Category Archives: Elementary Schools

HISD, Barbara Bush Foundation team up to tackle literacy crisis

The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation on Thursday unveiled a plan of action to boost literacy rates across people of all ages, and is partnering with the Houston Independent School District and other organizations to make literacy a top priority.

“We will not end the cycle of poverty until we end the cycle of low literacy,” said Bush Foundation President Julie Baker Finck in unveiling “Houston’s Literacy Crisis: A Blueprint for Community Action.”

“The blueprint’s purpose is to increase awareness of Houston’s prevalent literacy crisis, elevate literacy as a top priority, and mobilize the community into action,” she said.

The announcement follows the presentation of HISD’s comprehensive literacy plan – Literacy By 3 – to the Board of Education at a workshop last week. The plan engages students, teachers, parents, and community members around the goal of having every student reading with proficiency by Grade 3.

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2,000 HISD students to compete in Special Olympics field days

Nearly 2,000 Houston ISD students will gather at Barnett Stadium, 6800 Fairway Dr., next week to participate in field days hosted by the district and Special Olympics Texas.

The events are for students who have intellectual disabilities. This is the second year the field days have been held. More than 1,300 students participated last year.

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Odyssey of the Mind teams from 6 schools earn trip to world finals

Six Houston ISD schools have Odyssey of the Mind teams that advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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7 HISD Odyssey of the Mind teams earn trip to world finals

Seven Houston ISD Odyssey of the Mind teams advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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District plan to consolidate Dodson and Blackshear continues

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday voted to table indefinitely an agenda item to cancel the consolidation of Dodson Elementary with Blackshear, the Rusk School and Lantrip elementary schools. The 5-3 vote comes after much debate on the topic and a move by board members who brought the item back to the agenda late last week. Trustee Paula Harris was absent from the meeting.

“Despite being unpopular and difficult, school consolidations represent opportunities to strengthen schools,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “Tonight’s vote will allow us to continue the work we are doing to ensure that Blackshear is a Montessori-friendly facility that is ready for students in the fall.”

Last month the board voted to repurpose Jones High School into a specialized Futures Academy. Trustees also voted 5 to 4 to close Dodson Elementary.

The Board of Education did not vote on the administration’s proposal to increase funding per-student level by $35 for the upcoming school year. It will appear on next month’s agenda following additional board workshops on the subject.

 

Investigation into testing irregularities at Atherton Elementary School complete

Evidence implicates three teachers in testing improprieties

Independent investigators hired by the Houston Independent School District have released a report outlining their findings regarding charges against test administrators at Charles Atherton Elementary School who have been under investigation.  The report implicates three Atherton teachers of testing improprieties on the spring 2013 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR).

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Another HISD campus to offer International Baccalaureate Program

After a five-year process, Durham Elementary School has received official authorization to operate as International Baccalaureate World School. This authorization brings the district total to 13 IB campuses.

“We find that the framework of the IB Primary Years Programme provides the means to teach the state curriculum in a more meaningful way,” said Durham Elementary School Principal Angie Sugarek. “The proven track record of high standards, academic rigor, character development, and assessment are in line with the vision the community has for our school. We couldn’t be more thrilled to receive our authorization.”

To achieve IB authorization schools must complete two extensive applications and prepare for an onsite authorization visit from an IB-certified team. During the audit process, schools are responsible for training teachers on the International Baccalaureate Program and framework. Typically, the average school takes about three years to become authorized. Durham kicked off its process with a feasibility study during the 2008-2009 school year and moved through several steps including classroom observations by authorizers, reviews of the school’s curriculum, and interviews of faculty, students, parents, the school’s Board of Education representative, and administrators.

Founded in 1968, IB is a non-profit foundation that offers challenging educational programs for students aged 3 to 19 to help develop their intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.

Harvard, Northline, River Oaks, Roberts, and Twain elementary schools; Lanier, Fondren, Hogg and Grady middle schools; and Lamar, Bellaire, and Reagan high schools are authorized to offer IB programs. Other HISD schools in the authorization review process are Briargrove, Briarmeadow Charter, Herrera, Poe, Rodriguez, Rusk, the School at St. George Place, and Wharton.

Lockhart ES principal finalist for H-E-B Excellence in Education Award

Lockhart Elementary School Principal Felicia Adams got a big surprise at a school assembly on Friday – she’s been named a finalist for H-E-B’s Excellence in Education Awards.

H-E-B officials suddenly appeared during the assembly, carrying balloons, flowers, cake and giant check. Adams was awarded $1,000, and the school will receive $2,500.

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Berry Elementary School reaches LEED Silver status

Berry Elementary School reaches LEED Silver status�
Campus is seventh in HISD to reach Silver level of certification for green schools

The U.S. Green Building Council has awarded Berry Elementary School the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver designation, making it Houston ISD’s seventh school to receive that level of certification.

The newly designed environmental studies magnet school, a $15.7 million project built with funds from HISD’s 2007 bond program, has multiple environmental enhancements designed to save energy. The two-story, 86,000-square-foot building features large cisterns that collect rainwater for irrigation, a three-sided courtyard that includes outdoor learning areas and wildflower garden areas for additional science projects, enhanced science laboratories, and large windows in each classroom. Continue reading →

Parker ES students present their wish list for new school

Don’t paint the girls bathroom walls pink was one of many requests from a small group of Parker Elementary School students who wrote a list of 26 must-haves for the design of the new campus.

The students presented the list Wednesday to the school’s architect, sharing ideas for solar panels, automatic sinks, open windows, larger classrooms and music rooms, an updated library with reading zones for different grade levels, and individual spaces for the gym, cafeteria and auditorium.

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