Tag Archives: Houston ISD

HISD’s Longfellow Elementary Students to Announce this Year’s Top 10 Toys for Boys and Girls

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

HISD Elementary Schools Kicking Off Thanksgiving with a Special Lunch

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

Appeals Granted: Two HISD Schools to Keep Magnet Status

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.”

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Reagan High School to Host International Baccalaureate World School Induction Ceremony

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

Three Students’ Artwork Selected for HISD’s 2013 Holiday Greeting Card

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.”

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Student’s Artwork to be Selected as HISD’s 2013 Holiday Greeting Card

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

Open House to Showcase HISD’s Portfolio of School Choices

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.

School Choice Fairs Scheduled Across Houston

The Houston Independent School District is hosting several school choice fairs across the district to inform parents of the different educational choices available to their children as they transition into middle and high school.

“HISD offers excellent opportunities to meet your child’s needs, challenge their thinking, and develop their skills,” said Dave Wheat, HISD assistant superintendent for school choice.  “But most importantly, we prepare them for success in college and their careers.”

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HISD to Celebrate Being Named America’s Top Urban School District

HISD Board of Education, HISD Superintendent, administrators, teachers and students to partake in the district’s celebration

What:             Hundreds of school administrators, teachers and students will join the HISD

Board of Education and Superintendent Terry Grier as the district celebrates winning the Broad Prize for Urban Education. The prestigious award recognizes the public school system that has demonstrated the greatest overall performance and improvement in student achievement while reducing achievement gaps among poor and minority students. The award also provides the HISD class of 2014 with $550,000 in college scholarships. HISD won the first Broad Prize awarded in 2002 and was also a finalist in 2012.

The celebration at the district’s headquarters will feature school marching bands, cheerleaders, community members and HISD’s #GreatAllOver school bus, among other festivities.

For more information about The Broad Prize, including video and photos, please visit www.houstonisd.org/broadprize.

Who:               HISD Board of Education trustees, HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, administrators, teachers, students and community members

When:             Monday, Sept. 30 at 4 p.m.  

Where:           Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center, 4400 W. 18th Street

Eight HISD Students Named National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalists

Eight seniors from seven high schools throughout the Houston Independent School District have qualified as semifinalists in the prestigious National Achievement Scholarship Program.

The National Achievement Scholarship Program is a privately funded academic competition created in 1964 to recognize and provide scholarships to academically promising African-American students across the country. It is conducted by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and works in concert with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

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