Rogelio Medrano
This week’s Shout Out goes to Rogelio Medrano, a plant operator at the Eastwood Academy, for his support of on-going construction projects.
“Our school has undergone a massive building renovation,” said Instructional Specialist Brandi Lira, “which spanned a full school year. In order to keep up with the demands posed by this major project, Mr. Medrano and his custodial team came in early and left very late in the evening to ensure that temporary buildings were cleared out before their removal. Often, classrooms would need to be cleared with only a few hours’ notice, but Mr. Medrano was always eager to assist, frequently coming to the school during his off time. He also coordinated the communication between Gamma Construction, furniture delivery, locksmiths, and school staff. Mr. Medrano led his team diligently in order to effectively see this major renovation through. He never complains and often volunteers to address concerns that need to be handled. Ms. Fendley thanks him often and we are so very grateful for Mr. Medrano and his team; we would truly be lost without him.”
Other Shout Outs this week go to:
- Retiring CFS employees—Thirty-three custodians, plant operators, and other Construction and Facility Services team members retired in July and August. “It has been both a pleasure and an opportunity to work with these outstanding employees over the years,” said Senior Manager of Maintenance and Operations Brian Busby. “From a familial perspective, it is hard to see them leave Team HISD, but their knowledge, work ethic, and leadership have been shared with the teams that they’ve been part of during their tenure. We wish them all the best in their new endeavors and life plans, as they have given the district their best for the last 25, 30 and even 43 years.” The retiring employees are: Maria Alvarado, Remercile Beaubrun, Franklin Cahuasqui, Ruth Cooper, Enid Cross, Nora Dewberry, Lorraine Dugas-Texada, Timothy Frazier, Maria Gallegos, Ferney Gomez, Francia Gomez, Rene Gomez, Francisca Hernandez, Wilfrido Hernandez, Henry Hicks, Earnest Hickman, Carolyn Jasper, John Jernigan, Alice Jones, Francisca Lerma, Donald Lewis, Amelio Martinez, Alphonse Mondesir, Albert Pickett, Imelda Sias, Sharon Smith, Mitchell Stripling, Emilio Tevenal, Rogelio Treviño, Pablo Veyna, Adelina Villarreal, Larry Wilson, and Shirley Wilson.
| Know someone who deserves a shout out? Send an email to info@houstonisd.org with the subject line “Shout Out for eNews!” and tell us why. |
T. H. Rogers teachers discuss the 'see-think-wonder' learning routine
Creating a sense of community in a class full of unfamiliar students is one challenge every teacher faces at the start of a new school year.
At T.H. Rogers, third- and fourth-grade teachers are using strategies they learned over the summer at Harvard University’s Project Zero Classroom Institute to do just that.
Teacher Jeremy Martin broke the ice with his students on Monday using the “See-Think-Wonder” thinking routine.
“This allows them to view a subject and just write about what they see on the surface,” said Martin. “Then, they are asked to write down what thoughts they have, and finally, to write any questions they wonder about. My classroom is decorated in an underwater theme, so I gave them time to write about whatever they saw as they looked around, then what they thought about when they saw the decorations or me (or even reflections from their prior knowledge of what they have heard about fourth grade). Finally, they were asked to write down any questions that they had. The kids really seemed to like it because it was engaging, but it really made them think and reflect on how fourth grade was going to be this year.”
The idea is “to encourage students to think critically and creatively, and to assess student work in ways that deepen learning,” added teacher Jessica Willie. “We have committed to using the visible thinking and learning routines developed by Ron Richhart and his team of researchers in the book, Making Thinking Visible. These enrich instruction and increase student engagement by showing what a thoughtful classroom looks like.”
| Had a breakthrough in your classroom? Tell us about it! Just send an email to info@houstonisd.org briefly describing your situation, and we could feature it here. |
Q: I can’t remember my password to login. Help!
A: If you created a profile using the district’s Password Reset Tool, then you can reset your own password at any time. If not, you will need to contact the HISD Help Desk at helpdesk@houstonisd.org or 713-892-7378 for assistance. Please do not send password reset requests to info@ or AskHISD@, as the monitors of those accounts are not authorized to provide technical assistance.
The Retirement Storefront at HISD will be hosting retirement seminars from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on the following dates this fall:
- Wed., Sept. 18
- Tues., Oct. 22
- Wed., Nov. 6
- Wed., Dec. 4
All district employees are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about their Teacher Retirement System (TRS) benefits.
Employees must register through e-TRAIN to attend, and select course code #BN0200.
Questions may be directed to V. Janene English at 713-695-5561 ext. 343.
Houston Arts Partners Conference Sept 13 & 14
The third annual Houston Arts Partners Conference will be taking place on Sept. 13 and 14, 2013, at the Houston Ballet Center for Dance (601 Preston St., 77002).
This year’s theme is “Arts Work: How the Arts Benefit the Individual, the Classroom, the Community, and the Economy,” and attendees can earn up to 15 CPE credit hours.
For complete details, please visit the conference website.
George Ranch to host Open House for Educators on Sept. 7
The historic George Ranch will be hosting an Open House for Educators on Sat., Sept. 7, 2013, and all HISD history teachers are invited!
Come take a journey through our state’s history by following four generations of one Texas family dating back to the 1830’s.
For complete details, please see this related posting.
Mobile mammograms return to HISD Sept. 9
Each year, The Rose offers on-site screening mammograms to female HISD employees who meet certain criteria.
Seven dates have been added for this fall, starting on Sept. 9 at Lee High School and extending through Oct. 30 at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.
Interested women are encouraged to act quickly, as only a limited number of mammograms can be performed each day.
Please see the attached flyer (.pdf) for complete details.
Discount offer to Aug. 31 Texas Kickoff Classic
The Houston Texans, HISD’s longtime community partner, is offering district employees a savings of about 15 percent off of the regular price of tickets for a new fall tradition.
The inaugural Texas Kickoff Classic is coming to Reliant Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013, and district employees can get a family value pack of four tickets, four hot dogs, and four soft drinks for prices starting at $120.
Come launch the college football season by watching the Mississippi State Bulldogs take on Oklahoma State Cowboys for less.
To take advantage of this special offer, please contact Warren Caguioa at 832-667-2319 or warren.caguioa@houstontexans.com. A downloadable flyer (.pdf) is available for reference.
All processing charges, taxes, and fees will be waived.
Starting next month, HISD’s Risk Management department will be offering courses for both new and veteran leaders/trainers on the Texas Hazard Communication Act and its requirements regulating the annual documentation of hazardous chemicals/products on the job.
These courses are designed for employees who are responsible for preparing the annual work site chemical inventory and training components.
Interested employees/work-site leaders may register for any of the 11 available training dates being offered between Sept. 5 and Oct. 3. Those who have not yet received any training should plan to attend one of the baseline classes.
Registration must be completed via eTRAIN. Use course code #RM0032 for the one-hour refresher course and course code #RM0001 for the two-hour baseline course.
All classes will be held from 10 a.m. until noon at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092).
Questions may be directed to Tamara Cubit or Detra Williams at 713-556-9225.
Lawrence Watkins
This week’s Shout Out goes to plant operator Lawrence Watkins, who received a standing ovation from the faculty and staff at Anderson Elementary School for his exceptional performance this summer.
“This is the first year that they have ever returned to their rooms not only being spotless, but also everything being put back just as they left it,” explained Principal Roslyn Stiles Vaughn. “Mr. Watkins drew a map on the whiteboard in each room showing how and where he had found the furniture. It was awesome! Highest kudos to Mr. Watkins and his staff—especially since this was his first summer and opening of school with us.”
| Know someone who deserves a shout out? Send an email to info@houstonisd.org with the subject line “Shout Out for eNews!” and tell us why. |
The vast majority of employees who responded to last week’s eNews survey said they had signed up for HISD’s Supplemental Sick Leave Bank (SSLB).
That program, which offers participants up to 30 days of additional paid leave in the event of a severe personal injury or illness, requires interested employees to contribute one day of personal leave to the bank to enroll.
Only about a third of the 85 percent who were enrolled said they had ever had cause to use it. Still, observed one survey-taker, “You never know when it may come in handy.”
For more information about SSLB, please see this related article. The deadline to enroll this summer is Tues., Sept. 3, but another enrollment opportunity will be offered in the fall.
The first day of school for HISD students is Mon., Aug. 26, 2013, so don’t wait any longer if you haven’t finished getting your kids ready. Details on which schools require uniforms are here. Bus route information is here, and questions regarding transportation can be directed to 713-613-3040. Learn where to find free immunizations here.
Here are some other dates you might want to mark on your calendar:
- Aug. 1-Sept. 2: Houston Restaurant Weeks (benefitting the Houston Food Bank)
- Aug. 26: First day of school (students)
- Sept. 2: Labor Day holiday (.pdf)
- Sept. 7: Grads Within Reach walk
- Sept. 12: Board meeting (regular)
- Sept. 13: Fall holiday (.pdf)
- Sept. 15-21: Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry
- Sept. 18-Dec. 18: Friends of Houston Public Library Farmers’ Market Book Sale
- Sept. 28: The Museum Experience
- Oct. 4 & 5: Friends of Houston Public Library Children’s Book Sale
- Oct. 10: Board meeting (regular)
- Nov. 5: Election Day
- Nov. 27-29: Thanksgiving holiday (.pdf)
Tal Gribbins
The strongest voice in a room isn’t necessarily the loudest, the biggest, the deepest, or even the meanest-sounding. Usually, it’s the smartest—and sometimes the most quiet.
That’s the lesson that coach and drama teacher Tal Gribbins learned after using the “Strong Voice” strategy from Doug Lemov’s Teach Like a Champion book in his classroom at Grady Middle School.
“When you’re training to be a teacher, the one thing they really drive home is how important (and difficult) classroom management is,” said Gribbins. “Despite our best efforts, there are times when the students will start talking when we don’t want them to. Raising your voice to be heard over the din is only going to force the volume up so they can hear each other over you. But that’s what they’re accustomed to— it’s a standard adult response. If you try to compete with them for vocal dominance, you’ve joined the group and are no longer the leader. So don’t talk over students. Ever.”
“Now, I just use Strong Voice,” said Gribbins. “To get the room’s attention, I give them strong, well-projected, concise instructions. If the sound of my voice doesn’t stop them in their tracks, I just stop speaking, and square up my body so that it faces the group directly. Your body language will speak volumes for you. So will direct eye contact. After a few seconds, I’ll start to speak again. If the whole group doesn’t stop and listen, I stop again.”
Gribbins says he knows the idea sounds ridiculous, “but I’m telling you, it works beautifully. It may take awhile to establish this procedure as a norm, but the magical thing about Strong Voice is that the students end up doing the work for you. Now, by the second time I stop mid-sentence, there’s a ripple of “Shhhs!” and “Quiet, guys!” that runs through the room. The class begins to monitor and correct itself. Strong Voice keeps you firmly established as the authority figure in the room.”
| Had a breakthrough in your classroom? Tell us about it! Just send an email to info@houstonisd.org briefly describing your situation, and we could feature it here. |
