Yearly Archives: 2014

Sharpstown seniors get help with college applications

Workshop guides students through ApplyTexas, HCC processes

While 9-11th graders were busy taking the PSAT College Board exam Wednesday, seniors at Sharpstown High School huddled over their PowerUp laptops and created an account on ApplyTexas, an online college application that allows students to apply to every Texas public university, plus some private and two-year schools.

“A lot of our students are low-income, first-generation, underrepresented, said College Guidance Administrator Aaron Rodriguez. “If there’s not someone there to guide them, to push them to apply, I think [the college application process] would be really challenging for them. That’s what we’re here for.”

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Batter up! Key MS breaks ground on new, state-of-the-art baseball field

SELF and Fondren foundations bring baseball, unity to school community

When baseball season begins next spring, the students at Francis Scott Key Middle School will be running the bases of their new baseball field. The Stacey and Bo Porter SELF Foundation, in partnership with the Fondren Foundation, are together donating the construction and support for the field.

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“Part of our mission is facility improvements, and this is a step in that direction,” said Bo Porter, chairman of SELF — which stands for Sports, Education, Lifeskills, and Faith.

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Preliminary magnet review shows improvement among probationary programs – 2 slated to have status restored

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected. Neither Jane Long Academy’s Allied Health Sciences magnet program nor its Futures Academy is impacted by this review.

The HISD administration gave a preliminary view on Thursday of magnet programs that would be affected by the application of district enrollment criteria and state academic standards – an annual review process that was developed in 2013.

The systematic review applies minimum standards for magnet programs for attracting students from outside their attendance boundaries. Schools are also required to meet minimum student achievement standards to maintain magnet status. Continue reading →

KHOU Surprise Squad delivers breakfast to HISD bus drivers

surprisesquadHISD bus drivers received a big surprise early Thursday morning on live television, thanks to the KHOU 11 Surprise Squad. Drivers, mechanics and staff members cheered as KHOU reporters Chita Johnson and Mia Gradney handed out more than 400 burritos, courtesy of Breakfast Burritos Anonymous.

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HSPVA community hears about construction, final design plans for new building

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About 25 parents, staff and community members gathered for a final meeting to go over the construction process and design plans for the new High School for Performing and Visual Arts on Tuesday. HSPVA is one of 40 schools throughout HISD that will be rebuilt or renovated under the 2012 bond program.

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HISD Trustee Skillern-Jones becomes a director of state school board association

HISD Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones has begun serving a three-year term on the board of directors of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB), representing TASB Region 4D.

Skillern-Jones was elected to the HISD board in 2011 to represent District II. She is trustee for northern communities in HISD, including the former North Forest schools. She held positions of secretary in 2012-13 and is currently first vice-president.

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Construction activity ramping up for Group 1 schools in 2012 bond

Bond WaltripThe construction phase for the 17 schools in Group 1 of the 2012 bond is gearing up, and this means that all of the work, previously being done behind the scenes, will move front and center.

To prepare sites for construction, a number of schools are undergoing demolition, utility work, and installation of fencing and other safety measures. Throughout this part of the project, construction firms have committed to implement strict safety procedures and to minimize the impact on students and the community.

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444 students compete in season’s first UIL Academics tournament

Four hundred forty-four elementary students spent their Saturday at Welch Middle School for the first competition of the 2014-2015 UIL Academics season.

Students from Condit, Cornelius, DeChaumes, Highland Heights, Horn, Law, Twain, Piney Point, and Windsor Village elementary schools, along with Energized for Excellence Academy, competed.

Horn Elementary claimed first place in sweepstakes. DeChaumes Elementary won second place in sweepstakes, and Twain Elementary took home third place.

Here are the individual results: Continue reading →

Grier is named finalist for national urban educator of the year honor

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier is one of five finalists for the annual Green-Garner Award given each year to America’s top urban educator by the Council of the Great City Schools.

The award will be presented Oct. 23 in Milwaukee during the council’s annual fall conference. In addition to the recognition, the winner receives a $10,000 college scholarship to present to a student. Continue reading →