Heights HS: Holiday Decoration Drive

Our School Update

Travis Elementary

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Hogg Middle School

• Sixteen National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) and Student Council members from Hogg Middle School volunteered to make luminarias last month's Lights in the Heights festivities. They spent an hour-and-a-half filling bags with sand and a candle, enough to fill two trailer loads full. Thank you, Razorbacks, for helping to light up the route.
• The Hogg Library is undergoing a transformation. In its goal to become a library of the 21st century, they are building a Literacy Library for Language Art teachers and students. Students in middle school read at varying levels and Hogg is differentiating instruction to meet the needs of these students. Students take a test in the Myon program to determine their Lexile level. With this knowledge, students and teachers then select books that expand their vocabulary. Myon tracks students’ reading and growth by providing access to over 4,000 digital books. To compliment this digital library, the HISD Secondary Curriculum and Development Literacy Team helped Hogg process has over 2,000 books for its Literacy Library. Ten volunteers have logged in over 80 hours to label, barcode, cover, sort and shelve these books. A huge thank you to our HISD Secondary Curriculum and Development Literacy Team for showing Hogg spirit by wearing red on our big volunteer day.
• Hogg art students are busy creating Hollywood/Academy Award themed props for the WHCA Home Tour Preview Event held April 15th. Tickets now on sale.

Reagan High School

• The Reagan journalism class put together a very informative video about John H. Reagan and the current effort to rename the school because of Reagan's history as a Confederate.

What's Happening @ Reagan High School

The Reagan production of the Science Fiction musical Little Shop of Horrors premieres November 12th and runs for two nights at 7pm. Theatre at arts teacher Nina Garcia, alongside Mr. Miller and the students that form the production’s cast and crew are working hard to create a dazzling live performance.

The musical is based on the hit film about a bloodthirsty plant and its part in the change of fortunes for a struggling flower shop. The musical is open to the public and the Heights neighborhood is encouraged to attend. Tickets are $10, or $7 when you use the code word ‘Family’ at the door. The musical features mild, comic violence, but no vulgar language.

Cast members explained their reasoning behind joining the Reagan production and what they had hoped to accomplish through it. “I experienced Little Shop of Horrors when I was younger,” said Tyler Leftwich, who plays sadistic dentist Orin Schrovello in the musical. “My connection to acting is why I joined.”

Donald Peacock, in the role of monster plant Audrey II, auditioned to turn his private hobby into a performance skill. “I always had a passion for singing,” said Donald. “I wanted to be a part of Reagan’s musicals to share that passion through art.” Before participating in Reagan musicals, Donald never knew what to say when people asked him about his talents. He now has an answer.
“I love being able to entertain people through acting and singing,” said Jacob De Hoyos. Jacob, as well as other cast members, are excited to perform the musical in front of an audience. “The moment when the crowd roars with applause is what makes it all worth it.”

What's Happening @ Hogg Middle School

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What's Happening @ Travis Elementary

From Travis Elementary Principal Tom Day:

If you are out and about and see a Travis Tiger showing “grit” – perseverance and determination to keep going, even if at first you do not succeed – make sure to point it out. Displaying grit in the face of difficulty is one of several positive character traits that are being discussed in classrooms at Travis Elementary this year as part of the school’s new character education program, “Tiger Traits.”

On early dismissal days, students and teachers will engage in lessons, activities, and discussion designed to foster a growth mindset and self-esteem while creating opportunities to develop social skills and more bonds among blended peer groups.

“Tiger Traits” combines existing campus practices and programs with new character building lessons and activities to form an aligned school initiative. It creates opportunity for students to build bonds with more of their peers while engaging in thoughtful dialogue about character traits and making connections to behavior and choices.

Happening at Reagan HS

The German Club at Reagan High School will host the first ever Oktoberfest at the school on October 7th from 4pm to 6pm.

The event will provide food (Bratwürste und Crepes), drinks, entertainment and games for children and adults. Profits from the event will be donated to organizations helping refugees in the town of Leipzig.

If you're interested in sponsoring their efforts or purchasing tickets in advance ($8 adult, $5 kids) please contact the president of the German Club, Cynthia Torres, for information.

Vielen Dank!