Category Archives: Parents

Register for HIPPY’s Back to School Festival on Aug. 5 

HISD’s Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) will hold its Back to School Festival from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5 at Kingdom Builders Center (6011 W. Orem, 77085).

Parents of children ages 0-11 or in grades pre-K through 5 are encouraged to attend. At the event, parents will be able to learn more about the HIPPY program, connect with HISD and community resources, receive free back-to-school supplies, and have the chance to win prizes. Lunch will be provided.

To register, go to HoustonISD.org/HippyFestival or call 713-967-5298. The registration deadline is July 21.

HIPPY works with parents of 3- and 4-year-old children to help prepare their preschool child for academic success. Instructors visit parents in their homes for an hour a week in a 30-week period and cover early literacy skills, mathematics, science, fine and gross motor skills, and language development. Research shows that HISD kindergarten students whose parents have participated in the HIPPY program significantly outperform their peers in reading and math. Interested families can contact the HIPPY office at 713-967-5298.

STAAR scores now available: What you need to know  

The Texas Education Agency has redesigned the STAAR student report cards and revised the way students’ performance is labeled on STAAR tests in grades 3-12. The results of the May 2017 STAAR and End of Course (EOC) tests are now available online at www.TexasAssessments.com. Read below to learn how to access your child’s score, how to read the new student report cards, and what has changed with STAAR performance labels. Continue reading →

Sign up for mayor’s Back to School Fest

Registration opens on Monday for Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Back to School Fest, an annual event that helps elementary students across the city access the resources they need for a successful school year.

Pre-registered children who are in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and reside in the City of Houston are eligible to participate. Attendees will receive backpacks filled with school supplies and also will have access to eye exams, vaccinations, lessons in dental health and hygiene, and more.

The event is free, thanks to the generosity of Shell and other sponsors working with the mayor’s office.

To register for an appointment, visit this link. Registration closes on Friday, July 21. Families may also register by calling 311 or 713-837-0311 to request an appointment.

For more information, check out a list of FAQs about the event.

Magnet application deadline for Phase 2 is May 31 

Parents who would still like to apply for a magnet school for the 2017-2018 school year or would like to reapply to a school at which their original magnet application was dropped or released have until Wednesday, May 31 to do so.

Parents who participated in Phase 1 of the application process (Sept. 30 – Dec. 9, 2016) were notified of the status of their submissions on Thursday, March 23. Phase I includes in-district applications only.

After all applications in Phase 1 have been processed, eligible Phase 2 students who meet a program’s qualifications will be considered in the order in which their application was submitted (online or on paper).  Continue reading →

Summer readers can boost knowledge, win rewards  

It doesn’t take long for students to lose some of the academic progress they have made during the school year by sitting idle over the summer, so HISD is challenging students to use the power of reading to combat the dreaded “summer slide.”

Below are a number of ways to access thousands of books absolutely free through the district’s Summer Reading Program.

”It’s been proven through research, experience, and time that students lose at least three months of learning during the summer if they don’t engage in reading over the summer break,” said HISD’s Library Media Services Manager Janice Newsum.  Continue reading →

Two events offer students opportunity to learn about career options 

This week, two events will help HISD students of all ages explore careers in high-demand, high-growth industries.

First up is Family Career Night from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at East Early College (220 N. Milby St., Houston, 77003).

The event, sponsored by District VIII Trustee Diana Davila, is for parents and students in grades K-12 in the Northeast and East part of the city and will provide the opportunity to learn more about different careers in the Greater Houston area, HISD programs and resources, and how to connect with high education and industry representatives. There also will be an opportunity to win a scholarship.  Continue reading →

Family Career Night planned for April 19 

HISD District VIII Trustee Diana Davila is hosting a Family Career Night from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at East Early College (220 N. Milby St., Houston, 77003).

The event is for parents and students in grades K-12 in the Northeast and East part of the city and will provide the opportunity to learn more about different careers in the Greater Houston area, HISD programs and resources, and how to connect with high education and industry representatives. There also will be an opportunity to win a scholarship.

Dinner will be provided, as well as free giveaways throughout the event. In some cases, transportation will be available. Please check with your school for details.

For more information, contact HISD College and Career Readiness at 713-556-6981.

HISD hosting special education parent forums 

District taking look at how to better provide services

HISD is inviting parents to three special education forums where they can ask questions and provide comments as part of a broader effort to reform special education services in the district.

The meetings will be hosted by the HISD Office of Special Education Services, which supports students with disabilities in gaining college and career readiness and independent living skills through active engagement in grade level curriculum. Continue reading →

HISD Board president to host Hispanic Parent Summit with free workshops, resources 

Wanda Adams, HISD Board of Education President and District IX Trustee, will host a parent summit to provide Hispanic families with access to information and resources to prepare them to support their kids’ academic achievement.

The  free event will take place on Saturday, April 8 at Grissom Elementary School (4900 Simsbrook, Houston 77045) with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in a parent panel and various workshops aimed to help parents and caregivers influence their children’s education. Parents will also be able to have their children screened for dyslexia, receive assistance completing FAFSA/TAFSA applications, learn about selecting the best schools for their kids, and much more.  Continue reading →

National Public Health Week event for families scheduled for April 1

The Houston Health Department will observe National Public Health Week (April 3-9) with a family health event on Saturday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Judson Robinson Community Center (2020 Hermann Drive, Houston, 77004).

The goal for this event is to create an interactive, fun and engaging experience for HISD families. The Houston Health Department is a longtime partner with HISD and hopes to connect as many families as possible on to on-the-spot services such as:    Continue reading →