The Sunnyside community, volunteers, students and HISD Board of Education Trustee Lawrence Marshall were on hand for the the official groundbreaking for the expansion and renovation of Evan E. Worthing High School on Wednesday, March 21. See photos from the event below.
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Category Archives: High Schools
See what they’re saying about STAAR
The first administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam began today, and students and parents took to social media sites to talk about the test. Here’s what some of them had to say:
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB7ax2i73Rk?wmode=transparent&showinfo=0]HISD Answers Frequently Asked Questions about STAAR
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“Good luck to both my boys this week on the STAAR testing I love you both bunches, n good luck to all the other kids who are testing as well
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Texas Education Agency – STAAR™ Resources
STAAR logo Beginning in spring 2012, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR™) will replace the Texas Assessment of… -
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STAAR – HISD Connect –
What is STAAR? For years, students have been taking the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) to determine whether they have … -
“That awkward moment when someone’s phone goes off in the middle of the STAAR test and its an eminem song… #totesawk
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“Good Luck my dear friends that have to take the STAAR TEST. I know you will do great
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“Me: u ready for your writing test? Student: yes sir Mr. O’Neil, I know how to write stories. He’s ready for STAAR! #edchat
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“Happy #STAAR testing today to all Texas 9th graders. Write like you’ve never written before! Wait, no…
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“New questions from HISD parents answered on STAAR Q&A site: hisdstaar.wordpress.com
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“iWonder how my little brother doing on the STAAR Test.
This morning I told him if he didn’t know the answer to just choose C.
#BestBigSister -
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“Just finished my STAAR test , it was really easy I’m ready for the second part now!!!!!
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“First day of new TX state assessment, #STAAR . Less multiple choice, two types of essays, timed. Best of luck to all those testing!
“Exciting Time for HISD Students”: Magnet Letters to Arrive Starting March 26
Almost 34,000 students who applied to one of the district’s 115 magnet programs will find out during the week of March 26 whether they have been accepted to the school of their choice. Letters alerting students of their admissions status will be sent out on Friday, March 23, and students and parents can expect to receive their notification letters beginning Monday, March 26.
“This is a very exciting time for HISD students. We want to ensure they get the chance to build up the special knowledge and skills they desire, whether that be Chinese or Spanish language, math and science, dance, or even aviation skills,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Lupita Hinojosa.
Students who are “accepted” must indicate that they will attend the magnet school for the 2012-2013 school year by returning the enclosed signed Student Entrance Agreement no later than April 9th.
Students who have not been immediately accepted will receive a letter stating “waitlisted,” “out of district,” or “not qualified.”
Magnet coordinators will begin making phone calls on April 9 to offer spots to waitlisted students who move up the list if the school has any students who decline to attend.
Selection for out of district students will begin June 6, after all in-district candidates have been accepted.
Students who receive a “Not Qualified” letter for a particular magnet program are invited to attend the Second Annual School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 28, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center from 9 a.m. – noon to learn about other schools.
“The fair will feature magnet, specialty, and neighborhood schools with space available for more students. Everyone will be able to find a school of choice for the 2012-2013 school year,” said Hinojosa.
• See how many students applied to each magnet school (.pdf)
HISD seeks community input on plan to increase class time
HISD has scheduled 10 public meetings to gather community input on a plan to add 19 minutes to the average student’s school day by coordinating the bell schedule among the district’s 279 schools.
If approved, the extra 19 minutes of daily instructional time would be equal to an extra seven full days of school by the end of the school year. In addition, the plan would save HISD $1.2 million as the district seeks to address a $34 million deficit caused by the Texas Legislature’s decision last year to cut public funding.
Under this plan, every HISD school would have an instructional day that is 7 ½ hours long. Currently, HISD schools have about 20 different start and end times. Under the option presented, schools would operate on the following bell schedule:
- Approximately half of all elementary schools would operate from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Approximately half of all elementary schools would operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- All middle schools would operate from 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- All high schools would operate from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
The cost savings in this plan would come from a much more efficient school bus operation that would allow many buses to drive more routes than is currently possible. However before a final decision is made, HISD will be gathering input at a series of community meetings held in locations throughout the district. Principals are also being asked to meet with their communities to gather additional input.
The public meetings are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- April 3 (Tuesday) – 6-7 p.m.
- Austin HS (1700 Dumble)
- Bellaire HS (5100 Maple Street)
- Chavez HS (8501 Howard)
- April 4 (Wednesday) – 6-7 p.m.
- Lamar HS (3325 Westheimer)
- Sharpstown HS (7504 Bissonnet)
- Waltrip HS – (1900 West 34th )
- April 9 (Monday) – Noon-1 p.m.
- Hattie Mae Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street)
- April 10 (Tuesday) – 6-7 p.m.
- Wheatley HS (4801 Providence)
- Worthing HS (9215 Scott)
- Yates HS (3703 Sampson)
HISD has created an online survey for parents, students, and community members to provide feedback for the proposal. The survey also includes an open comment section. It can be found on the website http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HISDTimeSurvey.
HISD administration plans to analyze all of this feedback before making a formal proposal for the Board of Education’s consideration by May 17. A detailed description of the plan can be found on the district’s website www.houstonisd.org.
HISD Hosts National Education Leaders for League of Innovative Schools Gathering
The Houston Independent School District hosted some of the country’s most innovative education leaders on Monday, March 19 for the second meeting of the League of Innovative Schools.
The League is an alliance of school districts committed to working with entrepreneurs, researchers, thought leaders and leading education companies to dramatically increase student achievement. The League was launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and Digital Promise, the new national center created by Congress to advance breakthroughs in education with technology. The purpose of this initiative is to spur innovation in education and prepare all students to thrive in a 21st century economy.
HISD is one of 35 school districts across the country chosen to join this initiative.
Monday’s meeting explored the League’s role in transforming the education technology market. Some of the League’s key initiatives include: accelerating the innovation cycle with real-time evaluations of education technologies, scaling innovation and sharing best practices on how to effectively use technology, and improving the K-12 marketplace by informing consumers and aggregating demand.
Among the speakers were Brad Allan, program manager from Harvard Education Innovation Laboratory; Jonathan Guryan, associate professor of human development and social policy and economics at Northwestern University; and Zoran Popovic, director of the Center for Game Science.
HISD to Break Ground on Worthing High School Expansion
Administrators, staff, alumni, students and Sunnyside neighborhood residents will be joined by HISD Board of Education District IX Trustee Larry Marshall for the official groundbreaking ceremony for Worthing High School’s renovation and expansion on Wednesday, March 21 at 10 a.m. at 9215 Scott Street.
“Sunnyside is a proud community with close-knit ties to successful people across the United States,” Marshall said. “We are delighted to be able to welcome them to the site of the new and improved Worthing High School. It’s been a dream for these residents for a long time.”
State Senator Rodney Ellis, a distinguished graduate of Worthing, and State Rep. Borris Miles will be joining the Worthing community for this special ceremony.
The project includes a new two-story classroom addition, safety and security upgrades, technology improvements, and roof repairs, in addition to repairs of the athletic track.
“This new school building, with the renovated commons and auditorium, will definitely be a source of pride for the residents of Sunnyside,” said Worthing Principal Tod Nix. “Most importantly, this is something our students are going to be proud of and enjoy every school day.”
The $805 million bond referendum approved by voters in 2007 has helped make this Worthing project possible. The expanded and renovated campus will include:
- New library;
- Additional technological resources;
- New science labs; and
- New commons area.
The campus’ old life skills building will become the new Worthing Community Learning Center, a student union-type structure that will include study rooms, recreation areas, and meeting space. This center will serve all the children of Sunnyside, including those attending some of the area elementary and middle schools.
For more information about other school construction projects district wide, visit www.hisdprojects.org.
Seven HISD students named as U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates
Seniors from Bellaire, Westside, and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts make the cut
Seven HISD seniors have been selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar candidates, one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
Six of these candidates were identified for the academic component of the program based on having scored exceptionally well on the SAT or the ACT college entrance exams. These students are Alexandra Gibner, Weiting Ji, Daniel A. Yun, Amy W. Jiang, and Vincent P. Su from Bellaire High School, and Lenzi C. Daniel from Westside High School. Victor Lozano, a student at The High School for Performing and Visual Arts, is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts candidate.
Johnston MS students win video contest celebrating “Five Ways Ed Pays” – see top entries
Johnston Middle School student Charli McBean is already actively looking at what colleges she wants to attend once she graduates. So when the College Board announced an HISD video contest celebrating the benefits of higher education, the teenager was quick to round up some of her fellow classmates and enter.
Click image to play Johnston's winning video.
“We all worked together as a group and we sat there and brainstormed and brainstormed until we finally came up with an idea,” McBean said. The end result is a music video that celebrates the “Five Ways Ed Pays” – better health, greater wealth, closer family, more security, and stronger community.
McBean and her Johnston teammates Zoe Caballero, Alicia Bozeman, and Anthony Okoro were recently honored for their creative efforts at the February HISD Board of Education meeting. Their winning video was shown to a packed crowd and all the students received new iPads from the College Board.
Also receiving iPads and iPods for their winning videos were two other student teams from Johnston and a team from Furr High School.
First place video produced by Johnston Middle School students Zoe Caballero, Alicia Bozeman, Charli McBean, and Anthony Okoro.
Second place video produced by Johnston Middle School students Josenique Gerard, Caroline Cweren, and Danielle Thompson.
Third place video produced by Furr High School students Alma Garcia, Jeffery Burgess, and Carlos Gerardo.
Fourth place video produced by Johnston Middle School students by Janet Asante, Tena Lewis, Payton Campbell, and Erin Parkin.
Senators send letter to education commissioner on delaying “15 percent rule” for STAAR end-of-course exams
Today, Senators Florence Shapiro, Royce West, Kel Seliger, and Dan Patrick sent the following letter to Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott regarding the end-of-course (EOC) examinations/STAAR:
The letter gives the commissioner authority to delay the requirement that an end-of-course assessment count as 15% of a student’s final grade. Although no official response to the letter has been issued by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), we expect the agency to move in this direction.
HISD will keep students, parents and teachers updated as school officials receive more information from TEA. If you have questions about STAAR, please attend HISD’s informational session this Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th St.
Board unanimously approves creation of HILZ campuses at six HISD high schools
The HISD Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a plan to draw students back into six neighborhood high schools with strong Career and Technical Education programs.
The Board endorsed the plan after hearing from several parents who voiced support for the strategic investment that will strengthen community high schools.
Students at Furr, Kashmere, Long, Scarborough, Sterling, and Booker T. Washington high schools will be able to enroll in the newly created Houston Innovative Learning Zone (HILZ) programs beginning this summer. By the time these students graduate high school, they will have earned a college associate’s degree and valuable career certifications to help them immediately land lucrative jobs in some of the region’s most in-demand professions.