Monthly Archives: September 2015

And Central America was born…

Today Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua are celebrating their Independence Day! Formerly known as the Captaincy General of Guatemala or Kingdom of Guatemala, these five countries declared their independence from the Spanish Empire on Sept. 15, 1821, when they signed the Act of Independence of Central America. Shortly thereafter, they became part of what was known then as the First Mexican Empire, until they separated to form the Federal Republic of Central America. In 1838, the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America began, and each of the five provinces became the countries that we currently know.

Did you know…? There is no spot in Central America more than 125 miles from the ocean. Each Central American country has a variation of tamales, but they are always wrapped in either corn husks or plantain leaves and steamed or boiled.

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

UPDATED: HPD, HISD Police investigate major bus accident

UPDATED 6:40 p.m., Sept. 15: Two students were killed, and two students and their bus driver were seriously injured this morning when an HISD school bus crashed at the 610 Loop and Telephone Road.

The bus was transporting four students to Furr High School when it was hit by another vehicle on Loop 610 around 7 a.m. The bus then left the freeway and crashed onto Telephone Road.

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District IX Early Childhood Summit scheduled for Sept. 19

HISD Board of Education member Wanda Adams is partnering with the Family Learning Academy to host the District IX Early Childhood Summit on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The free event will take place at Reynolds Elementary School (9601 Rosehaven, 77051) from 8:00 a.m. until noon, and will connect families with resources to help parents engage in early childhood best practices and support students’ success.

The event will feature a panel of HISD departments, administrators, and community leaders, workshops, and a community resource fair with information for parents. District representatives will also be signing up families to participate in HISD’s HIPPY program, which provides a school-readiness program for parents of 3- to 5-year-olds in the district. Continue reading →

Sign up now to participate in Green Apple Day of Service

GADOS_WebBadge_2015-07For the fourth year in a row, students and staff throughout HISD will participate in environmentally friendly activities for Green Apple Day of Service on Sept. 26, and the district is encouraging all schools and departments to participate.

The event, sponsored by HISD’s Energy and Sustainability department and the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, give students, teachers and community members the opportunity to create a healthy and productive school environments through local service projects.

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HISD Board of Education approves signing/retention bonuses for teachers in struggling schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday voted to expand the current signing and retention bonus program to include teachers in core subjects at struggling schools.

The $5,000 annual bonus is part of a pilot program proposed by district administration. Eligibility is based on campus, as well as grade and subject taught. Teachers must be assigned to subjects in third through 12th grades that are tested by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. This includes high school level STAAR End-of-Course exams. Continue reading →

Dr. Terry Grier stepping down as HISD superintendent

Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier on Thursday announced his decision to end his six-year tenure as the leader of Texas’ largest school district, effective March 1, 2016. Dr. Grier assumed the superintendency with unanimous school board approval in September 2009, promising to improve student academic achievement, slash the dropout rate, and re-establish HISD as the best urban school district in America.

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Through student-centered innovation and an unwavering focus on equity, Dr. Grier opened doors for students that had previously been closed: to Ivy League schools, advanced coursework, project-based learning, and millions of dollars in scholarships. Continue reading →

Arabic Immersion Magnet School holds grand opening celebration


HISD marked the formal debut of its Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS) with a grand opening celebration on Wednesday.

“When Dr. Grier mentioned the possibility of opening this campus a little less than two years ago at the State of the Schools luncheon, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” said Principal Kate Adams. “At the time, I was dean of instruction at an international studies early college high school in HISD, but I had also just recently become a mom. The idea of opening an Arabic immersion school seemed exciting, because it’s exactly the kind of school I wanted for my own daughter, one that’s preparing her to be a competent member of the global economy.”

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Leaders issue call-to-action for parents: Stay involved in education

In many ways, parents act as their children’s first teachers, and local leaders want that influence to continue even after young people start school.

Representatives from HISD, Children at Risk, Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Early Matters, and Collaborative for Children joined forces during a press conference at Cunningham Elementary School on Sept. 3 to promote that message and encourage parents to make the most of the resources available to them.

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HISD Chamber of Commerce and schools partnering to create ‘global graduates’

Members honored for their commitment to prepare students for the workforce

Ever wonder what qualities employers are looking for in today’s workforce? High school principals got a chance to hear that first-hand from local industry and business leaders during a recent HISD Chamber of Commerce meeting. The chamber, which is made up of members from Houston’s key industries, provides the district with guidance on how to improve school-based career programming in order to better meet our area’s workforce needs.

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HISD Board of Education to consider signing/retention bonuses for select teachers

Bonuses would go to teachers in core subject areas at hard-to-staff schools 

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider expanding the current signing and retention bonus program to include select teachers in core subjects at certain hard-to-staff schools.

The $5,000 annual bonus is part of a pilot program proposed by district administration. Eligibility is based on campus, as well as grade and subject taught. Teachers must be assigned to subjects in third through 12th grades that are tested by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. This includes high school level STAAR End-of-Course exams.

Continue reading →