Perfection earns Lockhart ES first place in K-2 ‘Name That Book’ contest

Lockhart Elementary's "Name That Book" team

Six second-graders from Lockhart Elementary School brought home the gold in the HISD K-2 “Name That Book” contest in their second year of competition. Students received medals and certificates for their win.

The annual K-2 competition prepares younger students for upper-level competition, which includes all grade levels and continues through April 17. Each school can enter only one team.

“Name That Book” is an HISD reading incentive program that encourages teamwork and ongoing reading, which is critically important in meeting HISD literacy goals.

“Literacy is a cornerstone issue for HISD,” said district Superintendent Terry Grier in his 2014 State of the Schools address. More specifically, that means that getting every HISD student to read on grade level by third grade is a major priority for the district.

Continue reading →

Initial designs for a new Milby draw enthusiasm from school community

Alexis Reyes acknowledges she was initially skeptical of plans to rebuild Milby High School as a 21st century learning environment under the 2012 bond program.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=’G0000fNotF6mu6vI’ g_name=’20140311-Milby’ width=’600′ f_fullscreen=’t’ bgtrans=’t’ pho_credit=’iptc’ twoup=’f’ f_bbar=’t’ f_bbarbig=’f’ fsvis=’f’ f_show_caption=’t’ crop=’f’ f_enable_embed_btn=’t’ f_htmllinks=’t’ f_l=’t’ f_send_to_friend_btn=’f’ f_show_slidenum=’t’ f_topbar=’f’ f_show_watermark=’t’ img_title=’casc’ linkdest=’c’ trans=’xfade’ target=’_self’ tbs=’5000′ f_link=’t’ f_smooth=’f’ f_mtrx=’t’ f_ap=’t’ f_up=’f’ height=’400′ btype=’old’ bcolor=’#CCCCCC’ ]

Continue reading →

Teachers at YWCPA go to the pros for technology know-how – their students

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/88799570/ w=320&h=205]

As a teacher at one of the HISD’s 11 pilot PowerUp schools, Mariela Niland is working to include more technology in her classroom at the Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. Recently, the first-year teacher took part in a unique training that had her and her students swap roles to learn more about the latest and greatest tech tools and web applications. “I want to hear from them what I can do to make my lessons more interesting,” said Niland. “I want to know what digital tools and resources they enjoy using.”

Niland and her YWCPA colleagues got an earful from students who were excited to take part in the table-turning after-school exercise. The format allowed the girls to become the teacher, show off their tech savvy, and share some of their favorite websites.

Continue reading →

Board of Education to consider school closures, graduation plan

Proposal would close Jones, Dodson; new graduation plan under HB 5 would include Algebra II requirement

The Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees will review proposals to close Jones High School and Dodson Elementary School, and vote on new policies associated with House Bill 5 during a board meeting planned for Thursday, March 13.
Continue reading →

Buster the Bus schools elementary kids on school bus safety

Elmore Elementary School second-graders bubbled with excitement as an animated mini school bus with a stop arm, flashing headlights, and big blinking eyes rolled into the auditorium.

Soon they were getting an important lesson on bus safety – thanks to HISD transportation team members and Buster the Bus, an interactive tool that is traveling around the district to teach children about being safe.

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=’G0000paj4H6dlhrw’ g_name=’bus-safety-gallery’ width=’600′ f_fullscreen=’t’ bgtrans=’t’ pho_credit=’iptc’ twoup=’f’ f_bbar=’t’ f_bbarbig=’f’ fsvis=’f’ f_show_caption=’t’ crop=’f’ f_enable_embed_btn=’t’ f_htmllinks=’t’ f_l=’t’ f_send_to_friend_btn=’f’ f_show_slidenum=’t’ f_topbar=’f’ f_show_watermark=’t’ img_title=’casc’ linkdest=’c’ trans=’xfade’ target=’_self’ tbs=’5000′ f_link=’t’ f_smooth=’f’ f_mtrx=’t’ f_ap=’t’ f_up=’f’ height=’400′ btype=’old’ bcolor=’#CCCCCC’ ]

Continue reading →

Campus meetings put families in-the-know about upcoming changes in high school

Reagan, Washington HB 5 sessions show what’s in store for next year’s ninth-graders

High school is changing in a big way for next year’s ninth-grade students, and dozens of HISD families got a jump on finding out how at two community meetings Monday night at Reagan and Washington high schools.

The changes are coming as a result of state legislation known as House Bill 5 – and HISD has rebranded the process for its students and their families as “Plan Your Path.”

“Plan Your Path” is all about guiding students to “dream big,” explained Alejandro Morua, HISD’s general manager of Family and Community Engagement, by combining career awareness and selection with a rigorous academic curriculum from pre-K through graduation.

Continue reading →

Lemonade Day kickoff highlights youth entrepreneurship

Lemonade Day is more than just putting up an impromptu neighborhood stand – and Monday’s kickoff at HISD’s DeZavala Elementary School highlighted all the strategy and business skills that go into creating successful young entrepreneurs.

DeZavala students, along with Lemonade Day Founder Michael Holthouse, State Sen. Sylvia Garcia, HISD Chief Middle Schools Officer Michael Cardona, and Telemundo Houston News Anchor Martin Berlanga, kicked off the event, which started in Houston in 2007 and has since gone nationwide.

Lemonade Day, which is scheduled for May 4, is a free, hands-on learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate a lemonade stand. The young entrepreneurs benefit from a strategic 14-step process that walks them from a dream of owning and operating their own business to creating a business plan.

Continue reading →

Organizations team up to provide fresh produce to HISD students in ‘food desert’

Lantrip families benefit from Houston Food Bank, Texas Children’s Hospital, UT School of Public Health

Lantrip Elementary will have a long line outside their building Wednesday, full of students waiting to collect their fruit and vegetables. Yes, fruit and vegetables. A collaborative effort between the Houston Food Bank, Texas Children’s Hospital, and the University of Texas School of Public Health is providing students at several HISD schools access to fresh produce throughout the school year.

Continue reading →

Long Academy pharmacy technology students get white coats

Jane Long Academy held a white coat ceremony Friday for its pharmacy students.

The ceremony was held to induct ninth-graders into the School of Pharmacy Technology, which is part of the HISD’s Futures Academy, and to celebrate the achievements tenth-graders have made over the past year.

Continue reading →

When I Grow Up Expo brings industry experts and day of friendly competition to HISD

A SWAT truck, underwater robotics, construction materials, and sample rotating drill bits. Visitors saw that and more when attending the second annual When I Grow Up Expo. The hands-on, Career and Technical Education event held March 8 hosted more than 60 Houston-based companies from a variety of industries.

Energy, engineering, construction, cosmetology, retail and other high-growth businesses spent Saturday demonstrating how their industries operate and why theirs holds promise for future HISD graduates.

Continue reading →