Monthly Archives: October 2013

eNews Highlight: PowerUp Already Empowering HISD Teachers

Read how the district’s laptop initiative is changing the way teachers teach in this week’s edition

PowerUp is still in its early stages, but some teachers are already using the district’s new laptop initiative to drive creative instruction in the classroom. Read more about how Sarah Campbell from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is using these new tools in the Breakthroughs section of the Oct. 18, 2013, edition of eNews.

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Local Computer Recycling Programs to Provide 165 Free, Refurbished Computers for HISD Students

Over the next week, 165 HISD students from two different schools will take home a free, refurbished computer thanks to two local computer recycling programs.

The computers will be given to students at Sugar Grove Academy and Berry Elementary School. They are being provided by Comp-U-Dopt and TechnoCycle.

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Realtors Seek Answers from District Leaders on Taxes, School Security, and More

Dr. Grier is one of four superintendents from Houston’s four fastest-growing school districts to participate in HAR event

Houston has one of the hottest real-estate markets in the nation right now, and that’s why a group of local realtors asked the superintendents of Houston’s four fastest-growing school districts to participate in a panel at their H-Town Day on Oct. 17.

The Houston Association of Realtors invited Dr. Terry Grier from Houston ISD, Alton Frailey from Katy ISD, Dr. Mark Henry from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, and Dr. Duncan Klussmann from Spring Branch ISD to the annual event, which took place this year at the Houston Food Bank. The four leaders spoke to a crowd of nearly 150 realtors.

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Community Partnerships Contributing to Walnut Bend ES’s Success

Chronicle article shows how caring organizations are making a difference in students’ lives

A student in Spanish language class at Walnut Bend Elementary school.

Students at HISD’s Walnut Bend Elementary School are benefitting from community partners in a big way this year.

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Magazine Names Carnegie Vanguard Best K-12 Design Project

Carnegie Vanguard High School was selected by a leading design and construction publication this week as a top building project for innovative structure and design features – beating out six schools in Texas and Louisiana.

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HISD Closing Under-Enrolled Magnet Programs While Adding More Promising Options

Twenty of HISD’s 115 magnet programs are not attracting enough students

Twenty HISD magnet school programs that are not drawing enough students from outside their neighborhoods will be closed after the 2013-2014 school year under a plan announced Thursday.

These 20 magnet school programs enroll a combined 758 students from outside their attendance zones.
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College Readiness Month Encourages Students to Plan Now for the Future

It doesn’t matter if your child is 4 or 14, it’s never too early to start planning for college.

That’s the message Houston Independent School District College Readiness Manager Yolanda Norman is spreading this October as the district celebrates College Readiness Month.

College Readiness Month is designed to get students thinking about college and prepare them to not just gain admission, but complete a degree and graduate. The goal, Norman said is to get students thinking critically about their future and long-term plans.

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HISD Graduate Comes Full Circle to Train Teachers on PowerUp Laptops

Elvira Salazar

Cramming a towel under her bedroom door to hide the light, Elvira Salazar defied her father’s orders and studied late into the night to keep up with her high-school homework. Now a dedicated PowerUp instructional technology specialist with HISD, Salazar understands how giving every HISD high school student a laptop for both home and school use will help them to work more effectively and efficiently, not only in the classroom, but after school as well.

“This is going to transform how teachers teach and how students learn,” Salazar said. “I want to help integrate technology into their lesson plans to make sure that these laptops are an effective learning tool.” Salazar left teaching in another district and writing curriculum for Rice University to work with HISD teachers on the digital transformation currently underway.

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Students Have Chance to Help Decide Next Year’s Cafeteria Options

Cheesy garlic bread sticks. Chicken stuffed with broccoli and cheese. Pollock fish crusted with sweet potatoes. Pita pockets with honey and oven roasted turkey and cheese melts. Sweet potato pancakes, French toast sandwiches and empanadas.

Is your mouth watering yet?

These items and dozens of others can be sampled Oct. 24 at HISD’s first-ever, district wide Nutrition Innovation Food Show. The event is designed to showcase innovative and nutritious products being considered for HISD campuses, while also letting students and parents provide feedback as to what they’d like to see offered in school cafeterias.

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