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Updates & Events

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**Please note that starting 10/7/22, the Energy newsletter will be published every two weeks.

Important Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

April 5 - Energy acceptance notification day!

April 6 - Course Selection (9/10th graders)

April 7 - Spring Holiday

April 12 - Signing Day for Incoming Students

April 14 - Senior Prom

April 15 - Energy PTA Spring Gala and Auction

April 15 - Saturday Tutorials

April 18-19 - English STAAR EOC

April 19 - NHS Induction

April 20 - PTO General Meeting

April 21 - Spring Holiday

April 29 - Middle School Design Challenge


March Calendar
April Calendar

The Summer Debate Institute Application is Open!



Do you like to argue? Do you want to learn how to do it better? Do you like FREE summer programs? Applications for the HUDL Summer Debate Institute are open! The Summer Debate Institute is a free summer camp sponsored by the Houston Urban Debate League that offers HISD students week-long instruction in all formats of debate, as well as a novice lab for students completely new to debate. This is an opportunity that would ordinarily cost in excess of $2500, but HISD students receive it completely free of charge. The camp is held overnight at the University of Houston main campus from July 9th – 14th. HUDL takes care of the dorms, food, and instruction for the week so sign up today! All HISD students who are current 8th-11th graders are eligible to apply, even if they have NO debate experience.


The application can be found at: https://forms.gle/tASV1Mo6axuhpBW78. 

It's Time to Apply for Summer Programs!



Energy Institute highly recommends that students get involved in unique learning opportunities outside of the classroom. There are a lot of wonderful summer opportunities out there to help students stand out. These opportunities great development opportunities for students as well as great for college and scholarship applications. Energy has produced an Opportunities to Help You Stand Out newsletter with various opportunities for students to apply to. You can view the most recent one here.


Discover U is a wonderful partner we have that also helps students find opportunities. DiscoverU provides a database of Fantastic Learning Opportunities for students to apply to. Some programs are free and others have a cost. Students who qualify for free and reduced lunch can also earn scholarship towards programs with a cost. There are programs that are virtual and in-person. Some are local and some are in other countries. There are so many opportunities!


Most Energy students already have their DiscoverU accounts set-up. Freshmen will set them up next week during PBL Skills classes. If a returning student does not remember their password, they can use the "forgot my password" feature to have it reset. The website is www.discoverus.org.


Discover U reps will be at Energy on pre-scheduled days to help students during PBL Skills classes and during enrichment. Students can also schedule a virtual meeting through the portal or at  https://calendly.com/discoveru-advisors.


There is also an event at Energy Institute this weekend where you can learn more about Discover U. See the flyer below.

Absences are calculated by adding excused and unexcused absences together. The only absences that are not calculated into the total are:

  • College visits - limited to 2 days per year, only junior and senior year, and the process must be followed for them to be exempt
  • Medical Appointments - doctor's note must be submitted within three days of the appointment and it only excuses the time of appointment, not days of illness
  • Voting
  • School field trips
  • Religious absences
  • Activity - for example, a student leaves early to play in a volleyball game at their zoned campus - process must be followed



If you have any questions, please talk to your dean or stop by the attendance office.

College Visits


During the junior and senior year, students are eligible to receive two excused absences per school year for participating in a college visit. These absences do not count towards final exam exemption absences, as long as the process is followed. You can download and print the document here or you can visit the Attendance Office for a copy. 


Step 1: Complete the form with all signatures and submit to the attendance office at least two days prior to the visit.

Step 2: When you return to school from the college visit, submit an official letter from the college (printed on college letterhead) that verifies your visit.


Enjoy your visits!

The Belize Trip is Almost Full!

Thank you to those who attended our Belize Summer 2024 meeting. We had a large collection of enthusiastic students, parents, and teachers and over 145 families RSVPed asking for more information.

 

We are so excited for our 2024 educational and adventurous Belize tour for 8 days!  The initial 25 spots have filled, but I was able to open 8 additional spots! Once those are full, please enroll on the waitlist! Each trip we have been able to move one or two students up.

 

  • Once you pay the $95 deposit, the total price for the trip is locked in at the current rate. It will not increase. No interest is added. There is a Risk-Free, 100% Money-Back Enrollment Period through Friday, 2/17/2023 so enroll with confidence now to lock in your spot, and know you’ll have 14 days to cancel if needed.  


  • The deadline for enrolling is Friday, February 17th, but I cannot guarantee there will still be spots available then. Enroll by the deadline for the $100 scholarship! There are monthly payments plan to make this an affordable option!

 

  • Enrollment for parents & students is on a first-come, first-served basis. You may enroll over the phone at 1-800-665-5364 or online:


Belize 2024: www.eftours.com/2621961EC

Trip Number – 2621961EC

  

  • The trip price includes roundtrip airfare, transportation (bus, train, boat, etc.), hotels with private bathrooms in rooms, entry fees, expert local guides, breakfast, lunch & dinner each day, opportunity for high school and college credit, Global Travel Protection Plan Insurance, and the most valuable part: the 24/7 Tour Director who leads, teaches, and entertains during the trip. 

  

Still have questions? EF's Traveler Support team can help at 800-665-5364 (M-F, 9-5) and you can always email Noelle MacGregor with questions or concerns. You can also view the Parent Guide to Travel from EF Educational Tours, our travel partner. It covers everything from details about EF to options for high school and college credit to payments plans and what to expect on tour.

Are You A Prospective Family Looking to Tour Energy?


Now that Magnet Tours have officially ended, Energy Institute will be offering tours on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM. If you would like to take a tour and learn more about attending Energy next year, sign up for a tour at www.tinyurl.com/TourEnergy. We'd love to show you Energy!

Cohort Highlight

Cohort 6 Project Launch

Last week, Cohort 6 launched their fourth and final project: Plant-Fat Plant: Biofuels Past, Present and Future, with a three-day long entry event. Students went through a two-stage entry event to remind them of different forms of energy they’ve studied in the past. Day 1, following the SAT, students built and launched catapults, reminding them of the kinetic energy they studied in English. Then, they build battery-powered DC motor boats – using skills also learned sophomore year and were challenged to have their boats circumnavigate a kiddie pool – without human intervention. One team, lead by Taylor Ivery and engineered by Anthony Walker, blew every one else “out of the water” with their boat Minorities in Technology you can see their successful try in our Entry Event Video. Finally, on day 3, Mr. Charles revealed the project; students will engineer biofuels in Chemistry and design a CAD model for a plant that will scale up biofuel-making operations. They will create a 3D version of this plant as a 3D print or diorama. In English, after a deep dive in America’s relationship with corn and ethanol, they will create an argument to pitch their biodiesel plant to a team of scientists. In History, after their STAAR test, students will create an interactive timeline showcasing major events in the development of biofuels. Please enjoy our Entry Event Video!

Senior News and Information

Submit Your Acceptances! Apply for Scholarships!



Congratulations to our seniors! They have been hard at work completing college applications. We only have a handful of students still working on their first college application. Acceptances are starting to come in! Seniors should be reporting their acceptances on this google form after uploading the required information on the senior check-out form. Student acceptances will be posted on our college wall!


Seniors should also be working on scholarship applications. They are required to complete at least one every two weeks through their PBL Skills class. Scholarship opportunities can be found here.

Senior Dues - Must be paid by April 9th to Attend Prom

Senior dues cover graduation ceremony costs, a professional graduation photo on stage, the yearbook, a graduation cap and gown, the diploma cover, a senior class panoramic picture, senior t-shirt, senior breakfast, prom, senior picnic (or other fun selected activity), and more senior week activities. 


Senior students should see their dean if there are any economic concerns and make sure they have completed the Socioeconomic Form. Visit our website for more information. 

PTO News

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Additional Information

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Energy is a proud recipient of the 2016 National Merit Awards


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Energy is a public school in the Houston Independent School District


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Energy is an active participant with the district's Canvas initiative


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A special thanks to this week's spotlighted sponsors: