Category Archives: Middle Schools

HISD updates standardized school start times for the 2018-19 school year

The Houston Independent School District announces revisions to standardized start/dismissal times for the 2018-19 school year in order to improve our delivery of reliable and affordable transportation to our students.

The updated times include two notable changes:

  • PK-8 and K-8 schools will now be grouped with middle schools, rather than elementary schools to have a later start/dismissal time of 8:30 a.m.-3:50 p.m.
  • Ten minutes will be added to each day for high schools and 6-12 campuses to account for eight optional early release days for final exams. Their start/dismissal time will be 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Beginning next fall, the district will operate with the following standardized start/dismissal times: Continue reading →

HISD to host Special Education Spring Parent Summit & Forum on April 28 

HISD invites parents and guardians to the 2018 Special Education Spring Parent Summit & Forum to meet with special education professionals, attend learning sessions, ask questions, and share input about special education in the district.

2018 Special Education Spring Parent Summit & Forum
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Registration: 7:30-9 a.m.
Summit & Forum: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092)

Click here to register

The summit portion of the day begins at 9 a.m. and includes interactive presentations on understanding the IEP and special education process, supporting student achievement, supporting healthy parent and student relationships, and transition services. Food and child care will be provided.

Click here for a list of Parent Summit presentations 

The forum begins at 1:30 p.m. and will include a presentation on special education services available in HISD, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and share your concerns. There will be multiple ways to submit questions:

  • Ask a question during the forum portion of the meeting.
  • Submit your question electronically at the computer stations in the Hattie Mae White Lobby.
  • Email your question to SpEdSupportingParents@houstonisd.org or visit HoustonISD.org/SpecialEducation to submit a question electronically.
  • Ask your child’s school for a special education comment card, fill it out, and return it to your school’s front office, or call your school’s main office and request a comment card be mailed to you.

Click here to register. For more information, call the Special Education Parent Liaison Office at 713-556-7042 or contact SpEdSupportingParents@houstonisd.org

10 HISD students to compete in nation’s largest regional spelling bee

Ten HISD students are among 53 spellers who will compete in the nation’s largest regional spelling bee Saturday at Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan (2610 Elgin St., 77004).

The top two spellers will advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., May 27-June 1.

Competitors representing grades second through eighth will come from 1,060 schools in 34 Texas counties to compete in the bee, which is hosted by Houston Public Media. Live updates on the spelling bee will be available on the Houston Public Media Facebook page and on Twitter at @HoustonPubMedia. Final rounds and highlights of the spelling bee will be broadcast on TV 8 and streamed on houstonpublicmedia.org/spellingbee at 3:30 p.m. the following Saturday, April 14. Continue reading →

New Lawson MS set for completion this summer

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Construction on the new Lawson Middle School is now in the final stages, with the project almost 90 percent complete and on track to open this summer.

The main and auxiliary gymnasiums, locker rooms, dining commons, kitchen, and administrative offices are nearly complete, and flooring is being installed throughout the building. In addition, driveways at the east and west sides of the campus are almost finished.

“The end is in sight,” Lawson Principal Kasey Bailey said, noting that furniture selections have been confirmed, and delivery will occur mid-May. “We are extremely excited and can’t wait to move in.”

Continue reading →

Best Buy donates $160,000 in technology, support to Fleming MS 

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Donation is part of $580,000 gift to HISD and the surrounding community in wake of Harvey

Best Buy representatives stopped by Fleming Middle School on Friday for a special reveal, handing over a donation of $160,000 in technology and support – part of the company’s larger investment in HISD and the surrounding community following Hurricane Harvey.

The donation will provide more than 5,000 of the district’s students with the opportunity to learn the skills to be prepared for tech-reliant jobs of the future. Best Buy is donating a total of $580,000 to greater Houston’s storm recovery effort.   Continue reading →

Wharton DLA construction project nears halfway mark

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Construction on the new Wharton Dual Language Academy is almost halfway complete, with structural steel erected for the building addition and exterior and interior wall framing underway.

Roof installation and interior wall framing of the existing building also are nearly complete, and the parking and driveway areas have been poured.

“We’re looking forward to having a modern, 21st-century building,” Wharton Principal Jennifer Day said, noting that she and her staff were already looking forward to moving into the facility. “I love how the design incorporates the historical building with the new.”

Continue reading →

Final phase of renovations underway at YWCPA

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Construction at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is now 85 percent complete, with first- and second-floor renovations finished and work on third-floor classrooms well underway.

Demolition on the third floor is nearing completion. Ductwork and plumbing have been installed and light fixture replacement and roof installation are in process. In addition, auditorium renovations, including installation of new lighting, ceiling, carpeting, and HVAC system are all underway.

“The space is phenomenal,” YWCPA Principal Dr. April Williams said. “It’s a nice feeling to know that construction will be completed this summer.”

Continue reading →

Meyerland PVA students lend artistic talents to Nutrition Services project 

Art students from Meyerland Performing and Visual Arts Middle School teamed up recently with Nutrition Services to create the artwork for seed packets the department will distribute to the public.

The collaboration was the brainchild of Nan Cramer, Nutrition Services community outreach dietitian. Cramer, who was familiar with the school’s art program, thought the custom illustrations would add a unique touch to the seed packets.  Continue reading →

HISD to standardize school start times for the 2018-19 school year

HISD will implement standardized school start times for the 2018-19 school year to better deliver efficient, reliable, and affordable transportation to our students.

Currently, HISD manages 67 different school start times – the highest in the state – as it transports nearly 36,000 students on almost 1,200 different routes each day. Beginning next fall, the district will operate with two standardized start/dismissal times:

  • 7:30 a.m.-2:50 p.m. for elementary schools and K-8 campuses
  • 8:30 a.m.-3:50 p.m. for all secondary campuses (middle school, high school, and grade 6-12 campuses)

(Some specialty campuses may have alternate start/dismissal times that will be communicated directly from the campus.)

HISD gathered parent and principal input on the new start times through surveys conducted in October, and the results support the new start times, which were listed as Option 4 in the surveys. Of the 154 respondents to a survey of principals, 78, or 51%, chose Option 4. Of 17,138 respondents to a survey of parents, 7,932, or 46%, chose Option 4.

 

Standardizing school start times will bring efficiencies to the district’s bus routes and ensure that students arrive to campus and depart on time, resulting in fewer interruptions to teaching, learning, and family schedules. The new start times will also extend the life of the district’s bus fleet and reduce maintenance and fuel costs.

Board approves plan to rebuild four Harvey-damaged schools

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education during its December meeting on Thursday approved a plan to rebuild four elementary schools that sustained the most severe flood damage as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

Facilities assessments of the four elementary schools — Braeburn, Scarborough, Kolter, and Mitchell — found significant property damage, as well as a strong need to raise the elevation of the buildings to prevent potential future flood damage.

The cost to replace the four schools is estimated at $126 million, which will be funded by a combination of Operations reserves and Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) funds. Continue reading →