Category Archives: Elementary Schools

Gobble! Gobble! Elementary schools celebrate Thanksgiving

Elementary schools throughout HISD celebrated Thanksgiving a week early by inviting families to enjoy lunch together.

Students and their relatives feasted on turkey and gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potato cake, and other traditional dishes.

Take a look at photos from several HISD schools:

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000K4jTm40Nsq4″ g_name=”Elementary-Thanksgiving-Lunch” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Will you read to me? Read Houston Read mentors still needed

As a mother, HISD senior executive secretary Fatima Barnett remembers trips to the library and reading with her own children, who are now young adults and avid readers. That’s why she jumped at the chance to read to children at Woodson K-8 as part of the district’s Read Houston Read campaign.

[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/112221757″ responsive=”no”]

“Since we as employees are advocates for education, this should be an extension of all that we encompass,” said Barnett. “Volunteering for Read Houston Read is a great way to show our commitment.”

Barnett is just one of the many volunteers who are signing up to read to district first-graders through the program. By giving a child a half-hour to an hour of reading time, volunteers can encourage a lifetime love of literature. Continue reading →

Fund for Teachers helps Garden Oaks educator renew her adventurous spirit

Deadline to apply for next year’s Fund for Teacher grants is Thursday, Jan. 29

When Shana Steinhardt applied for a Fund for Teachers grant earlier this year, she did so for a very specific reason.

Garden Oaks Montessori teacher Shana Steinhardt milks a camel (or a yak) while on a trip to Mongolia this summer. The trip was underwritten by a grant from Fund for Teachers.

Garden Oaks Montessori teacher Shana Steinhardt milks a yak while on a trip to Mongolia this summer. The trip was underwritten by a grant from Fund for Teachers.

“After 15 years of teaching, I risked becoming stagnant,” said the Garden Oaks Montessori social studies teacher. So to expand her knowledge of Asian culture, history, and ecology, Steinhardt traveled to the steppes of Mongolia, where she met with six different herding families living a nomadic lifestyle.

Continue reading →

Students learning how to pick ‘just-right’ books as part of Literacy by 3

HISD students learn the ‘five finger rule’ to ensure their selections aren’t too hard or too easy

HISD’s Literacy By 3 movement is now well underway, and teachers across the district are using fun and innovative methods to share critical concepts with students, such as the importance of choosing a “just-right” book to avoid frustration or lack of growth.

Continue reading →

T.H. Rogers students celebrate Diwali

T.H. Rogers students celebrated Diwali – the Hindu festival of lights – in a special program held on Nov. 14.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000HJBhqwilPTs” g_name=”TH-Rogers-Diwali” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ] Continue reading →

Take it outside Nov. 17–21 and observe SPARK Week

HISD will be observing SPARK (School Park) Week Nov. 17–21, 2014, with the opening of brand-new school parks at four different campuses, so come join district and community members as they celebrate the occasion with refreshments, entertainment, and lots of fun!

Below is a schedule of the opening ceremonies: Continue reading →

eNews Highlight: Furr HS alumna on the value of ‘the road less-traveled’

EMERGE graduate gives advice on the importance of taking risks in this week’s edition

Graduating seniors face a dizzying array of choices when considering a college to attend. In addition to selecting programs and possible majors, students have to decide whether to stay close to home or leave everything familiar behind by enrolling in a university thousands of miles away.

Continue reading →

Community generosity helps Rodriguez ES ‘Get in the Game’ with new soccer field

Rodriguez Elementary School students, along with the Gulfton-area community, now have a new soccer field, thanks to the generosity and fundraising efforts of the Dreambuilders Foundation and United Healthcare. The two groups joined forces with Houston Texans player Chris Myers for a campus celebration on Nov. 11.

[su_youtube url=”http://youtu.be/6wy6NHwybEU” responsive=”no”]

Due to the weather, the rededication ceremony was conducted indoors, but despite the change in plans, Myers was able to create an indoor soccer challenge for the kids and talk to them about the importance of good health habits and being physically fit. Continue reading →

Briargrove students enter solar-powered project in national contest

hydroplanterBriargrove Elementary School students are once again being considered for a national award for their efforts to build a greener campus and maintain a healthy environment.

As part of HISD’s recent Green Apple Day of Service, the school has entered their solar-powered hydro-planter project into the 2014 National Reuse Contest, sponsored by The Reuse People of America.

Continue reading →