Yearly Archives: 2016

Anticipation is growing as Furr High School construction makes progress

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Construction on the new building for Furr High School is set to be complete just 12 short months from now and open to students for the start of the 2017-2018 school year, project manager Michael Scott confirmed at the school’s quarterly Project Advisory Team meeting last week.

“I’m really pleased with the progress that’s been made in the first quarter,” Scott said. “Despite a couple of rain delays, we’re on schedule and we expect to stay that way.”

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With magnet deadline passed, are you still looking at school options? Here are a few 

School Choice JordanWhether you missed the magnet deadline, your child was waitlisted, or you recently moved into the district, there are still many school choice options available for the upcoming school year.

One of the best places to explore those options is at the upcoming Houston ISD School Choice Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 23 at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4440 West 18th St.).

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HISD Scholars Banquet to recognize 90-plus high school seniors at top of their class

The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute next week to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet.

In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, these 98 valedictorians and salutatorians have garnered more than $10 million year-to-date in scholarship and financial aid offers.

The students will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during the banquet, which will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Road. Continue reading →

Construction on Davis HS campus to begin this summer

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Work on the bond project to rebuild Davis High School is slated to begin this summer when construction gets underway on a parking lot off Tackaberry Street.

That new lot is part of an expansion plan for the Near Northside campus, and the first step in a three-phase project that will bring two additions and renovations to create a newly modernized school for 1,500 to 1,700 students.

“We’re basically working from the left of the campus to the right,” Architect Mark French of the IBI Group, told more than 40 people who turned out Thursday for a meeting to get the latest updates on the historic school.

Davis Principal Julissa Alcantar-Martinez opened the meeting by thanking the school community, especially the Project Advisory Team, for working together to move the project forward and to advocate for the best facility possible for students.

“They have stuck with this for three years even when it hasn’t been easy,” she said, noting that the school received $19 million in additional funding in December because of that support.

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HISD Foundation names new executive director

The Houston ISD Foundation has selected Ann Best Scott as its new executive director to lead efforts to support districtwide and school-based programs that provide every student with a rigorous education.

Scott has worked with education-based nonprofits such as Raise Your Hand Texas as a vice president of board development and recruitment and with Teach for America as a senior vice president of education leadership. She previously worked at HISD as a chief human resources officer. She will begin this week in her new role at the foundation, which was most recently led by interim executive director and former HISD Chief of Staff Michele Pola. Continue reading →

Milby HS takes shape as bond construction moves forward

As concrete walls go up and steel framing is erected, the Milby High School community can now see the future of their new campus beginning to take shape.

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The 267,000-square-foot project along Broadway Street in Houston’s East End is a combination of new construction and renovation, allowing the school to maintain its historical structure while also creating a modern learning environment for up to 2,000 students.

“All of the tilt walls and concrete walls have now been completed,” said HISD’s Project Manager Mark Crippen. ”It seems as if it takes forever to complete, but once construction starts, it moves pretty quickly.”

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‘Caught in the Act’ spotlights Furr HS teacher

Creativity, costumes, and nature used to engage students 

HISD “Caught in the Act” cameras, along with Chief Secondary Curriculum and Instruction Officer Annie Wolfe, recently captured an out-of-the-box and creative instructional lesson during a visit to the classroom of Furr High School teacher David de Hoyos Salazar.

During the 40 minute lesson, students in Salazar’s environmental sciences class left the school building and traveled to a nearby park to take part in an interactive activity that required critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. Watch the video below to see how Salazar, dressed as the movie character Indiana Jones, uses some creative teaching techniques to engage his students.

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55 HISD students from seven schools named National Merit finalists

Fifty-five seniors from seven Houston Independent School District high schools have qualified as finalists in the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program and will now vie for more than $32 million in college scholarships.

The students are among about 15,000 from across the country to advance to the finalist level, allowing them the opportunity to continue in the academic competition. Continue reading →

Pilgrim Academy community gets more information on planned addition

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Pilgrim Academy held the second of three community meetings to inform stakeholders about plans to build a new addition for the school. About 50 students and parents attended the event, heard a presentation from the project architect, and had the opportunity to ask questions.

“I’m very pleased with the turnout,” said Diana Castillo, principal of the K-8 school. “It’s a beautiful design, and I’m excited about the new gym, all the natural light, and a longer parent drive.”

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College Readiness surprises two high school seniors with FAFSA scholarships

Completing this year’s FAFSA on time paid off big time for two high school seniors who were the surprise recipients of a $500 scholarship on Friday.

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The HISD College Readiness department made two surprise visits to award checks to Belen Mendoza of Austin High School and Ashley Guzman of Energized for STEM Academy, Inc. High School West Campus. As a part of this year’s HISD FAFSA Initiative to increase TASFA or FASFA application submissions, names of every student who completed their TASFA/FASFA by HISD FASFA Day on March 3 were randomly selected from a drawing.

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