Category Archives: Special events

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.

Books Between Kids donates millionth book to HISD student 

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There were bubble machines, free books, and lots of exuberant children at Piney Point Elementary School recently, because Books Between Kids was there to celebrate the presentation of the one-millionth book to an HISD student.

Second-grader Justin Ikwuagwu was the lucky boy, and he seemed a bit overwhelmed by the attention. As Books Between Kids staff and volunteers gathered round for pictures, Justin held up the book, “How Much is a Million?” and smiled shyly.  Continue reading →

‘Feast of Art’ to showcase effort to boost fine arts in District III 

Schools in the Chavez High School feeder pattern will host the first fine arts showcase, “A Feast of Art,” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 20 at Chavez High School (8501 Howard, Houston, 77017) as part of a larger effort to increase arts access in the area.

The fine arts showcase will feature visual artwork created by students from the following schools: Bellfort Early Childhood Center; Bonner, Lewis, Patterson, Park Place, and Rucker elementary schools; Ortiz and Stevenson middle schools; and Chavez High School.   Continue reading →

Asian Advisory Committee honors teachers, trustee at annual celebration

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HISD kicked off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on Thursday, May 4, at Kim Son restaurant with an extravaganza of color and entertainment. The Asian-Pacific American Heritage Celebration featured performances, awards, and the traditional dragon dance.

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Graduating EMERGE seniors to be honored at annual celebration 

There are 252 EMERGE seniors graduating in May and heading off to colleges and universities around the country, and they’re on track to receive more than $36 million in scholarships and grants.

This year, students have been accepted to schools such as Harvard University, Brown University, University of Pennsylvania, Bryn Mawr College, Scripps College, Amherst College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Vanderbilt University, St. John’s University-New York, and Johns Hopkins University.  Continue reading →

HISD teacher recruitment in full swing

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Teacher recruitment is underway and the HISD recruitment team has been traveling to colleges across Texas and the nation to meet with students who are graduating in May and want to become teachers.

Even HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza is hitting the recruitment trail. Carranza was on hand at an April 7 recruitment event at the University of Houston.

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HISD Scholars Banquet honors 100-plus high school seniors at top of their class 

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The Houston Independent School District paid tribute to the top students from each high school’s graduating class during the annual Scholars Banquet.

The 101 valedictorians and salutatorians were recognized for their dedication and hard work during the banquet, which was held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 11, at the Westin Oaks Houston.

“I commend you all for your commitment to academic excellence,” HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza told students. “You have made it a personal priority to prepare for college and ultimately your successful future.”

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Parents and community gather at Hispanic Parent Summit

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On Saturday, April 8, Wanda Adams, HISD Board of Education President and District IX Trustee, held a parent summit to provide Hispanic families with access to information and resources to help support their students’ academic achievement.

Adams kicked off the event, addressing attendees in Spanish and sharing that “the most overwhelming key to a child’s success is the positive involvement of parents, so it’s good to see so many of you here today because it’s a sign of how successful your kids – our students – will be.”

That message was also echoed by Dr. Adriana Tamez, Houston Community College Trustee for District III, who emphasized “the critical importance of being informed, partnering with teachers, and attending events like the Hispanic Parent Summit will benefit our kids’ futures.”

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HISD schools share #LoveMySchoolDay tributes on social media

April 11 is Love My School Day, when schools across the country are asked to flood social media with the reasons why their campus is a great place for students and staff. HISD schools answered in a big way, sharing photos, video, and comments about why they are proud of their school community.
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