Category Archives: District VII – Bridget Wade

‘Chicken Soup’ books to feed students’ reading appetite

Students at Poe ES pose with Principal Jeff Amerson and their new books.

Students at Poe ES pose with Principal Jeff Amerson and their new books.

A new partnership between the Boniuk Foundation and Chicken Soup for the Soul is helping students in HISD and across Harris County to develop more cultural awareness while simultaneously building their literacy skills.

The partnership kicked off on May 14 at Poe Elementary School, where a group of students gathered to open boxes of books that were being delivered to the libraries of every school in Harris County.

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Hundreds of seniors receive associate’s degrees alongside diplomas

Members of the HAIS Class of 2015

Members of the HAIS Class of 2015

A high school diploma looks better when it’s next to an associate’s degree.

That’s why several HISD campuses offer students the opportunity to obtain an Associate of Arts or an Associate of Science degree from Houston Community College while they’re still in high school. More than 300 HISD seniors met the challenge this year, enabling them to graduate with an associate’s degree as well as a diploma.

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Students celebrate excellent attendance and more at superhero bash

Lee High School hosted their fifth annual Perfect Attendance Outstanding Student Bash on May 21, 2015. More than 250 students were honored for attendance, academic improvement, and making the honor roll. Each student received an award certificate to commemorate his or her accomplishment.

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Twenty-two HISD schools get free art supplies from Rodrigue Foundation

FieldES_RodrigueBlueDog_400aStudents at almost two dozen HISD schools are now better able to explore the visual arts, after their campuses won art supply kits valued at $1,000 each from the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). The schools received the kits after submitting grant requests to George’s Art Closest, an initiative of the organization named for the well-known Louisiana-based artist who created “Blue Dog.”

Up to 20 campuses also got free field trips to a temporary exhibit of Rodrigue’s artwork at West Avenue at River Oaks, 2800 Kirby Dr., second floor, and Adrienne Lewis’ third-grade math class at Field Elementary School even received a visit from the artist’s son, Jacques Rodrigue, on May 18. Continue reading

Grady MS student named myON’s third ‘Reader Leader’

Grady MS seventh-grader Prabin Panta with HISD Curriculum Specialist Cynthia Gonzalez and Library Services Manager Liz Philippi. Photo courtesy Muses3, LLC.

Grady MS seventh-grader Prabin Panta with HISD Curriculum Specialist Cynthia Gonzalez and Library Services Manager Liz Philippi. Photo courtesy Muses3, LLC.

Prabin Panta, a seventh-grader at Grady Middle School, has been named the third “Reader Leader” by myON for logging the most time spent reading on that website during a particular month.

Prabin read for 97 hours and 22 minutes in myON in April. As a part of his prize, Prabin received a laptop (with computer case) from Muses3, LLC, the representative of myON in southeast Texas. He was formally recognized during a special ceremony held on his campus May 14.

“It was a pleasure meeting Prabin,” said Carl Franklin, account manager with Muses3. “He is a terrific student and an amazing reader. We are delighted that myON is part of his middle school experience.”

Board of Education announces student awards for 2014–2015 school year

Trustee Paula Harris (far L) presents the Board Awards to some of the first graduate from the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy

Trustee Paula Harris (far L) presents the Board Awards to some of the first graduate from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy

Each year, the HISD Board of Education honors distinguished seniors from district high schools in recognition of their accomplishments, as exemplified by their character, academic achievement, leadership, and service.

Selections are made by school-based committees appointed by each principal and the awards are presented by the trustee representing each district during commencement exercises.

One outstanding young man and young woman are selected from each high school, as well as up to five honorable mention students. A list of this year’s award recipients is here (.pdf) and a list of the students receiving honorable mention is here (.pdf).

Teachers of the Year for 2015 announced at HISD Celebration of Excellence

HISD held its fourth annual Celebration of Excellence at the Hilton Americas Hotel on May 15, 2015, and one of the evening’s most exciting moments came when the district’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year were announced.

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Robert Uzick, a fourth-grade teacher at Cunningham Elementary School, and Jessica Joseph, a sixth-grade math teacher at Hogg Middle School, have been named the winners of these awards for 2015. Continue reading

HISD schools sweep recycling bin decorating contest

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He may have cardboard for horns and empty plastic water bottles for brains, but that hasn’t stopped the Milby High School mascot from making a big impression on visitors to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092).

Students from that school’s Peace Club decorated a 96-gallon recycling bin from the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department as part of an art contest called “Growing Up Recycling,” and their submission won the $500 first prize. Continue reading

Read Houston Read volunteers recognized for service to students

In 71 hours, a person can ride a bicycle from Paris, France, to Brest and back or complete 48 orbits of planet earth. For Mimie Taylor, who was honored at Thursday’s Read Houston Read Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast, those 71 hours were best spent helping first-graders improve their reading skills at Garcia Elementary School.

“Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to Read Houston Read and my scholars,” said Taylor brightly.

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HISD, Arts Access Initiative partnership to expand arts education in 11 schools

The Houston Independent School District and the City of Houston’s Arts Access Initiative joined forces Tuesday to announce a new partnership that will provide additional arts education programs at 10 elementary schools and one middle school.

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The partnership will directly connect schools to area arts organizations, providing 7,000 students with hands-on, arts-related experiences both in and out of the classroom. In addition to workshops and programs offered at the school, students also will have the opportunity to see performances and visit museums and arts venues.   Continue reading