Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Soldiers, doctors, artists, teachers, FBI agents… oh my. On Halloween, all second graders from Shadow Oaks Elementary (SOE) in Spring Branch ISD dressed up in “career” outfits for an exciting visit to the offices of offshore drilling company, Seadrill.

The youngsters were “treated” to some out-of-this-world Halloween fun in the offices of Seadrill’s western hemisphere headquarters on the northern border of SBISD.

Seadrill departments decorated their office pods and dressed in costumes representing 14 different kid-centric themes: Mario World, Pixar movies, a deer stand campsite, Coco, circus, zoo, Adams Family, Pac Man, super heroes, Gotham City, haunted woods, rig workers, super villains, hillbillies, rig zombies.

It is a toss up to know whether the excited second graders or the costumed employees had more fun during the event.

“These people here have really gone all out,” said Heather Gilbert of Seadrill. “The teams have been planning and decorating since the beginning of October. I am so proud of them.”

SOE teachers were the judges for the decorations and costumes of each Seadrill pod, and the winning group was awarded a trophy at a staff party the afternoon of Halloween. The trophy will be updated with a new winner when the event is repeated next year since it was such a big success with the employees.

During the “office tour,” Seadrill provided trick or trick bags for every second grader, and in each department pod the employees handed out treats and school supplies.

Special treats were also provided for the teachers who accompanied their students on the tour.

“Our goal was to provide a safe trick-or-treating experience for the kids,” said Gilbert. “We also wanted to spark interest and awareness of careers in our industry [drilling].”

Speaking to a “super hero” along the trick-or-treating route, one student was overheard saying, “This is the best day of my life!”

As they departed, the kids were already exploring the goodies in their bags, coloring with the markers, sharing stickers and feeling happy about the fun welcome they had at Seadrill.

“They had a blast,” said a teacher as she posed with her students, all wearing the red clown noses they received in the circus pod.

Click here to see more photos from the other-worldly event.

If your company would like to partner with SBISD to provide students with resources, experiences, volunteer support, career ideas, etc., please contact partner@springbranchisd.com.

Submitted by Becky Wuerth, SBISD Communications
Becky.wuerth@springbranchisd.com