Author Archives: HISD Communications

Books Between Kids delivers thousands of books to HISD schools in wake of Harvey

In the days after Hurricane Harvey moved through the Houston area, Books Between Kids opened its warehouse to hundreds of volunteers and received donations of thousands of children’s books to replenish schools impacted by the storm.

In partnership with HISD, the organization last week delivered more than 4,000 children’s books to Robinson and Mitchell elementary schools, both recently relocated due to extensive damage directly related to floodwaters from the hurricane.

In the coming days, Books Between Kids will continue its support, delivering 15,000 children’s books to relocated campuses across the school district, including Braeburn, Scarborough and Hilliard elementary schools. Continue reading →

HISD to host Dream Summit for students on Dec. 9

Event to help students apply for college, financial aid

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The HISD Office of College and Career Readiness and Multilingual Programs departments will be hosting the third-annual Dream Summit to assist students with the college application and financial aid processes on Saturday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St., Houston 77092.

High school students and their families are encouraged to attend the free event. Students should contact their campus college-access coordinator, counselor, or college-success adviser regarding transportation. Five seniors will have a chance to win $500 scholarships for college.

The event aims to help HISD DREAMers, DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients, visa holders, permanent residents, refugees, and asylum grantees, along with their families. Students will have the opportunity to speak with district representatives who will help them learn more about financial aid requirements and guide them through the application process.   Continue reading →

Houston MSTC students learn about voter registration, importance of being involved in voting process  

Houston MSTC seniors on Monday filed into the school library, past patriotic banners and toward tables dotted with voter registration forms.

As part of their government classes, the students were learning about the importance of registering to vote and how the voting process works. They also were the main audience for a news conference in which Mi Familia Vota (MFV) – joined by HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos, and state Sen. Sylvia Garcia – announced the state’s High School Voter Registration Initiative.

“At HISD, we strive not only to send our graduates out into the world prepared for success in college or careers,” Carranza said. “We also strive to send them out to be good citizens who understand their civic responsibility and participate in the process that every single one of us must participate in, which is voting.”

Tuesday is National Voter Registration Day, and through the High School Voter Registration Initiative, more than 140 Texas superintendents have pledged to ensure that their high school principals serve as deputy voter registrars at their respective campuses. In addition, the secretary of state said his office is looking at high schools first as polling locations to give students ample opportunity to vote.

“When you’re well-educated and involved, that is the best way to help serve your community,” Pablos said.

Houston MSTC senior Jacqueline Cano, who turns 18 on Tuesday, said she is excited to register to vote and cast her ballot in the Nov. 7 election.

“My family is Hispanic, and I’ve seen what it’s cost my family not to vote and not making our voice heard,” Cano said. “For me, it’s important to show that we have a voice.”

Carlos Duarte, the Mi Familia Vota Texas director, said the statewide effort register voters is critical to increasing participation in elections.

“Texas’ voter turnout in the 2016 presidential election was only 46.45 percent of the voting age population,” Duarte said. “Voting is the great equalizer in our democracy, and it is important that we instill the culture of voting among our youths.”

Americans can register to vote online at NationalVoterRegistrationDay.org. Supporters can also follow National Voter Registration Day activities through social media on Sept. 26 by searching #NationalVoterRegistrationDay.

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First day of school for some HISD students means reporting to a new school 

The streets in the neighborhood in northeast Houston just north of Halls Bayou were lined with furniture, drywall, and carpeting, a sure sign that their houses had flooded during Hurricane Harvey.

Joseph and Karina Mayorga had just finished remodeling their two-story house when the water came. Although they had only about a foot of water in their house, it was enough to destroy their living room furniture, appliances, new red-oak kitchen cabinets, and original hardwood floors dating to 1951.

Continue reading →

Askew ES construction nearly halfway complete

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Construction at Askew Elementary School is almost halfway done, with roofing, interior steel framing, and door and window frames all complete in the new building.

Additionally, the installation of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are well underway, with crews expected to begin testing the equipment towards the end of this year, project officials said.

“Things are just coming along great,” Askew Principal Ebony Cumby said. “It’s cool to have the building being built next door, so the kids and community get to see the daily progress.”

Continue reading →

HISD teachers can apply for ‘Harvey Relief’ grant 

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 29 

In response to the devastating damage left behind by Hurricane Harvey on HISD schools and across the city, philanthropists and corporations locally and nationally have come together to create a Harvey Relief Fund that is managed by the HISD Foundation. Funds raised will go directly to support HISD teachers to eliminate as much financial burden as possible in replacing damaged classroom resources so instructional time can be maximized.

Teachers are encouraged to submit an application for funding to cover the costs of replacing classroom supplies, technology, and other resources that were lost as a direct result of Hurricane Harvey. Applications will be accepted Friday, Sept. 22, through Friday, Sept. 29. 

Each applicant may be awarded up to $1,500. Partial or full grants may be awarded based on need, volume of applications, and available funds. Due to limited funds and the urgent needs of HISD teachers and students, all applications will be reviewed and awarded the week of Oct. 2, 2017.    Continue reading →

HISD recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month 

The Houston Independent School District is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs Sept. 15- Oct. 15, to recognize the contributions made by people of Hispanic and Latin American descent and their heritage and culture.

HISD includes 22 schools that recognize the contributions of Hispanic civic and community leaders, who range from educators and civil servants to local restaurateurs, newscasters, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients, and even Nobel Prize-winners.

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15 because that is the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The month also encompasses the independence days for Mexico (Sept. 16) and Chile (Sept. 18), as well as Columbus Day (Sept. 12), also known as Dia de la Raza.

Hispanic Heritage Month started as a week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson, but President Ronald Reagan extended it to a month in 1988.

SCHOOLS: We would like to retweet photos of your Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Please include @HoustonISD in your Tweets, along with the hashtag #HispanicHeritageMonth. 

Condit ES selected as finalist for Texas school architecture competition

Designs for three additional bond schools honored with ‘Stars of Distinction’

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Constructed as part of HISD’s 2012 Bond Program, Condit Elementary School has been selected as one of five finalists vying for the highest honor offered by the 2017-18 Exhibit of School Architecture Competition.

Three additional bond campuses — Atherton Elementary School, Mandarin Immersion Magnet School, and Sterling Aviation High School — received Stars of Distinction.

The annual school architecture competition showcases new and renovated Texas schools and recognizes excellence in their planning and design. It is sponsored by the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards.

Continue reading →

HISD to host HCC ‘second start’ registration drives

If you are a Houston ISD graduate interested in pursuing a college education, it’s not too late! Houston Community College second start coursework begins on Monday, Sept. 25, and in-person support is available.

HISD’s Office of College & Career Readiness will hold second start registration drives on Thursday, Sept. 21 and Friday, Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the following locations: Continue reading →

Nutrition Services plans Grandparents’ Day lunch for Thursday 

After a late start to the school year, HISD’s Nutrition Services has rescheduled its annual Grandparents’ Day observance for Thursday, Sept. 21.

The observance, which is held in elementary schools throughout the district, is a special event that celebrates the important role of grandparents in the lives of our students and in our community. Elementary students are encouraged to ask their grandparents to join them for a special lunch.

This year’s menu will feature BBQ chicken or a chicken quesadilla, mashed potatoes, romaine salad, sweet potato cake and bottled water. Lunches for grandparents can be preordered in the school’s front office or purchased on the day of the event. The cost for adults is $4.

Each year, thousands of grandparents of HISD elementary students participate in the observance. Students often use the special time with their grandparents to introduce them to friends, teachers, and their school community.