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...

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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...

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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."

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