As students across the city enter their final days of the school year, they might see an increased community and law enforcement presence walking the halls.
For more than two decades, Project Safe Start has brought together local religious leaders, school district and area law enforcement, and school officials from districts throughout the area to help prevent crime and increase safety in an effort to get students’ summer vacation off on the right foot.
During a celebration acknowledging the official name change of Houston Gardens Elementary, both educators and politicians spoke of Ernest McGowen’s legacy in serving his community as well as being a beacon for children who would someday walk the halls of the school now bearing his name.
While the name change became official earlier this year following a groundswell of community support, the school at 6820 Homestead on the city’s northeast side was officially dedicated as Ernest McGowen Sr. Elementary.
‘Hooray for Neff Day’ will mark new building constructed under 2007 bond program
What: Neff Elementary School students and staff will dedicate its new 750-student campus, built under the 2007 bond program, with a ceremony in the school’s cafeteria. The ceremony will be followed by “Hooray for Neff Day.” Events will include student performances, special guest speakers and classroom tours of the new facility.
Who: Neff Principal Rupak Gandhi, HISD Board of Education Trustee Greg Meyers, HISD Chief School Officer Sydney Zullinger
When: Friday, May 24, 2013, 9 a.m. – Ceremony; 11:30 a.m. – ‘Hooray for Neff Day’
Where: Neff Elementary School cafeteria, 8301 Neff St. Houston, Texas 77036
If the smell of new rubber bike tires didn’t serve as the theme for Friday’s bike giveaway at Coop Elementary, the roar of nearly 20 motorcycles entering the school’s parking lot sufficed.
Members of the Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, with a donation from the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation, donated more than 90 bikes to deserving students at the school as part of the Bikes for Excellence program. The giveaway was part of a two-day effort to give more than 350 bikes to Houston ISD students at four schools who excelled in academics, conduct and attendance.
Bikes donated by the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation, Martha Patricia Jaimes and the Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club
More than 350 Houston Independent School District students at Garden Oaks, Looscan, Garcia, and Coop elementary schools will receive bicycles, helmets, and bicycle locks as part of the “Bikes for Excellence” program. This program, founded in 2006 by Park Place Elementary teacher Martha Patricia Jaimes, rewards fifth-grade students who have excelled in academics, personal conduct, and attendance. The Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club and the Lester and Sue Smith Foundation help by donating bikes to the program.
During the final ceremony on Friday, May 17 nearly 100 students at Coop Elementary will receive their bikes.
What: 95 fifth-grade students will each receive a bicycle, a helmet, and a bicycle lock
Who: Coop Elementary students, staff and parents; Bikes for Excellence Founder Martha Patricia Jaimes; Sue and Lester Smith; and Thin Blue Line Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club
When: Friday, May 17 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Coop Elementary School, 10130 Aldine-Westfield, 77093
Parents, teachers and principals need to fill out ‘Your Voice’ survey by May 20
HISD Board President Anna Eastman and Board Trustee Manuel Rodriguez Jr. are encouraging HISD parents, teachers and principals to fill out and return the Your Voice customer satisfaction survey by May 20, 2013. The survey is the largest of its kind in the history of the district and is being conducted by an outside party so all responses will remain confidential and anonymous. Continue reading
Eight schools are participating in this weekend’s parade
Students at the Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center are putting the finishing touches on an after school art project that will soon be seen by thousands of Houstonians. Art teacher Carolyn James-Taylor and a group of middle school students have created an entry for this year’s Art Car parade which will be cruising down Houston’s streets on Saturday, May 11, 2013, starting at 3 p.m. Continue reading
The next meeting of HISD’s Employee of the Month selection committee is right around the corner,
so don’t wait if you know someone who deserves to be nominated. HISD recently streamlined the process to make it easier than ever for people to submit a nomination. Just click here, fill in the fields, and press “done.” Your nomination will automatically be submitted for consideration at the next meeting. Please note that only employees serving in a non-instructional capacity (i.e. plant operators, secretaries, clerks, custodians, crossing guards, etc.) are eligible for this award.
More than 1,200 students to participate during two-day event
The HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas have partnered to host the inaugural districtwide Special Olympics Field Day, a two-day event to provide athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities, on May 2 and 3. More than 1,200 HISD students will be participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball toss events. Houston Texans players and coaches, along with volunteers from HISD’s athletics department, the University of Houston and Hewlett Packard, will be helping out with the event.
What: Inaugural HISD Special Olympics Field Day
Who: HISD Office of Special Education Services staff, HISD students, coaches, Houston Texans players and coaches, and University of Houston and Hewlett Packard volunteers
When: Thursday, May 2, 2013 (Elementary) and Friday, May 3, 2013 (Middle/High) from 9a.m. – 1p.m.
Where: Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex, 2020 Mangum Road
Proceeds from Condit ES event to offset cost of attending Odyssey of the Mind World Finals
HISD students are taking part in dozens of activities this week and next as a part of their observance of Cinco de Mayo (May 5).
Originally celebrated as the day Mexico’s army defeated a much larger French force in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, in America, the date has become an opportunity to learn more about and to celebrate Mexico’s history and culture. Continue reading