Yearly Archives: 2014

Bellaire Army JROTC cadet receives military honor

JROTC cadet Bianca Rubio-Casteneda poses for a photograph at Bellaire High School, October 10, 2014. Rubio-Casteneda has been awarded the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for outstanding achievement in the reserve officers training corps program. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Bianca Rubio-Castaneda

Bellaire High School senior Bianca Rubio-Castaneda says she first joined the JROTC program in ninth grade because she thought the uniforms looked cool. She didn’t realize then how much of an impact the program would have on her life.

Last week, she learned she is one of 29 students this year out of more than 30,000 candidates in the world to receive the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross for Achievement, the second highest honor awarded to a JROTC cadet. Rubio-Castaneda, a cadet lieutenant colonel and cadet commander of the Bellaire Army JROTC Battalion, tried to hold back tears after being presented the award at the October HISD Board Meeting.

“No one told me I was getting this award, and it’s such an amazing honor,” she said. “I’m grateful to have the support of my school, my peers, and my ROTC directors. They’ve always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself.” Continue reading →

Fulbright award winner takes advice to heart: cultivate relationships

HISD social studies teacher Joseph Olan poses with Jeremy Lee (Punggol View Primary School, Singapore) outside The Rusk School earlier this month. Both are 2014 recipients of the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching.

Since receiving a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching two months ago, social studies teacher Joseph Olan has not wasted any time.

The veteran educator, who also serves as The Rusk School’s Literacy By 3 team leader, has already made plans to work on a joint project with his counterpart in Singapore, Jeremy Lee, and he is cultivating additional partnerships with Fulbright award winners from Finland and Morocco.

“Orientation was in August,” explained Olan, “and all of us were put together for one week in D.C. The one thing that Fulbright officials kept emphasizing was to talk to each other, to collaborate and develop these relationships, because they will continue even if you leave the classroom (for an administrative position). I met Jeremy there and became very close to him. We have a similar mindset. We have talked four or five times a week ever since.” Continue reading →

Yates HS community meeting planned to discuss academic programming

Education Through NumismaticsA special community meeting focusing on academics at Yates High School has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, at the school.

HISD administration is hosting the meeting at the request of Board of Education Trustee Paula Harris. District officials will engage the Third Ward community on ways to strengthen the academic program at Yates.

Continue reading →

A homecoming day to remember

Homecoming had special meaning for the students, parents and alumni of North Forest High School Saturday. It was more than just a football game, more than the morning parade, more than the tailgate party with refreshments, door prizes, and music leading up to the game. Saturday was about their history, their memories.

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Moms, dads, grandparents, teens, aunts, friends, and youngsters strolled up and down tables with mementos from the former North Forest school district and were able to take home items that had meaning for them. Continue reading →

Family Learning Academy ‘Super Saturdays’ continue until Nov. 8

HISD families from throughout the district are encouraged to attend one of four remaining “Super Saturday” sessions held throughout the months of October and November by the HISD Family and Community Engagement Department. The free sessions are part of the district’s Family Learning Academy (FLA), which is designed to give HISD parents and families the tools they need to help their child graduate from high school, enroll in college, and pursue a rewarding career.

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Several hundred parents and their children attended the FLA event this past at Saturday at Furr High School which included sessions on a variety of district and community resources including: connecting kids to healthcare, navigating the HISD school choice application process, healthy eating, and how to help your student decide what to do after high school. Continue reading →

HISD Superintendent names Helen Spencer new chief communications officer

20141009_Spencer_0004_RHouston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier has named Chief of Staff Helen Spencer as his new chief communications officer.

Spencer is taking over for Tiffany Davila-Dunne, who left to assume the lead communications role in Spring ISD. Davila-Dunne, who joined HISD in the summer of 2013, cited a desire to balance work and family as the reason for her departure. Continue reading →

Houston ISD Nutrition Services celebrates healthy school lunches and lifestyles

To recognize the National School Lunch Program and the 30 million children it serves every day, Houston ISD schools is celebrating National School Lunch Week from Oct. 13-17 under the theme: “Get in the Game with School Lunch.” The week will feature events and activities at 30 elementary schools promoting the importance of balancing healthy eating with physical activity and exercise. Continue reading →

Want to teach in HISD? Attend an information session

Are you interested in joining Team HISD as a teacher? We have an information session Tuesday for you to learn about the district’s teacher selection process.

The session will be held at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St., from 5-6 p.m. tomorrow. Candidates may register online and check-in begins at 4:30 p.m., as the session will begin promptly at 5 p.m.

The teacher recruitment team will explain what happens after a teacher has been approved for the district’s “teacher pool” and answer your questions.  Candidates are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes.

ALERT: Some sports canceled due to weather

Due to strong storms throughout the Houston region, the Houston ISD athletics department has canceled all seventh-grade football and seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball games scheduled for Mon., Oct, 13, 2014.

Schools may elect to cancel afterschool activities, including athletic practices. Please contact your school directly to determine if planned activities will go on as scheduled.

Waltrip HS junior chosen to serve on Souper Bowl of Caring’s youth advisory board

(Houston Independent School District)Jonathan Simmons, a student at HISD’s Waltrip High School, has been chosen to serve on the Souper Bowl of Caring’s (SBOC) national youth advisory board this year.

The junior was one of only 14 students selected from across the nation to participate, and Jonathan was chosen after completing a rigorous application process that required students to submit a number of essays explaining why they wanted to serve.

As a part of his board duties, Jonathan delivered a speech in front of 500 guests—including Houston Texans CEO Bob McNair—at that organization’s Tackle Hunger Houston luncheon on Sept. 30. Continue reading →