Alief ISD was recently spotlighted by the Harris County Department of Education for the Memorial Hermann Alief Clinic. Located on Bear Ram Road, the clinic provides free health services to Alief students who attend Taylor High School, Hastings High School, Hastings Ninth Grade Center, Elsik High School, Elsik Ninth Grade Center, SOAR/LINC/NHS, Crossroads and Alief Middle School. Services include well child visits, illness visits, immunizations, school and sports physicals, asthma management, dietitian counseling, mental health counseling and dental services.

Hastings High School student Tia Jones and teacher Corey Brotherton worked side by side with Houston Rockets basketball player Dwight Howard this past weekend to teach basic basketball fundamentals to more than 300 children at Howard’s pro camp. Brotherton was selected from several coaches in the Houston area to be an instructor for the camp and had the opportunity to choose one player to volunteer for this opportunity. Jones was on the 23-6A All-District Basketball Team last year. She is also a member of the Hastings PALS, Accounting Club and is an AP student with a 3.3 grade point average. She is currently being recruited by several schools to play collegiate basketball.

The Taylor High School Speech and Debate Team had a dynamic showing at the Elkins High School Texas Forensic Association Qualifying Tournament. The team won the first place overall sweepstakes award, and several students received top honors.
• Connie Ogiamien – first place in both Student Congress and Novice Poetry
• Kaily Edison – first place in Dramatic Interpretation
• Jessica Daviss – first place in Humorous Interpretation
• Leticia Nketiah – first place in Novice Prose Interpretation and second place in Student
Congress
• Keturah Bridges – second place in Humorous Interpretation
• Hannah Ekwere – second place in Novice Prose Interpretation and third place in Novice
Poetry
• Ever Cruz – third place in Humorous Interpretation

Petrosky Elementary teacher Cheryl Walker was among 52 artists from around the country who was invited to showcase her artwork in the special annual Collector’s Edition of the national publication, Southwest Art Magazine. Next month, her watercolor piece, titled Another Day in Texas, will be included under the section, ONES TO COLLECT.

Horn Elementary Principal Mary Starling was selected to be a member of the Playworks Texas Board of Directors. She brings an educator’s perspective to Playworks and will be a liaison for Playworks in the community. Horn participates in the Playworks program, which provides academic enrichment and character-building opportunities to students during recess.

Albright Middle School teacher Patrick Sloan played the jazz bass as a featured artist in the rhythm section with 10-time Grammy-winning artist Arturo Sandoval. The sold-out concert was with the Symphony of Southeast Texas on September 19.