‘A ripple effect of kindness’: TISD’s Hope Squad expands to reach more students sooner
Skyler Nguyen, a senior at Tomball Star Academy, won’t forget passing out “secret note[s] of kindness” and seeing the happiness on the students she handed the unexpected notes to. This is one of the missions of the Hope Squad, a mental health support program that allows students in all three Tomball ISD high schools to become trained peer supporters.
What you need to know: Hope Squad was created in 2024 amid a growing need to address mental health concerns in youth, according to a November 2024 news release about the squad. Now, for the 2025-26 school year, the group is expanding to junior high campuses so it can reach students earlier.
About the program: SteveShiels, who oversees Hope Squad districtwide, said the peer-nominated group of students are trained to recognize signs of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in their peers.
Stay tuned: Shiels said they plan to expand Hope Squad to all intermediate campuses over the next two to three years.
7 events happening this weekend in Tomball, Magnolia, Sept. 13-14
Need something to do this weekend? See this list of events going on throughout the Tomball and Magnolia area this weekend. This list is not comprehensive. Events are subject to change.
17th Annual Hummingbird Festival: Celebrate hummingbird migration with the Piney Woods Wildlife Society. Attendees can view hummingbird banding, enjoy live raptors with WildBird Adventures and take a guided nature walk.
Sept. 13, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Free
20303 Draper Road, Tomball
Thrive with Autism Foundation's Expo: Join Thrive With Autism's fourth Annual Montgomery County Children & Families Expo, featuring activities, interactive exhibits and valuable resources for families in the community.
Alpha School showcases expedited student learning through artificial intelligence alongside state, federal leaders
Austin-based private school Alpha School is aiming to expedite learning for more students using artificial intelligence at new academies opening across the country.
What happened: On Sept. 9, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in Austin alongside Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price highlighted how the school is using AI to personalize and improve students’ education.
What they're saying:“It's the most exciting thing I've seen in education in a long time,” McMahon said about Alpha School. “I'm incredibly enthusiastic about this.”
How it works: Students complete their academic learning in two hours each day using an AI platform known as 2 Hour Learning. Price said the Alpha School model enables students to learn twice as fast as they would in a traditional school setting.
The update: Alpha School opened several new academies across the United States this school year, including a K-3 school in Plano and K-8 school in Fort Worth. The company is planning to open an academy in Houston this winter.
Montgomery County DA’s Office launches human trafficking enforcement partnership
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has entered a multiyear partnership with the Human Trafficking Institute to expand local efforts to combat human trafficking, child exploitation and commercial sexual exploitation, according to a Sept. 9 news release.
Montgomery County is one of the first five counties in Texas to partner with Human Trafficking Institute, per the release.
What you need to know: The initiative will provide law enforcement, prosecutors and frontline agencies with training, investigative tools and subject-matter expertise aimed at improving victim identification, case outcomes and long-term enforcement strategies, according to the release.
Diving in deeper: The partnership began with a two-day training Sept. 8-9 at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe. Sessions covered Texas legal frameworks, proactive victim identification, advanced investigative techniques, digital evidence and cross-agency collaboration.
What’s next: The District Attorney’s Office and Human Trafficking Institute plan to continue hosting technical training sessions for law enforcement and prosecutors throughout the county. Officials said these efforts will build long-term capacity to better identify victims, investigate cases and hold traffickers accountable.
FOODIE FRIDAY Check out these new restaurants and bars opening across the Houston area.
Local Spot has opened its doors next to Adventure Island Pool in Cross Creek Ranch.
The new venture from Eat Local Concepts, which owns several Local Table locations in the Greater Houston area, aims to provide casual fare, classic bar bites and craft cocktails as well as menu favorites from Local Table, Community Impact reported.
🌮 Tacos El Sabor Callejero now serving Mexican cuisine in Kingwood (Read more)
🆕 Missouri City gets a taste of Hong Kong with no tipping required (Read more)
😋 Margarita Jones looks to open by end of September (Read more)
🍕 Bite Pizza Co. brings South Asian fusion to Sugar Land (Read more)
Designed to remind customers of a Parisian evening or a Bordeaux tasting room, Chateau Bellecru serves a curated selection of wines from vineyards across France, according to the business’s website.
The chateau sits near the intersection of I-10 and Studemont Street, hosting wine tastings and private celebrations, among other experiences.
The menu posted online states that a selection of red and white wines is updated weekly. The wine bar also offers rosé wines and nonalcoholic options as well as a selection of appetizers, including pastries and charcuterie boards.
