Milby HS culinary students compete in NASA HUNCH Culinary Challenge Finals representing one of two Texas high schools

Milby High School culinary team, also known as the “Space City Buffs,” were among the only two Texas high school culinary programs selected to compete in the final round of the NASA HUNCH (High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware) Culinary Challenge, an initiative that aims to develop new recipes that are not only delicious and sustainable for astronauts in space but also to provide an opportunity for students to research and present their work in a professional environment.  

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Student thespians perform one-act plays at UIL regional competition

Even though they’re called “plays,” Yates and Carnegie Vanguard High Schools were definitely not playing around in this year’s UIL regional competition. The two high schools advanced to the regional round after first surpassing district, bi-district and area competitions, a feat that only 24 of the 253 high schools in their conference achieved.

Photographs of Carnegie Vanguard’s One-Act cast and crew by Maren Werner

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HISD libraries are light-years ahead with nontraditional and digital resources for students and staff

Necessity is the mother of invention, and few things can shine a light on unmet needs quite like a global pandemic. Nearly two years of digital and hybrid learning forced everyone to adapt, and HISD school libraries were no exception. In year two of their three-year library improvement and refreshment project, HISD Library Services has adapted to the new digital needs of students and educators by establishing community partnerships and working to increase the equity of library education with digital and online resources.

“Libraries in general, and Houston ISD campus libraries in particular, are engines of equity,” said HISD Library Services Director Len Bryan. “We help level the playing field for students who might not have access to learning materials outside of their classrooms. Books, eBooks, academic databases, makerspace equipment and materials, and most importantly, a caring and professional library staff help our students realize their potential and follow their dreams, regardless of their zip code.”

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HISD honors parent and community volunteers with special awards ceremony

The truth of the adage “It takes a village to raise a child” is made most obvious when we take time to recognize the hundreds of individuals who volunteer their time to help our public-school systems run. As the largest school district in Texas, HISD is no exception and boasts a cohort of dedicated parent and community volunteers.

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HISD alum and health pioneer memorialized in Earth Day tree planting

HISD’s Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy community will be planting 20 trees in one hour on Saturday, April 22, in honor of the late Dr. Polly Sparks Turner. The Earth Day initiative is in partnership with the Astros Foundation and Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

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Student artists showcase creative cars and win big at Houston Art Car Parade

Every spring, the Houston Art Car Parade takes over a section of Allen Parkway and brings together Houstonians of all ages in a celebration of creativity and community. This year, 21 HISD schools worked to create one-of-a-kind rolling pieces of art for the 36th annual event, with four student-made creations earning prizes in the Art Car and Youth Group categories. The art cars were judged by notable local artists, art patrons, and sponsors of the long-standing Houston arts collective, The Orange Show, where the Houston Art Car Parade originated.

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HISD to hold inaugural Multicultural Day created by MLK Oratory Competition winner

The HISD Multilingual Programs Department is proud to host the district’s first ever Multicultural Day. This event was conceived of by Law Elementary fifth-grader Kadence Smith, winner of the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Speech Competition.

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