HISD is celebrating Black History Month by exploring the many schools named for distinguished African Americans in the community. The district has more than 30 schools that recognize the contributions of African American leaders ranging from renowned educators to legislators to community leaders. The first week’s story focused on early childhood centers and elementary schools. This week, the series continues with middle and combination schools, and the third week will be high schools, charter schools, and alternative schools. Continue reading
Yearly Archives: 2017
HISD Board of Education to consider construction contract for new Austin HS
If approved, HISD will have executed contracts on all 2012 Bond projects
The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday will consider the construction contract for Austin High School, which is being rebuilt as part of the 2012 Bond Program.
If the contract is approved, it will mark a major milestone in the 2012 Bond Program with all projects moving forward with executed construction contracts. Another major milestone is expected in the coming months, with the district preparing to have almost half of all 2012 Bond schools and projects completed and open by summer 2017.
Students from four HISD schools bring home top awards at math and science competition in Florida
Six HISD students from four schools took home top honors in three categories recently at the Math and Science Competition in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
HISD students competed against about 50 other students from K-12 Confucius Institutes in Nevada, Utah, Ohio, and Florida. The six students competed in three categories: Math in Chinese, Science in Chinese, and Chinese Character Bee. Results are as follows: Continue reading
Bond community meetings planned for Jordan HS, Westbury HS, Askew ES
Community meetings are being held this month for three HISD campuses, which are set to be renovated or rebuilt as part of the district’s 2012 Bond Program.
The three schools, Barbara Jordan High School for Careers, Westbury High School, and Askew Elementary School, recently have entered the construction phase. The meetings will cover construction plans, timelines, and safety information, which could impact stakeholders at each facility.
Online tool to help develop character, good choices launches at Pilgrim Academy
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Student also wins two Super Bowl tickets from United Way through essay contest
A new online course designed to help students develop character and engage in healthy relationships debuted Friday, Feb. 3, at Pilgrim Academy with much fanfare. The NFL, the Houston Texans, the United Way of Houston, United Way Worldwide, and Verizon came together to launch Character Playbook, which was developed by education technology innovator Everfi, Inc.
Character Playbook is designed for middle-school students and teaches character education and how to communicate effectively, understand and manage emotions, and resolve conflicts. Prior to an assembly, there was an opportunity to talk with students working the program in a computer classroom.
HISD alum Roland Martin returns to Yates HS to broadcast national TV news show
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Journalist and author Roland Martin, a graduate of Yates High School, returned to the campus Feb. 6 to host his national TV news show live at the communications magnet school.
Martin, the host and managing editor of TV One’s News One Now, broadcast the show live from the TV studio at the campus. The show focuses on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an African-American perspective. He plans to hold another live broadcast at the school on Feb. 15 before being honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the district’s annual State of the Schools address, also that day.
I Am HISD: Former Westbury HS football player becomes first African-American stadium director at Butler
George Walker poses for a photograph at Butler Stadium, January 31, 2017.
George Walker Jr. is an accomplished athlete who was All-American and All-State in football at Westbury High School, graduated in 2004, and went on to play for the University of Texas. Now he is back at HISD, where he was recently named stadium director of the Joe Kelly Butler Athletic Complex – the first African American to hold the position. In this edition of I Am HISD, Walker talks about his new role and how he benefitted from participating in sports.
You grew up in HISD and were a star student athlete at Westbury. What sports did you participate in and what impact did your involvement in sports have on you?
I participated in football, basketball, and track. I was All-American and All-State in football, and was honorable mention in All-State in basketball. I went to the regionals in track. Then I got a scholarship to college for doing something I loved. When you’re involved in sports, you make memories that can get you through tough times, and you learn to fight through things together with your teammates. It also teaches perseverance. You learn never to give up. The sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be going through life. Continue reading
Houston Hispanic Forum plans Career and Education Day
Learn about college, careers, and financial aid
The Houston Hispanic Forum is hosting its 31st annual Career and Education day on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Students in grades 6-12 and their parents are invited to attend sessions on potential careers, visit with college representatives, and take advantage of hands-on financial aid assistance.
Transportation may be available from your school, so check with your college center for details. If transportation is not provided, parents and students can get to Career and Education Day with a free METRO pass. The forum is free and lunch will be provided.
To register for the event and request your METRO pass, go to http://houstonisd.org/houstonhispanicforum.
View bond construction progress up close and online – no hard hat required
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Anyone interested in viewing construction progress at HISD bond schools may only need an internet connection, as web cameras are being installed at several sites to make daily update photos available to everyone.
Program management firm Rice & Gardner Consultants recently began installing online web cams at several of the schools for which they provide project management services. Currently three projects, Wilson Montessori, HSPVA, and High School for Law and Justice, have cameras up and running with live internet links. Others are expected to come online in the coming months as more construction gets underway.
Benefits of risk evaluation and mitigation the focus of February’s Workshop Wednesday
Prudential Financial Services Manager Ronald Swanson gave tips to Houston-area small business owners on Wednesday about how to evaluate risks and take steps to ensure that their businesses and families are protected in the event of death or disability.
“The worst thing you can do is to have no plan at all,” Swanson said, speaking at HISD’s monthly Workshop Wednesday forum. “You can transfer or mitigate risks though buy-sell agreements and life insurance.”