Category Archives: High Schools

Carnegie Vanguard chemistry teacher wins prestigious award

Rajadurai_Christy_150Christy Rajadurai, a chemistry teacher at Carnegie Vanguard High School, has won the 2015 Thomas Aczel Award for Excellence in High School Teaching from the American Chemical Society – Greater Houston Section (ACS-GHS).

Rajadurai will be presented with a $500 check and a plaque at the ACS-GHS Spring Awards Banquet on June 3. As the winner for the Greater Houston Section, Rajadurai is now a candidate for the ACS Southwest Regional Award.

Rajadurai has taught Advanced Placement and pre-Advanced Placement chemistry for five years at Carnegie.

HISD superintendent surprises Bellaire High School student with $10,000 scholarship

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Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier made a surprise visit to Bellaire High School on Wednesday to present a dedicated and hardworking graduating senior with a $10,000 college scholarship.

The award was given to Alisa Hamilton, who was selected by Dr. Grier because of her drive to succeed academically and be involved on campus despite significant personal challenges. Hamilton, who is homeless, does not live with her parents and has worked two part-time jobs to make ends meet. She has done all of this while maintaining good grades and participating in Bellaire’s DECA business club. Continue reading

High school seniors look forward to maritime careers

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Senior students in the Yates High School Maritime program recently took a big step forward in their education. On May 14, five seniors in the Maritime program received their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards at the TWIC La Porte office. TWIC cards grant these students access to U.S. ports, waterways, maritime facilities, and vessels.

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Texas Connections Academy giving athletes the ‘flexibility’ needed to compete

The Kelley sisters, from left, are: Skyla, Shayla, McKenna, and Emma

The Kelley sisters, from left, are: Skyla, Shayla, McKenna, and Emma

The Texas Connections Academy has been providing students from across the state with the ability to obtain their high-school diplomas online since 2008. Many pupils are attracted by the flexibility of the program, which allows them to accommodate unconventional work schedules, challenging family obligations, or other responsibilities that make traditional programs unfeasible.

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Board of Education announces student awards for 2014–2015 school year

Trustee Paula Harris (far L) presents the Board Awards to some of the first graduate from the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy

Trustee Paula Harris (far L) presents the Board Awards to some of the first graduate from the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy

Each year, the HISD Board of Education honors distinguished seniors from district high schools in recognition of their accomplishments, as exemplified by their character, academic achievement, leadership, and service.

Selections are made by school-based committees appointed by each principal and the awards are presented by the trustee representing each district during commencement exercises.

One outstanding young man and young woman are selected from each high school, as well as up to five honorable mention students. A list of this year’s award recipients is here (.pdf) and a list of the students receiving honorable mention is here (.pdf).

HISD schools sweep recycling bin decorating contest

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He may have cardboard for horns and empty plastic water bottles for brains, but that hasn’t stopped the Milby High School mascot from making a big impression on visitors to the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092).

Students from that school’s Peace Club decorated a 96-gallon recycling bin from the City of Houston’s Solid Waste Management Department as part of an art contest called “Growing Up Recycling,” and their submission won the $500 first prize. Continue reading

East Early College HS places second in national SECME competition

East Early College HS Falcon 1 team, Pablo Flores, Miguel Lara, and Alejandro Meza

East Early College HS Falcon 1 team, Pablo Flores, Miguel Lara, and Alejandro Meza

The East Early College High School’s (EECHS) Falcon 1 team, whose members are Pablo Flores, Miguel Lara, and Alejandro Meza, won second place in the High School Water Rocketry category at the 2015 National SECME (Southeastern Consortium for Minorities in Engineering) Competition.

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Yates High School instructors garner national awards

Left to right: Ray Carrington, Ronnie Morgan, Dalilah Whitmore, Omar Peters, and Ted Irving
Left to right: Ray Carrington, Ronnie Morgan, Dalilah Whitmore, Omar Peters, and Ted Irving

Yates HS communications instructors don’t just teach…they are recognized by their peers for great work in their craft through the Communicator Awards, which are given out by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.

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Enrolling in community college is simple, thanks to ABC-13

ABC-13 is hosting a one-day, community college registration drive from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 15, in partnership with the Texas Gulf Coast Community College Consortium. Experts from nine member colleges — Lee College, Wharton County Junior College, San Jacinto College, Houston Community College, College of the Mainland, Galveston College, Alvin Community College, Lone Star College, and Brazosport College — will be on hand in a live webchat to answer questions.

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