Who: Student representatives from the 28 high schools included in the Houston schools bond proposition.
What: Just days before Houston voters decide whether to approve a proposition to rebuild schools in neighborhoods across the city, student representatives from the impacted high schools will be available to share their perspectives with reporters.
When: 10 a.m. on Thursday; Nov. 1, 2012
Where: Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street
With Halloween right around the corner, things are getting a little spooky around the district. Photos of zombies in front of various HISD high schools are popping up all over Twitter and Facebook. In addition to their frightening appearance, the ghoulish creatures are holding “Zombies Vote Early” signs. Continue reading
Check out the photo gallery below to see what students and school communities are doing to make early voting awareness a top priority.
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HSPVA and Lamar ‘zombies’ walking to early voting site
What: HISD’s own ‘zombies’ from HSPVA and Lamar High School will be encouraging fellow classmates, staff, parents and the community at-large to vote early and to finish the entire ballot by walking from the West Gray/Montrose intersection to the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center (1475 West Gray) where they will culminate their walk with a zombie “Thriller” flash mob at 4:30 p.m.
Who: HSPVA and Lamar High School students
When: Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 4 – 5:00 p.m.
Where: Metropolitan Multi-Services Center, 1475 West Gray
Miss America 2012 at YWCPA.
Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, brought a message of encouragement, determination, and persistence to the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy during a recent visit to the school.
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The Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) of Houston met at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on Thursday, Oct. 25, for a Principal Shadowing Event.
The reason for such a prestigious gathering? To bring community business leaders together with local school leaders and principals to discuss the state of Houston-area schools, teachers, and students.
This year, the Houston YPO teamed up with Houston Independent School District, Spring Branch Independent School District, YES Prep Public Schools, and KIPP Public Charter Schools-Houston to discuss such topics as school reform, educational leadership, and teacher effectiveness. The event was designed to open the lines of communication between community and school leaders and to increase awareness of the strengths and challenges for local public school systems. Continue reading
Students at Sterling High School and Carnegie Vanguard High School will soon be the beneficiaries of a new partnership with the Houston Airport System.
Mayor Annise Parker, along with Sterling HS students Jesse Soto, Javonte Woodson, and Abril De La Cruz, announced the new initiative, dubbed the Aviation Club, during a press conference held Oct. 25 at City Hall.
The club will allow teenagers from both campuses with an interest in aviation or aerospace to explore those subjects through a series of monthly meetings held during the school year. It is designed to increase the number of young people pursuing careers in those fields.
To participate, students must attend either Carnegie or Sterling, maintain a GPA of at least 2.5, and meet various other criteria.
To learn more, please visit the Houston Airport System’s website.
Chef Sonnenscmidt demonstrates how to make “reis fleisch,” a traditional Serbian dish containing rice and meat.
Students in the culinary arts program at HISD’s Westside High School got served a big bowl of excitement recently when two retired master chefs came to the campus to give demonstrations as part of the Culinary Institute of America’s Ambassadors program.
Paul Prosperi, a master of the baking and pastry arts who has worked in Paris, London, and New York City, and Fritz Sonnenschmidt, a certified master chef who retired as dean of the CIA in 2002, showed students how to make three different types of meringue, and a Serbian rice-and-meat dish called “reis fleisch.”
“Chef Sonnenschmidt talked about the historical significance of food, how rice was used a lot in Spain and so many spices come from India,” said Chef Reginald Martin, who teaches culinary arts classes at Westside. “Chef Prosperi demonstrated the different techniques of making meringue: French, Swiss, and Italian.”
Chef Prosperi shows off a chocolate mousse dessert made with various types of meringue, presented in a martini glass.
Chef Martin, who began coordinating the master chefs’ visit last spring, said that the newest branch of the CIA (one of only three in the nation) opened in Texas just a few years ago, so Westside seemed like a natural partner.
“One student said it was the best day she’s ever had in culinary arts,” he said. “She was blown away by the opportunity to work with such high-level experts in the industry.”
About 50 Westside students attended the 2 1/2-hour demonstration, which was streamed live on the internet so that any other interested parties could watch as well. A recording of the broadcast is here.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/51709319]
Pilot program combines music, video gaming, and finances
Most pre-teens are familiar with the latest video games and the most popular songs and rock bands, but when it comes to money and finances they could use some guidance and instruction.
Over at Marshall Middle School, 50 seventh-grade students are getting that and more as they combine their musical knowledge and video gaming skills with a unique curriculum that is designed to teach them financial literacy. The “RockIt!” program challenges students to create a rock band and manage their finances.
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District kicks off new initiative with HPD and Metro police while celebrating fifth year of Real Men Read
Having a male role model can make a significant impact on the academic and social well-being of a child. Sadly, many students at HISD lack a prominent male figure in their lives.
Fortunately, HISD has several longstanding and new partnerships within the Houston community that are helping to give students a male mentor. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, officers from the Houston, HISD, and Metro Police departments gathered at Peck Elementary to kick off a new initiative that provides male police officers as role models and mentors for students.