On Saturday, Houston Independent School District held graduation for the summer 2021 graduates at Delmar-Tusa Sports Complex. HISD celebrated 466 graduates from 29 different high schools like Chavez, Northside, Madison, Lamar, and many more.
Student Assistance lends a hand at Back To School Extravaganza
Houston Independent School District Student Assistance held a “Back To School Extravaganza” drive-thru event Friday at Bethel’s Empowerment Center.
The event featured a drive-up that included free vaccinations (including for Covid-19), backpacks, supplies, fresh produce, local vendors, giveaways, Medicaid and CHIP renewal applications, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications, and HISD Community Partnerships.
Continue readingHISD board approves vaccination stipend, added COVID leave
The Houston Independent School District Board Of Education approved a stipend program that gives employees a one-time $500 stipend for those who show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. On Thursday, the board also approved additional Covid-19 leave time if needed for isolation.
Once approved by TEA, to get the stipend, employees must submit their proof of vaccination to Health and Medical Services by Nov. 19, 2021. Additional guidelines will be shared with employees soon.
Continue readingHISD closing curbside summer meals and apartment complex delivery programs
With the new school year set to begin on Monday with 100 percent in-person learning, Nutrition Services is ending its campus curbside pickup and apartment complex delivery programs for summer meals.
The final distributions for both programs are Thursday, Aug. 19. Pickups and deliveries on that day will include three days’ worth of student meals, hand sanitizer, and masks. No further distributions are scheduled.
Continue readingAtherton Elementary, Reliant pair to provide back-to-school supplies
On Wednesday, Atherton Elementary hosted a drive-thru distribution / meet the teachers event where Reliant provided 500 back-to-school kits to students in anticipation of the start of the school year.
The kits included classroom basics like pencils, notebooks, folders, and more, which is part of a larger drive from Reliant to donate 10,000 kids state-wide. Atherton got involved through HISD’s Community Partnership program.
“At Reliant, we believe that investing in the future of young people pays dividends – in the lives of students, their families and our community,” Reliant said in a news release. “We’re excited to partner with Houston ISD. Today we are donating 500 school packs for all students at Atherton Elementary School in Greater Fifth Ward.”
Continue readingHISD Superintendent hands out backpacks at Mayor Turner’s Back to School Fest
The community turned out in force to take advantage of the Mayor’s Back to School Fest at NRG Park’s Yellow Lot on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
This is the 11th annual give-away presented by Shell to help economically disadvantaged Houston-area elementary school students and their families prepare to return to school. Shell volunteers loaded family’s cars with backpacks filled with school supplies and boxes of food provide by the Houston Food Bank.
Continue readingA message from Superintendent House regarding teacher staffing
I want to update you on teacher staffing. While there are currently 386 teacher vacancies, I have developed and am implementing a bold plan to ensure that every student begins the school year with a certified teacher in all core content areas. We are going to accomplish this by doing the following:
Continue readingHISD to host Back to School phone bank
The Houston Independent School District will hold a phone bank on Friday, Aug 20, to address questions from parents and students as the district helps families prepare for the return for the 2021-2022 school year.
The phone banks will give the public the opportunity to ask questions in English and Spanish by calling 713-556-4636. The phone bank will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Continue readingSports legends inducted into HISD Hall of Honor
Walk into the entrance of Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex, and you might notice a new addition: a wall emblazoned with a list of former HISD athletes, legends in their sports.
The list—populated by greats such as Vince Young, Nancy Richey, Monica Lamb, and Greg Swindell—is the inaugural class of the HISD Athletic Hall of Honor. A project spearheaded by Athletic Director Andre Walker and the Hall of Honor Executive Committee, the Class of 2021 consists of 16 individuals and one team.
The inductees were honored at an event on Saturday, attended by all but one of the living honorees, as well as Superintendent Millard House II and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
Continue readingParents, caregivers can request that their child repeat a course or grade (SB 1697)
Given the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the 2020-2021 school year, the Texas Legislature passed SB 1697. This Senate Bill gives parents/caregivers the opportunity to determine whether their child should repeat a grade or retake a high school course, including:
- repeating prekindergarten;
- enrolling in prekindergarten if the child was eligible to enroll in prekindergarten in the previous school year, under TEC, §29.153(b), and has not yet enrolled in kindergarten;
- repeating kindergarten;
- enrolling in kindergarten if the child would have enrolled in kindergarten in the previous school year and has not yet enrolled in first grade*; and
- for grades one through three, repeating the grade the student was enrolled in the previous school year.