Spring Branch ISD Featured News

 

Spring Forest Middle School’s recent Multicultural Festival welcomed families, opening the door to new worlds and sustained family engagement.

Many schools make the mistake of viewing a multicultural potluck as ‘the’ engagement event of the year. Not Spring Forest Middle. The school, one of Spring Branch Independent School District’s (SBISD) most diverse, is home to countless school programs, including the annual festival.

“This is another example of our school community, parents and students, coming together to highlight how we all can work together towards a common goal.  There are countless hours put into this festival and many donations from families and local businesses.  With so many activities that promote athletics, academics, and fine arts, this simple but powerful event is a way for students to learn about other cultures while also enlightening other students about their own culture, country, or family," said school Principal Raymorris Barnes.

Barnes is known for his outstanding rapport with families. One family was so impressed during an exploratory phone call about the school that they sold their home and immediately moved to the area to attend.  

Barnes and his team of educators approach family engagement from every angle possible. There's social media, community events, Sunday letters in multiple languages, flexible scheduling for parent meetings, and a student-led media channel, to name just a few.

In the case of the International Festival, the school event provided a robust, post-event learning curriculum for families to continue the learning post-event.

 

 

More than 1,000 parents and students attended the festival that boasted over a record-breaking 29 countries and cultures represented. 

“Watching our diverse staff and student families host countries from all over the world gave us an incredible example of how truly unique our school is. It is amazing to experience the visual and edible smorgasbord that represents the diversity of cultures that makes up our Spring Forest family,” said Barnes.

What's even more powerful is the unity within diversity, something that Barnes is deservingly proud of. "Our goal is for every student, regardless if you were born in this country or if you arrived two days ago, to be proud of America but to honor and respect your neighbor, regardless if he or she looks like you or not.  If students can learn to work alongside others to reach a common goal, then the future of our country will be in good hands."