Houston Endowment informed the Houston Independent School District this week that it will release a $3 million payment for the district’s Apollo school turnaround program in January.
The Foundation deferred the final payment on its three-year, $6 million grant to the HISD Foundation pending its review of the project’s third year report by Dr. Roland Fryer of Harvard University.
Meeting will focus on schedule, site needs and next steps for project
What: Community meeting to discuss the upcoming project to relocate and rebuild the High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice. The meeting will discuss the project schedule and site considerations, as well as the next steps for creating a 21st century facility.
Who: High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice Principal Carol Mosteit, HISD administrators and Project Advisory Team members
When: Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013; 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Auditorium at the High School for Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice, 4701 Dickson
Separate lists provided for boys’ and girls’ most desired gifts
Every year, HISD’s Longfellow Elementary students take it upon themselves to find the top gifts for children to help parents tackle their holiday shopping. Today, after more than a month of research, the fifth-grade students revealed this year’s top 10 most-wanted holiday gifts for boys and girls.
“My favorite part about the toy survey was working in teams,” said fifth-grader Dasani Godfrey. “We got together and came up with the different toys we thought students would want for the holidays.”
Lists to be released just in time for holiday shopping
What: For the fourth consecutive year, fifth-grade students at Longfellow Elementary School will host a press conference to release their top toys for children this holiday season based on the results of their surveys. For more than a month, the students worked in teams to survey classmates in the playgrounds, hallways, and cafeteria and then tallied up the results. Based on their own research, they have determined the most popular toys among young boys and girls that are also cost-effective for parents. In addition to the findings, the students will showcase samples of the top 10 toys for boys and girls, provided by Target.
Who: Longfellow fifth-grade students
When: Tuesday, November 26 at 10 a.m.
Where: Longfellow Elementary School, 3617 Norris
Nearly 20,000 meals to be served today
What: HISD elementary schools will be getting a head start to Thanksgiving celebrations today with a specially prepared lunch by HISD Food Services. Today’s menu includes homemade turkey and dressing with gravy, seasoned green beans, steamed corn and diced pears. Each year’s Thanksgiving lunch is a huge success with thousands of family members attending. Last year HISD served 15,000 meals, and today they are prepared to serve up to 20,000.
Reporters are invited to attend and cover the Thanksgiving luncheon beginning at 10:15 a.m. at Kennedy Elementary School.
Who: Elementary school students and parents
When: Thursday, November 21 at 10:15 a.m.
Where: Kennedy Elementary School, 400 Victoria
Burbank and Elrod elementary schools to keep magnet status for 2014-2015 academic yea
The Houston Independent School District is restoring the magnet designation at two elementary schools following a thorough review of the schools’ presentations and related documentation during the appeal process. Burbank and Elrod elementary schools will keep their magnet designation and funding for the 2014-2015 academic year.
“As we listened to the magnet program representatives who presented appeals, the committee was looking for clear evidence that these programs were on the path to meeting the magnet standards within one to two years,” HISD Assistant Superintendent of School Choice Dave Wheat said. “After a lot of deliberation, we’re pleased to announce that we are restoring the magnet designation at Elrod and Burbank elementary schools.”
School to be joined by students, parents and community members
What: Reagan High School will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday to celebrate its recent International Baccalaureate authorization with students, parents and community members. Reagan received official authorization to operate as IB campus in July along with Hogg Middle School, creating the first continuous IB feeder pattern in the historic Heights neighborhood. Founded in 1968, IB is a non-profit foundation that offers challenging educational programs for students aged 3 to 19 to help develop their intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.
Who: HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman, Reagan High School Principal Connie Berger, HISD Lead Principal James McSwain, students, parents and community members
When: Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013 at 6 p.m.
Where: Reagan High School, 413 East 13th Street
DeBakey HS art teacher Neda Khan poses with student Tam Ngo and her winning design.
This year the Houston Independent School District honored the artistic talent of its students by selecting three finalists’ artwork for the 2013 HISD Holiday Greeting Card. The winners were Adrian Pizarro from Park Place Elementary School, Amy Vaughan from Johnston Middle School and Tam Ngo from DeBakey High School for Health Professions.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year as we have the opportunity to recognize the amazing talent of our students,” HISD Chief of Business and Community Relations Dr. Michele Pola said. “We are very grateful for all the art teachers who support their students in their creativity.”
Artwork by more than 30 finalists considered
What: Each year HISD honors the artistic talent of its students by choosing one of their designs for the district’s holiday greeting card. This year more than 30 students from elementary, middle, and high schools were selected as finalists. District officials will reveal on Friday HISD’s 2013 holiday greeting card, selected by Superintendent Terry Grier. The winning student will be on hand for the unveiling and all the finalist holiday cards will be available for purchase.
Who: Winning student, HISD Board of Education Trustees and HISD Chief Business and Communications Officer Dr. Michele Pola
When: Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 at 11 a.m.
Where: HISD Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street
Options include magnet programs, Montessori, early colleges and Futures academies
The Houston Independent School District provides families with a vast portfolio of educational programs, and parents and students will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from many of them this weekend.
Representatives from more than 100 schools will be on hand during the HISD School Choice Open House on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northwest Mall, 9500 Hempstead Highway.
“Our goal is to ensure parents can select the right school to adequately meet their child’s unique needs and talents,” said HISD Assistant Superintendent for School Choice Dave Wheat. “We are committed to providing all students a high-quality education that prepares them to be college-ready, regardless of which program they choose.”
Representatives from HISD’s Magnet programs, Vanguard Magnet programs, Montessori, early colleges, Futures academies and charter schools will be ready to assist parents in making the best school choice for their children. Parents will also have the opportunity to learn more about the online option to submit their applications. Applications for Magnet programs will be accepted from Nov. 4 to Dec. 20, 2013, for guaranteed consideration in the first round.
“At this event, parents will find all the resources and assistance they need to explore their options for the next school year,” Wheat said. “The representatives will be there to assist them with every step of the application.”
HISD’s school choice options are available to all children, including those who live outside HISD.
For more information about the HISD School Choice Open House, contact the Office of School Choice at 713-556-6947.