Author Archives: HISD Communications

Attend a parent information session on HISD’s Gifted and Talented programs

HISD’s Gifted and Talented department is offering parent-information sessions on Gifted and Talented, often referred to as simply G/T, for parents who would like to learn more about HISD’s G/T programs.  

HISD provides two program options for Gifted and Talented (G/T) students – Vanguard Magnet and Vanguard Neighborhood programs. The Vanguard Neighborhood programs are designed to meet the needs of G/T students at the school to which they are zoned, and the Vanguard Magnet program provides an environment where G/T students can work with their peers at a Vanguard Magnet School. 

Continue reading →

New Parent University session scheduled for Oct. 15 

HISD will host its next Parent University workshop from 5:15 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15 at four locations throughout the district: Cook Elementary School, Lawson and Pershing middle schools, and Westside High School. 

The theme for the session will be “How to Get Involved.” The workshop will begin with a dinner and resource fair and will include information on district programs, parent engagement, community resources, and how parents can become active partners in the successful education of their children. 

Parents can look up locations and select the most convenient one to attend. Registration is available at HoustonISD.org/ParentUniversity. 

Free dinner, interpretation services, and child care will be provided.

Madison HS celebrates grand opening in style

Red, white, silver, and blue balloons were artfully arranged into columns and arches alongside a bright red carpet that guided guests to the dining commons, where rows of black chairs were lined up. 

The celebratory décor created a festive atmosphere for the official grand opening of the new Madison High School, built as part of the district’s 2012 Bond Program and opened to students in January 2019. 

“It’s the perfect place to create a better version of ourselves,” Madison Senior Class President and Student Council Vice President Mariana Martinez said of the new school. “We’re really thankful.” 

Continue reading →

New Lamar HS features innovative academic neighborhoods

Lamar High School 11th-grader Mackenzie Wilson is an active student. She plays volleyball and serves as student body president while also working on her International Baccalaureate diploma. After graduation, she hopes to study pathology or constitutional law. 

Although she is confident in her academic endeavors, Wilson said it was easy to get lost in the crowd at Lamar — a sprawling campus home to about 3,000 students.  

But when the school introduced its academic neighborhoods concept at the start of this school year, everything changed. 

Continue reading →

Nutrition Services partners with HISD transition programs to help students with disabilities

Leticia Resendiz spends her weekdays at Seguin Elementary School, carefully preparing and serving wholesome meals to eager students.  

A dedicated employee, she carefully reviews the instructions of every recipe and always remembers to follow health and safety regulations. 

“I’m happy with this job,” Resendiz said. “I love giving the kids their breakfast and lunch. Everyone is so nice to me.” 

Resendiz is one of four food service attendants hired by Nutrition Services in partnership with two transition programs — HISD-HCC Lifeskills and HISD/HEART (Housing, Entrepreneurship, and Readiness Training).  

The programs are designed to help HISD special education students who have met all academic and course requirements for graduation but require transition services to complete their Individualized Education Program.  

Continue reading →

Transportation Services updating routes in SafeStop app

Transportation Services is updating the SafeStop bus tracking app to reflect temporary changes made to bus routes that do not yet have a permanent driver assigned due to an ongoing driver shortage.  

Of the department’s 828 routes, about 10 percent — or 87 routes — do not have permanent drivers due to the shortage, which is impacting transportation organizations across the region.  

As a result, stops on these open routes were temporarily reassigned to nearby staffed routes to ensure all students have safe and reliable transportation to and from school. This has caused some staffed routes to run longer than originally expected. 

Continue reading →

HISD Police Department to host a job fair on Oct. 19

The Houston Independent School District’s Police Department is hosting a job fair on Saturday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to Noon at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092). 

Those interested in joining the district’s Police Department must bring a valid driver’s license, Social Security card and a copy of industry-related certificates, licenses and Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) certification.  

As the only accredited public school district police department in the nation, the HISD Police Department works to ensure the safety and security of students and staff across more than 300 square miles of the Houston area.  

To RSVP for the job fair, click here. 

[su_document url=”https://blogs.houstonisd.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/10/HISD-PD_Recruitment-Flyer.pdf” height=”840″]

Want to become an HISD teacher?

District’s alternative certification program hosting info session 

Thinking about changing careers and love working with children? Maybe you’ve thought about becoming a teacher, but not sure what’s involved with getting your certification? 

The Houston ISD Alternative Certification Program invites you to attend its upcoming ACP Teacher Information Session at 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 29 at Hattie Mae White (4400 West 18th St., 77092).  

Prospects can learn more about the ACP program and candidate selection process, as well as meet current teachers with HISD and those enrolled in the HISD ACP program. The one-year program is dedicated to recruiting individuals from diverse educational and career backgrounds who are passionate about students, teaching, and learning. 

Continue reading →

HISD celebrating Principals Month with downloadable templates for special messages

Principals play a vital role in the success of our students. As campus leaders, principals are responsible for fostering a positive climate and culture at our schools.

Whether it’s placing the right teacher in the classroom or having coffee with school parents, it’s without question that HISD principals go the extra mile to ensure the greatest outcomes for students.

HISD is encouraging students, parents, staff, and community members to honor and thank district principals during the month of October by printing out one of our custom cutouts, which are downloadable at the link below. You can include a message to give to your school leader or display on your campus and post on social media. There is even a version for students to color!

Continue reading →

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Throughout October, HISD is rallying behind National Bullying Prevention Month and encouraging participation in a campaign to keep all youth safe from bullying. 

Every day, thousands of students experience some form of bullying either at school, at home, or online through social media and texts. This is a great time for our schools, staff and students to raise awareness about bullying and the role we all play in making a difference.  

Schools looking for ways to participate this month can utilize a few simple and inexpensive projects and activities to bring awareness to the effects of bullying. Age-appropriate activities can be found online here.  

Continue reading →