Sharpstown HS senior talks about why she’s obsessed with collecting owls
Meghan Berndt has been justifiably excited about being accepted into Bryn Mawr, her dream university, this fall.
Now, the Sharpstown High School senior is getting ready for the big changes ahead, by getting to know both current and aspiring “Mawrters” and obsessively buying anything with an owl (the school mascot) on it.
Almost two dozen seventh- and eighth-graders from Garden Oaks Montessori are in the process of making history for HISD.
The students are participating in the Midwest Regional Middle School Conference of the Montessori Model United Nations (MMUN) on March 13 and 14 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and according to Principal Lindsey Pollock, this is the very first time a public school has done so.
“This is only our first year to have a Model UN, but the experience is life-changing for students,” said Dr. Pollock. “Our kids will meet people from across the country and they have researched topics that are impacting lives all over the world. It broadens their horizons and helps them recognize our inter-connectedness and our responsibility in making the world a better place.”
Delia Thibodeaux
Delia Thibodeaux is one of only three teachers from across the nation to be so honored
A veteran educator with more than a decade of service to HISD students has been named one of three finalists for the national Health Education Teacher of the Year award by the Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America).
Delia Thibodeaux, who teaches at Westside High School, advanced to the national round of the competition after being named SHAPE’s 2015 Health Education Teacher of the Year for the Southern District, which encompasses 13 states from Virginia to Texas.
Watch event live from 12 to 1 p.m. on Friday featuring district’s digital transformation
Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning. On Friday, March 13, HISD teachers and students will share on social media how they are using technology in the classroom using the hashtags #HISDdigital and #DLDay as part of national Digital Learning Day.
Priority deadline for FAFSA/TASFA is March 15 for first-round consideration by many colleges, as well as a few Texas scholarships and loans
Six HISD high schools could win up to $750 for having the largest percentage of students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 15.
Thanks to Advise TX and Texas A&M University, 13 HISD high schools have college graduates on campus year-round advising low-income students on what is required to get into a good school and how to pay for higher education.
“HISD is very happy to partner with Advise Texas to ensure that our students receive additional support in navigating the college and financial aid process,” said Assistant Superintendent of College Readiness Rick Cruz. “They are one of our strong continued partners that do great work alongside our staff to support our students.”
These college graduates are working hard right now to get seniors at their schools (see list of schools below) to complete their FAFSA by the March 15 deadline. Submitting the FAFSA or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) by the priority deadline is highly recommended for students seeking to qualify for any of the following: Top 10 Percent Scholarship, Texas Grant, and Texas B-On-Time Loan.
Advise TX College Advising Corps is similar to Teach for America or the Peace Corps in that it places graduates in a position for one to two years after graduation and pays them a salary. Advise TX is part of College Advising Corps, a national organization that works to increase the number of students who enter and complete higher education.
Download an interactive tool to help your family include 15 minutes of reading every day
What is your child doing over spring break? Why not help them develop a love of reading and improve their literacy skills by reading aloud for 15 minutes every day? HISD has partnered with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, Houston Hispanic Forum, Literacy Advance of Houston, Region 4 Educational Service Center, and the Houston Public Library to develop a fun, interactive way for parents and children to incorporate 15 minutes of reading into their busy schedules every day.
All HISD campuses and offices will be closed for spring break from Monday, March 16, through Friday, March 20, 2015.
Schools and offices will reopen for normal business on Monday, March 23, 2015.
Employees should consult the duty schedules posted here.
The HISD Police Department will be patrolling district facilities all during the holiday break. Emergencies may be reported by calling 713-892-7777.
Shannon Kelly
Program yet another benefit of obtaining alternative certification credentials through HISD
Shannon Kelly, a ninth-grade geography teacher at Milby High School, has big plans for her spring break. She will be attending the fourth International Problem-Based Learning Symposium in Singapore March 18–20, thanks to HISD’s alternative certification grant program.
HISD’s efforts to digitally transform teaching and learning in national spotlight for #DLDay
At Burbank Middle School, students are creating videos about their future and life goals using Adobe Voice (see video below). At Herrera Elementary, students are using tablets and digital programs such as iMovie, Animoto, Prezi, and Roxio to produce digital book trailers instead of a standard book report. And at Austin High School, teachers are using the HUB, the district’s new online learning platform, to create online discussions and group activities.
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Every day, students and teachers across the district are using digital tools and resources to transform teaching and learning inside their classrooms. On Thursday, March 12, from 4 to 5 p.m., teachers and students from nearly 50 HISD campuses will gather in the lobby of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77018) to showcase their efforts at the district’s first ever Digital Learning Expo.
Students can access 24-7 via the HUB
Every student in Texas must pass five end-of-course exams in order to graduate, and HISD has created a series of online tutorials to help students prepare for the state exams. HISD high school students can access the tutorials — including videos, handouts, and helpful links — through the HUB, which is the district’s online teaching and learning platform. Students can click here (.pdf) for a tip sheet on how to access them or they can go directly to the HUB at www.houstonisd.org/hub and use their district login and password.
The tutorials were created and designed by a team of HISD teachers, teacher developments specialists, and representatives from curriculum, academics, and the schools’ office. They are designed to be self-paced and can be accessed by students 24-hours a day—at school, home, or anywhere with an Internet connection through a computer, tablet or smartphone. The material can also be downloaded and viewed offline. Quizzes are also provided to assess mastery of the coursework.