The Houston ISD FUTURES Academy will recognize 84 students who earned an associate’s degree or work certification from Houston Community College at a graduation ceremony as part of the academy’s mission to prepare students for job opportunities in high-demand technical fields. The ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 7 at Houston Community College Southwest, 5601 W. Loop South. Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2014
Verdict is unanimous: Legal internships provide solid evidence of nurturing attorneys
Even HISD’s own Assistant General Counsel Izzy Anderson is a product of the CIS program
Until this summer, Davis High School student Shantelle Martinez had never set foot in a real courtroom. Now, the rising senior is planning for a career in criminal justice—and all because of her experience in an eight-week legal internship program this summer coordinated by Communities in Schools (CIS), in partnership with the Houston Bar Association. Continue reading
Don’t close that book just yet: Summer reading competition now has prizes
HISD’s summer reading program just got a lot more competitive.
The district’s corporate partner, myON, has announced that it will be extending students’ access to its online library through Aug. 31 and offering prizes to students who read the largest number of books and/or spend the most time reading there. HISD joined forces with the company earlier this year to expand students’ access to age-appropriate reading materials.
HISD students who place in one of the following four categories will receive a free mini home library from Capstone: Continue reading
PowerUp teachers learn how easy it is to create video productions
Educators from almost two dozen high schools got a lesson in super-quick video production and “flipped” classrooms recently, when their peers from the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina came to Houston to share their expertise on one-to-one student/laptop initiatives.
This cute video, created by the team from Mooresville to show how easy short films are to produce, features teachers from the Phase II schools who completed the training.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/101859054″ responsive=”no”]
Continue reading
Brookline ES gives ELL students extra help this summer
Brookline Elementary School held a literacy challenge this summer to give 65 selected second- and third-grade English language learners a little extra help.
Teachers recommended students to invite to participate in the challenge. School officials said all the students had passed their grade level but needed some English language reinforcement.
Bond Oversight Committee updated on quarterly progress
HISD’s two building programs are busier than ever, but in very different stages.
The 2007 bond program is busy winding down so all original work is done by the end of the year. At the same time, the 2012 bond program is ramping up, with construction starting on all 17 schools in the first phase by the end of the year.
New Teacher Academy gives district newbies their first look at HISD culture, expectations
[su_vimeo url=”http://vimeo.com/101969768″ width=”320″ height=”180″ responsive=”no” ]
Whether they are new to the classroom or just to HISD, nearly 1,000 eager educators gathered at the Kingdom Builders Center on July 28 to begin the New Teacher Academy in anticipation of the coming school year.
The week-long workshop is held every summer to give the district’s newest recruits a head start on their first day of school—and this year, the focus is on using one’s special talents and stories to forge authentic connections with students.
Students at 169 schools to eat for free during 2014-2015 school year
New federal initiative eliminates applications so youngsters don’t go hungry
Students at 169 HISD schools will be able to eat lunch for no charge this year, regardless of their income, thanks to a new federal initiative that became available to all states and eligible schools July 1.
“This new program is a wonderful opportunity for HISD students and families,” said Audene Chung, HISD’s Nutrition Services administrator. “By eliminating the need to qualify students through an application, we hope more children will take advantage of our healthy breakfast and lunch menus.”
HISD has already offered free breakfast to all students since 2010. This push to expand the free lunch program, known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), is just the latest step to ensure low-income students don’t go hungry.
HISD schools claim spots on TEA Title I Reward Schools List
12 schools earn recognition for both high performance and progress
The Texas Education Agency has recognized several HISD schools for high performance and high progress for the 2013-2014 school year. Seventeen HISD schools were included on the agency’s list of Title I High Performing Schools and 17 schools were named as High Progress schools.
“The students and staff of the schools included on this list are focused on implementing innovative programs to affect student outcomes in a positive way,” said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. “Their successes are models that can be used by all schools across the district to ensure that each of our students are not only receiving good grades and scoring well on tests, but are exposed to an academically rigorous education that creates learning leaders.”
Baylor Summer Science Institute giving educators new ways to teach old lessons
All are designed to get elementary and middle school students excited about science and STEM careers
The classroom at Herod Elementary School didn’t have any ring stands available, but that didn’t stop the seventh-grade science teachers in it from completing their experiment on heat and energy at the Baylor Summer Science Institute.
The two-week event, which concludes on July 25, focuses on giving elementary and middle school teachers creative ways to deliver lessons on familiar subjects. And participants displayed that same spirit of ingenuity this year in assembling an acceptable substitute for that basic piece of lab equipment—made from a wet cork, some tin foil, and a coat hanger.