Category Archives: Uncategorized

All HISD schools and offices closed due to inclement weather

Classes to resume on Monday

UPDATE: 1/24 @ 1:04 p.m.: 

With dangerous road conditions still present across the Houston area, HISD has decided to cancel all districtwide athletic and academic events scheduled this afternoon and this evening, including the wrestling and debate tournaments. Also canceled are all soccer and basketball games. For information on the status of school-based events, please contact the individual school for updates. Currently, all athletic and academic events scheduled for Saturday are anticipated to take place. The debate tournament, however, will be rescheduled to a later date.

 

The Houston Independent School District has canceled all classes today — Friday, Jan. 24 — as a result of this morning’s inclement weather and the related potential for dangerous road conditions.

HISD officials have been closely monitoring the weather for the past 48 hours and have determined that icy road conditions in some parts of the Houston area may make for dangerous driving. As a result, all HISD schools and district administrative offices are closed for the day. Parents, students and staff are being notified by phone.

With temperatures forecast to rise throughout Friday and into the weekend, no schedule changes are expected for district athletic events on Friday afternoon or evening. No interruption to academic events scheduled for Saturday is anticipated.

Classes will resume as usual on Monday, Jan. 27.

HISD will make up the day on either April 18 or Memorial Day (May 26).

For additional updates, please visit www.houstonisd.org, call the HISD Inclement Weather Hotline at 713-267-1704, or follow the district on Twitter and Facebook: twitter.com/houstonisd (handle: @houstonisd) and facebook.com/houstonisd.

Board of Education approves mascot policy update

Mascots at affected schools will be respectfully retired, replaced during the 2014-2015 school year

On Thursday, the Houston Independent School District Board of Education voted 7-0 with one abstention and one member absent to approve the second reading of a policy update to prohibit the use of any race or ethnic group as a mascot or nickname.

This policy update affects four schools — Lamar High School Redskins, Westbury High School Rebels, Hamilton Middle School Indians and Welch Middle School Warriors.

During the 2014-2015 school year, each school will be required to select a new mascot and respectfully retire its existing mascot. HISD administration will work closely with the affected schools to help them retire their mascots with respect and dignity, taking into consideration the history and tradition surrounding them.

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Want preschool instruction for free at your home? Sign up now for HIPPY!

If you are the parent of a young child who is not currently enrolled in preschool, then you’re in luck.

HISD’s Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) is currently accepting applications, and families who are zoned to attend any of more than four dozen elementary schools are eligible to participate.

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More students headed to college this fall as members of 2014 ‘Posse’

Last year, almost two dozen HISD students became members of the city’s inaugural group of “Posse Scholars,” after a national non-profit called The Posse Foundation expanded its programming to Houston.

That organization will be sending its second group of students off to higher education this fall—and the majority (70 percent)—come from HISD.

The Houston branch of the Posse Foundation announced the 61 members of its Class of 2014 at a special celebration held on Jan. 6, and 43 of those students will be graduating from 18 HISD high schools this spring.

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HISD to swear in new police chief

District’s Assistant Chief Robert Mock to take helm of police department

What: HISD Police will swear in newly appointed Chief Robert Mock to replace outgoing Chief Jimmy Dotson, who is retiring in January. Mock, 52, has served as assistant chief for HISD Police since 2008. He has more than 27 years of experience in law enforcement in the Houston area, and he is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. HISD boasts the only accredited public school district police department in the nation. The department responds to more than 81,380 calls per year and covers more than 300 square miles in the Houston area.

Who: HISD Police, Houston area law enforcement, HISD staff

When: Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, 2 p.m.

Where: High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice, 4701 Dickson St.

 

HISD students outperforming peers in large urban districts

Nation’s Report Card shows gains in math across all student groups since 2003; reading scores unchanged from 2007 to 2013

The Houston Independent School District performed better than most large urban school districts in math, showing increases across all student groups compared to 2003, while reading scores remained unchanged, in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) report released Dec. 18, 2013 (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/).

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Board of Education to Consider Policy Update Banning Offensive Mascots

HISD also scheduled to honor outgoing Trustee Larry Marshall for his service

Dec. 11, 2013 — Houston Independent School District Superintendent Terry Grier on Thursday will recommend the Board of Education take the first steps in approving a policy update that would prohibit offensive or culturally insensitive mascots.

The proposed policy would affect four HISD high schools — Lamar High School Redskins, Westbury High School Rebels, Hamilton Middle School Indians and Welch Middle School Warriors. The measure must be approved on Thursday and then again in January after its second reading.

The new policy would allow schools to respectfully retire their existing mascot while also acknowledging the important role their related traditions and symbols have played in their community.

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Carnegie Vanguard Honored by Neighborhood Business Group

Carnegie Vanguard High School is being celebrated as a gem in its Montrose neighborhood.

The Museum District Business Alliance presented the school with a New Construction Community Improvement Award and a $250 donation at its annual Holiday and Community Awards Luncheon on Thursday at Hotel Zaza. The program honors individuals and organizations that embody the artistic, entrepreneurial, and civic spirit of Montrose and the Museum District. Continue reading →

National Wildlife Federation Hosting Eco-Schools Workshop for Teachers

The National Wildlife Federation is hosting a workshop on Saturday, Dec. 14, for middle school science teachers to provide them with tools to launch a student-based energy efficiency program to make their school more sustainable and to get students more engaged in STEM. Continue reading →