With most details of the state’s new reform of public education – known as House Bill 5 – settled only last week, HISD is ready with a multimedia toolbox to assist students, families, and support staff in making the most of the guidelines that will require students to choose academic and career paths that will prepare them for success beyond high school.
The district launched its “Plan Your Path” informational website, houstonisd.org/PlanYourPath, on Feb. 5. It offers:
More Than 75 Seniors To Ink Commitments
More than 75 of Houston ISD’s top scholar athletes will formally commit to continue their studies and sports careers at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Wednesday at a ceremony to be held in conjunction with National Signing Day.
More than 75 of Houston ISD’s top scholar athletes will formally commit to continue their studies and sports careers at colleges and universities throughout the U.S. Wednesday at a ceremony to be held in conjunction with National Signing Day.
The event, which will include both female and male athletes and their coaches and parents, will take place at 1 p.m. at the Region IV Educational Service Center, 7145 W. Tidwell Road in northwest Houston. Athletes will sign symbolic certificates of intent. Joe Tusa, HISD’s retired director of athletics and a legend in the district, will be the featured speaker. Two years ago, the Delmar Athletic Complex was re-named in his honor.
Nearly a dozen students spent part of their weekend at an underwater robotics workshop at Waltrip High School. Three teams of students from Waltrip, Washington, and the Energy Institute high schools built underwater robots essentially from scratch.
The students had to strip wire, solder, make electrical connections, read a mechanical schematic, measure and cut pipe, drill holes, make physical connections, while going from a drawing to a 3D structure, and create a variety of larger assemblies from individual parts.
Twenty students at Sherman Elementary School received their certificates and sticker badges Monday as they were recognized during a special lunch for being a “Kid with Character.”
Fourth-grader Alicia Sierra was recognized for her outstanding behavior. “I feel good and want to encourage my other friends so they can sit on stage with me,” she said. Continue reading
The University Interscholastic League announced its realignment for 2014-2016 on Monday, and some Houston ISD football teams will now play schools outside the district.
“It’s a new twist for us,” HISD Athletics Director Marmion Dambrino said. “It’s going to be interesting. We’re excited about it. The teams we’re going to be playing are very competitive.”
Superintendent Terry Grier recognizes teachers and staff
Students across the Houston Independent School District achieved significant success in the classroom during the 2012–2013 school year, and the educators most responsible for the gains recently earned financial awards.
Earlier this month, HISD awarded a total of $18.2 million to 5,180 campus-based teachers and staff under the ASPIRE Award Program. ASPIRE award payouts for teachers in core subjects, such as math, science, social studies, and language arts, are based on their students’ academic gains compared to their peers.
“Our teachers embody our core belief in the ability of every child to succeed in the classroom, under the guidance of effective teachers,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said. “Every day, campus leaders, peers, parents, families and students thank their teachers for their hard work. This is another way HISD leadership can recognize the highest levels of effective teaching.”
HISD parent Victoria Bryant had never even heard of the district’s Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) until she tried to enroll her three-year-old daughter at the TSU Charter Lab school recently—but today, she is one of its biggest fans.
“My daughter’s learning a lot of the things that I take for granted, but forget someone actually had to teach me, such as knowing the difference between ‘over’ and ‘under,’” she said. “It’s really broadened her vocabulary.”
Bryant was referred to HIPPY by a TSU Charter staff member after learning that the school was full and could not accept additional students. “She told me there was a program for parents to be their children’s first teachers,” said Bryant, “and while I was trying (to teach my daughter) at home, I really didn’t know what to do, so this came along at the right time. It was perfect. And it’s cool, because it gives me all of the tools that I need.”
The planning and design phases of Sterling High School and the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy are highlighted as community building efforts in two videos released by HISD.
Both schools are being rebuilt into 21st century learning environments under the district’s 2012 $1.89 billion bond program.
The videos include input on the projects from students, staff, parents, architects, alumni and community members.
Studies have shown that children enrolled in dual-language programs can benefit tremendously from receiving instruction in two languages. Students in such programs routinely outperform their peers on standardized tests, do better on college-readiness exams such as the SAT, and can earn up to 20 percent more in wages as adults.
That’s why HISD is expanding its dual-language offerings to an additional 14 elementary campuses this fall, and has a six-year plan in place to make the program available in at least half of its elementary campuses by the year 2020.