Yearly Archives: 2016

JJ Watt surprises two schools with donations, emphasizes positive life choices  

Student athletes at Deady and Stevenson middle schools learned the value of hard work and lasting relationships thanks to a visit by Houston Texans defensive end JJ Watt, who handed out donations to the schools totaling more than $53,000 from the JJ Watt Foundation.

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Speaking to the student athletes gathered at each school, Watt stressed how important the choices students make today are for their future, and how surrounding themselves with friends that will motivate them makes all the difference. After, Watt took selfies with the students.

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Community gathers for dedication of new addition at Katherine Smith Elementary

Katherine Smith Elementary School students, staff, parents, and community members gathered at the campus Wednesday morning to celebrate the completion of and officially dedicate the third and final phase of the school’s new building addition.

The construction project included a new library and a multi-purpose cafeteria/auditorium space, which also can be used for a gymnasium. Previous segments of the project, which were part of the 2002 and 2007 bond programs, included Phase 1 construction of 26 classrooms and Phase 2 construction of remaining classrooms, ancillary, special education and administrative offices.

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Student leaders welcomed about 75 attendees in the new auditorium, where they kicked-off the dedication with student performances by the K. Smith Choir and the Second Grade Scholars.

“We are so excited to finally see our new school completed,” Katherine Smith fifth grader Reneijah Richardson told the crowd.

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Interim superintendent stresses ties between industry and education during East End Chamber symposium 

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“It’s so important that our students today have more than the basic education,” HISD Interim Superintendent Ken Huewitt told attendees at the fourth annual Houston East End Chamber of Commerce Education Symposium: Building an Effective Workforce. “They are entering a global market, and that means they must be bilingual and bi-literate.”

As breakfast keynote speaker, Huewitt began by highlighting industry partnerships between HISD schools and East End businesses, including the Energy Institute and BP; Chavez High School and NASA; Austin High School and maritime businesses; and the Rusk School and Baylor College of Medicine.

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HISD, mayor to recognize 100-plus seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges, universities

The Houston Independent School District along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will recognize 164 graduating scholars headed to the nation’s top-tier colleges and universities during the third annual EMERGE Senior Celebration on Thursday.

Through EMERGE, scholars from 28 high schools have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities including Yale, Harvard, Rice, Brown, Stanford, Smith, Dartmouth, Duke, Wake Forest, Northeastern, Pomona, and  Boston University.

The EMERGE program aims to help low-income, high-potential students gain admission to and graduate from Ivy League and other top tier colleges and universities across the nation. The EMERGE scholars will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during a banquet scheduled for Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice University in the Tudor Fieldhouse. Mayor Turner is scheduled to speak at the program along with HISD Interim Superintendent Ken Huewitt. Continue reading →

Bus drivers, attendants support HISD literacy efforts with Reading While Riding program

IMG_3459 (1)Each day after school, HISD bus attendant Betty Beal goes through a special crate full of books, carefully selecting a few to read to two of her student bus riders from Law Elementary School.

Beal is one of 150 support personnel currently assigned to special needs routes in the district and an active member of HISD’s Reading While Riding program, which aims to ensure student success by focusing on students’ literacy and vocabulary development. The program also complements the district’s Literacy By 3 reading initiative, which aims to have every child reading on grade level by the end of third grade.

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Trustee Dávila to host Family Learning Academy on college readiness  

HISD Trustee Diana Dávila has partnered with the Family Learning Academy and the College Readiness Department to host the District VIII Parent Summit on College Readiness on Wednesday, May 4.

The free event will take place at Jackson Middle School (5100 Polk St., Houston, TX 77023) from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and will connect families with resources to help with their children’s post-secondary plans.

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Bond Oversight Committee tours new Sterling High School construction, reviews first quarter progress

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Hard hats and safety vests were required dress for Thursday’s quarterly meeting of Houston Independent School District’s Bond Oversight Committee, which featured a tour of the new Sterling Aviation High School construction site.

The tour began in the school’s airplane hangar, which serves as the centerpiece of the new school as well as its focus on aviation science. The hangar also will serve as a space for students to work on airplanes and their engines, and large viewing windows will allow students and staff to see the hangar from many points, including the main entrance.

“It’s a very impressive looking building. I’m overwhelmed by the size of it,” BOC member Sonny Flores said, as he and fellow committee members entered the three-story, 230,000-square-foot structure.

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Arts Access Initiative expanding to 25 HISD schools next year 

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The word is out about the benefits of the Arts Access Initiative for students. This school year, the organization has been working with 11 schools in HISD. Out of more than 40 HISD schools that applied to join AAI in the coming 2016–2017 school year, only 14 were selected. The new HISD elementary and middle schools are: Continue reading →

Farias ECC garden receives certification from National Wildlife Federation

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Farias Early Childhood Center’s student garden recently was certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

The Farias garden provides a haven for small animals and insects that desperately need homes in Houston’s urban environment. In order to achieve certification, the garden had to meet criteria such as providing cover, nectar, and water for wildlife.

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