Category Archives: District IX – Myrna Guidry

HISD recognized at Houston Hispanic Forum’s 30th annual Career and Education Day

Thousands of students from across the Houston area, including hundreds from HISD, attended the Houston Hispanic Forum’s massive College and Education Day on Feb. 13, 2016, at the Brown Convention Center.

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Westbury HS holds second community meeting on new addition and renovations

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Westbury High School held its second bond community meeting on Thursday evening to give an update on plans for a new addition and renovations to the campus under the district’s 2012 bond program.

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Bond construction becoming highly visible throughout district

School construction is progressing at a record pace in HISD, and if you’ve spent any time driving in district neighborhoods recently, you have probably spotted one or more of our schools under construction.

With fifteen projects currently in the construction phase, that’s more active construction than at any other time in the district’s history. Many of these projects are well into vertical construction, and visible progress can be seen almost daily.

Check out these latest photos taken the second week of February.

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As the district moves forward with implementation of the $1.89 billion bond program, which was approved by Houston voters in 2012, the bond team expects to have signed construction contracts on an additional six schools by the end of the first quarter of 2016, and nearly all the remaining projects will be bid by the end of 2016.

Phase 1 of the Worthing project will be complete by summer. Schools on track to open in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year include Condit Elementary, Mark White Elementary, North Houston Early College High School, South Early College High School, Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School, and (non-bond) North Forest Early Childhood Center.

The bond program, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools, also includes improvements to district-wide athletics facilities, middle school restroom renovations and significant technology upgrades. HISD is also building some non-bond funded schools: North Forest High School, North Forest Early Childhood Center and the Energy Institute High School.

More information on HISD Building Programs

 

 

Westbury HS staff tells students why they are inspirational

The world is full of stories about teachers who have inspired their students to reach for greatness.

But at HISD’s Westbury High School, campus staff members have turned the tables. Faculty and administrators alike have been stopping Westbury pupils in the hallways to share the many ways they feel inspired by these students to come to school every day and continue the work they do in public education.

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Finalists announced in last round of Read to the Final Four literacy competition

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Of the eight schools that advanced to the Elite Eight, only the Final Four remained standing on Feb. 5, during the Read to the Final Four Literacy Competition pep rally at the University of Houston’s (UH) Hofheinz Pavilion.

After an activity-filled morning that included a dance-off, a science experiment by UH professor Dr. Simon Bott, and lots of cheering (assisted by the UH cheerleaders), the Final Four schools were announced. They are:

  1. Dogan ES
  2. Carrillo ES
  3. Janowski ES
  4. Browning ES

“It was so much fun!” said third-grader Braniya Banks, from top team Dogan Elementary. “All of Dogan helped us log our time to win.”

The Read to the Final Four Literacy Competition began in the fall of 2015, with 6,800 third-graders participating. Since that time, they have logged 6.4 million minutes of reading and, according to the Houston Public Library, checked out more than 5,000 books from its shelves.

Approximately 800 students attended the pep rally, which aimed not just to inspire the students, but to reward them as well for all of their hard work.

The top reader from each of the 68 participating schools will receive a bicycle, courtesy of CYCLE (Changing Young Children’s Lives through Education). The winning school will also receive a monetary award.

“This is a great event,” said Rachel Quan, vice president of External Operations for the Final Four Houston Local Organizing Committee. “It’s the culmination of a lot of different partnerships with the Final Four and the local organizing committee, the NCAA, the Houston Public Library, Cycle, UH and, of course, HISD. There’s a lot of folks involved in seeing that these third-graders get more excited about reading.”

The remaining four schools will continue competing until the final event in April, when the top school will be announced. Students at the other 64 schools should not stop reading, though, as there may be additional prizes for the top individual readers.

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Tinsley ES building ‘Global Graduates’ through leadership council

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A group of 20 students at HISD’s Tinsley Elementary School is getting a head start on middle school, as well as a chance to build their leadership skills, thanks to a new council created by the principal.

Twice each month, 17 fifth-graders and three fourth-graders meet with the principal and faculty sponsors to discuss qualities of the Global Graduate and other subjects of interest, and once a month, they host a dinner for families and distinguished community members. The most recent dinner, held on Jan. 28, featured a special guest — Board of Education First Vice President Wanda Adams.

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Six HISD schools recognized by Touchdown Club for demonstrating good sportsmanship

TouchdownClub2016_800Six high school campuses in HISD were honored recently for their athletes’ consistent demonstration of good sportsmanship during competitions. Austin, Kashmere, Lee, North Forest, Waltrip, and Westbury high schools were all named finalists for the Touchdown Club Houston’s annual Sportsmanship Awards.

“The annual gala rewards high schools for doing things the right way,” said HISD Senior Athletics Program Administrator André Walker. “Squads are judged based on their actions on the field, the actions of the support personnel in the stands, the number of personal fouls and unsportsmanlike fouls, and respect for the American flag.”

The schools were formally recognized during the Touchdown Club’s 11th annual luncheon held on Jan. 28.

Seven bond schools planning community meetings in first quarter

Updates will be provided on design plans and project status for each campus

Community meetings have been scheduled during the first quarter for the following seven bond schools, to inform stakeholders of project plans to rebuild or renovate their campus as part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program. Attendees will hear from project architects and other team members and will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Meeting times and locations

SCHOOL DATE ADDRESS
Garden Oaks Montessori Tues., Feb. 2, 7:00 p.m. 901 Sue Barnett
Askew Elementary Thurs., Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m. 11200 Wood Lodge
Waltrip High School Tues., Feb. 9, 6:30 p.m. 1900 West 34th St.
Westbury High School Thurs., Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m. 11911 Chimney Rock
Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy Tues., Feb 23, 6:30 p.m. 1906 Cleburne Street
Wilson Montessori Thurs., Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m. 2100 Yupon
Sam Houston MSTC Wed., Mar. 2, 6:30 p.m. 9400 Irvington

More information on HISD building programs

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Westbury HS launches campaign to increase students’ college-readiness

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Students at HISD’s Westbury High School are helping their peers to get —and stay — on the road to higher education, thanks to a new public awareness campaign the campus launched on Jan. 14.

The campaign, called “First One, Reach Higher,” is designed to boost students’ readiness for college, particularly those who are at-risk, first generation students of color.

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