New Zwink Elementary prepares for first day of classes

Zwink Elementary opens its doors to students Monday, Aug. 27. "I am proud to have such a phenomenal team of educators here at Zwink," says principal Jenny McGown.

Zwink Elementary, Klein Independent School District's 28th elementary campus, is prepared to open to more than 800 students Monday, Aug. 27.

The school, located at 22200 Frassati Way in Spring, is part of the 2008 bond project devoted to growth, renovations, safety, security and technology in the district.

"We have high expectations for ourselves and everyone, including parents, students and staff members," principal Jenny McGown said, according to a press release. "Support has to be given by all to ensure success, and here at Zwink we are focused on having this at the core of our accomplishments."

The 125,000-square-foot school was built to meet the standards of a Texas Collaborative for High Performance Schools Verified campus. Its design contains seven classrooms grouped into separate wings by grade level. It is the second Klein ISD campus to be built to these requirements.

The green campus includes a water-harvesting tank, low-flow plumbing fixtures, light shelving units, use of daylight for reduced lighting fixtures, a cool roof and interactive displays of real-time utility data. The school is also technology-driven, housing several interactive monitors that allow students to view things such as the weather. It will also be participating in the district's iPad pilot program, which allows first and second grades to use the devices as part of instruction.

The staff includes 17 former district and campus employees of the year.

"I am proud to have such a phenomenal team of educators here at Zwink," McGown said in the press release. "They are incredibly positive, and kids learn best around people who are purposefully enthusiastic, smile and are just plain glad to be here. This kind of positivity is the environment that I wanted to create at Zwink."