Monthly Archives: June 2013

Emergency Response Committee Gets Ready for Hurricane Season

The Houston area hasn’t been affected by a tropical storm yet this year, but HISD administrators are already fine-tuning their preparations in case one does hit the Texas coast.

Members of the Hurricane Emergency Response Committee gathered at the district’s headquarters on June 27 to take part in a tabletop preparedness exercise. The exercise was designed to let them review their current plans of action and to identify ways of improving them based on lessons learned from previous storms.

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Energy Institute High School Still Accepting Applications

At least 80 people applied for entry into one of Houston ISD’s newest high schools, the Energy Institute High School, on Wednesday afternoon at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.

The Energy Institute High School will capitalize on Houston’s renowned energy industry, representing the fields of geoscience, alternative energy, and offshore technology. Corporate partnerships at the full magnet school will help provide a strong foundation in chemistry, engineering, science and mathematics. Students will be encouraged to see how professionals operate and are provided with numerous real-world experiences which provide an edge for future college coursework.

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Parents, Students Crowd North Forest Informational Meeting

Hundreds of parents and students gathered on Tues., June 25, to learn more information about the scheduled annexation of North Forest schools into the Houston Independent School District. The Texas Education Commissioner has ordered HISD to annex North Forest ISD on July 1. To make the transition as smooth as possible, HISD is holding a series of community meetings. The final meeting will be held on Thurs., June 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Eden Event Center, 7540 N. Wayside.

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Teachers Enjoy ‘Revolutionary’ Trip to Eastern Seaboard, Thanks to U.S. DOE Grant

HISD history teachers pose at the Bunker Hill Monument commemorating a battle in the American Revolution, a stop along the Freedom Trail in Boston, Mass.

Many teachers use the summer months as a time to deepen their knowledge of various subjects, but one group of 36 history teachers took that activity to the next level this year.

The educators, who came from 30 different HISD campuses, developed a new appreciation for this country’s origins and some of its most unconventional thinkers by exploring some of the most historically significant sites related to “revolutionary” activities June 9–15.

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All Positions Filled For North Forest Summer School Teachers

Houston ISD has filled all positions for summer school teachers in the North Forest community.

HISD began accepting applications for certified internal educators on July 1, and all positions were filled by July 2.
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Camp M.I. Way Offers Both Campers and Counselors a Unique Experience

What summer camp would be complete without silly songs and fun games? At Camp M.I. Way, however, the focus is on stimulation, rather than recreation. The five-week camp places a child with multiple impairments with a personal student counselor from one of several HISD middle and high schools.

“Camp M.I. Way gives students with multiple impairments a chance to practice and expand their skills in an atmosphere of fun,” said Deborah Carr, the executive director of Home Run Hitters International, a local non-profit group which created and founded the camp.

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HISD Aims to Use Fewer T-Buildings During 2012 Bond Construction

Temporary buildings are being removed at McReynolds Middle School.

For many schools built under HISD’s 2007 bond program, temporary buildings used for storage and instruction space were part of the construction process.

Now, as the district moves forward with the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program, HISD officials are looking at ways to minimize the use of T-buildings to maximize the amount of money available for new facilities.

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