Originally delivered on 12/11/2022 12:00 pm

SUBJECT: DeBakey PTO Newsletter - December 11, 2022

DeBakey PTO

DeBakey PTO Newsletter

December 11, 2022

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In This Issue
  • Important Upcoming Dates
  • PTO Meeting - December 13 @ 6:30PM - Home for the Holidays
  • UPDATE: December Spirit Night: Liberty Taco - December 14
  • Teacher Appreciation Events
  • Final Exams: Dec 16-21
  • 2023 Spring Schedule Change Information
  • HISD News
    • ESL lessons for HISD Parents
    • Hot Scholarships for December and January
    • 2023-2024 FAFSA application - Jan 15
  • Class of 2024 Winter Wonderland
  • Winter Orchestra Concert
  • Student Spotlight
  • Odds and Ends
    • Free Webinar: Early Planning for 11th Graders
IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES


  • Dec 13 - Home 4 the Holidays PTO Presentation/Meeting - 6:30PM
  • Dec 14 - Liberty Taco - Spirit Night (Dine-in only, carryout)
  • Dec 16 - 21 - Final Exams
  • Dec 22 - Jan 8 - Winter Holiday
  • Jan 09 - Return to school
  • Jan 15 - 2023-24 FAFSA Priority Deadline - more info
  • Jan 26 - 8th Grade Open House
PTO Meeting
Home for the Holidays

Hear from former students about how DeBakey influenced their lives.


Paul Daniel - UH - Honors BCM/HPA

Stella Carleton - University Rochester

David Dzul - University of Virginia 

Meagan Tran - UH - Honors BCM/HOA


December 13, 2022 @ 6:30PM


Microsoft Teams  << Meeting Link >>

UPDATE: December Spirit Night


Wednesday, December 14
4PM – 9PM

Dine-in, Take-out & Delivery!


1333 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, TX 77054


20% of the restaurant sales mentioning DeBakey will be donated to the general PTO fund.  


In addition, a PTO representative will be there between 5-7 pm with a few select items from the school store (aprons, decals, drawstring bags, 2023 calendars, lunch bags and plastic bottles) so you can also do some last-minute Christmas shopping while you are at it.  Cash or online orders for school store purchases only.

We ask that you RSVP here: https://grouprai.se/e234134 (even if you’re not completely sure) so Liberty Taco knows roughly how many orders to expect & so you have access to all the event details.

We hope to see you there!

Teacher Appreciation Events

A HUGE THANK YOU to Mariana Zamora, Madhavi Gavini, Katherine Gratwick, and Jessie Galal for their invaluable help during the Thanksgiving Teacher Appreciation luncheon.  The teachers and staff enjoyed a wonderful meal from Luby's and it seemed like everyone was appreciative of the meal.  We are so grateful for the support that the parents give to help make Teacher Appreciation a success.

There are 5 Teacher Appreciation events throughout the school year, and our next event is the Winter Holiday Teacher Appreciation Luncheon.  The teachers & staff will be treated to a wonderful lunch from Mia's Table.  The event will be on December 20, 2022 at noon. I have created a signup genius for those who would like to help on the day of the luncheon:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B48AEAF22A2FB6-winter4

In addition to help with the luncheon we need desserts.  If you are able to provide a dessert for the luncheon please let us know by signing up on this Signup Genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4AA5A92FA6F85-teacher

To ALL parents, thanks again for your help and support. These Teacher Appreciation events we provide to the well deserved teachers and staff of DeBakey HSHP, would not be possible without your donations and other support.


Sincerely,

Andrea Simon & Michelle Pilkington

Sign Up to Help on Dec 20
Donate Dessert for the Dec 20 Event
Final Exams: Dec 16 - 21

Friday, December 16th, final exams begin. Students will test from 8:00 AM to 12:10 PM. Lunch will be served from 12:10 PM to 12:40 PM. Buses will be available to take students home. They will depart at 12:45 pm daily.

The final exam schedule follows:

  • Friday, December 16, 2022, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM             A1 Final
  • Friday, December 16, 2022, 10:10 AM - 12:10 PM           A2 Final
  • Monday, December 19, 2022, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM           A3 Final
  • Monday, December 19, 2022, 10:10 AM - 12:10 AM         A4 Final
  • Tuesday, December 20, 2022, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM          B1 Final
  • Tuesday, December 20, 2022,  10:10 AM - 12:10 PM       B2 Final
  • Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM     B4 Final
  • Wednesday, December 21, 2022, 10:10 AM - 12:10 PM   B3 Final
2023 Spring Schedule Change Information

Google Form opened Monday December 5, 2022 @8:00 am


Please read the following information carefully!

  • Students will be allowed to submit 1 request and will not be able to edit once form is submitted.
  • Requests MUST be submitted no later than December 16, 2022 @ 2:00pm.
  • The deadline is to ensure the counselors can have schedules ready for the first day of the new semester.
  • The form will be closed @ 2:00 pm, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Spring Semester SCHEDULE REQUEST CRITERIA:

  • You need to drop AP/HADV/PRE-AP class DUE TO HEAVY COURSE LOAD
  • You are a freshman who wants to move into Pre-AP or HADV courses

Once you are removed from the class, you will not be able to go back if you change your mind to go back to that AP/HADV/PRE-AP class

 

Keep in mind that your schedule will shift, and you may not have the same teachers and class periods as your original schedule.

**Requests to move to another class period or another instructor will not be honored.

Only 9th Grade Students may request to move to HADV or PRE-AP from a regular course, you must have at least an 85 per cycle and a teacher recommendation. Students cannot move into AP courses. Note any requests may change your original schedule.

All other grade levels (10th, 11th & 12th) may NOT request to move up to HADV or AP level courses. Students may only request to move out of HADV, PRE-AP or AP courses. Note any requests may change your original schedule.

  • Seniors are not allowed to drop AP Math or AP Science course required for graduation

If you have questions, please talk to your counselor before completing the Google Form. Remember students may only submit the form once.

HISD News
ESL lessons for HISD parents

HISD is partnering with BakerRipley Community Developers to provide on-demand digital mini-ESL lessons for Spanish-speaking HISD parents and caregivers. The lessons will focus on words and phrases that will help them navigate their child’s education journey.

The ESL lessons will be presented in a TV production called “Aprendamos Juntos” which will be broadcast on our HISD TV channel and available online for parents and caregivers to watch leisurely.

“Aprendamos Juntos” will launch on Dec. 7, 2022, on HISD TV channel 18, on AT&T U-Verse, and on Comcast channel 99. The lessons will also be available at YouTube.com/TheHISD.

With this great program, parents can access English classes easily, giving them the confidence to communicate, advocate, and participate in their child’s education.

Hot scholarships for December and January

Applications for scholarships ranging from $500 to $50,000 are due in December and January. 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 HISD College, Career & Military Readiness on Twitter and Instagram: @HISD2College.

View the List of Scholarships
2023-2024 FAFSA application - Deadline: Jan. 15

Learn more about this year's FAFSA deadline! - more info

Class of 2024 Winter Wonderland

Thank you to all the generous parent donations and volunteers, teacher sponsors' and administrators' support, custodians' assistance, and the hardworking student council officers and members for making this Winter Wonderland a successful Junior event.  These students had fun before the final week. Enjoy these festive pictures!

Winter Orchestra Concert

Thank you for your generosity for contributing money, snacks and drinks for the Debakey Orchestra Concert. Wish you all a wonderful holiday!


*Photo credit: Lilly Nuñez (Facebook)

Student Spotlight

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
Free Webinar: Early Planning for 11th Graders

The college admissions landscape is a battlefield—record-low acceptance rates, record-high application numbers. To succeed, students need to start planning early. Don't wait until senior year to start your college admissions process.

Junior year is the ideal time to begin preparing for your applications. To help current sophomores and juniors strategize 11th grade, we're hosting a free webinar on

Early Planning for 11th Graders: How to Prepare for College Applications

Will Peters, the Former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Southern California, will host this free webinar on Thursday, December 15th at 5 PM PST/8 PM EST.

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