Category Archives: District VII – Bridget Wade

New campus for Lamar HS makes design progress

Lamar High School is receiving a new $107.9 million school, and construction is scheduled to begin by the end of this summer.

The new campus will support the school’s IB program and Business Administration program with a four-story academic wing and adjacent athletics facility, various levels of interior renovation to the existing historic building, a new multi-level parking garage, larger athletics fields, and the preservation of the park-like front lawn on Westheimer Road.

Construction is set to be substantially complete the third quarter of 2018.

Photo gallery of HISD building projects

New Mandarin school building is taking shape

Construction on the new Mandarin school is well underway, and the new school is slated to open in August 2016.

The building is now topped out and dried in, which means that inclement weather will be less likely to impact the overall schedule.

The new year will bring a focus to finishing all the interior spaces for a June turnover to the district in preparation for equipment and furniture installation.

Photo gallery of HISD building projects

Grady MS building project near completion

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Grady is receiving a new $14.8 million addition to complete the multi-phase master plan for the campus that was begun with funds from the 2007 bond.

The project, which is nearing completion with a target move-in of first quarter 2016, features a core classroom wing with 24 classrooms, six science labs, six learning commons, and three administrative suites. Student capacity at the school will be expanded from 580 to 850.

Photo gallery of HISD building projects

New Pilgrim Academy K-8 making progress in design phase

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Pilgrim Academy K-8 is receiving $7.9 million addition for a campus accommodating 750 to 900 students.

The school held its first community meeting in August to share preliminary design concepts and gather feedback.

Under the current proposal, the addition would include classroom spaces, a science lab, flexible learning areas and teacher work spaces. The new building project is expected to replace most of the temporary buildings now in use. The current design also includes plans to renovate the multi-purpose room to become a gymnasium that can accommodate a middle school athletics program.

The project is finalizing schematic development, and another community meeting will be held in early to mid-2016. The project is expected to go out for bid by the end of 2016, with a target completion in third quarter of 2017.

Photo gallery of HISD building projects

Lee HS building project goes vertical

Lee High School’s new building project reached a significant milestone in December, as workers on the site began installation of steel beams and columns, marking the start of vertical construction.

As part of HISD’s bond program, Lee HS is slated to receive a $73.8 million school to accommodate 1,700 to 1,900 students. The new 240,000-square-foot facility will include state-of-the-art technology with flexibility to allow for future upgrades.

The two-story building will be divided into four neighborhood wings with open spaces and plenty of windows to maximize natural light.

The main entrance to the school will remain on the north, so the campus will keep its historical Beverly Hill address. It will also feature a light-filled atrium, internal courtyard, large dinning commons and a natatorium.

Students will continue to attend classes in the existing building throughout construction. Once the new building is complete, the current building will be demolished then new athletic fields and additional parking will be built on that site.

Construction is targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2017.

HISD student among nation’s top 10 summer readers through myON

Apurba Roy

Apurba Roy

Apurba Roy, an eighth-grade student at Grady Middle School, has been named one of the top 10 readers in the nation by myON, for logging more than 140 hours on that reading website over the summer break.

As a part of her prize, Apurba received a $50 gift card from Muses3, LLC, the representative of myON in Southeast Texas. She was formally recognized during a special ceremony held on Nov. 18 at her campus.

“There were tens of thousands of students competing in the secondary category, and Apurba placed in the top 10, but that isn’t the whole picture,” said Dr. Carl Franklin, myON account manager. “Her reading was part of a very busy summer schedule. She volunteered at her school for a month, worked with us on activities related to her ambassadorship, and then visited relatives in India for several weeks. She is truly an exceptional student.” Continue reading →

Briargrove ES encourages community to use ‘feet – not fuel’ to get to school

The Briargrove Elementary School community is on a mission to keep the city of Houston beautiful and to help students start their day in a fun, active way with their Walk-Bike-Scoot-Carpool to School program.

On the last Friday of each month, students, staff, administrators and parents lace up their walking shoes, ride a bike, hop on a non-motorized scooter, or carpool to school in an effort to keep as many cars off the road as possible and improve air quality.

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Nine schools to participate in Marching Band Festival Oct. 6

Nine HISD high school bands will be strutting their stuff in the district’s eighth annual Marching Band Festival on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

The festival gives bands the opportunity to receive feedback on their music quality, sections, music effects, visual effects, and visual performance. The critiques will help the bands prepare for future performances and events.

Participating schools include: Continue reading →

Schools host fourth annual Green Apple Day of Service

Students, parents, staff, and community members throughout HISD celebrated the fourth annual Green Apple Day of Service on Saturday by hosting beautification service projects that promote healthy and productive learning environments.

Green Apple Day of Service, sponsored by The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, is a designated day where school communities throughout the nation come together to work on projects favorable to the environment.

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Wilson Montessori K-8 community learns more about proposed renovations, new addition

Parents, neighbors, and HISD administrators on Monday gathered at Wilson Montessori K-8 for the first of three community meetings to discuss a proposed new addition and renovations to the school under the 2012 bond program.

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