HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SCHOOL! UNIVERSITY OF
HOUSTON CHARTER SCHOOL TURNS 10
Celebrations Include Gala, Silent Auction and Workshop
HOUSTON, Jan. 22, 2007—Ten years ago, charter schools were
considered “new age” education, a trendy idea that broke
too much with traditional schooling. Today, many charter schools
are still standing—and flourishing. One of the earliest—The
University of Houston Charter School (UHCS)—will celebrate
its 10th anniversary this month with a Birthday Gala Party and Silent
Auction at 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 26, in the UH Athletic Center, and
an Interactive Constructivist Science Workshop and Lunch featuring
author Rheta DeVries from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 27.
That event will take place at the UH Charter School.
“Our school was one of the original 19 first-generation
charter schools in the state,” Carolyn Black, principal of
the UHCS, said. “It’s been a bumpy road for charter
schools, but we’ve been true to our constructivist curriculum
and focused on each child.”
The UH Charter School follows an educational philosophy that encourages
children to construct their own knowledge by solving problems that
are of interest to them. This “constructivist” approach,
based on the research of psychologist Jean Piaget and educator John
Dewey, focuses on the development of reasoning in every aspect of
a child’s day.
“Charter schools were instituted to increase innovation
in public education,” Black said. “UHCS was established
to implement constructivism for the first time in a Texas public
elementary school.”
In 1996, the Texas State Board of Education awarded UH the first
university charter to establish a public school. A year later, under
the leadership of Chancellor William P. Hobby and with the assistance
and support of
Rep. Garnet Coleman, the UH Charter School of Technology opened
its doors to kindergarten and first grade children. In 2001, the
school was among the first of the original programs to be granted
a 10-year ten year charter. It was then that the school’s
name was changed to the University of Houston Charter School. That
same year, the school’s first class of fifth graders was promoted
to middle school. Today, there are nearly 130 students in six classes
of kindergarten to fifth grade. Each class is taught by a lead teacher
and an assistant teacher.
“We believe in the power of a community of learners. Coming
to school each day is to be empowering for each community member,”
Black said.
To RSVP for the Gala or register for the workshop contact Kim Moore
at 713.743.9111 or kwmoore@central.uh.edu.
For more information on the University of Houston Charter School,
please visit www.uh.edu/charterschool/.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research
and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers
and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate,
civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university
in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and
service with more than 35,000 students.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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