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HISD’s Family and Community Engagement department on Tuesday hosted an end-of-year ceremony at Chavez High School to honor 2015-2016 HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) graduates.

More than 500 parents and children completed the program this year. FACE held two additional end-of-year gatherings at Fondren Middle School on May 16 and Sam Houston MSTC on May 18. Together, those gatherings honored another 1,281 participants.

The free, home-based program helps parents prepare their preschool child for academic success over 30 weeks. Parents are taught educational activities that they then repeat with their child throughout the week.

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Attendees at all three events were able to enjoy Mariachi music performed by El Güerito de Oro and to hear stories from author and education consultant Claudia Macias. Resources were available for parents, thanks to community partners who were also present at the event.

At Tuesday’s event at Chavez, HISD Board President Manuel Rodriguez, Jr. delivered the keynote address, praising parents for taking steps to further their children’s education.

“You are doing the most important job of your life: being actively involved in your children’s education,” Rodriguez said.