Spring Branch ISD Featured News

#CollectiveGreatness at Landrum Middle's Jingle Jog from SBISD on Vimeo.

Knocking on doors paid off for Landrum Middle School in many ways, and the ripple effects are still in motion.

Prior to Thanksgiving break, more than 40 Landrum staff members, assisted by the Spring Branch ISD Family Education, Engagement and Empowerment team, spread out across the school’s attendance for a community walk that was an “eye-opening, positive and powerful experience,” said Landrum Assistant Principal Nancy Ricco.

They knocked on the doors of the places where their students live to meet them where they are, say “hello,” promote the Nov. 30 Jingle Jog (5K run) and Holiday Festival at Landrum, and let the students’ families know the school is here to help serve their kids. The staff found about 80

percent of families at home and left fliers on the doors of the rest.

After the walk, the Landrum staff gathered to debrief the experience.

“Oh, I really enjoyed it,” said Ricco. “The families really appreciated our visits. They could see that our staff cares about their kids, and we let them know the doors of Landrum are always open to them.”

Principal Steven Speyrer agreed.

“The impact [of the walk] on the staff was tremendous,” said Speyrer. They are providing a good, safe zone for kids to learn here at Landrum. I think this experience helped them appreciate their roles as educators even more.”

 

 

The immediate results were evident as more than 40 students and teachers participated in the 5K Jingle Jog, wearing jingle bells on their shoes. A course was laid out by Heart & Sole Coach Whitney Neu that led the runners around the perimeter of the Landrum fields, track and tennis courts.

“You will run this route six times,” said Ms. Neu prior to the start of the run. “The main thing is to have fun!”

Heart & Sole, a girls’ running group at Landrum, is part of the Girls on the Run Houston program. These middle school girls also meet during the school day to learn social skills, character, and values, and to support each other in day-to-day problem-solving. The Jingle Jog was a practice run for the group, which is scheduled to run in a 5K race at the University of Houston later this month.

 

 

A parent of one of the Heart & Sole runners attended the Jingle Jog to cheer his sixth-grade daughter on during the run.

“This is her first year in the program, and she really likes it,” said Enrique Sierra. “Sometimes we run in the park as a family after school, and then do exercises afterward to stay in shape.”

Student volunteers from the Northbrook High School and Spring Woods High School Honor Societies helped with the Jingle Jog and the Holiday Festival, which further supported the efforts of Landrum to be a community hub.

“Parent engagement helps with student achievement,” said Speyrer prior to the Holiday Festival. “We want to have a two-way collaboration with our families so they know their kids are getting the best experience.”

The Holiday Festival food and activity stations were planned by Landrum Middle School students who participate in a teen leadership program at the school.

“The teens got to work the booths they designed and researched, and so the smiles, laughter, and fellowship were the rewards of hard work put in over the last few weeks,” said Landrum Assistant Principal Samuel Karns. “Many [staff members] stayed after school to help their kids prepare for this event. This is a win for the community because together we are the community.”

 

 

More than 450 people came through the Landrum doors to enjoy refreshments, games, holiday crafts, raffles and more. Landrum staff operated the various festival stations to, once again, demonstrate their welcoming culture to the students and families who attended the Holiday Festival.

“The money raised will be used to promote spirit and pride at Landrum,” said Speyrer. “Our new school building [Landrum will be rebuilt as part of the 2017 Bond program] will generate a lot of enthusiasm. We hope events like this let our community know there are good things happening at Landrum now.”

“This event was about building culture and school connectedness,” said Karns. “Kids don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. and through the Holiday Festival, they got to see a lot of caring adults in the system committed to them and their success.”