Author Archives: HISD Communications

Mitchell ES, Park Place ES win NFL Play 60 grants 

Mitchell and Park Place elementary schools scored big recently, winning Play 60 grants from the Houston Texans and Texas Children’s Hospital to fund new equipment for P.E., sports, and after-school programs to help get kids moving.

Mitchell won $5,000 and Park Place won $3,500 after submitting a formal funding request that included an essay on how the grant would be used.

Play 60 grants help schools with gym equipment, playgrounds, activity trails, etc.—anything to help students be active for 60 minutes each day.

Yates HS Project Advisory Team tours new school

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000C_hQMhFWFLk” g_name=”20180322-YatesHS” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Large science labs, the gymnasium, and views of the Houston skyline were just some of the highlights seen by Project Advisory Team members as they were led on a tour of the new Yates High School on Thursday.

As attendees made their way through the facility making stops in the auditorium, dining commons, and JROTC spaces, the group huddled up near the large windows of a second-floor extended learning area to take in a full view of the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium.

Currently the construction project is 85 percent complete with interior finishes — flooring, painting and ceiling tile installation — underway. All sidewalks and driveways have been poured and science lab equipment has been installed. Furniture selections will be finalized in the coming weeks.

Continue reading →

New Lawson MS set for completion this summer

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00006Q5fPwTt78g” g_name=”20180323-LawsonMS” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Construction on the new Lawson Middle School is now in the final stages, with the project almost 90 percent complete and on track to open this summer.

The main and auxiliary gymnasiums, locker rooms, dining commons, kitchen, and administrative offices are nearly complete, and flooring is being installed throughout the building. In addition, driveways at the east and west sides of the campus are almost finished.

“The end is in sight,” Lawson Principal Kasey Bailey said, noting that furniture selections have been confirmed, and delivery will occur mid-May. “We are extremely excited and can’t wait to move in.”

Continue reading →

HISD Board of Education names Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan as acting superintendent

Grenita Lathan

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education unanimously voted to name Chief Academic Officer Grenita Lathan as interim superintendent of the state’s largest school district.

Lathan was tapped to serve as the interim leader of HISD while trustees search for a permanent replacement for outgoing Superintendent Richard Carranza, who is stepping down after nearly a year and a half with the district.

Lathan will assume the role of acting superintendent immediately, and she will become interim superintendent on April 1. Continue reading →

Status of magnet applications available on March 22 

Parents and students who submitted an application to a magnet program for the 2018-19 school year during Phase I (Sept. 22-Dec. 8, 2017) will learn the status of their applications on or soon after Thursday, March 22.

Parents who created an online account will be able to find the results posted on their dashboards, and application-status letters will also be sent out by U.S. mail. Magnet notifications sent via the online system can take up to eight hours to send. Continue reading →

HISD launches new logo and tagline across the city

If you’ve visited local movie theaters recently or driven around town, you might have noticed the district’s newest marketing campaign featuring HISD’s new logo and/or tagline: Building Houston’s Future, Right Now.

The tagline emphasizes HISD’s role in preparing a future Houston workforce that is college and career ready through initiatives including literacy, college access, wraparound services, innovation, and fine arts.

The district launched the series of advertisements in an effort to increase awareness of the district’s educational initiatives and services that support the whole child.


Located at 59 South and Polk Continue reading →

Garden Oaks Montessori welcomes students into new facilities

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000RlQMRJt569g” g_name=”20180319-GardenOaks” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

The first day of school after Spring Break is always busy, but for Garden Oaks Montessori students and staff, the day was marked with even more excitement thanks to the opening of new building additions.

Teachers worked through Spring Break to ensure classrooms were ready for students, while some parents even stopped by last week to give their children a chance to get acclimated early.

Garden Oaks Principal Lindsey Pollock said the first day had been hectic, but exciting. Continue reading →

Wilson Montessori opens doors to new building addition

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G00000D.tKNNvlRk” g_name=”20180319-WilsonMontessori” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

When Wilson Montessori students came back from spring break on Monday, they returned to a new three-story building addition specifically designed to evoke a sense of nature and the environment.

Soft earth tones color the walls and floors, different types of tiles provide a sense of texture and expansive windows help connect students to the outdoors.

“Montessori goes back to the environment and taking care of the environment,” Wilson Montessori Principal Beth Bonnette said. “As a part of our environment, the concrete hallways are painted brown and blue like land and water, and the students like the ebb and flow that goes with that.”

Continue reading →

Westbury High School opens new addition ahead of schedule

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000pG9mkVjEf0g” g_name=”20180319-WestburyHS” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Westbury High School students and staff looked right at home in their new building addition on Monday — the official opening day of the school’s two-story building expansion.

The new wing was completed and furnished ahead of schedule, which enabled the school to move in two weeks early for a “soft opening” before spring break.

Westbury Principal Susan Monaghan said the move was seamless, with crews and teachers working over the weekend to prevent any disruption to instruction time. Continue reading →

Parker ES students mark first day in new school

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000g0PAbX8zFtw” g_name=”20180319-ParkerES” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Roaring applause and cheers of joy echoed throughout the Parker Elementary School cafeteria on Monday as Principal Lori Frodine welcomed students to the first day of school in their new building.

To mark the first day, students gathered by grade level for assemblies in the cafeteria, where Frodine excitedly introduced the students to the new facility and its features and answered their questions.

“You guys have the coolest music rooms ever,” Frodine said to the eager students seated before her.

Continue reading →