Monthly Archives: May 2015

More HISD third-graders pass STAAR reading

District results follow state trends despite increases in population of at-risk students and number of Spanish-speaking students transitioning to English reading exam. 

Seventy percent of Houston Independent School District third-graders passed the 2015 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness reading test — a two-point boost over the previous year.

District administrators attributed the bump — slightly higher than the state increase — to the Literacy by 3 initiative, which calls for all students to be reading and writing fluently by the third grade. As part of that program, all kindergarten through third-grade classrooms were provided last year with leveled libraries, a special collection of books designed for students at varied reading levels. By providing materials at differing levels, teachers are better able to meet the needs of all students. Continue reading →

North Forest High School community briefed on plans for new school

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000sHpsapMBAWk” g_name=”20150521-NorthForest” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Stakeholders of North Forest High School had the opportunity at a recent community meeting to hear about design plans for the new high school and the expected construction timeline.

Continue reading →

Twenty-two HISD schools get free art supplies from Rodrigue Foundation

FieldES_RodrigueBlueDog_400aStudents at almost two dozen HISD schools are now better able to explore the visual arts, after their campuses won art supply kits valued at $1,000 each from the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). The schools received the kits after submitting grant requests to George’s Art Closest, an initiative of the organization named for the well-known Louisiana-based artist who created “Blue Dog.”

Up to 20 campuses also got free field trips to a temporary exhibit of Rodrigue’s artwork at West Avenue at River Oaks, 2800 Kirby Dr., second floor, and Adrienne Lewis’ third-grade math class at Field Elementary School even received a visit from the artist’s son, Jacques Rodrigue, on May 18. Continue reading →

School districts, police agencies join Ministers Against Crime to ensure safe conclusion of school year

With the school year quickly coming to an end, the Houston Independent School District Police Department is once again teaming up with local law enforcement agencies and religious leaders with its annual Project Safe Start event.

The citywide effort aims to help prevent crime and increase safety, ensuring students’ summer vacations begin on a positive note.

Continue reading →

HISD to resume compressed summer work schedule on June 1

SummerSchedule_400HISD will begin its “40 in Four” work schedule at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center and participating schools and departments for the summer beginning Monday, June 1, 2015. First implemented in 2011, the schedule was designed to save the district money on operating expenses during the hot summer months.

During the 40 in Four schedule, central offices will be closed on Fridays, and participating employees must work 10 hours each day during the four-day work week (Monday–Thursday). The Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092) will be open to the public from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday during this period. Campuses have the option of operating on a four- or five-day work week, but employees there are still required to work 40 hours. Continue reading →

Summer School 2015: What parents need to know

SummerSchool2015_400The last day of class for the regular academic year was Thursday, May 28, and that means summer school is right around the corner.

Individual campuses have already begun sending out notices to the parents and/or legal guardians of students who will need to attend summer school due to promotion/retention standards, and to make them aware of any enrichment programs available. Continue reading →

Twain ES student to appear in new TV arts program for kids

Take the Stage is a brand-new Houston-based performing-arts TV show for kids debuting on Saturday, May 30—and a student from HISD’s very own Twain Elementary School holds one of the lead roles.

Payne Houck (left) in character on the show

Payne Houck (left) in character on the show

Payne Houck, a second-grader, plays “Sawyer,” a high-spirited student with big dreams in an afterschool performing-arts class. In the show’s first episode, viewers take a ride inside Sawyer’s colorful imagination, where they see his fantasy of becoming an on-air talk-show host/comedian.

Continue reading →

No make-up day on Friday thanks to waiver from the state

Houston Independent School District students will not have to attend school on Friday thanks to a waiver granted by the Texas Education Agency.

HISD schools and district offices were closed today — Tuesday, May 26 — due to overnight storms that resulted in potentially dangerous driving conditions because of heavy flooding throughout the city.
Continue reading →

Seniors take D.C. by storm

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000UTs8RnJzoQA” g_name=”201505015-Wheatley-HS-college-trip” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Lofty goals can make a traveler of anyone. Forty Wheatley High School seniors journeyed to Washington, D.C. May 12-15, 2015, for a leadership conference hosted by Close Up, an organization that encourages students to become engaged with democracy. Students applied for the trip by writing essays about Rosa Parks.

Continue reading →

Bond construction milestone: First wall goes up on new Sterling HS

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000uJkm6oZFgiE” g_name=”20150520-Sterling-TiltWall” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

A large crane arrived at the Sterling High School construction site this week, and on Wednesday it lifted and placed the first three-story, concrete tilt wall panel.

Members of the Project Advisory Team and a handful of Sterling students were on site to celebrate the milestone and add their signatures to the wall before it was lifted.

Continue reading →