Author Archives: HISD Communications

Community connections described as the key to successful middle college launch

Urban school districts are always exploring new ways to keep kids in school, and one of the most innovative is the middle college high school model. Designed to serve young people who find it hard to thrive at traditional high schools, these campuses provide students with smaller classes, more personalized attention, and the additional support needed to help them succeed.

HISD opened two such schools this fall, and Diana Del Pilar, the principal of the Gulfton-area campus, shared the benefit of her experience with a panel of visiting educators from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) on Sept. 12.

“Build relationships before you start, so students can feel that there really is a difference,” she told the group, which included AFT President Randi Weingarten. “If you don’t, you won’t have the framework in place to hold the structure together.” Continue reading →

Washington HS names first Hispanic drum major in school’s history

(National Show Band Association)

Brandon Pallares shows off some of the moves that earned him the drum major’s mace this year.

When Brandon Pallares walked into the center of Delmar Stadium on Sept. 4, he wasn’t just stepping out onto a football field—he was also stepping into HISD history.

This year, Brandon was named the first Hispanic solo drum major of the Baby Ocean of Soul in Booker T. Washington High School’s 120-year history, a reflection both of his skill as a leader and the growing diversity on the campus that was once known as Colored High School. Continue reading →

HISD honored for implementing comprehensive anti-bullying policy for employees

Fostering a culture of respect among the city’s youth has long been a consideration of HISD. In 2006, the district strengthened its Code of Student Conduct to reflect more severe penalties for bullying, and in 2008, the Board of Education expanded its definition of bullying to include comments or teasing about a child’s weight.

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Now, the district has taken steps to protect the emotional and physical well-being of its adult team members, by passing one of the first comprehensive anti-bullying policies in the nation for public school employees. Continue reading →

Local businesses learn about forming successful business plans

WW_webimageHISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity team hosted September’s Workshop Wednesday, which featured Cynthia Nevels, Senior Partner of Integrality, a business management consulting firm.

Nevels presented information on the topic, How to Submit a Successful Business Plan.

Continue reading →

Field of dreams: Jerry Rice takes to gridiron with hard-luck Scarborough football team

NFL great stresses healthy habits, winning attitude to students, players

Despite a five-year-long, 48-game losing streak, the Scarborough HS Spartans football team felt like winners on Sept. 9. They had a Pro Football Hall of Fame legend on the field and in their corner.

NFL great Jerry Rice came to campus at midday to rally the student body as part of Lysol’s “Healthy Habits” program and stayed late into the afternoon to spend time with the 33 players who showed up to be put through his tough paces.

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Code Red: Workshops help school nurses stay prepared for any situation

Participants brush up on their skills before school starts so they can perform both routine and life-saving procedures

Codwell ES Nurse Carla Carter (right) learns the correct way to perform a gastrostomy feeding from HISD Nurses Joan Maset (left) and Linda Hill (seated).

Codwell ES Nurse Carla Carter (right) learns the correct way to perform a gastrostomy feeding from HISD Nurses Joan Maset (left) and Linda Hill (seated).

Until this week, Nurse Carla Carter had never had to catheterize a student in the course of her duties at Codwell Elementary School. But she felt both confident and capable of doing so when the time came, thanks in part to the skills-update workshops offered each year by HISD’s Health & Medical Services department.

“You never know what’s going to come on campus,” explained Carter. “Each semester, you might get a child with a different condition than you had the one before. Today was a perfect example. I’m in my fifth year with HISD, but I never had to catheterize a student until now. Just this morning, we got a student I have to catheterize twice a day.” Continue reading →

56 HISD students named National Merit semifinalists

Fifty-six students from six Houston ISD high schools are semifinalists in the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

The students, who attend Bellaire HS, Carnegie Vanguard HS, Challenge Early College HS, DeBakey HS, The High School for Performing and Visual Arts, and Lamar HS, are eligible to receive part of the $33 million pot of scholarships that will be awarded in the spring.  There are nearly 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, and about 7,600 will receive scholarships. More than 22,000 students applied by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Continue reading →