HISD unveiled its first library upgrade in partnership with PNC, the Houston Dynamo, and Houston Dash in a ribbon cutting ceremony at Bellfort Early Childhood Center on Dec. 13.
Continue readingTag Archives: library
Funding the Future: A message from the President and CEO of Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation
As part of HISD’s effort to inform the community about important financial decisions being made ahead of the Board of Education’s budget vote in June, the spotlight has been put on librarians and their significant impact on students.
Dr. Julie Baker Finck, President and CEO of Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, has shared an editorial providing insight into the benefits of improving library access in HISD under the proposed budget.
Continue readingNew principal plus new librarian equals new library for Hogg MS students
When Angela Sugarek took the helm at Hogg Middle School in the summer of 2015, one of her priorities was to continue the work of her predecessor. Her goal: to have a fully functioning library, complete with its own certified librarian.
That dream became a reality recently, when the campus celebrated the complete renovation of its library with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 21. The library at Hogg is now state-of-the-art, with warm wood accents, rolling shelves filled with tempting and informative titles, and a presentation area that invites students and teachers to linger while they learn.
Brookline ES kicks off $100,000 capital campaign to renovate library
A student reads at Brookline Elementary School’s Literacy Night on Oct. 7.
Brookline Elementary School is on a quest to upgrade its campus library, and the “Books for Bobcats” kickoff it held on Oct. 26 has already received a boost from an anonymous donor, who promised to match up to $50,000 — or half of the campaign’s stated $100,000 goal.
“This person is a college friend of one of the faculty who has been very successful in the corporate world,” said Brookline teacher and capital campaign director Theodore Wills. “He has been a generous benefactor to public libraries and many other causes.”
Wills noted that Brookline devotes its resources to improving student achievement in math and reading each school year. This year, campus leaders determined that updating the library collection was critical to preparing students to be successful global graduates, so Brookline is devoting its entire library budget to the purchase of new STEM-focused (science, technology, engineering, and math) books. Continue reading
White ES Latest to Benefit from Partnership with Target, Heart of America
Students at HISD’s White Elementary School got food for thought and a head start on creating home libraries on Oct. 18, thanks to Target, its nonprofit partner—the Heart of America Foundation, and the Houston Food Bank.
White was one of 25 campuses from across the nation to be selected for a complete facelift through Target’s School Library Makeovers program, which has transformed hundreds of facilities since its inception in 2007.
The renovated library features 2,000 new books, furniture, rugs, and paint, as well as upgraded technology that included new iPads and desktop computers.
Millionaire Club Spotlight: What Are You Reading This Summer?
HISD’s Millionaire Club is a literacy initiative designed to encourage students to read for pleasure during the summer months. Each week, we’ll catch up with one HISD librarian to find out what’s on his or her reading list. This week, we spoke with Pat Johnson, a librarian at Stevenson Middle School.
So, what are you reading right now?
I’m reading all the books from the “Name That Book” contest to get clues.
Club encourages students to read over summer break
Herrera ES students choose books to read this summer
Most Houston Independent School District students will be spending their summer vacation having fun and doing things to get ready for the upcoming school year, including reading a few good books.
Students in all grades are participating in the Millionaire Club, a summer reading program that the district developed five years ago.