Weekly Teacher Download for September 2

Academic Day Survey: Are you a teacher that attended the Academic Day trainings held in August? Please take a moment to complete a six-question survey to help Academic Support Services learn more about your learning experience.

ALL TEACHERS

What Great Teachers Do Differently: Teachers and principals are invited to attend the “What Great Teacher Do Differently” workshop led by Dr. Todd Whitaker on September 4 from 1-2:30 p.m. or 3-4:30 p.m. at the Harris County Department of Education (6300 Irvington, 77022). Teachers will gain skills to add to their toolboxes, while leadership will learn how to support a rich learning environment. The first 100 participants in each session will receive a copy of Dr. Whitaker’s book, “What Great Teachers Do Differently.” To register for the 1-2:30 p.m. workshop, click here. For the 3-4:30 p.m. workshop, click here. For more information on the workshop, click here.

Gifted and Talented Info Session: HISD’s Gifted and Talented Department will host a Gifted and Talented Parent Informational Session on Monday, September 16 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Board Auditorium at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18^th St., 77092). The session is intended to inform parents about the services offered within the district and provide overview about the Gifted and Talented programs. Parents who would like to learn more about the Gifted and Talented/Vanguard Program within HISD should attend. Students are not required to attend, nor will there be childcare. To RSVP, click here. For more information about the info session, click here.

Parent University: The district will kick off its second ear of Parent University on Tuesday, September 17 from 5:15-6 p.m., at all district campuses. The workshops will connect parents and children to resources offered by the district to create successful academic careers as well as safe and healthy environments at home and at school. A variety of district and community program representatives and experts will be available for parents to connect with individually. Translators will also be on hand, as well as dinner and childcare will be provided. For more information, click here.

New Transportation Services: Transportation Services is launching two new tools designed to better facilitate communication with parents and allow them to track their students’ buses in real time. The first tool is Let’s Talk!, an easy-to-use, online program that will streamline communication by giving parents and school staff a central location where they can submit questions and concerns, track their inquiries, get quick answers, and rate our service. The second tool is SafeStop, a school bus tracking app that will allow parents to track their students’ buses. For detailed information on Let’s Talk, click here. For detailed information on SafeStop, click here.

Free Meals for HISD Students: Due to the district providing free breakfast and lunch to students for the 2019-2020 school year, parents will need to fill out the blue socioeconomic form available at all campuses by Friday, October 25. While parents will not need to complete and return a free and reduced-price meal application, they will need to the form which can be picked up at their child’s campus and returned to each school where they have a child enrolled to ensure Title I funding for HISD schools. Forms are not required for pre-K students. Click here for more information.

ELEMENTARY

Third-Grade Field Trip: In partnership with the Museum of Fine Arts, HISD pleased to provide a field trip opportunity for all third-grade students. Third grade students visiting the museum will experience a 60-minute tour to the “Artist’s Toolbox,” which highlights various types of art-making techniques as well as a guided walk through selected museum exhibits. Students will focus on building visual and verbal literacy skills, as well as critical thinking as a result of this experience. Campus teachers are asked to prepare students in advance of this trip as well as follow up and extend conversations and activities following this experience. The Elementary Curriculum and Development Office will schedule this field trip date and arrange and pay for bus transportation services. Schools will need to click here to confirm the scheduled field trip and complete the information required to arrange transportation for your campus. 

Fourth-Grade Field Trip: In partnership with the Houston Museum of Natural Science, HISD is pleased to provide field trip opportunities or all fourth-grade students. Fourth-grade students visiting the HMNS will experience a hands-on inquiry science lab investigation, a Baker Planetarium show, and a tour of the Museum Permanent Exhibit Halls.  These experiences have been tailored to align to the Grade 4 HISD scope and sequence as well as the physical science, earth science, energy, and life science strands. The Elementary Curriculum and Development Office will schedule the field trip dates as well as arrange and pay for bus transportation services. Schools will need to click here to confirm the scheduled field trip and complete the information required to arrange transportation for your campus. 

SECONDARY

Student Poll Worker Campaign: Did you know that in Texas, high school students aged 16 years and older can get paid to work the polls on Election Day? The Harris County Clerk launched their Step Up to Serve campaign to encourage civic participation and give students an inside look at the elections process. Students can apply to work in the upcoming November 5 elections from September 3-27. HISD staff is encouraged to support the campaign on social media and recruit students for participation. For more information and the student permission slip, click here.

HUB Webinar: Join Instructional Technology for the first-ever HUB Webinar on September 12 at 4:30 p.m. This webinar will give you a general overview of the HUB, how to set up your course dashboard and the HUB Tip of the Month. To register, click here.

Free Internet Hotspots for Students: The Sprint Foundation will once again donate free internet access to high school students who do not have high-speed internet at home. A partnership with the Sprint 1 Million Project, the program aims to provide internet hotspots to eligible high school students enrolled in a PowerUp Campus. Eligible students will keep the mobile hotspot throughout their high school career (four years) at no cost to the families. To identify those students in need during laptop distribution process, they will be prompted to complete an eligibility survey from August 27-September 27.