Beginning in 2016 with only five schools, the Rotary Club of Houston’s Dictionary Project has been dedicated to providing reading resources to HISD third graders. The number of recipient schools has grown every year, and this year, thanks to the generosity of individual donor Kandy Kaye Horn, every third grader in every HISD elementary school was given their own dictionary.
Continue readingTag Archives: Austin HS
Student artists round-up their skills to showcase creative works for Rodeo Art Show
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is a yearly staple of Houston culture, as highly anticipated to adults and children as Christmas or Halloween. The event boasts a carnival, cook-offs, signature fair food, concerts, and, of course, the titular livestock show. An annual event for Texas pride and merriment, it is important to highlight the educational impacts that the rodeo has for HISD students.
Continue readingAustin HS marching band honored with Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
Since 2003, the President of the United States has recognized outstanding citizens for their commitment and dedication to improving their community.
Continue readingSuperintendent House tours campuses to kick off first week with HISD
As he walked through the first and second grade classrooms at Mading Elementary School, Superintendent Millard House was greeted with the smell of freshly made tamales.
Students attending summer school at Mading were taking a break for lunch just as the new superintendent of HISD stopped by for a visit. It was a well-earned break after a morning full of learning for the students.
“You guys continue working hard,” House said as he exited one of the classrooms. “We are proud of you. We are glad you are back.”
That school was just one of many as House toured several schools on his second official day on the job.
Continue readingAustin HS celebrates virtual grand opening with watch party
Following a path of green and white balloons, dozens of Austin High School students and staff shuffled into the auditorium to find seats for the big event — the premiere of Austin’s virtual grand opening.
Clad in green attire and masks, students and staff gathered for the physically distanced watch party hosted in the recently renovated school auditorium, where a giant screen was set up to display the celebration.
Among the sea of green was senior Zuri Mendoza Gonzalez, who sat front and center in a ruffled green and white dress. She said she was excited to represent Austin as the master of ceremonies in the virtual grand opening and wanted to be close to the action.
“It was nice to be part of such a historical event, especially as the master of ceremonies,” Mendoza Gonzalez said. “It was very special, an honor really.”
Built as part of the 2012 Bond program, Austin’s $80.9 million, 288,628-square-foot campus features a three-story academic wing, two gyms, and an outdoor courtyard. The virtual grand opening showcased these areas, bringing them to life with student-led segments and performances.
Continue readingBond Oversight Committee tours Wharton Dual Language Academy, receives program update
HISD Bond Oversight Committee members toured the new Wharton Dual Language Academy during their quarterly meeting Tuesday, getting an inside look at the building that opened its doors to students just four months ago.
Wharton Principal Jennifer Day and HISD Construction Services Senior Manager Meredith Smith led the group around the colorful building, making stops in classrooms, science and computer labs, and art and music rooms, as well as the cafeteria, gym, and library.
Construction of new Austin HS to reach milestone on Monday
An immense construction crane will lift the first wall of the new Austin High School into place on Monday, marking a significant development for the 2012 Bond project.
The news was announced to the school’s Project Advisory Team on Wednesday during its regular meeting, which also included general construction and budget updates.
The $80.9 million project, which is scheduled to be completed in 2020, will feature modern classrooms and flexible learning spaces while also preserving the historic front facade of the original main building, which opened in 1937.
“Tours of the construction site for small groups of students would really build excitement about the progress we’re making,” HISD Construction Services Senior Manager Meredith Smith said. Continue reading
Austin HS celebrates groundbreaking ceremony for new campus
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Austin High School students, staff, alumni, and community members gathered Tuesday to show their appreciation for the 81-year-old campus and celebrate the start of construction on their new school.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held just beyond the site where the current school is undergoing demolition and adjacent to where construction crews have started work on the foundation for the new school.
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Austin HS prepares for start of construction
Construction crews at Austin High School spent much of the summer working to complete demolition, abatement, and underground site work in preparation for the start of construction on their new building.
While significant progress was made, the project encountered some hurdles. City of Houston permitting procedures changed and now require additional documents and information to be submitted. Additionally, asbestos removal took longer than anticipated.
To accommodate the additional time needed to procure the permit and safely remove hazardous materials from the construction site, school and project officials have updated the construction timeline. The school is now scheduled to will move into its new facility in summer 2020, with students and staff returning for the 2020-2021 school year. Continue reading
Austin HS undergoes demolition to make room for new facility
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Demolition is underway at Austin High School, where crews are working to bring down the back section of the building along South Lockwood Drive, making way for a new $79.6 million campus.
Asbestos abatement will be completed this month, and demolition already has been completed on the water tower, agriculture building, and workshop. The remainder of the demolition is expected to wrap up in June. Continue reading