February 6, 2019

Artists ride away with a win

Four NISD high school art students (pictured) were named “at large” winners in the Western Art Show sponsored by the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Each will receive a $4,000 scholarship. There were more than 500 entries in the competition.

Winning artists are Kathryn Taylor, 12th grade, Communications Arts HS; Aleena Moreno, 12th grade, Taft HS; Randall Toscano, 12th grade, Clark HS; and Gabriella Castro, 11th grade, Harlan HS. Art teachers are Alexander Viguerie, CAHS and Taft HS; Leslie Matiacio, Clark HS; and Mandy Clarson, Harlan HS.

NISD artists paint to musicNISD artists showed that they could paint to music when they participated in the 45th annual Paint to Music contest sponsored by the San Antonio Symphony and Symphony League. NISD had 77 winners from 18 elementary schools, including three top prize winners.

They were Lorena Owen, 4th grader from Colonies North ES; Melani Moreno, 5th grader from Colonies North ES; and Zoey Maschek, 4th grader from Kallison ES. Art teachers are Lisa Duck-Fuentes, Colonies North ES; and Valerie Martinez, Kallison ES.

Elementary students were invited to create art based on excerpts of symphonic music. The winning students were recognized during a symphony performance of the same musical selection.

For a list of all NISD winners, click here.

Students share love of reading with furry friends“Reading to a four-legged friend can often be less intimidating than reading in a classroom in front of adults and peers,” said Monica Sanchez, librarian at Martin ES.

The school formed the PAWS to Reading Book Club where students go once a month to the San Antonio Humane Society on Fredericksburg Road to share the love of reading with furry friends.

“Students gain confidence in their reading and it also helps calm the animals waiting to be adopted,” Sanchez said. “It is a win-win for our students and the animals.”

“After all, what’s better on a cold day than snuggling up to a warm furry friend and reading a good book?” Sanchez added.

Pictured are third graders Matthew Simpson (nose to nose with a feline) and Lana Medina.

Timberwilde Secret Agents called into actionWhat do you do when the campus principal goes missing? You call in special agents to investigate.

Third graders from Timberwilde ES were called into action when Principal Wendy Tiemann went missing. Practicing skills like inferring and drawing conclusions based on the crime scene, the students pieced together all the clues and deduced who they thought might be guilty

of the “abduction.” They confronted the suspect who “confessed” and their principal was located and the case was solved.

“Our third grade teachers are so creative and plan fun activities like this with our students all year,” says Reading Specialist Lori Markos.

Pictured is third grader Maxx Maldonado.

GRANT OF THE WEEK

NISD video of the week

PERK OF THE WEEKSan Antonio Commanders discounted ticketsThe new football team has joined forces with the Northside Education Foundation (NEF) as the NEF 5K Kickoff Sponsor and is offering a NISD discount of up to 25 percent off tickets to their first two home games, Feb. 9 and 17 at the Alamodome. Tickets are selling fast! Buy yours here. Northside Alternative MS

The whole NEF Apple family (Annie, Eddie, and Junior) were on the move this past week when the NEF Prize Patrol made surprise visits to 25 campuses awarding $96,000 in Innovation Grants to 30 employees. Lisa Tellez, a teacher at Northside Alternative MS, received a grant to pay for classroom materials that will encourage mindful decision-making. Pictured are (from l-r) Counselor Michelle Farias, Principal Anthony Persyn, Lisa Tellez, and Vice Principal Ken Noles.

Jordan MS Students at Jordan MS celebrated World Read Aloud Day by participating in a variety of activities. They created play-doh characters, added their favorite book/quote to a mural, wrote poetry, and created paper slide videos to show understanding of story elements. Students also spent time sharing book recommendations through the use of book talks. Pictured are students in Sandy Anderson’s reading class showing a few of their favorite books and their mural.

Neff MSThe Neff MS community came together recently for a campus beautification and food distribution event. Students, parents, and staff volunteered their time to spruce up the district’s oldest middle school by spreading mulch, trimming shrubs, pulling weeds, and picking up trash.

Also participating were State Rep. Trey Martinez Fisher, a Neff alumnus, who planted a pecan tree; and State Sen. Jose Menendez and County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez who pitched in to help distribute food to more than 250 families in need.

Pictured are Assistant Principal Nicole Gomez, Academic Dean Dr. Erin McKinney, Mario Obledo Jr., Sen. Menendez, Commissioner Rodriguez, Principal Yvonne Correa, Rep. Martinez Fischer, Vice Principal Christina Sanchez, and Kelly Rasti.

Morgan’s Wonderland Community Based InstructionMorgan’s Wonderland offers grant assistance to Title 1 school classrooms that practice inclusion. Click here for more information or contact the Grants and Recognitions Department at 210-397-8562.

A student-run food pantry at Rawlinson MS, a parade befitting a Super Bowl local hero at Jay HS, and the littlest Boldt Mavericks attend story time – This is Northside. Click here to view this week’s featured video.

February 4-8, 2019Thank you to our 294 school counselors who provide “lessons for life” every day for NISD students and staff.