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Stratord High School Wizard of Oz student cast
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In Spring Branch, even Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz volunteers in our schools.
There’s no place like home for those who attended the fifth annual SBISD Celebration of Sharing. Several hundred campus partners and volunteers gathered Feb. 27 at Memorial City Mall for this community appreciation breakfast, topped by a rollicking student song and dance revue by Stratford Playhouse’s awards-nominated Wizard of Oz cast.
Stratford High senior Lauren Klausmeyer, who plays Dorothy in the musical production, has tutored and mentored students at Spring Forest Middle and Sherwood Elementary schools. Cast members like dancer Katherine Madeley assist in SBISD classrooms, too, where she is active in Future Teachers of America.
“I like working with kids,” Lauren said. “It’s interesting and fun, and I found that I become close to the students that I worked with. I’ll really miss them next year.”
While the Wizard of Oz student cast won one of several standing ovations during the breakfast event, Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann honored and thanked the district’s countless volunteers for helping SBISD maintain its legacy of excellence.
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Hundreds of volunteers and partners attended this year's Celebration of Sharing
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SBISD supports 8,500 registered volunteers, 800 mentors who meet with students weekly, 500 corporate and community partners, and hundreds more senior citizens who stay involved through the district’s Seniors Take a Role (STAR) program.
“We have great students in Spring Branch. We have great teachers, and we have great leadership, but the difference in Spring Branch is you. We could not do what we do for all of our children without you, and all that you do each and every day,” he said.
Greeting breakfast goers this year with welcoming remarks was Memorial Hermann Chief of Nursing Michele Bell. Memorial Hermann was one of four underwriters and event partners. The others were Catch the Moment Event Photo Entertainment, Memorial City Mall and Panera Bread.
SBISD: No place like home
In SBISD:
- 12,000 parents and teachers are members of their campus PTAs
- $500,000 in resources flow annually from the Spring Branch Education Foundation
- 9,000 senior citizens stay involved through the Seniors Taking a Role (STAR) program
- 8,500 registered volunteers help our children succeed today and plan for tomorrow
- 800 mentors meet with students one on one every week, making it the largest program of its kind in Texas
- 500 corporate and community partners generously provide resources that make our schools stronger, our teachers better prepared, and our students’ experiences enriched
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Spring Branch Navy Jr. ROTC’s Color Guard conducted the flag ceremony. The Treasure Forest Singers sang a medley of songs and won a standing ovation, then SBISD Community Relations Officer Linda Buchman told the standing room only crowd that the school district plays a unique role in the civic life of Spring Branch.
Quoting from Stratford High parent Oliver Luck, who wrote a letter supporting the high school’s successful recent UIL appeal, she noted: “Spring Branch ISD has served as the glue that holds this community together. Located in the suburbs of west Houston, there is no natural ‘gathering point’ for the residents of the district. There is no City Hall, no park, no town square that serves to hold this community together. That function is met by SBISD…”
Comparing Spring Branch to the search for home found in the Wizard of Oz, Buchman said that author L. Frank Baum sent Dorothy and the famous characters to the wrong place. “He should have sent them to SBISD because there is no place like Spring Branch,” she said. “Because of each of you, the dreams of our 32,000 students really do come true.”
Special guests at this year’s Celebration of Sharing included the SBISD Board of Trustees, Dist. 138 Texas State Rep. Dwayne Bohac and neighborhood liaison Lois Stromberg, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, Belinda Price on behalf of Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Steve Radack, Hedwig Village Mayor Sue Speck and Carlos Lopez, president and executive director from the Mexican Institute of Greater Houston.
SBISD Partnerships & Volunteers Coordinator Sue Loudis planned and set up the enormous event. Mentor Specialist Monica Creixell addressed the audience in Spanish.
To learn how to become a campus or district volunteer, please contact the SBISD Community Relations Dept. at 713-464-1511, ext. 2287, or email partner@springbranchisd.com. Volunteers are also needed in many other areas
posted 02-27-08
