The Consulate-General of Japan in Houston recently presented HISD with a $28,000 Japan Foundation grant to support the Japanese language program at Johnston Middle School. The check was awarded during a reception welcoming students from Chiba, Japan, who visited Houston Aug. 16 to 29 as part of the Japan America Society of Houston’s Houston-Chiba Youth Exchange program.
Category Archives: Elementary Schools
Principals Share Strategies to Increase Attendance
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/73789259 w=320&h=205]
From friendly campus competitions to going door to door in their communities, HISD schools are getting creative in ways to increase student attendance. September is Attendance Awareness Month, and HISD is joining school districts around the nation to deliver the message that attendance matters for success in school and in life, and that too many absences can easily add up to academic trouble.
At the monthly HISD principals’ meeting on September 4, school leaders shared what they are doing to reward students who come to school every day, and how they are reaching out to those who are having attendance issues.
HISD Teacher Recognized by Jamie Oliver for Promoting Healthy Foods
Kellie Karavias, a culinary arts teacher and garden educator at Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, who teachers her students how to grow, harvest and cook healthy foods, has been highlighted as a Food Revolution Hero on Chef Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution website. “Food Heroes” are people across the country who combine their passion for food with innovative ways to promote fresh, healthy foods in their communities.
“One out of three kids is obese, because they are living on chips and fast food,” Karavias said. “If they make a big enough garden, they can feed their entire family.” Her culinary program begins with the organic school garden, where science, math, nutrition, reading, and physical activity are integrated into lesson plans. It continues in the “culinary classroom,” where students produce nutritious meals in a safe, kid-friendly environment. The students also market and sell their produce to Whole Kids Farmers Markets at Whole Foods Market—Montrose.
Target Makes Generous Donation to HISD’s Apollo 20 THINK Literacy Libraries
Grant to benefit more than 60 first grade classrooms libraries
The Houston Independent School District has received a significant donation from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to fund the THINK Literacy program at the Apollo 20 elementary schools in support of the district’s efforts to increase achievement in literacy. The grant will provide books for more than 60 first-grade classroom libraries at the 11 campuses on September 4.
Hartsfield ES Kicks off New School Year With Community Walk
In order to foster relationships between school and community, Hartsfield ES reached out to more than 350 homes during the first-ever Welcome Back Community Walk. It was an opportunity for new Principal Alecia Bell and her staff to interact with students and their families.
Bell launched the theme “Transforming Lives – Creating Leaders” with T-shirts featuring a picture of a transformer that symbolizes the change ahead. Wearing the shirts, the staff went door-to-door introducing themselves and delivering school-enrollment forms, volunteer information, and the school calendar.
Watch Video Featuring First Day of School
HISD TV was out at several campuses for the first day of the 2013-2014 school year. Watch this video to see what the first day was like for students, teachers and administrators.
[vimeo https://vimeo.com/73169755 width=”600px” height=”330px”]
New School Year Brings Excitement, Opportunities for HISD Students
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Monday marked the first day of the new school year for the Houston Independent School District, and everyone—from parents to the superintendent—expressed excitement about what that would mean for students.
Superintendent Terry Grier visited several campuses to welcome students and teachers back to class, including Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan and Thurgood Marshall Elementary School.
Baylor is one of two new secondary campuses opening this fall to offer students a highly specialized curriculum. (See related article on the other one, Energy Institute High School.)
Media Tour of New HISD School
Atherton Elementary is one of two new HISD schools opening Monday
HISD officials will lead the news media on a tour of one of the district’s two new elementary schools for the 2013-2014 school year. Atherton Elementary, in Houston’s historic Fifth Ward, is an 86,000-square-foot school built with funds from the voter-approved 2007 bond program. It was built to Green Building standards and features modern science labs, and a fine arts wing with a dance studio, band and choir room, and a theater arts room.
Lockhart Elementary to Celebrate Dedication of New School
Ceremony will mark new building constructed under 2007 bond program
What: Lockhart Elementary will dedicate its new 750-student school, built under the 2007 bond program. Events will include student performances, special guest speakers and classroom tours of the new facility.
Who: HISD Board of Education Trustee Paula Harris, Lockhart Principal Felicia Adams, and Rev. William Lawson of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church
When: Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013 at 9 a.m.
Where: Lockhart Elementary School, 3200 Rosedale St., Houston, Texas 77004
Teamwork, Dialogue, and Cultural Awareness Key Aspects of IB Programs
More than 700 educators from HISD and neighboring districts gathered at Lamar High School August 1 and 2 to participate in the Houston International Baccalaureate (IB) Conference. The meeting was an opportunity for teachers to brush up on their IB training as they prepare for the new school year, as well as meet and talk with teachers from other Houston-area IB schools.