Category Archives: District IX – Myrna Guidry

HISD Board president to host Hispanic Parent Summit with free workshops, resources 

Wanda Adams, HISD Board of Education President and District IX Trustee, will host a parent summit to provide Hispanic families with access to information and resources to prepare them to support their kids’ academic achievement.

The  free event will take place on Saturday, April 8 at Grissom Elementary School (4900 Simsbrook, Houston 77045) with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a parent panel and various workshops aimed to help parents and caregivers influence their children’s education. Parents will also be able to have their children screened for dyslexia, receive assistance completing FAFSA/TAFSA applications, learn about selecting the best schools for their kids, and much more.  Continue reading →

Rain or shine: Parker ES makes headway despite weather delays  

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Construction on the new Parker Elementary School — Houston’s original music magnet — is almost 25 percent complete with the steel structure already in place and build-out of the interior walls underway.

“Things were very slow in the beginning due to rainy weather, but since the walls have gone up, things have been moving along quite quickly, said Parker Principal Lori Frodine. “We prefer a quality job rather than a rushed job, so we are very happy to see that.”

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Celebrating Read Across America with Dr. Seuss

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This year’s Read Across America day fell on Dr. Seuss’s 113th birthday, and Anderson Elementary School went all out to celebrate the beloved author and the 20th annual Read Across America day. Some three dozen volunteers were honored at a breakfast of green eggs and ham, and other breakfast treats before spreading out to various classrooms to read Dr. Seuss books to students.

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New Westbury HS video stresses vital role parents play in student success 

It’s all about family at Westbury High School, and parents are a big part of the school’s extended family.

With 2,200 students, Principal Susan Monaghan counts on parents to help with whatever needs to be done.

“It’s important for parents to be part of what we do every day at Westbury,” she says in a new video. “That’s the only way we can become a top school.”

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Westbury HS community gathers to break ground on new addition, renovation 

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Westbury High School Principal Susan Monaghan flashed a smile as she grabbed a shovel adorned with a bright blue bow and dug it into the dirt at her feet.

Flanked by district, campus and bond project officials, Monaghan then lifted her shovel and turned it over, letting clumps of dirt fall to the ground in a ceremonial groundbreaking marking the start of construction at the campus.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this history-making event at Westbury High School,” Monaghan said as she kicked off the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday.

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Groundbreaking ceremonies planned for Westbury HS, Garden Oaks Montessori

Westbury High School and Garden Oaks Montessori will hold groundbreaking ceremonies this week to celebrate the start of construction on their campuses as part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

Westbury is set to receive a new two-story addition and renovations to the existing building to accommodate 2,300 to 2,500 students. The new $40 million facility will feature 26 new classrooms that will replace current portable buildings, flexible learning centers, a commons area designed to serve a dual purpose as both a dining and gathering space, and two gymnasiums. New baseball and softball fields were included in an early phase of the project and already have been completed. Continue reading →

Hundreds gather to dedicate, celebrate new Delmar Fieldhouse 

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Standing before hundreds of cheering fans packed into the stands at the new Delmar Fieldhouse, HISD Board President Wanda Adams began to pump up the crowd.

“We need to get this party started! Are y’all ready?” she hollered, clapping her hands above her head as she led the fans in a celebratory cheer. Continue reading →

Westbury HS ready to start construction

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Westbury High School held a bond community meeting on Wednesday to go over final design plans and provide an overview of what students, staff, and neighbors can expect during construction, which starts this month.

As part of HISD’s voter-approved, 2012 bond program, the school is set to receive a new, two-story addition, general renovations to the existing building, and new athletics facilities. The new facility will accommodate 2,300 to 2,500 students.

“It’s taken a lot of planning to get to this point, but we’re ready to move forward with construction,” said Westbury Principal Susan Monaghan. “We plan to officially break ground next week.” Continue reading →

Sandwich created by Westside HS students scores spot on Super Bowl LI menu

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The judges have spoken. After a Westside High School student chef team competed this week for one of two sandwich creations to be served at Super Bowl LI, it was the Bayou City Banh Mi that scored the most points.

The sandwich – created by Westside High School culinary arts students Dominique Jackson, Michelle Meadows, and Vivian Romero – was a success with media outlets and attendees at the official presentation held at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Tuesday.

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HISD Trustees and Superintendent heading to Austin to discuss school finance solutions

Members of the HISD Board of Education and Superintendent Richard Carranza will spend two full days in Austin this week, collaborating with top state leaders to address changes to Texas’ school finance system.

Board President Wanda Adams, trustees Anna Eastman, Michael Lunceford, and Rhonda Skillern-Jones, along with Superintendent Richard Carranza will have scheduled meetings on Wednesday and Thursday with state leaders and members of HISD’s legislative delegation in Austin.

“The HISD Board of Education and administration are united in our desire to work constructively with our state leaders to identify funding solutions that put children first,” Adams said. “We all agree that Texas’ school finance system was never intended to take classroom resources from our state’s most needy children.” Continue reading →