Monthly Archives: March 2013

Students and Staff Gearing up for STAAR

Schools holding tutorials and competitions to prepare for exam 

Westside High School students prepare for STAAR testing. Click photo to see Austin High School's STAAR efforts.

HISD students and teachers across the district are getting the word out about the upcoming STAAR exam, and some are using their creative and artistic side. Over at Austin High School students and staff formed teams to compete in a hallway decorating contest to see who could create and design the best STAAR display. Some of the themes included Godzilla, Mario Brothers and even Hollywood.

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Hispanic Advisory Committee Urged to Help Get Word Out About 2012 Bond

Members of HISD's Hispanic Advisory Committee hears an update on the 2012 bond program.

A key part of the 2012 bond program is keeping Houston’s diverse communities up-to-date on what’s happening at their neighborhood schools.

Assisting in that effort is HISD’s Hispanic Advisory Committee, which heard firsthand Thursday about its important role in reaching out to the city’s Latino residents.

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HISD Repeats as Broad Prize Finalist

Houston among nation’s top four urban districts for second straight year 

For the second consecutive year, HISD has emerged from the pack of the nation’s 75 largest school districts to be named a finalist for the most coveted honor a public school system can win: The Broad Prize for Urban Education.

Houston ISD high school seniors are now guaranteed at least $150,000 and as much as $550,000 in college scholarships if the district wins the top prize.  The award is given to the one urban school district in America that has consistently demonstrated the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students.  Finalists were determined based upon a wide-ranging review of student achievement data from the 2008-2009 school year through the 2011-2012 school year in an effort to reward consistency.

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Annual ‘Hooray for Neff’ Event Showcases Young Students’ Musical and Artistic Talents

Event in collaboration with the Houston Grand Opera

What: HISD’s Neff Early Learning Center, in collaboration with the Houston Grand Opera, continues its tradition of displaying the young students’ artistic and musical talents at the annual ‘Hooray for Neff’ performance and exhibition on Thursday.  Throughout the academic year, with the support of the Houston Grand Opera, the students create art, learn how to use technology, and practice singing, dancing, and performing in preparation for this grand event.  The Houston Grand Opera provides the school with supplies and resources, as well as guest performers that work with the students on their artistic projects.

The Houston Grand Opera collaborates with the Rice University’s Center for Education for support to fund this project at Neff Early Learning Center.

Who: Neff Elementary students, parents and community members

When: Thursday, March 28, 2013; 9a.m. – 10a.m. (Performance), 10a.m. – 1p.m. (Exhibits)

Where: Neff Early Learning Center, 8200 Carvel Lane, Houston, TX 77036

Art Exhibit Features Houston through Student Lenses

A display of photos along the walls of Love Elementary School.

A display of photos along the walls of Love Elementary School. Click to see more images from the exhibit.

Celebrating cultural diversity and heritage throughout the city of Houston is the theme for the Love Elementary School art exhibit “In the Eyes of Our Children: Houston: An American City.” which debuted Tuesday, March 26.

The exhibit, which is open to the public, features over 60 photographs by 20 Love Elementary students as part of the Pozos Art Project. Founded in spring of 2011 by Rice University Professor and photographer Geoff Winningham, the Pozos Art Project provides local students the opportunity to collectively photograph the city of Houston, cultural heritage and everyday life.

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HISD Facilities Planners Help Create Vision for 2012 Bond Program


HISD's Facilities Planning team members (from left): Kedrick Wright, LaJuan Harris, Princess Jenkins, and Dave Funk.

Growing up, Kedrick Wright wanted to be a construction worker because he loved building and remodeling things around the house. He eventually chose a different career, but as HISD’s new senior manager of Facilities Planning, Wright will be using his childhood interests to help replace or build 40 schools across the city.

Wright, who joined HISD on March 18, oversees a team of facilities planners recently hired to guide school officials, parents, and community members through the process of creating 21st century schools as part of the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program.

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HISD Named One of Houston’s Healthiest Employers by Houston Business Journal

Brad Bailey and Susan Jenkins from the HISD Benefits Department accept the award on behalf of HISD.

Brad Bailey and Susan Jenkins from the HISD Benefits Department accept the award on behalf of the district.

The Houston Independent School District was named one of the top 25 healthiest employers in Houston on March 26 at a luncheon hosted by the Houston Business Journal. HISD ranked fourth in the large employer category. The district also had the biggest improvement with a score of 77.498 — up 19.9 points from last year. Forty-four companies scored 50 points or higher to make HBJ’s 2013 Healthiest Employers list, compared to 26 companies last year.

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Video Series Continues on 2012 Bond Topics

Alexis Licata, general manager of the Office of Business Assistance, describes how the district does business. Click on the image above to view videos.

Have a question about the 2012 bond? You might find the information you’re looking for in a series of short videos, designed for web and TV, produced by HISD to explain various aspects of the $1.89 building program.

The public can view videos on topics such as procurement and insurance on bond projects, as well as the benefits of building schools that are environmentally sustainable. The goal is to give viewers a quick snapshot into how the district is moving forward with its plan to build or renovate 40 schools across the district.

View videos in the series here

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HISD Celebrates Success of Students in District’s Early Colleges

These students from the Houston Academy for International Studies are earning credits before college. How many do you have? Click the photo to see more of HISD's Early College students and find out how many credits they've earned before graduation.

Houston ISD’s five early college high schools are celebrating student success as part of Early College High School Week from March 25 thru March 30. Early college high schools allow students to earn a college associate’s degree for free while earning their high school diploma. HISD’s Challenge Early College High School was the first to open at HISD and in the state of Texas.

“Our goal at Challenge is to provide the students the support and resources they need to be successful high school and college students,” Challenge Principal Tonya Miller said. “The expectations are high but the students that come to this campus know that already and are highly motivated to succeed.”

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‘Teach Like A Champion’ Author Gains Insight from HISD Middle Schools

As students enter the classroom of Edison Middle School teacher Mical Roy, he and his students go through a daily ritual called “threshold.” It may sound like a wrestling move, but it’s simply the act of Roy greeting his students at the door and inquiring about their day. It’s a little gesture that starts everyone off on the right foot, and establishes a warm, friendly environment.

“It’s amazing how just letting a student know that you are interested in their day can make a difference,” said Roy who has been a teacher for seven years.

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