Winter Fest/Sound Investment
As part of its fine Arts Initiative to increase the presence of the arts in the district’s schools and curriculum, HISD created Winter Fest, a day-long fundraising effort to enhance fine-arts programs in district schools and support the Sound Investment program to purchase musical instruments for students who want to take part in their schools’ band or orchestra programs but cannot afford to buy the instruments on their own.
DonorsChoose
HISD schools have received thousands of dollars through the Web-based DonorsChoose program, which invites teachers to submit proposals describing their need or idea for a class project, what they hope to accomplish with it (better learning skills, mastery of specific math concepts, etc.), and the cost. Contributors select the proposals they wish to fund and make a donation.
NASA/Space Center Houston's Engineering/Physics Initiative—BP Challenge
Through this initiative, hundreds of math and science students visit Space Center Houston for scientific demonstrations, conduct interactive experiments, and even launch and track their own rockets.
Prepared 4 Life
HISD used an $850,000 in-kind donation for after-school programs from the nonprofit Prepared 4 Life organization to help students at six HISD middle schools to become better equipped for success in school and throughout their lives. Based on the 40 Developmental Assets, a list of qualities found to be shared by successful students, the program provides after-school activities such as rock-climbing, tennis, cooking, theatre, and martial arts.
Houston Chronicle Journalism Class
In the “Chronicle Classroom” program, HISD high-school seniors get hands-on, on-site experience working in a big-city newspaper and having their articles published.
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Washington Mutual Principal Leadership Academy
This year-long program for second-year principals includes presentations by education experts, networking with peers, responding to case studies, creating portfolios, and the opportunity to participate in the New Administrators Academy at Harvard University.
School-Based Health Clinics
Sponsored through Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, Harris County Hospital District, Baylor College of Medicine/Ben Taub Hospital, HISD’s school-based clinic program makes health-related services more accessible to students. With 23 fixed or mobile sites, the clinics help keep students in school where they can obtain an education and develop to their highest potential physically, emotionally, and intellectually.
Full-Service Community School at Kashmere High School—Chevron
This initiative was developed to increase daily attendance and increase the graduation rate at Kashmere High School.
Learning Through Art—Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Learning Through Art program for non-art elementary-school teachers provides curriculum kits and workshops to help them integrate art into their instruction.
Construction Trades Programs
HISD developed the Construction, Art, Science, and Technology Academy at Ebbert Furr High School and a construction-technology program at Robert E. Lee High School with, respectively, Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors.
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