The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston recently presented HISD with a $28,000 Japan Foundation grant to support the Japanese language program at Johnston Middle School. The check was awarded during a reception welcoming students from Chiba, Japan, who visited Houston Aug. 16 to 29 as part of the Japan America Society of Houston’s Houston-Chiba Youth Exchange program.
Author Archives: HISD Communications
HISD Names New Chief Academic Officer
Daniel Gohl
Daniel Gohl, a veteran educator with a track record of raising expectations and achievement levels for students in large, urban school districts, has been named Chief Academic Officer for the Houston Independent School District.
Gohl comes to HISD from the New Jersey Department of Education, where he developed and implemented an advanced intervention strategy for low performing schools and drafted state policy related to technology and school choice while serving as Deputy Chief Innovation Officer.
Hundreds of Volunteers to Visit Students’ Homes during 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk
24 high schools participating across Houston
What: HISD’s Department of Dropout Prevention will lead visits to the homes of hundreds of students who did not return to school for this fall semester during the 10th annual Grads Within Reach walk. The purpose of this walk is to let the students know about the programs HISD offers to help them graduate such as the Grad Labs online credit recovery program and the Twilight High Schools around the city which offer flexible night and weekend hours. The volunteers will set out from 24 high schools across the city to knock on the doors of students’ homes to personally encourage them to return to school.
Media are invited to Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center for video of the walk and interviews with administrators and volunteers.
Who: HISD Department of Dropout Prevention, principals and volunteers
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8:00 a.m.
Where: Sam Houston MSTC, 9400 Irvington
EMERGE Program ‘Crucial’ in Getting HISD Graduate to ‘Dream School’
When Phuong Ta first came to America as a 17-year-old, she had no inkling she would one day be attending a Tier One university. But the 2012 Chávez High School graduate just completed her first year at Tufts University, and you can read more about her journey to higher education through HISD’s EMERGE program in the Sept. 6 edition of community eNews.
Other stories highlighted in this week’s edition include:
Two HISD High Schools Enter Competition for Tommy Tune Awards
Two Houston ISD schools are competing in the 12th annual Tommy Tune Awards.
Atherton Elementary to Celebrate Dedication of New School
School, constructed under 2007 bond program, opened to students this year
What: Atherton Elementary will dedicate its new 750-student school, which opened to students on the first day of school this year. Events will include student performances, special guest speakers, classroom tours of the new facility and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Who: Atherton alumnus George Foreman, HISD Board of Education Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Mayor Annise Parker, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Atherton Principal Dr. Albert Lemons, and others
When: Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 at 10 a.m.
Where: Atherton Elementary School, 2011 Solo St., Houston, Texas 77020
Friday is Houston Texans Spirit Day in HISD
The Houston Texans kick off their 2013 season next week with a game against the San Diego Chargers.
In recognition of the team’s many contributions to public education and to HISD students in particular, all students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to show their support by wearing Texans team attire or colors and jeans on “Houston Texans Spirit Day,” which will be this Friday, Sept. 6, 2013.
Employees are also invited to submit digital photos of their support to hisdphotos@yahoo.com.
‘PSAT for All’ Initiative Preparing Students Early for Demands of College
Thousands of ninth-graders across HISD began taking the PSAT college-readiness exam this fall as a part of the “PSAT for All” initiative.
Launched in 2003, the program was originally designed to give all tenth-graders a chance to take the test for free. It was expanded in 2010 to include all ninth-graders. All test administration fees are paid for by the district.
Teen Inspired to Change the World by Trip to Israel
Elizabeth Henderson
When 17-year-old Elizabeth Henderson boarded an airplane this summer for her first-ever international flight, she did not know she would come back to Houston a month later ready to change the world.
But Henderson, a resident of the predominately African-American community of Sunnyside, returned from her trip to Israel more culturally aware and determined to apply what she had learned overseas.
Principals Share Strategies to Increase Attendance
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/73789259 w=320&h=205]
From friendly campus competitions to going door to door in their communities, HISD schools are getting creative in ways to increase student attendance. September is Attendance Awareness Month, and HISD is joining school districts around the nation to deliver the message that attendance matters for success in school and in life, and that too many absences can easily add up to academic trouble.
At the monthly HISD principals’ meeting on September 4, school leaders shared what they are doing to reward students who come to school every day, and how they are reaching out to those who are having attendance issues.