Weekly Teacher Download for October 14
National Bullying Prevention Week: HISD will recognize Bully Prevention Week from October 14-18, in conjunction with the Sandy Hook Promise “Start with Hello” campaign, to raise awareness and bring attention to a growing epidemic of social isolation. Throughout October, HISD is rallying behind National Bullying Prevention Month and encouraging participation in a campaign to keep all youth safe from bullying. This is a great time for our schools, staff and students to raise awareness about bullying and the role we all play in making a difference. For more information, click here.
ALL TEACHERS
SPED Cohort App Extension: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is currently seeking Special Education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with Special Education certification to apply for Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts, also known as A.S.C.E.L. The deadline to apply for either cohort has extended until October 14. The purpose of the aspiring cohorts is to develop a pool of potential SPED leaders to provide timely and relevant instructional support and services to campus leaders, special education teachers, staff and other stakeholders who serve students with disabilities. To apply, click here.
Innovation Fund Extension: The HISD Foundation is now accepting applications for its Innovation Fund program until October 18, which provides funds for teachers and schools to develop innovative projects that lead to increased student success. In addition, individual schools can apply for a $10,000 – $20,000 grant to innovate learning in their classrooms, and two or more schools in the same feeder pattern can apply for a School Feeder Grant of $10,000 -$20,000. To apply for the grant, teachers and schools can click here. Teacher and school applications will be awarded based on their alignment to district initiatives and impact on student success. For more information about the fund program, click here.
PK-12 Writing Summit: The Elementary and Secondary Curriculum and Development Department is excited to host its first-ever HISD PK-12 Writing Summit on Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Black Middle School (1575 Chantilly Ln., 77018). If you are interested, register in OneSource, course #1439114. For the summit’s agenda, click here. For more information on the event, click here.
National School Lunch Week: Nutrition Services is sponsoring a student jingle contest in honor of National School Lunch Week, which is being held October 14-18. As part of the celebration, Nutrition Services is encouraging students to create a jingle or rap about the importance of healthy foods.Entries must be tweeted @HISDNutri or emailed to hisdnutritionservices@houstonisd.org by 5 p.m. on October 25.For more information and contest details, click here.
October is Principals Month: Join HISD in celebrating Principals Month with downloadable templates for special messages. Principals play a vital role in the success of our students. As campus leaders, principals are responsible for fostering a positive climate and culture at our schools. During the month of October, HISD is encouraging students, parents, staff, and community members to honor and thank district principals during the month of October by printing out one of our custom cutouts, which are downloadable here.
College and Career Readiness: The Office of Strategy & Innovation is excited to announce HISD’s second annual College & Career Readiness Month in October. CCR Month is a fun and creative way to engage students and introduce them to a variety of college and career options. This year’s theme is “Take Control: Explore. Design. Launch Your Future!” All HISD elementary, middle, and high school campuses will have a chance to compete for prizes (scholarships, college swag, college tours) by completing weekly challenges. Campuses must complete at least one college and career activity each week, posting pictures and videos on Twitter. Contest details can be found on the College Readiness website. Click here for more details.
It’s Back! Chevron Fuel Your School: Chevron’s Fuel Your School program is returning to Harris County this October. HISD teachers can submit their requests now until October 31 at DonorsChoose.org.Eligible project submitters include teachers, librarians, guidance counselors and school nurses that meet DonorsChoose.org eligibility. Approved classroom projects are eligible for Chevron funding if material costs are One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or less per project (excluding taxes, vendor or order fulfillment fees.) Field trips and professional development projects are not eligible for funding through this program. Chevron encourages classroom project requests that support STEM education. For more information, click here.
ELEMENTARY
Pre-K3 Staff Development: Are you struggling with a 3-year-old classroom this year? There will be a special training on Early Dismissal/Staff Development Day on October 18 at Mistral Center for Early Childhood (6203 Jessamine, 77081). Those interested will receive the tools and strategies to meet the needs of your students. To attend, register in OneSource, course # 1439251.
Lead4ward Elementary PD: HISD and Lead4Ward are collaborating to host district-wide professional development opportunities for third- thru fifth-grade math teachers. Sessions will be scheduled throughout the 2019-2020 school year, with the next one being held on Thursday, October 31 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at HISD Education Learning Center (10725 Mesa Dr., 77078). Teachers will attend sessions specifically designated for math campus champion, departmentalized, and self-contained math teachers. Instructional coordinators, math content area leads, and math administrators are also encouraged to attend. To attend this session, register in OneSource, course # 1439049.
SECONDARY
Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting three professional development opportunities for the month of October. New CTE teachers are invited to attend a workshop on classroom management. Participants will learn best practices for developing systems and routines in the classroom. Register today in OneSource, course #1439229. Attention CTE teachers who offer SolidWorks certifications. You are invited to attend a Solid Works workshop where participants will learn the basic of Solid Works including parts and assemblies, as well as the built-in-tutorials and help features to facilitate working with students in a classroom environment. Focus will be on drawing and 3D printing. Register in One Source, course #1439233 (Solid Works Part 1) and course #1439234 (Solid Works Part 2).
Weekly Teacher Download for October 7
Nominate an Associate Teacher: Do you know an amazing Associate Teacher or Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher? The Office of Associate Teachers is pleased to announce the return of the Associate Teacher of the Month and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month programs. Nominate an associate teacher who performs at an outstanding level, have a positive attitude and go above and beyond at our campuses. To nominate, click here.
ALL TEACHERS
TADS Toolbox: All teachers should have received an email inviting them to access the TADS Toolbox for additional support and resources aligned to the Goal Setting process within the Student Performance category of TADS. In addition to the Student Performance Guidebook, there are several videos available for your reference that walk you through setting student goals step-by-step. To access the TADS Toolbox and videos, click here.
SPED Cohort Extension: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is currently seeking Special Education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with Special Education certification to apply for Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts, also known as A.S.C.E.L by October 14. The purpose of the aspiring cohorts is to develop a pool of potential SPED leaders to provide timely and relevant instructional support and services to campus leaders, special education teachers, staff and other stakeholders who serve students with disabilities.
October is Principals Month: Join HISD in celebrating Principals Month with downloadable templates for special messages. Principals play a vital role in the success of our students. As campus leaders, principals are responsible for fostering a positive climate and culture at our schools. During the month of October, HISD is encouraging students, parents, staff, and community members to honor and thank district principals during the month of October by printing out one of our custom cutouts, which are downloadable here.
National Bullying Prevention Month: Throughout October, HISD is rallying behind National Bullying Prevention Month and encouraging participation in a campaign to keep all youth safe from bullying. Every day, thousands of students experience some form of bullying either at school, at home, or online through social media and texts. This is a great time for our schools, staff and students to raise awareness about bullying and the role we all play in making a difference. HISD will also recognize Bully Prevention Week from October 14-18, in conjunction with the Sandy Hook Promise “Start with Hello” campaign, to raise awareness and bring attention to a growing epidemic of social isolation. For more information, click here.
College and Career Readiness Month: The Office of Strategy & Innovation is excited to announce HISD’s second annual College & Career Readiness Month in October. CCR Month is a fun and creative way to engage students and introduce them to a variety of college and career options. This year’s theme is “Take Control: Explore. Design. Launch Your Future!” All HISD elementary, middle, and high school campuses will have a chance to compete for prizes (scholarships, college swag, college tours) by completing weekly challenges. Campuses must complete at least one college and career activity each week, posting pictures and videos on Twitter. Contest details can be found on the College Readiness website. Click here for more details.
It’s Back! Chevron Fuel Your School: Chevron’s Fuel Your School program is returning to Harris County this October. HISD teachers can submit their requests now until October 31 at DonorsChoose.org.Eligible project submitters include teachers, librarians, guidance counselors and school nurses that meet DonorsChoose.org eligibility. Approved classroom projects are eligible for Chevron funding if material costs are One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) or less per project (excluding taxes, vendor or order fulfillment fees.) Field trips and professional development projects are not eligible for funding through this program. Chevron encourages classroom project requests that support STEM education. For more information, click here.
JASON Learning now available: Through an approved district agreement with JASON Learning and TransOcean, the HISD STEM Department has made available all JASON Learning curriculum resources free to elementary and middle school science teachers. To access the content, please log into the HUB and click on the Digital Resources tab where you will find it under the science category. JASON Learning provides STEM resources like design and pitch challenges, labs and missions, access to Q&A with STEM Role Models and teacher Professional development opportunities. Learn more about JASON Learning here.
EcoRise Training: Can you reimagine your campus as a laboratory for applied sustainability education? Teachers are encouraged to register for the EcoRise: Cultivating Environmental Stewardship on Tuesday, October 15 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Harris County Department of Education Science Center (805 Reid St., 77022). Participants will learn how EcoRise K-12 TEKS aligned curriculum, resources, and classroom grant funds can be used to increase student engagement and cultivate eco-literacy and student innovation on your campus in a variety of contents. This training is free and open to current public educators in the Houston area only. The first ten educators to register (and attend the training) will receive a $100 gift card courtesy of Target at the completion of the training. For more information and to register, click here.
ELEMENTARY
Lead4ward Elementary PD: HISD and Lead4Ward are collaborating to host district-wide professional development opportunities for third- thru fifth-grade math teachers. Sessions will be scheduled throughout the 2019-2020 school year, with the next one being held on Thursday, October 31 from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at HISD Education Learning Center (10725 Mesa Dr., 77078). Teachers will attend sessions specifically designated for math campus champion, departmentalized, and self-contained math teachers. Instructional coordinators, math content area leads, and math administrators are also encouraged to attend. To attend this session, register in OneSource, course # 1439049.
SECONDARY
Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting three professional development opportunities for the month of October. New CTE teachers are invited to attend a workshop on classroom management. Participants will learn best practices for developing systems and routines in the classroom. Register today in OneSource, course #1439229. For CTE teachers who offer SolidWorks certifications, you are invited to attend a Solid Works workshop where participants will learn the basic of Solid Works including parts and assemblies, as well as the built-in-tutorials and help features to facilitate working with students in a classroom environment. Register in One Source for Solid Works Part 1, course #1439233, and Solid Works Part 2, course #1439234.
Leading Impact graduates inaugural class of managers
Twenty-three Business Operations managers were honored this month with a luncheon to celebrate their completion of the inaugural Leading Impact Management Development Program.
The interactive, seven-month program aims to build and empower Business Operations leadership through a focus on leadership, communication, decision making, team and talent management, and performance management.
“Sometimes managers are expected to know it all, but we’re only human,” Transportation Services Senior Manager Tameka Givens said, explaining that the training had made her a more effective and sensitive leader. “I learned to not be afraid to ask for clarification.”
Launched in November 2018, Leading Impact called for participants to attend a full-day training session once a month. Throughout the course, 20 facilitators presented information about their respective areas of expertise.
In addition to the scheduled sessions, managers also were required to participate in “experience” activities — touring a 2012 Bond school, visiting the Customer Care Call Center, volunteering at a transportation hub or motor pool — that allowed them to get a glimpse of the different departments under Business Operations and the breadth of work the division does.
HISD Recruiter Rocío Saldaña explained best practices for the recruiting process, from interviewing to hiring to onboarding. She also developed a toolkit for the two management cohorts.
“It was a pleasure sharing my knowledge with this group,” Saldaña said. “It’s a great program. It shows HISD is investing in its employees.”
Business Operations Training Manager Paul LeBlanc oversees the program and said he is passionate about it because it places a strong focus on helping managers develop effective leadership behaviors.
“Participants can immediately begin to work differently, lead effectively, and prepare themselves for Business Operations’ career path,” LeBlanc said.
Givens described the training as a “beneficial learning experience” and encouraged her colleagues to take advantage of the professional development opportunity.
“It was interesting to meet people from different departments and understand that we share a common goal, which is doing what’s best for students,” Givens said, adding: “I definitely encourage others to apply.”
The program is available to midlevel managers who are grade 25-30. Visit www.houstonisd.org/leadingimpact for more information.
The Talent Development & Performance Department – Leadership and Teacher Development invites appraisers of non-teachers (NTAS) and school leaders (SLAS) to attend one of the following Performance Appraisal Goal Labs below:
- Thursday, September 25 from 10 a.m.-Noon,
at HISD Education Learning Center (10725 Mesa Dr., 77078). - Thursday, September 25 from 3-6 p.m. at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092), Room 2C07.
at HISD Education Learning Center (10725 Mesa Dr., 77078). - Wednesday, May 29 from 1-4 p.m., at Hattie Mae White, Room 2C07
- Friday, May 31 from 1-4 p.m., at Hattie Mae White, Room 2C07
The Labs will cover creating and submitting 2019/2020 Department Goals. Participants may walk in and out as needed. Appraisers will also be provided rubrics and quick reference guides.
For questions, contact Leonard Daily at ldaily@houstonisd.org.
Weekly Teacher Download for September 30
Nominate an Associate Teacher: Do you know an amazing Associate Teacher or Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher?The Office of Associate Teachers is pleased to announce the return of the Associate Teacher of the Month and Achieve 180 Dedicated Associate Teacher of the Month programs. Nominate an associate teacher who performs at an outstanding level, have a positive attitude and go above and beyond at our campuses. To nominate, click here.
ALL TEACHERS
Holiday Greeting Card Contest: HISD’s official holiday greeting card will again feature student artwork on its cover and the district is encouraging participation from all art teachers and/or faculty. All student finalists, including the winning designs chosen by Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will receive recognition on the HISD website, a set of special HISD holiday cards, and are invited to a special reception hosted by Lathan on Friday, November 8. Each participating school should submit only ONE piece of artwork, along with a completed media release form no later than Friday, October 11 to Imelda Cedillo, Fine Arts Dept. located at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092), Room 2NW08d. All art submissions will then be given to the schools’ respective Area Superintendents’ offices, which will go on to compete as finalists for the selection of the three winning designs no later than Friday, October 17. For more information on the contest and grading rubric, click here.
Pre-Kindergarten Progress Reports: Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 progress reports are now available on the Early Childhood (ECH) Prekindergarten 2019-2020 HUB course under the Progress Reports folder. Teachers with only 3-year-old students in their classrooms can use the PK3 Progress Reports. Teachers with a combination of 3-year-old and 4-year-old students can use the PK4 Progress Reports. Parents should be notified of the prekindergarten students’ progress using the Progress Report and it should be sent at the principal’s discretion.
Student Performance Guidebook: The 2019-2020 Student Performance Guidebook is now available on the TADS Toolbox. As you set student performance goals, the appendices in this document provide suggested starting points and goals for Student Progress Measures.
College and Career Readiness Month: The Office of Strategy & Innovation is excited to announce the return of HISD’s College & Career Readiness Month (CCR) starting October 1 to November 1. CCR Month is a fun, creative way to engage your students, introducing them to a variety of college and career options. This year’s theme is “Take Control: Explore. Design. Launch Your Future!” Each campus will receive a poster (both English and Spanish) to display in the front office. To generate student and staff excitement, elementary, middle, and high school campuses will have the opportunity to compete for prizes such as scholarships, college swag, and college tours. For more information about CCR Month, click here.
Half-Day Teacher Observation: Are you a new teacher looking to improve your teaching skills? With most people being visual learners, beginning teachers that need support developing instructional skills are invited to observe a highly effective teacher and participate in a facilitated group feedback discussion throughout the month of October. regarding the teaching strategies observed, unpacking the observable teacher actions that lead to student learning and/or behaviors. The Teacher Career Development Department will cover the cost of a substitute teacher for new teachers to participate. Elementary and Secondary options will be provided. For dates, location details and OneSource course numbers, click here.
Project Lead the Way School Grant (PLTW): PLTW partners with organizations across the U.S. to make school grant opportunities available for the implementation of new, or expansion of existing, PLTW programs. Campuses are asked to submit one application, which will be considered for multiple grant opportunities throughout the year. If interested, complete the online PLTW grant application through Grants in myPLTW. You should submit one application for each program at each school. For more information, click here. To maximize your chances of PLTW awarding a grant to your school, we strongly encourage interested schools to submit their applications by November 2019. If you have any questions, reach out to Rene Flores at rflore19@houstonisd.org.
ELEMENTARY
Education Rainbow Challenge: The Elementary Curriculum and Development Office will be hosting a Grades 3-5 Education Rainbow Challenge (ERC) Mathematics Competition on Saturday, November 16 at Northside High School (1101 Quitman St., 77009). During the rainbow challenge, teams of five students each participate in various events, including an individual math test, a team problem-solving task, and hands-on science experiments. Parents who attend participate in engagement sessions with lunch provided for students, teachers, and parents. The event concludes with an awards ceremony where both students and teachers win prizes and awards for obtaining high scores on the math test and problem-solving task. If your campus is interested, please submit interest form by October 11. For more information, click here.
Rider 78 Requirements: For compliance purposes, pre-k and PALS teachers should make sure to select one of the teacher qualification options before October 11. This information was discussed at our first lead teacher meeting and communication was sent on September 9. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your campus lead teacher.
SECONDARY
Districtwide Eighth-Grade Parent Night: Between October 28-November 8, all middle school campuses are expected to host an event to provide eighth-grade parents with information about college and career readiness resources, opportunities to receive college credit in high school, graduation requirements, and other related topics. Principals should designate a staff member to coordinate the event and provide that information here. The Office of Innovation and Postsecondary Programming will provide the principal’s designee with materials and training on the content to be covered at the event. They will also need to complete a training that will be held on October 10 at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092), Room 1E01.
Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting a variety of learning workshops including Jasper Active, Building a Positive Learning Environment, Bulb Digital Portfolios for Education, Gulf States Toyota, and Solid Works. Click here to see a full description of location, dates, and times. If interested, register today as space is limited.
Weekly Teacher Download for September 16
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
Student Performance Guidebook: The 2019-2020 Student Performance Guidebook is now available on the TADS Toolbox. As you set student performance goals, the appendices in this document provide suggested starting points and goals for Student Progress Measures.
Additions to A4E Teacher Dashboard: This summer, a new A4E Teacher Dashboard report and A4E Vimeo Channel was been added. The Teacher Student Performance Analyzer (Teacher SPA) enables teachers to run a report for either one or all of their classes that includes comprehensive information about their students. To access the new report, visit the A4E Teacher Dashboard quick links, where the report will open directly in Excel. You may also view a set of videos for the A4E Teacher Dashboard on the A4E Vimeo page here.
Innovation Fund Program: The HISD Foundation is now accepting applications for its Innovation Fund program until September 20, which provides funds for teachers and schools to develop innovative projects that lead to increased student success. In addition, individual schools can apply for a $10,000 – $20,000 grant to innovate learning in their classrooms, and two or more schools in the same feeder pattern can apply for a School Feeder Grant of $10,000 – $20,000. To apply for the grant, teachers and schools can click here. Teacher and school applications will be awarded based on their alignment to district initiatives and impact on student success. For more information about the fund program, click here.
2019-2020 SPED Cohorts: The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is currently seeking Special Education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with Special Education certification to apply for Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts, also known as A.S.C.E.L by September 30. Those interested are also invited to attend either information sessions to be held at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77096) from 4:30-5:30 p.m., on September 18 (Room 2E26), September 24 (Room 2C16), and September 26 (Room 2E26). For more information, click here.
Energy Day: Teachers are encouraged to invite their students and families to Energy Day on October 19 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. As Houston’s largest annual free family festival showcasing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), Energy Day has nearly 70 interactive demonstrations and exhibits that teach students and their families about the various forms of energy through STEM fields, along with efficiency, conservation, and other related STEM industries. For more information, click here. Teachers can also apply for a grant to pay for buses to bring you and your students to Energy Day. For consideration, please fill out this form before September 19.
BASF Competition: BASF and CEEF are excited to offer elementary or middle school students the opportunity to participate in the BASF: A World Without Waste” design contest for a chance to win $1,000 for your school or program. If you’re interested, please fill out the form before September 19. The contest is limited to 12 teams of up to five elementary or middle School students, so please submit your entry form as soon as possible. Due to the limited number of teams, submission of this application form does not guarantee entry into the contest. Please click here for more information.
Free Flu Shots: HISD’s Benefits Department will be offering all employees an opportunity to receive a free flu shot at all campuses beginning September 16. Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads around the country every year, usually between October and May. Flu is caused by influenza viruses and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Anyone can get the flu, but people working in schools or other closed environments are more exposed than others and therefore more likely to get infectious diseases. For a complete schedule, click here.
ELEMENTARY
Rider 78 Requirements: For compliance purposes, pre-k and PALS teachers should make sure to select one of the teacher qualification options before October 11. This information was discussed at our first lead teacher meeting and communication was sent on September 9. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your campus lead teacher.
SECONDARY
Upcoming CTE Trainings: The CTE department is hosting a variety of learning workshops including Jasper Active, Building a Positive Learning Environment, Bulb Digital Portfolios for Education, Gulf States Toyota, and Solid Works. Click here to see a full description of location, dates, and times. If interested, register today as space is limited.
CTE Training: The CTE department is hosting a variety of learning sessions during early dismissal on September 27, 2019. Come learn strategies for building a positive classroom environment at the “Build a Positive Learning Environment” workshop at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, Room 310 (1906 Cleburne St.,77004) . If interested, register in OneSource, course #1438354. Participants can also learn best practices for integrating SolidWorks and achieving CSWA status at Waltrip High School (1900 W. 34th St., 77018), Room 1106. Register in OneSource, course #1439002.
2019-2020 SPED Cohort applications extended until Dec. 15
The Office of Special Education Services (OSES) is currently seeking Special Education (SPED) teachers and other instructional professionals with Special Education certification to apply for Aspiring Program Specialist and Aspiring Department Chair Cohorts, also known as A.S.C.E.L.
The purpose of the aspiring cohorts is to develop a pool of potential SPED leaders to provide timely and relevant instructional support and services to campus leaders, special education teachers, staff and other stakeholders who serve students with disabilities.
To apply, click here.
Weekly Teacher Download for September 9
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
PowerUp Saturday: All teachers are invited to PowerUp Saturday on September 14 to learn more about how to effectively use technology to enhance instruction. Location is still being decided. If you are interested, please register in OneSource, course #764001.
Innovation Fund Program: The HISD Foundation is now accepting applications for its Innovation Fund program until September 20, which provides funds for teachers and schools to develop innovative projects that lead to increased student success. In addition, individual schools can apply for a $10,000 – $20,000 grant to innovate learning in their classrooms, and two or more schools in the same feeder pattern can apply for a School Feeder Grant of $10,000 – $20,000. To apply for the grant, teachers and schools can click here. Teacher and school applications will be awarded based on their alignment to district initiatives and impact on student success. For more information about the fund program, click here.
Free Flu Shots: HISD’s Benefits Department will be offering all employees an opportunity to receive a free flu shot at all campuses beginning September 16. Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads around the country every year, usually between October and May. Flu is caused by influenza viruses and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Anyone can get the flu, but people working in schools or other closed environments are more exposed than others and therefore more likely to get infectious diseases. For a complete schedule, click here.
Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP): Teachers must submit their IPDP by September 20 via the Feedback and Development Tool section of the TADS Tool. If you need support for the process in writing your IPDP, please consider reviewing and accessing the tools–HISD PSD Website and TADS Toolbox. Also, teachers will be able to access their student performance measures beginning September 20 and will have until September 27 to go in to the Student Performance Tool section of the TADS Tool to acknowledge the measures that have been assigned to them.
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 18th 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 be on hand, as well as dinner and childcare will be provided. For more information, click here.
ELEMENTARY
CIRCLE Assessment: Are you a prekindergarten teacher looking for a user-friendly, progress monitoring tool to track your students’ achievements? You are invited to attend an introductory online training for CIRCLE Assessment on September 10. The technology-driven tool allows teachers to quickly assess a child’s progress in a particular skill level and should be administered to individual pre-k students by the classroom teacher three times within the academic year. Teachers can use the assessment results to plan and differentiate instruction. If interested, register in OneSource, course #7400174007. For a suggested CIRCLE testing schedule, click here.
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.
CTE Training: The CTE department is hosting a variety of learning sessions during early dismissal on September 27, 2019. Come learn strategies for building a positive classroom environment at the “Build a Positive Learning Environment” workshop at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy, Room 310 (1906 Cleburne St.,77004) . If interested, register in OneSource, course #1438354. Participants can also learn best practices for integrating SolidWorks and achieving CSWA status at Waltrip High School (1900 W. 34th St., 77018), Room 1106. Register in OneSource, course #1439002.
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.
Important Information: Shared Drive Migration
For Department Heads:
To provide improved accessibility to important information and increased security, all shared drives will be migrated to Office 365.
Please designate a point of contact for your department, who is familiar with the documents stored on your department’s shared drive.
Click here to designate a point of contact for your department.
If you do not store documents on a shared drive, please disregard this post.
If you do not store documents on a shared drive but would like a secure cloud site to store documents, please designate a point of contact via the link above.
What is the process?
What are the benefits?
- Access documents and resources from any location
- Access documents and resources from mobile devices
- Recycle bin to easily recover deleted items for up to 30 days
- Check in and check out feature lets others know that you are working on a document
- Easily search for and locate documents
- One place to access documents, mail, calendars and more
- Version history, see who made changes last and restore previous versions when needed
- Co-authoring on documents via Office 365
- Receive notifications when a document has been added, modified or deleted
- Increased security
- And so much more!
What resources will be available to help my department through this transition?
Please contact Lee Meers or Robin Stone-Loftin if you have any questions or concerns.
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 18th 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.
