Principals Share Strategies to Increase Attendance

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From friendly campus competitions to going door to door in their communities, HISD schools are getting creative in ways to increase student attendance. September is Attendance Awareness Month, and HISD is joining school districts around the nation to deliver the message that attendance matters for success in school and in life, and that too many absences can easily add up to academic trouble.

At the monthly HISD principals’ meeting on September 4, school leaders shared what they are doing to reward students who come to school every day, and how they are reaching out to those who are having attendance issues.

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Rice’s Cite Magazine Highlights HISD Bond Program in its Summer Issue

The HISD bond program was featured recently in the Summer 2013 issue of Cite magazine, which is published quarterly by the Rice Design Alliance and covers the latest in urban planning, architecture, arts and preservation in Houston.

Three articles in the issue delve into what will be built with funds from the $1.89 billion bond, which was passed in November. HISD Superintendent Terry Grier explains the district’s campaign to build 21st century schools and implement blended learning curriculum.

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HISD Teacher Recognized by Jamie Oliver for Promoting Healthy Foods

Kellie Karavias, a culinary arts teacher and garden educator at Gregory-Lincoln Education Center, who teachers her students how to grow, harvest and cook healthy foods,  has been highlighted as a Food Revolution Hero on Chef Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution website. “Food Heroes” are people across the country who combine their passion for food with innovative ways to promote fresh, healthy foods in their communities.

“One out of three kids is obese, because they are living on chips and fast food,” Karavias said. “If they make a big enough garden, they can feed their entire family.” Her culinary program begins with the organic school garden, where science, math, nutrition, reading, and physical activity are integrated into lesson plans. It continues in the “culinary classroom,” where students produce nutritious meals in a safe, kid-friendly environment. The students also market and sell their produce to Whole Kids Farmers Markets at Whole Foods Market—Montrose.

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Attendance Awareness: When are Students ‘Chronically Absent’?

HISD is joining school districts and communities around the nation this month to launch the first-ever Attendance Awareness Month. As part of the initiative, HISD is asking staff, parents, schools, city agencies, community nonprofits, businesses and others to deliver the message that attendance matters for success in school and in life, and that absences can easily add up to academic trouble.

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Target Makes Generous Donation to HISD’s Apollo 20 THINK Literacy Libraries

Grant to benefit more than 60 first grade classrooms libraries

The Houston Independent School District has received a significant donation from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) to fund the THINK Literacy program at the Apollo 20 elementary schools in support of the district’s efforts to increase achievement in literacy.  The grant will provide books for more than 60 first-grade classroom libraries at the 11 campuses on September 4.

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Hartsfield ES Kicks off New School Year With Community Walk

In order to foster relationships between school and community, Hartsfield ES reached out to more than 350 homes during the first-ever Welcome Back Community Walk. It was an opportunity for new Principal Alecia Bell and her staff to interact with students and their families.

Bell launched the theme “Transforming Lives – Creating Leaders” with T-shirts featuring a picture of a transformer that symbolizes the change ahead. Wearing the shirts, the staff went door-to-door introducing themselves and delivering school-enrollment forms, volunteer information, and the school calendar.

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HISD Students to Participate in Green Apple Day of Service

Houston Independent School District students will be planting and weeding gardens, and participating in other environmentally friendly activities on Sept. 28 as part of a global movement to transform schools into healthy and sustainable learning environments.

The Green Apple Day of Service is sponsored by the Center for Green School at the U.S. Green Building Council. The goal of the second annual event is to help raise awareness among parents, teachers and students about the importance of improving the school environment.

Two HISD schools – Herod Elementary and Gabriela Mistral Early Childhood Education Center – have already signed up with projects designed to help their own facilities create greener and healthier campuses.

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Parent Student Connect Gives Parents Access to Child’s Grades, Attendance, and More

If you have ever wondered how your child is doing in school, you need to know about Parent Student Connect. Also known as PS Connect or GradeSpeed, it is an essential tool for every HISD parent or guardian. PS Connect gives you instant access to your child’s grades, assignments, progress reports, report cards, class attendance, tardies, and class schedule. To stay on top of students’ performance, you can register for alerts via text or email to be sent when a grade falls below a certain average, assignments are missing, or they are absent or late to class. Students can also access PS Connect to check on their grades and upcoming assignments.

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