Author Archives: HISD Communications

Nutrition Services celebrates Thanksgiving with healthier lunch

Parents flooded the Lantrip Elementary School cafeteria Thursday as they joined their children — clad in pilgrim hats, white bonnets, and colorful turkey headbands — for a nutritious Thanksgiving lunch.  

The annual celebration hosted by HISD’s Nutrition Services has attracted thousands of families to school cafeterias for more than 50 years. This year’s menu included roasted turkey with gravy, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, a fresh fruit medley, and ice cream. 

“We get a ton of volunteers, but it takes everyone,” Lantrip Principal Magdalena Strickland said, noting that about half of the school’s 700 families participate in the Thanksgiving lunch each year. “When parents know you care for their kids, they’ll go above and beyond.” 

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Transportation Services ridership audit underway

Transportation Services has eliminated more than two dozen routes as part of an ongoing comprehensive review of bus ridership at 15 select schools. 

The review is focused on schools with low ridership, despite having a high volume of students who are eligible for transportation and have been assigned routes. Reviews have been completed at nine schools, with the remaining six to be finished before the end of the year.  

The department has cut 25 routes since the start of the review, bringing the overall number of routes down to 775 — a five percent decrease.  

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Fidget spinners, iPhones top the list in Longfellow ES annual toy survey

Students at Longfellow Elementary School on Friday announced that iPhones and Fidget Spinners are two of the hottest toys this holiday season after polling their classmates for their annual top toy survey.

For the tenth consecutive year, a group of fifth-graders at the school surveyed their classmates to determine what gifts kids would like to receive for the holidays. In a mid-morning press conference, students announced the top five toys for boys and girls. The goal of the survey is to help give parents and relatives an idea of what to buy before they do their holiday shopping.

“Every year fifth-grade students at our school interview students in every grade level to see what the most wanted toys will be for the holiday season,” fifth-grader Chase said. “We are a lighthouse school and we used those ideas to be successful in completing the toy survey.”

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ROSES inaugural women’s forum focuses on effects of social media

The Houston Independent School District’s Resilient Outstanding Sisters Exemplifying Success (ROSES) project on Thursday hosted its inaugural professional women’s forum to discuss the effects of social media on education and society, especially as it relates to the well-being of young, underserved female students.  

The forum, which was titled “Effects of Social Media on Education and Society”, was held at Sterling Aviation Early College High School and was moderated by Telemundo News Anchor Ingrid Barrera. Panelists included leaders in education, law enforcement and human resources.

Throughout the evening they discussed the different impacts social media has on society, such as communications, societal standards and privacy.

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HISD to celebrate 12 Days of Code with a new coding experience every day

HISD is inviting all students to celebrate the 12 Days of Code in December with interactive calendars that allow them to engage in a new coding experience every day.  

Coding helps students solve problems, use logic, and think creatively, and it gives them a foundation for success in 21st century careers. The activities in these three calendars for elementary, middle, and  high school  include lessons such as designing web pages with HTML, creating a virtual pet, developing interactive art, and even teaching a robot to make crepes. 

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Briarmeadow Charter, Wilson Montessori students win Nutrition Services jingle contest

Some students whispered excitedly among themselves, while others jumped up and down in anticipation. All of them peered curiously at the group of strangers in their classrooms. 

These creative students from Briarmeadow Charter School and Wilson Montessori School were thrilled to discover they had won the Nutrition Services’ National School Lunch Week jingle contest.  

“It was a bit shocking,” Briarmeadow sixth-grader Gabriella Perez said. “We’re proud of ourselves for creating a song and getting recognized.” 

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Ascending to Men Project hosts simultaneous roundtable discussions

The Houston Independent School District’s Ascending to Men Project (ATMP) held simultaneous roundtable discussions with students and community leaders to foster dialogue centered around issues impacting today’s male students.  

The roundtables, titled ATM + Community = Solutions, took place at both Furr and Sharpstown high schools, and were attended by students, district educators and community leaders.  

At Furr High School, FOX 26 reporter Maria Salazar served as the evening’s emcee and guided panels that focused on the importance of developing quality mentorships and the impact they can have on a student’s success.  

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Ascending to Men Project, ROSES to host winter ball fundraiser 

HISD’s Ascending to Men Project and ROSES will host their first joint winter ball on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at Minute Maid Park. 

Under the umbrella of HISD’s Equity and Outreach Division, the Ascending to Men Project (ATMP) and Resilient Outstanding Sister Exemplifying Success (ROSES) are both mentorship initiatives that provide positive role models and advocates for students who need guidance and opportunities for educational, social, and professional growth to underserved young men and women in the district.

The public can support both initiatives by donating online or by becoming a mentor for the programs. For more information about ROSES, visit houstonisd.org/roses. To learn more about ATMP, visit houstonisd.org/atmp.

ROSES to hold women’s forum on effects of social media

The Houston Independent School District’s Resilient Outstanding Sisters Exemplifying Success (ROSES) project on Thursday will host its first professional women’s forum to discuss the effects of social media on education and society, especially as it relates to the well-being of young, underserved female students.  

The forum’s discussion panel will be moderated by Telemundo News Anchor Ingrid Barrera. The event, which will begin at 6 p.m. at Sterling Aviation Early College High School (11625 Martindale Road, 77048), will feature panelists who are leaders from various fields, including an attorney, an entrepreneur, a police officer, a social worker, and a human resources professional.  

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