Tag Archives: volunteers

Earth Day brings volunteers to HISD’s Mykawa Farm for day of service

Since its inception, Mykawa Farm has been the beating heart of the mission of HISD’s Nutrition Services Department. The headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Literacy Center (FALC), Mykawa Farm is a working educational farm where students gain not only foundational knowledge about agriculture and the environment, but have an opportunity to volunteer or work for pay, developing skills they will take with them into adulthood.

Nutrition Services welcomed more than 70 volunteers from local organizations The Mission Continues and CarMax to the farm on Saturday, April 27 (a make-up date after unexpected rains upended the original planned date, Earth Day). The volunteers set to work building arbors and trellises in the Mykawa Sensory Garden, a new fence to protect crops from scavenging animals, and new ADA-compliant picnic tables.

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HISD honors parent and community volunteers with special awards ceremony

The truth of the adage “It takes a village to raise a child” is made most obvious when we take time to recognize the hundreds of individuals who volunteer their time to help our public-school systems run. As the largest school district in Texas, HISD is no exception and boasts a cohort of dedicated parent and community volunteers.

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Wheatley HS hosts community fair for MLK Day of Service

MLK Day is not just a national holiday celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s a call to action and the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service. The Wheatley High School community answered that call with a resource fair, food distribution, and garden clean up.

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Hundreds of Deloitte Volunteers to Beautify Three HISD Campuses

Company’s IMPACT Day to benefit nearly 4,000 students

On Friday about 300 Deloitte employees will be volunteering their day to help beautify three HISD campuses as part of the company’s annual community service project. Nearly 4,000 students from Wharton Elementary, Hamilton Middle and Reagan High School will benefit from this project.

At each campus the volunteers will be helping to improve the look and functionality of the school grounds.  Beautification projects include placing gravel on sidewalks, painting benches and bike racks on campus, repairing basketball courts, gardening, office organization and much more.

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District Recognizes Top Volunteers at VIPS Breakfast and Awards Program

Every year, thousands of parents, businesses, and community partners support HISD students and teachers by donating their time, resources, and knowledge. On May 22, 2013, HISD held its annual Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) breakfast to celebrate and honor some of the district’s top volunteers.

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HISD to Recognize District’s Top Volunteers at VIPS Recognition and Awards Program

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier to deliver remarks

The Houston Independent School District is recognizing the efforts of thousands of volunteers and awarding the top volunteers of the year at the upcoming VIPS Recognition and Awards Program on May 22, 2013.

The Volunteers in Public Schools Program (VIPS) started in 1970 and to date, HISD has more than 30,000 volunteers district-wide who have dedicated countless hours to schools, programs and events across Houston.

During the VIPS Recognition and Awards Program, HISD will be giving numerous awards including the Jean Davis Meyer and Special Lifetime Achievement awards recognizing the most outstanding volunteers.

What:  VIPS Recognition and Awards Program

Who:  HISD Superintendent Terry Grier, HISD Board of Education President Anna Eastman, Trustees Rhonda Skillern Jones and Michael Lunceford and VIPS volunteers

When:  Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at 9a.m.

Where:  Kingdom Builder’s Center, 6011 West Orem, Houston, 77085

United Way of Greater Houston Partners with Bruce Elementary School

First-grade students at Bruce Elementary School are getting new help achieving their reading goals.   The United Way of Greater Houston is partnering with the school in a new literacy mentor program.

The program will pair a volunteer and a first-grade student together for the entire year.  During that time, the volunteers will read a book with the students and will later help them complete a literacy exercise. 

United Way President and CEO Anna Babin presented books to all of the first grade students along with a $5,000 check to principal Trealla Epps.  Both Babin and Epps said they believe the initiative will encourage the volunteers to develop positive relationships through mentoring and literacy.

Over 600 Volunteers Participate in HISD’s Grads Within Reach Walk

Hundreds of volunteers spent Saturday morning knocking on more than 1,300 doors across the city encouraging students who have not returned to school this academic year to re-enroll.   The outreach effort was part of the ninth annual Grads Within Reach Walk, which led to 45 HISD students deciding to return to school immediately and many more promising to give school another try.

HISD Superintendent Terry Grier kicked off the walk at Austin High School by motivating dozens of volunteers and administrators.  “We know the factors that drive these students to make the difficult decision of dropping out of school vary,” Dr. Grier said. “That’s why we’re here today — to let them know about the programs HISD offers to help them graduate.  But more importantly we want them to know HISD cares about them and wants to help them get back in school.”

Dr. Grier later led the volunteers as they knocked on the homes of various students at Austin High School.  HISD Board of Education Trustee Juliet Stipeche and Austin High School Principal Jorge Arredondo were among those volunteers encouraging students to re-enroll.

“I’m excited we have the opportunity to reach out to these students to help them get their diploma,” Stipeche said.  “We want them to know HISD is going to do whatever it can to help them succeed.”  Principal Arredondo said he is invested in this effort, and it’s his privilege to be involved with the Grads Within Reach Walk.  “We know this community. We are from this community, and we deeply understand its challenges,” he said.  “We also realize as adults who work with the youth of Houston, we are very often these students’ last best chance.”

Among their successful visits was Imelda, 18, who only needs credit for one course to graduate and says she is now going to re-enroll.  “My dad has been encouraging me to finish high school,” said Imelda. “I do want to complete my course work so I can get my diploma, especially since I’m only one credit shy of graduation.”

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