Special, regular education students combine talents to perform ‘Aesop’s Idol’

Students perform an original song as part of the Westside Integrated Theatre's semester-ending play.

In Aesop’s Fable, “The Bundle of Sticks,” a man teaches the importance of unity and strength to his sons by having them each break individual sticks rather than failing to break a bundle of sticks.

On Tuesday morning at Westside High School, the students of the Westside Integrated Theatre displayed their own unity and collective strength on stage, performing their own interpretations of the tales credited to the ancient Greek storyteller.

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Pershing MS students to perform before Blue Man Group show

Julian Black, Jason Bugg II

Pershing MS eighth-graders Julian Black and Jason Bugg II have been invited to play electronic music in front of Jones Hall at 7:15 p.m., as ticketholders arrive for Blue Man Group’s show at 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

Mark Wurtzel, the Pershing’s music production director, said some of his students participated in an instrument innovation project sponsored by the Society for the Performing Arts. Two students, David Gavarrete and Wendi Armenta, placed in the competition and won tickets to see Blue Man Group. Wurtzel said the Society for the Performing Arts learned more about the school’s music program and invited some of his students to perform a 20-minute set outside Jones Hall.

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Reagan High School Team Wins UIL State Mathematics Championship

Reagan Senior also placed first in individual state competition

 A mathematics team from HISD’s Reagan High School was declared the UIL State Mathematics Champion at the recent UIL State Meet.  Reagan team member Dante Vela also placed first in the individual state competition.

The mathematics competition is one of the most competitive contests at the UIL State Academic Meet, drawing students from across Texas.

The Reagan team, composed of five seniors, qualified for the state championship after advancing from UIL district and regional meets.  The team members have all been competing in UIL Academics for a combined total of 12 years.

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School celebrates unity at Civility in the Park

Students at Furr HS kicked off their summer with a fun event to promote unity, and a camera crew from Spain was there to film all the action for a documentary.

Civility in the Park, now in its second year, took place at Herman Brown Park Pavilion, 400 Mercury Dr., on Sat., June 1 and students said it means a lot to them.

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Designing New Schools Requires an Ear for Sound Management

Sound-diffusing panels at HSPVA help distribute sound in the school's theater.

The new schools built under HISD’s 2012 bond program will be designed not only to look good, but sound good as well.

“Acoustics have a major impact on the learning environment,” said Dan Bankhead, HISD’s general manager for facilities design. “We want to minimize any distracting noises that make it harder for students and staff to do their work.”

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HISD opens satellite office for North Forest parents, staff

The Houston Independent School District has opened a satellite office for North Forest parents and staff to get more information about the upcoming annexation set for July 1, 2013.

The office, located at the Northeast Multi-Service Center, 9720 Spaulding, will be open Mondays through Thursdays from June 3 through June 27, 2013. Staff members from the Office of School Support (Federal & State Compliance, Parent & Community Assistance, and School Choice), Academic Services (Special Education, Multilingual, Athletics, and Counseling) and Human Resources will be on-hand to address questions and concerns. The services offered change each day, so be sure to check the schedule before you visit the office.

For more information about the transition from North Forest ISD to HISD, please visit our web page, call 713-556-9595 or email northforestinfo@houstonisd.org.

Kashmere HS students get safety equipment at Futures Academy celebration

The inaugural class of students inducted into the Kashmere High School Futures Academy on May 30, 2013. (Houston Independent School District)

The inaugural class of students inducted into the Kashmere High School Futures Academy on May 30, 2013.

One couldn’t fault observers for thinking a group of students at Kashmere High School were graduating. Students’ names were called and cherished items were bestowed upon them while the crowd cheered and cried. Except these students have to accomplish a lot more than good grades to get the diploma.

More than 50 students received a red hard hat and blue safety glasses – the school colors – in Kashmere High School’s inaugural induction ceremony on Thursday, May 30, into its’ newly-christened Futures Academy with a focus on chemical process technology.

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School districts, law enforcement join Ministers Against Crime for ‘Project Safe Start’

As students across the city enter their final days of the school year, they might see an increased community and law enforcement presence walking the halls.

For more than two decades, Project Safe Start has brought together local religious leaders, school district and area law enforcement, and school officials from districts throughout the area to help prevent crime and increase safety in an effort to get students’ summer vacation off on the right foot.

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Find times, dates of graduation ceremonies

The Houston Independent School District congratulates the tens of thousands of students that make up the class of 2013.

There are 41 graduation ceremonies throughout the district. Construction is causing some road closures that may affect your route to a ceremony. One lane of the southbound lanes of U.S. 59 North, also known as the Eastex Freeway, will be closed from Dallas to McGowen on Saturday and Sunday. The southbound exit ramp to McGowen and the southbound entrance ramp from Webster will also be closed. No matter where you’re coming from and headed to, you may want to check Houston TranStar’s traffic map before you leave.

Find out where you, your relative or friend will be graduating this year:
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Club encourages students to read over summer break

Herrera ES students choose books to read this summer

Most Houston Independent School District students will be spending their summer vacation having fun and doing things to get ready for the upcoming school year, including reading a few good books.

Students in all grades are participating in the Millionaire Club, a summer reading program that the district developed five years ago.

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