Sutton is a TEA Recognized School and recognized by Texas Monthly as being one of Texas’ Best Schools last spring!!!!!
In an atmosphere of mutual respect and trust, Sutton’s teachers, students, parents, and staff will be cooperatively involved in creating and supporting an instructional program in which every student will attain maximum academic and social growth in a clean and safe environment.
Sarah Cripps-Rains, Principal
7402 Albacore, 77074
(713) 778-3400
http://es.houstonisd.org/SuttonES
Hours: 7:35 AM – 2:45 PM Mon., Tue., Thur., Fri.
7:35 AM – 1:05 PM Wed. (to allow for greater teacher collaboration which we are looking forward to leading to greater student achievement)
Uniforms: Blue bottoms, White tops
School Mascot: Bear
School Colors: Blue/white
SPOTLIGHT ON SUTTON ELEMENTARY (as published in October 2007 SCAN)
Sutton Elementary School is located in the heart of Section 1 and is just a really terrific school. They are proud of their “Recognized” status by TEA for the past two years and was named one of “Texas’ Best Schools” by Texas Monthly magazine in 2006. We were invited to a staff meeting by Principal, Sarah Cripps-Rains, to learn more about Sutton and the great things it has been doing.
The school is extremely proud of is its band and chorus, under the direction of Mr. Dwain Dancy. The routinely perform around Houston, including at area retirement homes. The band and chorus are open to all students beginning in 3rd grade (no auditions). Members get lots of attention during school, after school and during band camp during the summer. These kids blossom! Recently, they performed a program about Hispanic Heritage: A Culture of Music and Dance (check out the highlights at http://es.houstonisd.org/SuttonES/Learning/Music/index.htm). Sutton also hosts a large Music Festival in the Spring.
Academics at Sutton are highly stressed, and their goal is to enhance their student’s ability to learn. They have a math specialist, Edwin Dubon, who created a problem-solving board to help his students understand the step-by-step processes of problem-solving. This board is now being used by HISD Region IV as well as the ExxonMobil Initiative. They have made strong gains in science with the help of 2 science labs + assistants to help with the preparation, leaving time for the teachers to teach! This approach is working because their science scores have risen 30 points in 1 year. Students have a strong reading mastery program, funded in conjunction with the Rodeo Institute for Excellence and Title I funding.
Sutton definitely believes in competition: Their art program students compete in several art contests including the Houston Rodeo, Go Texans, and Houston Chronicle, and always seem to place in competition. Dianna Shapiro, Art Teacher, takes a comprehensive approach to art and you can read more about that at http://es.houstonisd.org/SuttonES/Learning/Art/index.dwt. Students also compete in math competitions, science competitions, “Name That Book”.
To help the children succeed as students and as people, they also have 3 computer labs, 3 PE teachers, a multi-lingual Counselor (English, Spanish, Vietnamese), an active PTO, active parents and a very active volunteer coordinator, Rosa De Pujadas. Homework help is offered after school, and there is a large Urban Harvest Garden (if any Sharpstown gardeners are interested in helping in the garden, contact Ms. De Pujadas). Sutton also offers help to parents and families through various programs including ESL, GED, parenting, computer, and abuse prevention classes (which are all open to the community). They even a “Ladies Forever” club of 5th grade girls who do service work (including making cards for the residents at the retirement homes the band/chorus visits), raise the American flag on the flagpole each morning, and learn poise and etiquette. The club has a wonderful installation ceremony each year.
It’s clear that Sutton’s principal, faculty, staff, students and parents have worked hard to achieve the high honors they have. As a former student of Sutton myself, I am truly pleased about the wonderful things Sutton is doing. It’s easy to see why it’s one of the top schools in Texas.