Originally delivered on 10/16/2022 8:30 pm

SUBJECT: DeBakey PTO Newsletter - October 16, 2022

DeBakey PTO

DeBakey PTO Newsletter

October 16, 2022

Follow Us on Twitter
Follow Us on Instagram
In This Issue
  • Important Upcoming Dates
  • 50th Anniversary Celebration - Silent Auction Donations Needed
  • Haunted House - Donations Needed
  • Scientific Symposium - Oct 28 - Donations needed
  • Uniform and Spirit Store Update
  • Used Sunglasses Needed!
  • HISD Community Town Halls
  • Baylor College of Medicine Spotlight on DeBakey HSHP
  • Alumni Corner - Dr. Judith Campbell
  • Student Spotlight
  • Birthday Greetings on School Screens
  • Teacher K-Cup Drive - Donations Needed
  • Odds and Ends - In case you missed it
Important Upcoming Dates


  • Oct 20 - Financial Aid Workshop for Seniors (at school) - 5-7PM
  • Oct 22 - Volleyball Intramural
  • Oct 22 - Senior Picture deadline for yearbook
  • Oct 24-28 - Red Ribbon/Spirit Week
  • Oct 28 -Scientific Symposium
  • Oct 29 -50th Anniversary Celebration
  • Oct 31 - Fall Festival

50th Anniversary Celebration Silent Auction



Less than 2 weeks away!

We are still seeking more donations for the 50th anniversary celebration silent auction!


Do you have a product, service, in-kind donation to help benefit the PTO's funding for school programming?


For ideas and questions, please email

debakeyhshp50th@debakeypto.org

Haunted House
Just added to 50th Celebration - Haunted House!

Be sure to stop by the school's Haunted House to be hosted on October 29 from 9AM - 12PM.


Entry will be $3*


DONATIONS NEEDED
Old/new scrubs, scrub caps, and other medical attire are needed for the haunted house. Please label & leave at the front desk.

View Full Haunted House Amazon Wish List

*The haunted house will be available to students on Monday at no cost to them, as part of the school's Fall Fest/Spirit Week.

Scientific Symposium

The annual Scientific Symposium is special this year as it is part of the 50th Anniversary celebration on Friday, October 28, 2022! We invited 50 alumni to present various healthcare, technology, and science topics. These opportunities are unique for our students and allows them to gain an understanding of possible career pathways. We are grateful for these alumni to return and spend their precious time with our students.

We are also honored to have many special guests. Mr. Herrera will greet and introduce:

  • Mr. Millard House, HISD Superintendent
  • Dr. Paul Klotman, Baylor College of Medicine, President and CEO
  • Dr. Dennis DeBakey, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey’s son

Please consider volunteering and donating to plan for a successful educational event! The Signup Genius link is available below to sign up by Friday, October 21. Please drop off and mark “For Scientific Symposium” on the donated items at the front office by Tuesday, October 25.


Thank you very much for your generosity!


Please contact Ivy Luong, PTO Scientific Symposium Chair, at ivylluong@gmail.com for any questions.

Scientific Symposium SignUp Genius Form
Uniform and Spirit Store

New Opportunities to pick up merchandise this Thursday October 20 and on Thursday, November 3.

DeBakey PTO Uniform & Spirit Store is now online
Visit the Uniform and Spirit Wear Store
Used Sunglasses Needed!

DeBakey's Interact Service Club is collecting used eyeglasses for donation to Houston’s Lions club. Eyeglasses can be placed in the donation box near the front desk.

HISD Community Town Halls

Please join Max Moll, Superintendent House, our trustees, and district leaders for our final two community town halls to provide an overview of progress being made on the district’s five-year strategic plan.

We hope to speak with and hear feedback from parents, students, educators, and members of the community.

This week’s times and locations:

  • Monday, Oct. 17 – 6-7:30 p.m., Lamar High School (3325 Westheimer)
  • Tuesday, Oct. 18 – 6-7:30 p.m., Westside High School (14201 Briar Forest)
    Virtual Meeting Option https://zoom.us/j/91011784888

Spanish interpretation will be available at the Westside meeting.

BCM Spotlight on DeBakey HSHP

Baylor College of Medicine recently wrote a piece about DeBakey HSHP and our 50th anniversary, spotlighting their relationship with the school over the years.

Read the article

Join Dr. Judith Campbell, graduate of the class of 1977 and current senior of DeBakey High School Marthella Diaz on a tour of the DeBakey High School campus.

Student Spotlight
DeBakey Running Club at the Child Advocates Superhero 5K Run

Congratulations to all our DeBakey Running Club who participated in the Child Advocates Superhero 5K run yesterday and to all the parents who came to support them! It was a great effort by everyone. 


The next team run will be the Great Houston Pie Run on November 19. If you are interested in joining the Running Club, contact Mr. Cotton!

SmileCon 2022

Thank you to our wonderful PTO parents who volunteered to chaperone our junior students during their field trip to SmileCon 2022 at the George R. Brown Convention Center on Oct 13 and 14. Without them, the trip would not have been possible! Our students had a wonderful time at the conference learning about the dental industry and advancements in dental technology from vendors, dentists, students and more.


*photo credit to DeBakey HSHP Facebook page

Do you know of a DeBakey student, teacher or administrator who should should be recognized for their recent achievement/s? Let the PTO know! We'd love to recognize their accomplishments in our weekly newsletter.

Submit a News Item
Happy Birthday
Birthday Greetings on School Screens

A friendly reminder: the DeBakey PTO is offering Birthday & Celebratory Greetings. These are messages that will be displayed on the monitors around the school. You can send your child a birthday message or tell your child congratulations for a major accomplishment.  The Birthday & Celebratory Greetings are only $20.

  • The messages are posted the week of the event only, they are sent in the Friday before the event date.
  • The messages MUST be received by the PTO one week prior to the event
  • You may select a background for the message on the google form.
  • Belated birthdays & ½ birthdays are acceptable.
  • All messages must meet the approval of the administration.
  • The message will be removed if the student asks the administration to remove the message.
  • Please contact Andrea or Michelle at fundraising@debakeypto.org if you have any questions.
Click to submit your birthday greetings!

For October/November- the PTO will accept all kinds of KCup pods for our teachers and administrators. We realize not everyone drinks coffee so tea, cider, coffee, and hot cocoa will be accepted. A drop-off box will be in the main office. 

Your student can drop them off or you may use AmazonSmile (benefitting DeBakey High School) to have something delivered directly to the school.

In Case You Missed It...


  • Yearbooks now on sale - Order Here
  • October 22 - Senior picture deadline for the yearbook. Seniors must take pictures with Prestige Portraits to be included in the yearbook. A flyer with photographer contact information has been sent to your email. DeBakey H.S. 22-23 Prestige Flyer_Deadline Approaching.pdf
  • Updated Debakey Attendance Policy [pdf]
  • October Counselor's Corner [pdf]
  • Class Dues for C/O 2023, 2024 and 2025 are due - SchoolPay
    • Breakdown of costs for class dues
      • Prom site including student ticket only, meal, photographer, DJ, decorations, souvenir
      • Senior week trip including site tickets, busing, possibly meal
      • Graduation practice breakfast
      • Graduation including cap/gown, stoles, diploma cover, decorations for graduation
      • Optional gift to school on behalf of graduating class, if funds are remaining after the above listed requirements are paid
      • Costs will vary based on returning to pre-pandemic norms with present inflation costs projected
  • Please help ensure the safe arrivals and departures of all students. Follow the road rules. 
    • Avoid making U-turns in the middle of the street. Ask your child to walk on sidewalks and through crosswalks. 
    • J-walking puts  your child at risk for harm. Pull over to the curb to pick up or drop off your child. 
    • Tell your child to exit your car on the passenger side. remember, drive lanes are for vehicles.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -