Category Archives: Middle Schools

Ortiz Middle School students raise money for woman in need of prosthetic leg

Students raise hundreds of dollars to help others

Ortiz Middle School students raised more than $600 for LIMBS International, an organization that provides prosthetic legs to those in developing countries.

This is the second year in a row Ortiz students have raised money for the organization. The funds were raised through donations, school dance ticket sales and sock sales. The money raised will be used to provide a Bolivian woman with a prosthetic leg. She lost her leg after stepping on glass, which lead to a severe infection. Continue reading →

HISD superintendent shares report on Listen and Learn tour findings

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Watch Superintendent Carranza’s report about what he learned during his Listen and Learn Tour

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Richard Carranza has shared a full report on the results of the Listen and Learn town hall meetings with the HISD Board of Education.

The HISD Board of Education hosted more than two dozen town hall meetings that began in September as a way to introduce Carranza to the community, solicit input from stakeholders about the district’s future, and learn about key issues across HISD.

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HISD’s alternative certification program now accepting applications 

If you or someone you know is interested in starting a challenging and rewarding career as a teacher at HISD, the district is now accepting applications for its Effective Teacher Fellowship (ETF).

ETF is searching for qualified, passionate and effective educators for the 2017-2018 school year who will help HISD students reach their potential.  Continue reading →

Texans encourage students to view police officers as community heroes, role models 

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The Houston Texans and the HISD Police Department on Tuesday teamed up to bring a message to students at Cullen Middle School that law enforcement officers – especially those in their schools and neighborhoods – can serve as positive role models.

The program with the Texans, called Houston Heroes: Community Conversations, involves one‐hour, small-group discussions with HISD students to strengthen relationships with police officers from multiple agencies, as well as to highlight some of the heroes everyone has in their lives.

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Middle-schoolers compete during Special Olympics Field Day 

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The fourth annual Special Olympics Field Days, which were postponed in April because of inclement weather, are underway this this week. Middle school students participated in their event on Wednesday. High school students will participate today (Nov. 10), and elementary students will have their event on Nov. 17. The events give students with intellectual and developmental disabilities a chance to showcase their athletic skills by taking part in fun athletic contests.

HISD unveils 2016 holiday greeting cards designed by students

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The Houston Independent School District announced the winners of the district’s 2016 holiday greeting card competition that features creative student artwork highlighting family holiday traditions, seasonal decorations, and classic holiday songs.

The winners – fourth-grader Angela Ramos of Ed White Elementary School, seventh-grader Annette Hernandez of Pilgrim Academy, and 11th-grader Javier Garcia of Scarborough High School – were among 40 finalists from elementary, middle, and high schools. All finalists received a boxed set of their holiday cards. Their holiday cards also will be available for purchase and on display at the HISD administration building. Continue reading →

Number of overcrowded classrooms cut in half

The number of Houston Independent School District elementary classrooms that exceed the state limit of 22 students has been sharply reduced over the past two years.

On Thursday, the HISD Board of Education will consider asking the Texas Education Agency to grant waivers for 755 elementary classrooms that have more than 22 students this school year. During the 2014-2015 school year, 1,499 HISD classrooms were over the limit, which applies to classes in kindergarten through the fourth grade.

Over the past two years, HISD has worked to bring more classrooms in compliance with the law. This fall, HISD opened the new Mark White Elementary School to relieve crowding in schools located on the district’s west side. Mark White Elementary’s construction was funded by the 2012 voter-approved bond program.

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52 schools take on Family Friendly Schools Challenge

The Family and Community Engagement Department (FACE) is welcoming 52 HISD campuses into its Family Friendly Schools Program for the 2016-2017 school year – twice the number of campuses from the previous school year.

Through a series of research-based activities and strategies to expand and build relationships with families, link family events to student learning, build parent capacity and support efforts for parent empowerment, schools have an opportunity to earn a star toward one of three Family Friendly School Certification levels: Continue reading →

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, which was created 10 years ago by Pacer’s National Bullying Prevention Center. Since 2006, the event has grown to an entire month of education and awareness activities, and is being recognized by schools and communities throughout the world.

At Oak Forest Elementary School, author Trudy Ludwig recently spoke to students and parents about empowering themselves to combat bullying, including conversational prompts to halt or deflect bullying behavior. The PTA also invited parents from other surrounding schools to participate in the session.

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Navarro Middle School of Excellence celebrates renaming, honors namesake

Nearly 200 students, staff, and community members gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the renaming of Yolanda Black Navarro Middle School of Excellence and pay tribute to the well-respected community leader who now serves as its namesake.

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On hand for the ceremony were family and friends of the late Yolanda Black Navarro, including HISD Board of Education Trustee Diana Dávila, HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza, U.S. Reps. Gene Green and Sheila Jackson Lee, State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, and son Christian Navarro, as well as many other Navarro family members and supporters.

“The name Yolanda Black Navarro represents the community today that it serves,” Navarro Principal Kelly Vaughn Pichon said, adding that the work of women such as Navarro rarely makes history books, but is “engraved in the hearts and minds of those positively affected.”

“Thank you, Yolanda Black Navarro, for your service not to only the Latino community, but for all people.”

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