Category Archives: Special events

News around the district

Seniors from Houston Academy for International Studies met former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Every month, schools across the district hold special events and celebrations, or honor employees, students and alumni.  Here’s a snapshot of what happened at HISD during the months of April-May:

  • Sherman Elementary honored their Gifted and Talented students at the 3rd Annual GT Expo on May 3. More than ninety gifted and Talented students worked individually or in groups to prepare projects for viewing by parents and community members.
  • Seniors from the Houston Academy for International Studies attended the World Affairs Council luncheon with former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.  Two students, Benjamin Brooks and Juana Martinez, were specially chosen for a round table discussion with former Secretary Rice where they were allowed to ask questions ranging from her view on U.S. relations with Pakistan to recounting her own days as a high school student.  Ms. Rice signed a copy of her recent book, No Higher Honor, as a gift to the school.
  • Dallas Cowboys football player Lawrence Vickers (#47) visited Whidby Elementary to promote the importance of education through athletics. Mr. Vickers spoke about his own experiences, including the teacherw who helped him succeed and why staying in school is important.

How HISD students celebrated Cinco de Mayo (w/photos)

Students at dozens of HISD schools from across the district observed Cinco de Mayo with performances and celebrations during the week of May 5, in recognition of the day Mexico’s army defeated a much larger French force in the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

See a photo gallery of the performances at several HISD schools below:

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Participate in GenTX Day to Help Promote Higher Education

GenTX Day will be returning to the Lone Star State for its second year on May 4, 2012, and Superintendent Terry Grier is encouraging all HISD students and employees to show their support by wearing their favorite college T-shirt that day.

Generation TX (pronounced “Generation Texas”) is a statewide movement supported by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that is focused on building a college-going and career-ready culture.

Last year, Generation TX held its first statewide GenTX Day celebrating the achievements of Texas students, especially graduating seniors who are continuing their education beyond high school.

To learn more about how to participate in this year’s GenTX Day and access free GenTX Day kits and materials, visit http://gentx.org/gentxday.

YWCPA Campus Becomes No Place for Hate

HISD’s Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy became the latest HISD campus to cement its pledge to end bullying when it was designated a “No Place for Hate” school earlier this month by the Anti-Defamation League.

To earn the title, students had to complete three projects over the course of the past school year to demonstrate their commitment to ending intolerance.

At YWCPA, girls took part in a number of activities designed to help them appreciate and celebrate their differences, including one game called “planters and lumberjacks” in which students were encouraged to use their words to build each other up rather than cut each other down.

“We have a diverse student population, so it is very important that all individuals feel at home,” explained YWCPA No Place for Hate Coordinator (and art teacher) Lynne Bennett. “Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where we can learn from one another’s cultures and respect people for their unique qualities.”

To learn more about the No Place for Hate program, visit the ADL’s website. A full list of No Place for Hate campuses in HISD as of 2011 is here (.pdf).

Missed the School Choice Fair? See photos from the event

HISD held its second annual School Choice Fair on Saturday, April 28, at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center. The event showcased up to 85 schools, including magnet, early college, multilingual programs, charters, early childhood centers, and dual language.

See scenes from HISD’s School Choice Fair below.

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HISD is First District to be Awarded Climate Corps Fellow from Environmental Defense Fund

The Houston Independent School District is the first district to be awarded an Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps Fellow this summer to develop a customized energy plan for implementation district wide.  Joseph Konkel, instructional assistant at the University of Houston’s College of Business, will provide consulting and expertise on the district’s energy needs during this summer. 

“We are thrilled to be awarded this Climate Corps Fellow as it will provide HISD added support as we continue with our energy efficiency efforts across the district,” said HISD Energy Manager Gavin Dillingham.  “Having a Climate Corps fellow will allow the district to prioritize facilities for large scale capital retrofits.”

The district will provide Konkel with senior-level support, a day-to-day supervisor, and access to energy use data.  HISD has committed to reducing its energy use, acting on the fellow’s recommendations where feasible, and providing updates on implementation of energy efficient measures at six and eighteen-month intervals, following the fellowship’s completion.

At the program’s culmination, EDF aggregates the total projected investment dollars, energy savings in kilowatt hours and cost savings resulting from recommendations made by the fellows.          

“I am excited that HISD has the opportunity to participate in such an innovative program.  Houston is already considered the energy capital of the world,” said Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis.  “This provides a great opportunity for HISD to be an example for other school districts around the country, as they are the first district to participate in the program.”

EDF’s Climate Corps is an innovative summer fellowship program that places MBA and MPA students from top graduate schools at companies, cities and universities to help with investing in energy efficiency.  Companies like Boeing, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Citigroup have achieved more energy efficient operations as a result of having a Climate Corps Fellow.  HISD is the first K-12 organization to participate in the program.

For more information about the District’s energy-efficiency initiatives, and the Green School Challenge, please visit www.hisd.org/greenschoolchallenge.  To access Climate Corps Fellow case studies, and learn more about the program, visit www.edfclimatecorps.org.

Volunteers from North Highland Company to Spend Day Beautifying Milby High School

What: North Highland Company, a global consultant oil and natural gas service organization, is donating 65 volunteers for a Milby Beautification Day in support of the IPAA Milby Academy of Petroleum Exploration & Production Technology.  The volunteers have committed to 350 man hours to improve and refurbish the school grounds, courtyards, walkways and park benches. 

Who: HISD Board Member Manuel Rodriguez, Milby High School Principal Roy de la Garza, IPAA Academy Coordinator Sarah Hewitt, North Highland Company Vice President Clark Varner, volunteers, students and teachers

When: Saturday, April 28, starting at 8:00a.m.

Where: Milby High School, 1601 Broadway

Davis High School to Create Awareness of Upcoming GenTX Day with News Conference

What: HISD’s Davis High School will be promoting the upcoming GenTX Day (Friday, May 4) during a campus news conference.  All students, staff, teachers and community members in attendance will be showing their support for the students of Generation TX by wearing their favorite college T-shirt.  The purpose of this event is to create a culture of college and career readiness that leads to the most successful generation ever.

 Who: HISD Board Member Anna Eastman, Davis High School Principal Jaime Castaneda, and students from Ketelson Elementary, Marshall Middle School and Davis High School

 When: Monday, April 30, 10:30a.m.

 Where: Davis High School, 1101 Quitman

Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy to Beautify Campus in Honor of Earth Day

HISD’s Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy (1701 Bringhurst)  will celebrate Earth Day by hosting a campus beautification project on Friday, April 27 at 10 a.m.

“We are excited about this event, and our school community has embraced being an eco-friendly campus, not just on Earth Day, but all year round,” said Principal Dameion Crook.

On Friday, nearly 200 students, parents, volunteers and school staff will plant 80 trees near the school’s soccer field and throughout the campus. 

“I am excited to join Principal Crook and the students at the Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy in their efforts to revitalize our community in the Fifth Ward,” said Houston City Councilman Jerry Davis.  In an effort to help spruce up the academy’s grounds, Davis’ office donated supplies to support the school’s Earth Day event.  “I think it is imperative to work with our youth to instill a sense of pride in our community. Through their actions today, they are truly making a lasting impact that generations can appreciate for years to come.” 

The school currently has a campus-wide recycling program and is taking part in HISD’s Green School Challenge, a competition designed to reduce schools’ energy and water consumption, and to increase the amount of single-stream waste recycling. 

For more information about the Green School Challenge, and other green and energy-efficient initiatives, please visit www.hisd.org/greenschoolchallenge.

‘Dogs of Character’ teach life lessons at Lockhart Elementary

“The Dogs of Character” rescue dogs recently paid a visit to Lockhart Elementary to teach 600 HISD students some important life lessons. The animals are used to “deliver messages of diversity, tolerance and self empowerment” said Dogs of Character Creative Director Joy Southard.

Click the photo below to see Lockhart students and their furry friends.