Four HISD teachers experienced “A Day Made Better” recently, when they were chosen along with hundreds of educators across the nation to be honored by OfficeMax for their contributions to the profession.
Category Archives: Elementary Schools
School Celebrates Attendance Success With Pajama Party
September is Attendance Awareness Month, and HISD schools have worked hard to make sure students are in class. Some schools have used incentives, such as parties, to increase attendance.
Students at Shadowbriar ES donned their favorite pajamas on Fri., Sept. 27 – everything from Hello Kitty and Sonic the Hedgehog to the Buc-ee’s beaver – for a party to celebrate achieving a 98-percent attendance rate. Principal Stephanie Davis said the 74 percent of students who had perfect attendance will get another treat – a popsicle party where they can win prizes.
2007 and 2012 Bond Programs Progressing Within Budget and on Schedule
The HISD Board of Education held a workshop on Sept. 19 to receive progress updates on the district’s capital building programs, which are progressing within budget and on schedule.
As the Houston Independent School District moves forward with planning for the 2012 bond program to renovate, build or replace 40 schools, work is underway to finish all the projects in the 2007 bond program by the end of 2014.
The Key to Success: Doing What You Love
Virginia Croft, 77, has been teaching band at Lovett ES for 35 years. Because of her impact on students over the years, Croft was featured in this week’s Houston Chronicle. One of her first-graders loves band so much that he was disappointed that he had to stay home on Labor Day, while another student, now in his 20s, held on to a note that Croft had sent him in elementary school. To find out what that note said and to learn more about Croft, read her profile in the Houston Chronicle.
HISD Introduces New Online Magnet Application Option to Parents
Six parent orientation sessions scheduled to familiarize parents with school choice options and new online system
The Houston Independent School Districts is launching a new online application system for parents and students wanting to attend any of the district’s 115 magnet programs. While paper applications will still be accepted, HISD is hosting a series of orientation sessions to familiarize parents with the new online option and outline the multitude of school choices available. The first session will be on Tuesday, September 17 at 6 p.m. at Burbank Middle School, 315 Berry.
Houston Astro Rewards Moreno ES Students for Summer Reading
School library and students with highest participation in Millionaire Club receive more than 3,000 books
Houston Astros catcher Jason Castro and his wife, Maris, pose with prize winners after handing out books and prizes to students at Moreno ES for their participation in the Millionaire Club summer reading program, September 12, 2013.
Students at Moreno Elementary were treated to a special visit from Houston Astros player Jason Castro on September 11. Nearly 300 students not only got to visit with the major-league ball player but also received a bag of four books to add to their home library. Moreno ES had the district’s highest participation in the Millionaire Club summer-reading program. Castro not only congratulated the students but talked about his love of reading and why he and his wife Maris started Castro’s Kids, which encourages children to embrace literacy.
Children First Academy charter school students invited to enroll in HISD
The Houston Independent School District is inviting students from the Children First Academy, a charter school closed this week by the Texas Education Agency, to enroll in HISD.
HISD Elementary Schools to Celebrate Grandparents with a Special Lunch
Over 80 elementary schools participating
What: Dozens of HISD elementary schools across the city will celebrate National Grandparents’ Day on Tuesday with a special lunch hosted by HISD Food Services to recognize the important role that grandparents and their peers play in the lives of students and the community.
The students sent their grandparents an invitation to attend lunch at their school and will be presenting them with a special gift they created in class. Each grandparent will also receive a certificate of appreciation for attending this special day. Last year nearly 7,000 grandparents participated.
Johnston MS Receives $28,000 Grant to Support Japanese Language Instruction
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.
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.