Author Archives: HISD Communications

Camp M.I. Way Offers Both Campers and Counselors a Unique Experience

What summer camp would be complete without silly songs and fun games? At Camp M.I. Way, however, the focus is on stimulation, rather than recreation. The five-week camp places a child with multiple impairments with a personal student counselor from one of several HISD middle and high schools.

“Camp M.I. Way gives students with multiple impairments a chance to practice and expand their skills in an atmosphere of fun,” said Deborah Carr, the executive director of Home Run Hitters International, a local non-profit group which created and founded the camp.

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HISD Aims to Use Fewer T-Buildings During 2012 Bond Construction

Temporary buildings are being removed at McReynolds Middle School.

For many schools built under HISD’s 2007 bond program, temporary buildings used for storage and instruction space were part of the construction process.

Now, as the district moves forward with the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program, HISD officials are looking at ways to minimize the use of T-buildings to maximize the amount of money available for new facilities.

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Teachers Using Edmodo to Stay Connected, Collaborate

West Briar Middle School teacher Adam Beckham has always been one to embrace new technology, but admits he has had a hard time finding a safe tool to collaborate with his students outside of school hours.

“Teachers know there is technology out there that would truly enhance our teaching and connection with students, but with things changing so fast it is hard to find the right one,” said Beckham.

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Dozens of Class of 2013 Grads Also Earned Associate’s Degrees

North Early College High School graduates and Principal Angela Lundy-Jackson

Many members of the Class of 2013 earned more than their high school diplomas this year—nearly 200 of them also earned associate’s degrees from Houston Community College.

Challenge Early College, East Early College, Empowerment College Preparatory Academy, Houston Academy for International Studies, and North Houston Early College high schools all offer students the opportunity to take college courses along with high school courses. This year, a total of 179 students from all of those campuses combined left high school with a two-year college degree.

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HISD Board of Education Approves $1.62 Billion Budget for 2013-2014 Academic Year

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education has approved a $1.62 billion budget for the 2013-2014 academic year that includes $16 million to provide additional support to students at struggling schools and 2-percent pay raises for all HISD employees.

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Lovett ES Teacher Traveling to Iceland to Study Volcanic Effects on People, Earth

Rhonda Goldmann of Lovett Elementary

Rhonda Goldmann of Lovett Elementary does the "Division Dance" with her students as part of her summer school math instruction.

Those traveling in Europe a little more than three years ago may have bad memories of an Icelandic volcano causing them to be stuck in airports waiting for volcanic ash to clear the skies, but Lovett Elementary School science teacher Rhonda Goldmann has some hope for a repeat performance later this summer.

Goldmann will travel to Iceland to observe active volcanoes in the hopes of learning more about their positive and negative effects to bring back new lessons for students.

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HISD Helps Small Businesses Through Mentor-Protégé Program

Ramon Herrera, principal at Midtown Engineers, says he hopes joining the IMPP as a protégé will help him become a better businessman.

Small business owners learned the components of a “perfect handshake” and how to smile like a politician at the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program’s first session yesterday at METRO headquarters.

Through HISD’s partnership with the City of Houston, METRO and Port of Houston Authority, the IMPP was designed to create long-term relationships between mentors and protégés, through professional guidance and business support and development.

“It is our hope that this program will enhance the capability of (small businesses) so that they can take on a larger role with (HISD),” HISD Supplier Diversity Team Lead Bernard Willingham said.

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EMERGE Students Return from Tour of Top Colleges

Eighty high schools students from six different HISD campuses have just returned from a jam-packed trip that included visits to seven Ivy League and Tier I colleges in only six days. The tour was coordinated through HISD’s EMERGE program, which helps low-income, first-generation minority students get into top-notch colleges.

As part of the trip, students toured the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, MIT, Tufts, Brown, Columbia, and Yale. During several of the visits, the high school students were able to take part in panel discussions with first-generation college students, getting insight on what it’s like to leave home and family to pursue a higher education.

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