Category Archives: Community Partnerships

Celebrated Hispanic astronaut gives HISD students out-of-this-world surprise

As students gathered in the Deady Middle School auditorium on Friday, Sept. 15, they thought they knew what they were in for. Deady students, along with students from Milby High School and Davila Elementary, were treated the day before to a preview screening of the new Amazon Prime film, A Million Miles Away, the life story of astronaut José Hernández. Little did they know that José Hernández himself was waiting in the wings to surprise them.

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Houston Texans provide Blackshear ES students with no-cost picture day, new uniforms

Blackshear Elementary School hosted a unique event on Tuesday, Sept. 12, when they welcomed the Houston Texans and local organization CoolxDad for a special no-cost picture day.

Back-to-school expenses, including school photo packages, can add up quickly. So, the Texans’ Maliek Collins, Jerry Hughes, and their teammates brought the team photographer to Blackshear for a one-of-a-kind picture day.

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HISD opens first Sunrise Center for wholescale student support

HISD opened its first of seven Sunrise Centers in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the West Orem YMCA on Wednesday, Sept. 6. Together with community partners, these centers will help support students outside the classroom and connect families with local services and resources.

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Community partners recognize HISD teachers for excellence in STEM

For the second year in a row, the Houston Astros Foundation partnered with Honeywell International Inc. to recognize 10 outstanding teachers from the Greater Houston area for their commitment to excellence in STEM and contribution to creating innovative ways to improve student achievement and interests in robotics and coding.

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Take advantage of Immunization Awareness Month with no-cost vaccines throughout Houston

As students prepare for a semester of new classrooms and old friends, and parents ready them with new pens and cool haircuts, it’s easy to overlook one of the most important new school year preparations: immunizations.

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HISD students multiply summer fun with Rice University math camps

Over summer break, Rice University welcomes hundreds of middle and high school students to participate in various academic camps offered on campus. The Tapia Camps, named for mathematician and Rice professor Dr. Richard Tapia, are for rising eighth-12th graders interested in STEM and honing their calculus skills before the new school year.

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HISD community partners help student parents on path to graduation

Rising 11th grader Chelsea Almendarez is no stranger to a challenge. A dedicated student, Almendarez recently earned her driver’s license and has ambitions of joining JROTC in her junior year. Driving and high school graduation did not always seem to be within reach for Almendarez, who became a mother during her freshman year. That is where HISD’s Parenting Summer Workshop came in.

HISD’s Parenting Summer Workshop was designed to help pregnant or parenting students connect with resources in their community that can help them and their children to thrive despite the challenges and stigma of teen parenting. 

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Plan for the new school year with a variety of after school programs

As the largest school district in Texas, HISD is comprised of diverse families and communities and offers a variety of after school programming to meet and accommodate a wide range of needs.

The two primary programs utilized by HISD schools are Texas ACE and CASE for Kids.

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HISD students to get school supply ‘boost’ from Kroger shoppers

HISD students will start the new school year off right with help from community donations through Kroger’s annual school supplies drive.

Backpack Boosters provides students with kits filled with the essential school supplies they need for a successful school year.

Now through July 31, shoppers can donate $2, $5, or $10 dollars at the register in any Kroger store to help local students. Click here to find your local Kroger store.