Bellaire HS student named national ’Young Hero’

A Bellaire High School senior was recently named a winner of the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes for her work connecting those who may go hungry with those who can supply free, nutritious food.

Annie Zhu is one of only 15 winners of the prestigious award that recognizes inspiring, public-spirited young people from diverse backgrounds who live in North America.  

Zhu is the co-founder of Fresh Hub, which collects food from Houston-area grocery stores and bakeries and then distributes it to Houston neighborhoods that have been deemed food deserts. To date, Fresh Hub has collected 10,000 pounds of food and distributed it to more than 1,400 people.

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HISD to hold Virtual Multilingual Parent Leadership Conference on Oct. 24

The Houston Independent School District’s Office of Multilingual Education will hold its annual 4th Annual Virtual Parent Leadership Conference for parents to learn supports and strategies that will help students to be successful while learning from home.  

The conference will be held virtually from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Saturday, October 24. The conference is designed for parents and guardians of HISD students.  

This year’s conference will feature a variety of workshops on how parents can work with their children at home. The conference will feature recognized speakers who will inform and inspire parents of English Learners to become advocates for their children’s education. Sessions will be offered in English and Spanish. Translation will be available.

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D.A.R.E. program returns to district with HISD PD training program

The Houston Independent School District announced the return of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program to select HISD schools at a press conference on Monday.

“I am so very excited about D.A.R.E. returning to HISD,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said. “We are determined to ensure that all students not only receive a quality education but that they come to school not under the influence and prepared to receive that quality education.”

In partnership with state Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D.A.R.E. America, the HISD Police Department, and the Houston Police Department, the program will initially train 35 HISD PD officers and seven HPD officers on teaching evidence-based prevention education curricula to students.

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HISD crossing guards help students maintain physical distancing at Digital Learning Centers

As an HISD crossing guard, Mary Campbell has always placed a strong focus on student safety as she carefully ushered students across busy streets. This fall, her mission is no different – but her job is.

Campbell is one of 72 school crossing guards tasked with helping students maintain physical distancing at HISD’s 36 Digital Learning Centers, which provide students without technology a place to complete virtual lessons during HISD’s online-only first six weeks of school.

With the help of physical distancing floor markers, Campbell keeps each student six feet apart and leads them down the hall to breakfast.

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October is College & Career Readiness Month

The Office of Strategy & Innovation is excited to announce HISD’s third annual College & Career Readiness Month (CCR Month) in October.

CCR Month is a fun and creative way to engage students and introduce them to a variety of college and career options. This year’s theme is “Take Control: Explore. Design. Launch Your Future!” Each week of the month will highlight a specific CCR theme, including:

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HISD to celebrate National Principals Month with e-cards, social media campaign

October is National Principals Month and the Houston Independent School District is encouraging all students, parents, staff, and community members to honor and thank district principals.

The American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have partnered to celebrate these education leaders.

HISD students, parents, staff, and community members can download the district’s custom e-cards at HoustonISD.org/PrincipalsMonth to post them on social media and show their appreciation.

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Notice of Destruction of Special Education Records

Special Education records which have been collected by the Houston Independent School District (HISD) related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of Special Education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for a period of five years after Special Education services have ended for the student. Special Education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, completes his or her educational program at age 22, or moves from the district.

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Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program kicks off with drive-through event

Thousands of students will soon start building their at-home library thanks to a new district partnership that will bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library “Book a Month” program to families in eight HISD ZIP codes.

“I am excited to get books for my son because he just started preschool, and we are all about education in our family,” HISD parent Fiona Deshotel said during the program’s kick-off event at Sherman Elementary School. “This is so important because it helps the community, as well as the kids that go to this school.”

In partnership with Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Books Between Kids, PNC Bank, St. James Family Life Center, and the Waltrip Family Foundation, more than 5,000 children will be enrolled in the book-gifting program that will provide young Houstonians access to books by mailing a book directly to their home each month until they turn 5.

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FAFSA, TASFA applications open this week

The official filing period for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, opens October 1 for students planning on attending college in the fall of 2021.

Filling out the FAFSA is the first step toward getting many different types of financial aid for school and finishing the FAFSA early is the best way to maximize college-award packages.

When applying for student aid, timing matters. Each year, the Office of Federal Student Aid offers more than $120 billion through grants, loans, and work-study funds to help students pay for higher education. Priority for this money will be given to students who apply before the priority consideration deadline.

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