Category Archives: Special events

Halpin ECC finds creative ways to boost student attendance

Principal, science teacher use gift cards, other incentives to keep kids in class

When children are absent from school, it’s not just the students who lose out on their daily dose of instruction. Over time, campuses lose out on their ability to deliver it as well.

School funding is determined on the basis of students’ average daily attendance rate, so a dip of even a single percentage point can cost campuses thousands of dollars in funds needed to support their instructional programs. Continue reading →

Dr. Grier Receives Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators’ Highest Honor

Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators president-elect Dr. Dawn Randle, left, and president Dr. Christopher Pichon, right, pose with Houston ISD Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier after he was awarded the President's Award from the HAABSE at the Westin Galleria, March 1, 2013. Grier was honored for his efforts in passing the 2012 Bond to improve high schools and other facilities across the district.

The Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators has awarded HISD Superintendent Terry Grier its highest honor.  Dr. Grier recently received the Presidential Award at the organization’s 26th Annual Outstanding Teacher Awards and Recognition ceremony at the Westin Galleria Hotel. Continue reading →

New Media Partnerships Showcase Students

In an effort to showcase some of  HISD’s outstanding high school students, KHOU Channel 11 has launched a new weekly segment called  Our Future, which airs every Thursday during the station’s 5 p.m. newscast.  The purpose of the segment is to identify and profile young student leaders who can serve as an inspiration and role models for others. Continue reading →

HISD’s ‘When I Grow Up’ Expo to Feature Technical Careers and Education in Houston

Event includes hands-on projects, competitions and workshops related to local career fields

In observance of National Career and Technology Education month in February, HISD’s College and Career Readiness Department is hosting the When I Grow Up Expo on Saturday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hattie Mae White Educational Center (4400 W. 18th Street).

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HISD Students Compete in 17th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition

Twelve HISD students will compete in the final round of the 17th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition. The fourth-and fifth-grade students have written three-to-five minute speeches answering the theme question “If you could talk directly to Dr. King about your dream for our future, what would you tell him?”  Students will be judged on delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation, and memorization. The winner will receive $1,000 and the other finalists will also be awarded a monetary prize. The competition was created to celebrate cultural diversity and to recognize exceptional HISD students as they learn about Dr. King’s legacy.  It is free and open to the public.  Click here to see the speeches from last year’s event.

Who: Twelve students representing HISD elementary schools; HISD Board of Education Trustee Anna Eastman, HISD Chief Elementary School officer Samuel Sarabia, and local civic and community leaders will serve as judges.

What: Final round of the 17th annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition

When: Friday, January 18 at 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Where: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, 500 Clay Street

Reagan K-8 Officially Dedicated, Honoring Former HISD Superintendent

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HISD Trustee Larry Marshall, from left, Principal Joyce Williams, Billy Reagan, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, and Chief School Officer Chip Zullinger cut the ribbon on the new Billy Reagan K-8 Educational Center. For more photos of the dedication, click here.

 

The doors of Billy Reagan K-8 Educational Center opened for students in August, but on Wednesday, the school community got a chance to celebrate the new school with its official dedication.

More than 200 people, including neighbors, parents, faculty, and HISD officials, attended the ceremony at the campus off Anderson Road to recognize the new campus and honor the school’s namesake, former HISD superintendent Billy Reagan. During his opening remarks, Superintendent Terry Grier said Reagan made significant contributions to education in the city of Houston and across the country.

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Waltrip Ram Band Prepares for Inaugural Celebration Performances

Donations from local attorney and Texas legislator helped group finally meet its fundraising goal

The Waltrip Ram Band is making final preparations for its trip to perform at the Inaugural Celebration in Washington, D.C.  For the past few months, the band has been holding benefit concerts and other events to raise the $150,000 needed to cover the costs of the trip for the more than 140 students.

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17th annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Finals on Friday

Last year's Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition winner Mattias McBride.

Last year's Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition winner, Matthias McBride.

Dr. Martin Luther King will inspire several elementary school students to pick up a microphone and show off their oratory skills in the 17th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Finals at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ on Friday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Twelve  students will be judged on delivery, stage presence and decorum, content interpretation and memorization as they perform original three to five minute speeches designed to answer the question –  “If you could talk directly to Dr. King about your dream for our future, what would you tell him?”

Aimed at celebrating cultural diversity and encouraging continued development of writing and oratory skills, the contest has had an impressive past and led to contest winners spreading Dr. King’s messages of hope on local and national news outlets. Last year’s second-place winner, Donovan Williams, a fifth grader at Cornelius Elementary,  noted, “As a drum major for justice, Dr. King would surely share the baton with us.”

Check here to see the speeches from last year’s event, including the speech from winner Matthias McBride.

What:  17th Annual Gardere MLK Jr. Oratory Competition Finals

Where:Antioch Missionary Baptist Church of Christ

 When: Friday, Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Toys for Tots Collected at HMW are on the Way to Needy Families

2012 Toys for Tots

Click the image above to see more photos from the Toys for Tots drive.

Toys were collected from Hattie Mae White on Friday, Dec. 14, for the United States Marine Corps Reserve’s annual Toys for Tots campaign. Collection boxes were placed in the administrative building and at several schools over the last several weeks.

Marines, with the aid of local social welfare agencies and churches, will distribute the toys to children from economically challenged families on Christmas Day.

First Sgt. Mack Grimmett, who was on hand to pick up the toys, said today is the reserve’s major distribution day. The reserve is partnering with Houston Children’s Charity today to distribute toys at the George R. Brown Convention Center. He said the effort continues to be a huge help to needy families across Houston.

 “The need is always going to be there because there are always families that are going to be hurting,” Grimmett said. “But the good thing about being here is that Houston is such a patriotic city that we’ve never had a problem with people not giving.”

Today marks the last day of HISD’s employee campaign, but it’s not too late to donate a toy to the effort. The donation boxes will remain in the lobby through Dec. 19. For more information or to make a donation online, visit the Toys for Tots Web site.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston Delivers Motivational Message to Students

Wheatley, Kashmere HS students take part in two video conferences

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston has received numerous accolades on and off the football field and recently, he shared some of his keys to success with Kashmere and Wheatley High School students.
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