Author Archives: HISD Communications

No classes on Monday for fall holiday; professional development planned

Students will not have classes on Monday, Sept. 10, for the district’s fall holiday. Classes will resume at the normal time on Tuesday, Sept. 11.

Schools will be holding professional development, and administrative offices will be open during normal business hours on Monday. School-based staff who have their principal’s permission to use previously uncompensated professional development time in lieu of Monday’s work day may do so.

View the full academic calendar to review other holidays during the 2018-2019 school year.

HISD dietitian earns School Nutrition Specialist credential

Elementary students may know her as the Lunch Lady – the lovable storybook character who serves up lunch with a side of justice. But Nan Cramer takes school lunches and good nutrition seriously.

Cramer, a registered dietitian with HISD’s Nutrition Services, recently earned certification as a school nutrition specialist. She received the credentials last month after taking a comprehensive credentialing exam administered by the School Nutrition Association, a national industry association that supports schools with professional development and other programs. Continue reading →

Lawson MS celebrates grand opening of new building

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Festive music by the Lawson Middle School band greeted guests Wednesday as they arrived to celebrate the grand opening of the school’s new $66 million building – one of 13 new or renovated HISD schools that opened in August.

The event paid tribute to the school’s namesake, Audrey H. Lawson, and was attended by parents, students, staff, alumni, and community members, along with members of the Lawson family.

“This building is absolutely beautiful. It represents our investment in this community and the future of our students in the Hiram Clarke neighborhood,” said Houston Independent School District Board of Education Trustee Wanda Adams, who served as emcee for the event. “The new Lawson Middle School will have a huge impact on this community for generations to come.” Continue reading →

Braeburn ES students settling into new temporary campus

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Braeburn Elementary School students are continuing to settle into their new temporary home on the Welch Middle School campus, where they will remain until their flood-damaged school can be rebuilt.

“Students entered the campus excited and ready to start this new school year,” Braeburn Principal Amanda Rodgers said last week as students arrived for their first day of school in the temporary campus. Continue reading →

New initiatives to address bus service challenges expected Tuesday

Bus riders across the district could see changes to their scheduled pick-up and drop-off times as part of an ongoing review designed to ensure all students have access to safe and reliable transportation.

In addition to scheduling changes, the Transportation Services department also is expanding the magnet hub program with the addition of two new hub locations, continuing to assign students to routes, and ramping up bus driver recruitment efforts to prevent driver shortages.

“Transportation to and from school is one of the building blocks for academic success,” HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “It’s imperative that we provide safe, reliable and timely service to our students. We will continue making changes until we can ensure we are meeting that goal.” Continue reading →

KHOU anchor Sherry Williams named HISD press secretary

Sherry Williams has been selected as press secretary for the Houston Independent School District.

Williams, an Emmy-winning journalist whose career spans three decades, joins HISD from Houston’s KHOU 11 news team, where she anchors the Saturday morning news from 7 to 9 a.m. She previously anchored the 9 p.m. news at CW 39 and reported for Fox 26 Houston. She also has worked in broadcast markets in Dallas, Detroit, and Bryan-College Station.

Williams grew up in Houston’s Third Ward near the Texas Southern University campus and attended HISD’s Turner Elementary School, Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School. Continue reading →

Askew ES opens new building for 2018-19 school year

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Askew Elementary School’s All-Stars walked hand-in-hand into a bright and colorful new 2012 Bond building for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Almost 1,000 students and parents walked down the school’s hallways awestruck as they toured their new facility for the first time on Monday.

“Welcome, welcome, welcome Askew All-Stars,” a voice said over the school intercom. “We are so excited to start this wonderful new school year. We hope you love and enjoy this new building just as much as we do.” Continue reading →

New wing, renovated classrooms greet Wilson Montessori students for new school year

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Nestled in the heart of Montrose, the Wilson Montessori campus was filled with excitement on Monday as students entered the doors of the newly renovated building for the first day of school.

Final construction work wrapped on the project this summer, with Monday marking Monday the first time that both the new wing and existing classroom renovations were complete and open to students.

“We are truly excited about this new school year in this new space,” Wilson Montessori Principal Shameika Sykes-Salvador said. “Teachers are excited about being in their own spaces and being able to unpack and make it home.”

Continue reading →

Lawson MS students step into their new learning space for first day

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Clad in super hero capes and masks, enthusiastic teachers and staff gathered in the foyer of the new Lawson Middle School to welcome students for the first day of the 2018-2019 school year.

Lawson Principal Kasey Bailey said the costumes were a reminder to students and parents of their power to move the campus forward and conquer obstacles that stand before them.

“It’s a new era of academic achievement” Bailey said. “Lawson’s academic status is now ‘Growth Distinction.’ We are no longer ‘Improvement Required.’ That alone has given us the additional boost of excitement preparing us for this new academic achievement.”

Continue reading →