Waltrip HS Ram Band heading to D.C. to perform on Independence Day

WaltripBand_300HISD’s own Waltrip High School band is hoping to head to the nation’s capital next month to take part in America’s annual Independence Day celebration.

The Roarin’ Red Ram Band is the only representative from Texas expected to be at the event. The students were invited to perform based on a recommendation from Governor Greg Abbott.

The Waltrip band will march in the parade and play alongside other bands from across the country during the celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2015.

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Public meeting June 18 on budget and proposed tax rate

The Houston Independent School District will be holding a public meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 18, 2015, in the board auditorium of the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street, 77092).

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the school district’s budget, which will determine the tax rate that will be adopted. Public participation in the discussion is invited.

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Campus for over-age middle-school students hosting info session June 9

Middle school can be a tough time for many children, especially overage students who are one or two grades behind their peers. That’s why HISD offers a special school to get these youngsters back on track.

It’s called High School Ahead and it is essentially a campus for over-age middle-school students that provides an accelerated curriculum, compressing two years of instruction into one.

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Teacher scores a bull’s eye by demonstrating physics through archery

Ernie Vita, who just finished the ninth grade at CVHS, nocks his arrow in P.E. class

Ernie Vita, who just finished the ninth grade at CVHS, nocks his arrow in P.E. class

Jamie Scott, a science teacher at Carnegie Vanguard High School (CVHS), has been demonstrating various principles of physics to her students this year using archery sets purchased with a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) grant.

The $11,000 grant from TPWD’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program also allowed Scott to buy camping equipment for the school’s ECO (Environment, Community, and Outdoor) Club, and purchase tools and plants to convert the school’s green roof into a “pocket prairie,” with help from the Katy Prairie Conservancy.

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Former educators support Literacy By 3 with annual book donation

HART member Judy Harwell, dressed up as Mickey Mouse from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” hands out books at Burnet ES.

HART member Judy Harwell, dressed up as Mickey Mouse from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” hands out books at Burnet ES.

Aside from current educators, there is probably no group of people more passionate about the need for developing literacy skills in children than retired teachers. That’s why the Houston Association for Retired Teachers (HART) has been selecting one HISD school per year since 2000 to receive free books.

This year, Burnet Elementary School was the lucky beneficiary, and members of HART dropped by on May 15 to distribute one free book to each student.

“Studies show that when kids read for fun, they have a better chance of becoming strong readers,” said Principal Ana Cantu. “HART has helped our students have that opportunity by giving them brand new books of their own.”

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Students meet their virtual Read Houston Read mentors in person

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All year long, caring volunteers from across Houston have been helping HISD students read by simply going online. But on May 29, students at Paige Elementary School got to meet their mentors in the flesh.

TutorMate is a web tool that allows mentors to tutor students via the internet. It was incorporated into HISD’s Read Houston Read program as a part of its Literacy By 3 initiative, which aims to have every child reading well by the end of Grade 3.

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EMERGE senior surprised with gift of new car

This year, thanks to generous donations from the HISD Foundation and Smart Financial, HISD’s Cool To Be Smart program was able to award two lucky students – one junior and one senior – with a car.

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HISD to offer free summer meals at more than 200 schools

The Houston Independent School District is opening up more than 200 school cafeterias this summer to provide free breakfast and lunch to children in the community.

The Summer Meals Program, offered every year by HISD’s Nutrition Services Department, is designed to ensure all students have access to healthy meals — even when school isn’t in session. Continue reading →

Students and teachers “shake it off” on awards day

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Sometimes you just need to dance to a Taylor Swift song. Special Education students and staff at Halpin Early Childhood Center acted on such an urge last week. During their Special Education Awards Day on May 22, they debuted a video of the whole community dancing to Swift’s single “Shake It Off.”

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