Yearly Archives: 2014

Grady MS community gets progress update for new building addition under 2012 bond

Temporary buildings used for classroom instruction at Grady Middle School could be gone as early as the summer in preparation for a two-story building addition that will connect to the campus’ existing facility.

“Temporary buildings are great, but the whole point is that they’re temporary,” said Principal Gretchen Kasper-Hoffman during a community meeting Monday night at the school. “We have to do what’s best for our students now and for our future students to ensure we have a sustainable building that will be here for years to come.”

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Boot-scootin’, chili cook-offs, and livestock shows part of HISD’s celebration of Go Texan Day

It’s a time-honored tradition for HISD students to kick off the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) by observing Go Texan Day on Friday, Feb. 28. In addition to wearing western attire, HISD schools are building pride in their Texas heritage with a variety of educational programs and events. HLSR is an ongoing source of scholarships for college-bound students, and HISD seniors have received millions of dollars over the past half-century.

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Minority-owned business manages bond labor-compliance program

Editor’s note: This profile is part of an occasional series on minority or women-owned companies that do business with HISD. The district’s minimum M/WBE goal levels are 20 percent for all levels of purchasing and construction, and 25 percent for professional services. In the 2007 bond program, that commitment reached nearly 34 percent. In the 2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a nearly 51 percent M/WBE commitment.

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HISD Superintendent Terry Grier to deliver 2014 State of the Schools address

Focus is expansion of technology and connecting with parents, community to boost student success

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will highlight the outstanding work of the district’s principals, teachers, and community partners on Wednesday, Feb. 26, when he delivers the annual HISD State of the Schools address. The event’s theme, Build. Bridge. Believe., brings to life the district’s work over the past year.

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Chavez High School to host College Camp Houston series

If preparing for college has you feeling overwhelmed, this weekend’s College Camp Houston may help you navigate through all of the decisions. Preparing for college, paying for tuition and researching financial aid are a few of the topics that will be covered at Chavez High School from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.

The day-long, free event is in partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and Wells Fargo, and will feature mentoring sessions for participants, advice on how to research financial aid, guidance on how to apply for scholarships, and a variety of opportunities middle and high school students and their parents to get their questions answered by experts.

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HISD celebrates the Year of the Horse

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Schools across Houston ISD gathered Saturday to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

The Confucius Institute hosted the program at Sharpstown International School and featured cultural performances, art, and educational activities from eight HISD schools.

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HISD’s global HS nominated for U.S. Blue Ribbon Schools honor

Houston Academy for International Studies offers diploma, associate’s degree

A unique, globally focused Houston ISD early college high school has been nominated for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Schools honor from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Houston Academy for International Studies made the list of 25 exemplary, high performing Texas schools announced Friday by the Texas Education Agency. HAIS will now go through a rigorous application and review process to be considered for final Blue Ribbon recognition, which will be announced in September. Chosen schools are honored at a conference in Washington, D.C.

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I Am HISD: Know which Milby HS alumna has plans to lead her old campus?

Charlotte Harris

Charlotte Harris has been at Milby High School since 2002, first as a teacher, later as a Title I coordinator, and now as an assistant principal. Principal Roy de la Garza jokes that she is just “waiting for him to die” so she can step into his position.

Find out why and read more about Harris in this week’s “I Am HISD” profile, or check out the full edition of eNews online.

Other highlights from this week’s edition include:

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HISD’s global, early college HS nominated for U.S. Blue Ribbon Schools honor

A unique, globally focused Houston ISD early college high school has been nominated for the 2014 Blue Ribbon Schools honor from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Houston Academy for International Studies was on a list of 25 exemplary, high performing Texas schools announced Friday by the Texas Education Agency. HAIS will now go through a rigorous application and review process to be considered for final Blue Ribbon recognition, which will be announced in September. Chosen schools are honored at a conference in Washington, D.C.

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HISD celebrates Black History Month with famous guests, stellar performances

From Rosa Parks’ niece to Kashmere High School’s ThunderSOUL Orchestra, students across the district are getting a double dose of history, as schools present a wide variety of programs in honor of Black History Month. February was chosen because it includes the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

“The entire school gets involved in the black history wax museum,” said Lockhart Elementary School teacher Kim Mayo. “Every grade has scenes to recreate, and the students dress up as figures from black history.” A wax museum usually consists of a collection of wax sculptures of famous people wearing real clothes, but schools have picked up on the idea, substituting students for the sculptures. At Lockhart, for example, the students dress up as figures from black history and “freeze” when visitors enter the room.

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