Author Archives: HISD Communications

Grandparents’ Day celebrated at HISD

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Hundreds of HISD elementary schools celebrated Grandparents’ Day on Wednesday, Sept. 16, with a special lunch. Grandparents were invited to attend and enjoy HISD and Nutrition Services hospitality during their special day of recognition.

Grandparents’ Day has been celebrated every September since President Jimmy Carter created it in 1978. HISD recognizes grandparents for the love, strength, and guidance they provide to their grandchildren. This special lunch has become an HISD tradition that both young and old look forward to every year.

Grissom Elementary School Principal Jane Ocanas is happy to host Grandparents’ Day and made special gifts to celebrate them, as they remind her of her own upbringing. “I was raised by my grandparents,” Ocanas said. “They taught me values and beliefs I apply to my daily life.”

More than 150 grandparents made their way into the cafeteria to share lunch with their children’s children, where HISD team members thanked them for serving as role models for young people.

After a brief prayer, grandparent Lashunda Williams said it was special for her to come and share lunch time with her granddaughter. “It’s lovely to see the healthy meals the food department has in schools these days,” Williams said. “We are eating healthier at home and she loves the food she gets at school.”

Williams’ granddaughter, first-grader Markayla Conelly, comes from a family of chefs, and she gives the food high marks, too.

“I like everything, especially the nachos, and the fresh fruit and vegetables,” she said. Markayla added that HISD Nutrition Services meals are better than at her previous school district.

Westbury HS community gets preview of addition, renovations for campus

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The Westbury High School community on Thursday got a preview of proposed addition and renovations under the 2012 bond program that would help transform the building into a more modern campus.

“I’m really excited to see the improvements at Westbury,” said Becky Edmonson, who serves on the school’s Project Advisory Team and is president of the Westbury Civic Club. “It’s a step in the right direction.”

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Community offers words of support after bus tragedy

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, two of our students — Janiecia Chatman, 14, and Mariya Johnson, 17 — died in a tragic bus accident in southeast Houston. Two other students and the bus driver were injured.

In the hours and days after the accident, people from across the country expressed their concern for the victims. Below is a sampling of the words of support they have shared.

We continue to keep those affected in our thoughts and ask you to do the same. Please feel free to share your own comments below.

Kashmere HS community learns about proposed campus improvements under bond program

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More than 125 students, parents and alumni of Kashmere High School turned out Tuesday evening for the first of three bond community meetings that will be held to update stakeholders on plans to renovate the campus. The meeting was held in conjunction with the school’s open house.

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Sam Houston MSTC recognized by Univision at #QuieroAprender rally

High school is one of only four to be highlighted nationwide


HISD’s Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center was honored this week with a visit from Univision and a rally to encourage Latino students to strive for greatness in education. Two students were also recognized during the event, which was made possible by a partnership among Univision, getschooled.com, and #QuieroAprender (#IWantToLearn).

“Those organizations have been focusing on four schools across the nation,” said Sam Houston Principal Rupak Gandhi about #QuieroAprender, “… and how they have turned their campuses around in the past couple of years in terms of improving academic performance and really changing the lives of their students. Sam Houston was chosen as one of the schools, based on our growth in those areas.”

In 2015, Sam Houston met state accountability standards for the first time in two years, and was removed from the “Improvement Required” list. It was also recognized for academic distinction in social studies. The school offers its students eight different certification or licensure programs. Last year’s valedictorian is currently attending Columbia, while the salutatorian is attending Rice University.

The education rally included a student discussion about the importance of education, interviews, and a spoken-word poetry contest entitled “What is the value of education to you?” Two students hand-picked by the principal for their achievements led the onstage discussion along with Satcha Pretto, co-anchor of the morning show Despierta America. One of those students – senior José Piñeda – was chosen by #QuieroAprender for an in-depth interview that will be featured in an upcoming documentary.

“It was a great opportunity to highlight the good of the school.” said Piñeda, who is on the student council and part of a mariachi band. “There are many Hispanic students here who want to make progress and move forward.” Piñeda is in the top five percent of his graduating class and plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Texas.

“To me, #QuieroAprender is a phenomenal organization, because it really puts the power of education in the student’s hands,” said Gandhi, “and that’s what matters most.”

District IX Early Childhood Summit scheduled for Sept. 19

HISD Board of Education member Wanda Adams is partnering with the Family Learning Academy to host the District IX Early Childhood Summit on Saturday, Sept. 19.

The free event will take place at Reynolds Elementary School (9601 Rosehaven, 77051) from 8:00 a.m. until noon, and will connect families with resources to help parents engage in early childhood best practices and support students’ success.

The event will feature a panel of HISD departments, administrators, and community leaders, workshops, and a community resource fair with information for parents. District representatives will also be signing up families to participate in HISD’s HIPPY program, which provides a school-readiness program for parents of 3- to 5-year-olds in the district. Continue reading →

Sign up now to participate in Green Apple Day of Service

GADOS_WebBadge_2015-07For the fourth year in a row, students and staff throughout HISD will participate in environmentally friendly activities for Green Apple Day of Service on Sept. 26, and the district is encouraging all schools and departments to participate.

The event, sponsored by HISD’s Energy and Sustainability department and the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, give students, teachers and community members the opportunity to create a healthy and productive school environments through local service projects.

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HISD Board of Education approves signing/retention bonuses for teachers in struggling schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday voted to expand the current signing and retention bonus program to include teachers in core subjects at struggling schools.

The $5,000 annual bonus is part of a pilot program proposed by district administration. Eligibility is based on campus, as well as grade and subject taught. Teachers must be assigned to subjects in third through 12th grades that are tested by the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR. This includes high school level STAAR End-of-Course exams. Continue reading →

Dr. Terry Grier stepping down as HISD superintendent

Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier on Thursday announced his decision to end his six-year tenure as the leader of Texas’ largest school district, effective March 1, 2016. Dr. Grier assumed the superintendency with unanimous school board approval in September 2009, promising to improve student academic achievement, slash the dropout rate, and re-establish HISD as the best urban school district in America.

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Through student-centered innovation and an unwavering focus on equity, Dr. Grier opened doors for students that had previously been closed: to Ivy League schools, advanced coursework, project-based learning, and millions of dollars in scholarships. Continue reading →

Arabic Immersion Magnet School holds grand opening celebration


HISD marked the formal debut of its Arabic Immersion Magnet School (AIMS) with a grand opening celebration on Wednesday.

“When Dr. Grier mentioned the possibility of opening this campus a little less than two years ago at the State of the Schools luncheon, I knew I wanted to be a part of it,” said Principal Kate Adams. “At the time, I was dean of instruction at an international studies early college high school in HISD, but I had also just recently become a mom. The idea of opening an Arabic immersion school seemed exciting, because it’s exactly the kind of school I wanted for my own daughter, one that’s preparing her to be a competent member of the global economy.”

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