Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD Foundation’s State of the Schools event focuses on achieving excellence with ‘One Voice, One Vision’

A packed house of public education supporters from the business, academic, advocacy and faith communities attended the HISD Foundation’s Public Education Matters fundraising luncheon on Friday.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan delivered the annual State of the Schools address during the benefit.  Lathan issued a call to action urging supporters to work together by employing, “One Voice and One Vision” to equitably raise the standard of excellence for all students in the district, regardless of their socioeconomic status.

Lathan also told the crowd of about 700 that despite the challenges faced by the district, innovative teachers, inspiring leaders, and resilient students have helped HISD earn its current high “B” rating, with a score of 88 under the Texas Education Agency’s accountability system.

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HISD takes home 26 TSPRA awards for communications, community engagement efforts

The Houston Independent School District’s Communications department earned top honors for its work in communications and community engagement during the 2020 Texas School Public Relations Association Annual Conference in Austin.  

The accolades covered nearly all facets of communications, including writing, videography, graphic design, marketing, branding, and special events.  

“As the storytellers of HISD, we are passionate about sharing the inspiring stories of our resilient students, hard-working teachers, and empowering leaders,” said Chief Communications Officer Rebecca Suarez.  “I am extremely proud of our Communications Team for their creative lens and clear focus on promoting the district’s strategic priorities to help student succeed.”   

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Guidelines for travel, self-quarantine advised as precaution for COVID-19

HISD amends perfect attendance rules and high school student exemptions for final exams

The Houston Independent School District continues to closely monitor the potential impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the HISD community. The district has not experienced any active cases of COVID-19.

As Spring Break draws near, we are asking all HISD students, families, and staff to take extra precautions when traveling. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s travel guidelines provide country-specific information at the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel website.

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Name That Book competition makes developing literacy skills fun

HISD students from across the district will gather to show off their reading comprehension skills next week during the annual Name that Book competition finals. 

Coordinated by the HISD Department of Library Services and sponsored by professional services network KPMG, the contest serves to acquaint HISD students with classic literature, as well as contemporary award-winning books, representing a variety of genres. 

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Transportation Services to halt route changes March 27

Transportation Services will stop making changes to existing routes at the end of March to allow the department to begin planning for the 2020-2021 school year.  

Parents will no longer be able to request changes to existing routes starting Friday, March 27. Students with new transportation requests submitted after the cutoff date will be assigned to existing routes and stops.  

“Planning for the next year is an essential part of ensuring we fulfill our mission,” General Manager John Wilcots IV said. “This deadline will allow us to shift our focus to scheduling and route planning for the coming 2020-2021 school year.”  

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HISD launches website to provide updates on Coronavirus

The Houston Independent School District is providing one location online where updates and information regarding Coronavirus will be posted. The website (HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts) will be updated as needed to provide the most current resources, including a parent fact sheet, FAQs, and links from supporting health agencies.  

HISD is in contact with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Texas Department of Health and Human Services and Houston Health Department and continues to monitor information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) to ensure all students and staff members are safe and updated with the latest information.  

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HISD continues to monitor coronavirus, offers precautionary health tips

The Centers for Disease Control has issued a warning to expect a wider spread of the coronavirus in the U.S., saying it remains unclear how severe the health threat could be – but that a sustained transmission of the virus is possible and has advised schools, businesses, and communities to plan for potential outbreaks.

The Houston Independent School District is in contact with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Texas Department of Health and Human Services and Houston Health Department, and will continue to monitor the situation to ensure plans are in place and protocols are followed to keep all students and staff members safe and updated with the latest information.

As part of HISD’s effort to ensure campuses and facilities are safe and healthy, the district has trained staff who routinely monitor individuals who exhibit fever, cough, and shortness of breath will follow appropriate assessment and monitoring protocols for students and staff who report feeling ill. Staff are also inquiring about recent personal travel, and new students wishing to enroll at any HISD school are being asked to complete a routine travel history questionnaire as a precaution.

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Thursday is Houston Dynamo Spirit Day in HISD

The Houston Dynamo kick off their 2020 season this weekend with a game against the LA Galaxy at BBVA Compass Stadium.  

In recognition of the team’s many contributions to public education and to HISD students, Thursday, February 27 has been designated as HISD Dynamo Day. To cheer on the Dynamo and show our support, all students and staff are encouraged to wear Dynamo or orange gear and accessories. Jeans will be permitted. 

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Summer Student Leadership Program accepting applications from high school students, district alumni

HISD is now accepting applications for its 2020 Summer Student Leadership Program, a six-week paid summer internship and leadership development program for HISD high school students and alumni currently enrolled in college. 

In line with HISD’s mission to provide students with the tools to reach their full potential, the program addresses the need to expose students to fulfilling careers and skills employers demand in a rapidly changing world. Participants will gain valuable employment experience and can test-drive career pathways before choosing a college major or entering the workforce. 

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ROSES spring women’s forum focuses on networking, building relationships

The Houston Independent School District’s Resilient Outstanding Sisters Exemplifying Success (ROSES) project on Thursday hosted its spring professional women’s forum to discuss how strong communication and effective networking skills can shape a young woman’s life.   

The forum, which was titled “The secrets to building meaningful relationships”, was held at Kashmere High School and was moderated by ABC 13 Houston Anchor Erica Simon. Panelists included leaders in criminal justice, immigration reform, community affairs, as well as a student panelist from Navarro Middle School. 

Throughout the evening they discussed the impact that communication can have on the different relationships in a young woman’s life, especially the importance of respect in any level of relationship. 

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