Yearly Archives: 2013

More Than 350 “Bikes for Excellence” Awarded to HISD Students

Bikes donated by the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation, Martha Patricia Jaimes and the Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club

More than 350 Houston Independent School District students at Garden Oaks, Looscan, Garcia, and Coop elementary schools will receive bicycles, helmets, and bicycle locks as part of the “Bikes for Excellence” program.  This program, founded in 2006 by Park Place Elementary teacher Martha Patricia Jaimes, rewards fifth-grade students who have excelled in academics, personal conduct, and attendance.   The Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation help by donating bikes to the program.

During the final ceremony on Friday, May 17 nearly 100 students at Coop Elementary will receive their bikes.

What:              95 fifth-grade students will each receive a bicycle, a helmet, and a bicycle lock

Who:               Coop Elementary students, staff and parents; Bikes for Excellence Founder Martha Patricia Jaimes; Sue and Lester Smith; and Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club  

When:             Friday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m.

Where:            Coop Elementary School, 10130 Aldine-Westfield, 77093

Early College HS Seniors Give Back to Community

Click the photo to see more pictures from the Senior Summit

Students from Houston ISD’s early college campuses showcased a few of their senior service projects to their peers on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 during the annual Senior Summit.

Approximately 200 seniors from North Houston Early College, East Early College, Challenge Early College, Empowerment College Prep and the Houston Academy for International Studies watched as groups presented projects focusing on issues such as feeding the hungry, mentoring younger students, preventing bullying and promoting safe physical activity, among others. While the service projects are a requirement for graduation, college access coordinator for East Early College High School Lisa Green said many of her students laid groundwork for their projects to continue after they graduate.

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HSPVA designated Exemplary School by Arts Schools Network

The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts has been designated a 2013-2015 Exemplary School by Arts Schools Network, the nation’s largest professional membership organization of specialized art schools.

The designation signifies that HSPVA has successfully completed a self-evaluation in the areas of strengths, areas for improvement, consistency with school-wide or program purpose, aspirations, and future challenges.

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Bellaire, Westbury students win scholarships from Youth Business Institute

Several students from two Houston ISD schools were recently recognized for completing the Youth Business Institute, an 11-week professional development program.

Students from Bellaire and Westbury high schools were mentored by TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Home Goods associates to learn job and life skills, including budgeting, resume building, interview preparation and attire, merchandising, goal setting and career exploration through job shadow days.

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District Program Locates, Evaluates, Identifies Students With Disabilities

Do you suspect your child has a disability or do you know a parent that suspects their child might have a disability? HISD’s Child Find locates, evaluates, and identifies students with disabilities from 3 to 21 years of age. Anyone can start the process: a parent, doctor, teacher, relative or friend.

“HISD has a responsibility to evaluate and serve students who may need special education and related services regardless of whether or not the student is enrolled in an HISD school,” said Child Study Manager Michael Webb. “If services are needed enrollment in HISD for children with disabilities can begin as early as age three.”

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Revere MS Chosen For Middle School Matters Institute

Revere Middle School has been selected to participate in the Middle School Matters Institute, a program launched in February 2011 as part of the Bush Institute’s Education Reform Initiative in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin’s Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk.

“When we found out that we were selected, and that we were the only school in HISD that was selected, we were ecstatic,” Revere MS Principal Hafedh Azaiez said. “We look forward to sharing in the experience and gaining insights and support to continue to move Revere forward and to represent HISD positively.”

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HISD Board Members Encourage Parents, Teachers and Principals to Return Survey by May 20

Who: The May 2013 edition of HISD Up Close hosted by HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman features an interview with fellow trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. on the importance of the district’s customer satisfaction survey called Your Voice. All HISD parents, principals and teachers are encouraged to complete and return the survey by May 20. Students will fill out the questionnaire during the school day from May 20-31. The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside company to assure confidentiality.

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Board Members Encourage Participation in Districtwide Survey

Parents, teachers and principals need to fill out ‘Your Voice’ survey by May 20

HISD Board President Anna Eastman and Board Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are encouraging HISD parents, teachers and principals to fill out and return the Your Voice customer satisfaction survey by May 20, 2013.  The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside party so all responses will remain confidential and anonymous.  Continue reading →

Marshall MS Student Rewarded For ‘Doing Write Thing’

(Web Team)Marshall Middle School student Jordyn Turner will head to Washington D.C. this summer to serve as a Houston/Harris County ambassador at the National Campaign to Stop Violence. The seventh grader, her parents and her school principal were surprised with the news at a special ceremony at Minute Maid Park on Saturday, May 11, 2013 which brought together student finalists who wrote essays examining the problems of youth violence.

“Jordyn is a unique, spirited individual who really cares about making a difference at school and in her community,” said Marshall Middle School Principal Michael Harrison. “We are so proud of her.”

This spring, Turner and nearly 17,000 middle school students from 39 school districts in Harris County wrote essays that addressed the issues of causation, effects and solutions to violence as part of the Do the Write Thing Challenge program. The program is an initiative of the National Campaign To Stop Violence, a non-profit, non-partisan, organization composed of community, business and governmental leaders who have come together to reduce youth violence across the United States. Since its inception, it is estimated that more than 1,000,000 students have participated in the challenge.

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Houston Astro Pitches In To Help With District Literacy Efforts

He may be a catcher for the Houston Astros, but Jason Castro is pitching in to help HISD with its comprehensive literacy efforts. Castro and his wife, Maris, have created a new literacy initiative called Castro’s Kids which will be providing funds, books and incentives to supplement HISD’s Name that Book competition and the district’s successful Millionaire Club Summer Reading Program.

“Maris and I couldn’t be more dedicated and excited to launch Castro’s Kids,” said Castro during HISD’s Name that Book Fair event on May 11, 2013 at the Bellaire Barnes and Noble. “We attribute not only meeting each other, but many of the opportunities we have been given throughout our lives, to education. By promoting literacy in the Houston school districts, we hope to make an impact in the area that we are proud to call our home.”

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