Spring Branch ISD Featured News

A group of students at Memorial High School (MHS) in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD) exemplifies the district’s Core Value of Collective Greatness to make a difference in the lives of senior citizens in the community.

The Taking Care of Seniors (TCS) club at MHS was started three years ago by now-senior Victoria Zhang. Living distantly from her own grandparents, she wanted to find ways to make in-person connections with older citizens to honor their contributions to the community’s history. “I figured older people might also feel distant from today’s generation,” said Zhang. “I wanted to find ways to bridge the gap between young and old people,” said Zhang.

The TCS club meets monthly to create greeting cards which are sent to seniors in hospitals and assisted living facilities to let them know they are not forgotten. Performing arts students in the group also share their musical talents in spaces where the senior citizens live.

On-site Live Performances

“It is hard for them to get out to hear live music,” said MHS senior Elizabeth Yao. “They should get the opportunity to see a performance in person.”

She contacted a few senior living places last summer to ask about playing her violin for the residents. Her outreach was warmly received and led to several more live performances by members of the TCS club throughout the community this year.

Fundraising event for household supplies

The Taking Care of Seniors student-led group from Memorial High School (MHS) recently held its annual gala to raise funds to support their objective to provide household supplies, such as paper towels and soap, for senior citizens living in subsidized housing.

“We know they don't get a lot of help, so we are doing everything we can to support them mainly through providing them with things they might need on a daily basis,” said MHS senior Kenneth Wu.

Wu was the gala’s organizer this year. “It was a gala designed to feel less like a fundraiser and more like an experience: live music, student-led performances, handmade art, and a space filled with energy, gratitude, and connection—all in honor of senior citizens whose stories shaped the present we live in,” he said.

The gala’s program included 15 solo and ensemble performances by members of the club. Art from MHS students was available for sale and included in a live auction. Bake sale items also raised money for TCS causes.

Wu admits that he has no musical or artistic talents but used his organizational skills to organize and host the gala, as well as be an active member of the club. Using his strengths for something bigger than himself underscores another SBISD Core Value: Collaborative Spirit. The SBISD Core Values are guiding principles that define The Spring Branch Way. As identified by our community, SBISD Core Characteristics are set of aspirations students need to master by high school graduation. Members of the TCS club exemplify all six core characteristics with their focus on honoring the value of people whose life stories contribute to the history of the SBISD community.

What we choose to value

“This is more than an event—it’s a statement about what we choose to value,” said Wu of the TCS Gala, which took place on a rainy afternoon and evening at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. Funds raised during the event and via a QR code will be used to buy household supplies for senior citizens in need.

Contributions to, and sponsorships for, TCS activities are always welcome. Next school year a new crop of MHS club leaders will use the donated funds to carry on bridging gaps between generations of people.

“I've also come to learn that the senior community is an amazing group of people to learn from,” added Wu. “Their wisdom and past experiences are things I also look forward to hearing.”

#SBISDProud