Monthly Archives: September 2015

Grandparents’ Day celebrated at HISD

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Hundreds of HISD elementary schools celebrated Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with a special lunch. Grandparents were invited to attend and enjoy HISD and Nutrition Services hospitality during their special day of recognition.

Grandparents’ Day has been celebrated every September since President Jimmy Carter created it in 1978. HISD recognizes grandparents for the love, strength, and guidance they provide to their grandchildren. This special lunch has become an HISD tradition that both young and old look forward to every year.

Grissom Elementary School Principal Jane Ocanas is happy to host Grandparents’ Day and made special gifts to celebrate them, as they remind her of her own upbringing. “I was raised by my grandparents,” Ocanas said. “They taught me values and beliefs I apply to my daily life.”

More than 150 grandparents made their way into the cafeteria to share lunch with their children’s children, where HISD team members thanked them for serving as role models for young people.

After a brief prayer, grandparent Lashunda Williams said it was special for her to come and share lunch time with her granddaughter. “It’s lovely to see the healthy meals the food department has in schools these days,” Williams said. “We are eating healthier at home and she loves the food she gets at school.”

Williams’ granddaughter, first-grader Markayla Conelly, comes from a family of chefs, and she gives the food high marks, too.

“I like everything, especially the nachos, and the fresh fruit and vegetables,” she said. Markayla added that HISD Nutrition Services meals are better than at her previous school district.

Westbury HS community gets preview of addition, renovations for campus

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The Westbury High School community on Thursday got a preview of proposed addition and renovations under the 2012 bond program that would help transform the building into a more modern campus.

“I’m really excited to see the improvements at Westbury,” said Becky Edmonson, who serves on the school’s Project Advisory Team and is president of the Westbury Civic Club. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

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Chile: Country of Poets

Sept. 18 is not precisely Independence Day for Chile, yet for the next couple of days, Chileans will be commemorating 205 years since the proclamation of the First Governing Body back in 1810. This marked the beginning of the Chile’s independence process. The official holiday is observed Sept. 18 and 19; however, the celebration itself can last up to a week. Parades, food, dancing, and rodeos are all typical features — as is taking advantage of days off to visit with family.

Many of the major Latin-American literature contributors are Chileans. From Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda — Nobel Prize winners — to Isabel Allende, José Donoso, Roberto Bolaño and many more, these writers have helped Chile live-up to its “country of poets” nickname.

Did you know…? Eighty percent of Chile’s territory is made up of mountains. Although located in Polynesia (in the middle of the Pacific Ocean), the Easter Islands are also under the control of Chile, and since 1995, they’ve been considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The traditional Chilean empanada is baked and filled with pino, a mixture of ground beef, onions, raisins, black olives, and boiled egg.

Note: Our thoughts and prayers are with Chile after of the 8.3 magnitude earthquake that struck them this past Wednesday.

This is the fourth in a series of articles spotlighting different countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To see a complete list of previous entries, click here.

Community offers words of support after bus tragedy

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, two of our students — Janiecia Chatman, 14, and Mariya Johnson, 17 — died in a tragic bus accident in southeast Houston. Two other students and the bus driver were injured.

In the hours and days after the accident, people from across the country expressed their concern for the victims. Below is a sampling of the words of support they have shared.

We continue to keep those affected in our thoughts and ask you to do the same. Please feel free to share your own comments below.

Kashmere HS community learns about proposed campus improvements under bond program

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More than 125 students, parents and alumni of Kashmere High School turned out Tuesday evening for the first of three bond community meetings that will be held to update stakeholders on plans to renovate the campus. The meeting was held in conjunction with the school’s open house.

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Sam Houston MSTC recognized by Univision at #QuieroAprender rally

High school is one of only four to be highlighted nationwide


HISD’s Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center was honored this week with a visit from Univision and a rally to encourage Latino students to strive for greatness in education. Two students were also recognized during the event, which was made possible by a partnership among Univision, getschooled.com, and #QuieroAprender (#IWantToLearn).

“Those organizations have been focusing on four schools across the nation,” said Sam Houston Principal Rupak Gandhi about #QuieroAprender, “… and how they have turned their campuses around in the past couple of years in terms of improving academic performance and really changing the lives of their students. Sam Houston was chosen as one of the schools, based on our growth in those areas.”

In 2015, Sam Houston met state accountability standards for the first time in two years, and was removed from the “Improvement Required” list. It was also recognized for academic distinction in social studies. The school offers its students eight different certification or licensure programs. Last year’s valedictorian is currently attending Columbia, while the salutatorian is attending Rice University.

The education rally included a student discussion about the importance of education, interviews, and a spoken-word poetry contest entitled “What is the value of education to you?” Two students hand-picked by the principal for their achievements led the onstage discussion along with Satcha Pretto, co-anchor of the morning show Despierta America. One of those students – senior José Piñeda – was chosen by #QuieroAprender for an in-depth interview that will be featured in an upcoming documentary.

“It was a great opportunity to highlight the good of the school.” said Piñeda, who is on the student council and part of a mariachi band. “There are many Hispanic students here who want to make progress and move forward.” Piñeda is in the top five percent of his graduating class and plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Texas.

“To me, #QuieroAprender is a phenomenal organization, because it really puts the power of education in the student’s hands,” said Gandhi, “and that’s what matters most.”

Argentina: Tango, soccer, gauchos, and more!

Considered the eighth-largest country in the world, the second-largest in Latin America, and the largest Spanish-speaking country, Argentina is known for its culture, passion, and individuality. Argentina is widely known for the Tango, a partner dance with European and African influences, which originated in the 1890s along the River Plate, and soon spread to the rest of the world. Argentinians are a very passionate people and you can observe this trait during soccer matches. It is said that Argentina is home to the most heated and fierce rivalry in the soccer world, between the top two local soccer clubs: Boca Juniors and River Plate. Another iconic representation of Argentinians is their nomadic gaucho, who can be compared to the North American cowboy.  Gauchos are in charge of herding cattle year-round and are considered skilled lasso handlers and excellent horsemen. Gauchos played a major role in Argentina’s independence from Spain, and they are a respected symbol in the country.

Argentina’s rich cuisine includes everything from grilled meats, pastas, and empanadas, to their famous dulce de leche and mate.

Did you know…? In Latin, Argentina means “silver.” Settlers believed that the country was filled with silver, but unfortunately it wasn’t. The first animated feature film was made by Argentinian Quirino Cristiani in 1917. Argentina was the first country to adopt fingerprinting as a method of identification in 1925.

This is the third in a series of articles spotlighting different countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To see a complete list of previous entries, click here.

Viva Mexico! Celebrating 205 years of independence

Today, our Mexican brothers and sisters are celebrating their Independence Day. As a part of their Independence Day celebration, many Mexican nationals gather to celebrate El Grito (The Cry), but what exactly is that? Tradition says that El Grito is considered the event that officially started Mexico’s War of Independence against Spain, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo, along with other leaders, gathered in a church in the town of Dolores (Guanajato), ringing the bell to call people to stand up against the Spanish Crown.  This is known as El Grito de Dolores (The Cry of Dolores.)

In Mexico, people gather in public squares where politicians and public figures reenact El Grito on the night of Sept. 15, finishing with three cheers of “Viva Mexico!”

Did you know…? Mexico introduced chocolate, corn, and chilies to the world. Oct. 4 is National Taco Day in the United States. Many people think Cinco de Mayo is also Mexico’s Independence Day, however, that is the celebration of victory of the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican army defeated the French army in 1862.

This is the second in a series of articles spotlighting different countries in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. To see a complete list of entries, click here.

2015 Grads Within Reach walk recovers more than 80 students

HISD’s annual Grads Within Reach walk took place on Sept. 12, 2015, and volunteers convinced more than 80 students to come back to school and continue their education.

Almost 500 volunteers fanned out across the city, visiting the last-known residences of students who had not shown up for class this year and leaving information on how to re-enroll if no one came to the door.

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HISD observes Hispanic Heritage Month

The Houston Independent School District is observing Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the U.S.

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off September 15 with the anniversary of the 1821 independence day of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (known back then as the Captaincy General of Guatemala or Kingdom of Guatemala,) and goes through Oct. 15. Belize, Chile, and Mexico also commemorate their independence during September. Throughout the month, a variety of events showcasing performances, music festivals, food tastings, art shows, and many other displays of the rich Hispanic culture can be observed in schools across the district.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is truly a time to celebrate — especially in Houston, a truly global city known for its rich diversity and culture,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said. “In HISD, we are proud of our diversity and thrilled to take part in recognizing the many wonderful contributions of our Hispanic community.”

Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll be highlighting an interesting fact from each Latin-American country, to share a little bit more about their history. So stay tuned! And check back daily to see which country will be spotlighted next. Then join the conversation on social media and tell us your favorite reason to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Central America And Central America was born…
Mexico Viva Mexico! Celebrating 205 years of Independence
Argentina Argentina: Tango, Soccer, Gauchos, and more!
Chile Chile: Country of Poets
Belize Belize: Barrier reef, rainforest, Maya heritage
Bolivia Bolivia: Rich in natural resources and biodiversity
Colombia Colombia: Biodiversity, emeralds, and the greatest storyteller!
Costa Rica Costa Rica: Adventure-filled, eco-friendly, and unique!
Cuba Cuba: Turquoise beaches, ‘Son’ rhythm, and more!
El Salvador El Salvador: Land of volcanoes, coffee, and surf
Ecuador Ecuador: Rivers, nature, and bananas!
España Spain: Tapas, soccer, and flamenco
Guatemala Guatemala: Mayan heritage, archeology, and crafts
Honduras Honduras: Mountains, a biosphere reserve, and culture
Nicaragua Nicaragua: Land of lakes, volcanoes, and poets
Panamá Panama: Culture, skyline, and the crossroads of the world
Paraguay Paraguay: Guaraní culture and hydroelectric resources
Perú Peru: Ancient cultures, colonial architecture, and a multiethnic melting pot
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico: Baseball, blue flag beaches, and forts
República Dominicana Dominican Republic: Where it all started!
Uruguay Uruguay: Natural beauty, music, and high-tech farming
Venezuela Venezuela: Joropo, oil, and the world’s highest waterfall