Category Archives: Special events

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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Scholarship, Financial Aid Fair Set to Assist Students and Parents

HISD’s Class of 2012 earned a record $180 million in college scholarship offers, and seniors this year are hoping to match or surpass that number. To assist students in their scholarship search, HISD’s College and Career Readiness Department is holding the “No Dollar Left Behind”  Scholarship and Financial Aid Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Challenge Early College High School (5601 West Loop South, 77081).

Students and parents attending the fair will have the opportunity to speak with various scholarship exhibitors, learn how to improve their scholarship search and get tips for successful essay writing. Representatives from the Department of Education will also be on hand to answer questions.

 “Many of our HISD families believe they can’t afford to send their child to college, but there is plenty of aid out there if you you know where to look,” said HISD Counseling Manager Nefertari Mundy. “In fact, there is nearly $150 billion dollars available from the federal government in the form of grants, loans, work study and scholarships. We want to make sure our students leave no dollar behind.”

Students attending the fair will also have a chace to win a $1,500 scholarship and can meet with representatives from 20 different organizations that have scholarships available to HISD students, including the Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Hispanic Forum and the Childrens Defense Fund, to name a few.

Regional colleges like Prairie View A&M, Texas Southern and others will also be on hand to discuss scholarships that their institutions have to offer students.

HISD seniors attending the fair can also receive a free meningitis immunization thanks to the Meningitis Initiative. Students must have this vaccine to attend most colleges.

 

Miss America brings message of encouragement to students at YWCPA

Miss America 2012 at YWCPA.

Laura Kaeppeler, Miss America 2012, brought a message of encouragement, determination, and persistence to the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy during a recent visit to the school. 

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HISD Hosting Phone Bank on Univision 45 to Provide Information on Bond

In an effort to reach out to eligible voters across the city and provide them information on the HISD 2012 bond proposal, which is the last item on the ballot, the Houston Independent School District is hosting a bond information phone bank on Univision 45.

Dozens of experts on the HISD bond proposition will be on hand to take calls from viewers on Monday, October 29 from 7 to 10:30 p.m.

Tune in to Univision 45 for the HISD Bond phone bank and hear from principals and parents talk about the needs of their schools and current campus conditions.

Volunteers include HISD school improvement officers, principals and administrators.  The purpose of this phone bank is to ensure that all Houston voters are well informed on the 2012 HISD bond proposal when they go to the polling sites.

There will be bilingual volunteers ready to take your calls in English or Spanish.  For more information on the HISD Bond, call the phone bank on Monday, October 29 from 7  to 10:30 pm at 713 390-5956.

HISD’s $1.89 billion plan would rebuild or renovate 38 schools across the city and help improve conditions for students in all HISD schools, if approved by voters on November 6. 

For more information on the HISD bond, visit www.houstonisd.org/2012bond.

HISD Celebrates New Collaboration with National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools USA Program

The Houston Independent School District announced a new collaboration today with the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program.  The announcement was made during a press conference at Westside High School.  The NWF has worked successfully for nearly 10 years with HISD with the goal of helping to close achievement gaps for disadvantaged students and to improve science and math learning through the use of outdoor environmental education.

 The new Eco-Schools USA initiative will expand on the current Schoolyard Habitat program between HISD and NWF.  It will also allow for further expansion and development of the Green School Challenge, launched in December 2011, by helping schools develop and implement plans to green their schools by making buildings and campuses more eco-friendly.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier said this partnership is the latest initiative in HISD’s ongoing commitment to promote green schools.  “This collaboration will offer a new, innovative approach to teaching environmental education in a non-traditional classroom setting, while providing students with more opportunities to learn about the importance of protecting our environment, “Dr. Grier said.  

“We are excited to be working with HISD to advance the district’s very ambitious and commendable sustainability goals,” said Susan Kaderka, Regional Director for the National Wildlife Federation.  “This effort is a win-win for students, for the district, and for the environment.  Students will be better prepared for 21st century careers and life choices, teachers will see greater enthusiasm for science and math, and the natural world will benefit from reduced energy and water use and better care from a new generation of environmental stewards.”  

At the press conference Westside High school environmental science and urban agriculture classes and the school’s ecology club were recognized for their accomplishments. Students there worked to restore 1.5 acres of Gulf Coastal Prairie, one of the rarest ecosystems in the nation.

“We’re proud of the work of our students, teachers, and staff at Westside High school and their ongoing efforts to make their campus green,” said HISD Chief Academic Officer Julie Fox Baker.  “We’re pleased HISD is the largest school district in the country participating in the Eco-Schools USA program.”  The NWF launched the Eco-Schools USA program in 2009.  Nationwide, there are currently 2,000 schools and more than 1 million students registered in the program.  For more than 70 years, the NWF has been educating people about the environment.  NWF’s education efforts annually reach more than 5,000 K-12 schools and nearly 4 million students through a variety of programs, including Schoolyard Habitats and Eco-Schools USA, which is committed to building a sustainable, comprehensive green school movement in the U.S and abroad.

Magnet Awareness Week is Right Around the Corner

Campus tours, open house, school choice fairs planned to help parents get in-depth look at various programs

 

In observance of HISD’s Magnet Awareness Week (Nov. 5-9), the district is hosting two events for parents and students who wish to learn more about the district’s Magnet programs.

The first, a Magnet Open House, will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St, 77092). Representatives from dozens of magnet campuses will be on hand to describe their programs and answer any questions. Applications will be available and will be accepted from Nov. 5 through Jan. 11, 2013. Applications received after Jan.11 will be considered but on a space-available basis. The Magnet Department will notify parents of decisions via mail on March 22, 2013. Parents must notify their school of choice of intent to attend by April 5, 2013.

“Our students and parents have amazing options when it comes to choosing a school for their elementary, middle, and high school children,” said Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat. “The amazing thing about this event is that all 113 of our magnet schools are here today, along with other schools of choice. They will be answering questions, providing information, and inviting parents to tour their schools.”

Schools with Magnet programs will also offer tours of their campuses during Magnet Awareness Week starting at 1 p.m. each day from Monday, Nov. 5, through Friday, Nov. 9. After November 9, parents should phone individual schools for a schedule of tours and other events that will be conducted through early January.

Visit the Magnet Department website for more information about Magnet schools, applications, locations, and contact information. Click here (.pdf) for Magnet school application process dates and deadlines, and here for a map of all HISD Magnet schools and programs.

The Office of School Choice also coordinates “School Choice Fairs” throughout the district. These events provide parents and students with information on HISD Magnet programs.

Elementary School Recruitment Middle School Recruitment
November 3: Magnet Open House at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. October 25: at Lanier MS-2600 Woodhead 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 12: Pugh ES; 1147 Kress 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. October 30: Pin Oak MS; 4601 Glenmont St. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 27: Berry ES; 2310 Berry 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 1: T.H. Rogers MS; 5840 San Felipe St. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
November 28: Elrod ES; 6230 Dumfries 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 3: Magnet Open House at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
December 3: Crespo ES; 7500 Office City 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  November 13th: Dowling MS – 14000 Stancliff St.
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
December 4: Law ES; 12401 South Coast 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. November 15: Ortiz MS; 6767 Telephone Rd. 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
April 27: School Choice Fair at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. April 27: School Choice Fair at Hattie Mae White; 4400 West 18th St. 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Please visit Office of School Choice website for more information.

MLK Early Childhood Center Puts Early Voting Lesson to Music

[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/51682389 w=500&h=281]

Need inspiration to vote? Check out these videos from Martin Luther King, Jr. Early Childhood Center, where getting students to understand the importance of voting was a matter of showing them what it’s all about through song and dance.
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Blue Bell Ice Cream Rewards East Early College High School for Receiving National Blue Ribbon Honor

Blue Bell Creameries will honor East Early College High School (220 North Milby), one of two HISD schools named 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools, with a school-wide ice cream party on Friday, Sept. 28.   A Blue Bell truck filled with ice cream will arrive at the school at noon to treat all of the students, teachers, and staff members.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Schools program has honored more than 7,000 of America’s most successful schools for the past 30 years. This year 269 public and private schools across the country, including HISD’s Project Chrysalis Middle School, received the coveted award.  Blue Bell Creameries will honor Project Chrysalis Middle School at a later date.

Blue Ribbon Schools are selected based on two primary criteria.  They must be among the highest-performing schools in their state and they are schools with at least 40 percent of students from disadvantaged backgrounds that have improved student performance to high levels.

This year’s winning schools will also be honored at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. on Nov. 12-13, 2012.