November 6, 2009
Spring ISD will dedicate Dr. Edward Roberson Middle School, the district’s first middle school of choice, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Located in the former Westfield Ninth Grade Center at 1500 Southridge, the facility has been renovated to accommodate 1,200 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students enrolled in a non-traditional curriculum that focuses on math, science and the fine arts.
The event will begin with a dedication ceremony that will include a ribbon cutting. Following the ceremony, guests will have the opportunity to watch student performances and view examples of student work.
“I am very encouraged by what I am seeing the students do instructionally,” said Thad Gittens, Roberson principal. “It is clear that our students are doing things differently from what I have been used to seeing within a regular middle school setting, and this is our opportunity to show the community what the students are learning.”
Gittens said the performances will include a dance number, piano ensemble, theatrical presentation and a step show. Displays will include artwork, photography and examples of what’s being accomplished in the core subject areas and the Career and Technical Education program.
The school is named after Dr. Edward Roberson, a man who made significant contributions to the development and administration of healthcare in the North Houston area for nearly four decades. He was chairman of the management committee that was instrumental in establishing the Houston Northwest Medical Center on what was then called Jack Rabbit Road. Since its completion in 1973, HNMC has grown to become North Houston’s largest full-service tertiary care hospital, with much credit going to Roberson who served as the hospital’s first chief of staff and as chairman of the board until his death in 2005.
The influence of Dr. Roberson will be obvious as guests enter the foyer where a glass case exhibits memorabilia from Dr. Roberson’s past, including his years as a razorback at the University of Arkansas. The razorback mascot now represents Roberson Middle School as well, although the school’s colors are black and gold.
As guests tour the displays of student work they will have the opportunity to see how the building has been adapted to meet the needs of the non-traditional curriculum being offered at the school. The facility was renovated by PBK Architects and Miner-Dederick Construction. |
