Author Archives: HISD Communications

Literacy By 3 aims to turn around crisis with districtwide movement

This is the tenth–and final–entry in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

Literacy By 3 — which launches in every school on the first day of classes — is HISD’s movement to turn around and end the literacy crisis in Houston — not a mere initiative or program. Its mission is to have every child reading and writing with fluency by the end of Grade 3 — but Literacy By 3 will reach students at every level who are struggling with reading mastery. Continue reading →

Brrrrr: HISD staff, board members take Ice Bucket Challenge

The Ice Bucket Challenge has been popular around the world, including with Houston ISD staff and the Board of Education.

The Ice Bucket Challenge is a fundraiser for the ALS Association, which supports people diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). People are challenged to dump a bucket of ice water on their head, and they can either accept the challenge, make a donation to an ALS charity of their choice, or both. As of Aug. 22, the association had raised more than $53 million.

Five high school principals – James McSwain of Lamar, Michael McDonough of Bellaire, Peggi Stewart of Westside, Jason Catchings of Westbury, and Connie Berger of Reagan – accepted their challenge, along with HISD Athletics Director Marmion Dambrino, on Friday.

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Community updated on plans for new addition at Waltrip

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Waltrip Ram pride was on display Thursday evening as students, parents and staff gathered at the school to pick up class schedules, visit with teachers and classmates, and hear about plans for the construction of Waltrip High School’s new addition.

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Linked Learning connects students’ present to future higher education and careers

This is the ninth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

So promising is HISD’s new Linked Learning approach, launching this school year, that the federal government gave one of its coveted Race to the Top grants worth $30 million to get it started over the next five years.

The Linked Learning approach — not a program, not an initiative — blends college and career readiness into one unified path from kindergarten through 12th grade. This year, eight HISD high schools and their 32 feeder elementary and middle schools are piloting Linked Learning. The high schools are Chavez, Eastwood Academy, Furr, Lee, Milby, Reagan, Sterling, and Westside. Continue reading →

State makes big change to Grades 5, 8 STAAR math

The Texas Education Agency has made a big change to STAAR testing for the 2014-2015 school year.

The agency said Friday that the math assessments for grades 5 and 8 will be given just once this year. The Student Success Initiative requirement that those students pass the math portion of STAAR has been suspended for the year. Continue reading →

Your back-to-school questions answered

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year! We know you may have questions about everything from registration to transportation to dress codes, so we’ve compiled a list of the most commonly requested information. If you have other questions, please let us know in the comments section below and we’ll look into them. Continue reading →

Request a new sport at your school

When you read this year’s HISD Code of Conduct, you’ll see something interesting on the last page – a form to request a new sport on your campus.

According to the district’s athletics department, students and parents have always been able to ask for a sport, and requests for both UIL- and non-UIL sanctioned sports have been requested. Some of those requests have resulted in schools getting a new team, including lacrosse at Lamar High School and volleyball at Carnegie Vanguard High School. Continue reading →

New year brings new changes during HISD Nutrition Services training

A large crowd of HISD Nutrition Services employees packed Barnett Stadium on Monday to kick off the school year with their annual in-service training event.

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Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #3 — District to launch text message alert system Sept. 9

This is the eighth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

An emergency text is displayed on a smartphone, August 14, 2014. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)When it comes to their children, parents want accurate information, and they want it fast and at their fingertips. That’s precisely what they’ll get with HISD’s new text message alert system.

Launching on Sept. 9, the new text-notification system from SchoolMessenger will allow HISD officials to quickly notify parents, students, faculty, and staff members about district and campus emergencies and other important events.

“When time is of the essence, texting is the way to go,” said HISD Superintendent of Schools Terry Grier. “Text messaging is the quickest way to notify parents, staff, and students.” Continue reading →

Pilot program using technology and virtual volunteers to help students become better readers

Today, video games and digital devices, such as phones and tablets, are as much a part of a child’s life as playing jacks or jump-rope or hopscotch was to a previous generation. It’s not uncommon to find a child who can navigate an iPhone or iPod better than adults. Starting this school year, HISD will leverage the fascination and skillset today’s youth have with technology to help some of the district’s youngest students become better readers.

Eighty kindergarten and first grade teachers from throughout the district are undergoing training on a program called TeacherMate®, which uses technology to support and help teachers provide differentiated literacy instruction. “It’s an exciting experience to learn this, because kids are fluent with the technology,” said Horn Elementary kindergarten teacher Nancy McDonald. “The games relate to what they’ll learn in class.” Continue reading →