Tag Archives: LEED

New bond schools to be built to sustainability requirements under LEED

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At HISD,  energy conservation and smart environmental design are important considerations in every new school. That’s why all new building projects under the current bond program are expected to meet certification requirements for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and is used to measure the sustainability of design, construction, operation, and maintenance of buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED certification provides independent verification of a building’s green features, allowing for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of resource-efficient, high-performing, healthy, cost-effective buildings.

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Henry MS students spend summer building garden at school

Incoming seventh-graders at Henry Middle School have spent their summer creating something beautiful and educational for their campus.

Teacher Terry Moore and his students have spent three weeks building a garden at the school, thanks to donated funds. The garden consists of 15 planters and a pond with a bridge. The students studied plant lifecycles, germination, and pollination before they chose the plants they wanted to nurture. They then took to constructing, digging, painting, and planting to bring the garden to fruition.

“This is a huge undertaking for the kids,” said Moore.
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Science Teachers Have Opportunity to Make Schools Greener

The National Wildlife Federation is hosting a workshop on Saturday, Nov. 2, for middle school science teachers to provide them with the framework to implement a student-based energy efficiency program at their school that applies STEM teaching methods.

Teachers who attend will receive a $100 stipend, 6 CPE credits and TEKS aligned curriculum. Schools that send a team of two to three science teachers will be eligible for a $500 grant from the NWF to help their school become more sustainable.

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HISD Students to Participate in Green Apple Day of Service

Houston Independent School District students will be planting and weeding gardens, and participating in other environmentally friendly activities on Sept. 28 as part of a global movement to transform schools into healthy and sustainable learning environments.

The Green Apple Day of Service is sponsored by the Center for Green School at the U.S. Green Building Council. The goal of the second annual event is to help raise awareness among parents, teachers and students about the importance of improving the school environment.

Two HISD schools – Herod Elementary and Gabriela Mistral Early Childhood Education Center – have already signed up with projects designed to help their own facilities create greener and healthier campuses.

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See photos from the official dedication of Robert C. Patterson Literature Magnet Elementary School

HISD Board of Education Trustee Manuel Rodriguez, Texas State Senator Mario Gallegos and Principal Jeannie Castano and a host of parents and community volunteers were on hand at the official dedication of Robert C. Patterson Literature Magnet Elementary School on May 18.    The new Patterson campus is certified LEED Silver(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and uses 19% less energy than a non-LEED campus, and 37% less water.

See photos from the dedication ceremony below:

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HISD Leaders and Community to Dedicate Patterson Elementary School

HISD District III Trustee Manuel Rodriguez will join students, staff and community members for the official dedication ceremony of the new Patterson Elementary School (5302 Allendale) on Friday, May 18 at 9 a.m.

“The neighborhood deserves a new school and the dedication has been long time coming,” Rodriguez said.  “We know that the school staff is there to provide an excellent education for the children of the neighborhood.”

State Senator Mario Gallegos is among the elected officials expected to attend Friday’s event.

The new Patterson facility is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and is projected to have an annual 37 percent reduction in water use and a 19 percent reduction in energy use.  This campus also has two high-capacity rainwater collection cisterns that are used for landscape irrigation.  The district has committed to build all new construction projects to LEED standards. 

“It’s much more than a new building.  It’s a source of pride for this close-knit community,” said Principal Jeannie Castano.  “Our new library is amazing, and makes it so much easier to teach the connection between everyday life and literature.”

The $805 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2007 made the project possible. The new school includes:

  • New library;
  • New science labs;
  • New computer lab; and
  • Smart Board technology in all classrooms.

For more information about other school construction projects district wide, visit www.hisdprojects.org

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See photos from the official dedication of James Berry Elementary School

Eco-friendly features were on display recently as former principals, teachers, parents, elected officials and community leaders joined HISD Board of Education Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Chief Elementary School Officer Sam Sarabia and Principal Deborah Silber at the official dedication of James Berry Elementary School.

Cick below to see photos from the ceremony and the interior and exterior of Berry ES.

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HISD to Dedicate New Environmental Science Magnet School Berry Elementary

HISD Board of Education Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones will address a crowd of students, parents, community members, alumni, and HISD staff at the dedication ceremony for the new Berry Elementary School (2310 Berry Road) on Monday, April 16th at 9 a.m.

“I am so thrilled for the Berry Elementary community!  This lovely new school was designed to create a positive learning environment and to inspire students to want to learn and to grow,” said Skillern-Jones.  “With these excellent teachers and this beautiful, technology-driven environment, I know we will see more great leaders emerge from Berry Elementary.”

Berry is among many schools taking part in the Houston Independent School District’s Green School Challenge in which students track how much energy is used on campus and suggest ways to make us even more energy efficient.

“Our students are studying the connection between the environment and they way we live, and this new energy-efficient campus is a huge part of the learning process,” said Principal Deborah Silber, referring to the school’s environmental science magnet program. “It is no accident that we are dedicating our campus during National Environmental Education Week.” 

The new Berry facility is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards – Gold level and is projected to have a 38 percent reduction in water use, and a 24.5 percent reduction in energy use.  The district has committed to build all new construction projects to LEED standards. 

            The $805 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2007 made the project possible. The new school includes:

  • New library;
  • New science classrooms;
  • Outdoor garden and habitat;
  • New computer lab; and
  • Smart Board technology in all classrooms.

 For more information about other school construction projects district wide, visit www.hisdprojects.org.

See photos of the new DeChaumes Elementary School

HISD administrators, staff and students will gather on Tuesday, April 3, for a ceremony to dedicate the new DeChaumes Elementary School (155 Cooper), one of  16 new schools designed with eco-friendly features. The school will feature new science labs, library and  Smartboard technology in every classrom.

Take a look at the new DeChaumes Elementary in the gallery below:

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HISD to Dedicate New DeChaumes Elementary

HISD Board of Education Trustee Anna Eastman and Deputy Chief Academic Officer Alicia Thomas will be joining administrators, staff and students for a ceremony to dedicate the new DeChaumes Elementary School (155 Cooper) on Tuesday, April 3 at 10 a.m.

“I know this campus was highly anticipated and means so much to the community! DeChaumes has soared academically in recent years,” said Eastman. “Having an energy-efficient facility with state of the art technology will only further enhance learning for our current students, as well those to come.”

DeChaumes Elementary is one of 16 new schools designed with eco-friendly features and leading technology that HISD has opened since 2011. The district will soon be opening eight more.

“Our commitment to quality education goes beyond the classroom to the overall campus environment,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said. “Providing a safe building and the latest technology are key factors in enhancing our students’ educational experience.”
The new DeChaumes facility is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and is projected to have an 18 percent reduction in energy consumption and designed to use 50 percent less water for landscape irrigation. The district has committed to build all new construction projects to LEED standards.

“Our school community is so proud of the way the school looks now, and all our students are using the latest technology,” said DeChaumes Principal Sandy Gaw. “I am also delighted that we now have space to offer special activities and clubs, like soccer and robotics.”
The $805 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2007 made this project possible. The new school includes:
• New library;
• New science labs;
• New computer lab; and
• Smart Board technology in all classrooms.

For more information about other school construction projects district wide, visit www.hisdprojects.org.