Johnston MS student’s story published on Teen Ink website

Sandy Ramirez, an eighth-grader at HISD’s Johnston Middle School, became a published author recently when one of her short stories was selected for inclusion on the youth-driven website, Teen Ink.

“Isaac the Element” was the very first thing she wrote in teacher Mark Dostert’s unit on short fiction, and it was included in the “realistic fiction” category on the Teen Ink website. Sandy said she wrote it “to express my empathy to children whose parents argue and fight.”

You can read the full entry here.

And Latin America was born!

Today, the month-long celebration to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the U.S. comes to an end.

Over the past 30 days, we have highlighted more than 20 Spanish-speaking countries from Latin America and Europe, learning about their traditions, history, music, food, culture, and in many cases, their contributions to the world. Our schools have held a variety of events in celebration of this annual observance, including performances, music festivals, food tastings, art shows, and many other displays.

We hope you had an opportunity to experience one or more of them, to gain more knowledge about the rich diversity of Hispanic culture.

Did you know…? The reference to “Latin” America stems from the fact that the languages of many countries in the region are derived from Spanish, Portuguese, or French (considered “Romance” languages), all of which evolved from Latin.

Central America And Central America was born…
Mexico Viva Mexico! Celebrating 205 years of Independence
Argentina Argentina: Tango, Soccer, Gauchos, and more!
Chile Chile: Country of Poets
Belize Belize: Barrier reef, rainforest, Maya heritage
Bolivia Bolivia: Rich in natural resources and biodiversity
Colombia Colombia: Biodiversity, emeralds, and the greatest storyteller!
Costa Rica Costa Rica: Adventure-filled, eco-friendly, and unique!
Cuba Cuba: Turquoise beaches, ‘Son’ rhythm, and more!
El Salvador El Salvador: Land of volcanoes, coffee, and surf
Ecuador Ecuador: Rivers, nature, and bananas!
España Spain: Tapas, soccer, and flamenco
Guatemala Guatemala: Mayan heritage, archeology, and crafts
Honduras Honduras: Mountains, a biosphere reserve, and culture
Nicaragua Nicaragua: Land of lakes, volcanoes, and poets
Panamá Panama: Culture, skyline, and the crossroads of the world
Paraguay Paraguay: Guaraní culture and hydroelectric resources
Perú Peru: Ancient cultures, colonial architecture, and a multiethnic melting pot
Puerto Rico Puerto Rico: Baseball, blue flag beaches, and forts
República Dominicana Dominican Republic: Where it all started!
Uruguay Uruguay: Natural beauty, music, and high-tech farming
Venezuela Venezuela: Joropo, oil, and the world’s highest waterfall

Seniors invited to Texas College Night

High school seniors will be able to meet with representatives of public colleges and universities from across Texas in one place on Oct. 28, an early release day for most HISD high schools.

Texas College Night will be held at the University of Houston’s Cullen Performance Hall (4800 Calhoun Road, 77004). Students and their families will be able to talk with representatives from more than 30 Texas universities and local scholarship providers from 3:45 to 5:55 p.m. A formal program, scheduled for 6:15–7:15 p.m., will feature a panel of HISD graduates, and Texas State Sen. Rodney Ellis as the keynote speaker.
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HISD celebrates National School Lunch Week with middle school nutrition, cooking lessons

Houston Independent School District students are getting the chance to try Texas-grown squash and watermelon and make their own sweet potato muffins as part of National School Lunch Week.

National School Lunch Week was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1962 as a way to recognize the federally-funded National School Lunch Program, which sets guidelines to ensure students have access to nutritionally-balanced, healthy meals every day.

Nutrition Services is celebrating the week by introducing the Nutrition Services Culinary Team, a group that will provide nutrition education classes and cooking demonstrations to middle school students on Thursday and Friday. Students will learn how to make sweet potato muffins during the classes. Continue reading →

Board of Education to vote on class-size waivers for 2015-2016 school year

The Houston Independent School District Board of Education is expected to vote Thursday on a plan to submit 875 class-size waivers to the state for fall 2015 – a 40 percent decrease compared with fall 2014.

State law requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a waiver from the Texas Education Agency.  Continue reading →

Venezuela: Joropo, oil, and the world’s highest waterfall

Located in South America, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is home to many beautiful and natural wonders, thanks to its extremely high biodiversity. It covers the Andes Mountains, Amazon rainforest, extensive plains, and Caribbean coast. Venezuela is one of the most urbanized countries in Latin America, with about 93 percent of its population living in urban areas in the northern part of the country. According to a DNA study conducted in 2008, the average Venezuelan is 60.6 percent European, 23 percent Amerindian, and 16.3 percent of African descent. This is a reflection of the cultural melting pot the country is.

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Woodson K–8 awarded $100,000 Fitness Center by national foundation

Students at Woodson K–8 are exercising their bodies as well as their brains thanks to a brand-new, state-of-the-art fitness center awarded to them by the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils (NFGFC) and funded in part by Coca-Cola and Nike. The Live Positively fitness center was awarded to approximately three schools in each state for showing innovation in their fitness and nutrition programs.

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“I was a fat kid with a stutter growing up, and my dad bought me a set of weights.” said Jake ‘Body By Jake’ Steinfeld, chairman and spokesperson for the program. “Not only did weights build my body, but they built my confidence and self-esteem.”

Studies have shown that physical activity improves academic achievement and reduces discipline problems and absenteeism. The NFGFC hopes to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. Continue reading →

PSAT Administration Day sets stage for National Merit Scholarships

Thousands of HISD freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take the first step toward earning a National Merit Scholarship on Oct. 14, when they take the PSAT during the school day at their respective campuses.

The PSAT measures college readiness, and is offered to HISD students free of charge on the district’s PSAT Administration Day. Students will take the exam in the morning for up to three hours. The test includes sections on math, critical reading, and writing.

“It might be tempting to think that the PSAT stands for ‘Practice’ SAT, but it’s actually the preliminary SAT,” said Jharrett Bryantt with the HISD College Readiness Department. “It’s an exam given to HISD students in the ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades. What’s important about it is it’s the exam that qualifies you for the National Merit Scholarship.” Continue reading →

Uruguay: Natural beauty, music, and high-tech farming

Uruguay, one of the smallest nations in South America, has a population of about 3.4 million people, and more than half of them live in the metro area of the capital city, Montevideo. The country is situated on the northern shore of the Río de la Plata, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Uruguay River — from which the nation gets its name — to the west. As a result, the country boasts hundreds of miles of sandy beaches and waterfront resort areas, from laidback and remote to world-class destinations, which provide the basis for a thriving tourism industry.

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HISD recommending no increase in property tax rates for 2015-2016

Homeowners in the Houston Independent School District won’t see an increase in property tax rates for the 2015-2016 school year under a proposal being submitted Thursday to the Board of Education.

District administrators are asking trustees to maintain the current tax rate of $1.1967 per $100 taxable value. That rate includes two parts: $1.0267 dedicated to funding general maintenance and operations and 17 cents earmarked for debt service. Continue reading →