Monthly Archives: May 2015

HISD recognizes 2015’s top volunteers for their ‘Work of Heart’

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000UCGps4rOGHg” g_name=”20150514-VIPS” 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” ]

The Houston Independent School District honored its top volunteers during the annual Volunteers in Public Schools Recognition and Awards Ceremony held Thursday afternoon.

Each year, the Volunteers in Public Schools program — more commonly referred to as VIPS —enlists thousands of parents and community members who are willing to dedicate their time to support HISD students and their academic achievement. Members help in libraries, media centers, clinics and school offices, serving as tutors, mentors, teacher partners, speakers, security patrols, chaperones, interpreters, and even cafeteria monitors. Continue reading →

HISD rolls out workplace bullying training for all employees

Houston Independent School District is continuing its effort to eliminate workplace bullying by introducing a new training course for employees.IMG_3619

Under the new policy adopted in August 2014, the district is taking steps to protect the emotional and physical well-being of its adult team members by passing one of the first comprehensive anti-bullying policies in the nation for public school employees.

Under HISD policy, anyone who witnesses bullying or a form of intimidation can also report it. The course explains the definition of workplace bullying—how to identify it and the process of filing a formal report through management.

Continue reading →

Art contest winners for Police Appreciation Week announced

The Houston Independent School District Police Department has announced the winners of its first Police Appreciation Week Art Contest.

Third- through fifth-grade students throughout the district showcased their artistic skills on a range of law enforcement themes, including highlighting any HISD campus officer, honoring a relative in law enforcement, or the different types of law enforcement officers.

“It was amazing to see the themes and imaginations of our third-, fourth- and fifth-graders,” said Lt. Guadalupe Jimenez. “Their illustrations showed the time and effort that was contributed by each student.”

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000li_VrETKS8o” g_name=”20150515-HISDPDArtContest” 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” ]

Continue reading →

HISD recognizes 2015’s top volunteers for their ‘Work of Heart’

In a (literally) heart-filled ceremony on Thursday, May 14, HISD honored the district’s top volunteers from the longstanding Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program. VIPS, which was first launched in 1970, now has more than 30,000 volunteers districtwide who have dedicated countless hours to schools, programs, and events across Houston.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000UCGps4rOGHg” g_name=”20150514-VIPS” 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” ]

During the ceremony, awards were presented to four individuals to recognize their outstanding efforts as volunteers in HISD schools.

Continue reading →

HISD schools sweep recycling bin decorating contest

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000cSZ4kTT4pZQ” g_name=”20150511-ArtCans” 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” ]

He may have cardboard for horns and empty plastic water bottles for brains, but that hasn’t stopped the Milby High School mascot from making a big impression on visitors to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092).

Students from that school’s Peace Club decorated a 96-gallon recycling bin from the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department as part of an art contest called “Growing Up Recycling,” and their submission won the $500 first prize. Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education approves two proposals designed to reduce classroom overcrowding

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted Thursday to approve two of six proposals designed to adjust neighborhood attendance boundaries at certain elementary schools in an effort to reduce classroom overcrowding.

The two approved proposals include attendance boundary adjustments at 10 elementary schools: Anderson, Ashford, Askew, Bush, Daily, Emerson, Shadowbriar, Tinsley and Walnut Bend elementary schools, as well as Halpin Early Childhood Center. Continue reading →

HISD to announce its Teachers of the Year on Friday, May 15

HISD will be announcing its Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year during the district’s annual Celebration of Excellence on Friday, May 15.

The ceremony won’t start until 6 p.m. that evening, so be sure to follow us on Twitter or visit the district’s website after the event concludes at 8 p.m. to see who won the titles for 2015.

You can see a list of the ten finalists (along with a photo gallery of most of them in action) here.

Also announced that night will be the “Fan Favorite,” a new category of recognition created this year to honor the people’s choice for the most-liked campus-based Teacher of the Year. People began voting for their favorites on May 1, and you can see a list of the six finalists here.

Peck Elementary recognized for service to homeless students by Ellen DeGeneres Show

A KHOU-TV Channel 11 news report that aired late last month on Peck Elementary School has resulted in a big surprise for the campus and its principal—and some very public recognition on a popular TV show.

Ellen DeGeneres, the host of the daytime talk show of the same name, heard about the district’s Homeless Outreach Center there through that broadcast, and her staff reached out to Principal Carlotta Brown to see if they could feature the school on the show.

That episode aired on Thursday, May 14, and during the segment, Brown was surprised with a $100,000 check to support campus programs and a $10,000 check for herself. (Watch the segment here.) Continue reading →

Six first- and second-graders to receive year-long Houston Ballet training

The Houston Ballet awarded ballet scholarships to six of the 25 Wainwright ES  first- and second-graders who were selected to participate in the organization’s “Chance to Dance” program. The ballet provided six weeks of classes, as well as transportation to their Center for Dance in downtown Houston.

Continue reading →