Category Archives: Special events

Student creativity to be on mobile display at Art Car Parade April 9

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The Orange Show’s 29th annual Art Car Parade will be rolling through downtown Houston on Saturday, April 9, and almost a dozen of the mobile artworks on display will be the work of HISD students.

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Ten HISD students to compete in Houston Public Media spelling bee April 2

Lovett ES fifth-grader Bryan Moore poses with his mother, Tonyamas Moore, who won the spelling bee at that campus back in 1986.

Lovett ES fifth-grader Bryan Moore poses with his mother, Tonyamas Moore, who won the spelling bee at that campus back in 1986.

Five boys and five girls from 10 different HISD schools will be testing the limits of their vocabulary on Saturday, April 2, when they take part in the finals of the Houston Public Media spelling bee. The top two winners of the Houston-area competition will be eligible to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C., in May.

This year’s local contest is particularly meaningful for two HISD students: fifth-grader Bryan Moore (Lovett ES) and eighth-grader Christine Bowyer (Baylor College of Medicine Academy at Ryan).

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Save the date! April 9 is the “When I Grow Up” career expo


More than 100 exhibitors from local companies will be on hand to help students explore their options in high-demand, high-growth industries at the “When I Grow Up Expo” on Saturday, April 9, 2016. The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092).

Students of all ages will enjoy hands-on career awareness and exploration activities, including the STEM Museum on Wheels, Home Depot workshops, the Career Ready Wagon, a gyroscope, and more. Students will have the opportunity to talk with local employers about future careers, experience the Mobile Oilfield Learning Unit, and compete in various student competitions in subjects such as cosmetology, movie making, construction and culinary skills. Food trucks will be on hand, and participants will be able to enjoy student performances by Waltrip HS Jazz Band, Lanier MS Orchestra, Davis HS Mariachi, and the MC Williams MS Orchestra.

Last year, more than 5,000 students, parents, and community members attended the annual expo, which featured a Houston Police Department SWAT tank, Houston Fire Department truck and, “BAT” (breath alcohol testing) van among other exhibits.

For more information, please see the Career Readiness webpage, or call 713-556-6981.

#TeamHISD rallies around Sam Houston MSTC as basketball team advances to state semi-finals

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HISD’s own Sam Houston Running Tigers got a raucous send-off Thursday before they head to the state boys’ basketball semi-finals this weekend for the first time since 1988, and fans are being encouraged to show their support by attending Friday’s game or cheering the team on through social media.

Students and staff – along with members of the school’s 1988 state basketball championship team – gathered at Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center for the morning rally before the Tigers’ trip to San Antonio, where they will take on the Atascocita HS Eagles (Humble ISD) in the initial 6A division match-up at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Alamodome. The winner of that game will play against either the DeSoto Eagles (DeSoto ISD) or the Steele HS Knights (Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD) the following night at 8:30 p.m. for the state championship.

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HISD to be closed March 14–18 for spring break

SpringBreak800ZinniaAll HISD campuses and offices will be closed for Spring Break from Monday, March 14, through Friday, March 18, 2016.

Schools and offices will reopen for normal business on Monday, March 21, 2016.

Employees should consult the duty schedules posted here.

The HISD Police Department will be patrolling district facilities all during the holiday break. Emergencies may be reported by calling 713-892-7777.

Graduation ceremony schedule announced for the Class of 2016

A student from Davis HS at the 2015 graduation ceremony.

A student from Davis HS at the 2015 graduation ceremony.

Hundreds of HISD students will take their first steps into adulthood this spring, when they walk across a stage to collect their diplomas as part of the district’s annual graduation ceremonies.

Most ceremonies will take place at various locations around the city (primarily the Barnett Fieldhouse, Butler Fieldhouse, NRG Arena/Stadium, Texas Southern University campus, and Williams Pavilion) between Friday, May 27, and Sunday, May 29.

However, a few will be taking place earlier (Leland College Prep on Tuesday, May 24; E-STEM on Thursday, May 26) or later (Liberty HS on Sunday, June 12), so be sure to check the schedule here for details. You can also find it at www.HoustonISD.org/GraduationCalendar.

Student Congress seeking volunteers, speakers for April 9 TEDxHISD

HISD’s Student Congress, in partnership with Rice University, will be conducting a TEDxHISD conference on April 9, 2016, and leaders of that organization are still seeking both volunteers and speakers.

TEDx are independently organized events designed to bring people together to share great ideas. The TEDxHISD event will take place from noon until 6 p.m. in the Anderson Bio Lab Lecture Hall 131 at Rice University (6100 Main Street, 77005). It is open to all HISD high-school students.

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Distinguished African-American alumni empower themselves, others through education

Editor’s Note: Black History Month runs from Monday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 29, this year, and HISD is celebrating with a series of weekly stories recognizing distinguished African Americans who graduated from HISD high schools. This final article focuses on alumni who went on to have successful careers in education. Previous articles highlighted athletes, artists, politicians, and media professionals.

Despite laws forbidding the education of slaves and generations of African Americans being denied the right to schooling, African-American leaders have always stressed that the key to success is a high-quality education.

In the HISD family, many distinguished African-American alumni strived to help others overcome generations of poverty and illiteracy by gaining an education.

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