Category Archives: High Schools

HCC application days to show recent graduates ‘It’s Not Too Late’ to register for college

Bernardo Carillo poses for a photograph at a San Jacinto College welding lab, July 7, 2014. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)

Bernardo Carillo poses for a photograph at a San Jacinto College welding lab.

A new HISD College Readiness initiative called “It’s Not Too Late” will show 2014 high school graduates who have not made plans for their future that there’s still time to apply for community college classes and financial aid.

The College Readiness team has partnered with the Houston Community College (HCC) admissions office to help a select group of HISD graduates enroll for the fall semester during  the “It’s Not Too Late” Application Day. The event will be held on Aug. 18 at HCC Southwest and on Aug. 22 at HCC Southeast.* Continue reading →

Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #7 – New high school programs

This is the fourth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

On the first day of school, Houston ISD will welcome students at two new Middle College High Schools, a new Futures Academy, and at the district’s first AP-focused school. Continue reading →

Trustee Wanda Adams hosts teen health summit

A teen health summit featuring health screenings, games, music, prizes and more will be held at Worthing High School, 9215 Scott St., from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Houston ISD District IX Trustee Wanda Adams is hosting the “All the Way Live” summit. It’s part of the We Can Do More initiative, which aims to reduce teen pregnancy throughout Houston by providing information, resources, skills, and opportunities.

We Can Do More is led by The University of Texas Prevention Research Center at UTHealth in partnership with Houston ISD, Baylor College of Medicine, Communities in Schools – Houston, Collaborative for Children and families in the Sunnyside neighborhood. To learn more, visit http://www.wecandomore.org.

Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #8 — Cybersafety website unveiled as part of PowerUp expansion

This is the third in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

As 21 more HISD high schools gear up to become part of the PowerUp one-to-one laptop initiative in the 2014-2015 school year, HISD has unveiled a powerful new companion — an all-encompassing cybersafety website to make sure students’ cybercitizenship matches their technological knowledge.

Developed for use by students, parents, and educators at all grade levels, the new site offers updated and user-friendly information about safe and sensible use of the Internet and social media. The site, which includes content from Common Sense Media, features resource links, tip sheets, videos, learning resources, parent information, and a model media agreement for families to use to set down guidelines for use of cell phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices. Continue reading →

Furr freshmen focus on science, technology, team-building

Solar powered cars, goldfish surviving below soil, wind turbines that generate enough energy to light a house — these aren’t scenes from an environmental film. These student projects were on display as part of a STEM exhibit during the last week of the summer bridge program at Furr High School.

Students and teachers culminated nearly two weeks of activities to prepare incoming ninth-graders for high school by showcasing projects centered on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

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Israel trip delivers powerful life lessons to eight HISD students

Rising senior Mai Pham (CVHS) wades in the Sea of Galilee.

Rising senior Mai Pham (CVHS) wades in the Sea of Galilee.

Eight current and former HISD students got the trip of a lifetime recently, after spending four weeks in Israel courtesy of the Mickey Leland Kibbutzim Internship.

Students from Carnegie Vanguard High School (CVHS), the Houston Academy for International Studies (HAIS), Reagan High School, and Yates High School won eight of the ten spots available in the program, which is open to both rising seniors and recent graduates from Texas’ 18th Congressional District.

Continue reading →

Futures Academy session teaches reality of income, money management

Long Academy student Jheysson Menendez imagined what his life would be like if he was a mail clerk with an annual salary just over $29,000.

“I have to cut back on my phone and cable bill,” Menendez said while making a budget during a financial literacy session Wednesday at the Junior Achievement Finance Park, an interactive community with business models created to teach students about career readiness, entrepreneurship, and money management.

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Students were given real-life scenarios that consisted of a job, family, and home during the session, which was part of the Futures Academy Enrichment Week held Monday through Wednesday for rising 10th graders interested in applying for the academy. The academy offers students the opportunity to receive college credit, career training and industry credentials to provide them with options for a promising future after high school. Continue reading →

HISD fathers encouraged to take kids to school on first day

An organization is dubbing the first day of school National Fathers Take Children to School Day.

The “Million Father March” movement is being organized by The Black Star Project, which is based in Chicago, to encourage fathers to take an active role in their children’s education. The Black Star Project is requesting employers to give men a few hours off of work, with pay, so they may take their child to school and participate in any activities for parents a school may have planned.

Many Houston ISD schools, including Jack Yates High School, are encouraging fathers of students to take part in the movement. Continue reading →

Volunteer for 2014 Grads Within Reach Walk Sept. 6

Help HISD get dropouts back in school by volunteering for the 2014 Grads Within Reach walk.

This year’s event will be held at 24 high schools from 8 a.m. to noon on Sat., Sept. 6, 2014. Volunteers will be placed in teams and fan out across the city, based on the school to which they are assigned, and visit the last known address of students who dropped out or didn’t show up for the first weeks of school. Continue reading →