Author Archives: HISD Communications

Tour gives Waltrip HS community a look at bond renovations

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Seeing was believing Tuesday night at Waltrip High School when those who turned out for a community meeting got a sneak preview of what’s to come with the ongoing renovation and construction project.

“You don’t mind coming in here for a meeting,” said Michael Arcos, whose son Aaron is a junior at the school. “It’s good to see this auditorium upgraded.”

New seats, cleaning of acoustical panels, stage floor replacement and new improved lighting in the auditorium are just some of the upgrades at the school, which is being partially replaced and renovated under the bond program.

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City issues proclamation in honor of Yates HS’s 90th anniversary

20160209_133200On Feb. 8, 1926, Jack Yates High School opened its doors as the second campus for children of color in the city of Houston. Ninety years later, Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a proclamation announcing Feb. 9, 2016, as “Jack Yates Senior High School Day.”

Since its opening, the school has been a launching pad for world-renowned artists, athletes, politicians, and other figures. The school was named after a formerly enslaved reverend, who became an influential leader in Houston’s Fourth Ward.

99-year-old Maxine Williams, Yates alumna

99-year-old Maxine Williams, Yates alumna

“A lot of good things came out of Yates,” said Carolyn Simples, president of the Fabulous Fifties Yates alumni group, whose crimson and gold attire brought a celebratory mood at City Hall. “And [they] are still coming out of Yates.”

One such product, 99-year-old alumna Maxine Williams, was present for the event. So, too, were 50 current Yates government students, hoping to witness the ceremony. They had the opportunity — through Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and the help of Yates alumni and city attorney Arva Howard — to see the proclamation process from beginning to end.

“To get our kids involved and understand how government works, and get them involved in the process…for me, personally, it’s kind of a highlight of the year,” said Yates Principal Kenneth Davis. “Having a historically black school that receives a proclamation — this is something they’ll always have and remember in the future. It’s part of their history as well.”

To see a sampling of Yates’ distinguished alumni, please visit the district’s Alumni channel.

Payoff for social worker’s career in education: watching students heal

In this week’s “I Am HISD,” which features district students, graduates, employees, and other team members, Sugar Grove Academy social worker Elba Ruibal talks about why she began working in public schools, what compelled her to move from a high school to a middle school setting, and one of the biggest challenges of serving refugee students.

Let’s start with a little background. How long have you been a social worker, and when did you first join Team HISD?

Elba Ruibal

Elba Ruibal

I’ve been in social work for about 25 years. I started out working with domestic violence victims at the Houston Area Women’s Shelter and was there for two and a half years. I also worked at the Women and Children’s Hospital in San Antonio, in the children’s emergency room. I came to HISD five years ago, and was at Westbury High School for four of those. This is my first year at Sugar Grove.

What made you decide to move into public education?

When I had my own child, I wanted to be with him in the summers. But I also dealt a lot with victims of domestic violence at the hospital, and I had to report abuse to Children’s Protective Services. Once those children left the ER, I never knew what happened to them, and thoughts of their welfare lingered. But in a school setting, I get to see those children every day and know that they’re alive. I get to follow up, make sure they’re safe, and in the best cases, watch them heal.

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HISD students discover college options at NACAC Houston National College Fair

HISD students and parents from 20 high schools across the district gathered at NRG Arena on Tuesday morning for the NACAC Houston National College Fair, where admissions representatives from nearly 240 colleges and universities were on hand.

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“There are a lot of colleges right now that I’m interested in, and it’s good to see all of the colleges out in one place,” said Energy Institute High School student Jacob Guerrero.

The fair, which is organized by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, provides information about national and international schools, public and private universities, two-year and four-year programs, admissions requirements, and financial aid. More than 6,000 students from the Houston area were able to receive information on financial aid, scholarships, virtual campus tours, and advice on writing college essays.

“I really liked the fair, and I think it’s diverse,” said Ebony Edwards, an 11th-grade student at Yates High School. “It’s a good atmosphere for students to come around and see different colleges to see what each offers.”

Students will have three more opportunities to attend college fairs before the end of the month: the Houston Hispanic Forum’s College & Career Day (Feb. 13), the National Hispanic College Fair (Feb. 15), and the Black College Expo (Feb. 27). For details, please see this related article.

HISD assistant superintendent named ‘Educator of the Year’ by LULAC

Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo

Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo

Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo has been named “Educator of the Year” for 2016 by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 402. The assistant superintendent of HISD’s Family and Community Engagement Department will be formally recognized during the council’s annual scholarship gala on Feb. 17.

“I am humbled by this honor from LULAC Council 402, a group that has been distinguished by its historic service to our community and its commitment to education,” said Dr. Arredondo. “I am also quite humbled to have been included on this list. Past honorees are all life-long educators who deeply value parents and caregivers. They not only welcome them to be part of their child’s education, but view it as a privilege and the highest honor to provide a high-quality education to all students. They also understand that despite the gains that we’ve made, too many children are not achieving their maximum potential, and it is our duty as a whole community to alter those conditions, using every possible opportunity we have from cradle to career.”

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Pilgrim Academy sweeps advanced category at TCEA robotics competition

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On Jan. 30, six teams from HISD’s Pilgrim Academy competed in the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA) Area 4 Robotics Competition — and three of those teams took home top honors when they swept the Advanced Arena Division for middle- and high-school students.

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Briarmeadow students change lives of Cambodian amputees through IB project

Briarmeadow Charter School students raised enough money at this bake sale to buy prosthetic limbs for two Cambodian amputees.

Briarmeadow Charter School students raised enough money at this bake sale to buy prosthetic limbs for two Cambodian amputees.

Two Cambodian amputees are now enjoying a better quality of life due to increased mobility, after students at HISD’s Briarmeadow Charter School completed a project that provided them with new prostheses.

Hea Yoeung, who lost her lower left leg in a motorcycle accident, and Dork Savorn, who lost his lower right leg after stepping on a landmine during a soccer game, both have new artificial limbs, thanks to a donation of $600 from the school’s first-graders. The students raised the money during a single bake sale, after learning about the needs of amputees around the world.

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Thompson ES students reach out to president…and he responds

Thompson ES students display some of the items they received from President Barack Obama.

Thompson ES students display some of the items they received from President Barack Obama.

When Brenda Mays’ class at HISD’s Thompson Elementary School sent individual holiday greeting cards to President Barack Obama last December, they didn’t really expect to hear back from him. But when the students began opening their mailboxes late last month, they were astonished to discover he hadn’t just responded to their letters; he had sent them each a care package, too.

Each package contained a variety of materials, such as photos of the president and his family (including dogs Bo and Sunny), personal letters addressed to the students by name, and fact sheets about Obama’s family, the White House, and the importance of eating healthy and exercising.

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Grant opportunities still available for eco-campus partnership with Taiwan

The National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA program is looking for HISD schools interested in joining the third year of their USA-Taiwan Eco-Campus Partnership Program.

The program, designed and coordinated by the NWF, U.S. Environmental Program and EPA Taiwan, matches schools in the United States directly with sister schools in Taiwan to work together on a global level to address environmental- or sustainability-related issues.

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Westbury HS staff tells students why they are inspirational

The world is full of stories about teachers who have inspired their students to reach for greatness.

But at HISD’s Westbury High School, campus staff members have turned the tables. Faculty and administrators alike have been stopping Westbury pupils in the hallways to share the many ways they feel inspired by these students to come to school every day and continue the work they do in public education.

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