HISD Strategy & Innovation Executive Officer August Hamilton explains the difference between the two virtual learning programs offered to students this school year. To learn more about each program, visit the HISD Virtual Academy and HISD@H.O.M.E. Temporary Online Learning websites.
Author Archives: HISD Communications
HISD updates COVID-19 dashboard to monitor new school year cases
With the return to in-person instruction for all HISD classes on Monday, Aug. 23, the district’s COVID-19 dashboard will be reset to reflect confirmed cases for the new school year to better inform the community.
The online dashboard will continue to track the number of confirmed COVID-19 student and staff cases by campus as originally designed to ensure transparency. The reset version will go live as the first day of school begins.
“We are in the midst of a pandemic, so we want to assure our parents and the community that all information is provided and updated in a timely fashion,” HISD Superintendent Millard House said. “The dashboard is an effective way to share information to staff members and families.”
The dashboard will continue to be updated daily, allowing users to review student and staff data by location and districtwide. The map showing where cases are throughout the district will also be updated. As new data for the school year is added, current cases will be displayed for the most recent 14 days.
The dashboard will strictly follow all applicable privacy laws as it relates to the release of personal health information.
To view the COVID-19 dashboard, go to HoustonISD.org/COVID19Dashboard.
For more information on HISD’s Back to School Plan, visit HoustonISD.org/ReadySetGo.
A special message from Superintendent Millard House II
The following letter from Superintendent House was distributed on the night of August 5 to HISD parents, staff, and community members:
Dear HISD Community,
The health and safety of our students and staff continues to be our guiding compass in all of our decisions. As a result, during tonight’s agenda review meeting, I announced that I will propose a mask mandate for students, staff, and visitors at all schools, buses, and facilities to be voted on next week by the Board of Education. The mask mandate will become effective upon Board approval during next Thursday’s board meeting, August 12. In light of the announcement by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to raise the COVID-19 threat level to “red,” additional safety measures are needed to protect our students, staff, and families.
The mask mandate applies to everyone regardless of whether or not they are vaccinated. In partnership with health officials, three HISD schools are offering vaccinations this Saturday. If your child is 12 or older, I encourage parents to stop by and get a shot. No appointments are necessary.
- Dogan Elementary School, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Deady Middle School, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Kashmere High School, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
The 2021-2022 school year begins on August 23, and we will continue to monitor the situation and work with health officials for frequent updates, which we will share with you. The safety of all HISD staff and students continues to be our top priority.
Sincerely,
Millard House II
HISD Superintendent
HISD hosting teacher job fair on July 24
The Houston Independent School District is hosting a teacher job fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at the Delmar Fieldhouse, 2020 Mangum Road, 77092. Check in time is 8:30 a.m.
Candidates will have the opportunity to meet principals and other leaders and take part in on-the-spot interviews.
Continue readingHISD Gifted and Talented hosting inaugural family symposium
The HISD Gifted and Talented (G/T) Department is proud to announce its inaugural family symposium, “Opening the GATES to Gifted Learning.” The free virtual symposium is scheduled for August 3-6, 2021 via Microsoft Teams.
Register for the G/T Family Symposium by July 30, 2021. Parents will have access to 40 virtual sessions presented by HISD, nationally recognized experts and featured speakers, including:
- Dr. Donna Y. Ford – Distinguished Professor, The Ohio State University
- Dr. Paul Sedillo – Associate Professor, New Mexico Highlands University
- Colin Seale – CEO/Founder, thinkLaw
Session topics include, but are not limited to a focus on G/T and:
- Resilience,
- Fine Arts,
- Special Education Services,
- Dyslexia,
- Executive Functioning,
- School Choice,
- Equity, and
- Linguistic Accommodations.
Log in for the full schedule of virtual events.
HISD launching summer meals program with 10 curbside pickup sites
The Houston Independent School District is launching its 2021 summer meals program this week, in conjunction with the start of summer school.
As part of the summer meals program, Nutrition Services will host weekly curbside student meal pickup at 10 of the district’s highest-need campuses. The distributions will be held at the end of each week and provide students with meals for the weekend, as well as hand sanitizer and reusable masks.
Weekend meals also will be provided to students enrolled in summer school. They will receive no-cost breakfast and lunch at school each day as well as meals to take home for the weekend at the end of each week.
“As we have learned from this past year, we have an overabundance of students from food-insecure households in HISD,” Nutrition Services Officer Betti Wiggins said. “I’m grateful that we’re able to provide this program to help ensure our students continue to have access to good food through the summer.”
Campus curbside pickup locations include:
- Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technical Center, 9400 Irvington Blvd.
- Northside High School, 1101 Quitman St.
- Furr High School, 500 Mercury Drive
- Chavez High School, 8501 Howard Drive
- Milby High School, 1601 Broadway St.
- Washington High School, 4204 Yale
- Braeburn Elementary School, 5550 Pine St.
- Bonham Elementary School, 8302 Braes River Drive
- Almeda Elementary School, 14226 Almeda Road
- Jane Long Academy, 6501 Bellaire Blvd.
The first curbside pickup will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 18. Students will receive two days’ worth of breakfast and lunch to eat over the weekend.
Beginning Thursday, June 24, all remaining pickups will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Thursdays to better align with the district’s summer work schedule. On Thursdays, students will receive three days’ worth of breakfast and lunch to eat over the weekend.
The program is slated to run through the end of summer school.
For more information or to find a curbside pickup location near you, visit HoustonISD.org/StudentMeals.
HISD announces 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year finalists, Beginning Teacher of the Year winners
Twelve educators have been named as HISD’s 2020-2021 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year finalists, and two teachers have been named the Beginning Teachers of the Year.
The two Teacher of the Year winners will go on to represent the district in Region IV. The 12 finalists were selected from all 280 schools based on performance data and other criteria.
At the elementary level, the six Teacher of the Year finalists are:
Continue readingSuperintendent Search meetings planned for students, parents, teachers
The Houston Independent School District is undergoing a nationwide search for a permanent superintendent. As we continue this process, it is important to receive your input.
The district is hosting several virtual meetings for teachers, students, and parents as follows:
- Virtual Teacher Townhall Meeting – Tuesday, April 6 at 5 p.m.
- Click here to join Microsoft Teams meeting
- Call-in information:
Phone number: 281-810-1822
Conference ID: 677 213 156#
- Virtual Student Townhall Meeting – Wednesday, April 7 at 5 p.m.
- Click here to join Microsoft Teams meeting
- Call-in information:
Phone number: 281-810-1822
Conference ID: 844 079 350#
- Virtual Parent and Community Townhall Meeting – Wednesday, April 7 at 6 p.m.
- Click here to join Zoom meeting
- Call-in information:
Phone number: 346-248-7799
Conference ID: 96225447198#
Attendees can provide their comments in advance here.
The meetings will seek feedback about the candidate profile and offer an opportunity to discuss the search process. For more information on the search process, go to HoustonISD.org/SupeSearch.
We hope you’ll join us, and we look forward to your valuable input.
14 EMERGE students accepted to Middlebury College with full-ride financial aid
Sitting in English class at the High School for Law and Justice, listening to a lesson on Macbeth, Roy Urbina knew his life would soon be completely different.
In just a few short months—just over 150 days, he’ll tell you—Urbina will leave his home near Hobby Airport and fly to Vermont, where he’ll be attending Middlebury College. From the largest city in Texas to a town of about 9,000 people a two-hour drive from French Canada, the first-generation college student is ready for the adventure.
“I can’t wait for the independence of college,” he said, laughing. “But I’m looking forward to the environment. You can go hiking, you can go outside, having that openness right there. Living in Houston, it’s pretty urban, and Vermont is so different.”
Continue reading‘A sense of excellence’ as progress continues at new Bellaire HS
Natural light and a central “Main Street” hallway are the hallmarks of the new Bellaire High School, which is now 57 percent complete.
Part of the 2012 Bond Program, the project is on track to be completed in time for the 2021-2022 school year. The completion of Bellaire will close out the massive bond program, which included the renovation or rebuilding of 40 schools, including 29 high schools, across the district.
Continue reading