Tag Archives: Worthing HS

Worthing High School celebrates long-awaited classroom wing

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Worthing High School supporters gathered Thursday to celebrate the grand opening of a long-awaited classroom wing, which supporters said will serve as a source of pride, excitement, and hope for both students and the surrounding Sunnyside community.

“We are Worthing!” Houston Independent School District Board of Education Trustee Wanda Adams said as she kicked off the Grand Opening celebration. “If you are happy to get to this day, let me hear you get excited! This is a celebration. Let’s get excited for Worthing High School!”

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Two HISD high schools to host grand openings this week to celebrate new buildings

Two HISD high schools will host grand opening celebrations this week to mark the completion of construction projects on their campuses.

Worthing High School will host a grand opening, campus tour and custom mural dedication on Thursday to celebrate the completion of its new classroom wing, the construction of which is the first phase of plans to rebuild the comprehensive high school.

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New Worthing High School to feature custom mural focused on importance of education

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In a community rich with history, Sunnyside has another reason to be proud — a new addition to Worthing High School, which will open its doors to students and neighbors with an open house and dedication ceremony on Aug. 18.

Though the new building embodies 21st century design, it honors the history of Sunnyside with a mural painted in the tradition of African American folk art that will be unveiled in the school’s learning commons.

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New Worthing High School addition nears completion

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Worthing High School’s new classroom wing is in the final stages of completion and will open to students for the start of the upcoming school year.

Recently, Worthing Principal Duane Clark led a group of district and community representatives through the new two-story building for a first-hand look at the new facility, which is Phase 1 of a three-phase construction plan.

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Notable African-American communications professionals got their start in HISD

Editor’s Note: Black History Month runs from Monday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 29, this year, and HISD is celebrating with a series of weekly stories recognizing distinguished African Americans who graduated from HISD high schools. This article focuses on alumni who went on to have successful careers in radio, television, and film. Previous articles highlight athletes, artists, and politicians.

HISD has produced a number of notable African-American graduates who have established successful careers in radio, television, and film. Before making their names in the industry, though, they got their start in district communications programs.

Kim Gagné

Kim Gagné

Television producer and Yates High School graduate Kim Gagné (1982) is a two-time Daytime Emmy award winner who won for her work as a supervising producer for the Steve Harvey show. She also won a regional Emmy for her time with Houston’s KHOU-TV. Gagné got her start as a student in the Yates School of Communications. In her “I Am HISD” profile, she discusses the skills she learned while at Yates.

“While I was in the Yates magnet program, I realized that what I wanted to do with my life was possible,” said Gagné. “I thought, ‘This is not crazy. I can achieve this.’ The magnet school was in its infancy, and the teachers were so dedicated. We learned about TV, radio, film, and photography. It was pretty amazing. I had the best experience and made lifelong friends.”

Roland Martin, who also graduated from Yates (1987), is best known as a nationally syndicated columnist, a TV One cable-network commentator, and host of “News One Now,” a one-hour weekday news show. He is also a former CNN analyst and was named by Ebony magazine as one of the 150 most influential African Americans in the U.S. in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

During a visit with Yates students, Martin remembers that it all began in high school. “The foundation of what I do, everything related to communications, actually began at HISD and Yates,” he said. “That has been my passion since I was 14 years old, and I certainly want the school to continue with its strong and vibrant communications program.”

Other distinguished African Americans in radio, television, and film who graduated from HISD schools include Ralph Cooper (Worthing HS, 1966, radio), Rosalind Jordan (Jones HS, 1984, journalist), and Sherri Williams (Lamar HS, 1990, journalist).

Join the conversation! Do you know other distinguished alumni who graduated from HISD schools? If so, tell us about them on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag #HISDBlackHistory.

Bond construction becoming highly visible throughout district

School construction is progressing at a record pace in HISD, and if you’ve spent any time driving in district neighborhoods recently, you have probably spotted one or more of our schools under construction.

With fifteen projects currently in the construction phase, that’s more active construction than at any other time in the district’s history. Many of these projects are well into vertical construction, and visible progress can be seen almost daily.

Check out these latest photos taken the second week of February.

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As the district moves forward with implementation of the $1.89 billion bond program, which was approved by Houston voters in 2012, the bond team expects to have signed construction contracts on an additional six schools by the end of the first quarter of 2016, and nearly all the remaining projects will be bid by the end of 2016.

Phase 1 of the Worthing project will be complete by summer. Schools on track to open in time for the start of the 2016-2017 school year include Condit Elementary, Mark White Elementary, North Houston Early College High School, South Early College High School, Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School, and (non-bond) North Forest Early Childhood Center.

The bond program, which will rebuild or renovate 40 schools, including 29 high schools, also includes improvements to district-wide athletics facilities, middle school restroom renovations and significant technology upgrades. HISD is also building some non-bond funded schools: North Forest High School, North Forest Early Childhood Center and the Energy Institute High School.

More information on HISD Building Programs

 

 

Phase 1 of Worthing HS bond project nearing completion

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Worthing High School will receive a new facility that will incorporate the new Phase 1 two-story classroom wing for a campus accommodating 1,100 to 1,300 students.

The wing will be completed this spring, followed by the demolition of the old facility, and construction of the Phase 2 portion. The $30 million project will feature four flexible learning centers, three CTE classrooms, and new spaces for administration, student guidance, athletics, and dining. Design plans also include abundant natural light throughout and outdoor courtyards, which can be used as learning spaces.

Phase 2 construction will commence after abatement and demolition is complete in the first quarter of 2017. Students will remain on campus, in the new Phase 1 wing during construction.

Photo gallery of HISD building projects

Worthing HS students give back this season through service project

Worthing High School’s Linked Learning students gave back this holiday season in both a meaningful and educational way during their annual Serving Sunnyside community project event — a two-day event that includes collecting food items, a hot meal food drive, and educational resources aimed to create a healthier and safe neighborhood.

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For the first part of the community project, students and staff partnered up with the Houston Food Bank and Urban League to host a food drive on Nov. 20. The following day, food and monetary donations collected were used to make hot meals to serve to residents living throughout the Sunnyside neighborhood.

Worthing students also conducted research and were able to identify problems within the community. As a result, students chose topics on improving health and safety within the Sunnyside community and provided information to over 300 attendees at the event.

In addition, the project also served as the Linked Learning semester project and used a service learning rubric, which is a method that combines academic instruction, meaningful service, and critical reflective thinking to enhance student learning and civic responsibility. Linked Learning students are taught through work activities and choose a career subject of study based on their interests and abilities. Also referred to as a pathway, the career subject will guide future work-based learning opportunities.

Duane Clark named principal of Worthing High School

Duane Clark poses for a photograph, September 2, 2015. (Houston ISD/Dave Einsel)Duane Clark has been named the new principal of Worthing High School. He began his career in 2001 as a Teach For America Corp member, teaching physics, AP physics and AP statistics in the Jones High School Vanguard program, and has 14 years of experience in education with HISD. Clark has served as teacher, athletic coach, graduation coach, assistant principal, and dean of instruction. Most recently, he served as the dean of instruction at Davis High School.

Clark is originally from Baton Rouge, LA. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from Dillard University in New Orleans, and later obtained a master’s in educational leadership from the University of Houston.