Wisdom high school receives $35,000 donation to help economically disadvantaged students
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The official newspaper and website of M.L. Wisdom High School, Houston, Texas
WWW.WISDOMHSNEWS.COM Winter 2022 Volume 1 @wisdomhsnews
Wisdom high school receives $35,000 donation
to help economically disadvantaged students
Wisdom High School received a donation of $35,237.74 from Office Depot/Office Max, and their customers to provide in-
structional resources to students and teachers. Office Depot/Office Max selected Wisdom High School because the campus
serves a total population of 2064 students, 98% of which are economically disadvantaged, and more than 1300 are emergent
bilinguals. Wisdom High School students originate from more than 40 coun-
tries and speak more than 60 languages.
Administrators accepted the generous donation and the school’s first shipment
of donated resources in October. The donation goes beyond traditional school
supplies. Office Depot/Office Max will also provide food, technology, hygiene
supplies, and other products needed by Wisdom High School’s students and
their families, many of whom are first-generation Americans.
“Frequently, a child’s challenges go well beyond the classroom. Some need
food, clothing, and other essentials. HISD’s wraparound services specialists help to solve those problems. This donation from
Office Depot/Office Max will help provide for the needs of students and their families. We are incredibly grateful for this
generous donation,” HISD Superintendent Millard House II said.
By Sherlyn Yanes
Waxler Gets Band program Up & Running
Our new band and music instructor is Mr. Waxler, who is in his second year here at Wisdom. He has grown the band program
to about 50 students, all basically from nothing when he arrived. Some of these students either practiced band in middle school
or decided to try something new and fun.
“Right now, my students only spend time prac-
ticing during the class periods,” said Waxler.
“But some students ask for personal practice
time, so we are planning to have more after
school to get ready to for a big performance in
August.”
The Generals Band will be working all summer
in Waxler’s inaugural summer band camp, to
begin learning the marching show for the fall
and begin performing like other schools do, such
as at halftime of football games, and in competi-
tions.
Waxler teachers about wind instruments such as
the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trom-
bone, baritone and tuba and he also has a percus-
sion class to teach about playing drums and keyboard instruments like xylophone and marimba.
“I truly believe that band is a very important way to help students become more successful and more well-rounded throughout
high school,” said Waxler. “It is not only beneficial for reading and performing skills, but also for learning how to work to-
gether in a diverse group of people and understand your role in an outcome of a performance. Music students are great at get-
ting along with people who are different than them, as well as setting goals and completing them.”
Mr. Waxler’s favorite part about band is the camaraderie and community that is created and the friendships and memories
with other students that can last a lifetime. He says bands create a sense of belonging and family that can help students navi-
gate the crazy world of being in high school. He encourages a positive and healthy classroom environment that is relaxed,
where students can continue to mature into adults.
Page 2 Wisdom Chronicle
Meet Some of our New Wisdom Teachers
Katherine Flores - ESL Mr. Miller - Aquatic Science,
Katherine Flores graduated from Trinity University Environmental Systems
in San Antonio. Before acquiring a job at Wisdom, Mr. Miller graduated from Texas A&M
Ms. Flores worked in industrial equipment sales and University-Galveston after attending
Crossing Borders Language Institute. The most ex- Friendswood HS. He is most excited
citing thing for her as an ESL teacher is getting to about having the opportunity to teach a
know her students and learning strategies that can diverse body of students about a high
help make learning easier for them. Her hobbies level of science. His favorite part about
include volleyball, crafting and reading. teaching is sharing interesting stories
and facts, along with experiencing
Hayley Hendrix - Principles of Education moments of comprehension.
Ms. Hendrix graduated from Sam Houston State Uni-
versity. Prior to teaching, she was an operation and David Perrin– English
design manager at a retail corporation. She is most Mr. Perrin has taught at Rice Univer-
excited to experience the different cultures and lan- sity, Houston Community College and
guages here at Wisdom. Her favorite thing about the University of St. Thomas. He
teaching is being able to meet and interact with stu-
graduated from St. Thomas and before
dents from many unique backgrounds. Outside of
school, she is a competitive weightlifter. becoming a teacher, he worked in the
oil & gas industry. Mr. Perrin is most
Kristin Tillotson- Business excited to work with the exceptional
Ms. Tillotson graduated from East Tennessee State students here at Wisdom. He enjoys
University, where she received her bachelors and spending time with his dog, Shark,
masters degrees in accounting. She later worked in along with cycling and swimming.
that area for four years, but she is excited to use her
background in business to help students fulfill their Cameron Shih - English
passions and dreams. “I love helping with a chal- Mr. Shih is thrilled to be a first year
lenging problem and seeing that ah-ha moment,” teacher. Previously, Shih studied at
Tillotson said. Texas A&M University and has a lot
of knowledge that he is ready to share
Joseph Green - ESL US History with students, to see how he impacts
Mr. Green attended Augsburg College in Minneap- their life. He enjoys watching sports
and likes to engage in them. Although
olis, Minnesota and later graduated from Southern
he is new to teaching, Shih is not
Methodist University in Dallas. The most exciting scared but rather excited and cannot
part about being a new teacher for him is having the wait to watch his students’ knowledge
opportunity to live in a new part of town, talking expand and hopes that what they have
about history with all of his students. gained will help them in the future.
Generals Athlete spotlight: Basketball
Wisdom High School Senior Basketball On the Boys Varsity Basketball team
player Lesly Zelaya Gomez was born in we have senior Yunus Ali, who was
Houston and has shown a great amount also born in Houston, According to
of passion for the sport all four years that Coach Dunn, he is on the path to
she has been a General. Her journey with basketball success. Ali’s journey began
basketball began when she was just 11 when he was 14 during his freshman
years old, and with the inspiration and year. But he continues to grow his skills
motivation of her parents, coaches, and in the sport with the inspiration of his
teammates, she continues on her path to parents.
success. “My parents encourage me to be and to
“My love for the game motivates me to do better, both as a person and in
become a better athlete,” Gomez said. “The spirit and the energy from athletics.”
my teammates and coaches encourages me to be the best that I can be.” Being on the Generals Basketball team has made impactful changes
Her choice to play basketball comes from the many things that make it in his life and he says it has become a coping mechanism for him
stand out and the many differences it has compared to other sports. during various occasions.
“Basketball is unique in that it has elements that other sports don’t “Basketball means a lot to me, it has helped me build new
have,” she said. “It is a growth of mentality; a chance to learn from relationships, it’s helped me get through some hard times,” Ali said.
mistakes and helps you become the best version of yourself.” “But more than that, it has helped me become a much better person.”
Lesly is still coming to terms whether or not to continue with the sport Yunus plans to continue with the game after high school as he hopes
after high school, but if an opportunity is presented, she would not to reach his ultimate goals.
hesitate. “I’m undecided about whether to play basketball after high “I am hoping to take it as far as I can, either earning an opportunity
school” she said. “But if the opportunity presents itself, I would to play in college or possibly overseas.”
definitely take it in order to accept the challenge.”
Page 3
Go Camping This Summer The art of dance
By Julian Cabrera By Mohammed Tamimie
The Woods Project is committed to “Dance enables you to find yourself
building and supporting a community of and lose yourself at the same time” -
active inclusion. They encourage Debbie Allen
students to recognize and embrace their Wisdom’s dance teacher Ms. Janae
full potential thereby enabling them to Witter has her way of helping kids
change their life trajectories for the that are lagging with their dancing
better. They promote a culture free from skills to catch up to speed. If her
bias for all students and volunteers, of student does not catch up from
every race, ethnicity, gender, gender previous lessons or the reteach time,
expression, ability, and religious Witter will assign an advanced
identity. student to help the lagging student
The Woods Project not only gives students a chance to catch up with the class progress.
demonstrate their leadership skills, but it gets kids out of their “I like to motivate and inspire my
comfort zone and allows them to take charge while also making students by letting them know at the
new friends. Students go on an exciting trip in the country seeing beginning of the year that the dance room is a judgement
beautiful scenery and creating memories with camp leaders. free zone,” said Witter.
“Students deserve a chance to be themselves and express their To become a great dancer, it takes confidence, being in
passion and I believe the Woods Project is the best way to do tune with your emotions, agility, dedication, and an open
that,” said Ms. Forssman, who runs the project for Wisdom high mind. A good way to start dancing is to turn on some
school. “This year, we plan on taking students to Washington music. Dance is literally a universal language from the
state on a two-week hiking trip, exploring new and beautiful sight bobbing of your head as a baby to the rhythm of your
seeing landmarks you can’t possibly imagine.” walk down the hallway.
“Being in the Woods Project allowed me to grow over the Witter’s dance class recently performed the Winter
summer, both as a person and as a leader,” said Wisdom senior Dance Showcase that consisted of the entire dance
Feraidon Abdul Rahimzai. “I experienced a real transformation. department performing different styles of dance,
Since the summer trip, I am a lot more open and willing to take including Salsa, Hip Hop, Modern, Lyrical, and much
command of a situation.” more. Student evaluations are done by movement quizzes
To find out how to become a part of The Woods Project, contact and a combination of dance steps for each style unit.
Ms. Forssman in the main office. They are evaluated over memory, proper technique,
rhythm, and performance.
Meet Interim Principal Kenneth Brantley
By Marisol Hernandez
Wisdom High School would like to welcome our new Interim Principal Kenneth
Brantley, who was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. Brantley attended
Evangel Christian Academy in high school, where he was heavily involved in
activities and sports such as football, track and student government.
After later graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in
education, and playing on the football team, Brantley started his journey into public
education. Prior to working in Houston ISD, he served as an 8th grade US History
teacher, Assistant Principal and a coach in Aldine ISD at Stovall Middle School. Then
in 2015, he began serving as a Principal at Patrick Henry Middle School, where he
learned the ins and outs of that leadership role for 4 years.
“Knowing there are people that depend on me, setting a good example to students,
teachers and staff here at Wisdom and being able to provide inspiration as a leader and
role model, are the things that motivate me every day,” Brantley said. “I hope that I
can inspire students to believe that they can be whatever they desire to be and achieve
what they desire to achieve.”
How to fix your NG’s and Get Credit Recovery
Wisdom High School Students can now recover lost class credit due to absences by attending Saturday NG tutorials.
Tutorials will occur a couple of times per semester and will be held at school. If students get an NG for a class, it means
that they passed the class, but did not receive credit because of attendance, students need a certain amount of credits in
order to graduate. “Students begin to lose credit in a class after 3 unexcused absences,” Ms. Echeverz said. “That is why it
is so important you bring excuse notes any time you have to be out because of a doctor, any legal appointment, or if you
are not feeling well.” Students must be approved to attend; they can message Ms. Echeverz on Teams to sign up.
The Wisdom High School band performing at the Fall Homecoming Pep Rally.
(Left)
The Starlettes get their groove
on during their performance at
the pep rally.
(Right)
Starlettes Destiny Smith &
Dulce Macha sit with their
teammates, observing the show.
Your 2022
Wisdom
Cheerleaders
The Lady Generals Volleyball Team poses with
the Wisdom flag.
M.L. Wisdom High School
2017-21 UIL Journalism Chief Editor: Marisol Hernandez
5A District Champions Reporters: Julian Cabrera,
The Wisdom Chronicle Tania Solano, Mohammed
www.wisdomhsnews.com Tamimie, Sherlyn Yanes
Follow us on Twitter: Adviser: David Fanucchi
@wisdomhsnews
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