Category Archives: Middle Schools

HISD, Arts Access Initiative partnership to expand arts education in 11 schools

The Houston Independent School District and the City of Houston’s Arts Access Initiative joined forces Tuesday to announce a new partnership that will provide additional arts education programs at 10 elementary schools and one middle school.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000l7tBTU_Xv3c” g_name=”20150512-KashmereES” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

The partnership will directly connect schools to area arts organizations, providing 7,000 students with hands-on, arts-related experiences both in and out of the classroom. In addition to workshops and programs offered at the school, students also will have the opportunity to see performances and visit museums and arts venues.   Continue reading →

Register now to attend May 13 teacher job fair

District seeking highly effective educators to produce global graduates

Join Team HISD and help us produce global graduates. The district is hosting a job fair on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, and we’re seeking effective teachers to join our team.

Please note: You must first apply for a teaching position using our online application system by clicking here.

  • If you are a Texas certified teacher, please be prepared to provide evidence of your credentials
  • If you are an Alternative Certification Program candidate, please upload your Letter of Acceptance, Statement of Eligibility, and university transcripts

Interested teachers who have completed the online application and been approved by the Talent Acquisition team will receive additional details about the job fair, including its time and location.

Principals will be on hand to interview highly qualified candidates and will be prepared to extend on-the-spot job offers.

The district strongly encourages bilingual, secondary math and science, and special education candidates to apply and attend.

If you have any questions, please email teacherselection@houstonisd.org.

Middle school students win Target shopping spree

The Moran Norris Foundation is treating 150 students from six HISD middle schools to a shopping spree on Friday, May 8, 2015, at Target South Central, 6500 South Main, 77025.

In the “Shopping for Good Character” program, students from Cullen, Dowling, McReynolds, Marshall, and M.C. Williams middle schools, as well as Woodson Leadership Academy, were selected by their teachers for excellent attendance, great character, and the ability to make good choices. Each student receives $100 to purchase items for themselves and family members. They are also treated to lunch, courtesy of the foundation.

Continue reading →

Spring Visual Arts Showcase displays talent of HISD student artists

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000.hcenGbPsHA” g_name=”20150506-VisualArtsShowcase” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

Stroll through the halls of HISD’s Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St, 77092) over the next few days, and you could see a lion, a wolf, or even a cheetah.

All of these and more are represented in original artworks created by HISD students as part of the 2015 Spring Visual Arts Showcase, which is organized annually to display the talent of student artists from across the district.

Continue reading →

J.J. Watt Foundation giving HISD after-school athletic programs a boost

Coach Wilson (L) with J.J. Watt and members of the Fondren MS football team

Coach Wilson (L) with J.J. Watt and members of the Fondren MS football team

Eight members of the Fondren Middle School football team received a big surprise on April 18.

They got to meet one of their idols that day—legendary Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt—at a special celebration held in Houston by the charity he created. As previous beneficiaries of a grant from the Justin J. Watt Foundation, the students were invited to help accept a large donation from Papa John’s Pizza, one of its biggest supporters, at the event. They also got to visit with Watt personally and ask him a few questions.

Continue reading →

Support budding entrepreneurs on Lemonade Day, Sunday, May 3

It’s been almost a decade since Lemonade Day first came to the Bayou City, and over the years, thousands of HISD students have participated in this annual exercise in learning how to start and run a business.

Lemonade Day is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2015, and the competition for Houston’s Best-Tasting Lemonade will take place from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at four locations that day:

In addition to the Best-Tasting Lemonade contest, this year’s event will offer students a few more opportunities to earn recognition, including a Best Stand contest determined in part by “likes” on social media. Other contests for young people include competitions for the Most Innovative Business Plan, Most Charitable Entrepreneur, and Best Social Media Campaign.

“Judges will give their opinion of the best-tasting, of course, but in the other categories, we really want to reward the children who are putting in the work and getting creative,” said Lemonade Day Houston Associate Director Gabrielle Gunn. “These competitions will be based in part on the stories that are shared by teachers, principals, students, and customers, so we encourage everyone to come out and support Houston’s young people.”

For a full list of lemonade stands and their locations, please visit the Lemonade Day website.

Burbank MS student wins scholarship to summer math camp

Shermya Parkere poses with Principal Rosa Hernandez (L) and teacher Olivia Holub

Shermya Parkere poses with Principal Rosa Hernandez (L) and teacher Olivia Holub

Shermya Parkere, a seventh-grader at Burbank Middle School, is one of one two middle-school students in the State of Texas to win a Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented (TAGT) scholarship to attend the Summer Mathematics Institute (SMI).

The program is sponsored by the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science at the University of North Texas. Shermya will live on the college campus and meet other gifted students who share her passion for mathematics. She learned of the opportunity to apply for the scholarship from her math teacher, Olivia Holub.

“I was really surprised and excited,” said Shermya, who plans to pursue a medical career as an obstetrician. “This experience will look great on my applications next year, when I apply to high schools.”

The institute is a three-week residential program with an intense focus on mathematics. Students enroll in a single class and have the opportunity to complete one year of high school mathematics in this self-paced program.

Thanks to the generosity of Summer Mathematics Institute, the Texas Association for the Gifted & Talented (TAGT) has awarded the full scholarships to the SMI program, valued at $2,250.

Nutrition Services honored with the No Kid Hungry Breakfast Champion Award

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000w3gYOd.WgaU” g_name=”No-Kid-Hungry-gallery” width=”600″ f_fullscreen=”t” bgtrans=”t” pho_credit=”iptc” twoup=”f” f_bbar=”t” f_bbarbig=”f” fsvis=”f” f_show_caption=”t” crop=”f” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_l=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”f” f_show_slidenum=”t” f_topbar=”f” f_show_watermark=”t” img_title=”casc” linkdest=”c” trans=”xfade” target=”_self” tbs=”5000″ f_link=”t” f_smooth=”f” f_mtrx=”t” f_ap=”t” f_up=”f” height=”400″ btype=”old” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” ]

HISD’s Nutrition Services Department was presented with the No Kid Hungry Breakfast Champion Award, sponsored by Share Our Strength during a pep rally event on Wednesday at Marshall Middle School. The department provides the First Class Breakfast program, offered in more than 240 locations districtwide.

Continue reading →