Yearly Archives: 2013

Health Sciences Track Now Available for Westside Students in New Futures Academy

Westside High School students will now have an opportunity to jump start their careers in the health sciences arena and get a head start on their college course-load with the new Futures Academy of Heath Science Careers. This program, in partnership with the Houston Community College and the University of Texas MD Anderson School of Health Professions, will provide Westside students career training in high-demand, technical fields and the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree the summer after receiving their diploma.

“It’s an amazing opportunity! This will help me finish my medical degree a lot faster once I graduate from high school,” said Raquel Sapon, a sophomore at Westside, who aspires to be a doctor. “Plus, the fact that I can work towards an associate’s degree will save my parents a lot of money.”

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Helms Elementary and Camp Innovation Host Heights Science Extravaganza

On Saturday, July 27, Helms Elementary and Camp Innovation teamed up to host the Greater Heights Science Extravaganza. Under the leadership of Dr. Reynaldo Guerra, a Houston engineer and community advocate, more than 60 children enjoyed a day of fun free activities aimed at generating student excitement about working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

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Teachers Experiment with Science Instruction at Summer Institute

A teacher performs an experiment at the BCM summer institute

As a team of presenters from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explained the agency’s presence on the International Space Station and described potential future trips to Mars, it quickly became clear that their talk wasn’t solely about reaching past the Earth’s atmosphere and beyond, but was also about setting the foundation here at home to continue their work.

Approximately 250 teachers listened to a speech given by NASA’s Crew and Thermal Systems Division as part of their studies this month at the Baylor College of Medicine Summer Science Institute (SSI). The group is comprised of HISD science teachers in grades 1 through 8.

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New Teacher Academy Reveals Foundation of Support for Instructors

Hundreds of teachers—some brand-new and some just new to the Houston Independent School District (HISD)—gathered at the Kingdom Builders’ Center on July 29 for the start of the district’s four-day New Teacher Academy.

The event is designed to provide HISD’s newest instructors with an overview of the district, its expectations for their performance, and the many tools available to assist them, both in the classroom and out of it.

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HISD Invites 85 Firms to Review Architect-Selection Process

Elvis Eaglin, senior manager in Procurement, oversees the transfer of RFQs in January.

HISD’s 2012 bond program garnered unprecedented attention from architectural and engineering firms when the district asked for qualifications last December to design 40 schools slated for renovation or construction.

A total of 85 firms responded by the Jan. 15, 2013 deadline, giving the district a diverse pool of choices as it began selecting firms for the first 24 schools, plus renovations for middle school restrooms and athletic facilities.

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Longtime HISD teacher Jean Hines Caldwell Dies

Jean Hines Caldwell

Jean Hines Caldwell, a longtime Houston ISD teacher and counselor, passed away Sunday at the age of 83.

Caldwell began her career at HISD as an audiologist and spent 38 years as a teacher and guidance counselor at Wheatley High School. In 2005, HISD named an elementary school in her honor. Jean Hines Elementary School is located at 5015 W. Orem Dr. in southwest Houston.

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Millionaire Club Spotlight: What Are You Reading This Summer?

Jack Yates HS librarian Velda Hunter

HISD’s Millionaire Club is a literacy initiative designed to encourage students to read for pleasure during the summer months. Each week, we’ll catch up with one HISD librarian to find out what’s on his or her reading list. This week, we spoke with Velda Hunter, a librarian at Jack Yates High School.

What are you reading right now? What attracted you to those selections?

I never read just one or two books at a time. I am reading a variety of good reads, including high school Name That Book selections. Mystery is my favorite genre, so the mystery-thriller Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn is one of the first I chose from the new Name That Book list.

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