Tag Archives: Westside HS

Madison HS Teacher Named KBR Science Teacher of the Year

Madison High School’s Vladimir Gonzalez Lopez (right) was named the 2014 KBR Science Teacher of the Year. With him is last year’s second place winner, Samuel Saenz.

Vladimir G. Lopez, a physics teacher at Madison High School, isn’t interested in spoon-feeding his students their lessons.

“Science is a process,” he said, “And you can’t expect anybody to give you the answers. Students have to do the experiments and try new things, because that’s what they’re going to need when they’re doing real science.”

It’s precisely that commitment to cultivating students’ own investigative skills that has made Lopez the first-place winner in KBR’s fifth annual science awards program. The contest was created in 2009 to recognize new and effective models of instruction that emphasize the scientific method and critical thinking skills.

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Westside High School culinary students deliver award-winning meal at inaugural competition

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Competition was stiff on Saturday, but the culinary team from Westside High School took home the trophy at the inaugural Cooking Up Change Competition to showcase tasty and nutritious school food.

“I have a deeper respect and knowledge for all that our cafeteria workers do to prepare food for all of the students in HISD,” said Westside’s Barrosha Boykin as she and her team accepted their trophies and prizes at the ARAMARK-sponsored contest, held at Rice University.

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Buy fresh veggies, support HISD students at Whole Kids Farmers Market

You can stock your kitchen with fresh veggies and help students from nine Houston ISD schools learn how to grow produce and sell it by shopping at the Whole Kids Farmers Market at Whole Foods’ Montrose store, 701 Waugh Dr. (at West Dallas), from 10 a.m. -1 p.m. on Saturday, March 29.

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Futures Academy week gives students unique field experiences

During Futures Academy week, students from seven HISD high schools took an inside look at the industries they hope to enter one day. Students who have been taking courses in Logistics & Global Supply, Engineering Technology, Process Technology, and Health Science saw how those studies can be valuable in the work place this week, giving depth and relevance to their rigorous education.

Kashmere High School students from the Process Technology program visited employees at Shell Deer Park who provided an in-depth look at oil refining and chemical manufacturing. Students heard from experts in the industry with decades of experience and valuable advice.

“You have a chance to do something special with your futures in the Futures Academy,” said Shell Learning Advisor David Sparks. “As you continue to grow and enter the field, you will continue to use teamwork more and more.”

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HISD students, staff join national school choice celebration at Union Station

Clifton MS sixth-grader Victoria Lopez and her mom got to know HISD School Support Officer Lupita Hinojosa, left, at Saturday’s National School Choice Week kick-off event.

HISD students and staff were among the thousands who attended the National School Choice Week kick-off at Houston’s Union Station Saturday, Jan. 25. The celebration brought together Democrats and Republicans, home-schoolers, public school districts, charters, and even a few virtual learners around a common cause: school choice.

Superintendent Terry Grier, introduced by KIPP Co-founder Mike Feinberg, pointed out to a sea of yellow scarves and signs advocating school choice. Nearly 70,000 students in HISD are exercising their right to choose the school that meets their unique needs. Contingents from Elrod,Garden Oaks, Parker, Poe Red, and Roberts elementary schools; Clifton, Fleming, Johnston and Revere middle schools; and Chavez, Challenge Early College and South Early College high schools were there.

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More students headed to college this fall as members of 2014 ‘Posse’

Last year, almost two dozen HISD students became members of the city’s inaugural group of “Posse Scholars,” after a national non-profit called The Posse Foundation expanded its programming to Houston.

That organization will be sending its second group of students off to higher education this fall—and the majority (70 percent)—come from HISD.

The Houston branch of the Posse Foundation announced the 61 members of its Class of 2014 at a special celebration held on Jan. 6, and 43 of those students will be graduating from 18 HISD high schools this spring.

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Top hoopsters hit the courts in 74th annual HISD tourney

Thirty-one of the Houston area’s best prep teams will begin three days of action Thursday in the 74th annual HISD Boys Basketball Tournament at nine district locations – and they’ll combine play with holiday giving.

Fans bringing two nonperishable food items and one unwrapped toy will gain free admission, with no re-entry permitted. The toys will go to the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Drive, and the food will benefit the Houston Food Bank. Collection points will be located at each site for those who want to contribute additional items.

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22 acceptances — including 3 at Yale — for HISD EMERGE seniors

To familiarize them with life on the campus of a select school, HISD’s EMERGE program took a group of rising seniors on a tour of northeast campuses over the summer. Here, they’re at Harvard University.

The acceptance letters for select colleges and universities are rolling in for HISD seniors working with the district’s EMERGE program – 22 letters so far, as of Dec. 18. On Dec. 16 alone, three HISD seniors were notified they had been accepted to Yale University.

All students are either receiving full rides or are having 100 percent of their financial need met by the school accepting them, according to Rick Cruz, assistant superintendent of college readiness and co-founder of EMERGE.

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HISD wins $30 million in federal Race to the Top funds to link students to careers, college from earliest age

The Houston Independent School District learned Tuesday that it has won nearly $30 million in federal Race to the Top funding, the only urban school system to be named a winner in this round of district competition.

The announcement was made at noon, Houston time, by Education Secretary Arne Duncan at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C.

“This funding is an acknowledgment of the work we’ve done, as a giant urban district, to personalize learning to each student – and a belief by the Department of Education in the work we intend to do,” said Superintendent Terry Grier.

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Wheatley Takes HISD Tournament Crown

After three days of play last week, Wheatley’s varsity dominated a field of 29 teams to win the 30th Annual HISD Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament.

Wheatley High School’s squad was crowned champion in the 30th Annual HISD Varsity Girls Basketball Tournament, and Wheatley’s Arie Taylor was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

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