Celebrations mark beginning of construction for 2012 bond projects

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Right on schedule, the fourth quarter of 2014 brought the beginning of construction for the 17 schools in Group 1 of HISD’s current bond program, bringing groundbreaking ceremonies and more activity to worksites across the district.

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High school students receive diplomas at fall semester graduation ceremony

fallgraduation2More than 80 students received their high school diplomas at the HISD fall 2014 graduation ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 10.

Organized by the district’s Office of School Support, the ceremony recognized students from various high schools for completing the required courses and passing the state assessments during the fall semester. Among those were the first four graduates from the district’s Middle College High School at HCC Felix Fraga, which opened in August 2014: Jennifer Baltazar (below, right), Selena Hernandez (center), Verner Potts, and Nataly Ramon (not pictured). Continue reading →

HISD to link virtual learning to classroom with on the job video conferences

Career professionals will soon be able to join an HISD class virtually to speak to students live on camera about their industry, giving students an up-close and personal look at numerous professions.

As part of a new HISD Linked Learning initiative to combine core academics with career-based knowledge, hundreds of career and technical education teachers participated in a two-hour training this week to learn how to use Nepris.com, a web-based platform that easily connects teachers and students with industry experts for video conferences. Although teachers often organize face-to-face student visits with professionals, this tool will allow teachers and students to participate in these sessions without having to leave the classroom.  Continue reading →

EMERGE scholars reunite to reflect on college experience, prepare for internships

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Graduates of HISD’s EMERGE program reflected on their first semester of college and learned how to begin a summer internship search during a “homecoming” event held especially for them on Jan. 6. The EMERGE Scholar Homecoming, which took place at the University of Houston, reunited students who came home for the winter break from colleges such as Columbia University, Oberlin College, Smith College, and Yale University.  Continue reading →

College acceptance letters start arriving for members of Class of 2015

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Lamar senior Tyra Jenkins poses with the acceptance letter she received from Cornell University. Cornell is her dream school, and she plans to attend it in the fall.

Graduating seniors are starting to discover where their quest for higher education will take them this fall, as colleges and universities across the country are sending out letters of acceptance to those who applied for admission early.

More than two dozen students in the district’s EMERGE program have already received either early decision or early action notices from top tier schools, including Stanford, Notre Dame, Rice, Cornell, and Harvard.   Continue reading →

Senior challenges giving students extra incentive to apply to college

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Completing college and financial aid applications early often yields its own rewards, but for students at two HISD campuses, it could also mean a free ticket to the senior prom or a day spent shadowing an admired professional.

Sharpstown High School Principal Rob Gasparello launched the Senior Challenge at his campus last fall, and students who meet all criteria are eligible to attend both the senior prom and the annual senior trip for free.  Continue reading →

Missy the cow teaches students all about milk

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Larry Graham and Missy the cow show students where milk comes from.

Students may never look at a carton of milk the same way again after seeing firsthand where dairy milk comes from, thanks to farmer Larry Graham and his favorite cow, Missy.

Graham and L.P. Voskamp are instructors for the Southwest Dairy Farmers Mobile Dairy Classroom, an outreach program that teaches children about the dairy industry. Elmore Elementary School students recently learned how dairy foods contribute to good health, the anatomy of dairy cows, and how the milking process works. They also got to meet Missy up close. Continue reading →

HISD school nurses get additional training on preventing spread of flu

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HISD school nurses attended a training session recently on the best way to manage and prevent the spread of communicable diseases such as influenza.

In Texas, the flu is currently being reported at higher levels than this time last year. The same holds true for HISD, where more elementary school children have been diagnosed with the flu than other grade levels. Continue reading →

KBR pre-bid meeting provides networking opportunities for minority-owned businesses

KBR Building Group held a pre-bid meeting this week to get acquainted with representatives from minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) who have an interest in working on HISD building projects.

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Stay informed about wintry weather with HISD text alerts

With winter upon us, it’s a great time to sign up for HISD text alerts to receive updates on school weather conditions. Just text YES to 68453, and you will be enrolled in HISD text messaging. Texting provides instant access to the latest updates regarding school closures and other emergency situations.

Before you send your student out the door on a cold morning, be sure they are dressed in layers, including a scarf, gloves, and hat or hood. Dressing in layers allows them to adjust for varying temperatures throughout the school day, from waiting outside for the bus to learning inside the classroom.

For more information, go to the HISD texting homepage.