Author Archives: HISD Communications

Houston Schools Bond Twitter Town Hall

Superintendent Terry Grier will answer questions today at 10 a.m.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will provide information and answer questions about the Houston Schools Bond during the district’s first-ever Twitter Town Hall. The event will be held today at 10 a.m. on the district’s main Twitter account, @HoustonISD.  Students from Davis, Furr, Sam Houston, Bellaire, Worthing, Yates, Lamar, Lee, and Sharpstown High Schools plan to participate. Their schools would be rebuilt under the bond proposition, which is the last item on the General Election ballot. To join the discussion, send tweets during the event to @HoustonISD with the hashtag #HISDBond.

Ripley House Event Planned to Educate Voters

First-time voters are being celebrated during a special event Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Ripley House Neighborhood Center that is expected to draw dozens of HISD high school students and their parents.

The Voter Education and Citizenship Celebration, sponsored in part by Univision 45 and Mi Familia Vota,  will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the neighborhood center, located at 4410 Navigation.

 The goal is to celebrate new voters and help them understand the electoral process.

Joining the event will be students and parents from Jones, Milby, North Houston Early College, Chavez, Austin, Sam Houston, and Lee high schools. Teams of students from each of the schools will call eligible voters across Houston as part of a “High Schools Unite” phone bank from 6 to 7 p.m.

Ripley House has already been drawing thousands of people for early voting over the past week and organizers hope Tuesday’s event will encourage even more people to cast their ballots.

The HISD bond proposition is located at the end of the ballot, and students will be reminding voters to finish their ballots.

HAIS Students Hold Voter Rally

The Houston Academy for International Studies held a “Get Out and Vote!” rally on Friday, Oct. 26, but their work is far from over. The students plan to march downtown this Friday (Nov. 2) on the final day of early voting to encourage any stragglers to head to the polls and finish the entire ballot. 

 [slideshow]At the rally last week, each school club hosted an activity to raise awareness about early voting opportunities. The chess club held a championship, student musicians performed, and there also was a pie-throwing contest. Students distributed fliers with early voting locations, times, and maps and placed them on cars in the school parking lot.

 “We wanted to raise excitement with the students and make sure that when they left school they told all their friends family and parents to go out and vote,” HAIS Principal Melissa Jacobs Thibaut said.

 This Friday, HAIS students will march from the school to the downtown area, stopping at the central voting location at the Harris County Administration Building (1001 Preston). Jacobs Thibaut said it’s an important time to get the word out.

 “We want to raise awareness that it’s the last day of early voting and people still have until 7 p.m. to get to the polls before starting their weekend, and if they can’t get out on Friday, then to please head to the polls on Nov. 6,” she said.

Sam Houston MSTC dedicates new technology wing

A new wing of learning space, laboratories, and a large lecture hall was dedicated recently at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center.

The new wing has a footprint of more than 29,000 square feet and was built with about $11.6 million in funding generated by the 2007 bond program.

“Teachers can have the up-to-date resources they need to lead students on their road to success,” said Mariana Mendoza, former president of the Sam Houston Parent-Student Association. “We remind the parents and students in this community of the importance of being involved and voting in the upcoming election.”

The school, located at 9400 Irvington, is among 38 schools that would be affected should voters approve the 2012 bond program, which is the last item on the general election ballot. Sam Houston would receive about $101.4 million to build a new school that would incorporate the new wing.

“It is our partnership with the community that ensures Sam Houston is on the verge of the 21st Century,” said Orlando Riddick, HISD’s chief school officer. “I appreciate the efforts put in here to keep us going.”

The new area also includes more parking area and the latest safety features for its advanced learning labs.

HISD Hosting Phone Bank on Univision 45 to Provide Information on Bond

In an effort to reach out to eligible voters across the city and provide them information on the HISD 2012 bond proposal, which is the last item on the ballot, the Houston Independent School District is hosting a bond information phone bank on Univision 45.

Dozens of experts on the HISD bond proposition will be on hand to take calls from viewers on Monday, October 29 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Tune in to Univision 45 for the HISD Bond phone bank and hear from principals and parents talk about the needs of their schools and current campus conditions.

Volunteers include HISD school improvement officers, principals and administrators.  The purpose of this phone bank is to ensure that all Houston voters are well informed on the 2012 HISD bond proposal when they go to the polling sites.

There will be bilingual volunteers ready to take your calls in English or Spanish.  For more information on the HISD Bond, call the phone bank on Monday, October 29 from 7  to 10:30 pm at 713 390-5956.

HISD’s $1.89 billion plan would rebuild or renovate 38 schools across the city and help improve conditions for students in all HISD schools, if approved by voters on November 6. 

For more information on the HISD bond, visit www.houstonisd.org/2012bond.

Berry Elementary receives ‘Green Ribbon Schools’ award

Berry Elementary School received a “Green Ribbon Schools” Award recently from a national program of the same name in recognition of its leadership in touting green initiatives on campus.

 The school was one of only 63 campuses chosen from among 13 states and Guam to win the award, and Berry was selected for achieving the online community’s highest level of participation during the 2011–2012 school year. Continue reading →

HISD Encourages Early Voting, Finishing the Ballot

WHAT:  The Houston Independent School District is encouraging voters to head to the polls early and to cast their vote for every item on the ballot – from the first to the last.

Starting Friday, Oct. 26 HISD is hosting live and digital events designed to celebrate first time voters and to educate the community regarding the district’s bond referendum to modernize and rebuild schools throughout Houston.

WHEN & WHERE:   Fri., Oct. 26 from noon – 1 p.m.

  • Live Web Chat
    www.houstonisd.org
    HISD will have a web chat to discuss the plan to rebuild and modernize the city’s high schools, as well as provide safety and technology upgrades at campuses across the district.  Questions may be sent in advance via e-mail to bondinfo@houstonisd.org.

Mon., Oct. 29 from 7 – 10:30 p.m.

  • Univision Phone Bank – Linea Abierta 45
    5100 Southwest Freeway
    HISD will have a team of bond experts ready to answer calls from viewers on the bond proposal and the schools that would be affected.  The team will have bilingual representatives able to answer questions in English and Spanish.

        

Tues., Oct. 30 from 4 – 6 p.m.

  • Voter Forum at Neighborhood Centers Ripley House 
    4410 Navigation Boulevard 
    Motivate students from the nearby HISD schools to attend the event with their families, visit the early voting location and cast their votes for the first time.

         Tues., Oct. 30 from 10 – 10:40 a.m.

  • Twitter Town Hall
    @HoustonISD
    Participate in a live Twitter Town Hall session with Houston Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier where he will answer questions and respond to comments and concerns regarding the HISD Bond Referendum. Follow us at @HoustonISD and #HISDbond

                                   

Wed., Oct. 31 from 4 – 5p.m.  

  • Zombie Walk and “Thriller” Vote Early Flash Mob
    1475 West Gray
    Capture HISD’s own zombies from HSPVA and Lamar High School  as they encourage the living to vote early as they walk 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.

HISD Celebrates New Collaboration with National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA Program

The Houston Independent School District announced a new collaboration today with the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program.  The announcement was made during a press conference at Westside High School.  The NWF has worked successfully for nearly 10 years with HISD with the goal of helping to close achievement gaps for disadvantaged students and to improve science and math learning through the use of outdoor environmental education.

 The new Eco-Schools USA initiative will expand on the current Schoolyard Habitat program between HISD and NWF.  It will also allow for further expansion and development of the Green School Challenge, launched in December 2011, by helping schools develop and implement plans to green their schools by making buildings and campuses more eco-friendly.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said this partnership is the latest initiative in HISD’s ongoing commitment to promote green schools.  “This collaboration will offer a new, innovative approach to teaching environmental education in a non-traditional classroom setting, while providing students with more opportunities to learn about the importance of protecting our environment, “Dr. Grier said.  

“We are excited to be working with HISD to advance the district’s very ambitious and commendable sustainability goals,” said Susan Kaderka, Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation.  “This effort is a win-win for students, for the district, and for the environment.  Students will be better prepared for 21st century careers and life choices, teachers will see greater enthusiasm for science and math, and the natural world will benefit from reduced energy and water use and better care from a new generation of environmental stewards.”  

At the press conference Westside High school environmental science and urban agriculture classes and the school’s ecology club were recognized for their accomplishments. Students there worked to restore 1.5 acres of Gulf Coastal Prairie, one of the rarest ecosystems in the nation.

“We’re proud of the work of our students, teachers, and staff at Westside High school and their ongoing efforts to make their campus green,” said HISD Chief Academic Officer Julie Fox Baker.  “We’re pleased HISD is the largest school district in the country participating in the Eco-Schools USA program.”  The NWF launched the Eco-Schools USA program in 2009.  Nationwide, there are currently 2,000 schools and more than 1 million students registered in the program.  For more than 70 years, the NWF has been educating people about the environment.  NWF’s education efforts annually reach more than 5,000 K-12 schools and nearly 4 million students through a variety of programs, including Schoolyard Habitats and Eco-Schools USA, which is committed to building a sustainable, comprehensive green school movement in the U.S and abroad.

Magnet Awareness Week is Right Around the Corner

Campus tours, open house, school choice fairs planned to help parents get in-depth look at various programs

 

In observance of HISD’s Magnet Awareness Week (Nov. 5-9), the district is hosting two events for parents and students who wish to learn more about the district’s Magnet programs.

The first, a Magnet Open House, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St, 77092). Representatives from dozens of magnet campuses will be on hand to describe their programs and answer any questions. Applications will be available and will be accepted from Nov. 5 through Jan. 11, 2013. Applications received after Jan.11 will be considered but on a space-available basis. The Magnet Department will notify parents of decisions via mail on March 22, 2013. Parents must notify their school of choice of intent to attend by April 5, 2013.

“Our students and parents have amazing options when it comes to choosing a school for their elementary, middle, and high school children,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat. “The amazing thing about this event is that all 113 of our magnet schools are here today, along with other schools of choice. They will be answering questions, providing information, and inviting parents to tour their schools.”

Schools with Magnet programs will also offer tours of their campuses during Magnet Awareness Week starting at 1 p.m. each day from Monday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 9. After November 9, parents should phone individual schools for a schedule of tours and other events that will be conducted through early January.

Visit the Magnet Department website for more information about Magnet schools, applications, locations, and contact information. Click here (.pdf) for Magnet school application process dates and deadlines, and here for a map of all HISD Magnet schools and programs.

The Office of School Choice also coordinates “School Choice Fairs” throughout the district. These events provide parents and students with information on HISD Magnet programs.

Elementary School Recruitment Middle School Recruitment
November 3: Magnet Open House at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. October 25: at Lanier MS-2600 Woodhead 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 12: Pugh ES; 1147 Kress 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. October 30: Pin Oak MS; 4601 Glenmont St. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 27: Berry ES; 2310 Berry 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 1: T.H. Rogers MS; 5840 San Felipe St. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 28: Elrod ES; 6230 Dumfries 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 3: Magnet Open House at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
December 3: Crespo ES; 7500 Office City 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  November 13th: Dowling MS – 14000 Stancliff St.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
December 4: Law ES; 12401 South Coast 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 15: Ortiz MS; 6767 Telephone Rd. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
April 27: School Choice Fair at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. April 27: School Choice Fair at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Please visit Office of School Choice website for more information.

Houston ISD Seniors to Receive $150,000 in Broad Foundation Scholarships

This spring’s Houston Independent School District graduates will receive $150,000 in scholarships from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

Update, May 29, 2013: The Broad Foundation increased its scholarship giveaway to $165,000 in an effort to distribute more financial assistance to HISD students.

The scholarships are a result of HISD being among the four national finalists for the 2012 Broad Prize for Urban Education, which was awarded today to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  This was Miami-Dade’s fifth time to be a Broad Prize finalist.  HISD won the inaugural Broad Prize in 2002.

“We were honored to be among the final four of 75 urban school districts for the most prestigious award in education,” HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said.  “The consistent progress that our students have made over the past several years is a direct reflection on the hard work put in by the teachers, principals, and every member of Team HISD.” Continue reading →