The Woodlands area is hosting a variety of local events this holiday season. The scheduled activities include:

• The Junior League Preview Party & Holiday Market from Nov. 20-22

• The Woodlands Ice Rink season opening on Nov. 20

• A Family Movie Night featuring Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory on Nov. 20

• A free Household Hazardous Waste Drive-Thru on Nov. 21

• The Lighting of the Doves festival on Nov. 21

• The 37th annual YMCA Run Thru the Woods on Nov. 26

• Class Act Productions presenting A Christmas Carol from Dec. 3-13

• The Signatures Author Series featuring Katherine Center on Dec. 4

EoS Fitness is planning a new location in The Woodlands, with construction on a 42,162-square-foot facility scheduled to start in February. According to a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing, the project is located at the southeast corner of FM 1488 and Buckshot Lane and will take one year to complete.

The gist: The gym offers amenities and services at its locations, including:

• A swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and steam room

• EoS kids' clubs

• Group fitness classes

• Private training sessions

📍 FM 1488 and Buckshot Lane, The Woodlands

On Nov. 9, the Tomball ISD board of trustees reviewed a report on 15 new courses offered at the junior and high school levels for the next school semester. Michael Webb, TISD Chief Academic officer, presented the report, which includes seven new courses planned for the Tomball Academy of Future Educators and eight planned for the Tomball Virtual Academy of Cybersecurity.

What parents should know: The Academy of Future Educators is a program run out of Tomball West High that provides a debt-free pathway for students to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate's degree. The proposed courses include:

• Grade 10: Dual credit chemistry and dual credit child development

• Grade 11: Dual credit Instructional practicum A&B

• Grade 12: Dual credit math for teachers and dual credit physical geology

The Virtual Academy of Cybersecurity, partnering with Sam Houston State University, will allow students to earn an associate degree or 60 transferable college credits. The proposed courses include:

• Grade 9: Foundations of cybersecurity

• Grade 10: Computer maintenance

• Grade 11: Interworking tech 1

• Grade 12: Practicum in information technology

From local churches to statewide traditions, see which organizations are collecting donations to feed Houstonians this holiday season. This list is subject to change and not comprehensive.

Participating organizations in Montgomery County include:

• Keep US Fed Montgomery County

• Montgomery County Food Bank

Lone Star College System did not cut any classes from its core curriculum after conducting a review mandated by Senate Bill 37, which went into effect in September 2025.

What’s happened: Under SB 37, governing boards of higher education institutions must review their core curriculum lists every five years, with the first review due by Jan. 1, 2027, according to the bill posted on the Texas Legislature’s website.

On Nov. 5, LSCS’s board of trustees unanimously approved a list of 135 courses for the college system’s core curriculum for the 2026-27 school year.

How we got here: A team of faculty members evaluated LSCS’s core curriculum list, in accordance with SB 37, from February to September.