Category Archives: 21st century schools

Pilgrim Academy welcomes students back to new building

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A sea of students dressed in red rushed into Pilgrim Academy’s newly renovated building on Monday to begin the first day of the 2018-2019 school year.

Pilgrim’s $8 million construction project, which is a part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program, features an expansion and building renovation that incorporates architectural aspects of both the past and future.

Pilgrim Principal Diana Castillo said school staff worked for more than two weeks to make sure that everything was ready to go for the first day of school.

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Eastwood Academy students enjoy first day in new addition

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Students at Eastwood Academy looked right at home in the recently completed two-story library wing on Monday, as they gathered for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s calm and chill. It makes me happy,” senior Josue Cruz said. “I’ll come here more often to study. It’s nice how things have changed.”

The school’s new addition – which is the final phase of the school’s 2012 Bond Program construction – features a two-story library expansion, additional teaching spaces, small and large group gathering areas, a community meeting room, and an enclosed walkway that connects to the main entrance. Continue reading →

Students embark on first day at new High School for Law and Justice

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Excitement filled the air at the new High School for Law and Justice as students gathered in the central dining commons to pick up class schedules and connect with friends on Monday — the first day of the 2018-2019 school year.

“When I first walked into the building, all I could say was, ‘Wow!’” HSLJ senior Cecilia Marenco said. “The grand staircase is breathtaking, and the design is modern and innovative.”

Part of the 2012 Bond Program, the $40 million campus features a realistic courtroom, crime-scene investigations lab, emergency communications center, law library, and flexible dining commons space with a three-stories-high sky bridge and a dramatic grand staircase. Continue reading →

Yates HS students enter the new Lion’s Den for the first day of school

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Festive music and cheers filled the air of the new Yates High School as students danced their way into the new facility to kick off the 2018-2019 school year.

More than 20 alumni — donning crimson and gold — gathered at the school’s main entrance chanting the school song as the band and color guard performed for students and staff in celebration of the new facility.

“The building brings life to Yates and the community,” said Yates alumnus Marcus Brooks, who is also the father to a current Yates senior. “It’s something new and fresh for the kids.”

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New Energy Institute HS helps students, staff embrace project-based learning

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A big smile spread across Samaya Watson’s face as she looked around the wide, brightly colored hallway adorned with inspirational phrases and clusters of modern furniture, where she and her classmates could gather.

“It feels like I’m in a Disney movie,” the 16-year-old Energy Institute High School junior said, giggling as she joked that she was expecting her classmates to break out into song and dance at any moment. “The atmosphere is different. Everybody just feels excited to learn and do new things.” Continue reading →

YWCPA welcomes students to newly renovated campus for first day of school

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Excitement could be seen on the faces of many students at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy as they walked the halls of their newly renovated facility for the first day of the 2018-2019 school year.

The school’s multi-phased construction project wrapped earlier this summer with completion of the final work to third-floor classrooms and learning commons areas.

“It’s definitely exciting,” YWCPA Principal April Williams said, mentioning the completion of the school’s final renovations. “It really sells our school well and the girls deserve it.”

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Robinson ES ready start school year at home

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At Robinson Elementary School, there is a different kind of excitement — an almost nervous energy — in the air this fall.

Like any other August, teachers have been busy setting up their rooms and excitedly making plans for the school year. But their thoughts are easily drawn back to last August.

Where they were. What they were doing. How they had to abandon their perfectly assembled classrooms just a few days before the start of school and seek shelter from a storm that would end up devastating their classrooms, their school, and their neighboring community. Continue reading →

Hilliard ES beginning school year in renovated building after Harvey

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The start of school means many things to many people. But for the faculty and staff of Hilliard Elementary School, this year is a celebration of resiliency.

The excitement is palpable in the school, as teachers move about putting final touches on their classrooms. The pristine foyer features a colorful bulletin board proclaiming the school’s theme for the year — Mission: Possible.

“It’s good to be home,” Hilliard Principal Erica Kimble said. “That’s how everyone feels.”

It was just one year ago that Hurricane Harvey ripped through the Houston area, leaving the nation’s fourth largest city under 51 inches of water. The flood waters took no mercy on Hilliard, depositing as much four feet of water in some areas of the school. Continue reading →

Newly built bond schools fared well during Harvey

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As Hurricane Harvey brought devastating 500-year flooding to much of the city last fall, new schools built as part of HISD’s Bond Program stood strong in the face of the storm, sustaining minimal to no damage.

Assessments made at all HISD facilities in the wake of the storm determined that schools built as part of the 2007 or 2012 Bond Programs fared extremely well.

“We were very pleased with the performance of all our schools from this bond and the last one in 2007,” General Manager of Facilities Design Dan Bankhead said. “The minor issues resulting from the hurricane that we did experience were quickly resolved.” Continue reading →

Four elementary schools look to future after sustaining damage during Harvey

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When Hurricane Harvey ravaged Houston last August, it left a devastating mark on nearly everything it touched — including schools.

Nearly every campus in HISD received some damage, but there were four elementary schools — Scarborough, Mitchell, Kolter, and Braeburn — that received damage so significant that they had to be rebuilt.

That process is now underway. Design plans have been approved, and construction on the new schools is soon to begin. The students and staff from each of the four schools will remain in temporary spaces until their home schools are rebuilt and opened, which is expected in January 2020.

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