New year brings new changes during HISD Nutrition Services training

A large crowd of HISD Nutrition Services employees packed Barnett Stadium on Monday to kick off the school year with their annual in-service training event.

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Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #3 — District to launch text message alert system Sept. 9

This is the eighth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

An emergency text is displayed on a smartphone, August 14, 2014. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)When it comes to their children, parents want accurate information, and they want it fast and at their fingertips. That’s precisely what they’ll get with HISD’s new text message alert system.

Launching on Sept. 9, the new text-notification system from SchoolMessenger will allow HISD officials to quickly notify parents, students, faculty, and staff members about district and campus emergencies and other important events.

“When time is of the essence, texting is the way to go,” said HISD Superintendent of Schools Terry Grier. “Text messaging is the quickest way to notify parents, staff, and students.” Continue reading →

Pilot program using technology and virtual volunteers to help students become better readers

Today, video games and digital devices, such as phones and tablets, are as much a part of a child’s life as playing jacks or jump-rope or hopscotch was to a previous generation. It’s not uncommon to find a child who can navigate an iPhone or iPod better than adults. Starting this school year, HISD will leverage the fascination and skillset today’s youth have with technology to help some of the district’s youngest students become better readers.

Eighty kindergarten and first grade teachers from throughout the district are undergoing training on a program called TeacherMate®, which uses technology to support and help teachers provide differentiated literacy instruction. “It’s an exciting experience to learn this, because kids are fluent with the technology,” said Horn Elementary kindergarten teacher Nancy McDonald. “The games relate to what they’ll learn in class.” Continue reading →

Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #4 — Construction set to start on all Group 1 bond schools

This is the seventh in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

As campuses head into the new school year, expect to see lots of work going on in HISD, with simultaneous work on two bond programs. Over the next several months, contractors will be busy at several campuses finishing up a variety of projects under the $805 million 2007 bond program, including new air conditioning, mechanical and electrical systems for Hogg Middle School and new classroom lighting at Pugh Elementary.

As those projects are completed, work on the $1.89 billion 2012 bond program is ramping up, with construction set to begin on all the schools in the first group of the program by the end of the year. Those schools include: Continue reading →

Lamar HS swimming coach earns lifetime achievement award

Stephen McDonald

Lamar High School’s swimming coach will be honored in September with the 2014 Theron L. Pickle Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association.

Stephen McDonald has been coaching swimmers at Lamar for eight years. In that time, the school has won eight girls’ swimming, six boys’ swimming and five water polo district championships. Ninety-seven team members have been named to the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association All-American Team. Continue reading →

Countdown to 2014-2015: What’s new in HISD #5 — Dual-language programs expanding to 14 more schools

This is the sixth in a series of stories counting down to the start of school, spotlighting what is new in HISD in the coming year.

When the school bells sound Monday in HISD, 14 additional elementary campuses will be conducting classes in two languages, as the district expands its successful dual-language program to a total of 32 schools.

The structure offers foreign language immersion for English-speaking students and a bilingual program for Spanish speakers.

The expansion process started a year ago, when all HISD elementary schools were invited to apply for the successful program. Those chosen have spent months preparing. HISD has a six-year plan to turn at least half its elementary campuses into dual-language schools by 2020. Continue reading →

HISD PD honors personnel during 17th Annual Awards Luncheon

About 200 officers and personnel of the Houston Independent School District Police Department gathered at Thompson Elementary School on Friday to honor outstanding employees during their 17th Annual Awards Luncheon.

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Three HISD grads headed for Houston firefighter training with $5,000 scholarships

Growing up with two uncles as firefighters and listening to their stories of saving lives has inspired Furr High School graduate Justice Jones to take a similar career path.

“I understand the dangers of being a firefighter because I’ve seen my uncles come home from work with burns, cuts, and even a broken collarbone,” Jones said. “But that’s a risk I’m willing to take because I love helping people, and firefighters save thousands of lives every year.” Continue reading →

Teachers get tips on maximizing resources at Personalized Learning Institute

The first day of school is right around the corner, but teachers are still busily preparing for its arrival, learning about the many new resources available to them and their students at the Personalized Learning Institute (PLI).

The annual event, which concludes this week, provides content-specific training to teachers at each grade level in advance of the new school year. The 2014 Institute also featured an overview of the district’s Literacy By 3 initiative, a new approach to reading instruction. Continue reading →