Category Archives: Uncategorized

Marshall MS Students “RockIt” to Financial Literacy

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/51709319]

Pilot program combines music, video gaming, and finances

Most pre-teens are familiar with the latest video games and the most popular songs and rock bands, but when it comes to money and finances they could use some guidance and instruction.

 Over at Marshall Middle School, 50 seventh-grade students are getting that and more as they combine their musical knowledge and video gaming skills with a unique curriculum that is designed to teach them financial literacy. The “RockIt!” program challenges students to create a rock band and manage their finances.

  Continue reading →

Community Partners Provide Male Mentors for Students

[slideshow]

District kicks off new initiative with HPD and Metro police while celebrating fifth year of Real Men Read

Having a male role model can make a significant impact on the academic and social well-being of a child. Sadly, many students at HISD lack a prominent male figure in their lives. 

 Fortunately, HISD has several longstanding and new partnerships within the Houston community that are helping to give students a male mentor. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, officers from the Houston, HISD, and Metro Police departments gathered at Peck Elementary to kick off a new initiative that provides male police officers as role models and mentors for students.

  Continue reading →

Ripley House Event Planned to Educate Voters

First-time voters are being celebrated during a special event Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Ripley House Neighborhood Center that is expected to draw dozens of HISD high school students and their parents.

The Voter Education and Citizenship Celebration, sponsored in part by Univision 45 and Mi Familia Vota,  will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the neighborhood center, located at 4410 Navigation.

 The goal is to celebrate new voters and help them understand the electoral process.

Joining the event will be students and parents from Jones, Milby, North Houston Early College, Chavez, Austin, Sam Houston, and Lee high schools. Teams of students from each of the schools will call eligible voters across Houston as part of a “High Schools Unite” phone bank from 6 to 7 p.m.

Ripley House has already been drawing thousands of people for early voting over the past week and organizers hope Tuesday’s event will encourage even more people to cast their ballots.

The HISD bond proposition is located at the end of the ballot, and students will be reminding voters to finish their ballots.

HAIS Students Hold Voter Rally

The Houston Academy for International Studies held a “Get Out and Vote!” rally on Friday, Oct. 26, but their work is far from over. The students plan to march downtown this Friday (Nov. 2) on the final day of early voting to encourage any stragglers to head to the polls and finish the entire ballot. 

 [slideshow]At the rally last week, each school club hosted an activity to raise awareness about early voting opportunities. The chess club held a championship, student musicians performed, and there also was a pie-throwing contest. Students distributed fliers with early voting locations, times, and maps and placed them on cars in the school parking lot.

 “We wanted to raise excitement with the students and make sure that when they left school they told all their friends family and parents to go out and vote,” HAIS Principal Melissa Jacobs Thibaut said.

 This Friday, HAIS students will march from the school to the downtown area, stopping at the central voting location at the Harris County Administration Building (1001 Preston). Jacobs Thibaut said it’s an important time to get the word out.

 “We want to raise awareness that it’s the last day of early voting and people still have until 7 p.m. to get to the polls before starting their weekend, and if they can’t get out on Friday, then to please head to the polls on Nov. 6,” she said.

Sam Houston MSTC dedicates new technology wing

A new wing of learning space, laboratories, and a large lecture hall was dedicated recently at Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center.

The new wing has a footprint of more than 29,000 square feet and was built with about $11.6 million in funding generated by the 2007 bond program.

“Teachers can have the up-to-date resources they need to lead students on their road to success,” said Mariana Mendoza, former president of the Sam Houston Parent-Student Association. “We remind the parents and students in this community of the importance of being involved and voting in the upcoming election.”

The school, located at 9400 Irvington, is among 38 schools that would be affected should voters approve the 2012 bond program, which is the last item on the general election ballot. Sam Houston would receive about $101.4 million to build a new school that would incorporate the new wing.

“It is our partnership with the community that ensures Sam Houston is on the verge of the 21st Century,” said Orlando Riddick, HISD’s chief school officer. “I appreciate the efforts put in here to keep us going.”

The new area also includes more parking area and the latest safety features for its advanced learning labs.

HISD Encourages Early Voting, Finishing the Ballot

WHAT:  The Houston Independent School District is encouraging voters to head to the polls early and to cast their vote for every item on the ballot – from the first to the last.

Starting Friday, Oct. 26 HISD is hosting live and digital events designed to celebrate first time voters and to educate the community regarding the district’s bond referendum to modernize and rebuild schools throughout Houston.

WHEN & WHERE:   Fri., Oct. 26 from noon – 1 p.m.

  • Live Web Chat
    www.houstonisd.org
    HISD will have a web chat to discuss the plan to rebuild and modernize the city’s high schools, as well as provide safety and technology upgrades at campuses across the district.  Questions may be sent in advance via e-mail to bondinfo@houstonisd.org.

Mon., Oct. 29 from 7 – 10:30 p.m.

  • Univision Phone Bank – Linea Abierta 45
    5100 Southwest Freeway
    HISD will have a team of bond experts ready to answer calls from viewers on the bond proposal and the schools that would be affected.  The team will have bilingual representatives able to answer questions in English and Spanish.

        

Tues., Oct. 30 from 4 – 6 p.m.

  • Voter Forum at Neighborhood Centers Ripley House 
    4410 Navigation Boulevard 
    Motivate students from the nearby HISD schools to attend the event with their families, visit the early voting location and cast their votes for the first time.

         Tues., Oct. 30 from 10 – 10:40 a.m.

  • Twitter Town Hall
    @HoustonISD
    Participate in a live Twitter Town Hall session with Houston Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Terry Grier where he will answer questions and respond to comments and concerns regarding the HISD Bond Referendum. Follow us at @HoustonISD and #HISDbond

                                   

Wed., Oct. 31 from 4 – 5p.m.  

  • Zombie Walk and “Thriller” Vote Early Flash Mob
    1475 West Gray
    Capture HISD’s own zombies from HSPVA and Lamar High School  as they encourage the living to vote early as they walk from the West Gray/Montrose intersection to the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center (1475 West Gray) where they will culminate their walk with a zombie “Thriller” flash mob at 4:30 p.m.

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.

Broad Prize ceremony is underway in New York

Update 10:57

Miami-Dade County Public Schools named winner of the 2012 Broad Prize

Update 10:51

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will present the 2012 Broad Prize. He recognizes the four finalists, including Houston ISD. Duncan highlights HISD’s efforts to dramatically increase Advanced Placement course offerings, the Apollo 20 school turnaround initiative, and the focus on data to drive instruction.

Update 10:45

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is at the podium delivering welcoming remarks. He says,
“The work of giving our kids a better future is never done, but the Broad Foundation is helping to raise the bar.” Bloomberg believes the finalists for the Broad Prize are proving that “progress is… possible.”

Update: 10:35

Admiral Mike Mullen, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the keynote speaker at today’s Broad Prize ceremony. He says the future of our country is closely tied to the nation’s K-12 education system. “I would like to say to the winners, congratulations. It is terrific to see so many who have worked so hard. It is the best investment we can make in America.”

Update: 10:14

The wait is nearly over for the Houston Independent School District and the three other national finalists for the 2012 Broad Prize for Urban Education.

The award ceremony is underway at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Here in Houston, members of Team HISD are watching the celebration live on the web: http://hisdtv.org/live-coverage/

At the HISD Watch party.

The Broad Prize for Urban Education is the largest education prize in the nation. The winning district will receive $550,000 in college scholarships for the Class of 2013.

The other finalists this year are: Corona-Norco Unified School District in Riverside County, Calif., Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and The School District of Palm Beach County, Fla.

“Mind the Gap” Panel Discussion

Update: 10 a.m.

Superintendents, principals, and teachers from the four districts named as finalists for the Broad Prize for Urban Education participated in the “Mind the Gap” panel discussion to share ideas about strategies being used to close the achievement gap. HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, Fondren Middle School Principal Charles Foust, and Berry Elementary Teacher Gaby Oliveros represented HISD.  They discussed the importance of data-driven instruction, teamwork, and use of technology in the classroom.  

Dr. Grier and Mr. Foust also shared information about HISD’s bold school turnaround effort, Apollo 20. Foust said Fondren MS, an Apollo 20 campus, uses Title I funds to pay tutors to help reinforce the material that students are learning in the classroom.

Oliveros, HISD’s Teacher of the Year in 2010, told the panel about HISD’s teacher support specialists. She said their observations help her and her colleagues become better teachers.

Early voting begins today: Houstonians cast their votes

[slideshow]

Don’t miss your chance to vote on the 2012 Houston Schools Bond Proposition – it’s at the very end of the ballot.
 
• See polling locations, hours and more

Early voting for the November 6 General Election is underway in Houston and across Texas. As of mid-day, 17,372 people had cast their ballot in Harris County, which is on pace with turnout reported during the same period of the 2008 presidential election.  

In addition to the race for president, there are a number of local races and measures on the ballot, including the Houston Schools Bond. The $1.89 billion proposition is the very last item on the ballot. It would rebuild or renovate 38 schools in neighborhoods across Houston, upgrade technology across the district, renovate middle school restrooms, fund safety and security improvements, and upgrade regional field houses and athletic facilities.

Graduates from Austin High School were among the first people to vote at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center on West Gray. Jill Mussman, a parent of an HISD graduate, also voted early at that polling location.

 “I’m here so I don’t have to stand in line on Election Day,” she said.

Early voting runs from today until November 2. To see a list of polling places, visit harrisvotes.com.

After you cast your vote, send a “vote early” photo to hisdphotos@yahoo.com