Points of Pride
Southwest ISD Newsletter
December 9, 2022
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.
Sights and Sounds - Penguin Project Woodwork
Creating buzz about the Penguin Project's upcoming production of Annie Jr. is a team effort that spans the District. Students enrolled in Southwest Highs School's Construction program have spent the last few days shaving and carving wooden penguin-shaped cutouts.
"We sketch out the penguins first, and then we cut them, but we cut a certain way so they can stand up like statues," said junior Ricardo Cabrera.
The students are constructing 30 penguins which will be distributed to various schools and departments. Staff and students will paint and decorate the penguins and display them around the District to raise awareness about the Penguin Project and its' premier production in late January.
"It's a relatively simple project, but it's for a good cause. I can't wait to see the finished project, " said Cabrera.
The Southwest ISD Penguin Project provides an opportunity for children with special needs to participate in a unique theatrical experience and an outlet for revealing their creativity and talents. To learn more about the SWISD Penguin Project, click here.
Spicewood Park Elementary's Media Club Produces Christmas News Update
A new club at Spicewood Park Elementary school is making headlines...literally. The newly established Media Club released its first news update. The Christmas Update, which can be seen below was produced and edited by students. STEM teacher Ms. Maria Garza said she came up with the club idea after watching students invest time in making and posing TikTok videos.
"I wanted to turn their interest in posting videos into a positive thing by giving students an opportunity to learn how to record, interview and edit," said Ms. Garza. So she enlisted the help of music and art teacher Mr. Vega.
The club currently consists of eight students that meet during conference time. Eventually, the club will hold after school meetings twice a week. Ms. Garza hopes more students will join. She says the students plan to conduct the morning announcement live. In addition, Ms. Garza and Mr. Vega would like to bring in news reporters as guest speakers and take field trips to local news studios.
"We want the students to have a positive experience and take pride in showcasing their school."
Circuit of the Americas Present CAST STEM the Constructor Cup Award
It was special day for students at CAST STEM High School today as representatives from Circuit of The Americas (COTA) presented CAST STEM the Constructor Cup Award.
Students competed in the first-ever Best in Texas STEM competition at the 2022 Circuit of The Americas Formula One Grand Prix, held in Austin in October. The event required students to work together to design a race car part. COTA was so impressed with the overall quality of work submitted by CAST STEM students that they created this unique award.
More than 150 students from over 50 high schools and colleges across Texas participated. CAST STEM students submitted proposals for a race car's nose cone, suspension, chassis, and gearbox parts, plus strategic worksheets simulating race weekend operations.
Students will now take the lessons learned from this competition to influence how they build the school’s fleet of electric and solar cars that will be used in future competitions.
Students made a short 4-minute video about their work, available below.
Elm Creek ES Celebrates 25th Anniversary
It was a milestone anniversary for Elm Creek Elementary School as the campus celebrated its 25 years in existence. Former and current staff and students packed the cafeteria. The school opened its doors for the first school year in the Fall of 1997. Since then, the school has had four principals. The first two principals, Ms. Tammy Brinkman and Mr. Luis Rojas joined current principal Melissa Garza on stage to tout the significant accomplishments over the years.
Student performances and food rounded out the festivities. Friday morning, staff and students gathered to bury a time capsule filled with artifacts from this school year. Here's to the great things to come over the next 25 years.
SWISD Police Officers Head to Classrooms to Connect with Students
SWISD Police are making classroom visits after wrapping up training focused on preventing drug use. Six police officers participated in Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D) training last month at McAuliffe Middle School. Twelve agencies joined the one-day, 8-hour training session, which teaches strategies to help students avoid drug use. Over the next few months, officers will visit classrooms to speak with students about the dangers of drug use.
"It's another way for our officers to build relationships and trust with our students and the community," said Sgt. Melisa Arrendondo.
L.E.A.D. is a non-profit (501C3) organization supported by dedicated police officers committed to protecting youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer/cyberbullying, and violence. Members achieve their goals by collaborating with educators, community leaders, families, and L.E.A.D. support organizations.
SWISD Embraces Alternatively Certified Teachers
It takes a special kind of person to become a teacher in this day and age. The last few years have really been a tough time for public education in Texas. As a result we are now facing a national teacher shortage. Everything from functioning through a global pandemic, being put in the middle of political ideologies and most recently, the scrutiny of school safety, have all contributed to this shortage of teachers. And as always our teachers have stood on the front lines and performed admirably providing opportunities and a first rate education for our students. But the question remains, how will the teacher shortage affect our students? To combat the current situation, SWISD has committed to maintain its high standard of academic excellence. By embracing Alternatively Certified Teachers.
Alternative certification programs offer a nontraditional route to a teaching certification that allows individuals to teach while completing their requirements for certification. These individuals must have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, be enrolled in an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) and pass the appropriate teacher certification exams. According to Assistant Superintendent of Administration and Human Resources, Frances Barcenez, “Last year SWISD began a new program to support teachers with permits and alternative certifications to become fully-certified teachers.”
Leading this work is Career Educator and Executive Director of New Teacher Mentoring & Retention, Dr. Sara McAndrew. Dr. McAndrew arranges for all of these new alternative certification teachers to receive the necessary materials, resource guides and mentoring to help the teachers gain the knowledge and experience they need to pass their certification tests. Dr. McAndrew states that the biggest barrier for most of these individuals is all of the rigorous testing that they have to master, and complete in one year, and they must do so while working with the pressures of being a first-year educator.
For Dr. McAndrew, “Working with these new teachers has been one of the most satisfying jobs I have had in my entire career. These women and men display such courage and resilience that it is inspiring.” Medio Creek Elementary 1st Grade teacher Oralia Guerrero, left the business world to follow her calling into the classroom to help students and parents. It was very similar for Southwest High School Law Enforcement Teacher Samuel Cavazos, who spent nine years as a police officer. As an officer, Mr. Cavazos, was part of a school mentoring program and that experience made him realize that being a teacher was what he was meant to do.
When you find individuals with this kind of passion and who want to make a positive difference in the lives of your students, you do everything you can to set them up for success. Southwest ISD has designed a blueprint for success that provides one-to-one mentoring, preparation materials, classes with access to technology, and weekend seminars with experienced educators to help these teachers complete their certification process. This is just another great initiative where being a part of the Southwest community of professionals is the best place to start.
Mrs. Guerrero agrees and adds that one of the biggest challenges teachers face now, is how to balance meeting the needs of their students while at the same time making sure they are taking care of themselves. The other teachers in the Teachers New to Teaching program and Dr. McAndrew share tips and strategies to make sure the teachers are not neglecting their own needs. Dr. McAndrew feels the classes make a big difference because they provide a space for these first year teachers to add their voice to the success of others. For Mr. Cavazos, who made the transition from police officer to classroom teacher in three days, it is Dr. McAndrew herself who has made the difference. Cavazos was extremely nervous and really didn’t know what to expect, and admits that “talking to kids (as their teacher), just teaching them, leading them and getting curriculum down was scary at first, but being in the (Teachers New to Teaching) program has helped him to settle down and not put so much pressure on himself. The sessioned helped Mr. Cavazos, “realize other teachers were struggling too, but it was the way Dr. McAndrew hypes you up. She gets you motivated to want to get in the classroom and teach. She is a beam of light and really helped me see it and get it. It was great to have someone like her in your corner.”
These new teachers are committed to our students and to our schools. That is their gift to Southwest and for that gift, we are so grateful. We look forward to retaining all these teachers and assisting them on their path toward leadership in our schools.
Sky Harbour Elementary School Hosts Blue Santa Press Conference
Southwest ISD kicked off the holiday season with the Blue Santa Press Conference at Sky Harbour Elementary School. The details of the 21st Annual Blue Santa Parade & Community Festival were announced. Students from several other campuses performed Christmas songs during the event to the delight of students and attendees.
On December 10, 2022, Blue Santa will ring in the holiday season when he arrives in the SAPD Blue Eagle helicopter at Miller’s Pond Community Center. Blue Santa will lead a parade of City of San Antonio officials, Bexar County officials, special guests, community and school district representatives, and organizations through the SWISD neighborhood for approximately 2.5 miles and join the holiday celebration at Miller's Pond Community Center. The parade is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. The procession is expected to arrive at Miller’s Pond at 11:00 a.m.
The free family event will include food, music, and games for children. Also, each family can register to receive a new toy from Blue Santa before they leave the park.
Homegrown: Jeanette Tijerina
We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their great accomplishments. In our new segment called ‘Homegrown' we highlight successful SW alumni who grew up in the SWISD community. We also look at how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. In this second edition, we spoke with Jeanette Tijerina, a counselor at Kreiwald Road Elementary School.
If you know of any alumni that you would like to recommend to participate in this segment, please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net
Varsity Girls Basketball Gear Up for Action-Packed Season
The Southwest and Southwest Legacy Varsity Girls' Basketball seasons are in fast-break mode as the Lady Dragons and Lady Titans prepare for District 28-5A competition. Check out our photo coverage of both teams in early-season action on the Southwest ISD SmugMug account.
SWL pics can be seen here and SWHS pictures can be viewed here.
The SW Lady Dragons requested an assist from SWISD TV to create a video that's sure to be a SLAM DUNK! GO DRAGONS!!!
SWISD Communications Department
Email: news@swisd.net
Website: www.swisd.net
Location: 11914 Dragon Ln, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-622-4408
Facebook: facebook.com/SWISDsatx
Twitter: @swisd