Editor’s note: This profile is part of an occasional series on minority or women-owned companies that do business with HISD. The district’s minimum M/WBE goal levels are 20 percent for all levels of purchasing and construction, and 25 percent for professional services. In the 2007 bond program, that commitment reached nearly 34 percent. In the 2012 program, the contracts awarded to date reflect a nearly 51 percent M/WBE commitment. Continue reading
Category Archives: High Schools
Renovations, construction underway at HISD high schools
A recent swimming pool renovation at Waltrip High School features lane ropes, starting blocks and a new timer system, making the pool competition ready.
The work is the latest visible milestone for the Oak Forest high school, which is moving forward on commitments made in both the 2007 and 2012 bond programs. In the southern part of the city, work is also getting underway on a new building addition at Worthing High School.
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No meetings required: Eighth-grade parents can learn about HS changes through Tele-Town Hall
Parents of current eighth-graders will be receiving a phone call from HISD at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 that will allow them to participate in a live “Tele-Town Hall” meeting to learn about changes coming next school year to high school courses, graduation requirements, and college and career pathways.
A surprise caller will invite parents to click in to a live “meeting,” conducted by ABC-13’s Cynthia Cisneros in English and a separate meeting in Spanish, to learn more about how the state legislation known as House Bill 5 will affect their students’ planning for high school, higher education, and careers.
HISD principals will be on hand to discuss HISD’s 26-credit Distinguished Level of Achievement graduation plan that requires Algebra II and the choice of an “endorsement” – the equivalent of a college major.
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.
Ceremony will honor top JROTC senior cadets
The top six Houston Independent School District JROTC cadets will be honored at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, during the 2014 Final Review and Awards ceremony at the University of Houston Athletics/Alumni Center, 3100 Cullen Blvd.
HISD JROTC Cadet Corps Commander Cadet Colonel Ana Perez of High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice will be recognized as the top graduate.
The seniors were chosen from the ranks of all the graduating cadets in HISD’s 26 JROTC programs and will be honored for their leadership skills. The cadets will be featured leading their respective command groups.
Chávez HS health professional named top Houston-area nurse
Violet Clarke, who serves as the school nurse at Chávez High School, has been named one of the area’s “Top 10 Nurses” by the Houston Chronicle for 2014.
She was selected from among hundreds of nominees who come from all fields of nursing in the greater Houston area, including local hospitals, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and home health workers.
“The job of a school nurse is unique,” wrote former Principal Dan De Leon about Clarke on his nomination form. “Unless you have done it, you do not realize the fast pace and varied extremes of this profession. One minute, a student walks in with a sore throat, and the next, you get a call about another who is having a severe allergic reaction in another part of the building. Before the hour is up, you have dealt with three parents, a teenager who is afraid to (confess) she is pregnant, another who is being abused at home, and a student who needs his daily medication to control his bipolar disorder…but Nurse Clarke makes it look easy.”
Senior research project helps cancer patients
Five North Houston Early College High School students are using their senior research project to help cancer patients.
The project Leonardo Banda, Adelina Compean, Ruby Laparra, Jessica Miner and Daniel Padron have been working on is called “Care to Share Hair.” They have grown their hair for several years so they can donate it to Locks of Love and Pantene Beautiful Lengths, which will turn their donations into wigs.
Injuries plague Lee soccer team in state title bid
The Lee High School’s boys’ soccer team’s first trip to the state tournament didn’t go exactly as players had hoped – but it was still a motivating experience. Lee lost 1-4 in the state semifinals against Pharr Valley View in Georgetown and ended the historic season with a 19-5-1 record.
“We’re blessed and honored to be here and represent Houston as a whole because it’s not just my team,” Coach Fidel Andrade told the Houston Chronicle. “There’s a lot of teams out there and a lot of coaches that sacrifice so much for a season like this. We’re happy.”
Architect chosen for new Energy Institute HS campus
Texas-based VLK Architects has been selected to design the new $37 million Energy Institute High School, one of HISD’s newest and fastest-growing magnet programs.
The school, currently located on West 28th Street, will double its size next school year when it adds another freshman class of 200 students. The school will eventually accommodate 800 students in grades 9 -12. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for college and careers, particularly in the fast-growing energy industry, with an emphasis on math, science, engineering and project-based learning.
YMCPA robotics teacher named SECME Teacher of the Year
Vince Hamilton, a teacher at Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy, got a big surprise on Thursday – the Southeastern Consortium of Minorities in Engineering named him Teacher of the Year!
YMCPA Principal Dameion Crook and teacher Vince Hamilton
“I told him he needed to have a meeting with me about some issue with a parent and he needed to get down here right now,” Principal Dameion Crook said. “What he didn’t know was 400 kids and his family and friends had assembled in the gymnasium. When we brought him in, he was extremely surprised.”