The Houston Independent School District celebrated the top students from each high school’s graduating class at a Scholars Recognition Ceremony on Tuesday evening at Delmar Stadium.
Dozens of attending valedictorians and salutatorians were presented with medallions by their parents in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements, including a history-making nine valedictorians from Bellaire High School.
Continue readingThe nation’s only index that ranks high schools’ ability to challenge their students will be published next month, and two Houston Independent School District campuses made the list in more than one category.
Carnegie Vanguard High School is ranked number five on the latest Challenge Index list of top 20 high schools, as well as number 2 on the Index’s list of Top 10 Magnet Schools and number 3 on the list of Top 10 Southern Schools.
Additionally, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is ranked number 10 on the list of Top 10 Magnet Schools.
Continue reading
With much of our HISD families and community still experiencing negative effects and damage to their homes and personal property from the winter storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering assistance to eligible homeowners.
FEMA has designated the Houston area as eligible for individual assistance due to a disaster declaration for Texas’ severe winter storms in February.
Continue reading
Ten Houston Independent School District football teams were recognized for their on-field sportsmanship as the Touchdown Club of Houston held its 16th annual Sportsmanship Luncheon on Wednesday, April 7.
Ten of the 40 Houston-area high school teams nominated were from HISD: Furr, Milby, Northside, Scarborough, Sterling, Waltrip, Washington, Westside, Wisdom, and Yates.
Continue readingAfter nearly 30 years of teaching—in two different countries—it takes a lot to startle Irene Mirasol, an 8th grade teacher at Gregory Lincoln Education Center.
But as she walked into the school’s gym on a Tuesday morning, the English/Language Arts teacher was not expecting to be recognized as the HISD Teacher of the Month.
“I’m so surprised,” Mirasol said. “Gregory Lincoln is my second home. This honor, this recognition is definitely for my students, the staff, and the leadership team here. I’m even more motivated now to do more for my students, and for the community of Gregory Lincoln.”
Continue readingTransportation Services is hosting more than a dozen job fairs over the next four months to recruit new bus drivers in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year.
Though no decisions have been made about next year, the department is ramping up recruiting efforts to prepare for the possibility of transporting more students this fall. Bus service was limited during the 2020-2021 school year due to physical distancing restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue readingWith the first phase of construction 85 percent complete, Bellaire High School is on track to debut three new wings — academic, fine arts, and physical education — when students return for the 2021-2022 school year.
Crews are installing technology in the three-story academic wing, which is nearly complete and expected to be outfitted with furniture in June after students depart for the summer.
Carpet has been installed in the auditorium and ceiling tiles and flooring are now being installed in the remainder of the fine arts wing. Epoxy flooring in the natatorium pool also is underway in the physical education wing.
Continue readingFollowing a path of green and white balloons, dozens of Austin High School students and staff shuffled into the auditorium to find seats for the big event — the premiere of Austin’s virtual grand opening.
Clad in green attire and masks, students and staff gathered for the physically distanced watch party hosted in the recently renovated school auditorium, where a giant screen was set up to display the celebration.
Among the sea of green was senior Zuri Mendoza Gonzalez, who sat front and center in a ruffled green and white dress. She said she was excited to represent Austin as the master of ceremonies in the virtual grand opening and wanted to be close to the action.
“It was nice to be part of such a historical event, especially as the master of ceremonies,” Mendoza Gonzalez said. “It was very special, an honor really.”
Built as part of the 2012 Bond program, Austin’s $80.9 million, 288,628-square-foot campus features a three-story academic wing, two gyms, and an outdoor courtyard. The virtual grand opening showcased these areas, bringing them to life with student-led segments and performances.
Continue readingAs Maria Iglesias posed for photos in her classroom at Scarborough Elementary School to celebrate her selection as the Associate Teacher of the Month for March, several of her kindergarten students stood by quietly hoping to get a photo with their favorite associate teacher.
“I just come here and I know they need so much help, especially now because of the pandemic,” Iglesias said. “I know I can help them, push them forward, however I can make a difference in their lives.”
Repeatedly referring to them as “my kids,” Iglesias has long had a passion for teaching. She became a part-time associate teacher when she retired as a full-time HISD teacher with the district, where she taught for 16 years.
Continue readingThere have been seniors who have tied for valedictorian at many HISD high schools over the years, but never before have there been nine valedictorians who all achieved a grade point average of 5.0.
Bellaire High School is where this extraordinary achievement happened. The nine valedictorians are Alkiviades Boukas, Daniel Chen, Evie Tseng-Ying Kao, Angela Ling, Miles Mackenzie, Wenson Tsiah-Hao Tang, Christopher Zhou, and twin sisters Annie and Shirley Zhu.
Continue reading