Raspberry Pi Sharing Competition

Westchester is currently hoping to raise funds for Raspberry Pi computers, for use with students during International Investigations Week in January.  Our cause has been selected for Pledgecent's Facebook sharing competition.

Below the picture section on our fundraising page, you will see different buttons that you can click to share your cause. In the Facebook button, you will see a number that will show you how many times your fundraising page has been shared. The goal for this 48 hour competition is to have the highest number next to your Facebook button.

See our Raspberry Pi Funding Effort 

Share it on Facebook to help us reach our goal.

From Wednesday (12/7) to Friday (12/9), the top 3 fundaising pages with the most Facebook shares will win extra money towards their fundraising page.

• 1st place = $300 prize
• 2nd place = $200 prize
• 3rd place = $100 prize

WAIS Alumni in the media

Mariame Aana, WAIS Graduate of 2006, was recently featured in CultureMap's Top Texans under 30, a list comprised of only 26 individuals.

Supervising attorney, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Driven to help immigrants live the life of their dreams, Mariame Aana oversees the St. Frances Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance’s pro bono program and coordinates the program’s outreach efforts. Proficient in French, Spanish, and Arabic, Aana also dabbles in Mandarin, and she has an MBA in addition to her law degree. She uses these skills and her passion for service to help DACA applicants, legal permanent residents seeking citizenship, and others make a life for themselves in the United States.
see the rest of the Top Texans under 30 >> 

Alyssa Nguyen, WAIS Graduate of  014, was recently featured on the University of Houston's Her Campus page.  She co-founded UH's Honors in Community Health organization.

“I helped with much of the foundation of the organization in the beginning, and I continue to help with internal development. The project that I helped lead last year was with the residents at New Hope Housing. This year, my project is with creative care. I will be working on projects that link health and well-being with creative approaches such as art and fitness.”

“These projects have included creating narratives with residents at New Hope Housing, gardening at local gardens such as the NuWaters Co-Op, and creating lead education models and a community voice toolbox that can be utilized by people across the nation. This semester we're also getting a Community Health Worker certification class for some of our students. Many of our students commit to 10 hours of service per week.”
read the rest of the article >>

These two particular graduates were featured in recent media, but many of our students are note worth in their continued hard work to make a difference in our community, or wherever they move to after completing their studies here. The class of 2017, graduating next May, will be the next group to take the next step toward making their mark in the word.

Second Annual WAIS Color Run

The second annual WAIS Color run was held September 9th, during school.  The money raised in the color run will help support our students in their many learning adventures this year at WAIS.  Fun Run, who we are partnering with for this event, will also make a contribution of 3 meals, to people in need within our region, for each class that is able to bring in ~$1.5 per lap per student.

See images from this year's Color Run >>
Photos taken and provided by IB DP student Santiago Moreno.
Photos can be purchased, and proceeds will also help fund student activities at Wais.

Education funding continues to be an issue in Texas. Education funding in Texas is about 30% lower than the US average. Not only this, but education funding in Texas per student is about 10% lower than it was six years ago.

To make matters more complicated, education funding within the state is also not equitable due to the states' recapture practice, commonly referred to as the "Robin Hood" plan. The issue occurs in how districts are categorized as 'wealthy' or not, based on estimated taxable land value, not the actual economics of the area or families they serve.

Spring Branch serves a student body with more than 50% economically disadvantaged. However, Spring Branch is, and for years has been, classified as a wealthy district and has to send back millions of funding each year. Within the next couple years, Spring Branch will have to forfeit about a third of its funding to the state. Houston ISD is also affected by this same policy, and will be sending back more than $150 million, despite about 80% of students being from low-income families.

To see images and more info from last year's color run, 
see last year's coverage of the event.

To learn more about education funding in Texas:
- How is the district funded?
- Article on SBISD financial health (from April 2014)
- Judge rules Robin Hood unconstitutional- again (from August 2014)
- News on State Funding of Education (from May 2016)

German Summer Trip Inspires High School Students

The Spring Branch School Zone published an article on students from WAIS and Stratford taking part in the German American Partnership Program this past summer.

A group of 19 students from Westchester Academy and Stratford High School boarded a plane in June for a four-week exchange adventure in Germany. They were accompanied by German teachers Stanley Stifflemire and Juergen Mueller of Westchester Academy as well as Stratford High School teacher Rachel Crain.

The June 7th trip marked the fifth annual student exchange between SBISD high schools and a partner school, called Gymnasium Ganderkesee, near Bremen. The program began in 2006 when five students from Westchester Academy (WAIS) and Stratford High spent three weeks in the northwestern German city of Ganderkesee.

Read the rest of the article on the SBISD School Zone >>

Think Differently is the message at the SBISD Convocation

Today, all district faculty and staff converged at the Don Coleman Coliseum. Dr. Scott Muri's message was presented loud and clear for the whole district- to think differently, to focus on the learner's journey, and to be willing to take risks for greater educational rewards.

The convocation was divided into a variety of presentations and speakers, including by some of the very students our district serves. Volunteers included WAIS National Honor Society students. Speakers included two Cornerstone Alumni who'll start at WAIS later this month- twins Leila and Nilou Madanizadeh, and Coordinator of Personalization for the Connected Academics Division, Patricia Kassir, who's four children all participated in the IB DP at WAIS and graduated from or are currently attending Rice University.

Patricia Kassir, Coordinator for Personalization at the Connected Academics Division,

who immigrated to the US as a child and is now parent to four SBISD graduates, 

all four participated in the IB DP at WAIS and attend/graduated from Rice University.

WAIS Student, Eduardo Hernandez, works with SBISD staff in recording and running live video of the event.

WAIS NHS Volunteers, sporting their pink 2016 NHS shirts, 

designed by WAIS 2016 Alum and now UH Cougar, Miranda Miller.

Incoming WAIS students, Lelia and Nilou Madanizadeh, with recent KIPP Courage Alum Imani Davenport.

Of course, other groups, students, and presentations were at the convocation. An article on the event is on the SBISD School Zone, Think Differently: Learner's Journey launches at Convocation.

WAIS & SBISD Students @ Houston Prep

Fourth-year SBISD Houston Prep attendees photographed at UHD’s recently held Engineering Day are (left to right front) Nitzarindani Angeles, Northbrook High; Nazlee Khadjeheian, Stratford High; Melissa Vicente, Westchester Academy; and Emily Resendiz, Northbrook High. Standing (rear left to right) are Fahad Iqbal, Westchester Academy; Brissa Gaona, Northbrook High; and Alfredo Aguiluz, Spring Woods High.

SBISD students are eligible to apply for the Houston Prep program, a pre-college mathematics and science summer program Houston at University of Houston Downtown. Students who complete the four year program can earn college credit.

“The goal of the program is to prepare students for higher learning, whether it will be through further education at the University of Houston-Downtown or another university or college. I’m so grateful Spring Branch ISD continues to support our students and teachers who participate in the Houston Prep program, which blends so well with our T-2-4 goal,” Ms. Cureton said.

Nearly 30 of the 70+ SBISD students in the Houston Prep program are from WAIS.

Read the full article on the SBISD School Zone >>

Graduation Ceremony 2016

Friends, families, students, staff, and faculty of Westchester Academy's Class of 2016, with Westchester Academy Alumni representatives and Spring Branch ISD administration and representatives gathered last night at the Don Coleman Coliseum for the ceremony.

Graduating senior, and co-salutitorian, Josh McCune began the introductions to the ceremony. Speakers also included co-salutitorian Daniel Villagomez, WAIS Director Jennifer Collier and Superintendent Scott Muri.

The commencement speech was written and given by Class of 2016 graduate and valedictorian, Termeh Ahi. The ceremony concluded with the Alma Mater, sung by the WAIS Advanced Choir, led by faculty member Lindsey Braden.

About 120 students, the entirety of WAIS's senior class, walked across the stage to accept their diplomas. Over 95% of these students begin their pursuit of a degree from a college or university in the fall. The remaining students are entering the military or are directly entering the workforce.

A live feed of the graduation ceremony aired for those not able to attend in person. Information to order video and photos from the event can be found on the SBISD Graduation 2015 webpage. If the link asks for a username and password, just hit cancel, press back, and try the link again.

Check out additional media below.

See more photos on the SBISD WAIS Graduation SmugMug Album.

See other content about the Class of 2016, and other students, on the WAIS Blog.

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SBEF Awards Scholarships to WAIS Graduates

Earlier this week, article Spring Branch Education Foundation Awards 127 Scholarships was published by the SBISD School Zone. The article lists a multitude of scholarships awarded to seniors around the district, including a respectable portion to the graduating seniors from Westchester Academy.


excerpt:

“These seniors and educators are stand-outs who represent so many bright stars in Spring Branch ISD,” SBEF Executive Director Cece Thompson said. “It’s a privilege to recognize them.”

“The evening is not just another opportunity to award higher education scholarships,” Warren Matthews, SBEF Scholarship Committee chair, said. “We publicly pay tribute to our seniors for their achievements, to the educators who have prepared our honorees for the next stage of their lives and to our community leaders and volunteers for their support and involvement in educating our youth.”

Scholarships presented to WAIS Class of 2016 graduates include:

Employee Campaign Scholarship
Zeynep Dikmen, Clinton Dougher, Marie Drosche, Jon Lim, Joshua McCune, Jesid Post, Emily Ripkowski, Diana Villareal

CITGO STEM Scholarship
Anthony Gonzalez, Kevin Le, Emily Navejar, Daniel Villagomez

Council of PTAs Scholarship
Sara Farrokhi

Spring Branch Education Foundation Scholarship
Sam Farrokhi

Read the full article  on the SBISD School Zone.

Photo by IBDP student Santiago Moreno.

About Spring Branch Education Foundation:Spring Branch Education Foundation is committed to supporting SBISD students and educators. It partners with the district and community to fund programs that enhance education and prepare students for the future. Since 1993, the Foundation has donated more than $9 million to the district. In 2015, dewey & associates ranked SBEF 17th in the nation among K-12 education foundations and number one in its division of foundations with $1 million to $1,999,999 in revenues. SBEF is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax deductible.

WAIS Graduate Spotlight: Nancy

Nancy Uroza is featured in a new article, First to Graduate, First to College for WAIS Senior, on SBISD's School Zone. Nancy is a Bilingual IB Diploma Candidate and is involved in National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society.

( . . . )  

Nancy Uroza will be the first in her family to graduate from high school and the first to go to college. And not only graduate from high school, but to graduate with a bilingual International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. Twelfth grade counselor Beverly Martin puts that piece into perspective – “It’s the hardest one,” she said. “The language piece is like taking it in that country.”

Uroza, 18, said that coming to WAIS in sixth grade gave her stability that she hadn’t had before.

“I like it here,” she said. “We moved around a lot in Cy-Fair and staying here was stable for me.”

( . . . )  

She plans to first attend the University of Houston-Downtown then transfer to Houston Baptist University and study business administration. She’s not exactly sure what she wants to do after that. 

“Maybe I’ll open a family company, something horticultural, in honor of my dad,” she said. Or maybe a shoe company – “I love shoes,” she said – and donate some of the profits to a service organization. 

“I love helping people,” she said. “Maybe I’ll form a non-profit.” 

Read the full article by Rusty Graham on SBISD's School Zone.

...

WAIS Graduate Spotlight: Daniel

Daniel Villagomez is featured in a new article, Mother the Picture of Sacrifice for WAIS Graduate, on SBISD's School Zone. Daniel is an IBCP Candidate and is a salutatorian of the Class of 2016. He was also chosen by his peers as Prom King and Mr. Wais.

Daniel Villagomez knows sacrifice. He even knows what it looks like. 

“Sacrifice. I’ve gotten to know it so well,” Villagomez said. “My mother – this is what sacrifice is.”

His mother – a single mom with four kids – put three of those kids through private school St. Mark’s Lutheran for elementary and middle school, then sent Villagomez’s older siblings through another private school for high school.

And it was his mother who found Westchester Academy of International Studies and knew that it, not the other private high school, was the right fit for Villagomez – it was public and had rigorous academics and other opportunities.  

( . . . ) 

With no legacy to follow into WAIS, Villagomez waited out the lottery system and waiting list, being notified in the summer before he started ninth grade that he’d been accepted. 

“I knew one person (at WAIS),” he said. “But even if I hadn’t known anybody I would have been fine. That’s why I love Westchester.” Noting his recent election as prom king he added, “I guess that shows I’ve met a few people here (at WAIS).” 

Read the full article by Rusty Graham on SBISD's School Zone.

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WAIS Yearbook Distribution

The official 33rd volume of the Westchester Yearbook, Miacis, will be distributed Wednesday during advisory. Students who've ordered a book will be able to pick one up from the Balcony Mac Lab. If a student was unable to pick up a book during the scheduled time, they may see Mr. Wegscheid during lunch or after school. 

Last year's book, the 2015 Miacis Yearbook, was recognized as Honorable Mention by Balfour Publishing. About 15% of books receive recognition each year. This is the third MIACIS yearbook in a row to receive recognition from our publisher. The previous two years, 2013 and 2014, were also both recognized by our publisher. 

We always order extra books, and students who forgot to order a book can purchase while supplies last. Rarely do we have books still available the following year. For more information, visit the Miacis page on our website.

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WAIS Senior Walk

The Westchester Academy graduating class of 2016 recently visited Wilchester Elementary. With Westchester students coming from all over the Spring Branch district, some of the class of 2016 attended Wilchester for elementary.

The Wilchester Elementary students cheered, waved, and gave high fives as WAIS Graduates walked through the campus. The graduates returned to WAIS, touring both the upper and middle school building before taking a class photo in front of the upper school arches.

Photo at Top by WAIS IB MYP Student Victoria Ramon.

Video of Senior Walk by WAIS IB MYP / Guthrie Student Eduardo Hernandez.
Footage by Faculty Member Shaun Wegscheid and Student Eduardo Hernandez.
Photography by WAIS IBDP Candidate Santiago Moreno and IB MYP Student Victoria Ramon.

...

Kevin Dikdan - WAIS & Wilchester Graduate

Before attending WAIS, some students first attend at Wilchester Elementary- just across Yorkchester. Some students may go from kindergarten through 12th grade and just transition once from the elementary campus on the east side of Yorkchester, to the 6th-12th secondary campus on the west side of Yorkchester.

Kevin Dikdan is one such student who spent his elementary years at Wilchester before attending WAIS. Kevin participated in a video interview with Spring Branch Communications Department after the event, shown below.

Video Interview of Kevin Dikdan by SBISD Communications Department.

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WAA Scholarships Awarded

The Westchester Alumni Association awarded six Westchester Academy International School graduating seniors $1000 each at the Westchester Awards Night on Tuesday, May 17.

 We are very proud to recognize the Class of 2016 winners! 

• Zeynep Dikmen 
• Jon Austin Lim 
• Shukri E. Mahaley 
• Joshua Tyler McCune 
• Emily Daniela Navejar 
• Nancy Araceli Uroza 

Congratulations to the recipients! 

Applicants were evaluated on academic merit, ACT or SAT scores, extracurricular activities, awards, and community service. Since 2007, the Westchester Alumni Association Student Scholarship Fund* has awarded $60,000 to 60 deserving, college bound Westchester Academy International School graduating seniors.

 *Donations to the scholarship fund are accepted all year from Westchester alumni and corporate sponsors. To make your donation to the scholarship fund please visit www.westchesterwildcats.com and click on Scholarship Donation.

...

News on State Funding for Education

The SBISD School Zone has recently shared several articles related to school funding in the state of Texas. A majority of district in the State, Spring Branch included, have great concern with the current funding method and how it impacts their ability to provide for the students and families they serve.

An excerpt of each of the three articles is provided below, with links to the full articles.

Texas Supreme Court Upholds School Funding System

From the Texas Tribune:

( . . . )
Two-thirds of Texas school districts sued the state after the Legislature cut $5.4 billion from the public education budget in 2011. 

Their lawyers argued the state's method of funding public schools was unconstitutional on a variety of grounds — that the Legislature had failed to provide districts with sufficient funding to ensure students meet the state's increasingly difficult academic standards; that big disparities had emerged between property-wealthy and property-poor school districts; and that many school districts were having to tax at the maximum rate just to provide a basic education, meaning they lacked "meaningful discretion" to set rates. That amounts to a violation of a constitutional ban on a statewide property tax.
( . . . ) 

Read the full article on the SBISD School Zone.
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Preliminary Budget Built on Cost Efficiencies

( . . . )
Under the state’s “recapture” law, also known as Robin Hood, the school district is considered property-wealthy, which will require state payments to double from $33 million to $66 million, and then go up to more than $90 million. 

Over three years, SBISD’s estimated Robin Hood payments to the State of Texas – not students or teachers in SBISD – are projected to skyrocket to a projected $190 million.
( . . . )

Read the full article on the SBISD School Zone.

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Texas Supreme Court Says Current School Finance System Meets Constitutional Standards

From the Texas Tribune:

( . . . )
“This decision represents a dark day for Texas school children, especially given the Legislature’s repeated failure to adequately fund our schools,” Mr. Trachtenberg said. “Given the importance of education in the 21st Century economy, Texas simply cannot afford to be bringing up the rear among the states in financial support of public education.”  

Added Mr. Turner: “We believe the trial court’s conclusion was correct: schools do not have the resources—or the local control over their tax rates—to meet the standards set forth in the Texas Constitution. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court justices did not agree. At this point, our districts can only hope that the Legislature will reverse course on its own, and make the changes needed to improve our system.”
( . . . )

Read the full article on the SBISD School Zone.

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Senior Signing @ WAIS

The auditorium at WAIS filled with students and families to hear this year's graduating class announce the college and universities they'll attend. Candidates for graduation also announced career fields they will pursue through their studies.

Most students declared enrollment into in-state schools, but there were a number of out-of-state and several out-of-country schools as well. Schools included University of Houston, Texas A&M, Houston Baptist University, Sam Houston State University, Trinity University, University of St. Thomas, University of Alabama, University of Virginia, Columbia University, Kettering University, and others. Some students will directly enter the military, and others will first earn an Associate Degree at a junior college, like the Lone Star College and Blinn College, before transferring to a four-year program.

Career fields of interest for this year's graduating class included engineering, business, journalism, medicine, psychology, computer science, graphic design, education, forensics, military, and a multitude of others.

Photos by WAIS IBDP student Santiago Moreno.

Miacis recognized by Balfour Publishing

Volume 32 of the Miacis, the 2014/15 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. "We honor the best of the best in this edition of Yearbook Yearbook," editor Marilyn Scoggins.

Created by WAIS yearbook students, Mallika Dargan and Nancy Tran of the class of 2015 served as editors and planned the creative direction and style of Miacis vol. 32. The books visual theme focused on geometric elements including use of low-poly illustrations, and featured larger pictures than previous editions of the Miacis. The cover features a minimalist design with a soft gradual fade and the title debossed. The cover was designed by Mallika Dargan, Nancy Tran, and Savannah Villarreal. WAIS faculty Shaun Wegscheid served as yearbook advisor.

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

WAIS Theatre presents Antigone

Westchester Theatre invites you to join us for this spring's production, the classic Greek tragedy, Antigone. Antigone is the last of the three Theban Plays, by Sophocles and first performed prior to 440 BCE. Students have studied the classic Greek style of performance, and will present the play in this format and style.

Antigone will be performed this weekend only.

...

Lottery Results for WAIS 2016/17 Admissions

Congratulations to all of our incoming new wildcats. 

We look forward to meeting our new Westchester families at upcoming open house events and working with you next fall. The acceptance and wait lists are currently posted on the WAIS Campus; just past the middle school arches and main office entrance.

Again this year, we received over 700 applications for next year's openings for next school year. This does not include current students intending to return next year. Applications were handled a little differently this year. If a student applied to multiple SBISD options, they were required to rank their preferences. If a student was accepted to one of the schools they applied for, they were removed from the lists of any choices they ranked lower.

As of the lottery's conclusion, we have approximately 350 students on wait lists from 6th - 11th grade. Numbers vary from grade level to grade level, and 6th and 9th have the longest wait lists. We understand and sympathize that it can be discouraging to be on a long waiting list. If your number was not drawn this year, we hope that you continue to apply. Whether a student becomes a WAIS Wildcat or not, we hope they continue striving for success and working hard to be the best learner they can be.

Admittance to WAIS is based only on two things; residing within Spring Branch, and limitations of our school's capacity. While we aim to provide a rigorous and challenging environment for our students, we don't have a grade requirement on our applications. We understand that a student's current level of success is not always indicative of their level of success here at WAIS. This may be due to a variety of factors within the environment and within the student, including but not limited to learning strategies, curriculum, peers, and level of interest.

The lottery is conducted and supervised by multiple school and district staff and administrators. Law officers and law practitioners are also present during the lottery. This year's lottery included supervision from the Whitley Penn accounting firm. The lottery is conducted in English, but with Spanish translation provided. The public is allowed to attend.

4H Share the Fun hosted at WAIS

The Cooperative Extension 4-H & Youth Development Program at Prairie View A&M University hosts their annual Share the Fun event this weekend at WAIS. The Share the Fun event has a variety of categories in which students can show their skills- including but not limited to public speaking, education presentations, musical performances, and dances.

This is the third year that the Share the Fun event will be hosted at WAIS.