Westside High School culinary students deliver award-winning meal at inaugural competition

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Competition was stiff on Saturday, but the culinary team from Westside High School took home the trophy at the inaugural Cooking Up Change Competition to showcase tasty and nutritious school food.

“I have a deeper respect and knowledge for all that our cafeteria workers do to prepare food for all of the students in HISD,” said Westside’s Barrosha Boykin as she and her team accepted their trophies and prizes at the ARAMARK-sponsored contest, held at Rice University.

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HISD Transportation ranks among top 40 on ‘100 Best Fleets’ list

For the fourth consecutive year, the Houston Independent School District made the list of the “100 Best Fleets” in North America for 2014. Winners were announced April 9 at the NAFA Institute and Expo and published in Governing magazine. HISD’s Transportation Services made a significant jump on the list from last year, moving from number 47 to 39.

Each year, the top 100 fleets in North America are chosen based on documented criteria for excellence, including the use of technology, quick efficient repair turnaround, creativity and repairing vehicles right the first time.

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Making history: ‘Humble, hungry’ Lee HS boys soccer team headed to state semifinals

Lee High School soccer team Lee High School’s boys’ soccer team has advanced to the 4A UIL state soccer tournament for its first time.

Lee (19-4-1) will face the team from Pharr Valley View (25-2) in Georgetown, Texas, on Friday. If they win that game, they’ll advance to the finals and play the winner of the semifinal game between Northwest Nelson and Frisco Wakeland.

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Odyssey of the Mind teams from 6 schools earn trip to world finals

Six Houston ISD schools have Odyssey of the Mind teams that advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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7 HISD Odyssey of the Mind teams earn trip to world finals

Seven Houston ISD Odyssey of the Mind teams advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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District plan to consolidate Dodson and Blackshear continues

The HISD Board of Education on Thursday voted to table indefinitely an agenda item to cancel the consolidation of Dodson Elementary with Blackshear, the Rusk School and Lantrip elementary schools. The 5-3 vote comes after much debate on the topic and a move by board members who brought the item back to the agenda late last week. Trustee Paula Harris was absent from the meeting.

“Despite being unpopular and difficult, school consolidations represent opportunities to strengthen schools,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “Tonight’s vote will allow us to continue the work we are doing to ensure that Blackshear is a Montessori-friendly facility that is ready for students in the fall.”

Last month the board voted to repurpose Jones High School into a specialized Futures Academy. Trustees also voted 5 to 4 to close Dodson Elementary.

The Board of Education did not vote on the administration’s proposal to increase funding per-student level by $35 for the upcoming school year. It will appear on next month’s agenda following additional board workshops on the subject.

 

Who’s offering what: Now you can check HISD high school ‘endorsements’ online

HISD eighth-graders choosing high schools and their career and education pathways now have a simple, one-stop way to do that on the district’s “Plan Your Path” website.

A chart showing paths and “endorsements” at each campus is now online at www.houstonisd.org/planyourpath.

It features breakdowns of which school offers each of the five endorsements – or areas of focus – that have been created under recent state legislation that is reinventing high school to emphasize both college and career readiness:

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Business and Industry
• Arts and Humanities
• Public Services
• Multidisciplinary

The new, personalized learning system requires next year’s entering ninth-graders – the class of 2018 – to work with their families and counselors to create a Personal Graduation Plan and customize it with endorsements and a pathway that will reflect their career interests and goals for additional education or training beyond high school.

When it comes to endorsements, HISD students have plenty of high school choices. Of the 43 campuses required to operate under the new plan, 26 are offering all five endorsements, and 12 are offering four.

33 HISD high schools among America’s most challenging

Thirty-three of Houston ISD’s 44 high schools are on the prestigious Washington Post’s list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools. The rankings of 2,050 most rigorous high schools nationwide were released this week.
The rankings are based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year divided by the number of seniors who graduated that year.

HISD’s strong showing in the Washington Post rankings are the result of a 2009 decision by the Board of Education to boost the number of AP course offerings in all schools, and to waive the AP exam fees for all students in those courses.

HISD high schools that made the Washington Post list include (with ranking): Continue reading →

Waltrip basketball player chosen for All-Star game

Photo Credit: Michael Sudhalter/The Leader News

A Waltrip High School senior basketball player has received a big honor – he’s been selected to play in the Houston Area Basketball Coaches Association All-Star game.

Nathan Washington has been a varsity starter for three years and will continue his basketball career at Grandview College in Des Moines, Iowa. In an interview with The Leader News earlier this year, he said he plans to study criminal justice or kinesiology.

Waltrip has been previously been represented in the all-star game three times, including by Washington’s older brother, Milton. Milton Washington now plays basketball at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

The game will be held at Phillips Field House, 2902 Dabney Dr. in Pasadena, on May 8. The time has not been set yet.

Investigation into testing irregularities at Atherton Elementary School complete

Evidence implicates three teachers in testing improprieties

Independent investigators hired by the Houston Independent School District have released a report outlining their findings regarding charges against test administrators at Charles Atherton Elementary School who have been under investigation.  The report implicates three Atherton teachers of testing improprieties on the spring 2013 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR).

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