Fondren MS held a Thanksgiving food and clothing drive to help boost parent and community engagement.
Making sure that parents feel welcomed and valued at their children’s schools is a key component of HISD’s Family Friendly Schools program, and that’s why the district’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department recently recognized four campuses for their successful implementation of that program.
Richard (Rick) Cruz poses for a photograph, January 6, 2016.
Houston Independent School District Major Projects Officer Rick Cruz has been selected to lead his division, replacing outgoing Chief Don Hare, who is retiring.
Cruz, a former fifth-grade teacher who was tapped to serve in the HISD administration after launching the district’s successful EMERGE program more than five years ago, will officially assume his new role on Jan. 25.
In his new position, he will be tasked with managing the College Readiness and Counseling and Guidance departments, as well as major initiatives designed to transform education in the district, such as the EMERGE and Futures Academy programs, and Linked Learning.
The holidays may have come and gone, but many Hispanic kids are still eagerly awaiting their presents.
On Los Reyes Magos — known as “the three wise men” or “the three kings” in English — children receive gifts on the Day of the Epiphany, Jan. 6. The date marks the culmination of the twelve days of Christmas immortalized by the song of the same name and commemorates the three kings who traveled from distant lands to bring gifts to the infant Jesus.
Fifth-graders Miriya Mattern, Rudy Rodriguez, and Trevor Groenewold (L–R) proudly display a banner they made for Herod Elementary School’s 50th anniversary. Behind the table are (L–R): Principal Lisa McManus (center), Assistant Principal Bryan Bancroft (second from L), Vanguard Magnet Coordinator Todd Paulus (far R), and parents Angela Spears and Andrea Simon.
When Herod Elementary School opened its doors back in the fall of 1965, LBJ was still president, Beatle-mania was taking America by storm, and the The Sound of Music was only about six months old.
Now, the Vanguard magnet school is 50 years old. It celebrated its anniversary on Dec. 10 with cake, balloons, and special presentations from each class.
First day of class at the Arabic Immersion Magnet School, August 24, 2015.
Arabic-speaking parents in HISD will now be able to access various resources on the district’s website in the Arabic language. The new section will be accessible from the top right corner of the district’s website, in the same way that resources in Spanish and Vietnamese can be accessed.
It’s the time of the year for making New Year’s resolutions. With so many options for change, why not make one resolution this year that’s easy to stick to: Read to a child through the Read Houston Read program.
Jones landed a seat on the board for the first time in November, beating out three opponents to win the District IV spot being vacated by departing trustee Paula Harris, who did not seek re-election. Jones says she is looking forward to focusing on the new superintendent search. She is also planning to advocate for the preservation of existing schools, and to work on resource equity.
If your family still hasn’t selected health insurance for 2016, don’t despair.
HISD’s Health and Medical Services Department, in partnership with the City of Houston Health and Human Services Department and the Health Insurance Marketplace SRA, will be hosting events every weekend throughout the month of January in an effort to help families meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and enroll in the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)/Children’s Medicaid.
The events will be held in different areas of the city at various Multi–Service Centers, and navigators will be on-site for application assistance.
The next event will take place on Friday, Jan. 22, at the Hiram Clarke Multi-Service Center (3810 W. Fuqua, 77045) from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Please see the attached flyer (.pdf) for details and additional dates.
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Waltrip’s project scope includes partial replacement and general renovations to the existing building to accommodate 1,800 to 2,000 students.
Students are remaining on campus throughout construction. Significant behind-the-scenes work has been ongoing in the past year including the upgrading of the campus main electrical service feed, replacement of electrical panels and transformers in several areas along with needed demolition work.
Installation of a new curtainwall system and windows and upgrades of athletics offices and locker rooms were the main focus in the third and fourth quarters. Replacement of the fire alarm, HVAC and electrical systems are ongoing. Band hall and JROTC renovations are now underway. Some renovated classrooms were made ready for move-in over winter break.
Current project work includes:
Auditorium seat replacement has begun with the installation new cushioned seating.
New fire sprinkler system pipe is being installed above the ceiling in the dining area.
Newly renovated CTE Health classrooms, science labs and other classroom areas including Extended Learning rooms in the three-story academic wing are being completed and HISD movers are setting these new rooms up for teachers’ and students’ use next week for school.
Renovation of the new Art Room lab is progressing.
Renovation to several existing restrooms in the three-story academic wing is nearly complete.
Renovation and build-out of the Boy’s Athletic Locker Room area wall stud framing is nearly complete and electrical work is under way.
The new Band Addition foundation is progressing and structural steel is on site, erection of steel columns and beams has begun.
As each area is complete and operable it is turned over to campus personnel for use. The project has a target completion date of third quarter 2016.
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Construction on the new North Houston Early College High School is well underway with its structure currently in place, and roofing and exterior framing on the building is ongoing. The school will receive a new building to accommodate 400 students located at the Houston Community College (HCC) Northline Campus.
The 59,000-square-foot facility will feature modern science labs, flexible learning spaces and a college resource center to provide students with college scholarship and registration information as well as access to counselors.
Construction will be completed in the second quarter of 2016, and be ready for students for the 2016-2017 school year.