More than 650 HISD parents and students representing the HIPPY (Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) program participated in an educational field trip on Sunday to Old MacDonald’s Farm in Humble.

The HIPPY program is a parent involvement organization that helps parents prepare their children, ages 3 to 5, for success in school. The program also helps parents to be effective teachers in the home.

While at Old MacDonald’s Farm, parents and students enjoyed a picnic lunch. After lunch, parents and children were able to participate in many activities—horseback riding, volleyball games, a petting zoo, climbing sand dunes, and swimming. The trip was sponsored by private grants and donations.

In order to attend the trip, parents and their children needed to successfully complete the 30-week HIPPY curriculum. HIPPY home instructors visit the homes of participating families on a weekly basis to review and deliver a weeklong lesson plan.

The HIPPY Program is sponsored by principals and is currently at twelve schools—Brookline, Coop, DeChaumes, De Zavala, Farias, Foster, Garden Oaks, Garcia, J.P. Henderson, J.R. Harris, Lantrip, and Roosevelt.

To learn more about the HIPPY Program, please contact Maria D. Santos at 713-556-7155 or msantos1@houstonisd.org.