Tag Archives: Walnut Bend ES

Veteran crossing guard creates community connections while keeping students safe

Crossing Guard Charlethia Vaughn is nearly a permanent fixture at the corner of Walnut Bend Lane and Briar Forest Drive during the school year.  

Every morning and afternoon, she is there to help Walnut Bend Elementary School students and their parents cross the busy street — even when the Texas heat is nearly unbearable, when the skies are pouring rain, or when it’s so cold, her fingers get numb. 

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” she said. “This community has really embraced me.”  

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Barbara and Neil Bush visit Walnut Bend ES to kick off ‘National Read Aloud Month’

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March is National Read Aloud Month, and Barbara Bush and her son Neil were at Walnut Bend Elementary School on March 2, 2016, to bring attention to the annual observance. The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation has joined forces with HISD and 14 other Houston literacy organizations to increase awareness of the importance of reading to children so that they can learn, grow, and succeed.

“It’s so great to see people coming together around literacy,” said Neil Bush. “We shamelessly use my mother to draw attention to the importance of literacy.”

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Gridiron legends kick off National Literacy Month for Bush Foundation

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Former Houston Oiler quarterback Dan Pastorini was accustomed to passing a football on the field. Now, he passes on knowledge and a love of reading by volunteering to read to a child. Pastorini and gridiron legend Charles Alexander joined The Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation, Lone Star Sports and Entertainment, and Phillips 66 at Walnut Bend Elementary School on Aug. 31 to help kick-off National Literacy Month.

Every September, this national literacy initiative aims to raise awareness of the nation’s literacy crisis. Studies show that children who do not read proficiently by the end of third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers. That’s why volunteers are so vital to helping kids comprehend the power of being able to read. Continue reading →

Walnut Bend students learn the love of reading from community volunteers

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Neil Bush with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation reads to a class at Walnut Bend ES

Neil Bush with the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation reads to a class at Walnut Bend ES

Pre-K and first-graders at Walnut Bend Elementary celebrated the love of reading Monday with the help of volunteers from Phillips 66 and the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. The day marked the birthday of Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, and was National Read Across America Day.

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HISD school board to consider plan to reduce classroom overcrowding

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The Houston Independent School District is working to readjust attendance boundaries at almost two dozen schools in an effort to reduce classroom overcrowding.

The move is in response to a directive from the Texas Education Agency, which requires kindergarten through fourth-grade classes to have no more than 22 students per classroom. Classes that exceed that number must request a state waiver.

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Parents, students explore variety of educational options at School Choice night

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Middle school parents learned about more than 40 high school programs their children can choose from at a Parent Information Night organized by the district’s Office of School Choice on Thursday at Burbank Middle School.

“It’s good to see that our students have so many opportunities at HISD,” said Rubin and Laura Precella, who attended the program with their daughter and nephew, both eighth-graders at The Rice School. “We just want to learn more about the different programs so that we can choose one that will help our children make their mark on the world.” Continue reading →

7 HISD Odyssey of the Mind teams earn trip to world finals

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Seven Houston ISD Odyssey of the Mind teams advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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Odyssey of the Mind teams from 6 schools earn trip to world finals

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Six Houston ISD schools have Odyssey of the Mind teams that advanced to the world finals after the state competition on Saturday.

Odyssey of the Mind teaches students how to solve problems creatively as a group with up to seven members.

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HISD celebrates highly effective teachers with breakfast, district recognition

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A group of 27 highly effective teachers from campuses across HISD gathered at district headquarters Wednesday morning for a celebratory breakfast, a photo shoot, and tributes from district leadership.

“We know that nothing is more important than providing our students with great teachers,” said Dr. Rodney Watson, chief human resources officer. “And I can also tell you that teaching is the most difficult job I’ve ever had. I wish we could have brought all of our district’s top teachers together today, because they all deserve to be recognized for their tremendous work.”

HISD Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones agreed. “I have such deep respect for the hard work our teachers do every day. The hard and heavy lifting in our district truly takes place in the classrooms.”

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Community Partnerships Contributing to Walnut Bend ES’s Success

Chronicle article shows how caring organizations are making a difference in students’ lives

A student in Spanish language class at Walnut Bend Elementary school.

Students at HISD’s Walnut Bend Elementary School are benefitting from community partners in a big way this year.

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