Howe ISD updates

The Howe ISD District handbook has been updated along with each campus. Some of the changes to the ISD guidelines includes student illnesses limited to seven excused parental notes without further documentation for all students from kindergarten through seniors. This is for truancy protection. Beyond the seven excused parental notes, they can still bring a doctor’s note and be excused. This was a program initiated at Summit Hill Elementary and has been adopted for each campus.

There were also revised requirements for Honor Graduates. Each student that is in the top 10 percent of their graduating class or has earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75. This corrects a situation from last year where one student qualified in the top 10 percent but did not meet the 3.75 GPA criteria.

Notifications of meetings for the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) will be posted at each campus and administrative office at least 72 hours before the meeting. Meeting minutes and recordings of each meeting will be posted on the district website of howeisd.net.

The Howe High School summary of changes were a shift in the bell schedule for announcements from third period to second period. The elementary campus changes were eliminating multiple entrances for different grade levels. The front main entrance will now be the entrance for all students beginning at 7:15 am. Another change was that pre-K students should not arrive prior to 7:30 am. At the end of each day, the pre-K students will exit the front entrance instead of multiple exits.

Students are not allowed to bring energy drinks to lunch for obvious reasons. Ice cream can be purchased each Thursday and only if a student has had good behavior. No biker shorts will be allowed unless there are shorts of appropriate length worn on top.

A bi-weekly attendance incentive has been added and recognition of perfect attendance at the end of each grading period.

The intermediate school is now making the front door on Roberts Street the only door of entry. Spandex shorts will not be allowed (same as elementary) as well as leggings or tights to be covered to three inches above the knee. All volunteers will have to fill out a form on HoweISD.net’s parent page. Middle School Principal Clay Wilson gave the updates to that campus handbook which were with the dress code which leggings would require a covering to three inches to the top of the knee.

High School campers. Courtesy photo.

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Howe Head Coach Ashley Anderson said with just under two weeks to go until the start of the 2022 season, this provided a great opportunity to sharpen their skills going into the new year.

During the camp, the girls worked on fundamentals of the game but also challenging drills and skills to work on becoming more elite players.

Tracy Blum wins E.R. Alexander Award

Ed Garza with a “selfie” with the campers. Courtesy photo.

Youth campers from second through eighth grade. Courtesy photo.

Retired Howe High School Ag Teacher Tracy Blum was recently honored with the Texas FFA Association presented him with its E.R. Alexander Award for Meritorious Statewide Volunteer Leadership.

Blum, a Whitewright native, taught in Howe for 22 years before retirement in May 2021. Her and husband Ron taught the ag program in Howe together as a team. “It’s just always been a part of my life,” said Blum. “I enjoy the kids and getting to see them in leadership and getting out of their comfort zone with public speaking has been special,” said Blum in a May 2021 interview with the Howe Enterprise. “I’ve always told my students that I don’t care what you go do in to, at some point in your life you’re going to have to get up and talk in front of people,”