Tag Archives: Eastwood Academy

Eastwood Academy HS celebrates opening of new building additions

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Members of the East End community joined with the students and staff of Eastwood Academy on Friday, Oct. 19 to celebrate the completion and opening of the school’s new additions and renovations.

Built as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, the $10.9 million project was completed in two phases. The first phase, which opened in January of this year, included renovations to the existing building and construction of an administrative wing. Phase two, a two-story library wing, opened for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“Our students have long-deserved a place that reflects their tremendous achievements,” Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira said. “I am so grateful for the bond program, the district administrators, and the trustees, that they believed in making this building a reality for our students.” Continue reading

Eastwood Academy students enjoy first day in new addition

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Students at Eastwood Academy looked right at home in the recently completed two-story library wing on Monday, as they gathered for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s calm and chill. It makes me happy,” senior Josue Cruz said. “I’ll come here more often to study. It’s nice how things have changed.”

The school’s new addition – which is the final phase of the school’s 2012 Bond Program construction – features a two-story library expansion, additional teaching spaces, small and large group gathering areas, a community meeting room, and an enclosed walkway that connects to the main entrance. Continue reading

Eastwood Academy library addition nearing completion

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Eastwood Academy is set to open a new two-story library wing this August as crews put the finishing touches on the second and final phase of the school’s expansion and renovation project.

Installation of exterior masonry and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have been completed, and window installation is set to wrap up this week. Crews are in the process of hanging sheetrock inside the addition, which will be followed by internal inspections and installation of internal fixtures and finishes.     Continue reading

Eastwood Academy starts new year in new addition

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Eastwood Academy started 2018 with the opening of a new wing — the first of two additions being built for the school as part of the 2012 Bond Program.

Known as the “blue wing,” the building houses the main entrance to the facility, as well as a new student dining and multipurpose area, career and technical education classrooms, an athletics facility, and a large covered patio.

It eventually will connect to the school’s existing two-story classroom wing.

“Our students are enjoying the new amenities, and we already feel at home here,” Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira said. Continue reading

Eastwood Academy and Austin HS learn about college readiness from UHD president

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Students attend forums to learn about post-high school options

University of Houston-Downtown President Juan Munoz on Thursday visited with upperclassmen at Austin High School and Eastwood Academy, discussing the limitless opportunities of higher education – and bringing some exciting news to a few seniors.

Located less than five miles from UHD and only a six-minute walk between the two high school campuses, both Eastwood Academy and Austin High School are represented by HISD District VIII Board of Trustee Diana Davila, who joined Munoz on the college-readiness tour.

“It’s important for HISD to have forums like today that introduce another college option and allows for our students to interact with the decision-makers of a university,” Davila said. “Hopefully today, the students realize that there are people who care and are working hard to provide resources they need as they continue their education beyond high school.”  Continue reading

Lyons ES, Eastwood Academy named National Blue Ribbon Schools for second time

A month after catastrophe crippled the city, there’s a bright spot to celebrate in HISD.  Two of our schools have been named National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education:  Eastwood Academy and Lyons Elementary.

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and private exemplary campuses or those that are closing achievement gaps.  Eastwood and Lyons are among 26 public schools in Texas to receive the award this year, and both were named as “Exemplary High Performing Schools.”

Eastwood Academy, which is located in the East End, is a college prep high school.  Students here complete dual-credit courses, along with 80 hours of community volunteer work, before they graduate.  The principal attributes part of their success to the school’s focus on addressing the needs of individual students through social and emotional learning. Continue reading

Eastwood Academy to open new CTE building by year’s end

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Students returning to Eastwood Academy this fall will see plenty of construction activity around the campus as crews work to finish the first addition — known as the blue wing — in time for a December move-in.

“We were hoping that the entire project would be finished by December, but we understand things can change for a variety of reasons,” Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira said. “I see progress every day and will be happy to move into the blue wing in a few months.”

The project has seen delays due largely to unforeseen conditions, including the discovery of a large in-ground swimming pool, which had been filled with dirt and camouflaged with ground cover. Workers also found underground utility lines and storage spaces that were not documented on city site maps. Continue reading

HISD students raise SAT/PSAT scores by hundreds of points using free test prep from Khan Academy

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Two Booker T. Washington students have become national ambassadors for successful SAT/PSAT prep by  increasing their scores a combined 670 points, thanks to free practice tools available to every HISD student through Khan Academy.

In mid-October, the CollegeBoard flew Valencia Grayson and Matthew Blue to the Council of the Great City Schools fall conference in Miami, where they were honored for their success with the Khan SAT prep. HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza also attended the conference, where HISD was recognized for actively promoting the Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy.

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Eastwood Academy High School breaks ground on new building addition 

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Eastwood Academy High School stakeholders gathered at the campus on Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new addition being built as part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond program.

    U.S. Congressman Gene Green, HISD Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila, and HISD Chief School Officer Esther Omogbehin joined Eastwood Academy Principal Brandi Lira and nearly 100 students, parents, staff, and community members who turned out to celebrate the milestone.

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Two groundbreakings, a renaming, and a ribbon-cutting scheduled for first week in October

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Four HISD schools are celebrating significant milestones next week. Eastwood Academy and the High School for Law and Justice will both hold groundbreaking ceremonies to mark the start of construction on their new school buildings. Continue reading