Yearly Archives: 2014

Day 2: Hour of Code teaches students new web programs

Hour of Code Kinder

Kindergartners work on coding problems at Briargrove Elementary School on Monday, Dec. 8.

Kindergartners at Briargrove Elementary School collaborated to create an interactive character, coordinating his movements, look and sound for their Hour of Code activity. On Monday, Dec. 8, Cleopatra Jones’ ESL kindergarten class used Scratch, a web programming language tool used to create interactive art, stories and simulations to create an interactive character and build its environment.

More than 100 HISD schools are participating in the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 8–14. The week-long global initiative encourages students of all ages to learn the basics of coding, engineering, computer programming, and gaming. Continue reading →

Westside Lady Wolves bring home the trophy at annual girls’ basketball tournament

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The Westside High School girls’ basketball team racked up multiple victories to finish as the overall champion of the HISD girls’ varsity basketball tournament. Fans were treated to three days of exciting and competitive basketball at the 31st annual tournament, which included 39 games held Dec. 4-6.

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Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School breaks ground for new facility

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Stakeholders for the Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School gathered Saturday at the school’s new site in the Galleria area to break ground on a new 21st century building. The $32 million campus is being built as part of the HISD’s 2012 bond program.

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Middle school students tour TAMU-Galveston, learn about maritime studies

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It was the trip of the year for Woodson Leadership Academy sixth-graders. Nearly 100 youngsters traveled to Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG) to explore the world of marine and maritime studies.

The students split into small groups, and Texas A&M students took them on walking tours of the campus located on Pelican Island, followed by a hands-on lesson about oysters from Wetlands Center and Field Trip Coordinator William Daily. Daily jumped into the water at the Dr. Sammy and Charlotte Ray Oyster Garden and started fishing around for oysters to show eager students, who passed around them around, marveling at tiny creatures attached to the rough shells. Continue reading →

HISD joins the Hour of Code global initiative

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Approximately 107 HISD schools have registered to participate in the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Education Week, Dec. 8–14. The week-long global initiative encourages students of all ages to learn the basics of coding, engineering, computer programming, and gaming.

It is estimated that by 2020, 1.4 million jobs will be created in the computing related fields, but U.S. graduates are only on track to filling 29 percent of them. Continue reading →

Students join in the fight against hunger among children, homeless

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Come out and join Hamilton Middle School and the Rice University Coalition on Hunger and Homelessness this Sunday, Dec. 5 for the school’s second annual Fall Sandwiches for All. The event is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Hamilton, 139 East 20th Street.

Hamilton is the only HISD middle school to partner with the Rice University Coalition on Hunger and Homelessness to develop a program that specifically focuses on ways to feed children in Harris County, where 25.5 percent of youngsters live in food-insecure households. Continue reading →

Luby’s surprises student with $1,000 check for demonstrating great character

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The restaurant chain Luby’s surprised a student with a $1,000 check on Wednesday, Dec. 3 at  Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men as an award for demonstrating outstanding character. Continue reading →

Two children’s authors visit HISD elementary schools this week

Red ES student Brian Mejia poses for a photo with children author Don Tate and the school librarian, Melissa Buron.

Red ES student Brian Mejia poses for a photo with children author Don Tate and the school librarian, Melissa Buron.

Red Elementary School students welcomed two children’s authors to their school this week. On Monday, Dec. 1, the HISD science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) magnet school celebrated the love of fairy tales with author Liesl Shurtliff. Shurtliff is the author of the Bluebonnet Nominated book “RUMP: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin.”  Author and illustrator Don Tate, who’s written more than 50 books for children, also stopped by Red ES. On Wednesday, Dec. 3, Shurtliff made another visit to a HISD school by reading to students at Patterson Elementary School.

Author Liesl Shurtliff and Red Elementary Students

Red ES students pose for a photo with children’s author Liesl Shurtliff on Dec. 3, 2014.

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Patterson ES students get a visit from children’s author Liesl Shurtliff on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2014.

Houston Police Department’s K-9 unit inspires students to ‘be a better you’

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Foerster Elementary School students were treated to a visit from the Houston Police Department’s K-9 Unit on Thursday, Dec. 4 while learning the importance of making positive decisions every day.

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