Yearly Archives: 2015

HISD, Furr HS Green Institute recognized for partnership with U.S. Forest Service

Green Ambassadors visit local schools, communities, and parks to spread the conservation and environmental awareness message. They work with Woodsy Owl and his animal friends.

Green Ambassadors visit local schools, communities, and parks to spread the conservation and environmental awareness message. They work with Woodsy Owl and his animal friends.

The Green Institute at Furr High School is only two years old, but that program is already getting national attention for its efforts.

In March, a group of students from there delivered a presentation at the National Environmental Justice Conference and Training Program in Washington, D.C. And this week, students and educators will travel to the nation’s capital again to be honored alongside Forest Service representatives for the Abraham Lincoln Honors Award for Diversity, Inclusion, and Outreach from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Principal Bertie Simmons will accompany students and educators in support of their recognition for this prestigious award. Continue reading →

HISD launches 3rd annual Eco-Schools USA Green Schools Challenge

HISD and the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco Schools USA have teamed up to launch the third annual Green Schools Challenge in an effort to decrease the district’s energy consumption and increase environmental awareness.

The contest runs from Nov. 1 through April 30, 2016. Schools will have until Nov. 15 to sign up for the competition.

Continue reading →

Westside HS senior chosen to participate in U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Jordan Elliot, a senior at HISD’s Westside High School, was recently selected by the U.S. Army to participate in its 2016 All-American Bowl.

Jordan is one of about 90 students to be chosen from across the nation, and the only one from HISD schools. He is also the second Westside senior to be selected for this honor. Westside graduate Frank Ileanacho (Class of 2014) played in the 2015 bowl. Continue reading →

Bellaire Concert Chorale performs with national ensemble

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After a three-day residency with the award-winning Rose Ensemble, Bellaire High School’s Concert Chorale joined them in concert to open the Houston Early Music season on Sunday, Oct. 24, at St. Philip Presbyterian Church. The program was entitled “Land of Three Faiths: Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Jews, Christians, and Muslims.”

Continue reading →

Eastwood Academy community gets update on plans for new building

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Eastwood Academy students, staff, and community members attended the second community meeting on Thursday night to hear about proposed site and construction plans for a new building being constructed under the 2012 bond program.

Continue reading →

‘Digital compass’ helps Garden Oaks students navigate cyberspace

Garden Oaks Montessori students are learning how to stay safe online, thanks to a “digital compass” and other exercises in how to navigate cyberspace.

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Students learned about educational tools and resources to help them make good decisions online during a cyber safety pep rally held Oct. 27. They played a “digital compass” game, answered Internet security and privacy questions, and shared their thoughts about cyber bullying. Continue reading →

Furr HS breaks ground on ‘bigger and better’ new school

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Students, staff, alumni and other stakeholders of Furr High School gathered at the school on Thursday to break ground on a new $55 million campus, which is part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program.

“It’s a gigantic day for Furr High School,” said Principal Bertie Simmons. “There are so many exciting things about the new school – it’s going to be amazing.”

Continue reading →

Nationwide recall of epinephrine injectors could affect HISD students

Are you one of the more than 900 HISD students with a life-threatening allergy to a particular food or substance? If so, and you carry an emergency epinephrine auto-injector, check your device today to make sure it is not the subject of a recent drug recall.

Manufacturer Sanofi US has issued a nationwide recall of all its “Auvi-Q” emergency epinephrine injectors due to potentially inaccurate dosage delivery. The company is voluntarily recalling all Auvi-Q currently on the market (both the 0.15 mg and 0.3 mg strengths), including lot numbers 2299596 through 3037230, which will expire March 2016 through Dec. 2016. Continue reading →

Nutrition Services offers tips on how to maximize Halloween fun

Stevens Elementary School student Ke’Oshia Johnson picks up a treat during healthy Halloween class.

Stevens Elementary School student Ke’Oshia Johnson picks up a treat during healthy Halloween class.

Excited children in costumes will soon flood neighborhood sidewalks to perform their annual collection of Halloween treats. As plastic pumpkins fill with sugary sweets, parents may ask, “Is it possible to have a healthy Halloween?”

Nutrition Services Education Dietitian Jennifer Lengyel believes it is, through proper education. Lengyel has been teaching elementary school students how to become responsible trick-or-treaters and avoid the issues that come with overindulging.

“The goal is for students to have fun during Halloween, to learn moderation, and take care of their bodies,” Lengyel said. “Talking about how they feel when having too much candy is a better teaching tool than just telling them what not to do.” Continue reading →

Power of social media helps the Rusk School harness the power of the sun

RuskBiodome_400

Students at HISD’s Rusk School will soon be growing organic food for local charities, after the campus completed construction on a geodesic-dome-shaped, solar-powered greenhouse funded by a $25,000 grant from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board.

The school won the grant in 2012 through the organization’s “Cause An Effect” program (later re-named “Neighborhood Assist”), an online contest that generates votes for local causes through social media. A student panel chose 100 finalists from a field of 3,000 entries, and voters on State Farm’s Facebook page chose the top 40 winners. Continue reading →