The Houston Independent School District will pay tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet.
The 101 valedictorians and salutatorians will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during the banquet, which will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at The Westin Oaks Houston at the Galleria, 5011 Westheimer Road.
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On March 25, 43 Liberty High School students competed in the University Interscholastic League district meet and won a medal in each of the 22 categories.
“We dispatched our opponents, including our nearest rival Challenge Early College High School, by 241 points,” said Martin Klein, Liberty High School teacher and UIL academic coordinator.
The school’s achievement makes it the academic sweepstakes district 24-4A champion for two years in a row – with a team made up of 95 percent English Language Learners.
All HISD campuses and offices will be closed for the spring holiday on Friday, April 14, 2017.
They will reopen for normal business on Monday, April 17, 2017.
The HISD Police Department will still be patrolling district facilities. Emergencies may be reported by calling 713-892-7777.
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Construction crews have completed two-thirds of the renovation work slated for Kashmere High School, and the final third is expected to be complete by the end of the summer.
Integral parts are coming together quickly. Both the auditorium entrance and drywall are finished, the roofing is in progress, the new HVAC system is being installed, and the pouring of the driveway is almost complete.
“Our students and staff continue to work and learn as construction moves forward,” Kashmere Principal Nancy Blackwell said excitedly. “The changes are amazing.”
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Founder of Superb Speakers and Consultants Joyce Scott spoke to a large crowd of small business owners on how life experiences taught her how to not only obtain clients, but how to keep them.
“People do business with people they like,” said Scott. “You build relationships making clients look good.”
Scott stressed that in order to be successful and gain big contracts, business owners must build a winning team by seeking out people who excel in areas they are lacking.
Betti Wiggins
The Houston Independent School District has selected Betti J. Wiggins as the district’s new officer of Nutrition Services.
Wiggins currently serves as the executive director of the office of school nutrition with the Detroit Public Schools Community District, where she is responsible for school-based meal operations in 141 schools for all USDA child nutrition programs. Under her leadership, she helped establish the Detroit School Garden Collaborative, which currently supports more than 80 school-based gardens and a two-acre school farm.
“We are excited to welcome Ms. Wiggins to Houston ISD to lead our school nutrition program,” said HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza. “She has tremendous experience in school nutrition and will help us improve our program for both students and staff as we invest in new equipment, training and menus.” Continue reading
The Houston Independent School District Homeless Education Office will provide free dresses, tuxedos, shoes, and accessories to hundreds of homeless and at-risk high school seniors planning to go to prom.
The second annual Project Prom event will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Third Ward Multi-Service Center (3611 Ennis St., Houston 77004). Students will be able to select formal attire from a wide selection that includes more than 1,000 dresses, 1,500 men’s blazers, and 1,500 men’s pants. Continue reading
There is one more opportunity to attend a special education forum, where parents can ask questions and provide feedback as part of a broader effort to reform special education services in the district:
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
6 to 7:30 p.m.
HISD South Field Office
4040 W. Fuqua St., Houston 77045
*(Spanish interpretations available)
Parents will be able to ask questions during the meeting, talk one-on-one with district leadership, submit questions electronically at computer stations on site, email questions in advance to SpecialEducation@HoustonISD.org, or submit questions through an online form at HoustonISD.org/SpecialEducation. Parents can also ask their child’s school for a special education comment card, fill it out, and return it to the school’s front office.
Hundreds of parents attended the first two meetings, hosted by the HISD Office of Special Education Services, which supports students with disabilities in gaining college and career readiness and independent-living skills through active engagement in grade-level curriculum.
“We are going to make sure we provide the services that children in our district need, and we are not going to be just about compliance,” HISD Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan told attendees. Continue reading
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It’s the 30th anniversary of the popular Art Car Parade, and as usual, many HISD students will be riding in art cars they have been working on for weeks, if not months.
Nearly 250 cars, bikes, skaters, and motorized creations will roll through downtown Houston beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8. Generally, the parade lasts about two hours. For those who want to get jump on the parade, join the “Starting Line Party” presented by Arts Brookfield at 11 a.m. at the corner of Smith and Pease streets. For the parade route and complete details, see Houston Art Car Parade.
Grab your markers, crayons, and No. 2 pencils, because registration is now open for the HISD Police Department’s third annual art contest in honor of Police Appreciation Week.
Aspiring artists in the fifth grade are free to use any type of material to showcase their inner Picasso in this year’s contest. Artwork can be submitted by individual HISD students or on behalf of an entire HISD classroom.
Designed to recognize Police Appreciation Week, which kicks off on May 15, the contest aims to help students visualize the work performed by police officers and, perhaps, go on to choose a career in law enforcement.