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The Belle Sherman Kendall Neighborhood Library and Community Center is now open! Located at 609 N. Eldridge, this facility offers a number of firsts for the city, as the first combined library and community center in Houston, as well as the first library with a drive-up window. The new three-story center nearly doubles the size of the previous location, offering approximately 75,000 items.
The first floor of the facility is where the Community Center is located, sharing space with a large meeting room and the Library’s check-in and check-out services, including the drive-up window. The second floor houses the adult collection and reading areas as well as a small conference room. The third floor offers the children’s and teen’s collections and reading areas.
Aiming at meeting the publics’ needs, customers will have access to 29 computer stations, 12 laptops for on-site checkout, reference services, self-check stations, and a large on-site collection of books, periodicals, music, movies, and reference materials. The Library’s hours are Monday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday noon - 8 p.m., Friday noon - 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. The facility is closed on Sunday.
If you are looking for something to do, check out one of the Library’s many programs including:
* Toddler Storytime – Each Wednesday from 10:30 a.m.- 11 a.m.
* Mystery Book Club – The first Thursday of each from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
* AARP Tax Help – Each Wednesday through April 14 from noon – 4 p.m. and each Saturday through April 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
* After School Gaming for Teens – Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. in the new Teen Area, located on the third floor
For more information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.
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Join Trash Bash on Saturday, March 27 to Help Clean Our WaterwaysMark your calendar for Saturday March 27 to be apart of the largest statewide cleanup of our waterways, the River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash. Volunteer teams will tackle litter and debris at locations throughout the Greater Houston area.
Read More...
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Katy ISD Takes First Steps in Creating Wolfe Program Design Committee
The Program Design Committee, led by Assistant Superintendent for School & Community Engagement Marcy Canady, will be comprised of parents and community members representing all areas of the district and will be charged with bringing the project to fruition for the students and families of Katy ISD.
“My goal is to assemble a diverse group of people who are representative of all of Katy ISD and who will work as a team that is united in bringing the best possible program design forward for consideration of the Superintendent and Board of Trustees,” says Canady.
The committee will be formed by November 11 and the planning process will start on November 18 with the design committee’s first meeting. A recommended design plan is to come forward for consideration by the Board of Trustees in March, 2010. Should the recommendation be approved by the Board, the Program Design will proceed to the Facilities Planning Committee in May, 2010. The Wolfe School has a targeted opening date in 2013.
The IB Program is centered on a balanced curriculum with emphasis in Humanities, Arts, Languages, Technology, Science, Mathematics, and Physical Education. The IB program is taught at all three levels with the IB Primary Years Program for ages 3-12, IB Middle Years Program for ages 11-16, and IB Diploma Years Program for ages 16-19. Students who participate in the IB program and successfully complete the program’s requirements can graduate with 24 college credit hours.
While the IB program is an acclaimed academic program that is implemented worldwide and is taught in state, private, national, and international schools, there is some controversy surrounding it with some going as far as saying it is run by the United Nations and that it teaches anti-American Values.
“We are acutely aware that, for some, there are questions about what international mindedness actually means within the IB program and how that aim is realized,” says Canady. Our research indicates that this aim is achieved by students developing an understanding and appreciation of their own cultures and personal histories, and openness to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. Our visits to established IB schools in the surrounding area have yielded observations of youth who exhibit personal commitment to service, demonstrate understanding of how to approach complex problems, and have an overall respectful manner. As the committee designs the program over the next several months parents can be assured that Katy ISD will be in control of the academic program and that the curriculum will reflect the values of the Katy community.”
For more information, visit the Wolfe School Site Project page on www.katyisd.org.
Katy ISD Makes Plans for Future New School Utilizing the International Baccalaureate Programme
At the current Maurice L. Wolfe Elementary School site located at State Highway 6 and Grisby, Katy Independent School District plans to build a new school serving kindergarten through 12th grade students that will implement the highly acclaimed International Baccalaureate (IB) programme. Children zoned to Wolfe Elementary will be grandfathered in for kindergarten through 5th grade, but for other elementary, middle, and high school students, this new school will be a "test in" school.The IB programme is a recognized leader in the field of international education. It is a non-profit, mission-driven foundation that offers three challenging programmes for ages 3 to 19. These three different programs are The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students ages 3 to 12 which focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and in the world outside; The Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students ages 11 to 16 which provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills through embracing and transcending traditional school subjects; and The Diploma Programme for students ages 16 to 19 which is a demanding two-year curriculum that meets the needs of highly motivated students and leads to a qualification that is recognized by leading universities around the world.
This new school’s IB standing will certainly benefit students in the area and holds the potential to increase property values in the Energy Corridor.
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Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey Shares Vision for Wolfe Elementary ~ Energy Corridor Newsletter, March 2009
For those living in West Houston, it should come as no surprise that Katy Independent School District currently serves 55,000 students, a number which continues to increase annually. The District encompasses 31 elementary schools including Maurice L. Wolfe Elementary, which is located on Addicks Howell Road in the Energy Corridor. With a reputation for its warm, welcoming and supportive environment, Wolfe Elementary has demonstrated that a diverse student population is a great strength. Wolfe Elementary is home to students from 17 countries who speak at least a dozen different languages. The elementary school has been recognized in the Texas Education Agency’s Best Practices Clearinghouse for its implementation of Professional Learning Communities model.Alton Frailey, superintendent for Katy Independent School District, recently shared his vision for the District and hopes for Wolfe Elementary with the Energy Corridor District board of directors. Frailey’s passion clearly reinforced the District’s mission that the school system exists to serve the community and reflect the community’s culture and values. And, Wolfe Elementary is a great example of the District’s fulfillment of its mission.
However, Wolff Elementary is facing a challenge. While the campus is in need of major renovations, the number of students zoned to the school (those living north of Buffalo Bayou, and west of Eldridge Parkway) in the Energy Corridor is less than in other elementary school attendance zones. In short, the zoned geographical area does not support the number of students needed to attend the elementary school. As such, the District is weighing its options as to rebuild the elementary school or to close the neighborhood school. Frailey added that renovating the building would be more costly than rebuilding. Additionally, Frailey commented that while he wants to rebuild Wolfe Elementary, the decision is ultimately that of the voters.
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BP America Recipient of 2009 Arbor Day AwardEnergy Corridor Newsletter, March 2009
Trees for Houston recently honored BP America with the organization’s coveted 2009 Arbor Day Award, which recognizes individuals, corporations and organizations that have made exceptional contributions to the planting and preservation of trees in the Houston area. Over the past year, BP America planted more than 300 trees on its Westlake Campus as part of the Campus Redevelopment plan as well as transplanted 30 trees. Most recently, BP America and Trees for Houston partnered together for an Arbor Day planting, during which BP America volunteers planted 158 trees.
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Go Green Houston at HEB (9-26-2008)
- Recycle your paper, metal & plastics!
Click HERE
The nearest participating HEB is at the corner of Memorial & Dairy Ashford; 14540 Memorial Drive, 77079