Author Archives: HISD Communications

HISD, mayor to recognize 100-plus seniors headed to nation’s top tier colleges, universities

The Houston Independent School District along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will recognize 164 graduating scholars headed to the nation’s top-tier colleges and universities during the third annual EMERGE Senior Celebration on Thursday.

Through EMERGE, scholars from 28 high schools have earned the distinction this year of being accepted to colleges and universities including Yale, Harvard, Rice, Brown, Stanford, Smith, Dartmouth, Duke, Wake Forest, Northeastern, Pomona, and  Boston University.

The EMERGE program aims to help low-income, high-potential students gain admission to and graduate from Ivy League and other top tier colleges and universities across the nation. The EMERGE scholars will be recognized for their dedication and hard work during a banquet scheduled for Thursday, April 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Rice University in the Tudor Fieldhouse. Mayor Turner is scheduled to speak at the program along with HISD Interim Superintendent Ken Huewitt. Continue reading →

Bus drivers, attendants support HISD literacy efforts with Reading While Riding program

IMG_3459 (1)Each day after school, HISD bus attendant Betty Beal goes through a special crate full of books, carefully selecting a few to read to two of her student bus riders from Law Elementary School.

Beal is one of 150 support personnel currently assigned to special needs routes in the district and an active member of HISD’s Reading While Riding program, which aims to ensure student success by focusing on students’ literacy and vocabulary development. The program also complements the district’s Literacy By 3 reading initiative, which aims to have every child reading on grade level by the end of third grade.

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Trustee Dávila to host Family Learning Academy on college readiness  

HISD Trustee Diana Dávila has partnered with the Family Learning Academy and the College Readiness Department to host the District VIII Parent Summit on College Readiness on Wednesday, May 4.

The free event will take place at Jackson Middle School (5100 Polk St., Houston, TX 77023) from 5:30 to 8 p.m. and will connect families with resources to help with their children’s post-secondary plans.

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Bond Oversight Committee tours new Sterling High School construction, reviews first quarter progress

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Hard hats and safety vests were required dress for Thursday’s quarterly meeting of Houston Independent School District’s Bond Oversight Committee, which featured a tour of the new Sterling Aviation High School construction site.

The tour began in the school’s airplane hangar, which serves as the centerpiece of the new school as well as its focus on aviation science. The hangar also will serve as a space for students to work on airplanes and their engines, and large viewing windows will allow students and staff to see the hangar from many points, including the main entrance.

“It’s a very impressive looking building. I’m overwhelmed by the size of it,” BOC member Sonny Flores said, as he and fellow committee members entered the three-story, 230,000-square-foot structure.

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Arts Access Initiative expanding to 25 HISD schools next year 

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The word is out about the benefits of the Arts Access Initiative for students. This school year, the organization has been working with 11 schools in HISD. Out of more than 40 HISD schools that applied to join AAI in the coming 2016–2017 school year, only 14 were selected. The new HISD elementary and middle schools are: Continue reading →

Farias ECC garden receives certification from National Wildlife Federation

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Farias Early Childhood Center’s student garden recently was certified as a wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

The Farias garden provides a haven for small animals and insects that desperately need homes in Houston’s urban environment. In order to achieve certification, the garden had to meet criteria such as providing cover, nectar, and water for wildlife.

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HISD to celebrate College Signing Day as part of White House education initiative

The Houston Independent School District will commemorate national College Signing Day on Tuesday, April 26 by encouraging high school seniors to tout their college acceptance letters and wear college paraphernalia as part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Better Make Room and Reach Higher initiatives to celebrate education.

HISD will host its College Signing Day event at Austin High School, where more than 300 high school seniors will be recognized for their academic excellence. The event will bring together students, administrators, teachers, school counselors and parents to celebrate seniors who are headed to college, thanks to academic scholarships. Many of the students will be the first in their families to attend college. Continue reading →

Nutrition Services jumps into action to help schools affected by flooding

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Maria Aristondo prepares emergency sack lunches for HISD kitchens affected by recent flooding.

During the recent heavy storms that swept the Houston area and the resulting flooding, Nutrition Services staff members were quick to respond.

Some HISD schools were left soggy and unable to prepare student meals in their school’s cafeterias. Cue the Nutrition Services shipping kitchen, 800 sack lunches were prepared in fewer than 15 minutes.

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Construction on the new Lee HS moves forward despite heavy rains

Heavy rain and flooding throughout the Houston area may have slowed down many this week, but construction at the new Lee High School work site continued to move forward.

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Located on Houston’s west side, the $73.8 million, 240,000-square-foot facility is being rebuilt as a modern learning environment that will accommodate 1,700 to 1,900 students.

“The school looks like it’s going up pretty fast, and I’m really happy given the weather lately,” said Lee Principal Jonathan Trinh. “The community appreciates having a new school. With the neighborhood surrounding the school going through renovations now, we’re hoping the new campus will kick start and revitalize the area.”

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