HISD expands free, full-day pre-K program at Woodson PK-5

New offerings include free transportation and after-school care, 11:1 student-teacher ratio for 3- and 4-year-olds

HISD is expanding its full-day pre-kindergarten program at Woodson PK-5 Leadership Academy to provide more 3- and 4-year-old students in the Sunnyside community with the opportunity to attend a high-quality program that will build a strong foundation of learning and will support the transportation, after-school care, and health needs of the families it serves.

The school will be hosting three upcoming events to encourage parents to enroll, including a pre-K roundup day, neighborhood block walk, and a registration carnival with school supply giveaways for 3- and 4-year-olds, immunizations, and a food bank.

Students who attend Woodson for pre-K in the 2018-19 school year will benefit from multisensory, hands-on instruction from high-quality teachers, as well as: Continue reading →

HISD Foundation distributes second round of Hurricane Harvey relief grants 

Thanks to an outpouring of donations from many philanthropists and local organizations, the HISD Foundation distributed almost $200,000 in a second round of Hurricane Harvey relief grants this week.

The distribution comes right in time for more than 150 teachers and staff who were prepping for their summer break.

Grants ranged from $250 to $5,000, with the largest donation being selected personally by Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan.

“We are happy to have the opportunity to give once again to those who needed the most,” Dr. Lathan said. “As we near the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Harvey, there are still individuals who are rebuilding and need all they help they can get.”

The Foundation decided in February to accept another round of applications from principals and administration for the second round. The grants were awarded based on need, the number of applications, and available funds.

Horn ES teacher upgrades classroom thanks to Innovation Grant 

Horn Elementary School students can’t help but have their senses ignited when they walk into the classroom of STEM teacher Alex Jones, a recipient of one of the HISD Foundation’s Innovation Grants this school year.

For the 2017-2018 school year, the Foundation was able to award more than $150,000 in Innovation Grants, thanks to the generous donations from local community members and business partnerships.

Jones received $7,000 to purchase tablets, drones, and robots for his classroom.  Continue reading →

15 HISD schools ranked in the top 10 among Children at Risk’s annual top-performing schools

Number of schools given Gold Ribbon status nearly doubles to 21

Children at Risk announced its annual list of the top schools in the greater Houston area, and for the eighth consecutive year, HISD’s DeBakey High School for Health Professions was listed as number one among high schools in the area and the state.

Five other HISD high schools were included in the top 10: Eastwood Academy (#2), Carnegie Vanguard High School (#3), East Early College High School (#6), Sharpstown International School (#8), and Challenge Early College High School (#10).

Five HISD middle schools also were recognized as top 10 performers: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Project Chrysalis Middle School (#4), Lanier Middle School (#6), Energized for STEM Academy Southwest MS (#6), Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (#9). On the elementary school list, four HISD schools were ranked in the top 10: T.H. Rogers School (#1), Horn Elementary School (#4), River Oaks Elementary School (#5), and West University Elementary School (#6). Continue reading →

HISD to host kickoff celebration for ‘Camp Lit’ summer program

 The Houston Independent School District will welcome thousands of students to summer school with a series of pep rallies and tailgates.  This year, the focus of the “Camp Lit” summer program will be literacy.

The Summer Kickoff for elementary students will be held on Wednesday, June 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. A third session for middle school students will be held on Thursday, June 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. All events will take place at Delmar Fieldhouse (2020 Mangum Road).  Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will also deliver a motivational message to the students.

“This is the brainchild of our interim superintendent. The idea is to continue our focus on literacy but in a way that is exciting and engaging,” Officer for Special Populations Courtney Busby said. “We want our students to know that meeting their needs in the summer is our critical for their overall success. What better way to do that than with a celebration where all kids will leave with books to add to their personal libraries.”

Each student in attendance will take a book home, courtesy of Books Between Kids and the Astros Foundation.

There will be performances from HISD marching bands, drumlines, and cheerleading teams and the Delmar Fieldhouse parking lot will be transformed into a tailgate party with music provided by Radio One Houston. Every HISD department will decorate cars and have literacy-based games for students to play during the tailgate. Food will be provided by HISD Nutrition Services.

Summer school begins on June 6 and ends July 3.

Interim superintendent’s message on immigration

There has been much discussion of schools and student immigration status in the news recently. I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that HISD remains committed to educating every student regardless of their immigration status. Our students are and will continue to be safe in our classrooms and on our campuses. No HISD principals, teachers, or any school personnel will ever report a student’s immigration status to authorities.

We believe all children deserve access to a world-class education — with no exceptions. HISD will never ask about a student’s immigration status, and HISD will never share information about a student’s immigration status or the immigration status of their families. We do not assist in deportation actions, and we do not report our students or families to ICE.

While there is still uncertainty at the federal level regarding the approach as it relates to DACA and DREAMER students, we will continue to provide resources and support to help our students be successful at HISD and beyond. We encourage you to visit HoustonISD.org/DACA for legal information and college access resources, and we hope that you will stay engaged and involved in your child’s education.

HSPVA and HSLJ graduating seniors get glimpse of new facilities

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It was a bittersweet moment for seniors from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) and High School for Law and Justice (HSLJ) as they recently got a sneak peek inside their schools’ newly constructed buildings.

HSLJ students held a senior awards breakfast in their new building, while HSPVA students were treated to a barbeque lunch during their visit. Both groups posed for a special class photo to commemorate the occasion.

“We really wanted them to see the new building before they moved on,” HSLJ Principal Carol Mosteit said. “The students were amazed when they walked in. Their faces were priceless.”

As part of HISD’s voter-approved 2012 Bond Program, both schools are receiving new buildings, which will be completed later this year. HSLJ will open to students in August, and HSPVA will open to students in January 2019. Continue reading →

HISD students selected for Duke TIP recognitions 

HISD is proud to announce that as of May 30, 181 middle school students earned recognition from Duke TIP (Talented Recognition Program) for their scores on the ACT or SAT exams, as part of the national seventh-grade talent search.

Duke TIP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving academically gifted and talented students. The national seventh-grade talent search identifies, recognizes, and supports high-performing students. Through Duke TIP, these students receive college preparatory tools, enrichment, and summer opportunities.  Continue reading →

A special message from Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan

We made it! Today officially marks the last day of the 2017-2018 school year. Without a doubt, we have faced many challenges, including Hurricane Harvey, a few winter weather days, and a host of other obstacles. But we didn’t let any of those things stop us. Instead, we came together as a community and helped our neighbors and our students persevere against all odds.

Our strong finish is a testament to HISD putting children first. This year, we launched several key initiatives — including Achieve 180 and Every Community Every School — to improve academic excellence and provide the social and emotional support that our students need to be successful in the classroom. We also established the K-12 Fine Arts Department to expand all students’ access to high-quality fine arts education. And we opened several new schools under the 2012 Bond Program, providing state-of-the-art learning facilities designed to foster collaboration and project-based learning — exactly the skills our students need to succeed in college and their careers. But that’s not all! Just recently we received even more good news: Our fifth- and eighth-graders made significant improvements on the math and reading STAAR exams this year! Continue reading →

‘Prep Rally’ at Peck ES promotes hurricane preparedness

Representatives from Children at Risk, Save the Children, BakerRipley, and HISD gathered at Peck Elementary School on Thursday to emphasize the importance of being prepared when the next hurricane threatens Houston.

HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan shared the hurricane’s impact on HISD schools and how the HISD Foundation provided $13 million in relief, as well as $300,000 in direct-to-teacher grants. The district’s Social and Emotional Learning Department trained hundreds of teachers and staff on how to recognize and deal with trauma in children.  Continue reading →