Author Archives: HISD Communications

Oscar Winner Visits Las Americas Newcomers School

In the heart of Tel Aviv, Israel, there is a school where children from 48 different countries and diverse backgrounds come together to learn. Many of the students arrive at the Bialik-Rogozin School fleeing poverty, political adversity, and even genocide. On Monday, Nov. 5, the school’s former principal came to HISD to share the story behind her campus and to hear more about the challenges HISD refugee students face.

“Children, no matter where they are from, want and need the same things,” said Karen Tal who won a 2011 Oscar for her short documentary Strangers No More. “They want to be accepted and they want to be a part of society.” 

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Austin High School’s Diamond Jubilee Scheduled for Nov. 10

Campus to unveil new mustang mascot at event celebrating 75 years

Stephen F. Austin High School will be celebrating its 75th year of existence with a Diamond Jubilee on Sat., Nov. 10.

Festivities will take place from 1 to 4 p.m., and the program will include the unveiling of a Scottish Brigade memorial plaque (a girls’ drum, bugle, and bagpipe drill corps, 1937–1978), an all-choir presentation, a tribute to fallen heroes, an alumni pep rally, student exhibits and concessions, and a reception. Continue reading →

Scholarship, Financial Aid Fair Set to Assist Students and Parents

HISD’s Class of 2012 earned a record $180 million in college scholarship offers, and seniors this year are hoping to match or surpass that number. To assist students in their scholarship search, HISD’s College and Career Readiness Department is holding the “No Dollar Left Behind”  Scholarship and Financial Aid Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Challenge Early College High School (5601 West Loop South, 77081).

Students and parents attending the fair will have the opportunity to speak with various scholarship exhibitors, learn how to improve their scholarship search and get tips for successful essay writing. Representatives from the Department of Education will also be on hand to answer questions.

 “Many of our HISD families believe they can’t afford to send their child to college, but there is plenty of aid out there if you you know where to look,” said HISD Counseling Manager Nefertari Mundy. “In fact, there is nearly $150 billion dollars available from the federal government in the form of grants, loans, work study and scholarships. We want to make sure our students leave no dollar behind.”

Students attending the fair will also have a chace to win a $1,500 scholarship and can meet with representatives from 20 different organizations that have scholarships available to HISD students, including the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Hispanic Forum and the Childrens Defense Fund, to name a few.

Regional colleges like Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern and others will also be on hand to discuss scholarships that their institutions have to offer students.

HISD seniors attending the fair can also receive a free meningitis immunization thanks to the Meningitis Initiative. Students must have this vaccine to attend most colleges.

 

HISD Students Calling Eligible Voters to Encourage Voting on Election Day

On the eve of Election Day, dozens of students from various HISD high schools will be volunteering with Mi Familia Vota to call thousands of Houston voters to encourage them to hit the polls on Election Day.

Students from Chavez, Furr, Scarborough, Davis and Sharpstown high schools will be working the phones today after school to call eligible voters in their communities to encourage them to vote on Tuesday and remind them to finish the ballot. Nearly 30 students from each campus will be participating.

Mi Familia Vota, a nonprofit organization geared to promote civic engagement, will be providing the students at each campus headsets and a computer program to help facilitate the phone bank, along with the list of contact numbers for voters in their surrounding areas.

Students from Davis High School previously participated on another phone bank with Mi Familia Vota on October 19 to promote civic engagement and placed over a thousand phone calls.

At the Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center, parents and students made hundreds of phone calls to Houston voters on November 2.

Don’t forget to finish the ballot on Nov. 6

Find your Election Day polling location and view a sample ballot

Election Day, Nov. 6, will soon be here and voters will head to numerous locations across the city to cast their votes. Don’t miss your chance to vote on the 2012 Houston Schools Bond Proposition – it’s at the very end of the ballot. The $1.89 billion proposition would rebuild or renovate 38 schools in neighborhoods across Houston and upgrade technology in all HISD classrooms.

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Sam Houston Student’s Artwork Selected for HISD’s 2012 Holiday Greeting Card

Senior Alexandra Lartigue was inspired by holiday surroundings and vibrant colors

• Click here to see all of the artwork submitted for the 2012 HISD greeting card

 Alexandra Lartigue , a senior at Sam Houston’s Math, Science and Technology Center, created the winning artwork for the 2012 HISD Holiday Greeting Card.

Along with their families, art teachers, and principals, the finalists were honored at a reception Friday, Nov. 2, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.  Thirty talented student artists from around the district participated in the ninth annual HISD Holiday Greeting Card Event. Students from elementary, middle, and high schools submitted holiday-inspired artwork with the hopes of being selected as the official HISD greeting card artist. 

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KHOU 11’s New Weekly Segment ‘Our Future’ to Feature Outstanding High School Students

In an effort to showcase some of Houston’s outstanding high school students, KHOU 11 is launching a new weekly segment “Our Future” to air during the 5p.m. newscast.

“We have many talented and dedicated students whose excellence goes beyond the classrooms, and they deserve to be recognized,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said.  “We are grateful to KHOU 11 for giving school districts like HISD the opportunity to showcase these students.”

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HISD to Offer One-Stop Shop for all Magnet Programs

Representatives for more than 100 magnet programs will be available on Saturday

 

With more than 100 Magnet programs available in the Houston Independent School District, parents across the city have many choices when it comes to selecting the best school to meet the needs of their children.  Parents and students will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from all 113 magnet programs during the annual Magnet Open House on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St, 77092).  Click here for more information about HISD school choice options, including neighborhood schools.

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