Spring Branch ISD Featured News

As the world’s future leaders and citizens, students in Spring Branch ISD expressed their hopes and concerns about the future of our planet through art as part of April 22 Earth Day observances across the district.

Art I students at Northbrook Middle School, under the leadership of teacher Maddison Sigler, researched, created sketches and transferred their concepts into sidewalk chalk art creations.  Ideas ranged from the need for everyone to do their part to take care of the earth, appreciation for and restoration of natural spaces and species, to raising awareness of materials in our environment and habits that harm the earth. 

Middle school students in Art I earn high school credit by using elements and principals of design to develop works across a wide variety of mediums while developing a portfolio of work for review at the end of eighth grade. 

At Hollibrook Elementary, third, fourth and fifth grade art students created collaborative artworks from recycled materials such as plastic cups and water bottles under the encouragement of teacher Kimberly Keefe. Inspired by glass artworks by Dale Chihuly, the students colored clear plastic objects with marker ink, and then cut and distorted them into Chihuly-esque spirals and flower shapes representative of his Flori Di Como piece displayed at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. 

Otherwise headed for a landfill, turning plastic “trash” into art taught the students that everyday materials can have a second life as something beautiful. 

According to Ryan Beeler, science department chair at Spring Woods High School, more than 150 Environmental Science students will watch a short video about the history of Earth Day, discuss how Earth Day has influenced environmental improvements, and then respond with chalk art images and messages around the school.

“We try to do this every year,” Beeler said. “Not every student takes an Environmental Science class, so it’s great to see the kids come up with messages that speak to their peers.”

See more Spring Branch ISD Earth Day art here.

Submitted by Becky Wuerth, SBISD Communications
becky.wuerth@springbranchisd.com