Category Archives: High Schools

Citywide grad events across HISD give seniors an opportunity to celebrate with peers

Thousands of HISD graduating seniors gathered at their schools last Friday to virtually celebrate their years of hard work with other Houston-area students during the City of Houston’s Citywide Graduation Celebration.

HISD joined four other area school districts – Aldine, Alief, Spring and Spring Branch – in a first-of-its-kind celebration outdoor event that included a star-studded video tribute from a number of national and local celebrities, including Houston Astros All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles.

At Wheatley High School, the event was more than just a graduation celebration. Despite starting the school year as an “Improvement Required” campus, students and staff celebrated a class with a graduation rate of 98% that earned more than three million dollars in scholarship funds.

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Twin val and sal at Worthing HS express gratitude in graduation speeches

This was a graduation like no other. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, HISD graduates on Friday were treated to a citywide outdoor celebration in partnership with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

The heat did not put a damper on Worthing High School seniors’ enthusiasm or their determination to make it an evening to remember. Across the district, hundreds of graduates, including the Worthing valedictorian and salutatorian, watched a video of congratulatory messages from local and national celebrities produced by the Mayor’s Office. After that, it was the seniors turn to hear from their principals, teachers, and valedictorians and salutatorians.

Twins Kerdy and Kerdian Baptiste were unique in placing first and second in their senior class at Worthing. Their speeches were filled with inspiring words for fellow students and gratitude toward family members, teachers, advisors, and friends who helped them along the way.

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HISD seniors announce future plans during Virtual Career and Military Signing Day

HISD Career Readiness students from across the district recorded their plans for after high school during the district’s Virtual Career and Military Signing Day.

Students will be entering the workforce in various career fields, including healthcare, agriculture, food services, public safety, as well as joining the Military.

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HISD to host Virtual Academic Signing Day

The HISD UIL Academics Department will host the second annual Academic College Signing Day next week for the district’s top University Interscholastic League (UIL) Academics, Music, and One Act Play students.  

With the district closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s signing day, which will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, will be virtual and all district UIL students are encouraged to participate.

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HISD adds six new sites to curbside summer meals program

The Houston Independent School District has added six school sites to its curbside Summer Meals program, which launched Monday, June 1.

New locations include:

  • Holland Middle School, 1600 Gellhorn Dr.; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Pilgrim Academy, 6302 Skyline Dr.; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Shadowbriar Elementary School, 2650 Shadowbriar Dr.; 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Ashford Elementary School, 1815 Shannon Valley Dr.; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Piney Point Elementary School, 8921 Pagewood Lane; 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Emerson Elementary School, 9533 Skyline Dr.; 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
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Applications available for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer assistance

HISD families can now complete the applications necessary to receive Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), a one-time benefit for families who lost access to free or reduced-price meals due to school closures.

The application is available online at yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/PEBT and will be open until June 30.

The $1 billion benefit program was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to help eligible families buy food during the COVID-19 pandemic. The one-time benefit of up to $285 will be issued on an EBT card, which can be used like a debit card to assist families in buying food from any retailer that accepts the Texas Lone Star Card.

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High school fine arts students use dance to connect

Students from Bellaire, Lamar, Madison, Milby, Westbury, and Westside high schools collaborated on a dance piece performed in response to a strong poem written and recited by Andrea Minotti, a senior dance student at Westside High School.

“This situation will fade, but we can’t run away from it,” he writes, “so as the days go by, sitting inside, what you will make of it?” Minotti’s powerful message inspired the dancers to express their emotions during this difficult time.

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HISD plans to hold virtual summer school for more than 40,000 students

The Houston Independent School District will be holding virtual summer school from June 8 to July 2.

The district is planning for more than 40,000 students to participate in online summer instruction via Microsoft Teams with a teacher.

Students will attend virtual summer school Monday to Thursday, and daily attendance will be two hours for students in grades PK-2, three hours for students in grades 3-5, and four hours for students in grades 6-11. Summer learning schedules for high school students taking credit recovery courses and/or courses for original credit as approved by their school counselors will be determined by the courses they are enrolled. 

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HISD students eligible for Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer

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HISD families may be eligible to receive Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), a one-time benefit of up to $285 to be issued on an EBT card to assist families during the district’s closure.

The $1 billion benefit program was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to help eligible families buy food during the COVID-19 pandemic. The EBT card can be used like a debit card to buy food from any retailer that accepts the Texas Lone Star Card. 

Children up to 21 years old who are certified for free or reduced-price meals at school in Texas during the 2019-2020 school year and all children who attend a school that offers meals at no charge through the Community Eligibility Provision — as HISD does — are eligible to receive P-EBT benefits.

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HISD to award 10 exemplary students with Superintendent Scholars Award

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will surprise 10 high school seniors with 2019-2020 HISD Superintendent Scholars Awards during surprise visits to their homes.

This is the third year the scholarships will be awarded to graduating seniors who have exemplified great character and resilience in the face of adversity.

Moved by their tenacity and inspiring journeys, Lathan personally selected the 10 students she will surprise from among 45 HISD seniors who were nominated by their principals or leadership teams.

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