Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD schools, departments honored during Mayor’s Proud Partners Luncheon

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Farias Early Childhood Center, Garden Oaks Montessori, and the HISD Transportation Department were among those honored Monday at the 32nd Mayor’s Proud Partners Luncheon for making a positive impact on Houston’s environment.

The event at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel drew hundreds of people to celebrate the accomplishments of community groups, businesses and individuals dedicated to improving life in the city.

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HISD award-winning twirling team has its own show on TLC

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Dazzling Divas, a team of elementary- and middle-school baton twirlers, will be featured during a one-hour special on TLC after being discovered by Sirens Media, a production company based out of New York. “Twirl Life” will air on TLC on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 9 p.m. CST following the popular show “Toddlers and Tiaras.”

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HISD unveils 2016 holiday greeting cards designed by students

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The Houston Independent School District announced the winners of the district’s 2016 holiday greeting card competition that features creative student artwork highlighting family holiday traditions, seasonal decorations, and classic holiday songs.

The winners – fourth-grader Angela Ramos of Ed White Elementary School, seventh-grader Annette Hernandez of Pilgrim Academy, and 11th-grader Javier Garcia of Scarborough High School – were among 40 finalists from elementary, middle, and high schools. All finalists received a boxed set of their holiday cards. Their holiday cards also will be available for purchase and on display at the HISD administration building. Continue reading →

Proposed instructional materials to be on public display this week 

The State of Texas is adopting instructional materials for World Languages and Career Readiness this year for implementation during the 2017-2018 school year. HISD has started a review of those proposed materials and invites parents and other members of our community to review the instructional materials as well and provide feedback.

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Construction on new North Forest High School reaches halfway point

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Construction on the new North Forest High School, located on the city’s northeast side, is now 50 percent complete and scheduled to be finished in the third quarter of 2017.

“The project has really gained momentum over the last quarter,” said HISD Senior Manager of Construction Services Meredith Smith, who is overseeing the project. “We’re right at the half-way point now, and there’s lots of activity on the site. We’re seeing progress every day.”

The new $59.5 million campus, which is being built on the east side of Mesa Road across from the existing school, will accommodate 1,500 students. Continue reading →

LyondellBasell, Junior Achievement give HISD seniors lesson on money management 

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Nearly 50 seniors from Energized for STEM High School traveled to LyondellBasell‘s Houston Engineering Center in East Houston this week to take part in a personal financial planning and career exploration seminar presented by Junior Achievement of Southeast Texas.

Students from Chavez and other area high schools also participated in the seminars, which reached more than 300 students over four days.

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Texas awards 16 HISD schools with high-performing and/or high-progress status

The Texas Education Agency has granted high-performance and/or high-progress status to 16 HISD Title I campuses for the 2015-2016 school year. Title I schools are those in which at least 40 percent of students come from low-income families.

Thirteen HISD schools were included on the agency’s list of Title I High-Performing Schools and 13 schools were named as Title I High-Progress schools. Ten HISD schools made both lists. Continue reading →

Houston Black College Expo can save you money

You can save hundreds of dollars at the Black College Expo, because many of the colleges there will be waiving application fees for students who apply on the spot.

The 17th annual Black College Expo is open to all students and takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at the Power Center, 12401 S. Post Oak Road, Houston, 77045. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be celebrity appearances and fun activities. Continue reading →

Sharpstown-area bond construction on track for fall 2017 completion

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Construction on both Sharpstown High School (SHS) and Sharpstown International School (SIS), located on the city’s southwest side, is progressing well and expected to be complete in the third quarter of next year.

The schools are part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program approved by Houston voters in 2012, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools. Once complete, HISD will have one of the most modern portfolios of urban high schools in the country.

SHS is receiving a new $55 million building designed to accommodate 1,500 students. Currently, steel columns and beams are being erected on the site and a portion of the roof has been installed. In December, the building is expected to be fully dried-in. Continue reading →

HISD police sergeant retires after 41 years of service with district

HISD Police Sgt. Adolph Saenz could barely hold back his emotions after walking into a surprise retirement celebration on Monday afternoon.

HISD PD Sgt. Adolph Saenz and HISD PD Chief of Police Robert Mock

HISD PD Sgt. Adolph Saenz and HISD PD Chief of Police Robert Mock

“I’ve worked with so many of you all for these years and it’s like family,” Saenz said to a room filled with 50 well-wishers. “I’ve spent more time on the job than I have with my own family, and I appreciate each and every one of you. I’ve got beautiful memories and I appreciate you all being in my life and you’ve made a difference in me.”

After 41 years with the department, Saenz is saying farewell to the nation’s only accredited school district police department, but not without a lot of soul-searching.

“I wrote my letter all the way in July, and I always would change the date,” Saenz said. “The day I decided to do it, I was walking down the hallway knowing that was the hardest thing in the world for me to do.”

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