recent May graduates of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) have earned the highly esteemed and internationally recognized IB Diploma.

WAIS, an award-winning district charter secondary school in Spring Branch ISD, offers the IB Diploma Programme (DP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the IB Career-related Certificate. The IB Career-related Certificate was authorized in June.
In addition to the IB, both Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) and AP courses are offered at WAIS. The combined middle and high school campus is located at 901 Yorkchester.

To earn the IB Diploma, students devote their junior and senior years to fulfilling program requirements in English, a foreign language, math, science, history or social studies, and fine arts, as well as a Theory of Knowledge course.
Students also write a lengthy research paper and fulfill other class activities, including traditional community service projects.

Two IB Diploma recipients this year earned the Spanish Bilingual Diploma. They are May graduates Yansi Arevalo and Eliza Quintana.

IB Diploma recipient Helen Scott earned the highest score to date among WAIS graduates (38 out of a possible 45 points).

WAIS graduate and IB Diploma recipient Adam Kassir is now the fourth family member in a row to earn the IB Diploma while at Westchester Academy. He will be the fourth in his family to enroll at Rice University, too.

His brother, Elias, graduated from Rice University in May. Elias will soon attend Baylor Medical School. His sister, Iman, a 2011 graduate of WAIS, is studying to be a nurse practitioner.

David Kassir, a 2013 graduate, is a kinesiology major at Rice. Adam is interested in pursuing a major in bioengineering. His mother, Patricia Kassir, teaches at the Bendwood School.

IB Diploma graduates at WAIS and known college/university choices and intended majors include:
·       Yansi Arevalo, Texas State University at San Marcos, finance and accounting (Spanish Bilingual Diploma)
·       Emmanuelle Henriet, undecided university in France, international relations and law
·       Connor June, Texas A&M University in College Station, chemical engineering
·       Adam Kassir, Rice University, bioengineering interest
·       Khanhtran (Anna) Levu, University of Houston
·       Rachel Loving, University of Texas at Austin, biomedical interest
·       Alyssa Nguyen, University of Houston, biochemistry
·       David Pham, Rice University, chemical and biomolecular engineering
·       Eliza Quintana, St. Edward’s University in Austin, Spanish Bilingual Diploma
·       Jacob Saenz, St. Edward’s University in Austin
·       Helen Scott, Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas
Valerie Harelson has served as IB Program Coordinator at WAIS for many years. The district charter secondary campus is led by Jennifer Collier."

Read the Article on Chron.com

Monday, July 28, 2014

Ex-MLBer Goes from Pitching Phenom to Connie Mack Coach

An article about a Westchester High School alumni was recently published. The article specifically mentions Westchester High School.

Excerpt:  Forty-two years earlier, he went from pitching for Houston’s Westchester High School (where he averaged more than two strikeouts per inning) to the Texas...

See the full article by Bruce Campbell on EnidNews.com

Thursday, July 24, 2014

SBISD Offers Free Summer Meals for Youths

Excerpt: One of those who eats lunches at Buffalo Creek is Alexus McNeil, 17, who will be a senior this year at Westchester Academy and volunteers at the elementary campus in the summer...

Read the full article by Tom Behrens on Chron.com

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Il Regista Hollwoodiano Wes Anderson atterra a Bernalda

Article only available in Italian. This article aobut director Wes Anderson specifically mentions Wetschester. Anderson attended WHS through 1985, when the school was closed due to declining populations in Houston caused by the Oil Bust in the 1980's. Anderson is a famous film director and screenwriter, frequently working with Bill Murray and Owen Wilson.

Excerpt:
  Nato il 1° Maggio del 1969, il 45enne nasce a Houston, Texas, dove studia prima alla Westchester High School e successivamente...

See Anna Elena Viggiano's article on BasilicataMagazine.it

Friday, June 13, 2014

SBISD Seniors named Jones Scholars

Twelve Spring Branch Independent School District seniors were recently named 2014 Jones Scholars by the Houston Endowment.
The students now qualify for annual scholarships during their college years, according to the district website. They can receive up to $16,000 in scholarship funds toward their bachelor's degrees.
Includes WAIS senior Paola

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Students Paint Murals at AYAM with Artist Daniel Anguilu



High school students from around SBISD, including several WAIS students, are painting murals this summer with Houston artist Daniel Anguilu. The murals will completely redesign the face of Altheretta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM), and add more color and art to the WAIS campus.

Daniel Anguilu, alongside local students and instructors in the Houston area, participated in last year's Open The Door Project, a large scale collaboration with the Texas-French Alliance for the Arts with artists in Houston, France. Anguilu is a former graffiti artist who now paints murals. Anguilu's work can also be seen in varying locations across Europe and North America. Recent work includes an Northeastern University, and local works include the Lawndale Art Center.


Anguilu and students intend to finish the work in a couple weeks. Local press is invited to see the work and progress. The public is invited to come see the finished work.

Contact the AYAM for more information.


Related content and media:

On the north side of Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) a once hidden treasure sits behind a series of brick walls — the Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum (AYAM), believed to be one of the only fine arts museums in the nation affiliated with a public... // Read More... 
Related: Students Paint Murals at AYAM with Artist Daniel Anguilu- 
High school students from around SBISD, including several WAIS students, are painting murals this summer with Houston artist Daniel Anguilu... // Read More...
Related: Mural Brings AYAM Collection Outside- 
The Altharetta Yeargin Art museum is turning itself inside out. The museum has always had something of... // Read More...
Related: Big Mural. Little Museum- 
Anyone who's ventured through Midtown and the Museum District knows the work of muralist Daniel... // Read More...
Related: A Little Museum that Could- 
New mural welcomes visitors to one-of-a-kind museum in a school... // Read More...

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

WAIS Authorized for IBCC, grades 11 & 12

On Wednesday, WAIS teachers and staff received notification of authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Certificate. The IBCC program is an option for students entering 11th grade to combine the high level rigor of IB coursework with career focused courses. In addition to Career and Tech related courses offered on campus, WAIS is also working with SBISD's Guthrie center to increase student options. 

WAIS first group of students to pursue IBCC includes around 20 students entering 11th grade this upcoming fall.

With the authorization to offer IBCC, WAIS now offers three IB programs, making it an IB Continuum School. As of the authorization visit, only two schools in all of Texas are authorized to offer IB MYP, IBCC, and IB DP.

Learn More About IBCC (PDF)

Monday, June 2, 2014

WAIS Graduating Class of 2014

In the past few days, more than 2,000 graduating seniors from Spring Branch ISD have walked across the stage at Don Coleman Coliseum, highlighting with a few steps one of their “life” moments in which years of growth, learning and achievement are capped off by celebration and embracing the future.

For all graduates, their families and the entire Spring Branch ISD community, it has been a Saturday and a Monday evening to remember, one filled with enormous pride and tearful moments of joy! Graduation ceremonies were streamed live on the district website, and images of the day were posted online and through a variety of social media.

In special remarks, Superintendent of Schools Duncan F. Klussmann, Ed.D., told graduates to focus on the journey ahead. He urged them to be a part of the district and community goal to double the number of graduates who complete some form of higher education or technical certification. This district goal is known as T-2-4.

“The success of our school district is not in how well you do while you are with us, but how well you do when you leave us,” he stated. SBISD’s commitment extends past Graduation Day.

Dr. Klussmann told graduates that they will receive a letter from the school district soon asking them to remain in touch, but also providing all graduates with a phone directory for key staff from the district and their high schools to help them directly should issues or questions arise in the weeks or years ahead.
 
Westchester Academy's Graduation was held on the evening of June 2. 
In addition to a variety of scholarships awarded from a variety of schools and organizations, including over $1 million awarded to the 24 seniors in Collegiate Challenge, the Westchester Alumni Association awarded scholarships to multiple seniors of the Class of 2014. 

Graduates from the WAIS class of 2014 received acceptances to schools to a wide range of schools, including, but not limited to, American University, Baylor, Carleton College, Colorado School of Mines, Culinary Institute of America, LSU, Oklahoma State, Rhodes College, Rice, Swarthmore, Texas A&M, Texas State, UT, University of Arkansas, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, & Wesleyan among others. 

Students also received acceptances to schools in central america and europe, such as the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow. Results from Australian schools not yet received due to a different academic calendar.

Congrats WAIS Senior Class of 2014!

Valedictorians & Salutatorians Announced
SBISD's Collegiate Challenge Celebration & Stats

Video of WAIS Class of 2014 Commencement
Photos of WAIS Class of 2014 Commencement

Sunday, May 18, 2014

WAIS mentioned in Chron's OM Article

From: Pupils prep for world 'Odyssey' finals

Excerpt:
Walnut Bend will be joined at the world finals May 28-31 in Ames by four teams from area schools in Spring Branch Independent School District. Those teams come from Spring Woods High School, 
Westchester Academy for International Studies, Spring Oaks Middle School and Cornerstone Academy.

See the full article by Annette Baird on Chron.com

Monday, May 12, 2014

Odyssey of the Mind invites you to Sweet Tomatoes!

Click to Enlarge
Three WAIS Odyssey of the Mind teams competed in the Texas State Tournament on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Spring Woods High School.

The 11th grade team (Mia Alfonso from Memorial High School, Mitchell Benson, Caroline Bik, Josh Diaz, Daniel Garcia, Cassandra Ung and Paige Williams) came in 1st place in Division 3, Problem 4 - the Stackable Structure. The team advanced to the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, held May 28-31 at Iowa State University in Ames, IA. Coaches are Karen Benson and Jill Williams.

The 10th grade team (Adrian Villalobos, Diana Villarreal, Gustavo Rocha, Sara Farrokhi, Sam Farrokhi and Sarah Gualy) came in 4th place in Division 3, Problem 3 - It's How we Rule. Coaches are Elizabeth Villarreal and Farideh Farrokhi.

The 7th grade team (Kaivon Dixon, Dash Jacobs. Madeline Schulman, Meredith Schomburg, Brock Rhebergen, Brian Chung and Ethan Rosenthal) came in 8th place in Division 2, Problem 3 - It's How we Rule. Coaches are Lharissa Jacobs and Amy Schomburg.

We are so proud of these students and the hard work they did to achieve these wonderful results.

The 11th grade team is fundraising to help defray the travel expenses and you can help by joining them on Thursday, May 15th, at Sweet Tomatoes Restaurant, 8775 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77024 (on the southside feeder road of I-10, between Campbell and Voss).

If you bring the attached flyer and buy dinner and a drink, Sweet Tomatoes donates 15% of the proceeds to the team. You get a great meal and support us at the same time.  However, if you forget your flyer, a team representative can give you a replacement. Thanks so much for your consideration and we hope to see you at Sweet Tomatoes on Thursday night.

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Are Pupils Permitted to have this Much Fun on a Project?

WAIS recently mentioned in Chron.com article by Tom Behrens:

Excerpt: In the meantime, other art students and teachers at Spring Branch school district campuses have put finishing touches on their own art cars. Spring Forest Middle School, Westchester Academy for International Studies, Academy of Choice and Memorial High School all have entries.

See: Tom Behren's article on Chron.com

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

ChildrenAtRisk announces top schools

The Children At Risk organization and the Education Resource Group partnered to research and rank the top schools in Houston. The public school rankings included 58 school districts plus charter schools around Houston. The results were announced Monday.
Of the top schools, majority of them are magnet or charter type programs. However, unlike WAIS, most screen and are very selective of which students are allowed to attend. We were still able to make the top 10; ranked at #8.

Monday, April 14, 2014



Volume 30 of the Miacis, the 2012/13 edition of Westchester Academy's annual student publication, was recognized by publisher Balfour Yearbooks. Our publication will be listed for Honorable Recognition in Balfour's 30th edition of the Yearbook Yearbook. Only a bit over 15% of publications are recognized in Balfour's Yearbook Yearbook.

Created by WAIS yearbook students, Nicole Son of the class of 2013 served as editors and planned the creative direction and style of this year's book. The books visual theme focused on elements and layouts inspired by modern magazine design. The cover featured a matte designed by Nicole Son. WAIS faculty Shaun Wegscheid served as yearbook advisor.

In the past three years, this is the second edition of the Miacis to be recognized in Balfour's Yearbook Yearbook.

Monday, March 31, 2014

WAIS included in Niche's Top 38 Schools

Houston is home to two of the largest school districts in the state and dozens of top-notch schools - it's one of the factors bringing families to the area.
Education website Niche.com awards grades to K-12 schools and colleges across the nation, and we took a look at which Houston-area public high schools are the best of the best.

WAIS is the 27th school shown in the listing; on slide 28 (the first slide is generalized and does not include a school).

Monday, March 24, 2014

WAIS takes 2nd in Texas Region for Botball Robotics Competition


Westchester Academy for International Studies (WAIS) earns Texas Regional First Place Seeding, Third Place in Autonomous Robotics Competition, and Second Place Overall which includes competition, presentation, and documentation accumulative scores at Botball Texas Regional Tournament on March 22. 

Team captions are Preston Godinich and Kaivon Dixon. Members are Malcolm Eastman, Adam Fazal, Jonatan Rodriguez, Diego Velazquez, Ozzie Prior and Christwide Oscar. Faculty coaches are Cheryl Wegscheid and Shaun Wegscheid. Since Botball robots are always autonomous the team developed strategies using artificial intelligence with embedded systems. Teams learn to program their robots in using C and C++.


FYI- We lost to teams that had several years’ experience with Botball, as well as having much larger teams if 15 -20 students. Not bad for our first adventure into purely autonomous robots with real coding required!



Link to Botball's 2014 Texas Regional Tournament Results

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Annual Blood Drive

Westchester's Med Club works with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center to organize and host a blood drive each year. This year's blood drive was postponed from its original dates in January due to school cancelations. Through the Med Club's students and sponsor Dr. Laura Sigworth, the WAIS Blood Drive was rescheduled and successfully hosted on March 10th.

This year's blood drive collected 83 units from 55 eligible donors.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Teacher of the Year: Kristin Thompson

Excerpt:  
“My teaching philosophy is simple, yet passionate. I run an organized classroom, based on how the students wish to learn and inquire. Students of mine understand their importance to me and...

See the full article on SBISD's Celebrating Excellence in Education

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

WAIS included in article about Katy ISD trustees’ rejection of two-way immersion secondary program

Excerpts:
Rodriguez said that while she knew the district only committed to TWI through fifth grade, she believed KISD would expand after observing how other districts have done so once their students reach the secondary level.
Next door Spring Branch ISD offers its own dual language program from elementary to high school. SBISD’s program is stationed at three elementary schools and two middle schools. Spring Branch also utilizes a district charter school, Westchester Academy for International Studies, for dual language education at the secondary level. Westchester allows students to complete the program through 12th grade, and did so well before Spring Branch began offering the program at middle schools. SBISD currently plans to expand their program to a traditional high school as well.
Superintendent Alton Frailey, who at one time worked as an assistant superintendent for SBISD, had a heavy hand in the creation of Westchester, leading the committee of parents and teachers who produced the idea of an international school. Frailey told The Rancher that forming Westchester was a means of accommodating students who “weren’t being well served by the district.” He said that such a campus was a possibility for SBISD because the district was completely built out and contained unused classroom space. Westchester, once a traditional high school, was repurposed after the district shut it down in 1985 due to decreasing enrollment. A charter school like Westchester would be an unlikely project for Katy ISD.
“We don’t have a school that’s not full of children already,” Frailey said. “You would have to replace a repurposed building.” Frailey indicated that regardless of what the board decided to do, Katy ISD would need to invest more resources to the district’s bilingual education department.
“This is a fast-growing population of our district, and we’ve gotten by with a skeletal crew,” Frailey said.

Friday, February 14, 2014

WAIS' Paloma June and the Jason Project

WAIS student, Paloma June is featured in a new video from Spring Branch YouTube channel about being an Argonaut with the Jason Project, and why other students should apply. See her video below:


Friday, January 31, 2014

WAIS Student Shares her Voice on School Choice

Maria Cuervo, a senior at Westchester Academy for International Studies, confidently took the stage at the National School Choice...

See the full article on SBISD's School Zone

WAIS Juniors Participate in JA Job Shadow Week

Earlier this month, 138 WAIS 11th graders spent three days gaining exposure to various career paths. From Microsoft to Memorial Hermann...

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