More records have been broken at Heights High School since my last email.  As of yesterday, 97% of the class of 2025 has met the criteria of College, Career, or Military Ready as defined by TEA.  This means they have scored well on either AP or IB exams; qualified for 3 hours of college credit in ELA or Math or 9 hours combined in other subjects; met minimum SAT, ACT, or TSIA requirements in ELA/Math; received a minimum of 2 course credits and received an industry based certification in their career pathway; or complete both Texas College Bridge Courses in ELA and Math. 

This is up from 88% for the class of 2024 and 71% from the class of 2023.  It has been a combined effort and I am super proud of our students, teachers, and the campus leaders that contributed to the class of 2025 success! 

Also, did you know that HHS has a girls’ Flag Football Team?  Did you know that they won the first ever HISD District Championship playing at NRG stadium a couple of weeks ago?  Our very own Coach Idlebird is the Houston Texans’ Flag Football Coach of the year for the state of Texas.  Congratulations to the girls and Coach Idlebird on an incredibly successful inaugural season!...

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Dear Bulldog Families, Staff, and Community Supporters,

As the school year comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to highlight some of the many ways the PTO has supported the students and staff of Heights High School this year.

I’ll start with our Fundraising Team, because without them we wouldn’t be able to fund the initiatives we do.  

• Our Auction Team put on an incredible Bulldog Bash/Fiesta AND netted a record amount of money - $57,300!  This is an $18,000 increase from last year.
• Our PTO Store managed over 1,250 volunteer hours selling snacks during lunch.  We are extremely grateful for everyone, including neighbors and grandparents, who spent a few hours of their day volunteering as this is our primary fundraising activity each year.

Next up is our Community Team.  Our volunteers spend countless hours making sure we keep you as up to date as possible.  Our Community Team also leads our Membership Drive.  Membership for 2025-2026 will open in July.  Becoming a Member is an easy way to support the PTO and our work.

Our Education Team takes on the work to make sure we spend, in the best ways possible, the money you’ve entrusted us with.  This year we:

• awarded 15-$1,000 scholarships to deserving Seniors
• hosted a Valentine’s Day party for Skills for Life and Learning students
• fulfilled $20,000 in classroom and activity grants that have a direct impact on promoting student success
• reimbursed staff for $3,200 in classroom supplies
• hosted numerous staff appreciation events, including our ever popular Thanksgiving and Holiday giveaways

And of course your Class Reps are out there every waiver day selling items to raise funds for their classes’ senior breakfast.  It’s a huge effort that isn’t always appreciated.  Make sure to hug your Class Rep the next time you see them.

Have you noticed the outside of the campus looking a little more beautiful this year?  Our brand new Beautification Team has done an incredible job helping to keep the grounds and parking lot trash free, as well as many other efforts to keep the school looking inviting as the main building enters its 100th year.

This year we funded a new initiative, Principal Priorities, to give Ms Hampton the flexibility to purchase items that were otherwise difficult to buy through her school budget.  We paid for the Remind license, a staff Holiday party, lots of coffee, fans to help keep classrooms cool, and much more!

The list of all the ways we support the school is too long to include but if there was an event or activity going on, the PTO likely played a part in making it happen.  

Finally, as I end my term as PTO President, I am so thrilled to be able to hand the reins over to LaTrice Ferguson.  LaTrice has a wealth of experience in all things PTO (this will be her 3rd time as a President!) and I know that she will keep the needs of ALL the students at Heights as her guiding star.  She is going to do a fantastic job as your next President. 

In gratitude,

Tracy Lisewsky, PTO President

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Estimadas familias, personal y colaboradores de la comunidad de Heights:

Al finalizar el año escolar, quiero aprovechar esta oportunidad para destacar algunas de las muchas maneras en que la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTO) ha apoyado a los estudiantes y al personal de la Escuela Secundaria Heights este año.

Comenzaré con nuestro Equipo de Recaudación de Fondos, ya que sin ellos no podríamos financiar las iniciativas que llevamos a cabo.

• Nuestro Equipo de Subastas organizó una increíble Fiesta Bulldog y recaudó una cantidad récord de dinero: ¡$57,300! Esto representa un aumento de $18,000 con respecto al año pasado.
• Nuestra Tienda de la PTO logró más de 1,250 horas de voluntariado vendiendo bocados durante el almuerzo. Estamos sumamente agradecidos con todos, incluyendo vecinos y abuelos, que dedicaron algunas horas de su día al voluntariado, ya que esta es nuestra principal actividad de recaudación de fondos cada año.

A continuación, nuestro Equipo Comunitario. Nuestros voluntarios dedican incontables horas a mantenerlos al día. Nuestro Equipo Comunitario también lidera nuestra Campaña de Membresía. El periodo de membresía para el año 2025-2026 se abrirá en julio. Hacerse miembro es una manera fácil de apoyar a la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTO) y nuestra labor.

Nuestro Equipo de Educación se encarga de asegurarnos de invertir de la mejor manera posible el dinero que nos han confiado. Este año:

• Otorgamos 15 becas de $1,000 a estudiantes de último año que lo merecían.
• Organizamos una fiesta de San Valentín para los estudiantes de Habilidades para la Vida y el Aprendizaje.
• Otorgamos $20,000 en subvenciones para aulas y actividades que tienen un impacto directo en el éxito estudiantil.
• Reembolsamos $3,200 al personal en útiles escolares.
• Organizamos numerosos eventos de reconocimiento al personal, incluyendo nuestros populares sorteos de Acción de Gracias y días festivos.

Y, por supuesto, sus representantes de clase están ahí todos los días de exenciones vendiendo artículos para recaudar fondos para el desayuno de fin de curso de sus clases. Es un esfuerzo enorme que no siempre se agradece. Asegúrense de abrazar a su representante de clase la próxima vez que lo vean.

¿Han notado que el exterior del campus luce un poco más bonito este año? Nuestro nuevo Equipo de Embellecimiento ha hecho un trabajo increíble manteniendo los terrenos y el estacionamiento limpios, además de otras iniciativas para que la escuela luzca acogedora ahora que el edificio principal cumple 100 años.

Este año financiamos una nueva iniciativa, Prioridades del Director, para darle a la Sra. Hampton la flexibilidad de comprar artículos que de otra manera serían difíciles de conseguir con el presupuesto de su escuela. Pagamos la licencia de Remind, una fiesta navideña para el personal, mucho café, ventiladores para mantener las aulas frescas y mucho más.

La lista de todas las maneras en que apoyamos a la escuela es demasiado larga para incluirla, pero si hubo algún evento o actividad en marcha, la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (PTO) probablemente contribuyó a que se llevara a cabo.

Finalmente, al finalizar mi mandato como presidenta de la PTO, estoy muy emocionada de poder cederle las riendas a LaTrice Ferguson. LaTrice tiene una vasta experiencia en todo lo relacionado con la Asociación de Padres y Maestros (¡esta será su tercera vez como presidenta!) y sé que siempre tendrá como guía las necesidades de todos los estudiantes de Heights. Hará un trabajo fantástico como su próxima presidenta.

Con gratitud,

Tracy Lisewsky, presidenta del PTO

tbradleymurals: Restoration complete!! We’ve had students, staff, alumni and people from the community stop and thank us for freshening up the mural. Scroll through to see the transformation!

Thank you Melanie Gehman and the Beautification committee for all your hard work!  The paws look amazing too!

This scholarship recognizes the recipient’s achievements, hard work, and dedication in high school and throughout their lives. The Heights High School PTO is proud to support their continued educational efforts. 

A shout-out to our Scholarship Chair Jenna Taylor and her committee for their hard work.

On June 2, the Texas Education Agency extended the state intervention of HISD for at least another two years, removed four members of the Board of Managers (Audrey Momanaee, Cassandra Auzenne Bandy, Rolando Martinez, and Adam Rivon), and replaced them with four new Managers (Edgar Colon, Marty Goossen, Lauren Gore, and Marcos Rosales). You can read more about this shakeup here. The new Managers are in place effective immediately, meaning that they--and not the four removed Managers who participated in multiple budget workshops--will vote on the 2025-26 budget. It is unclear how the new Managers will get up to speed on the complexities of a budget as large as HISD's, and it is also unclear how HISD will adjust its budget to account for funding changes recently passed by the Legislature. So far, there are no additional budget workshops planned before the Board must vote to approve the budget.  

Wednesday, 6/4, is the last day to pick up your yearbook. Please stop by before 2nd lunch that day to pick it up. If you don't pick it up by then, you will have to wait until August.

Grade 9 students may be allowed one spring final exam exemption; two spring final exam exemptions may be allowed for eligible 10th and 11th graders.  Eligible students are those with no more than three (3) absences in any one course for the duration of the semester. In addition, eligible students must have an 85 or higher semester average in the specific course(s) where the final exam exemption is applied. 
Students are expected to be in attendance for all exams even if they are exempt.  Missing a final exam will result in a zero on the report card until the final exam is made up. The make-up period is June 5 - 12, 2025. After that date the zero is final.  If a student has exempted an exam and is absent, the absence could cause the students to lose exemption status and/or could cause an NG resulting in a loss of credit.

First Lunch consists of students in the M building and the G building
Second Lunch consists of students in the A and V Building

Class of 2025

HHS Remind code: @78cfcg3
PTO Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/heights2025/
Students Instagram: @heightsco2025
PTO Class page: https://www.heightspto.org/2025
Heights College Center & Newsletter: @heights2college & https://www.smore.com/sq6d9
Email Class Rep: 2025@HeightsPTO.org

HHS Graduation Ceremony CO'25 @ NRG June 8th 3PM

Senior Attendance Expectations for May 23 – June 4 Seniors will continue to attend their regularly scheduled classes

Parents are welcome to attend to chaperone.

Seniors if you won a photo session or an electronic item.  Please send a DM with the item, name and your cell number.  Once the delayed shipment arrives we will contact you for pickup.  Do not loose the envelope or the card.

This is the last week for senior clapouts!  Herrera Elementary and Hogg Middle School are having clapouts on June 3, and De Chaumes Elementary is having a clapout on June 4.  Be sure to check the individual flyers here for more details.  

PLEASE NOTE:  Seniors attending morning clapouts MUST go directly to Heights as soon as the clapout is over.  In addition, seniors who wish to attend De Chaumes Elementary MUST see Coach Idlebird in advance to receive clearance, as that clapout conflicts with the final graduation practice.  

General info for seniors:  Wear your gown and/or college t-shirt, bring a photo ID, and be sure to scan the QR code if you are missing class so your attendance is not affected. 

Ms. Hampton: As of May 28th, 97% of the class of 2025 has met the criteria of College, Career, or Military Ready as defined by TEA. This means they have scored well on either AP or IB exams; qualified for 3 hours of college credit in ELA or Math or 9 hours combined in other subjects; met minimum SAT, ACT, or TSIA requirements in ELA/Math; received a minimum of 2 course credits and received an industry based certification in their career pathway; or complete both Texas College Bridge Courses in ELA and Math.  This is up from 88% for the class of 2024 and 71% from the class of 2023.  It has been a combined effort, and I am super proud of our students, teachers, and the campus leaders that contributed to the class of 2025 success!

Financial Aid: there is still time to submit FAFSAor TASFA(non-citizens). These forms are crucial as they help colleges determine the distribution of financial aid based on need or merit. We strongly encourage all students to submit their FAFSA or TASFA in case they decide to attend a community college, university, or trade school. Please visit the College Center (M110) for help.

Schoolinks: seniors need to make sure Schoolinks is updated. We need to see ”enrolling” next to the college decision. Final transcripts are sent through Schoolinks after graduation. Please upload ALL college acceptances (screenshot or letter stating you were admitted) and awards (how much money they offered).

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our amazing parent volunteers and generous sponsors for making our Senior Breakfast such a memorable and successful event! It is not an easy task to host an event for over 560 students.  Thank you to all who have donated over the last four years.

Your time, effort, and support made all the difference. We are so grateful for your dedication and care—it truly means the world to our seniors as they celebrate this milestone. We couldn’t have done it without you! especially those who donated their time and resources on the day of the event.

Here are pictures from our smilesnapsharephotobooth: fotoshare.co/e/YgFGSS6LEy6SJ15awr11I

Take a look at our album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=heightshspto&set=a.1253047190164497

Check out our new broadcast featuring some great informational segments, a highlight on one of our fellow bulldogs, as well as some friendly (kinda) teacher-student banter! 
https://vimeo.com/1086876717

Last Thursday they held the third annual Heights Film Festival! We are so proud of all the students who submitted their films for viewing. Congratulations to our winners!

Thank you to our teachers who always support our talented students!

That’s a wrap on our 2024-2025 season! At nationals, our team scored over 1000 points over ten games at nationals in Atlanta, Georgia. From left to right, Mr. Harrison (Teacher-Coach), James Allen (10th), Brayden Ferrell (12th-Captain), Israel Pineda (10th), and Hollis Cruise (10th). We are so proud of our team!!

Thank you so much to our sponsor and Coach, Mr. Harrison! We could not have gotten where we went without your room to practice in. And of course, massive thanks to Mrs Hampton and the @heightshspto for their support.

Happy trails to our captain Brayden Ferrell, who is going on to play College Quiz Bowl at UT Austin. Wishing you the best there and whatever follows!

Congratulations to Gils Flag Coach of the Year: De Vincent Idlebird!!

Thank you for coming to Heights during our Senior Breakfast to help register our Class of 2025 Seniors!