Category Archives: High Schools

HISD to launch HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline to support distance learning

The Houston Independent School District will be launching the HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline starting Monday, April 13, to provide timely answers to questions from students and parents about distance learning.

Starting on April 13, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., students and parents can call the HISD @ H.O.M.E. Hotline at 713-556-INFO (4636). Operators will be on hand to answer questions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic. The hotline will remain in place for as long as it is needed to support the transition to at-home learning.

“We are working diligently to offer equitable at-home learning support during this unprecedented crisis,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We hope this hotline will be a key resource for students and parents who might have questions about our district’s distance learning, HISD @ H.O.M.E.”

Continue reading →

Pre-K application process transitions to online only

Due to the districtwide closure and current restrictions involving social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the application process for pre-K is now online only.

HISD is currently accepting applications for its full-day pre-K program at schools across the district, offering more 3- and 4-year-old students in our community with the opportunity to attend a high-quality program that will build a strong foundation of learning.

Due to precautions surrounding the coronavirus, pre-K application and enrollment timelines have been adjusted:

Continue reading →

HISD to host Social-Emotional Learning at-home webinar

The HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department will host a webinar for parents next week to guide them as they adjust to distance learning.

“Incorporating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) At Home” will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15. Parents and students will learn ways to incorporate SEL practices into their daily routines, understand the importance of mindfulness, and learn exercises and techniques that can be done by adults and students of all ages.

Continue reading →

While making the shift to online learning, Class of 2020 copes with an interrupted senior year

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a two-part series on how six HISD students are adjusting to the shift to virtual instruction throughout the district amid COVID-19 precautions. Read Part 1 here.

It has been two weeks since the district launched HISD @ H.O.M.E. (Home-based Online Mobile Education), a distance learning plan that has students at all levels of education transitioning from physical to virtual classrooms.

We checked in with three seniors to see how their second week of distance learning went and how the Class of 2020 is coping with the adjustment for the last months of their high school careers.

Part 1: HISD students adjust to the new reality of distance learning

Continue reading →

Join in the fun of HISD Virtual Spirit Week

HISD students, parents, teachers, and principals: Are you ready for a fun challenge to showcase distance learning?

As everyone adjusts to the new reality of online instruction, HISD has designated next week (April 13—April 17) as Virtual Spirit Week. Each day will be designated with a different theme to encourage students to share their at-home learning activities. In fact, everyone is invited to participate in the daily challenge—students, teachers, and even administrators.

As you participate each day, take photos or short videos and share them on social media using the hashtag #HISDSpiritWeek. The idea is to flood social media with positive learning activities and create a sense of community, school spirit, and inclusivity.

Continue reading →

HISD to host SEL Parent Webinar

The HISD Social and Emotional Learning Department will host a webinar for parents this week to guide them as they adjust to distance learning.

The webinar, titled “Coping Strategies for Parents” will be held on Wednesday, April 8 at 2 p.m. This is part of a weekly webinar series that provides social-emotional learning tools to HISD parents and students.

Continue reading →

‘This is changing learning’: Principals, teachers keep academic expectations high in new era of online instruction

With a districtwide closure in place and distance learning underway, what may have once been considered “normal” for principals and teachers in the seventh-largest district in the nation has changed for the foreseeable future.

Due to the ongoing spread of the COVID-19 virus, school districts across Texas were ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott to close until at least May 4, and that has made for huge adjustments at the campus and district levels.

“I assumed we would shut down for a week or two. But when I heard it would be through April, it was devastating for me,” said Worthing High School Principal Khalilah Campbell. “We knew it had to be done for the safety of our students and the community, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

Continue reading →

HISD students adjust to new reality of distance learning

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a two-part series on how six HISD students are adjusting to the shift to virtual instruction throughout the district amid COVID-19 precautions. Read Part 2 here.

Earlier this week, the district launched HISD @ H.O.M.E. (Home-based Online Mobile Education), a distance learning plan, and students at all levels of education are transitioning from physical to virtual classrooms.

We checked in with three students to see how their first week of distance learning went, the steps they’ve taken to succeed and the things they miss the most about school.

While making the shift to online learning, Class of 2020 copes with interrupted senior year

Continue reading →

HISD extends districtwide closure, will continue online instruction

With the federal government extending social distancing guidelines through the end of April, the Houston Independent School District will remain closed, providing online instruction until further notice.

In addition to the federal guidelines, this decision comes in response to the new executive order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday to close all Texas schools until May 4. During this time, we will continue remote learning.

Until traditional classroom instruction resumes, the district has launched HISD @ H.O.M.E. (Home-based Online Mobile Education), a distance learning plan to ensure students’ academic and non-academic needs are met as the district remains closed due to COVID-19 precautions.

Continue reading →

HISD to provide educational programming through HISD @ H.O.M.E. TV

Click image for full schedule

The Houston Independent School District is launching HISD @ H.O.M.E. TV to provide educational programming as part of the district’s HISD @ H.O.M.E distance learning plan.

HISD @ H.O.M.E. TV will kick off on Tuesday, March 31 with instructional videos that include lessons from teachers and teacher development specialists in several subject areas, including math, science, reading and writing, social studies, and fine arts.

“Our mission is to support students in every community with the educational resources they need to thrive, and this is an important step in that effort – especially given the current need to deliver instruction virtually,” said Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan. “I want to thank our HISD Communications and Academics teams for supporting our students during these unprecedented times.”

Continue reading →