All Houston Independent School District schools and administrative offices will be closed on Monday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
All HISD offices will reopen on Tuesday, July 5.
Yearly Archives: 2016
Codwell ES students benefit from summer partnership
Tutors/mentors work with students, develop meaningful relationships
Camp counselors from Camp Fuge celebrated the end of their three-week program with a summer party at Codwell Elementary on Wednesday, June 29, 2016.
The heat and humidity wasn’t about to slow down students at Codwell Elementary. They had earned this party. As summer school was nearing its end, students gathered for an afternoon celebration with their new friends, a group of middle, high, and college students from Fuge Camp, who spent the past three weeks tutoring and mentoring them.
Kristy Love, principal at Codwell, said she was amazed how quickly bonds developed between her students and the camp counselors.
“We’re a ‘Leader in Me’ campus, and one of the principles we follow is, ‘Working together, and together is better,’” Love said. “It’s been crazy to see the benefits. These are kids who don’t have a lot of communication with people from other backgrounds. So it’s been great to see them develop these relationships.” Continue reading
Armando Lujan named new principal of Berry Elementary
Armando Lujan has been appointed as principal at Berry Elementary. Before this appointment, Mr. Lujan served as principal of Edison Middle School for the past four years. Prior to that, Mr. Lujan served as principal of Roosevelt Elementary for three years, as well as Dean of Students at Lamar High School for four years. Mr. Lujan started his teaching career as a special education teacher working with emotionally challenged students with the Corpus Christi Independent School District. He served as a special education teacher for six years before beginning his administrative career as an assistant principal at Elliot Grant Middle School in Corpus Christi. Mr. Lujan holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas A&M Corpus Christi. In addition, Mr. Lujan has recently completed Rice University’s REEP Business Fellowship.
Construction on new Askew ES to begin as early as September
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Site work at Askew Elementary School is underway with construction of the new building scheduled to begin this fall, according to design and construction plans presented to community members on Tuesday.
Existing temporary buildings are being removed to make room for construction of the new school on the north side of the campus. Crews are preparing to install two temporary classroom buildings on the southwest side of the campus to accommodate students during construction.
“This is the exciting part of the job when everything starts to come to life,” Project Manager Ron Keller said to about 40 people who gathered for an update on plans for the $26.6 million facility, which is part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond.
State Board of Education seeks public input on assessments and accountability
Make your voice heard regarding STAAR testing, school ratings, and other state accountability programs.
The State Board of Education has launched an online survey to get public feedback, concerns, and suggestions on the state’s current programs.
The survey is available in English here and in Spanish here through June 30.
Extreme Makeover: Middle School Restroom Edition
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Student restrooms at 31 middle schools across HISD are being renovated with funds from the district’s $1.89 billion bond program. When completed, the remodeled facilities will be fully ADA accessible and include much needed upgrades.
Renovations at each campus will vary, but the total scope of work includes installation of new plumbing, sinks and fixtures, new toilets and urinals with automatic flush valves, and electric hand-dryers, as well as repairs to existing walls, and installation of new wall and floor tile, lighting, and painted gypsum board ceilings. New toilet partitions will be black with a textured surface to deter students from marking on them. Continue reading
Board of Education approves HISD budget
Spending plan addresses loss of $162 million of local taxes because of Texas school finance system
The Houston ISD Board of Education on Thursday approved a 2016-2017 budget that seeks to minimize the classroom impact of the loss of an estimated $162 million in local taxes to the Texas school finance system.
The budget proposal passed on a 5-2 vote, with trustees Manuel Rodríguez, Wanda Adams, Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Jolanda Jones and Michael Lunceford in favor. Trustees Greg Meyers and Anna Eastman were opposed, while Trustees Harvin Moore and Diana Dávila were not present.
Lamar students prepare for intensive IB program in the fall
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Lamar High School’s International Baccalaureate Summer Academy got underway this past week. Every summer, incoming ninth-graders are introduced to the IB Middle Years Programme through an interactive interdisciplinary blending of English, math, science, technology, arts and humanities, and physical education in a project-based, non-graded curriculum.
Teacher at Arabic Immersion Magnet School to be recognized on World Refugee Day
Asinja Badeel
Every refugee has a story, and they do not all have happy endings. Former refugee Asinja Badeel, however, came to the U.S. in 2008, and hers is a story of perseverance and success.
Badeel is being honored at World Refugee Day 2016 on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Houston Community College, 1300 Holman. She will speak about leaving Iraq with her family and spending a year in Istanbul before coming to Houston.
Bird’s-eye view of bond construction
School construction is moving forward across the city at a record pace as project teams work to implement the district’s $1.89 billion bond program. With about two dozen projects currently under construction, chances are you’ve seen some of this work in progress.
For a bird’s-eye view of some of the sites, check out these aerial photos taken in May and June.
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HISD’s voter-approved bond program calls for the rebuilding or renovation of 40 schools, including 29 high schools. Once complete, HISD will have one of the most modern portfolios of high schools in the country.
The bond program also includes projects that will benefit students across the district, including $100 million in technology upgrades, $44.7 million to replace regional fieldhouses and improve athletics facilities, $35 million to renovate middle school restrooms, and $17.3 million for safety and security improvements
Schools set to open in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year include Condit and Mark White elementary schools, North Houston Early College and South Early College high schools, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, and (non-bond) North Forest Early Childhood Center.
More information on HISD Building Programs