Monthly Archives: October 2015

Class of 1975 plants tree at Forest Brook MS to honor the past, inspire the future

HISD’s Forest Brook campus served as a high school for more than 40 years before it was converted into a middle school in 2013. And on Oct. 16, members of that school’s Class of 1975 came together to plant a magnolia tree on campus in honor of the more than 30 classmates who have passed away since graduation.

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“We’ve lost 33 people since 1975,” said class member and Memorial Ceremony Chair Val Adams. “We picked the magnolia because it doesn’t need a whole lot of water, and they practically live forever. As it grows, it will remain a symbol of strength and history.” Continue reading

Board of Education looks at class-size waivers, superintendent search firm

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday voted to approve a plan to submit 875 class-size waivers to the state for the 2015-2016 school year – more than a 40 percent decrease compared with the previous year.

State law requires each school district in Texas to conduct a class-size enrollment survey to ensure that kindergarten through fourth-grade classes have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a waiver from the Texas Education Agency.

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HISD homeowners won’t see increase in property tax rates for 2015-2016

Homeowners in the Houston Independent School District won’t see an increase in property tax rates for the 2015-2016 school year.

 

The Board of Education voted Thursday to maintain the current tax rate of $1.1967 per $100 taxable value. That rate includes two parts: $1.0267 dedicated to funding general maintenance and operations and 17 cents earmarked for debt service.

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HISD Board of Education requests additional information on discipline policy proposal

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday declined to consider a proposed policy revision that would ban suspensions and expulsions for students in second grade and below.

 

Trustees had been set to review the proposal during the October board meeting. The agenda item was withdrawn by trustees on Thursday afternoon. Board members have asked district administrators to provide additional information about the educator support systems that are tied to the proposal.

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Deady MS receives $5K grant from House of Blues to strengthen music programs

More students at HISD’s Deady Middle School will soon be able to benefit from music instruction, thanks to a $5,000 grant from the House of Blues’ Music Forward Foundation.

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The grant was delivered to the school on Oct. 14 in the form of instruments and other music resources as a part of the organization’s 2015–2016 Action for the Arts program.

“Participation in music programs helps youth develop transferable life skills such as diligence, focus, and critical thinking,” said Music Forward Executive Director Marjorie Gilberg. “Action for the Arts ensures thousands more young people will benefit from learning and playing music.” Continue reading

Johnston MS student’s story published on Teen Ink website

Sandy Ramirez, an eighth-grader at HISD’s Johnston Middle School, became a published author recently when one of her short stories was selected for inclusion on the youth-driven website, Teen Ink.

“Isaac the Element” was the very first thing she wrote in teacher Mark Dostert’s unit on short fiction, and it was included in the “realistic fiction” category on the Teen Ink website. Sandy said she wrote it “to express my empathy to children whose parents argue and fight.”

You can read the full entry here.

And Latin America was born!

Today, the month-long celebration to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the U.S. comes to an end.

Over the past 30 days, we have highlighted more than 20 Spanish-speaking countries from Latin America and Europe, learning about their traditions, history, music, food, culture, and in many cases, their contributions to the world. Our schools have held a variety of events in celebration of this annual observance, including performances, music festivals, food tastings, art shows, and many other displays.

We hope you had an opportunity to experience one or more of them, to gain more knowledge about the rich diversity of Hispanic culture.

Did you know…? The reference to “Latin” America stems from the fact that the languages of many countries in the region are derived from Spanish, Portuguese, or French (considered “Romance” languages), all of which evolved from Latin.

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

Seniors invited to Texas College Night

High school seniors will be able to meet with representatives of public colleges and universities from across Texas in one place on Oct. 28, an early release day for most HISD high schools.

Texas College Night will be held at the University of Houston’s Cullen Performance Hall (4800 Calhoun Road, 77004). Students and their families will be able to talk with representatives from more than 30 Texas universities and local scholarship providers from 3:45 to 5:55 p.m. A formal program, scheduled for 6:15–7:15 p.m., will feature a panel of HISD graduates, and Texas State Sen. Rodney Ellis as the keynote speaker.
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HISD celebrates National School Lunch Week with middle school nutrition, cooking lessons

Houston Independent School District students are getting the chance to try Texas-grown squash and watermelon and make their own sweet potato muffins as part of National School Lunch Week.

National School Lunch Week was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a way to recognize the federally-funded National School Lunch Program, which sets guidelines to ensure students have access to nutritionally-balanced, healthy meals every day.

Nutrition Services is celebrating the week by introducing the Nutrition Services Culinary Team, a group that will provide nutrition education classes and cooking demonstrations to middle school students on Thursday and Friday. Students will learn how to make sweet potato muffins during the classes. Continue reading

Board of Education to vote on class-size waivers for 2015-2016 school year

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is expected to vote Thursday on a plan to submit 875 class-size waivers to the state for fall 2015 – a 40 percent decrease compared with fall 2014.

State law requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a waiver from the Texas Education Agency.  Continue reading