Spring Branch ISD Featured News

A Houston-based literacy organization will honor 25 local student authors, poets and illustrators during the upcoming 10th anniversary iWRITE Luncheon and Book Signing.

The annual event sponsored by the nonprofit iWRITE Literacy Organization focuses this year on stories reflecting international literacy.

This luncheon and student book-signing event will be held from noon until 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Hotel. The celebration is designed to raise awareness about the nonprofit group’s mission to build student confidence through writing, while also supporting anniversary efforts to raise additional nonprofit group funds.

Spring Branch ISD elementary and secondary students selected to be included in the anniversary edition of the I Write Short Stories By Kids for Kids anthology represent about a quarter of all works chosen. The SBISD student works selected come from two campus programs, one based at Spring Branch Elementary and the district’s Spring Branch Academic Institute, which operates elementary and secondary programs for students ranked as very highly gifted. 

SBISD’s published student honorees include:

Spring Branch Academic Institute (SBAI)
Shelby Blackwood, 8th grade
Park Dalton, 8th grade
Jean Hoang, 9th grade
Katrina Kasyan, 9th grade
Vincent Ma, 8th grade
Lowell Moss, 9th grade
Zachary Rosca-Halmagean, 8th grade
Sophie Sagastume, 7th grade
Alex Zhang, 10th grade
Meredith Wood, former SBAI student

Spring Branch Elementary School
Fernando Barrientos, 4th grade
Roy Contreras, 4th grade
Janiya Hunt, 4th grade
Jonathyn Joseph, 4th grade
Lesly Julian, 4th grade
Alyssa Lopez, 5th grade
Jose Mejia, 5th grade
Alexander Olivera
Itzel Ramirez, 4th grade
Gavin Rodriguez, 4th grade
Camila Rodriguez, 5th grade
Julian Salazar, 4th grade
Shiayra Siggers, 5th grade
Yelena Sosa, 5th grade
Allurah Stine, 4th grade

Among SBISD student authors, SBAI’s Alex Zhang has already published his first book in a fantasy series, titled Spark. He is planning to complete a three-book series, and has presented at book stores and even to SBISD leadership in a special fall-planning session.

Spring Branch Elementary’s Jose Mejia, meanwhile, is scheduled to be a student panelist during a special VIP reception and student press conference at the upcoming event. This year’s luncheon celebrates and spotlights stories from students around the world.

In an event press release, iWRITE group founder Melissa Williams Murphy said 687 student authors and illustrators from 11 nations had been published in annual anthologies during the past decade. In all, the group has printed and distributed more than 11,000 student anthologies over recent years.

“As 100 winning student authors and illustrators gather in Houston, the most diverse city in the nation, we will celebrate the cultural influence that’s been found inside this publication for the past decade,” Ms. Williams Murphy said. “The event will truly serve as a reflection of the students and their stories through the years.” 

Seven adult luncheon honorees will reflect the seven continents of the world. They were selected for their commitment to the Houston community, education and philanthropy, event organizers said.

The “For Kids, By Kids” event will be authored by writer and actor Chase Alexander. Featured artist at the luncheon is Mario E. Figueroa Jr., who is also known as GONZO247. Figueroa will create a custom artwork on canvas that will be auctioned at the event.

The noon luncheon will begin with a student book signing where guests will have the opportunity to have their own anthology copy signed by gathered student writers and illustrators.

To learn more about the iWRITE Organization, please visit iWRITE's website.