Author Archives: HISD Communications

‘We will always protect him since he cannot do it for himself’

A seventh-grade student at T.H. Rogers School has won a Gold Key in The Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards for her touching essay about what it’s like to have a sibling with autism.

Hailey Skye Tulio, 12, wrote about her life with her 22-year-old brother, Patrick. She said she chose Patrick as her topic because spreading autism awareness is very important to her.

Hailey Tulio

“There are many different kinds of autism, and each person diagnosed will have his own unique actions and expressions,” Hailey wrote. “In Patrick’s case, he’s in the middle, not too oblivious to the world, but not that aware of it either. If you ask him if he is ‘happy or sad,’ he will always say that he’s ‘happy’ even though he feels differently.”

Hailey’s essay is an honest glimpse into the challenges Patrick and his family face daily. She vividly describes the not-so-good times.

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HISD recognizes six top JROTC cadets in HISD Class of 2014

Houston ISD’s JROTC program formally honored its top six cadets from the class of 2014 during the annual HISD JROTC Final Review and Awards Ceremony on April 26.

The students were chosen from the ranks of all seniors in HISD’s 26 JROTC programs and all were promoted to cadet colonel (Army JROTC) or cadet captain (Navy JROTC), which is the highest ranking attainable in the JROTC program.

The selection board members for this year’s competition consisted of cadets from Texas A&M University. Cadets received points based upon their scholastic standing, demonstrated leadership skills, and participation in extracurricular activities. At the competition, cadets were awarded points for their proficiency on a JROTC curricular-based skills test, an oral presentation, a personal evaluation consisting of military courtesy, knowledge of current events, appearance, knowledge of geography, and an evaluation of first-aid techniques such as lifesaving, bandaging, and transporting sick and wounded victims.

The top six graduating seniors from the class of 2014 are:

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Next year’s seniors can get help getting college-ready

Juniors who have been identified as needing a boost toward college readiness are being offered the chance to sign up for preparatory classes in mathematics and English language arts in their senior year.

The courses are being developed through a partnership between HISD and the Houston Community College System as part of recent state legislation, known as House Bill 5.

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Winning student art tells HISD’s summer reading ‘story’

Texas Connections Academy ninth grader Maggie Martin poses for a photograph with her winning artwork to promote the Houston ISD Summer Reading Program, April 25, 2014. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel) “Summer is about reading anywhere,” says Texas Connections Academy eighth-grader Maggie Martin. That philosophy – and her ability to illustrate it in a compelling design and slogan – has made Martin the winner of HISD’s contest to create a logo for the 2014 “Read Houston Read” district summer reading program for kindergartners through fifth-graders.

Martin’s design, entitled “Every Summer Has a Story,” will appear on all HISD summer reading program materials, including a special parent toolkit that will be sent home in May to encourage summer reading as a family activity.

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HISD, Barbara Bush Foundation team up to tackle literacy crisis

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation on Thursday unveiled a plan of action to boost literacy rates across people of all ages, and is partnering with the Houston Independent School District and other organizations to make literacy a top priority.

“We will not end the cycle of poverty until we end the cycle of low literacy,” said Bush Foundation President Julie Baker Finck in unveiling “Houston’s Literacy Crisis: A Blueprint for Community Action.”

“The blueprint’s purpose is to increase awareness of Houston’s prevalent literacy crisis, elevate literacy as a top priority, and mobilize the community into action,” she said.

The announcement follows the presentation of HISD’s comprehensive literacy plan – Literacy By 3 – to the Board of Education at a workshop last week. The plan engages students, teachers, parents, and community members around the goal of having every student reading with proficiency by Grade 3.

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Top teachers, principals, employees will get red carpet treatment at ‘Celebration’

HISD’s Teachers and Principals of the Year, plus the Employees of the Month for the past year, will walk the red carpet and be honored at the annual “Celebration of Excellence” May 1.

Highlighting the event will be the announcement of the top elementary and secondary Teachers of the Year, from the field of 12 nominees.

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HISD Police Department hosts candidate screening event

About 35 candidates set out on Tuesday to prove they have just what it takes to serve with HISD’s Police Department.

The department held the latest candidate screening event at its headquarters in hopes of selecting the best applicants for police officers, security officers, and police dispatcher personnel.

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HISD joining Lights Out Houston to help conserve energy, save money

Houston ISD will join the city in going dark for Lights Out Houston by turning off all lights for four days this week to reduce electricity consumption.

Lights Out Houston encourages businesses to take a pledge to save energy by turning off building lights overnight beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.

The HISD Facility Services Department will turn lights off at 304 district facilities, including schools and the administrative building. The HISD Police Department and the district’s alarm communications facility will keep its lights on since both are 24-hour facilities.

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2014 graduating EMERGE seniors share their success stories during night of celebration

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/92357672/ w=320&h=205]

Goosebumps appeared and tears were flowing during a celebration of the 64 graduating EMERGE seniors held at Carnegie Vanguard High School on Tuesday evening, April 22. More than 500 students, parents and special guests gathered for a celebration that included statements from graduating seniors and special speakers.

“Through EMERGE, I had opportunities I never thought possible, including traveling to the Northeast on an exciting college tour last summer,” said Furr High School senior and EMERGE scholar Karen Banda. “This fall, I’ll be headed back to Massachusetts to study economics at Smith College on a full scholarship as a Gates Millennium Scholar.”

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