Yearly Archives: 2017

Special message from Superintendent Carranza on diversity at HISD

Houston ISD Superintendent Richard Carranza sent the following message today to parents, community members, and employees:

Dear Team HISD,

Houston ISD has always valued diversity. We do not discriminate. We have young newcomers who come to our schools every year. We do not turn them away. All of our students have a constitutional right to equal access to education regardless of any circumstance that is no fault of their own – whether they’re an immigrant or low-income.

We are a public school district. We serve a tremendous amount of English language learners and economically disadvantaged students who depend on us daily. Our schools are safe havens for all students. Places where they not only learn fundamentals but have the opportunity to learn a new language, a different culture, and explore career pathways. Ultimately, we are preparing students for a future in a world that is becoming more diverse every day. We want our students to leave not only academically enriched but with more positive attitudes toward other cultures.

Our schools will continue to be safe and positive learning environments that promote student learning and development versus discrimination and fear.

Sincerely,

Richard A. Carranza
HISD Superintendent

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FAQ: What you need to know about immigration, discrimination, and your rights at HISD

Texas A&M education students learning the ropes at HISD campuses 

A cohort of Texas A&M College of Education students have been visiting HISD campuses since Tuesday, learning more about the district and getting hands-on experience working in classrooms.

A total of 250 students are spending an entire day learning the ropes at more than a dozen campuses, an experience that could lead them to careers in HISD. Continue reading →

New Milby HS eyes summer opening

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Construction on the new Milby High School is now 85 percent complete and on track to open in time for summer school.

The three-story $69 million project, part of HISD’s 2012 bond program, is a combination of new construction and renovation that preserves the historical front façade while creating a modern learning environment to accommodate 2,000 students.

Continue reading →

New Furr HS set to open this summer

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Construction on the new Furr High School is now about 75 percent complete, and the building is on track to open this coming summer.

As part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program, Furr will receive a new 182,000-square-foot $55 million building to accommodate 1,300 students. The three-story building has been designed to enhance the school’s science, technology, engineering, and arts programs. It will include flexible, brightly colored learning areas with moveable furniture and sliding glass doors to make the rooms easily adjustable.

Continue reading →

Grammy Foundation selects HISD student to record album with young musicians

HSPVA senior to perform at Grammy events and attend annual awards ceremony

High School for the Performing and Visual Arts student Alexandria DeWalt’s dream to make music that the world will hear is coming true sooner than she imagined.

DeWalt is among 32 talented high school students from across the country selected by the Grammy Foundation for the 2017 Grammy Camp – Jazz Session where young musicians are provided the opportunity to record an album together, perform for some of music’s biggest names, and attend the Grammy Awards ceremony as guests of The Recording Academy.

The program encourages high school students to pursue professional careers in the music industry and makes them eligible for more than $2 million in college scholarships made possible through the Grammy Foundation’s college partners.

Continue reading →

Drones and robots win big at Dream On STEAM On student competition 

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Flying drones and spinning robots impressed the judges in the Capital One Bank Dream on STEAM on Student Showcase at Northside High School on Jan. 24. Four elementary, two middle, and three high schools competed in the STEM/STEAM contest for a top spot in each category.

The Looscan Elementary School Lions won with multiple colorful drones, explaining ethical uses for drones that include medical needs, helping law enforcement, and deliveries. Other participating elementary schools were Osborne, C. Martinez, and Mading.

Continue reading →

Listen & Learn meeting at Northside HS postponed

Update: A new date for the Listen & Learn meeting outlined below will be announced at a later date.

HISD Board of Education Trustee Anna Eastman will host a community town hall meeting for the north region schools with Superintendent Richard Carranza at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at Northside High School.

The meeting, part of the continuing “Listen & Learn Tour” will be a way to solicit input from stakeholders about the district’s future and learn about key issues across HISD.

Continue reading →

Sandwich created by Westside HS students scores spot on Super Bowl LI menu

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The judges have spoken. After a Westside High School student chef team competed this week for one of two sandwich creations to be served at Super Bowl LI, it was the Bayou City Banh Mi that scored the most points.

The sandwich – created by Westside High School culinary arts students Dominique Jackson, Michelle Meadows, and Vivian Romero – was a success with media outlets and attendees at the official presentation held at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Tuesday.

Continue reading →

Community feedback desired on school turnaround plans 

Parents, staff, students, and community members invited to take survey 

A dozen HISD schools have been rated as Improvement Required (IR) campuses by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The TEA requires the district to develop “turnaround plans” for each campus for the 2017-2018 school year, listing the actions that must take place to foster greater student growth and improve student achievement. HISD is inviting parents, students, staff, and community members to participate in the process by providing feedback via the online survey linked below. Your feedback is valuable. Take the survey here.

HISD Dyslexia Awareness Family Night set for Feb. 7

Dyslexia in its many forms affects a number of students in HISD. If you would like to know more about dyslexia, understand whether your child might have dyslexia, or find new resources to support your child identified with dyslexia, please join us at our Dyslexia Awareness Family Night on Feb. 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street).

The event will include a keynote address and breakout sessions. We will also offer individual student screenings on a first come, first served basis for families concerned that their child shows dyslexic tendencies. Representatives from various colleges and universities will also be on site to discuss their programs/accommodations available to students with dyslexia.

Continue reading →