Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Young professionals from the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation (BBHLF) recently packaged totes containing home libraries for young learners at three Early Learning Centers in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) and others across the city. 

Funding for the home library donations came from a Jungle Book Gala the group hosted earlier this fall.

During the packing event, held at the Children’s Museum of Houston, BBHLF volunteers socialized, wore tacky holiday sweaters and honored recently deceased former President George H.W. Bush by wearing crazy socks. (He was known for wearing colorful socks in his later years.)

Students at three SBISD Early Learning Centers (Tiger Trail, Panda Path and Lion Lane) received their donated BBLF home libraries (five books each) during distribution events this week, just in time for some quality reading during Winter Break. 

“It’s never too early to develop strong literacy skills,” said Tiger Trail Director Vidal Garza. “Here at Tiger Trail, we are excited to begin the journey for Prekindergarten, ages 3 and 4!” 

Upon receiving a home library in a bag, a PreK student from Panda Path said, “Todos son muy lindos.” Translation: “Everything was so nice!”

Eva Sanchez, the Communities in Schools (CIS) Student Support Specialist at Panda Path, helped coordinate the home library distributions at her school and at Lion Lane.

“It’s such a wonderful gift for all the students to help develop their literacy,” said Sanchez. “I was happy to see the kids excited to read.”

The books were selected by BBHLF and packaged based on gender and home language. Each package also contained a family pass to the Children’s Museum.

 

 

“I’m very grateful that the kids have books in their language that they can read at home,” said Panda Path teacher Silvia Sanchez. “It can be really difficult for parents to find books in their language.”

The home libraries will support literacy and developing a love of reading, two key points of emphasis occurring at the SBISD Early Learning Centers.

“We are appreciative to the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation for helping our children start their very own home library,” said Garza.

SBISD is thankful to the young professionals at BBHLF who made the home libraries a reality for so many young learners. From colorful socks to books-in-small-hands, everyone is smiling!