Author Archives: HISD Communications

Online tool to help develop character, good choices launches at Pilgrim Academy 

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Student also wins two Super Bowl tickets from United Way through essay contest 

A new online course designed to help students develop character and engage in healthy relationships debuted Friday, Feb. 3, at Pilgrim Academy with much fanfare. The NFL, the Houston Texans, the United Way of Houston, United Way Worldwide, and Verizon came together to launch Character Playbook, which was developed by education technology innovator Everfi, Inc.

Character Playbook is designed for middle-school students and teaches character education and how to communicate effectively, understand and manage emotions, and resolve conflicts. Prior to an assembly, there was an opportunity to talk with students working the program in a computer classroom.

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HISD alum Roland Martin returns to Yates HS to broadcast national TV news show

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Journalist and author Roland Martin, a graduate of Yates High School, returned to the campus Feb. 6 to host his national TV news show live at the communications magnet school.

Martin, the host and managing editor of TV One’s News One Now, broadcast the show live from the TV studio at the campus. The show focuses on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an African-American perspective. He plans to hold another live broadcast at the school on Feb. 15 before being honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award at the district’s annual State of the Schools address, also that day.

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I Am HISD: Former Westbury HS football player becomes first African-American stadium director at Butler

George Walker poses for a photograph at Butler Stadium, January 31, 2017.

George Walker Jr. is an accomplished athlete who was All-American and All-State in football at Westbury High School, graduated in 2004, and went on to play for the University of Texas. Now he is back at HISD, where he was recently named stadium director of the Joe Kelly Butler Athletic Complex – the first African American to hold the position. In this edition of I Am HISD, Walker talks about his new role and how he benefitted from participating in sports.  

You grew up in HISD and were a star student athlete at Westbury. What sports did you participate in and what impact did your involvement in sports have on you?
I participated in football, basketball, and track. I was All-American and All-State in football, and was honorable mention in All-State in basketball. I went to the regionals in track. Then I got a scholarship to college for doing something I loved. When you’re involved in sports, you make memories that can get you through tough times, and you learn to fight through things together with your teammates. It also teaches perseverance. You learn never to give up. The sooner you learn that the better off you’ll be going through life. Continue reading →

Houston Hispanic Forum plans Career and Education Day

Learn about college, careers, and financial aid

The Houston Hispanic Forum is hosting its 31st annual Career and Education day on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center. Students in grades 6-12 and their parents are invited to attend sessions on potential careers, visit with college representatives, and take advantage of hands-on financial aid assistance.

Transportation may be available from your school, so check with your college center for details. If transportation is not provided, parents and students can get to Career and Education Day with a free METRO pass. The forum is free and lunch will be provided.

To register for the event and request your METRO pass, go to http://houstonisd.org/houstonhispanicforum.

View bond construction progress up close and online – no hard hat required

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Anyone interested in viewing construction progress at HISD bond schools may only need an internet connection, as web cameras are being installed at several sites to make daily update photos available to everyone.

Program management firm Rice & Gardner Consultants recently began installing online web cams at several of the schools for which they provide project management services. Currently three projects, Wilson Montessori, HSPVA, and High School for Law and Justice, have cameras up and running with live internet links. Others are expected to come online in the coming months as more construction gets underway.

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Benefits of risk evaluation and mitigation the focus of February’s Workshop Wednesday

Prudential Financial Services Manager Ronald Swanson gave tips to Houston-area small business owners on Wednesday about how to evaluate risks and take steps to ensure that their businesses and families are protected in the event of death or disability.

“The worst thing you can do is to have no plan at all,” Swanson said, speaking at HISD’s monthly Workshop Wednesday forum. “You can transfer or mitigate risks though buy-sell agreements and life insurance.”

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Thank your school counselor during the week of Feb. 6-10 

HISD Counseling and Student Support Department

If an HISD school counselor has ever helped you or your family to calm an anxious student, console a grieving child, or help with plans for college success, then take a moment to thank him or her. February 6–10 is National School Counseling Week, and the theme this year is “School Counselors: Helping students realize their potential.”

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association, highlights the contributions that school counselors make in helping students achieve success and prepare for college and careers.

Please join HISD in recognizing the unique contribution to the academic success and personal well-being of our students that district counselors make each and every day. Share photos and posts on social media using #NSCW17 and #HISDcounselors.

HISD’s Counseling and Student Support Department provides districtwide support and resources for 286 campuses. The department works in collaboration with counselors, registrars, records clerks and other individuals providing counseling, guidance, and student support. Moreover, the department helps families find solutions to real-life problems, and points them toward additional resources. The Counseling and Student Support Department aims to ensure all students gain academic and personal tools to successfully reach their full potential, ultimately resulting in graduation.

Celebrate Black History Month with family-friendly events 

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the richness of African-American culture and recognize the central role of African Americans in U.S. history, as well as the numerous contributions African Americans have made to society.

Below are some ways to celebrate Black History Month in Houston: Continue reading →

HISD’s top student athletes commit to colleges on National Signing Day

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More than 100 of HISD’s top athletes made commitments to colleges on Wednesday as part of a National Signing Day ceremony at Forest Brook Middle School.

Among the signees were Bellaire High School triplets Maxwell, Megan, and Maya Evans. Brother Maxwell is headed to Vanderbilt University for basketball, while his two sisters will attend Tennessee State University to play volleyball. Continue reading →

Honor African-Americans during Black History Month by learning about HISD’s namesake elementary schools 

HISD is celebrating Black History Month by exploring the many schools named for distinguished African-Americans in our community. The district has more than 30 schools that recognized the contributions of African-American leaders ranging from renowned educators to legislators to community leaders. The first week’s story will focus on early childhood centers and elementary schools. Next week, the series will continue with middle schools, and the third week will be high schools, charter schools, and alternative schools.  Continue reading →