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.

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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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