Cold breezes didn’t stop hundreds of people from gathering recently under the covered playground at Sherwood Elementary in Spring Branch ISD (SBISD). They waited in anticipation for the unveiling of an artist's rendering of their new school, designed by Stantec, and the ceremonial groundbreaking for the project.

The cold, but enthusiastic, crowd was made up of people who are part of the Sherwood “family,” deeply invested in the legacy and future of this hidden gem tucked away in the northwest corner of the district. The group included students, families, teachers, administrators, school board members, volunteers, architects, project managers—and even a drumline from Stratford High School, where many Sherwood students will eventually attend.

“It’s very sweet; we’ve been waiting for it for a very long time,” said Maria Reza, a former Sherwood teacher whose four children now attend the school. “It’s amazing to have a new school for our kiddos. They deserve it, so I am really happy for them.”

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Warm Sentiments on a Cold Day

After a flag ceremony led by Sherwood fifth-grade patrols, the group was welcomed by Dr. Jennifer Blaine, SBISD Superintendent of Schools, and Courtney Anderson, SBISD Board Vice President. Both spoke with pride and excitement about Sherwood's legacy of excellence, which will continue at the new state-of-the-art campus, set to be built in the next two years.

Also sharing thoughts on the legacy and bright future of Sherwood Elementary were Assistant Principal Jennifer Pluchino, Multi-Classroom Leader Assael Guzman, and Dave Coles, a community partner from Pines Presbyterian Church.

Commemorations of this milestone event were presented to Dr. Blaine by representatives from several local offices, including Peyton Archie from Rep. Wesley Hunt's District 38 office, Maida Guillen from Harris County Commissioner Leslie Briones' office, and District A Councilwoman Amy Peck, who was also in attendance.

Agents of Change

A musical performance by the Sherwood Eagles choir, led by “Dr. B” (Andrew Breuniger), underscored the message that children are at the core of why it’s important to learn and grow in modern, inspirational facilities. “We are the agents of change, we are the ones who make it happen,” sang the choir, echoing the upbeat message of the song.

The Sherwood Elementary rebuild project is made possible through SBISD’s 2017 Bond Program. Each bond project includes a project advisory team, made up of parents, staff, and community members, who provide input on the design of the campus.

The unveiling of the new school’s design was met with awe and cheers from the crowd. The sleek, modern design features a colorful entrance, large windows, and a two-story wing.

Lots of Groundbreakers

The campus rendering reveal was followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking, led by Dr. Blaine, senior staff, and project team members. In a nod to their legacy as the final students to attend the old Sherwood school, originally opened in 1968, fourth and fifth graders had the honor of breaking ground for the new school, complete with golden shovels and hard hats.

Sherwood Elementary students and staff will be temporarily housed at the district’s south transition facility for approximately two years while the new campus is under construction.

Heather Lilley, whose fourth-grade son sang in the choir at the groundbreaking event, said, “I’m a little sad that Andrew won’t get to come back to the new school, but I’m glad we will get to experience it with James (kindergarten).”

She added that the new school will attract many new families to the neighborhood, in addition to those who applied and were accepted into Sherwood’s two-way dual language program. “A new school is a big selling point,” said Lilley.

Sherwood is one of SBISD’s three elementary campuses offering Two-Way Dual Language instruction, which serves both native English speakers and native Spanish speakers. Courses are taught in both English and Spanish, leading to stronger academic outcomes and bilingual proficiency. Students accepted into the Sherwood Dual Language program begin in pre-K as part of the district's Choice Programs lottery.

No Matter Where We Are

Although the Sherwood ‘family’ will be temporarily housed at the south transition facility during construction, the goal is to carry the welcoming values with them wherever they are located. “We are a community; we really care about the culture,” said Maricarmen Easley, a multi-classroom leader at Sherwood. “We want to be welcoming to everybody, so we want to continue that wherever we go. We want to keep the community and culture we strive for going.”

Did you know...?

• Sherwood Elementary is the sixth school to be replaced under the 2017 Bond Program.
• In December 2024, students and staff will temporarily relocate to the South Transition Campus (STC).
• The new Sherwood will be designed to accommodate 750 students.
• Construction is set to begin in early 2025.

#SBISDProud