HISD to emphasize good food during National School Lunch Week

Nutrition Services will mark National School Lunch Week with cafeteria-decorating contests, Lucky Lunch Tray giveaways, and a behind-the-scenes cafeteria media tour to showcase the work that goes into making and serving good food.

With a theme of “Level Up with a Healthy Lunch,” National School Lunch Week provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the mission of Nutrition Services – providing students with access to good food that is simple, wholesome, colorful, and made with locally sourced ingredients.

The week is observed nationally from Oct. 15 to 19. Continue reading →

HISD Board honors Worthing HS student for act of heroism

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The Houston Independent School District Board of Education on Thursday night recognized Worthing High School junior Marcus Dillard for an act of heroism that may well have saved the life of 72-year-old Houston resident Gloria Cage.

Cage’s car became disabled on Wednesday night after hitting a pothole. A short time later, her vehicle erupted in flames with Cage trapped inside. She said several cars drove by as she pounded on the window for help.

Marcus and his younger brother were passing by, and Marcus quickly turned around to assist Cage. Using a tire jack, Marcus and his brother Marvieon broke the windows of the car and dragged Cage to safety. Continue reading →

HISD recommending no increase in property tax rates for 2018-2019

Homeowners in the Houston Independent School District wouldn’t see an increase in HISD property tax rates for the 2018-2019 school year under a proposal being considered by the district’s Board of Education on Thursday.

The board’s regular monthly meeting will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 11, in the Manuel Rodríguez Jr. Board Auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 West 18th Street. Click here to view the full agenda.

If approved by trustees, HISD would maintain the current tax rate of $1.2067 per $100 of taxable property value for the third year in a row. The tax rate includes two parts: $1.04 dedicated to funding general maintenance and operations and $0.1667 earmarked for debt service. Trustees adopted a $2 billion budget for the 2018-2019 school year last June based on this tax rate. Continue reading →

DeAnda ES teacher named Teacher of the Month for October 

Fourth-grade students at DeAnda Elementary School thought it was just another day of learning prepositions and sentence structure, until Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan surprised their teacher, Hillary Smith, as the Sterling McCall VIP Services Teacher of the Month for October.

Having served as a fourth- and fifth-grade English/Language Arts and Social Studies teacher, Smith was selected for her tenacious spirit that brings literacy to life for students at DeAnda.

“We are grateful to have had Hilary serve DeAnda students for the last seven years,” said Principal Lauren Mailhiot. “Her high expectations coupled with passion pushes our students beyond their limits in both reading and writing.” Continue reading →

HISD to host first PreK-12 Writing Summit for teachers

HISD’s Elementary and Secondary Curriculum and Development will host the district’s first PreK-12 Writing Summit for teachers on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Chavez High School (8501 Howard Dr. 77017).

The event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature learning opportunities for teachers at all levels with topics such as reading/writing connections, writing across all contents, rubrics and anchor papers, small group instruction, discourse, writing conferences, writing portfolios, and much more.

All teachers who attend will receive a $10 voucher to purchase books from the Barnes & Noble pop-up bookstore that will be on site. Follow-up teacher development opportunities will be offered throughout the fall and spring during department chair/lead teacher meetings, as well as for parents at Parent University.

New Bellaire HS design unveiled to community members

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Community members gathered in the Bellaire High School auditorium to witness the unveiling of the new school building’s design.

Bellaire’s $132 million project is a part of the 2012 Bond Program. The new building will feature a new three-story academic wing – containing classroom and administrative spaces – along with multiple flexible learning areas for group collaboration, library with makerspace, two gymnasiums, and an exterior courtyard.

“I think the renderings are amazing,” Bellaire Principal Michael McDonough said. “When you see the shared spaces, you think community, and when the students are together as a community, it invigorates school pride.”

Continue reading →

YWCPA celebrates grand opening of new building addition, renovations

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Chants of “maroon-white, maroon-white, fight-fight,” echoed throughout the atrium of the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy as cheerleaders joined with members of the choir to kick off the school’s Grand Opening celebration on Thursday.

The event paid tribute not just to the completion of major renovations on the campus, but also to the school’s Student Creed, which focuses on pushing boundaries to achieve educational excellence, and the importance of sisterhood.

“This whole area — the atrium — is my favorite,” YWPCA senior Kaylyn Steward said, gesturing to the room in which the ceremony was held. “This whole project is just a reminder of why I am in this journey. The renovations really just bring it all home for me and let me know that I really am here for a reason. I am destined for greatness.” Continue reading →

HISD PD hosts ‘National Night Out’ against neighborhood crime

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Music, laughter, and cheers filled the courtyard at Marshall Middle Academy of Fine Arts on Tuesday as students, employees, and community members participated in the HISD Police Department’s National Night Out celebration.

National Night Out is an annual event that aims to make neighborhoods safer by strengthening relationships between community members and police departments. HISD Police honored the day with a free public celebration, which featured local vendors and organizations, music, food, and appearances from emergency personnel.

“NNO is just a festive day. We host these events because we want our communities to feel relaxed in their neighborhoods,” HISD Chief Police Paul Cordova said. “We want them to collaborate on how to solve problems, meet each other, meet us, and feel comfortable.”

Continue reading →

HISD Special Education Fall Parent Summit set for Oct. 27

The Houston Independent School District will hold its 2018 Special Education Fall Parent Summit on Saturday, October 27, providing parents with the opportunity to meet with Special Education professionals and attend learning sessions.

This event, which will be held at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092), serves as an opportunity for HISD to better support families and empower them to be a partner in their child’s education. The theme of the event is “Beginning with the End in Mind” and will address topics such as Child Find, autism, behavior, inclusion and transition.

Former HISD Special Education students will serve as keynote speakers. The summit is half day and parents have the option of attending either the morning or afternoon session. Childcare will be provided, with a nurse on site. Continue reading →

New Kinder HSPVA nears completion, set to open in January

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Construction on the new Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is almost complete and scheduled to open at the start of 2019.

Kinder HSPVA’s $88 million project, which is part of the Houston Independent School District’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program, is scheduled to open to students during first quarter of 2019.

Installation of building technology and system setup is currently underway, with furniture delivery slated to begin next month. Crews are now focused on finishing punch list items and finalizing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Continue reading →