Spring Branch ISD Featured News

Dressed in colorful ‘super reader’ capes and masks, students at Frostwood Elementary School in Spring Branch ISD recently welcomed the Houston Rockets’ and Whataburger mascots, Clutch and Whataguy, to kick off the school’s participation in the Read Nation Reading Challenge.

“We heard the Frostwood Tigers are super readers, so we wanted to come here today to do some fun, story telling activities,” Rockets representative Ryan Money said. “The Rockets Read Nation project, in partnership with Whataburger, aims to create a nation of boys and girls who love to read and to build up their personal libraries.”

The mascots and Money engaged the students in a literacy-based, code word competition between the two mascots. The students also received a book from the Rockets organization, Clutch’s Good Night Sleep. Another Rockets Read Nation guest at Frostwood, an ‘Aztec Princess,’ narrated a story, partially in Spanish, and students from the audience acted out the scenes to reinforce literacy skills with the assembled super readers.

“Literacy is important because these are skills they are going to use for the rest of their lives, no matter their fields or backgrounds, to be more accomplished in the adult world,” Money said.

The Rockets have been Spring Branch ISD Good Neighbors for many years. This community engagement program honors partners who provide three or more supports to district students and staff each year. Recognition items are provided to the participating organizations and individuals who are proud to be included in each year’s class of Good Neighbors.

“The students were so excited about receiving books,” Frostwood Principal Hillary Hiler said. “It was great that they answered questions, were eager to participate and were really comprehending what was going on in the story.” 

She noted that reading comprehension is a huge part of Spring Branch ISD’s focus on literacy. “Anything we can do that encourages kids to find joy in reading and continuing to learn is something we want to do,” Hiler added. 

For the upcoming Rockets Read Nation Reading Challenge, students will record their reading minutes in Beanstack, a platform for Spring Branch ISD students. Last year, a Frostwood first grader won a Kindle Fire 7 for reading the most minutes of all participating first graders from multiple school districts. Good luck to this year’s super readers at Frostwood – you are all winners when you read.