Dynamic keynote speaker praises HISD for its focus on literacy

Dr. Susan Szachowicz knows a thing or two about turning around troubled schools. The retired educator was still a teacher at her alma mater, Brockton High School, in 1999, when the campus was dubbed a “cesspool” by local media as one of the worst-performing schools in Massachusetts.

You can read more about how she helped transformed the campus into a place of “high standards, high expectations, and no excuses”—as well as why she thinks HISD is on the right track in focusing on literacy, in this related article.

Summer program gives rising sixth-graders a taste of middle school life

Hundreds of soon-to-be sixth-graders across the district are getting a jump on the sometimes difficult transition from elementary to middle school through Summer Bridge programs sponsored by eight HISD middle schools: Holland, Stevenson, Hamilton, Ortiz, West Briar, Revere, Thomas, and Deady.

Summer Bridge students not only gain a deeper understanding of core subjects, they also learn about their new schools and communities, and develop and refine their social skills.

Get the full story here.

Camp M.I. Way kicks off this year with the dedication of Phinny’s Field

T.H. Rogers student Phineas Armstrong was recognized recently in a somewhat unconventional manner: a baseball diamond was named in his honor—but next year, it might actually be in a different location.

The dedication of “Phinny’s Field” took place on the campus of T.H. Rogers last month during Camp M.I. Way, which provides students with multiple impairments with daily opportunities to practice their communication skills. And though that campus has consistently hosted the event every summer for the past decade, if the camp ever moves, the name will travel along with it to wherever it may be held in the future.

Get the full story and see a photo gallery here.

Hidden talents show determination, diversity of HISD’s bilingual instructors

What do a national judo champion and a member of an up-and-coming European band have in common? They’re both bilingual teachers in HISD!

The district has been hiring highly qualified bilingual teachers from Spain to fill critical shortage areas in HISD through a partnership with that country’s Ministry of Education since 1997—and Blanco “Miguel” Lopez (Law ES) and Juan Luis Alonso-Benito (Coop ES) are two of them.

You can learn more about them in this related story.

HIPPY families recognized for preschoolers’ year of learning

The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program concluded last week with four meetings at schools across the district to congratulate parents on completing the year-long program. More than 1,800 parents and children from 50-plus school communities attended the four events to receive certificates of completion, and went home with literacy materials and activities to keep the kids learning throughout the summer.

Read the full story and see a photo gallery here.