The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) is among two schools in the nation selected by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz to participate in a national “Peer-to-Peer Education” tour.
Six HSPVA students will be in Indianapolis May 20-24, 2013, to present jazz “informances” in public schools. Continue reading
Seven Eastwood Academy students and two Furr High School students have been selected to attend several prestigious learning programs this summer. All of the students are a part of EMERGE, an HISD program designed to help bright students from low-income families attend Ivy League and other top-tier colleges.
Eastwood students Jorge Garcia, Darryl Beronque and Nancy Aguilera have all been offered full scholarships to attend Cornell’s Catalyst Academy. Only 44 students nationwide were selected to participate in this prestigious summer engineering program held at the Ivy League College in Ithaca, New York.
Meanwhile Eastwood student Ivy Salinas and Furr High School students Sade Harnsberry and Karen Banda are headed to London, England this summer. They are three of only six students in the state to receive full scholarships from the British American Foundation of Texas to attend a summer course at the American Community School in London, England. Last week, over 200 people attended a special banquet that was held in their honor at the Houston Federal Reserve Building in Houston.
Partnership possible thanks to KBR’s support
Students at HISD’s Booker T. Washington High School are collaborating with students at the Ormiston Victory Academy in Norwich, England to build a mission on Mars, thanks to KBR’s Discover Engineering Committee.
The SAMbassadors program is designed to engage students in science and engineering projects with a global perspective. The students at both campuses Skype every other week to discuss the logistics of this project and share documents online. Each school has 25-30 students in the program.
One group of students has been determining environmental conditions on Mars such as wind speed, temperature, atmospheric gases, sunlight and shade, radiation and soil conditions. Another group is designing the living conditions. Meanwhile, the British students at Victory Academy are creating 3D CAD drawings.
The students from both campuses will Skype immediately following the press conference on Monday, May 20, 2013.
What: SAMbassadors, program to a build mission on Mars
Who: Aimee Yuan, KBR-DEC chairperson; Patrick Harkin, KBR-DEC outreach chair; Jack Kramer, KBR engineer; Dr. Nghia Le, engineering teacher, Washington High School; LaShonda Bilbo-Ervin, principal, Washington High School; Elizabeth Nolazco, student, Washington High School
When: Monday, May 20, 2013; Press conference – 9:30 a.m.; Skype interview – 10 a.m.
Where: Washington High School, 119 East 39th Street, Houston, 77018
Erik Herrera, a junior at the Houston Academy for International Studies, has been awarded one of 625 National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarships. The NSLI-Y program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides merit-based scholarships for eligible high school students to learn less commonly taught languages in summer and academic-year overseas immersion programs. NSLI-Y offers overseas study opportunities in Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Russian, and Turkish.
Click the photo to see more pictures from the Senior Summit
Students from Houston ISD’s early college campuses showcased a few of their senior service projects to their peers on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 during the annual Senior Summit.
Approximately 200 seniors from North Houston Early College, East Early College, Challenge Early College, Empowerment College Prep and the Houston Academy for International Studies watched as groups presented projects focusing on issues such as feeding the hungry, mentoring younger students, preventing bullying and promoting safe physical activity, among others. While the service projects are a requirement for graduation, college access coordinator for East Early College High School Lisa Green said many of her students laid groundwork for their projects to continue after they graduate.
Several students from two Houston ISD schools were recently recognized for completing the Youth Business Institute, an 11-week professional development program.
Students from Bellaire and Westbury high schools were mentored by TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods associates to learn job and life skills, including budgeting, resume building, interview preparation and attire, merchandising, goal setting and career exploration through job shadow days.
Eight schools are participating in this weekend’s parade
Students at the Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center are putting the finishing touches on an after school art project that will soon be seen by thousands of Houstonians. Art teacher Carolyn James-Taylor and a group of middle school students have created an entry for this year’s Art Car parade which will be cruising down Houston’s streets on Saturday, May 11, 2013, starting at 3 p.m. Continue reading
Winners selected from talent pool of more than 15,000 finalists
Ten Houston Independent School District students from five high schools have been named National Merit Scholarship winners and will each receive a scholarship for their undergraduate studies. The winners, selected from a pool of more than 15,000 finalists nationwide, were awarded based on their ability to demonstrate the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential success in rigorous college studies.
Earlier this year, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and members of his staff visited Lee High School to learn more about the campus’ turnaround efforts.
The next meeting of HISD’s Employee of the Month selection committee is right around the corner,
so don’t wait if you know someone who deserves to be nominated. HISD recently streamlined the process to make it easier than ever for people to submit a nomination. Just click here, fill in the fields, and press “done.” Your nomination will automatically be submitted for consideration at the next meeting. Please note that only employees serving in a non-instructional capacity (i.e. plant operators, secretaries, clerks, custodians, crossing guards, etc.) are eligible for this award.
More than 1,200 students to participate during two-day event
The HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas have partnered to host the inaugural districtwide Special Olympics Field Day, a two-day event to provide athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities, on May 2 and 3. More than 1,200 HISD students will be participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball toss events. Houston Texans players and coaches, along with volunteers from HISD’s athletics department, the University of Houston and Hewlett Packard, will be helping out with the event.
What: Inaugural HISD Special Olympics Field Day
Who: HISD Office of Special Education Services staff, HISD students, coaches, Houston Texans players and coaches, and University of Houston and Hewlett Packard volunteers
When: Thursday, May 2, 2013 (Elementary) and Friday, May 3, 2013 (Middle/High) from 9a.m. – 1p.m.
Where: Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex, 2020 Mangum Road
Tonya Woods of Lewis Elementary, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
HISD recognized eight of its most respected and effective administrators on May 1, as the Principals of the Year, First Year Principals of the Year, and Assistant Principals of the Year.
The administrators were nominated by colleagues, teachers, and students for their instructional leadership and efforts to boost student achievement, and the honorees were selected for their outstanding contributions to the district and their school communities.
Here are the 2013 honorees:
Assistant Principals of the Year
Sonja Williams of Madison High School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
First Year Principals of the Year
Principals of the Year
See photos of all the Principal of the Year winners.
Nicole Moore of Key Middle School, pictured with Houston ISD superintendent Terry Grier, is one of the district's Principals of the Year.
Superintendent of Schools Terry B. Grier congratulated the administrators during a ceremony at the monthly principals’ meeting. “There’s no doubt that these administrators represent excellence in leadership,” he said. “But there are many other equally deserving principals in this room.”
Sterling High School students in the automotive internship program pose with their mentors from the Transportation Services department.
Darrien Coleman plans to own his own auto repair shop one day, and although still in high school, he is already taking meaningful steps to achieve that dream.
The Sterling High School senior has been participating in an automotive internship program since last November that allows HISD students to work with members of the district’s own Transportation Department to learn the ins and outs of school bus maintenance.
Parents and students interested in attending The Energy Institute High School are invited to attend an open house on Thursday, May 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 West 18th Street). The new HISD magnet school is currently recruiting ninth grade students for the 2013-2014 school year. Subsequent grades will be added each year so that the campus will eventually serve students in grades 9-12.
Approximately 200 students listened to inspirational words about completing college from HISD Superintendent Terry Grier.
Hundreds of seniors made their intent to pursue higher education official at HISD’s first ever Academic Signing Day held at the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on April 26, 2013. Much like athletes are celebrated for committing to a college, HISD seniors who were awarded scholarships to attend a two or four-year university were honored at the district’s inaugural event.
“I think it’s wonderful that HISD is formally recognizing our students who have worked hard throughout high school and are now seeing the rewards of their academic efforts,” said Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo.
“Normally it’s only athletes that have a signing day,” said Jones High School senior Kiara St. John. “It’s pretty cool that we are getting recognized for our talents and accomplishments.”
When students at Sharpstown International learned of the April 20 earthquake in China’s Sichuan province, they were sparked to action. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake and its effects have claimed approximately 200 lives and injured thousands more, according to Chinese news agency Xinhua.
“As soon as we heard the news about the earthquake, the students were very thoughtful in thinking, ‘We need to do something for the victims,’ said Thuy Le-Thai, principal of Sharpstown International School. “So the art teachers, the Chinese teachers and the homeroom teachers have been working hard with them to express our thoughts and our love, and to express our condolences.”
Multiple Houston ISD schools are partnering with NASA to allow students the opportunity to produce equipment and apparatus for the space agency.
The HUNCH program, or High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware, is in its tenth year and has expanded to 13 states. In the program, based out of the Johnson Space Center, students to use their skills in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics to build various devices.
Representatives from more than 70 HISD schools will be on-site
April 25, 2013 – When it comes to selecting a school, parents and students at the Houston Independent School District have a multitude of options from magnet programs to preschool programs to career and technical education academies and early college high schools. Houston families will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from more than 70 HISD schools at the upcoming HISD School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).
“In HISD, we are committed to providing equity in access to quality educational programs for all students,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat. “We want to help families choose an ideal school for their children based on the students’ interests, talents, and needs.”
The schools at the fair are those that still have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. The representatives from these schools will be available to answer questions, provide detailed information about their campuses and help parents fill out the application on site.
Information will be provided about HISD’s magnet schools, early colleges, vanguard programs for gifted and talented students, preschool programs, multilingual programs and other specialty programs, including the district’s newest additions to its portfolio, the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and The Energy Institute High School. Parents and students have until May 16 to apply for these two new magnet schools that will feature a highly rigorous curriculum emphasizing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
For more information about the School Choice Fair, please contact the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.
Ceremony will honor students who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges
For the first time, the Houston Independent School District will honor seniors who have been awarded scholarships to attend two or four year universities or colleges during an academic signing day ceremony. The “Academic Ambassadors” will be recognized during a ceremony similar to ones held for senior student athletes. Five students from each high school will be recognized for academic excellence; overcoming personal obstacles; or for performing great service to their school or community. State Representative and Milby High school alumna Mary Ann Perez will serve as keynote speaker. HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman and HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will also deliver remarks. Following the ceremony, the media will have an opportunity to interview the students.
These students chose Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. Which school will your children be attending next year? Learn more about the options available at the School Choice Fair on April 27.
At HISD, parents and students have a multitude of education options. From Montessori and magnet programs to preschool programs and early college high schools, representatives from over 70 different HISD schools will be on-hand at the third annual HISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 27, at the Hattie Mae White Education Support Center (4400 West 18th Street).
Schools that have space for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year will be available at the fair to answer questions and provide more detailed information about their campuses, answer questions about the application and student transfer process, and assist parents with making the best school choice for their children.