Category Archives: District VIII – Judith Cruz

What’s afoot? Rival HISD HS bands are playing the same tune for special appearance

The Austin High School Sonic Boom and Milby High School Marching Thunder will join the University of Houston Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band to kick off the East End Street Fest from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, October 25 along Navigation Blvd.

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The bands practiced this week for Afoot! A Marching Band Extravaganza, a choreographed, artistic performance. The experience, while fun for the dedicated musicians, also builds character and a solid work ethic, emphasizes teamwork, and helps prepare them for life. Continue reading →

U.S. Dept. of Education checks out HISD’s Linked Learning

Visit by U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Nadya Chinoy Dabby, to Eastwood Academy. (Houston Independent School District)

Nadya Chinoy Dabby visited Eastwood Academy on Oct. 22, 2014.

U.S. Department of Education Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Nadya Chinoy Dabby, toured Eastwood Academy and visited several HISD Apollo 20 campuses Wednesday. She visited the campuses to see the progress that has been made through the federal Race to The Top grant that HISD was awarded 10 months ago.

The $30 million grant is helping to fund the district’s new Linked Learning approach that places real-life career experiences in the classroom. The initiative launched this school year beginning with 40 schools. Continue reading →

New Energy Institute High School to feature innovative spaces

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How do you build a school so it doesn’t look like a school? And why?

The Project Advisory Team at Energy Institute High School has spent a lot of time coming up with answers as they plan and design a $37 million campus for the nation’s first school dedicated exclusively to energy studies.

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Carnegie Vanguard HS wins top prize at UIL academics meet

More than 400 students from 14 Houston ISD schools participated in a UIL academics meet, the first of the 2014-2015 season, at Lee High School on Oct. 18.

Academics meets are held throughout the school year. They include character-building educational activities and emphasize good sportsmanship and fair play.

Here are the winners: Continue reading →

Emerge recruiting students to prepare for college at top universities

A group of Eastwood Academy 10th and 11th graders learned what it takes to be in HISD’s Emerge program, which helps prepare high school students to receive college acceptances and scholarships to the nation’s top colleges and universities.

“We’re looking for students who aren’t afraid to work hard and show their drive,” said Emerge program manager Karthik Soora at an Emerge information session Tuesday at Eastwood.

Emerge is holding information sessions this month at various high schools across the district to encourage more students to apply for the program. The deadline for students to submit an Emerge application is Nov. 1. Continue reading →

Brian Ching is the face of Read Houston Read in new public service announcement

The Houston Dynamo and Dash professional soccer teams are official sponsors of HISD’s Read Houston Read volunteer program, and their most visible face is helping to recruit reader-mentors.

Brian Ching, longtime star with the Dynamo and the U.S. Men’s National Team and now managing director of the Dash women’s team, has recorded a public service announcement seeking volunteers for Read Houston Read.

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Ching spent a day with students at The Rusk School near BBVA Compass Stadium, where the Dynamo and Dash play, to read with them and record the message. Continue reading →

A college visit to Texas A&M sparks students’ drive to succeed

The cadets in uniform, the large buildings, the football stadium, and students skateboarding and riding bicycles to class were some of the first things Yates High School senior Jason Covarrubias noticed upon arriving on the campus of Texas A&M University.

Until last week, he had never visited a college outside of Houston.

“I could go by myself on a college visit, but I’d be lost in the process,” he said. “My parents probably couldn’t go with me because they have to work, and I work on the weekends. So for HISD to do this, I really appreciate it.”

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HISD took about 120 12th graders to College Station last week to visit Texas A&M. Students from Davis, Furr, Kashmere, North Forest, Worthing, and Yates high schools and Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy boarded charter buses as early as 6:30 a.m. to participate in the day-long trip. Continue reading →

HSPVA community hears about construction, final design plans for new building

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About 25 parents, staff and community members gathered for a final meeting to go over the construction process and design plans for the new High School for Performing and Visual Arts on Tuesday. HSPVA is one of 40 schools throughout HISD that will be rebuilt or renovated under the 2012 bond program.

Continue reading →

Construction activity ramping up for Group 1 schools in 2012 bond

Bond WaltripThe construction phase for the 17 schools in Group 1 of the 2012 bond is gearing up, and this means that all of the work, previously being done behind the scenes, will move front and center.

To prepare sites for construction, a number of schools are undergoing demolition, utility work, and installation of fencing and other safety measures. Throughout this part of the project, construction firms have committed to implement strict safety procedures and to minimize the impact on students and the community.

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Fulbright award winner takes advice to heart: cultivate relationships

HISD social studies teacher Joseph Olan poses with Jeremy Lee (Punggol View Primary School, Singapore) outside The Rusk School earlier this month. Both are 2014 recipients of the Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching.

Since receiving a Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching two months ago, social studies teacher Joseph Olan has not wasted any time.

The veteran educator, who also serves as The Rusk School’s Literacy By 3 team leader, has already made plans to work on a joint project with his counterpart in Singapore, Jeremy Lee, and he is cultivating additional partnerships with Fulbright award winners from Finland and Morocco.

“Orientation was in August,” explained Olan, “and all of us were put together for one week in D.C. The one thing that Fulbright officials kept emphasizing was to talk to each other, to collaborate and develop these relationships, because they will continue even if you leave the classroom (for an administrative position). I met Jeremy there and became very close to him. We have a similar mindset. We have talked four or five times a week ever since.” Continue reading →