Spring ISD Welcomes Students For 2017-18 School Year

SPRING, TX — Students in Spring ISD began the 2017-2018 school year this morning for more than 36,000 students, and Superintendent Rodney Watson was there to meeting some of them.

Watson turned out to greet the families and to take a ride on one of the district’s new buses so he could see first-hand the first-day experience.

“I’ve been an educator for more than 20 years but I still get first-day nerves wanting everything to go smoothly for every student,” he said. “There is nothing more exciting than seeing all the smiling students when they come back after summer break ready to engage and learn. The goal is to maintain that energy and enthusiasm until the very last day of school next May.”

The Spring Independent School District, one of the fastest growing districts in the Houston area, is in the midst of a growth spurt that led to the passage of a $330 million bond in November and he recent purchase of 60 new buses.

As with any school district, Spring had a few new smiling faces eager to start the first day of school.

Anderson Elementary School student Tiana Crew, whose family just moved to the Houston area from Nevada, was understandably timid seeing all these new people, but she says she is ready to get started, and ready to make new friends and learn.

Rodney Patterson, whose family just moved to the Houston area from Southern California, said he was excited about the full-day program, which wasn't an option in his former school district.

"It gives them more of a structured learning experience and allows them to learn at their own pace," he said about the Pre-K program. "Half-day programs are also hard on parents who work."

As for the campus, Patterson said his first impressions were good. "It's nice to see the smiles on all the faces. That's very comforting."

At Roberson Middle School, much of the excitement centered on the new computers, which were brought in over the summer to replace outdated and slow machines.

Principal Tracey Walker greeted students and said her campus has a lot to look forward to, including a new building planned for the 2019-20 school year as a result of the 2016 bond program.

"We set out to be change agents every day, cultivating positive change in the lives of students," Walker said. "That's what we do. Instead of them coming to school and having a 'normal' experience or an 'average' experience, we aim to give them an experience that will definitely change their lives. They're going to come here and gain a skill set that will change the trajectory of their lives."

At the high schools, many students were looking at the first day as the first step to their goals and dreams.
“The first day has been amazing,” said Makayla Jefferson, who was wearing the crown that all the seniors decorate and wear to distinguish themselves at the start of school. “It’s very exciting. I’m going to do great things.”

On her to-do list is to get as many good grades as possible this year in hopes of landing a spot at the University of Houston. “I’m going to try my hardest,” she said.

Image: Spring ISD

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