NISD Lessons

Northside Independent School District • San Antonio’s Premier School DistrictMay 2015

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LessonsLessonsBanner year in NISD

I continue to be amazed and proud of what we do in Northside ISD. I am referring to the students, staff and our community. Our theme this school year has been “In Northside, It’s Personal,” and because everything we do is personal, it becomes a point of pride that we celebrate. Here are some examples of the hundreds of accolades:• Brandeis High School‘s Lizbeth Perez:

One of 91 students in the world who earned a perfect score on the Advanced Placement Spanish exam.

• Library Palooza: This event, which started with a few dozen readers and authors, grew to over 1,000 in attendance this year to learn and appreciate authors and their writings.

• Mayoral Forum: A youth oriented Mayoral Candidates’ Forum was organized with young people in mind. All the candidates praised the work of the Garcia Middle School students and staff who staged one of the earliest of the forums.

• Academy named for founder: When students needed someone to take a chance on them, Irene Chavez did just that. Now thousands of students have a high school diploma because of the school’s founder’s commitment to at-risk children. NISD recognized Chavez by renaming the Excel Academy in her honor in a standing-room only event.

• Access to college: Because NISD wants every student who wants to go to college to have that opportunity, the School Board picked up the tab for the college entrance exam for all juniors.

• Swimming and diving destination: With the opening of the Northside Swim Center, NISD has become a national and international destination for competitive swimmers and divers; in fact four major competitions will be in NISD in the next year. NISD was also selected as a training site for the US Olympic Team as they head to the Rio Olympics.

• Incredible community support: The Walter Gerlach Show and Sale raised more than $600,000 in college scholarships for Northside students. Over the last decade, these community volunteers and business people have raised $14.5 million for agriculture science students!

• Academic powerhouse: The Warren High School Academic Decathlon students continue to be a powerhouse. This year they won the regional title in the large school division.

• Heroes for Health: Organized by Board President Bobby Blount, hundreds of “Heroes” went to every elementary school in Bexar County to talk to children about the importance of healthy eating and exercise. This unprecedented effort required the support of 16 school districts.

So while this short list only gives you a taste of the efforts of many to make NISD the premier school district in Texas, please congratulate and offer support to the thousands of staff, students, and community members in your neighborhood schools who achieve without expectation of recognition. What a wonderful 2014-2015 school year it has been. Because “In Northside, It’s Personal.” n

n By Brian T. Woods, Ed.D., Superintendent

or the next two years, Taft High School will cap attendance. This means that any new-to-Taft students who move

into certain parts of the Taft attendance zone will be temporarily capped (moved) to Brennan High School which still has some room and is close to Taft.

The cap is necessary because next year Taft’s enrollment will be almost 3,100 students and will continue to grow to about 3,500 students before the next high school opens to provide relief. The Taft High School zone is the fastest growing area in Northside ISD.

Between 150 and 200 students new to the Taft attendance area will be affected each year for two years until the new and yet-to-be-named “Kallison Ranch area” high school opens in summer 2017. All Students who are capped to Brennan will be provided bus transportation. (See map on next page)

This cap will only affect students who become new residents in the identified zones on or after June 5, 2015. Middle school students in areas feeding Taft are eligible to attend Taft providing they are residents in these areas BEFORE June 5, 2015. Some students who move into capped neighborhoods of Briscoe, Zachry and Connally middle schools could be affected

when they become freshmen.To determine if your home address is

impacted, go to www.nisd.net/boundaries-and-buses and enter your address.

NISD recently broke ground on the new “Kallison” high school which is located about five miles west of Taft off FM471W at the Medina Valley

ISD boundary line. The Culebra Road. (FM471) corridor, as well as the Potranco Road corridor outside Loop

1604, are both high growth areas. “Kallison” will become the District’s 11th comprehensive high school.

After “Kallison” opens, students who were capped have the option to complete their education at

Brennan. However, if the capped area is part of the approved boundary change to “Kallison,” the capped students would be required to attend “Kallison.” The official attendance zone for “Kallison” will not be

approved until spring 2016 following a public hearing.“While it may sound confusing,” says Debbie McNierney,

Director of Resource Planning, “the plan is well thought out and we will be glad to visit with any family who has questions.”

The last time NISD capped a high school was when Stevens High School was capped before Brennan High School opened to provide overcrowding relief. The Resource Planning Office can be reached at 210-397-8588. n

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NISD opens 75th elementary school – Northside ISD’s 75th elementary, Boldt Elementary School, will open in August, 2015. The school is located on Hollimon Parkway, off of FM 1957 on the far west side of the district. The school relieves overcrowding at Lieck and Langley elementary schools. Veteran Principal Debra Piñon (pictured) will serve as the school’s first principal. A formal dedication ceremony is planned at the campus for Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

Overcrowding causes students to enroll at another high school

2Northside Independent School District • San Antonio, TexasNorthside Independent School District • San Antonio’s Premier School District May 2015

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oseph H. Medina replaces George Lynn Britton,

Jr. as District 1 Trustee, and Gerald B. Lopez replaces Trustee Bennie L. Cole as the District 2 Trustee. They will be sworn in later this month. Cole has served on the Board since 2011 and Britton has served since 2003.

Lopez, 43, works as the Chief of Staff for City Councilman Ray Lopez (no relation). Medina is an educator in Southwest ISD.

Also, reelected to the Board for four-year terms were M’Lissa M. Chumbley, District 3, and Robert Blount, Jr., District 4. n

n March, all Northside ISD elementary schools and our 51,000 elementary school students

exercised together and engaged in an important topic during the Bexar County “Heroes for Health” event.

The San Antonio Fire Department, San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office,

Northside ISD Police Department, other local fire departments, and military

service men and women promoted a positive message of health and fitness in their own unique ways.

These “Heroes” were great role models for our students. Our campus leaders and elementary physical education teachers provided the leadership and creativity to make the “Heroes” feel at home and made the day more successful than we imagined. They also guided our guests to make the information and lessons very relevant to our young students.

In Northside, we welcome our community to be involved and engaged with our students. We want our students to have life-changing and transformational experiences that will inspire them to do and be their best.

Our staff and teachers are prepared to inspire all of our youth and know that community partners and involvement are needed to truly make a positive impact on all 103,000 students.

While our definition of “Heroes” for one day included public service entities, we know that the true education of a youth is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This takes the dedication of parents, teachers, relatives, neighbors, coaches, and friends to address the multitude of needs and issues that our youth face.

It takes a heroic effort from us all.

Editor’s note: Blount organized the county-wide effort. n

n By Robert Blount, Jr., School Board President

Meet your elected school trustees

Joseph H. MedinaDistrict 1

First elected: 2015

Gerald B. LopezDistrict 2

First elected: 2015

M’Lissa M. ChumbleyDistrict 3

First elected: 1995

Robert Blount, Jr.District 4

First elected: 1999

Katie N. ReedDistrict 5

First elected: 1990

Dr. Carol HarleDistrict 6

First Elected: 2013

Karen FreemanDistrict 7

First elected: 2005

Community partners step up to make lasting impression on students

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Lopez and Medina to be NISD’s newest Trustees

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Capped Taft HS Areas

Congratulations to 6,400 graduates!Catch them live on the web

n June, more than 6,400 students will graduate from Northside high schools

and the Reddix Center. The Reddix Center graduation will be June 3 at Paul Taylor Field House, and the graduation ceremony for Health Careers High School will be June 4, also at Paul Taylor Field House. Graduation ceremonies for the District’s comprehensive high schools will be held June 8-12 at the Alamodome. The Alamodome (not NISD) charges $15 per car for parking.

Graduation DVDs may be purchased at nisd.net/schools/graduations/ceremony for $20 plus a processing fee per transaction for online orders. In addition, all the graduations will be streamed live on the Internet from www.nisd.net. n

2015 GraduationsHeld at Paul Taylor Field HouseJune 3 at 7 p.m. – Reddix CenterJune 4 at 7 p.m. – Health Careers HSHeld at the AlamodomeJune 8 at 3 p.m. – Marshall HSJune 8 at 7 p.m. – Brandeis HSJune 9 at 3 p.m. – Clark HSJune 9 at 7 p.m. – Brennan HSJune 10 at 3 p.m. – Jay HS/Jay

Science & Engineering AcademyJune 10 at 7 p.m. – Stevens HSJune 11 at 3 p.m. – O’Connor HSJune 11 at 7 p.m. – Taft HS/

Communications Arts HS June 12 at 3 p.m. – Warren HS/

Construction Careers Academy June 12 at 7 p.m. – Holmes HS/

Business Careers HS

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George Lynn Britton, Jr.

Bennie L. Cole


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015 is the ‘Year of Swim’ in Northside ISD with four prestigious national and international events scheduled at the state-of-the-art Northside Swim Center. In April, the Swim Center

hosted the U.S. Masters Swimming Spring National Championships. The three other major events scheduled in 2015 are:

• Speedo Junior National Championships – July 30- Aug. 3• The Phillips 66 National Championships – Aug. 6-10• Deaf Swimming World Championships – Aug. 17-22

In addition to the 2015 events, next summer the United States Olympic Swimming Team will train at the Northside Swim Center July 13-21 before the athletes leave to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the training camp, area swimmers and sports fans will have the opportunity to meet the 2016 U.S. Olympic Swimming Team, as one practice will be open to spectators, followed by an autograph session.

The Northside Swim Center opened in June 2013 and the outdoor facility is the only one of its kind in the central United States. It is located at the Farris Athletic Complex on Loop 1604 between Bandera and Hausman roads. n

NISD students invited to White House Science Fairt’s been a pretty exciting year for Hobby Middle School seventh graders Anthony Holmes and Kalista Ybarra and sixth graders Madelyn Hickman and Jacob Rubio. In January, their science

experiment “Crystal Formation” went to space. In March, they took the results to the White House Science Fair hosted by President Obama.

“We could not be more proud of these students and their teachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods. “They have shown such persistence and determination as they first created this science experiment last spring and then finally saw it head to space in January. To be invited to show off what they have learned at the White House Science Fair is an incredible achievement and a first for Northside ISD.”

The science fair featured projects, designs, and experiments from students from across the United States who excel in science, technology, engineering, and math. The students were interviewed by icon Bill Nye the Science Guy, and were in the audience when the President spoke to the group which was live streamed on the web.

The students’ experiment spent one month aboard the International Space Station in January, as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program Mission 6. It was actually their second attempt to send their work to space. Last October, an Orbital rocket containing the original experiment exploded on takeoff in Virginia. n

Pictured in front of the White House are (from l-r) Madelyn Hickman, Tony Holmes, Teacher Serena Connally, Kalista Ybarra, and Jacob Rubio.

onstruction Careers Academy, Stevens High School, and Mead Elementary School are

champions in the 2015 Silver and Black Give Back Team Up Challenge and each will receive $20,000 to continue their community service projects.

Last fall, the schools were among 20 local schools named semifinalists in the Team Up Challenge. They received $2,500 each to kick-start a community service project. Teams presented a final report on their projects to a panel of judges at the AT&T Center, and from those presentations, five champions were selected.

Construction Careers Academy was a first time semifinalist in the Team Up Challenge this year for their Parade of Homes building competition. Students have been constructing homes from shipping containers.

Stevens High School is a Team Up champion for the second year in a row. Their project this year, “Transformers: the Fit Falcons,” was a series of healthy lifestyle events and classes.

The Mead Elementary School Student Council was also a first time Team Up semifinalist. Students designed a mobile library called “Sweet Stories” and purchased books and published their own fiction and non-fiction stories. They brought the mobile library out into the community and held storytelling events to promote literacy.

The Team Up Challenge is an initiative of Silver & Black Give Back, and is a youth-led service program. Student projects address needs that will help improve their community in one of five categories: Arts & Culture, Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, or Uniformed Services. San Antonio Spurs and Rampage players have worked alongside the students to help bring their projects to life. n

Spurs award three NISD schools $60,000 in Team Up Challenge

Northside Swim Center becomes center of universe for swimming

I t took three tries but the weather finally stepped up and hit a grand slam as

rededication ceremonies were held for the newly redesigned Inselmann Baseball Field.

Originally built and dedicated in 1977, Inselmann Baseball Field was completely rebuilt with an increased field size to match that of nearby Baseball Field #2, which was completed in 2006.

Family members representing namesake Jake

Inselmann, who died in 1975, were on hand for the ceremonies as were all 10 Northside baseball teams. n

Namesake Jake Inselmann’s son Jack threw out the first pitch.

Play ball! …at last

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Mead Elementary School

Stevens High School

Construction Careers Academy

he sounds of squeaking high tops and pounding basketballs on hardwood

were absent May 5 at the Paul Taylor Field House when the gym was converted into an art gallery for a dazzling night of celebration during Northside ISD’s annual Outstanding Partner-of-the-Year Awards Celebration.

The soothing sounds of Latin jazz filled the air as the District recognized 16 business and community partners for their volunteerism, expertise and commitment to the more than 103,000 students at the largest school district in South Texas.

Schools nominated more than 340 business and community partners. The top 16 were presented with their awards during the ceremony.

Partners were recognized in four categories: Outstanding Mentor or Individual, Outstanding Business or Community Organization, Outstanding Partnership Program, and Outstanding Coordinator. This year’s judges were the Texas Exes – San Antonio Chapter.

Additionally, three prestigious Superintendent’s Awards were presented to two businesses and one community organization for their 20-year partnerships with the District.

• Six Flags Fiesta Texas was recognized for supporting campuses and the Northside Education Foundation through annual ticket sales.

• Capital Group received an award for its support and commitment to Sul Ross Middle School and its extraordinary Sul Ross Scholars program.

• The Northside Education Foundation was recognized for its ongoing support of Northside ISD through its grants program.

Any individuals, businesses or community organizations interested in partnering with Northside ISD should call the Northside School-Business-Community Partnerships Office at (210) 397-8599. n

54Northside Independent School District • San Antonio, Texas

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LessonsNorthside Independent School District • San Antonio’s Premier School District May 2015

EF is selling Six Flags/Fiesta Texas one-day tickets for $33.

Proceeds benefit the Foundation and campuses selling tickets. SeaWorld tickets also are sold for $40. For more information, please call (210) 397-8599. n

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Get your discounted theme park tickets

NISD names Super Partners – Northside ISD recognized hundreds of campus volunteers and business partners who donate their time and energy to enrich the education of thousands of NISD students. District-wide winners were selected from among the campus winners and were individually recognized at

the awards reception by NISD Superintendent Brian Woods and members of the Board of Trustees. District Partner-of-the-Year winners will now compete at the state level in the Texas Association of Partners in Education (TAPE) awards contest.

ArtFest showcases student artists – Original artwork from hundreds of elementary, middle, and high school students is displayed at Northside’s annual ArtFest. The event has been held for more than 20 years, and is organized by school feeder patterns to give parents an opportunity to see their children’s artwork.

NEF Prize Patrol surprises staff with $160K

n April 23, the NEF Prize Patrol, comprised of community and business

volunteers and beloved NEF apple mascots Eddie, Annie, and Eddie Jr., visited 24 campuses, surprising staff with grant awards totaling $160,000. Grants are funded by various NEF fundraising activities such as the 5K and golf tournament. Congrats to NISD faculty and staff who’ll use NEF grants to enrich student learning! n

Michael Elementary Teacher Elida Madrigal is super happy to see the NEF Prize Patrol.

Joe Tedesco with NISD Technology Services shows Apple Eddie Jr. lots of love.

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NEF 5K Run/Walk makes a big “splash”he Northside Education Foundation 5K Run/Walk and Family Wellness Fair, presented by CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System, took place May 2 at SeaWorld. Almost 5,000 people registered for the event

and nearly 4,000 attended. This is the event’s highest attendance to date.Money raised helps fund teacher grants and other initiatives for students. In addition, NEF awarded

$19,000 in cash awards to team captains across 64 campuses and sites for their efforts to boost registration.The highest percent participation and largest team trophy went to Beard ES with 328 participants, and the

Northside Learning Center won the same honors for a non-campus team with 134 participants. In addition, the NISD Transportation-South team won the coveted Spirit Stick. n

The Northside Museum Association held its annual retiree luncheon on April 14 at the Northside Activity Center. Hundreds of guests attended and caught up with lifelong friends and colleagues.

Once again, the NEF ‘Fore’ Education Golf Tournament was a sold out event. On April 13, some of NISD’s best supporters teed off to raise funds that generate NEF teacher grants. NISD Trustee Katie Reed makes a long drive for NEF.

NISD recognizes top business and community partners

Outstanding Business or Community Organization

• Prairie View A&M Co-Op Extension Program – Westwood Terrace Elementary School

• Southwest Research Institute – Hobby Middle School

• Gladwin Paint Company – Holmes High School

• Locke Hill Student Alumni Group – Northside Alternative Middle School-N

Outstanding Coordinator

• Richard and Meriam Garcia – Myers Elementary School

• Bill Hickey – Jefferson Middle School• Anne Ager – Clark High School• Alejandro Molina – Passmore Elementary

School Learning Tree

Outstanding Mentor or Individual

• Teresa Wehrman – Carnahan Elementary School

• 1st Lt. Geoffrey Pamerleau – Briscoe Middle School

• Carl McClean – Construction Careers Academy

• Gary Wade – Northside Alternative Middle School-North

Outstanding Partnership Program

• Mander Automotive – Helotes Elementary School

• UTSA Women’s Soccer Team LEADERS – Jefferson Middle School

• Business Careers High School Mentor Program – Business Careers High School

• Mimi’s Barbacoa, Taco, Tamales Y Mas – Reddix Center n

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s summer approaches, families need to remember to check their students’ immunizations to be prepared to return to school for 2015-16 school year. Some

students may not have the requisite number of shots and not know it due to the state increasing the number of shots required at various grade levels.

Northside ISD continues to enforce its “No Shots, No School” policy. Texas law requires all public school children have current immunizations in order to attend class. Students who come to school on the first day of classes and don’t have up-to-date shots will have to wait in the school office for their parents to pick them up and take them to get their shots.

NO SHOTS, NO SCHOOL in ’15-’16

• DTP/DTaP/DT/TD/Tdap: Five doses are required for entry of kindergarten students unless the fourth dose was received on or after the 4th birthday. Doses are also required for students entering pre-kindergarten – school nurse will evaluate. Students age 7, starting their vaccine, are required to have three doses. One booster dose of a Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis-containing vaccine is required for entry into 7th grade if at least 5 years have passed since the last dose of a Tetanus-containing vaccine. Grades 8-12 require a booster dose of Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis-containing vaccine every 10 years.

• Polio: Four doses of Polio vaccine are required for kindergarten students unless the third dose was received after the 4th birthday. Doses are also required for students entering pre-kindergarten – school nurse will evaluate. It can be any combination of OPV or IPV. Not required of 18-year-old students.

• Measles/Mumps/Rubella: Two doses are required. The first dose shall be administered on or after the 1st birthday. The second dose is to be administered by age 5 or entry into kindergarten. One dose is required for pre-kindergarten.

• HIB: Three doses of Haemophilus Influenza type B vaccine and a booster

if given before the child is 15 months or one dose of vaccine if given after 15 months. HIB vaccine is given through 4 years of age and is required for students in pre-kindergarten.

• Hepatitis Type A: Two doses of Hepatitis A are required for students in grades PK, K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The second dose of Hepatitis A is administered six months after the administration of the first dose.

• Hepatitis Type B: Three doses of Hepatitis B are required for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

• Varicella (Chicken Pox): Two doses of Varicella vaccine received on or after the 1st birthday are required for students in grades K through 12. If the student has had Varicella (Chicken Pox) illness, please request a form from the school nurse to validate illness. One dose is required for students entering pre-kindergarten.

• Pneumococcal (PCV7): PCV7 is mandated for all students 3 through 4 years of age. The school nurse will evaluate the number of doses needed or if the student is complete to enter pre-kindergarten.

• Menactra (Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine): This vaccine protects students 11 years of age and older from Meningitis. One dose is required for students in grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. n

Immunization Requirements for 2015-2016

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ixth grade Rawlinson Middle School student Mason Taylor can interact with his teachers

and fellow students at school without ever leaving home.

Mason, who was diagnosed with leukemia when he was a fifth grader attending Locke Hill Elementary School, was one the first students in the district to use a VGo robot that allows him to stay connected with friends and current in his studies without exposing his weakened immune system. NISD now has three VGo robots for use in secondary schools and has purchased six Kubi “tablebots” to use in elementary schools next year.

According to Anna Draker, 504/Homebound Coordinator, the district’s Homebound Program has embraced technology as a way to keep students engaged in school. “We can keep the students involved “in” school “at” home, which also helps with the transition back to school once the student is released from their medical provider,” Draker said.

“In Homebound there are many students who want to attend school but, because of their medical condition, they are not able to,” Draker said. “But with the support of these robots and their interactive tools, some students are able to virtually attend their classes, and interact with their teachers and classmates.”

The 19-pound robot moves from class to class, with the help of a student handler. The homebound student controls the robot using the Internet, computer, and

webcam from home. The student can zoom in and out, and even take pictures of notes on the board or a PowerPoint presentation.

Draker first “met” Mason as he logged into the robot for the start of his first day of school at Rawlinson Middle School. They walked together to his first class. “It was amazing to watch Mason start waving to his classmates as he saw them entering the computer lab,” Draker said. “And, the students responded with excitement to see their classmate. Without skipping a beat, Mason followed the class into the lab, and was partnered with a student at a computer.”

The robot has made all the difference in the world for Mason

and he only hopes that other students benefit from the technology. “It’s like we’re not being left out,” Mason said. “We aren’t just getting homebound instruction, but we are going to class and seeing our friends.”

“The VGo robot opened up some of that social world that he was missing,” says Mason’s mother Beth Taylor. “He gets to see their faces, talk to them, and walk down the hallway with them

VGo robots are also being used by students at Brandeis and Marshall high schools.

“The young man using the VGo at our school has totally embraced the technology,” says Brandeis High School Principal Dr. Geri Berger. “He is a very motivated individual who doesn’t want to miss any school, so he is ‘attending’ his classes full time despite his illness.” n

Technology keeps students in school at home

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One of the student handlers, sixth grade Rawlinson Middle School student William McNierney, with Mason and the VGo robot

Homebound teachers are classroom teachers, not tutorsH omebound instruction is nothing new. Any

qualified student who has a medical condition that confines him or her to home for an extended time can receive services at a minimum of four hours a week. Five full-time homebound teachers are on staff, with four certified in general education areas, such as English, Math, Science, History, and the fifth teacher is a certified special education Applied Learning Environment (ALE) teacher.

These teachers visit the homes of the students, working in conjunction with their home campus teachers, to help students stay on track. “They are not tutors,” Draker said. “They provide classroom instruction, so if a teacher is getting into an area that

they aren’t familiar with, they will actually go to the classroom to learn the assignment, and then teach it to the homebound student.”

And, homebound students are not exempt from STAAR tests. “Test officials were sent to homes to administer the STAAR exams recently,” Draker said.

“The bottom line is that Northside is going to do all we can to provide the resources for a student to be successful,” said Don Schmidt Assistant Superintendent for Student, Family and Community Services. “We want students engaged and in school.”

“It is our job to keep students in school, even if they are at home,” Draker concluded. n


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ust as the school year winds down, a heavy summer season of construction on renovation projects at existing schools, new roofs at many schools, as well as construction of hundreds more classrooms,

gears up.“It’s important that we stay on schedule,” said Leroy San Miguel, Assistant Superintendent for

Facilities & Operations. “The community entrusted us through a vote of confidence in bond elections to ensure that new classrooms come on line and renovations of existing schools be ready on time for the students of NISD.”

Northside ISD continues to be the “destination district” for families. Even though there are 15 other school districts in Bexar County, more than 50 percent of all the new single family housing in Bexar County is built within the boundaries of NISD, the fourth largest public school system in Texas.

For the first time in over a decade, only one new school will open in the fall. This is a result of an aggressive building program that has opened around 40 schools in the last 13 years to keep up with the demand for hundreds more classrooms. Boldt Elementary School will eventually house around 800 students and is located in Redbird Ranch in far west Bexar County.

The biggest of the projects is the construction of Northside’s newest high school, currently called by its working name, “Kallison Ranch area” high school. It will be named this summer for a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The $110.8 million project will house close to 3,000 students and will open in summer 2017. The school is located about 5 miles outside of Loop 1604 off FM 471 W.

Here is a brief summary of some of the dozens of projects currently underway or in the design phase. For more information, go to nisd.net/bond.• You are on camera. Approximately 7,000 high definition security cameras are in

operation throughout NISD schools. These are part of a multi-pronged security program that includes access control, intrusion alarms, and glass break sensors aimed to keep students and staff safe.

• Get buzzed in. Work continues on the installation of bullet-resistant security lobbies at eight elementary schools where visitors must present credentials before getting buzzed in. The outer security lobbies provide an additional layer of security. Eight more schools are slated to get the lobbies next year.

• Let’s play ball. Two athletic facilities will provide competition venues for baseball and basketball athletes. The Jake Inselmann Baseball Field located at the Hardin Athletic Complex opened this spring and the groundbreaking celebration of the Northside Sports Gym at the Farris Athletic Complex was held. The Sports Gym will augment the aging Paul Taylor Field House.

• Two more schools open in 2016. Two yet-to-be-named elementary schools, “WestPoint East area” and “FM471 N. area #3,” will be named later this summer. Both of these schools will relieve overcrowding in elementary schools in the west part of NISD. Both will house 800 students and each costs around $25 million.

• New science wing at Rudder. At a cost of $4.5 million, Rudder MS is getting a new science classroom addition. It is scheduled to open in summer 2016.

• Luna construction begins this summer. A new classroom addition at Luna MS breaks ground this summer. The $3.2 million project will be completed in summer 2016.

• New roofs are important. Roofs will be replaced this summer at six schools and facilities. These include Carson and Cody elementary schools, Jordan, Stevenson and Stinson middle schools, and Block Aquatics Center.

• Schools get security hardware. Six schools will receive upgraded door access hardware that allows teachers to lock classroom doors quickly in case of an emergency. The schools are Mary Hull Elementary, Jordan, Neff, Pease, and Stevenson middle schools, and Taft High School. Budget for this security project, which will be completed this summer, is $300,000.

• Floors are replaced. Three schools will get new floors this summer at a cost of $233,000. The schools are Clark High School and Scobee and Villarreal elementary schools. n

Massive construction projects continue on scheduleJ

he NISD Board of Trustees was one of five statewide finalists recognized among

the best boards in the state during the 14th annual H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards banquet held recently in Austin. In addition, Carol Ann Anderson, reading specialist at Aue Elementary School, was a finalist in the “Leadership Award” category, recognizing her as one of the best educators in Texas.

As a Board finalist, the district received a $5,000 grant. As a finalist in the “Leadership Award” category, Anderson was presented with a $1,000 check for herself and $1,000 for her campus.

Northside ISD was named best district in the state in 2005, the first year awards were bestowed on districts. n

(l to r) Superintendent Brian Woods, Anderson, and Aue ES Principal Maricia Gregory with H-E-Buddy

Trustees honored as H-E-B state finalists.

H-E-B honors Northside ISD as state finalist

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Kallison groundbreaking

“Kallison Ranch Area” High School

“FM471 N. #3 Area” Elementary School

“WestPoint East Area” Elementary School

Northside Sports Gym interior

Northside Sports Gym exterior


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U.S. Postage

PAIDSan Antonio, Texas

Permit No. 1975

ECRWSSPOSTAL CUSTOMER

Northside Independent School District5900 Evers Rd.San Antonio, TX78238-1699www.nisd.net

Board of Trustees

Joseph H. Medina District 1 TrusteeGerald B. Lopez District 2 Trustee

M’Lissa M. Chumbley District 3 Trustee

Robert Blount, Jr. District 4 Trustee

Katie N. Reed District 5 Trustee

Carol Harle, Ph.D. District 6 TrusteeKaren Freeman

District 7 Trustee

Administration

Brian T. Woods, Ed.D. Superintendent

Ray Galindo Deputy Superintendent

for Administration

Linda Mora, Ph.D. Deputy Superintendent

for Curriculum & Instruction

David Rastellini Deputy Superintendent

for Business & Finance

is published by the Northside ISD Communications Department. Call 397-8550.

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Printed on 100% recycled paper.

Pascual: 397-8552

Summer learning abounds at Northside ISD

New upload instructions:Go to https://texomaweb.sharefile.comEnter username [email protected] his password, CorporateImage69and it will open the Corporate Image folder.Select the NISD folder and upload files.

Aug. 24 – First Day of SchoolSept. 7 – Labor Day (Student/

Staff Holiday)Sept. 18 – Early Release Day for

elementary and middle schoolsOct. 12 – Columbus Day/Student

HolidayOct. 23 – Early Release Day for

elementary and middle schoolsNov. 23-24 – Student Holiday/

Staff Development DayNov. 25-27 – Thanksgiving BreakDec. 21-Jan. 1 – Winter BreakJan. 18 – Martin Luther King, Jr.,

Day

Jan. 29 – Early Release Day for elementary and middle schools

Feb. 15 – Student Holiday/Staff Dev./Bad Weather Makeup Day

Feb. 26 – Early Release Day for elementary and middle schools

March 14-18 – Spring BreakMarch 25 – Easter BreakMay 6 – Early Release Day for

elementary and middle schools

April 22 – Battle of FlowersMay 30 – Memorial DayJune 2 – Last Day of School (for

students)June 3 – Work Day/Bad Weather

Makeup Day

ummer is a time to catch up in your studies, learn something new, or try to

get ahead.NISD offers a wide variety of courses,

from classes to allow students to take more advanced and varied courses during the regular school year; classes needed for remediation; enrichment courses and campus-based activities that allow students to explore and have fun while learning something new.

Elementary and Middle School studentsSome students may be eligible for a tuition-

free summer school program. At the elementary level, students in K-4 will be eligible if they

are retained, and at the middle school level, students are eligible if they fail two or three core academic courses. Additionally, fifth and eighth grade students who failed the reading section of the STAAR exam will be offered accelerated instruction prior to the summer retesting dates.

High School studentsTuition-based Summer High School will

be held at Stevens High School for students needing to accelerate the accumulation of credits or to retrieve a lost credit. Accelerated Instruction for students who fail an End of Course test will be available tuition free at each comprehensive high school.

Summer Enrichment ProgramsSummer enrichment programs are offered

at various sites across the district. Most secondary schools offer a “transition camp” for incoming 6th and 9th graders. Contact your middle or high school for more information. Summer enrichment programs are sponsored by such departments as: State Compensatory Education, Special Education, Fine Arts, Bilingual/ESL and Adult and Community Education.

For additional information and course offerings, go to www.nisd.net/schools/summer. n

New campus leaders named

Manuela Haberer, formerly vice principal at Ellison Elementary School, is now principal at Boone Elementary School.

Amber Freeman, formerly vice principal at Burke Elementary School, was appointed principal at Murnin Elementary School.

Paul Moreno, formerly vice principal at Northwest Crossing Elementary School, is now principal at Northwest Crossing Elementary School.

Kendra Merrell, formerly vice principal at Oak Hills Terrace Elementary School, is now principal at Oak Hills Terrace Elementary School.

Adam Bock, formerly vice principal at Hatchett Elementary School, is now principal of Hatchett Elementary School.

Victor Raga, formerly vice principal at Colonies North Elementary School, is now principal of Raba Elementary School. n

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2015-16 NISD Calendar Highlights

Grading Periods. Schools use 6 or 9-week grading periods. Report Cards will be sent on the last day of the next week following the end of the period.

Documents

NISD Lessons