Mike Falick's Blog

Stratford Tennis Coach Frazee Named Coach of the Year by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association

Stratford's Tennis Coach, Rory Frazee, has been named as the 2009 Coach of the Year by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association.

From the Stratford Booster Club website:

We are thrilled to announce that our tennis coach, Coach Frazee, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary with SBISD (23 of these at Stratford), has just been named 2008-2009 Class 5A Coach of the Year by the Texas Tennis Coaches Association.  We have always known that Coach Frazee is the best of the best, and are so excited that the TTCA has recognized his dedication to the sport, our athletes, and our school.   Coach Frazee has always been the cornerstone of the tennis program’s “Tradition of Excellence.”  To paraphrase Coach Frazee, “winning is fun, but there is a lot more to a successful team than what is indicated in the score.”  CONGRATULATIONS COACH FRAZEE!!!

Fox 26 Highlights Stratford's Upcoming Production of The Wedding Singer

Fox 26 reported live from Stratford on Thursday morning on the upcoming production of "The Wedding Singer."

From the Fox 26 website:

'The Wedding Singer' with Gleeful Cast

Updated: Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 11:42 AM CDT
Published : Thursday, 15 Oct 2009, 11:42 AM CDT

HOUSTON - Part of the appeal of FOX network hit show "Glee" is that the characters might remind high school students of their classmates or remind parents of their classmates or themselves when they took part in the performing arts.

Each week FOX 26 Morning News will present a high school musical in the Houston area.

FOX 26 Morning News Extra anchor Ruben Dominguez visits Stratford Senior High School in the Spring Branch Independent School District where Cece Prudhomme is acting as musical director for the student production of "The Wedding Singer."

Invitation to Tonight's Grand Re-Opening Ceremony of the Spring Branch Natatorium

The Grand Re-Opening Ceremony for the W. W. Emmons Natatorium is tonight (September 24).  The ribbon cutting will be at 6:00p followed by tours and refreshments at 6:30p, and then finally a diving exhibition, high school relays, and "big splash" contest at 7:00p.  (Click on the invitation below to enlarge).

Blue Willow Bookshop Presents Stratford Alum and ESPN Analyst Craig James

From the Blue Willow Bookshop website:

All Hail the Spartans!  Craig James of the 1978 Spartan State Champion team and an SMU alum, now a commentator on ESPN, will be in town to discuss and sign his book, Game Day: A Rollicking Journey to the Heart of College Football.

As we anticipate a large crowd for this event, we will hold it in the Stratford High School auditorium.

Although this event is free and open to the public, if you would like to go through the signing line and meet Craig James, you must purchase Game Day: A Rollicking Journey to the Heart of College Football from Blue Willow Bookshop. People who enter the signing line may also have Craig sign sports memorabilia, time permitting.

To order your copy in advance, please call the store at 281-497-8675.

Location: Stratford High School Auditorium
14555 Fern
Houston, Texas 77079

Spring Branch ISD Gets Good News on the ACT: For the Fifth Year in a Row, Spring Branch Increases Participation and Substantially Outperforms the State

Spring Branch received good news recently about our results on the ACT.  Below are the highlights, which can be viewed by clicking on the images below, or by clicking here.

• From 2004 to 2009, participation in the ACT more than doubled, a 100% increase, from 431 to 863 students, compared with a 15% increase in participation across the state. In spite of the dramatic increase in participation over the six years, performance has remained relatively unchanged.
• Participation in 2009 increased by nearly 100 students over the previous year, an increase of more than 12% compared with a state increase of 4.5%.
• Performance dropped slightly in all tests and composite scores (.2 to .5 points) in 2009 compared with 2008.
• Performance at the college ready levels continues to exceed state rates by 14 to 19 percentage points, with college algebra leading for the second straight year, 19 points over the state average.
• In 2009, over three-quarters (77%) of the students taking College English Composition performed at or above the college ready level of 18, 14 percentage points above the state average.
• In 2009, average math scores exceeded the state in all subject combinations except those students taking less than 3 years of math. Students taking Alg 1 and 2, Geometry, and Trig (Pre-Calculus) outperformed the state average the greatest (+3.8%), closely followed by students who also took Calculus (+3.4%).
• Compared with 2008, performance of students taking Alg 1 and 2, Geometry, and Trig (Pre-Calculus) increased significantly (+4.0), while the state average actually declined (-0.5).
• Compared with 2008, performance of students taking less than 3 years of math dropped significantly from 25.1 in 2008 to 16.3 in 2009.
• In 2009 and 2008, average science scores exceeded the state averages in all course combinations.

As I stated in my post last year about our 2008 ACT results, while the results show there is still room for improvement, it appears clear that the District's college focus and goal that all students will graduate and then obtain a 2 year certificate, 2 year Associates Degree, or 4 year Baccalaureate Degree is showing very positive results.

Spring Branch Breaks Ground at Ridgecrest Elementary School

Today marks the groundbreaking for the new Ridgecrest Elementary School which will replace the original Ridgecrest, built in 1953.  The new Ridgecrest will be the District's first new 2 story school.  Below is more information from the District's website.

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The Spring Branch ISD Board of Trustees and leadership will break ground officially on the district’s first new, two-story elementary campus replacement project on Thursday, Aug. 27, at Ridgecrest Elementary School.

A library program will be held at 4 p.m. that day followed by an outdoor groundbreaking ceremony. Ridgecrest Elementary is located at 2015 Ridgecrest. The public is invited to this special Back to School Week event, but RSVPs should be made by phone at 713-251-2223 or online immediately at: https://springbranchisd.com/com_dept_forms/ridgecrest.asp

The new Ridgecrest Elementary School campus is the third of 12 elementary school replacement construction projects approved by voters in November 2007 as part of a $597.1 million bond issue that includes improvements to all SBISD campuses. A dozen elementary schools built between 1938 and 1967 will be replaced under the 2007 Bond program.

The new Ridgecrest Elementary, a modern Texas style, 100,000 square-feet, two-story facility with a brick and stone facade, will accommodate up to 800 students in two floors. The new school will include special music, art and science classrooms and a large modern library that will function as a campus hub for student learning and technology applications.

Students will remain housed at the current Ridgecrest Elementary during the multi-phase project while the new building is erected directly to the north and west of the present elementary building. Projections call for the current school to be demolished next summer; the new school opens in August 2010.

Project architect is Pfluger Associates Architects. The building contractor is Gamma Construction. Project cost is about $15.2 million. For details, phone SBISD Communications at 713-464-1511, ext. 2272.

Building for the Future

Inspiring Minds. Shaping Lives.

The new Ridgecrest Elementary School

Campus: Ridgecrest Elementary

Address: 2015 Ridgecrest

Principal: Patricia Thomas

Architect: Pfluger Associates Architects

Builder: Gamma Construction

Students: 800 students

Size: About 100,000 square feet

Details: Replaces building that dates back to 1953; New, two-story building includes a large library “hub” and special rooms for music, art and science instruction; projected opening is August 2010 for students and teachers.

Spring Branch Celebrates Summer Graduation

Tonight Spring Branch celebrated the graduation ceremony of our Summer 2008 graduates.  Click here for the program from tonight's event or click the images below to enlarge.

Rummel Creek Elementary 5th Graders Boogie Down Brittmoore

My neighborhood elementary school, Rummel Creek, has a great tradition for 5th graders on the last day of school. These students "boogie" down Brittmoore, the street in front of the school where the waiting crowd of parents and siblings, and neighbors and friends bombards them with water balloons.  The "boogie" ends at one of the neighborhood pools.  Post your school's end-of-year traditions in the comments.

Summer is Here! Here's a Recap of the School Year that was 2008-2009

Today is the last day of school for Spring Branch students.  What a long, strange year this has been starting with Hurricane Ike, and ending with the swine flu, and the April flood.  But our District weathered each of these challenges.

Our preliminary State testing data shows significant improvement over last year marking what will likely be the 6th consecutive year of improving results (more on this in an upcoming post).  A record 87% of our students took the SAT or ACT test this year, and our results improved.  We continue to perform well above the State averages in every academic measurement, and we are moving toward fulfilling our mission to be the premiere college focused district in Texas.  We also continued our progress toward meeting the goals outlined in the District's Five Year Educational Plan, and beginning in the Fall, we will start our Early College program.  Also this Fall, the District's new homework policy, which was finalized in February, will go into effect.

While there is much work left to be done in school finance reform, the recently completed Legislative Session will bring modest but welcome changes to the accountability system, and perhaps an additional $2.5m per year in funding.  And our Pre-K program was repeatedly held up as a beacon of success by not only our legislators, but also legislators from around the State.

The 2007 Bond program continued to move forward with groundbreaking ceremonies at Hollibrook and Westwood, with two more scheduled to break ground soon.  The 80+ new buses purchased were all on the road this year. 

Technology integration continues to be a focus in the District.  We are adding Smartboards at every campus, and the District is now fully wireless at every campus.

Our communication efforts continue to advance.  The District's website has become an excellent communication vehicle this year.  Our call out system proved invaluable during the Hurricane when many people only had a working cell phone for receiving updates.  We produced the first Annual Report  to the Community, and the District's branding initiative is underway.  We also had a record number of Good Neighbors, mentors, educational and facilities task force participants, and community and business partners this year.

The District received another flawless audit report this year.  While we face a deficit budget this year, we have continued to increase efficiencies throughout the District through cost reductions.

As I visit our schools in the District throughout the year, I am always impressed by the level of teaching and student engagement that I see at every level in our District.  While there is always room to improve, Spring Branch continues to be a great District thanks to the hard work of our students, teachers, administrators, and of course, our parents and our community.

Have a great, restful Summer!  You've earned it!

Graduation Day at Westchester Academy for International Studies

Graduation for Westchester Academy for International Studies was held tonight at 7 p.m.

The program from tonight's graduation, which lists all of the graduates, is available here.

Graduation for Westchester Academy for International Studies was held tonight at 7 p.m.

The program from tonight's graduation, which lists all of the graduates, is available here.