National School Breakfast Week shines light on food insecurity

Stationed in the hallway near the cafeteria, Sam Houston Math, Science and Technology Center junior Christopher Nazario ate his favorite breakfast cereal while going over the previous night’s homework on his laptop.  

Like many across the country, the Nazario family budget took a recent hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. Having access to a healthy school breakfast served at no charge was a big help.

“Eating breakfast here helps my family, and it helps me because I can use the time in the morning to do homework,” Nazario said. “I know they offer a lot of different items for breakfast each morning. I hope they will serve pancakes sometime soon.”

National School Breakfast Week kicks off today (Monday, March 8) with the theme Blast Off with a Healthy School Breakfast. Nutrition Services is celebrating the week by shining a light on the role school breakfast plays in student success.

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HISD to hold virtual State of the Schools fundraising event

The Houston Independent School District Foundation’s annual State of the Schools fundraiser will take place virtually this year for the first time ever and will focus on effective methods for supporting student achievement amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan will deliver the State of the Schools address during which she takes participants on a video tour of the district’s most notable schools and programs, highlighting student success stories.

The virtual event, set for noon on Wednesday, March 24, will also highlight educational projects funded by grants to the Houston ISD Foundation as well projects funded directly by the district’s charitable organization, such as: real-world laboratory and field experiences to study water quality and its global impact; on-campus gardens to promote nutrition awareness, beautification and mental health; and an interactive STEM lab for elementary students.

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Inaugural student-led virtual symposium to honor Chavez-Huerta Day

The Houston Independent School District will hold the first-ever Chavez-Huerta Student Symposium on March 27 to honor the legacies of labor and civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

The student-led event aims to examine the activists’ lasting impact on educational, economical, and societal issues.

Highlights of the symposium will include performances by students from the Chavez High School feeder pattern schools, keynote speakers, a panel discussion, student project presentations, scholarship awards, and door prizes. Students will focus on advocacy, guided by the event’s theme “The Power of Your Voice.” 

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Associate Teachers of the Month recognized at Lawson MS, Kelso ES

The outdoor hallways of Kelso Elementary School may be covered, but that did not stop Associate Teacher Joyce Asberry from hesitating when the principal called her to the main building. As the cloudy skies of the morning gave way to a downpour, Asberry tentatively stepped out on her walk towards the front.

But as she stepped into the school cafeteria, her worries about the dreary weather washed away immediately. Waiting for her there was her family—daughter, granddaughter, and 91-year-old mother—as well as students, teachers, the principal and the HISD HR.

She was surprised as the February Associate Teacher of the Month for HISD.

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HISD to host virtual Advocacy Day with state lawmakers on March 9

The first-ever HISD Virtual Advocacy Day at the Texas Capitol is scheduled for Tuesday, March 9.

During the event, which will be free and open to the public, attendees will learn more about the district’s legislative priorities and hear from members of the Texas Legislature during the 87th Texas Legislative Session.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to ask questions and receive updates on what is happening at the Texas Capitol and learn what state leaders are doing to support students, families, and staff through the COVID-19 pandemic.

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February Nurses of the Month named at DeAnda ES and Young Women’s College Prep

Students from Young Women’s College Prep Academy waited quietly in the sunny, glass-enclosed commons area of the campus as they waited for Carla Carter, the school nurse.

As she rounded the corner, a line of teachers began to cheer and wave pom-poms, while the students held up signs celebrating Carter being named the HISD Secondary Nurse of the Month for February.

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HISD Nutrition Services honored for efforts to feed students

The Houston Independent School District was ranked No. 4 among the state’s top large school districts for its outstanding child nutrition program, according to the 2021 Kroger School Food Rankings released Tuesday.

Established by Children At Risk in partnership with Kroger, the rankings recognize top-performing school food programs that go above and beyond to ensure low-income students have access to healthy food.

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HISD Interim Superintendent joins volunteers working alongside First Lady at Houston Food Bank

Houston Independent School District Interim Superintendent Dr. Grenita Lathan joined dozens of volunteers gathered Friday at the Houston Food Bank to work alongside First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as she packaged food and water for Houston families.

The visit was part of a multi-stop tour of Houston by President Biden and the first lady to survey the damage caused by last week’s historic winter storm that led to widespread power and water outages across the state.

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Sinclair ES to add modular building to address increasing enrollment

Sinclair Elementary School will receive a new modular building ahead of the 2021-2022 school year as part of a planned expansion to accommodate more students at the growing campus.

The school will use the new building to incrementally grow capacity, one grade level at a time, ahead of a projected increase in student enrollment.

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