Category Archives: District II – Kathy Blueford-Daniels

HISD community celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week in creative ways 

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxAxwjkyiWs”]While we always encourage our community to tell teachers how much they’re valued, students, administrators, and staff have rallied around our educators for Teacher Appreciation Week to celebrate their tireless dedication.

Inspirational and emotional messages of thanks and encouragement flooded the district’s social media channels, including tear-jerking moments caught on video as students told their teachers how much they mean to them. Continue reading →

Teach Forward Houston fellows commit to four-year teaching program 

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Some 60 seniors from 31 HISD high schools on Tuesday pledged to become teachers and return to the district to teach in four years as part of the prestigious Teach Forward Houston program.

“I will commit to my studies at the University of Houston in order to enter my classroom with the foundational knowledge, skills, and mindsets necessary to maximize student achievement and character development,” they recited in unison at Teach Forward Houston’s inaugural signing day celebration on May 3 in the Hattie Mae White board auditorium.

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Bond community meetings scheduled at five schools in May, June   

Project updates planned for Jordan, Austin, Lamar, Kashmere high schools, Askew Elementary School

The Houston Independent School District has scheduled five community meetings over the next month to provide updates on the status of bond construction projects.

The meetings are part of the district’s commitment to keeping each community updated during the different stages of their bond project: planning, design, and construction.

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Who is your teacher hero? 

Teacher-Appreciation-Instagram-Banner-800px-800pxShare your photos, videos, and messages on social media 

While they may not wear capes, HISD teachers truly are real-life superheroes. As part of National Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6), HISD is asking students, parents, and staff to thank a teacher hero in their lives and share out on social media.

Take a picture with your favorite teacher (past or present) or take a picture of your child with his or her favorite teacher and post on social media using the hashtags #HISDHero and #ThankATeacher. If your favorite teacher is not nearby, take a selfie holding a piece of paper with a simple message thanking that teacher who made a difference in your life.

Or better yet, surprise an HISD teacher using your camera cell phone and tell them why they are your teacher hero. Check out the video below and watch as Westbury High School students give a surprise thank you to their teachers and even their principal.

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HISD will be sharing the posts on its own social media channels, so be sure to follow us on Twitter @HoustonISD and like us at Facebook.com/HoustonISD.

 

 

Lemonade Day gives students the opportunity to envision themselves as entrepreneurs

More than 4,000 Houston Independent School District elementary and middle school students will set up shop this weekend with creative lemonade stands to learn more about how to start, own and operate their own business.

Lemonade Day, officially scheduled for Sunday, is a citywide hands-on learning program sponsored by Prepared 4 Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the empowerment of middle-school-age children. The organization aims to teach students how to become successful entrepreneurs with a strategic 14-step process, which encompasses the ideas of spending, saving, and sharing with the community. HISD students will participate in Lemonade Day activities on Friday and Sunday.

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Community gathers for dedication of new addition at Katherine Smith Elementary

Katherine Smith Elementary School students, staff, parents, and community members gathered at the campus Wednesday morning to celebrate the completion of and officially dedicate the third and final phase of the school’s new building addition.

The construction project included a new library and a multi-purpose cafeteria/auditorium space, which also can be used for a gymnasium. Previous segments of the project, which were part of the 2002 and 2007 bond programs, included Phase 1 construction of 26 classrooms and Phase 2 construction of remaining classrooms, ancillary, special education and administrative offices.

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Student leaders welcomed about 75 attendees in the new auditorium, where they kicked-off the dedication with student performances by the K. Smith Choir and the Second Grade Scholars.

“We are so excited to finally see our new school completed,” Katherine Smith fifth grader Reneijah Richardson told the crowd.

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HISD staff, students lend a hand during severe flooding across the city 

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In the wake of historic flooding across the Houston area this week, the HISD community has rallied to help in a number of ways, including assisting with the bus evacuations of residents in the Greenspoint area and setting up two school-based shelters on a moment’s notice.

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It’s a year of victories for North Forest HS, on the field and in the classroom  

NorthForestTrack

The North Forest High School track team recently won the District 20-5A state championship.

It’s all good news at North Forest High School this year. Most recently, their track team won the District 20-5A championship, and earlier this year, the undefeated football team—the Bulldogs—was district champion. The Bulldogs also were the UIL bi-district champions, with five players receiving all-state honors. Coach Mike Ferrell won District 20-5A coach of the year, and 30 of his players were all-district.

The North Forest boy’s and girls’ basketball teams qualified for the playoffs, and Sonny Cousin was nominated for McDonald’s All-American team, an honor bestowed only on the nation’s best high school basketball players. The volleyball team had the best season in school history, and the inaugural North Forest wrestling team had four students qualify for regionals.

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7 HISD schools named winners of SAT promotional campaigns

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Representative from HISD’s College Readiness department and The College Board spent most of Friday driving across Houston to surprise 11th-grade students at seven high schools who were named winners of the School Day Incentive program.

The purpose of the program is to increase student participation and scores for the School Day SAT on April 12, thereby increasing student access to higher education and money for college. Two contests were introduced through the incentive: the You Khan Do It Scholarship and the Best SAT Campaign Ever. Students were encouraged to participate in taking the SAT for a chance to earn scholarships toward college-bound materials or activities.

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HISD Scholars Banquet honors Class of 2016 valedictorians and salutatorians

HISD Scholars Banquet honors Class of 2016 valedictorians and salutatorians HISD paid tribute to 99 high school seniors at the top of their class at the annual Scholars Banquet on April 12 at the Westin Oaks Galleria. In addition to their outstanding academic achievements, these valedictorians and salutatorians have already garnered more than $10 million in scholarships and financial aid offers.

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