As part of HISD’s transition to digital teaching and learning, the PowerUp:HUB is playing an increasingly central role. One key feature of the online teaching and learning platform is the HUB Library, which is designed to hold a comprehensive collection of “learning objects” for use as part of the teaching and learning process. Learning objects in the HUB Library can be anything from adopted instructional materials (i.e., HISD’s adopted digital textbooks) to activities and resources that teachers create and share. One unique feature of learning objects in the HUB Library is that they can be tagged with standards and keywords that allow teachers to search for just the resource they need. Continue reading
Red ES students challenged to build robots at annual STEM night
More than 200 parents gathered on the campus of Red Elementary School on Jan. 15 for a family STEM night that featured many fun, hands-on activities for participating students.
Children could design a floating car, create computer code, solve math problems, or read books on subjects related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
The highlight of the evening was a robot-building contest judged by representatives from the community, HISD administrators, and the National Society of Black Engineers. Students were required to put together a humanoid-looking creation between three and four feet high using only recycled items. Pre-K student Curtis Mayfield (pictured) won the contest with a design made from a cereal box, empty vinegar bottle, old pair of tennis shoes, and cardboard toilet paper rolls. His prize was a new Samsung tablet.
On-campus licensed athletic trainers help students get back on track
Licensed Athletic Trainer Stephanie Polydore helped her Waltrip HS student Xavier Smith recover from a season-ending injury last fall. Now fully recovered, he plans to run track this spring.
For Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT) Stephanie Polydore, one of the most gratifying aspects of her job is helping injured student athletes get back on track—both literally and figuratively.
“I love helping athletes get back to their full ability to compete in their sport,” said Polydore, who also teaches a sports medicine class at Waltrip High School.
The former stadium-based LAT is now one of only two campus-based LATS in HISD (the other is at Chávez HS). And while Polydore wasn’t able to salvage the football season for senior Xavier Smith, who broke his leg during the very first scrimmage of the season, thanks to the rehab he completed under her supervision, “he says he feels stronger now than he did before he was injured. He’s actually going to run track this spring.”
Team work makes the dream work for students in Petro Challenge
Hundreds of HISD students competed for awards in the field of oil and natural gas exploration at the annual Petro Challenge held at the University of Houston Jan. 20-23, 2015. The event consisted of two days of training and two days of competition. A number of teams made up of 163 students from Energy Institute High School competed Wednesday, and Team Petros won the day. On Friday, competition took place among 210 students on teams from HISD’s other petroleum academies — Milby HS, Westside HS, and Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.
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HISD adding 21 campuses to dual language program in 2015–2016
HISD is expanding its successful dual language program to 21 more campuses in 2015–2016, launching thousands of additional pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students on the road to learning a second language. Currently, 31 HISD schools offer a Spanish dual language program.
Starting in August, kindergarten students — and pre-kindergarten students, at some schools — will be learning in both English and Spanish. One grade will be added to the program each year until it reaches school-wide.
[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/116680573″ ] Continue reading
Mother inspired by teacher son’s experiences to join Read Houston Read
Read Houston Read volunteer Susan Imre with her son John Lohmann, a social studies teacher at Wheatley High School.
The people who volunteer as Read Houston Read mentors do so for a variety of reasons. Some do it because they simply love teaching. Some do it because they have wonderful memories of enjoying books as young people and want to give that experience to other children. For Susan Imre, the reason is a bit more personal. Her adult son is a teacher at Wheatley High School, and she was inspired by the challenges he faces each day with students who struggle in the classroom. Continue reading
HISD school board to consider plan to reduce classroom overcrowding
The Houston Independent School District is working to readjust attendance boundaries at almost two dozen schools in an effort to reduce classroom overcrowding.
The move is in response to a directive from the Texas Education Agency, which requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a state waiver.
UPS representatives encourage Sterling Futures students to pursue logistics and global supply
Students in the Futures Academy of Logistics and Global Supply at Sterling High School learned first-hand about the field from representatives of the world’s largest shipping and logistics company, United Parcel Service (UPS).
Arthur Wilson, UPS South Texas division manager, and Trey Wyre, Katy branch manager, told the students about their educational and career paths on Jan. 16. They also offered insights into the company and the careers it offers in a field that’s expected to grow by 22 percent in the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Median salary in the field is more than $80,000.
Sterling Futures Academy students can earn an associate’s of applied science degree along with their high school diploma and industry certifications, and are exposed to information and opportunities in the logistics and global supply workforce as part of their education.
Both UPS representatives told Futures educators that they would be interested in helping to mentor Sterling students.
Students to get a jumpstart on entering the oil and natural gas industry
Beginning this semester, at least 1,000 high school students from 12 HISD schools will have access to cutting-edge oil and natural gas curriculum and resources to earn a basic petroleum industry certification during high school. The certification is typically required for entry-level positions in the oilfield. The OPEN Petroleum Education Network will offer students in the program at least four online courses in petroleum, oil well drilling, well control, and rig pass. Students who successfully complete the introduction to well control course and the rig pass curriculum will be eligible to receive a certificate from the International Association of Drilling Contractors.
“By educating early on about these opportunities and by providing foundational skills, the program will give HISD students a jump-start on well-paying jobs before they even graduate from high school,” said HISD Career Readiness Assistant Superintendent Michael Webster.
Participating high schools include: Chavez, Energy Institute, Furr, Kashmere, Lamar, Mickey Leland College Preparatory for Young Men, Milby, Reagan, Waltrip, Westside, Wheatley, Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy.
Apply to BOA Student Leadership Program by Feb. 2
Bank of America is looking for tomorrow’s community leaders today.
High-school juniors and seniors who are passionate about making a difference in the community may be selected to participate in a paid summer internship with a designated local nonprofit organization, where they can experience first-hand how they can help shape their communities-now and in the future.
To enhance their leadership experience, awardees also participate in a week-long, all-expense-paid Student Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. provided by Bank of America. The nonprofit internship and Student Leadership Summit expose students to leadership aspects in civic, nonprofit, and business arenas.
Visit the Bank of America website to apply. The deadline for applications is Monday, Feb. 2, 2015.