frequently asked questions

What is SPIRAL?

The Spring Branch Program for Improving Reasoning and Accelerating Learning, is the formal program for gifted and talented students in the Spring Branch Independent School District. SPIRAL classes are held at The Bendwood School.

Who attends SPIRAL?

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students who have been identified as gifted travel to Bendwood one day each week for SPIRAL classes. To see the GT identification process for SBISD, you can follow this link.

What day will my child attend SPIRAL?

Every campus is assigned a day of the week for the school year. To find out what day your campus will attend Bendwood for the school year, please contact your home campus. This schedule changes annually.

How will my child get to Bendwood?

SBISD provides bus transportation to and from Bendwood.

What the SPIRAL program hours?

Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where is Bendwood located?

12750 Kimberley Lane, Houston, TX 77024

How many SPIRAL teachers are at Bendwood?

Bendwood has nine SPIRAL teachers.

What is the SPIRAL curriculum?

Each teacher creates his/her own curriculum specific to his/her area of study. You can see the different areas of study here.

What do SPIRAL classes look like?

Classes are self-contained. Classes are multi-grade classrooms with students from all three grades, and all home schools assigned to that day, spread throughout the nine classes. Each student will attend one teacher's class in the fall and a different class in the spring.

When will parents be notified of SPIRAL class assignments?

Parents will be notified of class assignments at the beginning of the school year from their home campus. Students are assigned classes.

Can my child buy lunch at Bendwood Elementary?

Lunch is provided for FREE due to federal guidelines. The menu selection follows the SBISD elementary school menu.

How is SPIRAL funded?

The GATES Booster Club (Gifted and Talented Elementary Support) funds salaries for 6 of the 9 SPIRAL teachers and provides all the supplies that make SPIRAL an experiential learning environment.

The most a student can attend SPIRAL is six semesters. My child will not be able experience all nine of the available classes.  Can my child choose their classes?

Students are assigned to a class rotation with care being taken to ensure that there is balance in the classes by gender, grade and home campus.  Due to class sizes, students are not able to choose their classes.