Tag Archives: graduation

College Readiness Month Encourages Students to Plan Now for the Future

It doesn’t matter if your child is 4 or 14, it’s never too early to start planning for college.

That’s the message Houston Independent School District College Readiness Manager Yolanda Norman is spreading this October as the district celebrates College Readiness Month.

College Readiness Month is designed to get students thinking about college and prepare them to not just gain admission, but complete a degree and graduate. The goal, Norman said is to get students thinking critically about their future and long-term plans.

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More Than 600 Volunteer in 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk

Hundreds of volunteers at 24 HISD high schools spent Saturday morning knocking on doors across Houston encouraging students who have not returned to school this academic year to re-enroll. The outreach effort was part of the 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk which led to 47 HISD students deciding to return to school immediately and many more promising to give school another try.

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Hundreds of Volunteers to Visit Students’ Homes during 10th Annual Grads Within Reach Walk

24 high schools participating across Houston

What:  HISD’s Department of Dropout Prevention will lead visits to the homes of hundreds of students who did not return to school for this fall semester during the 10th annual Grads Within Reach walk.  The purpose of this walk is to let the students know about the programs HISD offers to help them graduate such as the Grad Labs online credit recovery program and the Twilight High Schools around the city which offer flexible night and weekend hours.  The volunteers will set out from 24 high schools across the city to knock on the doors of students’ homes to personally encourage them to return to school.

Media are invited to Sam Houston Math, Science & Technology Center for video of the walk and interviews with administrators and volunteers.

Who:   HISD Department of Dropout Prevention, principals and volunteers

When:  Saturday, Sept. 7 at 8:00 a.m.  

Where: Sam Houston MSTC, 9400 Irvington

Graduation Day Finally Arrives for 36-Year-Old Sharpstown HS Alumna

Graduation day may have come about 17 years later than she originally intended, but come it finally did for Samiya Savannah and more than 430 other HISD students on Sat., Aug. 17.

Each August, the Houston Independent School District hosts a summer graduation ceremony for students who have completed their coursework and passed any state testing requirements over the summer months, and this year, Savannah was among them.

The freshly minted Sharpstown High School alumna, who just turned 36, was originally slated to graduate in 1996 but did not complete the TAAS/TAKS exit-level requirements until this year.

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Photos: Behind-the-scenes of an HISD graduation

Graduating seniors put on their cap and gown while friends and family held back tears before their loved ones crossed the stage and received their diploma.

We went behind-the-scenes at Delmar Field House for a bit of the action before the ceremony for the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice commenced.

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HISD Superintendent Terry Grier to Address Class of 2013 at Commencement Ceremonies

Nearly 9,000 seniors to graduate at 41 HISD graduation ceremonies

Starting today nearly 9,000 seniors will graduate from HISD high schools at 41 commencement ceremonies across Houston.  On Saturday and Sunday HISD Superintendent Terry Grier will be addressing the seniors at the commencement ceremonies for Chavez, Washington and East Early College high schools.  Members of the HISD Board of Education will also be taking part in commencement ceremonies across the district.

“It is such an honor to see thousands of students walk across the stage, ready to embark on a new chapter in their lives,” Dr. Grier said.  “At HISD we work hard to ensure all students are college and career ready, so we feel confident that every senior from the Class of 2013 is on the right path to success.”

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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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HISD to Celebrate Class of 2013 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

President and CEO of Smart Financial Credit Union to be Keynote Speaker

The Houston Independent School District will be honoring the exceptional academic achievements of each high school’s top seniors at the annual Scholars Banquet today.  HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman will be addressing the Class of 2013 valedictorians and salutatorians along with the keynote speaker CEO and President of Smart Financial Credit Union Gary Tuma.  Since its inception 79 years ago, Smart Financial Credit Union has been a valued community partner of HISD offering scholarships for graduating seniors.

Click here to see photos and read the biographies of each valedictorian and salutatorian.

What:              HISD to recognize the Class of 2013 Valedictorians and Salutatorians

Who:               HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman, President and CEO of Smart Financial Credit Union Gary Tuma, HISD administrators, principals, teachers, staff, parents and the Class of 2013 HISD Valedictorians and Salutatorians

When:             Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m.

Where:            Westin Oaks Galleria, 5011 Westheimer, Houston

Grad Labs help students earn their diplomas

On Memorial Day weekend, when her family was gathered around the grill, Rebecca Babb was at work on the computer.

The Waltrip High School senior was determined to finish the only course standing between her and graduation.  “I told my mom, ‘I am going to try, I am going to see what I can do,’” Rebecca said.

Rebecca Babb, who graduated from Waltrip High School on Sunday, credits her school’s Grad Lab with helping her to receive her diploma with her class.

Rebecca knew the stakes: Pass the online math class and walk the stage or fail and report to summer school. She had already failed Algebra II twice.

Waltrip Graduation Coach Brett Rusnock, who works in the school’s Grad Lab, identified the online class as an option that would allow her to graduate with her class.

Her hard work and extra effort were rewarded on Sunday night as she walked the stage in her red cap and gown to receive her diploma.

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