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Jon Enloe
Most of us attended not only Waltrip, but Black Junior High. Black fell on hard times more than a decade ago--gangs and drugs made it an undesirable place to send a child. Enrollment dropped to 435 from 1800 students when we were there. Four years ago HISD appointed a strong new principal with a mandate to clean up the school. Two thirds of the faculty were replaced with bright young idealistic teachers--many of them alums of Teach for America. These young teachers changed that school. From three hundred disciplinary referrals five years ago, the school has gone to three this year. They have instituted a rewards program for the kids, and written grant proposals to bring a karate program, art program, and dance program to the school. A junior ROTC program is also in place, and next year they will have a band once again. Chevron is funding a computer and robotics lab, and the school is being renovated to include 6 new science labs and a separate building for 6th graders. Best of all, neighborhood parents have started a "Friends of Black Middle School" movement, and the neighborhood kids are returning to the school. I recently visited the school, not expecting much, and came away so excited to see what is happening. If you live in Houston, please consider signing a petition that the Friends of Black are taking to the school board seeking a Vanguard (gifted student) program for the school. Cut and past this web address in your browser: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/vanguard-designation-for-frank-black-middle-school.html
To find out what the Friends of Black Middle School are doing, check out their facebook site: www.facebook.com/FrankBlackMiddleSchool
I am sure that you are as pleased as I am to see the renaissance that is happening in our old neighborhood--good schools, an enlarged library, renovated homes, and best of all children growing up safely.
Pat Bissonnet
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Good morning fellow Waltripians. I'm just posting these doggie pics to get a little dialog going here. This is my dog Liz. The top picture is her when I found her abandoned at T. C. Jester Park May 5, 2010. She weighed 3 lbs, with a load of intestinal worms, fleas and a case of ringworm. The lower picture is Liz on Sunday following the class reunion on Saturday. Approaching her first birthday she now weighs 42 lbs., is going to obedience school. As you can see when she fetches a stick, she fetches a STICK! It has been a challenge raising a puppy after a long spell of taking in grown shelter dogs. She is sweet nature and smart as a whip. She is a joy.