14 EMERGE students accepted to Middlebury College with full-ride financial aid

Sitting in English class at the High School for Law and Justice, listening to a lesson on Macbeth, Roy Urbina knew his life would soon be completely different.

In just a few short months—just over 150 days, he’ll tell you—Urbina will leave his home near Hobby Airport and fly to Vermont, where he’ll be attending Middlebury College. From the largest city in Texas to a town of about 9,000 people a two-hour drive from French Canada, the first-generation college student is ready for the adventure.

“I can’t wait for the independence of college,” he said, laughing. “But I’m looking forward to the environment. You can go hiking, you can go outside, having that openness right there. Living in Houston, it’s pretty urban, and Vermont is so different.”

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Hobby ES, Alcott ES named ‘Culture Cultivator Campuses’ by Harris County Department of Education

The Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) has named two HISD elementary schools as 2021 Culture Cultivator Campuses.

Both Hobby and Alcott Elementary Schools were named Culture Cultivator Campuses, or schools that have gone above and beyond to implement systems and practices that best support the students, staff and community in a dynamic way – especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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HISD to celebrate National Library Week, National School Librarian Day

A strong library is a central part of any school campus, and Houston Independent School District is recognizing the hard work of school librarians and school libraries as part of National Library Week, which is April 4-10, and National School Librarian Day, which is April 4.

“Our school librarians work hard every day to provide the resources and information that HISD students need to thrive,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan said. “Their work is a vital part of our schools, and their dedication to all of our students is important every year and especially this year.”

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For Earth Month, HISD challenges campuses to take steps toward sustainability

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Education and awareness play a critical role in creating a sustainable future — but it also requires action.

That’s why this April, HISD’s Energy and Sustainability department is asking campuses to show appreciation for the planet by taking the 2021 Earth Month pledge and participating in eco-friendly activities.

“Our students are global citizens. It’s important for them to learn about our planet and how they can help take care of it,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “Earth Month gives us the opportunity to highlight our efforts to reduce our environmental impact while also promoting sustainable behaviors inside and outside the classroom.”

Campuses that take the pledge are encouraged to participate in designated Earth Month activities. They earn points for completed activities, which range from tallying the number of students who walked or biked to school to writing essays on the meaning of sustainability.

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Chávez-Huerta Student Symposium offers opportunity to learn about legendary activists

On Saturday morning, fourth-grader Alanna Herod sat in her bedroom closely watching the screen of her laptop.

But the student at Helms Elementary School wasn’t watching the typical Saturday morning cartoons. She was listening to Dolores Huerta address the Chávez-Huerta Student Symposium.

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HISD Police Department’s K-9 Bjorn to get donation of body armor

Houston Independent School District Police Department K-9 Bjorn will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non–profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  

K-9 Bjorn’s vest will be embroidered with “In honor of Haley’s 21st Birthday.” Delivery is expected within 10 weeks.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States.

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Pre-Kindergarten Virtual Fair scheduled for April 10

To kick off The Week of the Young Child, a national event focused on early childhood education, the HISD Office of School Choice and HISD Early Childhood Education are offering a virtual informational fair for parents of incoming pre-kindergarten students.

The fair will be held online at HoustonISD.org/PreKindergartenFair on Saturday, April 10, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The meeting comes in advance of the April 30 deadline for Phase 1 applications for pre-kindergarten students.

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Twelve additional HISD middle schools join Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program

Twelve Houston Independent School District middle schools are among the latest campuses to be selected for participation in the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, which addresses barriers to digital inclusion.

In addition to free mobile devices and data plans, participating schools will be assigned a full-time coach to train teachers in effectively integrating technology into their lessons.

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