Southwest ISD Points of Pride
August 22nd, 2023
September 22, 2023
Welcome to Points of Pride, our weekly district e-newsletter featuring highlights from around Southwest Independent School District. If you have a story or highlight that you would like to submit, email communications@swisd.net.
This Week's "Attend to Win" Winners!
We celebrate students and classes with perfect attendance throughout the district this week. Dr. Ball and our team enjoyed visiting various students across the district and delivering treats to our school campuses. We want to extend a special thank you to the Southwest Education Foundation for generously sponsoring the perfect attendance prizes.
During our visits, we handed out plenty of popsicles to keep things cool, and we're thrilled to announce that two fortunate individuals are going home with fantastic prizes. Congratulations to Martha Ortiz, who won a beautiful dollhouse and Miracle Battle and is now the proud owner of a brand-new iPad! Your attendance dedication is commendable, and we're excited to celebrate your achievements.
CAST STEM is Moving to Palo Alto College
This week, the Alamo Colleges Board gave the green light to move CAST STEM High School to Palo Alto College!
This incredible partnership between Palo Alto College, Southwest ISD, and CASTSchools is set to revolutionize education by seamlessly blending college and career opportunities.
Starting in January 2024, our fantastic CAST STEM Juniors and Seniors will be making the move, while our 9th and 10th-grade stars will join them in August 2024 for a complete school relocation.
We can't wait to see what the future holds at our new home at Palo Alto College! Read the full story here.
Sneak Peak at SWHS Stadium Press Box Renovation
We're giving you a sneak peek at the future SWHS Stadium Press Box renovation. Architects just revealed the incredible designs at this week's board meeting, and we're thrilled to announce that the Schematic Design drawings, developed in collaboration with architects, have received board approval.
With a budget of around $5.5 million, this project will be funded by the 2023 Bond funds. We've worked hard with the dedicated District staff and architects to meet the program and design requirements for this exciting transformation. Stay tuned for more updates on this fantastic project!
Employee of the Month: Noe Manrrique
We are thrilled to announce that Mr. Manrrique has been honored as the 'Employee of the Month' at Kriewald School of the Arts. Mr. Manrrique serves as an instructional paraprofessional and received this well-deserved recognition after being nominated by our principal, Rosie Hidalgo. Ms. Hidalgo described Manrrique as a "true humanitarian." He goes above and beyond in the workplace. She described him as a perfect example of a service leader to the campus. "His Commitment to Service is demonstrated daily in the positive and supportive relationships he creates with staff, students, parents, and the school community in general." Congratulations Mr. Manrrique!
Unleash the Spirit: SWL Homecoming Pep Rally
The Southwest Legacy Titans hosted their Homecoming Pep Rally this morning. Faculty, students, and parents showed school spirit and support for the football team tonight. They had great performances and introduced the Homecoming court representatives. The Titans will play Laredo Cigarroa at 7 p.m. at Titan Stadium. Good Luck, Titans!
Southwest ISD Nabs Honored With 2 Outstanding Awards From Mexican American School Board Association, Student Performances Delight Attendees
Southwest ISD secured not one but TWO prestigious Mexican American School Board Association (MASBA) awards! Our Warrior Program shines as the Outstanding Cultural Initiative, a testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. But that's not all - our incredible school board members have clinched the title of Outstanding District Board! Their dedication fuels our mission every day.
During the conference, Southwest ISD students showcased their talents in various ways. One highlight was the Mariachis from SW Legacy HS serenading Congressman Julian Castro on his birthday with "Las Mañanitas" on Thursday. On Friday night, the Los Delfines Ballet Folklorico group from Sky Harbour Elementary wowed the audience at the gala. Additionally, Kaitlyn Hall, a student at SWHS, delivered a compelling presentation about her experiences in a Texas public school. The conference also featured the artwork of Catalina Cantu, a SWHS student, which was auctioned, highlighting her exceptional talent.
MASBA launched the MASBA Recognition of Excellence Awards last year to recognize outstanding achievements and share best practices within public school districts. MASBA is a voluntary, non-profit, statewide education association that has served local Texas school boards since 1970.
Hoops, Skills, and Smiles
Head basketball coach Michael Hernandez and Legacy coaches held basketball camps over the last few weeks for SWL feeder elementaries. The goal of the camps was to introduce basketball to future titans. During these camps, the students learned drills, skills, and teamwork. Parents enjoyed watching their children engage and learn a new sport. It was a successful camp that equipped the students with skills and values that could benefit them in many areas of life.
SWHS & SWL Baseball and Softball Fields Receiving Updates
Get ready for a transformed baseball and softball experience at Southwest High School and SW Legacy High School! We're thrilled to announce major upgrades for all our fields, promising an enhanced sporting season ahead. Construction is already underway, and we're on track to have our fields equipped with brand-new turf just in time for the first pitches. But that's not all – all our stadiums will also boast cutting-edge video boards, adding to the excitement on and off the field! These renovations mark a significant milestone for SWHS & SWL, and we can't wait to see what our athletes achieve on these upgraded surfaces. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare for an incredible season ahead, including sneak peeks at the Southwest Legacy fields.
Homegrown: Ryann Rivera
We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their accomplishments. ‘Homegrown' is our weekly segment highlighting successful Southwest ISD alumni who work for SWISD. We also examine how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. This week, we interviewed Ryann Rivera, School Crossing Guard/Lunch Monitor at Scobee Middle School.
Rivera shared how she was influenced to work with SWISD, "I could also make the difference alongside the teachers that made a difference for me." She also shared how working at SWISD, makes her feel at home. "I feel comfort and a sense of home."
If you would like to nominate someone or participate in this segment, please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net.
Spicewood Park Elementary Front Office Staff
Warm smiles welcome you at the front office of Spicewood Park Elementary. Let us introduce Rose Gutierrez, the PEIMS Clerk; Diana Lopez, the Campus Secretary; and Anabel De la Rosa, the Admin Clerk, proudly displaying their college school spirit from UIW, OLLU, and Baylor.
Ms. Rose, reminiscing about her high school days as an office assistant in the attendance office, has come a long way to become the SPE PEIMS Clerk today. She also doubles as the Panthers' cheer coach, allowing students to showcase their talents beyond the classroom.
Ms. Diana, dedicated to creating a positive experience for all visitors at SPE's front office, especially those students who walk in with smiles or tears, aims to uplift them for a great day. Her own school memories are filled with the hard work that earned her good grades throughout her academic journey.
For Ms. Anabel, her most cherished moment was being the sole gifted student in her entire 3rd-grade class at elementary school. She feels grateful to be a part of the puzzle that impacts students' lives at SPE.
Wishing you all an outstanding school year and a heartfelt thank you for your dedication to Spicewood Park Elementary in SWISD.
SWISD Teacher Feature: Viviana Rodriguez
Welcome to the SWISD Teacher Feature, where we take a ‘behind the curtain’ look at some of the amazing teachers in the district.
In this week's Teacher Feature, we visit Sky Harbour Elementary School to get to know 5th Grade Teacher Ms. Viviana Rodriguez. Ms. Rodriquez has spent her entire 11-year teaching career in SWISD at the same elementary school she attended.
Many teachers are motivated by a desire to give back to the next generation of students, often influenced by their own positive experiences with inspiring educators during their own schooling. A remarkable example of this cycle occurs when a teacher returns to teach at the same school they once attended.
Ms. Rodriguez, a former Sky Harbour Dolphin, was a reserved student who diligently followed instructions and enjoyed assisting her teachers. Her fondest subject was Reading, but she reflects on her wish to have savored more of her childhood instead of rushing into adulthood. Nevertheless, her journey towards becoming a teacher was significantly shaped by one remarkable educator, her 5th-grade teacher at Sky Harbour, Mrs. Robledo. Ms. Rodriguez reminisces that Mrs. Robledo "made learning enjoyable and nurtured strong relationships with her students."
Today, Ms. Rodriguez follows in the footsteps of her inspiring teachers, nurturing strong relationships and instilling in her students that making mistakes is acceptable, as these errors contribute to learning and improvement. She strives to maintain a dynamic and engaging learning environment by fostering collaboration among her students, allowing them to learn from one another. For Ms. Rodriguez, the classroom is a source of inspiration as she witnesses her students grow and excel in their educational journey. Who knows, perhaps she will catalyze another aspiring and remarkable future teacher.
Ms. Rodriguez, thank you for all that you do. We wish you and your students all the best.
If you would like to suggest a teacher for us to feature, you can email your nominations to communications@swisd.net with the subject line: Teacher Feature.