Category Archives: District VII – Bridget Wade

Three classrooms added to Pilgrim Academy expansion

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Three new classrooms are being added to the current expansion of Pilgrim Academy as part of a plan allowing forecasted bond surplus funds to be used for outstanding needs at bond campuses across the district.

The new plan, approved last month by the HISD Board of Education, set aside an additional $842,000 for Pilgrim.

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New year, new school for Wisdom HS

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Armed with cell phones, six juniors from Wisdom High School teemed with enthusiasm as they wandered through their nearly completed new school, snapping pictures and selfies along the way.

“I feel like I’m getting a makeover,” junior Awah Bodunrin said, giggling as she and her classmates made their way through the new facility.

Bodunrin is a member of Wisdom’s upcoming 2017-2018 Senior Committee, a senior leadership group that got an early look at the new school, which is set to open in time for the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

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Engineering firm awards $30,000 to improve Benavidez ES library

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Jacobs, an engineering firm, presented Benavidez Elementary School with a check for $30,000 to use to buy books and furniture for the school’s library. Jacobs has been partnering with Benavidez for nearly 25 years in a number of ways, including tutoring students and supporting teachers.

“Thank you so much for your generous donation to help improve our students’ reading,” said Principal Zabeth Parra-Malek. “If they can read, they can do math, science, social studies, technology, anything. Look around—can you imagine what this library will look like with all those books?”  Continue reading →

Texan Proud: Lamar HS ushers in groundbreaking for 80-year anniversary

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Eighty Lamar High School graduates armed with shovels lined the school’s front lawn on Thursday, eager to break ground on a new campus as they celebrated the 80th anniversary of their beloved alma mater.

Graduates spanning eight decades each had the opportunity to dig into the dirt, formally marking the start of construction on the $108 million project.

“This is an exciting day for us,” said Lamar Principal James McSwain. “It’s a day that the school community has been looking forward to for many years.”

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Three HISD students competing in WITS slam poetry contest 

Meta-Four Houston team semi-finalists.

Writers in the Schools (WITS) will hold its Space City Grand Slam poetry finals at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 2, at Discovery Green – where three HISD students are among 10 semi-finalists competing to be on the WITS Meta-Four Houston team.

Six finalists will go on to represent Houston at the 20th annual Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Festival in the San Francisco Bay Area in July.   Continue reading →

Online tool to help develop character, good choices launches at Pilgrim Academy 

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Student also wins two Super Bowl tickets from United Way through essay contest 

A new online course designed to help students develop character and engage in healthy relationships debuted Friday, Feb. 3, at Pilgrim Academy with much fanfare. The NFL, the Houston Texans, the United Way of Houston, United Way Worldwide, and Verizon came together to launch Character Playbook, which was developed by education technology innovator Everfi, Inc.

Character Playbook is designed for middle-school students and teaches character education and how to communicate effectively, understand and manage emotions, and resolve conflicts. Prior to an assembly, there was an opportunity to talk with students working the program in a computer classroom.

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View bond construction progress up close and online – no hard hat required

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Anyone interested in viewing construction progress at HISD bond schools may only need an internet connection, as web cameras are being installed at several sites to make daily update photos available to everyone.

Program management firm Rice & Gardner Consultants recently began installing online web cams at several of the schools for which they provide project management services. Currently three projects, Wilson Montessori, HSPVA, and High School for Law and Justice, have cameras up and running with live internet links. Others are expected to come online in the coming months as more construction gets underway.

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HISD Board of Education elects new officers

District IX Trustee Wanda Adams named 2017 president

The HISD Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday to name District IX Trustee Wanda Adams president for 2017.

A Kashmere High School graduate, Adams was first elected to the school board in 2013. She previously served six years on the Houston City Council.

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Mark White ES holds grand opening ceremony 

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At the grand opening celebration of the school that bears his name, Gov. Mark White acknowledged the significance of having new building dedicated in his honor.

“It’s exciting. But what gets me so thrilled is looking at the faces of the children who go to Mark White Elementary,” he said. “It’s going to be an exciting place for children to come and learn.”

Nearly 250 people shared in his enthusiasm on Tuesday as they crowded into the new cafeteria to attend the official grand opening ceremony for Mark White Elementary School — one of first six schools completed under the 2012 Bond Program.

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Grand openings planned this week for Mark White, Condit elementary schools

Mark White and Condit elementary schools will hold grand opening ceremonies this week to celebrate and showcase their new facilities, which were constructed as part of the voter-approved 2012 Bond Program.

The two new schools were among the first 2012 bond projects to be completed, opening their doors to students in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year.

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