Houston Junior Forum hosting annual fundraiser March 30-31

From Staff Reports

The Heights-based Houston Junior Forum will host its second annual City Market fundraiser March 30-31 at the Bayou City Event Center, 9401 Knight Rd., according to the organization.

The City Market is twoday spring shopping experience that will feature more than 60 merchant booths including jewelry, fashions, accessories, home décor, gifts, gourmet foods, and more.

It serves as a fundraiser

Merit from P. 1 for HJF, a women’s nonprofit organization based at 1815 Rutland St. in the Heights and has spearheaded projects and services benefiting children, youth, women, and senior adults for nearly 80 years. HJF has operated a resale shop that helps to support HJF programs since 1969. Today the shop is open six days a week and features a mix of furniture and vintage items, including living room furniture, bedroom furniture, dining room furniture and gentlyused modern and classic leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received according to the NMSP.

In addition to her academic exploits, Birkelbach is also a member of SPX’s swimming and diving team, and has been to the TAPPS Division I state meet in each of the last two seasons. TEST SCORE INFO TO GO HERE

“A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay, and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test,” the NMSP said in a news release.

In the coming months, Birkelbach will find out whether she will receive a scholarship from the foundation. Finalists will be competing for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 scholarships that will be awarded on a state-representational basis, according to the organization. About 950 corporate-sponsored

Helms from P. 1 of geologists and scientists.”

A design concept submitted back in 2017 said samples are big enough to provide students hands-on experience and heavy enough to remain stationary, thus eliminating any potential safety hazards that might come with students moving the samples.

Bodnar said the garden

Takeover from P. 1 peal to him based on where this board and district is right now, I think we should in fact take this appeal,” District IX trustee Myrna Guidry said. “… We should give one last appeal. It doesn’t hurt anything, it doesn’t harm anything.” furniture. The HJF Resale Shop also sells vintage items, home decor, collectibles, women’s jewelry, silverware, men’s clothing, women’s clothing and much more.

District I trustee Elizabeth Santos, whose district includes many schools in the Heights, Garden Oaks, Oak Forest, and Near Northside, echoed the sentiment.

“We have continually fought for our communities and our students, and I will not give up now,” she said.

Others, however, believe that the writing on the wall and that filing an appeal would be a waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. The efforts to enforce a takeover began in 2019, when TEA Commissioner Mike Morath began efforts to replace the HISD board amidst allegations of board misconduct as well as nearly a decade of low academic performance at Wheatley High School. The district sued the TEA in 2020, and was granted an injunction by a Travis County judge – which was later upheld by an appeals court.

A preview party will take place from 6:30-9 p.m. on March 30

“City Market offers Houstonians a unique opportunity to support great causes while enjoying a fun outing shopping, enjoying delicious meals and sparkling cocktails, the organization said in a news release.

Merit Scholarship awards will be provided to students who meet specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located.

Additionally, the organization about 160 colleges and universities are expected to provide around 3,800 collegesponsored Merit Scholarship awards for finalists who will attend that school. But no matter what happens later, school administrators said that those within the school know how special Birkelbach is.

“Selection as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program is a significant achievement, and we are incredibly proud of Stephanie,” SPX principal Rachel Ware said Tuesday. “Her dedication and diligence towards academics is certainly notable. She brings that same energy and effort in her community involvement, and we are honored to support and celebrate her work.” is a space where students can see and touch different geological specimens and learn about their properties and origins. There is also an exploration zone, she said, where students are encouraged to dig through pea gravel and find hidden fossils, unique rocks. It is the brainchild, Bodnar said, of former Helms Elementary par-

This past January, the Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the agency and threw out the injunction – clearing the way for the takeover that was announced a little more than two weeks ago. “I don’t agree with spending resources on a fight that will conclude (the same way),” said District VIII trustee Judith Cruz, whose district includes Sinclair Elementary.

Morath said in a letter addressed to the board of trustees earlier this month that the state-appointed Board of Managers and superintendent will be named later this year, and that they will keep the state apprised of the district’s status and performance.

“At this time, it is time to create smooth transition for the district’s students, staff, and families,” said Hernandez, the board president. “I hope the TEA has a clear and transparent process that is announced so the transition is communicated to the community and the district in order to support our students. A smooth transition is necessary.” ents, Elena Coates and Bruce Wilcoxon that was first proposed in 2017. The roughly $20,000 project was funded by the Helms PTA as well as donations from

“(They) believed our students would benefit from having a space that would set our school apart from other HISD schools and support the full range of elementary school Earth-Science Curricula within the district and the state of Texas,” Bodnar wrote. This is not the first time that Helms’ PTA has invested in attempting to create a unique outdoor learning space. In 2016, the organization funded and managed the revitalization of the Helms’ Wetlands, a quarter-acre space on campus featur- ing ponds and vegetation dedicated to supporting the biology, ecology and life sciences curriculum at the school. And ultimately, Bodnar said the staff, students, and PTA are eager to show off their new unique space to the community, hoping that it brings students a new and exciting resource with which to learn.

“The faculty are also excited about the Geology Garden and its potential to enrich students’ experience, and provide unique opportunities to meet curriculum guidelines for students in grades kindergarten through fifth,” the 2017 submitted proposal said.