Marshall MS Student Rewarded For ‘Doing Write Thing’

(Web Team)Marshall Middle School student Jordyn Turner will head to Washington D.C. this summer to serve as a Houston/Harris County ambassador at the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The seventh grader, her parents and her school principal were surprised with the news at a special ceremony at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, May 11, 2013 which brought together student finalists who wrote essays examining the problems of youth violence.

“Jordyn is a unique, spirited individual who really cares about making a difference at school and in her community,” said Marshall Middle School Principal Michael Harrison. “We are so proud of her.”

This spring, Turner and nearly 17,000 middle school students from 39 school districts in Harris County wrote essays that addressed the issues of causation, effects and solutions to violence as part of the Do the Write Thing Challenge program. The program is an initiative of the National Campaign To Stop Violence, a non-profit, non-partisan, organization composed of community, business and governmental leaders who have come together to reduce youth violence across the United States. Since its inception, it is estimated that more than 1,000,000 students have participated in the challenge.

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Houston Astro Pitches In To Help With District Literacy Efforts

He may be a catcher for the Houston Astros, but Jason Castro is pitching in to help HISD with its comprehensive literacy efforts. Castro and his wife, Maris, have created a new literacy initiative called Castro’s Kids which will be providing funds, books and incentives to supplement HISD’s Name that Book competition and the district’s successful Millionaire Club Summer Reading Program.

“Maris and I couldn’t be more dedicated and excited to launch Castro’s Kids,” said Castro during HISD’s Name that Book Fair event on May 11, 2013 at the Bellaire Barnes and Noble. “We attribute not only meeting each other, but many of the opportunities we have been given throughout our lives, to education. By promoting literacy in the Houston school districts, we hope to make an impact in the area that we are proud to call our home.”

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‘Career Cowboy’ targeting career education in HISD elementary schools

Think back to when you were a child. What did you want to be when you grew up: a doctor, lawyer, or fighter pilot?

Now, elementary-age students can interact with hands-on exhibits and activities that can map out a career path in numerous professions.

HISD’s Career and Technical Education department has developed a free, mobile learning program designed to teach students about professional careers and the types that are available in the Houston area. Students could soon see the Ready Wagon bus pull up to their campus and have the chance to meet the “Career Cowboy”.

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HISD Plans to Preserve Schools’ Historical Architecture

Lamar High School was built in 1937 in a distinctive Art Deco style.

Lamar High School is known as a school that has graduated award-winning journalists and authors, and Nobel laureates and professional athletes over the years. While Houstonians embrace the school’s rich alumni culture, few realize that the building’s structure has its own legacy with a deeply rooted foundation in its surrounding community.

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Team HISD extends teacher application deadline

Because of the overwhelming response and interest in teaching positions for the 2013-14 school year, we have decided to extend our spring application deadline to May 22, 2013.

If you are passionate about teaching and committed to boldly impacting student achievement, we urge you to apply for a teaching position with HISD. To get started, simply click here and follow all instructions.

While vacancies exist in all areas, HISD has a high need for instructors with strong backgrounds in the following areas:

  • Bilingual teachers — More than 60,000 students in HISD have limited proficiency in English. We’re looking for experienced bilingual teachers who hold their students to high expectations and are passionate about opening doors for English language learners.
  • Science, technology, engineering, and math teachers — HISD is actively recruiting STEM teachers who are invested in preparing our students to compete in a 21st century economy. We are filling positions districtwide including those at our two new STEM magnet schools, The Energy Institute High School and the Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan.

Five-thousand dollar incentives are available, while they last, for teachers hired for the 2013-2014 school year to teach in critical shortage areas including: bilingual (Spanish), Spanish, secondary math, secondary science, and special education areas such as autism, life skills, Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities, DeafEd, and behavior support.

Board of Education Approves 11 More Contracts for Work Related to 2012 Bond

Selected projects include five more schools and athletic facility upgrades

May 9, 2013 – The HISD Board of Education authorized the district to negotiate design contracts with six firms on selected 2012 bond projects, including two of the district’s renowned specialty high schools – DeBakey High School for the Health Professions and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

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Student Creations to Cruise in Art Car Parade

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 →

Ten HISD Seniors Awarded National Merit Scholarships

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.

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Austin/Chavez Livestock Show auction raises more than $80,000

Grand Champion Lamb: Andrea Ruiz, Austin HS, $6,170. (Web Team) The seventh annual Austin/Chavez Livestock Show, held at Austin on March 20-23, shattered its auction totals, attendance and sponsorship records.

The auction raised $80,856.65 — approximately double the amount raised in previous years.

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May 8 is National School Nurse Day

National School Nurse Day, May 8, celebrates the dedication each of HISD’s 280 school nurses has to the health and wellness of every student.

School nurses are not just there for students who scrape a knee or have a runny nose. They also promote disease prevention and, according to the National Association of School Nurses, spend about 32 percent of their time providing mental health services.

School nurses have specialized knowledge, skills, and judgment to manage complex medical conditions and chronic health illnesses to keep students healthy, in class, and ready to learn. The most common condition HISD school nurses treated last year was asthma.

Overall, less than 20 percent of the students who see a school nurse end up needing to go home.

Take a moment on Wednesday to say thanks to the nurse at your school. He or she is dedicated to keeping students healthy in and out of the classroom.

School Year is Nearing an End, But Bond Work is Revving Up for the Summer

Atherton Elementary on the city's northeast side is scheduled to open for students in August.

The school year is winding down for students, but for architects and construction companies working for HISD, the summer promises to be busier than ever.

More than 60 construction projects are slated to be in full swing when the school year ends June 6. The work will mark another milestone in the 2007 bond program, which has included more than 180 expansion, renovation and maintenance projects across the district.

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HISD Hosting Career Informational, Job Fair Events for North Forest ISD Employees

The Houston Independent School District is reaching out to North Forest school employees who are interested in applying for positions with HISD.

Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams has ordered HISD to annex North Forest ISD effective July 1.

The first outreach event is a job information session exclusively for North Forest ISD employees.  The session will be conducted on Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Delmar –Tusa Athletics Center, 2020 Mangum.

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May 7 is National Teacher Appreciation Day

Teachers pour their hearts and souls into everything they do for Houston’s children more than 170 days out of every year. Be sure to take some time on Tuesday, May 7, to say thanks to a teacher as part of National Teacher Appreciation Day. It’s a day to honor and celebrate a teacher that has made a difference in your life or in the lives of your children.

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HISD, UST Offering Master’s in Special Education Leadership

Those interested can attend informational session on May 15

HISD is expanding its current partnership with the University of St. Thomas to offer a Master’s of Education in Special Education Leadership through a grant program. The district already collaborates with UST to offer a Master’s in Business Administration program for aspiring principals. Like its predecessor, this special education master’s degree features greatly reduced tuition, principal certification and participation in a cohort group that will remain with each other throughout the program. Continue reading →

Lee High School Called ‘Turnaround Success’ by Department of Education

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.

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HISD Wins Big at HEB Excellence in Education Awards

HEB Houston President Scott McClelland with Fondren ES Principal Mike Walker

Three HISD educators won top honors at the HEB Excellence Awards on May 3, 2013, and brought home a combined total of $75,000 for their schools.

Mike Walker, the principal at Fondren Elementary, received top honors in the elementary principal category. He received a $10,000 prize and a $25,000 grant for his school.

High School for the Visual and Performing Arts Principal R. Scott Allen was also awarded a $10,000 cash prize and a $25,000 grant for his school. “Winning this award speaks volumes to the importance of combining arts with a rigorous education to create well-rounded, successful students,” said Dr. Allen. He plans to use the $25,000 grant to create a yearly scholarship for an at-risk student on his campus.

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Say Thanks During Teacher Appreciation Week

Teachers pour their hearts and souls into everything they do for Houston’s children more than 170 days out of every year. Thus, the Houston ISD extends its gratitude during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 6-10, 2013, to the more than 10,000 teachers who educate our students.

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Nominate HISD’s Next Employee of the Month!

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.

 

HISD Hosts Inaugural Districtwide Special Olympics Field Day

Students, parents, and volunteers ventured out to the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on Thursday to show their support on day one of the first annual Houston ISD Special Olympics Field Day. On May 2 and 3, the HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas are joining together to host the inaugural districtwide event to provide athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

More than 1,200 HISD elementary, middle, and high school students are participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball throw events. During opening ceremonies, participants were all smiles as student representatives and HISD student volunteers lit the Olympic torch and proudly pledged the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

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STAAR Results Begin To Arrive

HISD parents of students in select grades will be receiving a portion of their child’s STAAR exam results over the next week. The Texas Education Agency has released STAAR reading and math scores for students in the fifth and eighth grades only.

HISD elementary and middle schools are now currently distributing the scores to parents and students as well as informing them about the accelerated instruction and intervention resources that will be made available to those who failed one or both subjects. Fifth and eighth grade students who failed the reading and/or math portions of STAAR will retake one or both STAAR exams on May 14 and 15.

The TEA is making results for fifth and eighth graders available earlier than others because students in those grades must pass the math and reading sections to be promoted. All other STAAR subject results for student in grades 3-8 will be released by the TEA and distributed by HISD to students and parents on or before May 31. Ninth and tenth grade students will take STAAR end of course exams from May 6-17. EOC scores will be released to the TEA and distributed to HISD students and parents on or before June 14.

This is the second year students in grades 3-10 are taking the STAAR exam, and unlike last year STAAR scores in certain subjects can determine whether or not a child is promoted to the next grade. See below for a full list of promotion standards for the 2012-2013 school year. 

Grade Level Promotion Standards
1 and 2
  • Students must pass High Frequency Word Test – Recognizing and reading words that appear very often in written and spoken language.
  • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies.
  • Students must have sufficient attendance*

 
3, 4 and 5
  • Students must pass STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) in reading and math.
  • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies.
  • Students must have sufficient attendance*

 
6, 7 and 8
  • Students must pass STAAR in reading and math.
  • State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and a local requirement of an average of 70 or above in three of the four core courses: Language arts (average of reading and English), mathematics, science, and social studies.
  • Students must have sufficient attendance*

 
9 – 12
  • Students are promoted based on their total accumulated course credits prior to the beginning of the next school year.
  • Individual course credit is earned through a passing grade of 70% or above and sufficient attendance*

 

*Sufficient attendance: A student’s total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings.

For English Language Learners, the Grade Placement Committee (GPC) in consultation with the Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) will determine promotion standards.
For students with disabilities, the campus ARD/IEP committee will determine the promotion status based on mastery of IEP goals and objectives and /or course requirements.

If your child does not meet Promotion Standards, your school will contact you for further opportunities to receive additional instruction.