Sharpstown-area bond construction on track for fall 2017 completion

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Construction on both Sharpstown High School (SHS) and Sharpstown International School (SIS), located on the city’s southwest side, is progressing well and expected to be complete in the third quarter of next year.

The schools are part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program approved by Houston voters in 2012, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools. Once complete, HISD will have one of the most modern portfolios of urban high schools in the country.

SHS is receiving a new $55 million building designed to accommodate 1,500 students. Currently, steel columns and beams are being erected on the site and a portion of the roof has been installed. In December, the building is expected to be fully dried-in. Continue reading →

HISD police sergeant retires after 41 years of service with district

HISD Police Sgt. Adolph Saenz could barely hold back his emotions after walking into a surprise retirement celebration on Monday afternoon.

HISD PD Sgt. Adolph Saenz and HISD PD Chief of Police Robert Mock

HISD PD Sgt. Adolph Saenz and HISD PD Chief of Police Robert Mock

“I’ve worked with so many of you all for these years and it’s like family,” Saenz said to a room filled with 50 well-wishers. “I’ve spent more time on the job than I have with my own family, and I appreciate each and every one of you. I’ve got beautiful memories and I appreciate you all being in my life and you’ve made a difference in me.”

After 41 years with the department, Saenz is saying farewell to the nation’s only accredited school district police department, but not without a lot of soul-searching.

“I wrote my letter all the way in July, and I always would change the date,” Saenz said. “The day I decided to do it, I was walking down the hallway knowing that was the hardest thing in the world for me to do.”

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Dr. Tabitha Davis named new principal of Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center

Tabitha Davis poses for a photograph, April 4, 2016. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Dr. Tabitha Davis has been named principal of Billy Reagan K-8 Education Center. Dr. Davis graduated from Worthing Senior High School and earned a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Houston Baptist University. She holds a masters in Business Administration from University of St. Thomas, a masters in Education Administration from Lamar University, and a doctor of education from University of Houston. Continue reading →

Class helps HISD youngsters learn about healthier trick-or-treating 

With Halloween as the official start of the holiday candy season, HISD Nutrition Services Dietitians Julia Jarrell, Alberto Garcia, and Nan Cramer are teaching healthy Halloween classes to elementary school students to help them become responsible trick-or-treaters.

The dietitians teach strategies and techniques to students to prevent overeating candy. Children can consume more than 700 grams of sugar on Halloween night if they go unsupervised, and high amounts of sugar can cause stomachaches, headaches, and cavities.

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Anthony Bourdain show to feature Wisdom HS, diversity of HISD 

bourdain_wisdomhsNearly two years ago, Wisdom High School Principal Jonathan Trinh was featured in a local newspaper story about adults who immigrated to the United States as a child and how they adjusted to life here.

So when producers for Anthony Bourdain’s show on CNN, Parts Unknown, were doing research for their upcoming show on Houston, they read the story and wanted to include the Trinh family.

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HISD students raise SAT/PSAT scores by hundreds of points using free test prep from Khan Academy

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Two Booker T. Washington students have become national ambassadors for successful SAT/PSAT prep by  increasing their scores a combined 670 points, thanks to free practice tools available to every HISD student through Khan Academy.

In mid-October, the CollegeBoard flew Valencia Grayson and Matthew Blue to the Council of the Great City Schools fall conference in Miami, where they were honored for their success with the Khan SAT prep. HISD Superintendent Richard Carranza also attended the conference, where HISD was recognized for actively promoting the Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy.

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New HSPVA campus to benefit from Kinder Foundation gift

HSPVA Design

The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) is set to receive a contribution in the amount of $7.5 million from the Kinder Foundation, after HISD trustees voted to accept the donation at the October Board of Education Meeting.

The school’s new campus, which is part of HISD’s $1.89 billion bond program and is now under construction in downtown Houston, will be renamed Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in recognition of the gift.

The additional funding will enable the school to upgrade theater seating and equipment, audio/visual systems, music practice rooms, and more, beyond the district standard for high schools that was provided through the bond project budget. Continue reading →

21st century learning comes into focus as new schools open their doors

As new bond schools are opening across the district, teachers and students are discovering first-hand how new spaces and teaching techniques can enhance learning.

Rather than simply memorizing facts and figures, students in 21st century classrooms embrace a more holistic approach to learning that fosters in them the ability to collaborate, think critically, and problem solve. Students must not only be able to master content, but also evaluate and process what they learn and apply it effectively in the real world.

In 21st century schools and classrooms, this plays out in both traditional and non-traditional ways. Students may work individually, in clusters, or in a customary classroom set-up — or in any combination of the three. They may even work in small groups outside the classroom, using technology for project-based learning. Continue reading →

Tune in to superintendent’s Virtual Listen & Learn 

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Superintendent Richard A. Carranza wants to hear from the community on the last stop of his Listen & Learn Tour – and you don’t even have to leave your house to join in the discussion.

Carranza will take community questions and comments in a virtual town hall meeting on Nov. 14. The discussion will be streamed live on HoustonISD.org, Facebook.com/HoustonISD, and on HISD-TV (Comcast 18 and Uverse 99).

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