HISD Police Department kicks off 2nd annual art contest for Police Appreciation Week

The HISD Police Department is looking for kindergarten through second-grade students to show off their artistic skills for the department’s second annual art contest, which kicks off today.

The department is asking for students to showcase their artistic skills on the “Theme of Law Enforcement” to be displayed during Police Appreciation Week (May 15-21).

“Last year’s contest produced over 200 entries,” said HISD Police Lt. Guadalupe Jimenez. “Our focus on Police Appreciation Week allows our students an opportunity to visualize the work that officers perform each day and to consider becoming a police officer as a career choice.”

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School Meal Challenge improving student health through competition

Kennedy ES students enjoy a pizza party after achieving 100-percent participation in HISD's breakfast program.

Kennedy ES students enjoy a pizza party after achieving 100-percent participation in HISD’s school breakfast program.

HISD’s Nutrition Services Department is supporting students in achieving high scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) by working with schools to adapt, promote, and reinvigorate their meal programs for the upcoming testing season.

The department launched a friendly competition on Feb. 10 to see which schools could increase their on-campus meal consumption by students by at least three percent. The School Meal Challenge, which runs through April 4, is designed to improve students’ academic performance and health by encouraging children to eat district-provided breakfast and lunch.

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‘Girls in Engineering’ event broadens horizons for students at six schools

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Students from six HISD middle schools—Cullen, Gregory-Lincoln, Hogg, Holland, Stevenson, and Williams—spent the morning exploring engineering, thanks to an ExxonMobil event for national “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.”

ExxonMobil provided engineers and supplies for a day of events, which included testing the girls’ problem-solving skills by challenging them to create marshmallow-launching catapults. While the marshmallows flew, other groups of girls got to speak with current University of Texas engineering students about their field, and with college admissions officers about getting into college.

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New addition at Wilson Montessori K-8 to complement historic building

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Nearly three dozen parents and neighbors turned out to Wilson Montessori K-8 on Thursday to hear the latest updates on the proposed addition and renovations to the school under the district’s bond program.

The Montrose-area school is slated to receive $18.9 million, and will feature a new three-story addition, as well as renovations to the existing facility, built in 1924.

Terry Smith of Smith & Co. Architects walked the audience through the latest design concept, in which the three-story building addition will feature a two-story library space designed with large exterior windows so that students can “experience the outside from the inside.”
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Two HISD educators jointly recognized as ‘Houston’s Hometown Champion’

Catherine Smith

Catherine Smith

Two HISD educators, Catherine Smith and Madelyn Traylor, were recently honored as “Houston’s Hometown Champion” after winning the most votes in a national social-media contest sponsored by Radio One/News One.

The contest is held annually in each of the company’s major markets, and Smith and Traylor were recognized as the joint Houston winner this year for their “extreme work in the community” and for their efforts to improve the lives of others.

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Controller Sherrie Robinson named HISD’s new interim chief financial officer

Sherrie Robinson

Sherrie Robinson

HISD Controller Sherrie Robinson has been named the interim chief financial officer (CFO) of the Houston Independent School District.

Robinson will assume her new role on March 1, when previous CFO and Deputy Superintendent Ken Huewitt becomes the district’s interim superintendent.

“Sherrie has been a tremendous asset to HISD over the past three years,” said Dr. Grier in an email to all employees, “and I am confident that the district’s finances will be in expert hands moving forward.”

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Children at Risk press conference stresses importance of early childhood education

Education experts, including HISD Deputy Superintendent Kenneth Huewitt, gathered for a Children at Risk press conference on Feb. 24 at Cunningham Elementary School to stress the importance of early childhood education.

“HISD’s data shows prekindergarten graduates outperform their peers in later grades,” said Huewitt. “We must start in Pre-K, with our most needy kids. No child should go without early education.”

HISD’s full-day Pre-K program, which is offered to three- and four-year-olds, began in 2006. HISD now offers full-day Pre-K at 155 of its 186 elementary campuses, with four of the nine early childhood centers focusing exclusively on Pre-K instruction.

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Black College Expo highlights college and scholarship opportunities

The Black College Expo is making its return to Houston on Saturday, and many HISD middle and high school students are taking advantage of higher education opportunities days before the big event.

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College recruiters and representatives from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the Power Center (12401 South Post Oak Road, 77045) to provide students and parents with one-on-one counseling, as well as scholarship and financial aid information. HISD students and parents can attend the event for free.

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2016 State of the Schools luncheon to highlight ‘stars’ of HISD

2016SOTS_EnewsImageHISD’s annual State of the Schools luncheon will be taking place at the Hilton Americas Hotel on Thursday, March 3, and the theme for 2016 is “Ready for the World: Starring Team HISD.”

Attendees of this year’s event can expect to meet and mingle with some of the district’s biggest “stars,” including teachers of the year, nurses of the year, principals of the year, and even the city’s very first youth poet laureate (a member of HISD’s Class of 2016).

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