The new Scarborough High School band held its holiday concert on Dec. 9 in the school auditorium to the applause of students, staff, friends, and families.
Category Archives: District I – Elizabeth Santos
Five campuses celebrate neighborhood parks during SPARK Park Week
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A tennis court, a pond, landscaping, vertical gardens and a volleyball court are just a few of the new features at a brand-new SPARK park at Clifton Middle School.
Clifton is one of five HISD campus that took part in observing SPARK (School Park) Week from Nov. 14-21, which celebrates the transformation of public school grounds into neighborhood parks — a collaborative effort involving the City of Houston, Harris County, HISD, parent-teacher groups, and the community.
Students win prizes in video contest for demonstrating web savvy
Harvard ES fifth-grader Callie Bream took home a gift card for $150 as the inaugural first-place prize winner of a new monthly video contest.
Keeping email accounts secure with strong passwords is an important aspect of responsible digital citizenship, and students from two HISD schools have demonstrated their mastery of this concept by winning the top prizes in a video production contest co-sponsored by the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and HISD’s Educational Technology team.
Harvard Elementary School students won four of the five prizes available (first and second, as well as two honorable mentions), while a student from Eastwood Academy took home the third-place prize.
The competition was created as a part of Digital Awareness Month in October to increase students’ web savvy while also giving them an opportunity for creative expression. Continue reading
Chemistry teacher has a secret alter-ego: professional bowler
In this week’s “I Am HISD,” which features district students, graduates, employees, volunteers, and other team members, Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center chemistry teacher Nichole DePaul-Miller talks about how she got involved in the world of professional bowling, what led her to a career in education, and why she still acts as a consultant for various bowling centers.
Nichole DePaul-Miller; Photo credit: Jaime Foster
I hear that you’re a professional bowler, but you’re also teaching pre-Advanced Placement (AP) and AP chemistry at Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center. Which came first, the bowling or the chemistry?
Actually, they both kind of happened at the same time. I started bowling when I was three. My mom and dad bowled while they were dating, and I was practically born in a bowling center, so you might say I come from a bowling family. I bowled collegiately at Illinois State, too, while getting my degree in chemistry. Originally, I was going to try to stay in that field and work as an engineer, but the women’s tour disbanded in 2003 due to lack of funding, and I switched from being a chemist working in the bowling industry to an educator who just loves bowling. Continue reading
‘Three Doctors’ inspire HISD students to support one another though hardships
Wheatley HS students at the “Three Doctors” event
Students from HISD’s Kashmere, Scarborough, and Wheatley high schools received a full dose of motivation on Nov. 6 from “Three Doctors” who made a pact to support each other while growing up in the rough neighborhoods of Newark, New Jersey, and achieved professional success as a result.
The students attended a presentation given by Drs. Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt, and George Jenkins at the Brown Convention Center as part of the White House initiative, “My Brother’s Keeper,” which aims to close the achievement and opportunity gaps for young men of color.
Register now for Nov. 7 ‘Parents as Advocates’ Family Conference
All HISD families are invited to attend the “Parents as Advocates” Family Conference and Resource Fair on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Burbank Middle School (315 Berry Rd., 77022) from 8 a.m. to noon.
The event will feature a panel discussion and short workshops on school choice, selecting the right courses, graduating from high school, applying to college, and advocating for children with special needs.
Board of Education member Anna Eastman has partnered with the Family Learning Academy to host the event, which will have a special focus on how parents can best ensure that their children receive the highest quality education in HISD, personalized to their children’s unique needs. Continue reading
‘Digital compass’ helps Garden Oaks students navigate cyberspace
Garden Oaks Montessori students are learning how to stay safe online, thanks to a “digital compass” and other exercises in how to navigate cyberspace.
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Students learned about educational tools and resources to help them make good decisions online during a cyber safety pep rally held Oct. 27. They played a “digital compass” game, answered Internet security and privacy questions, and shared their thoughts about cyber bullying. Continue reading
Nutrition Services adds more fresh fruits and vegetables to menu
DeChaumes Elementary School students enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables at lunch.
USDA’s MyPlate recommends children eat three and a half cups of fruits and vegetables daily, and the fresher they are, the more nutrients they contain. HISD Nutrition Services is offering healthier choices for students by adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to school menus.
“We want to offer more varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables to get the students excited about eating healthy foods at school,” said HISD Dietitian Amanda Oceguera. “It was rewarding to see the students’ positive reactions to our Texas-grown watermelon, and we plan to continue offering more items like it.”
Vote now for HISD teacher in STEM competition
Beverly Carson is one of four finalists in “Inspiring Curiosity in STEM,” a contest sponsored by KHOU and Halliburton. If Carson gets the most votes on KHOU’s Facebook page, she will receive $2,000 to spend on supplies for her classroom.
Carson teaches STEM at Garden Oaks Montessori Magnet School, where her students are enthusiastic learners, thanks to her innovative lesson plans. She would like to purchase microscopes with the prize money, but some of her students would rather have a 3D printer.
Parents, HISD staff, and supporters can vote here daily through Sunday, Nov. 1.
To see the KHOU video and story, click here.
Free dyslexia screenings available Nov. 7
HISD’s Office of Special Education Services will offer free dyslexia screenings at a Family Learning Academy event at Burbank Middle School (315 Berry Road, 77022), on Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, and poor spelling and decoding abilities. Continue reading