DeBakey PTO Newsletter

January 15, 2023

• Important Upcoming Dates
• HOSA Spring Area 2 Conference - Chaperones Needed
• IngGenius Prep Free Webinar:
  Webinar Series for 11th Gradres
• HISD News
  • 2023-24 HISD School Calendar Survey
  • Scholarships and FAFSA priority Deadline - Jan 15
  • HISD School Choice application now open
  • Parent Contact Information Update
• Odds and Ends
  • BCM is Seeking Debakey Alum
  • DeBakey Uniform & Spirit Wear Store

• Jan 16 - No School - MLK Holiday
• Jan 15 - 2023-24 FAFSA Priority Deadline - more info
• Jan 26 - 8th Grade Open House
• Jan 27 - HOSA Spring Area 2 Conference
• Jan 27 - iFest, 2:30PM
• Feb 14 - PTO Meeting
• Feb 20 - No School - Teacher Service Day
• Feb 24 - Cycle 4 Ends
• Feb 27 - Cycle 5 Begins
• Mar 03 - Cycle 4 Report Cards
• Mar 13 - 17 - Spring Break

HOSA Teacher Sponsors are requesting 5 parent chaperones for 107 students participating in the upcoming Spring Area 2 Conference on Friday, January 27th, at Clear Lake HS.

The school bus will depart DeBakey HS at around 1pm and return at around 10:30 pm. Please review the available slots on the link below and sign up by January 24th. Thank you for supporting DeBakey HOSA! For additional questions, please contact Dr. Boughaba at Fadia.Boughaba@houstonisd.org.

InGenius prep is hosting a series of webinars aimed at preparing 11th graders for college planning. The (3) webinars will be covering:

• Tuesday, 1/24 -College Planning Timeline for 11th Graders: All the Dates to Know

  • How College Applications Are Processed
  • Goals for Junior Year
  • College Planning Timeline for 11th Graders

• Wednesday, 1/25 - 10 Essential Things You Need to Prep for College As A Junior

  • How Applications Are Evaluated
  • College Application Overview
  • 10 Things to Know, from Test Prep to Resume Strategy

• Thursday, 1/26 - How to Increase Your Admissions Odds to Your Dream Schools

  • How Applications Are Evaluated
  • Everything You Need to Know about College Apps
  • Enhancing 11th Grade Extracurriculars

Click on the links above to learn more about each webinar.

HISD is requesting parental feedback on the proposed option for next academic year.

The key differences between the current Academic Calendar and next year's proposed calendar are as follows:

• The Winter Break runs form Monday, Dec. 25, to Friday, Jan. 5.
• There are 12 Teacher Development Days, including Election Day (Nov. 7) as a student holiday.
• The Fall Holiday falls on Sept. 25.
• The Spring Holidays fall on March 29 and April 10.

Please complete this brief survey where you can provide your input and feedback on the proposed calendar.

This survey will close on Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. The feedback received will be considered by HISD administration as we draft a final version to bring to the Board of Trustees for approval at the February board meeting.

Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application is the first step toward receiving financial aid for college.Students can fill out an application at any time after October 1st of their senior year. For Class of 2023, the the priority deadline for Texas is, Jan. 15, 2023. Early submission is the best way to maximize award packages for students looking to attend college.

Seniors and their parents can apply for financial aid here. The FAFSA can also be completed via a mobile device by downloading the MystudentAid mobile app.

Also coming up as we start a new year: Applications for numerous scholarships are due in January and February. These are available primarily for seniors, but some allow freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to apply. See a list of highlighted opportunities below, or click here for the complete list. For more information about scholarships, financial aid, and links to academic resources like Khan Academy, go to houstonisd.org/collegereadiness or follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @HISD2College.

Deadline: Jan. 15, 2023

• Global Citizen Scholarship* (Up to $10,000), https://bit.ly/3VeHrIb
• Hagan Scholarship Foundation (Up to $6,000), https://bit.ly/3TGlZvn

Deadline: Jan. 30, 2023

• Technology Addiction Awareness Scholarship* ($1,000), https://bit.ly/3URftmf
• Foot Locker Scholar Athletes Scholarship ($20,000), https://bit.ly/3BmsM6q

Deadline: Jan. 31, 2023

• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Scholarship ($20,000), http://bit.ly/3Aol0su
• Black American Engineering Scholarship Award (Up to $10,000 per year), http://bit.ly/3EBxmPh
• Sam Houston State University Smith-Hutson Scholarship Program ($19,500 per year for 4 years), http://bit.ly/3Eaaq9e
• Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship (Up to $4,000/year), http://bit.ly/3ipDFOt
• CAT Lift Trucks Scholarship Program ($5,000), https://bit.ly/3WkKbVg

Deadline: Feb. 15, 2023

• The George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation ($20,000), https://bit.ly/3CAno0X

Deadline: Feb. 24, 2023

• Marvy Finger Family Foundation Scholarship (Tuition & Fees), https://bit.ly/3FOv1RF

Deadline: Feb. 28, 2023

• The Dream. Us - The National Scholarship, for undocumented students ($20,000), https://bit.ly/3gMqmXw

Houston ISD School Choice application for the 2023-2024 school year is now open.

Visit HoustonISD.org/schoolchoice to start your application today. Applications are due by Feb. 2, 2023, and families will learn the result of the lottery the week of April 5, 2023.

New to School Choice this year, out-of-district applicants can apply during the Phase I application and will be considered in the Phase I lottery. It is important to note that out-of-district applicants will only be considered for seats after all in-district applicants have been accommodated.

To learn more and see a walkthrough of the new application, watch this short animation.

To learn more about the unparalleled educational opportunities available in HISD, visit our NEW School Finder at HoustonISD.org/FindASchool.

For questions and additional information, please visit HoustonISD.org/schoolchoice

HISD’s top priority is providing a safe environment for our students and staff. Safety drills and training events are conducted periodically as required by Texas Education Agency code. In the event of an emergency that requires reunification of students with their parents or guardians, it is critical for your child’s identification information to be updated in HISD Connect.

The HISD Enrollment Team and Federal and State Compliance Division will be available to assist you with creating an HISD Parent Portal account or updating your child’s demographic and contact information in your existing account.

We know that your child’s safety is important to you, and we are proud to work together in communication with our dedicated district parents and guardians to keep HISD schools safe places to learn and grow.

See below for dates, times, and locations of upcoming HISD Connect Assistance Fairs:

• Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023
  4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Herrera Elementary School
  • Askew Elementary School
  • Shearn Elementary School
• Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023
  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Austin High School
• Saturday, Jan. 28, 2023
  9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
  • Westside High School
• Tuesday, March 7, 2023
  4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Fonwood Early Childhood Center
  • Mistral Early Childhood Center
  • Woodson Elementary School
• Tuesday, May 9, 2023
  4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Neff Early Learning Center
  • Bellfort Early Childhood Center
  • Sherman Elementary School

DeBakey High School For Health Professions PTO

2545 Pressler St

Houston TX 77030