Wrangler News
Week of May 5 - May 11
Principal Message
Welcome,
We have a very special week coming up. May 6 - 10 is Teacher and Nurse Appreciation Week, with May 7th being National Teacher Appreciation Day and May 8th being National School Nurse Appreciation Day. Please help me to celebrate all that our teachers and Ms. Applegate do for our campus. None of our success would be possible without them. I know that I do not tell them enough how proud that I am of them and how much I appreciate all that they do. With the help of our PTA we have a fun week planned for our teachers. Please take a minute to thank all of our teachers and Ms. Applegate.
We had our first end of year celebrations this past week. Our NJHS ceremony was Wednesday night, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to speak at the ceremony. We had an incredible turnout of parents and family members, and, as I said that night, I am very appreciative of all that were in attendance. I look forward to the positive impact the our new NJHS inductees will have on our campus.
This weekend we have a district wide Soccer Showcase. If you are able, please come out and support our teams. We have multiple events next week as well, we have a Musical Theater Showcase, Soccer on Thursday and Saturday, and a Dance Spring Show. Please come out to support our students at some of these events.
Repeat Announcement: I do not typically include any personal information in the Smore, but I feel that our community needs to know as it will affect time that I am on campus. My wife and I are expecting our 6th child on May 24th. If all things go to plan, then I will miss all of the end of year ceremonies and the 8th grade party. I will update if I will miss more time due to the little one coming early.
Safety Announcement: For parent pick-up, please use the two main lots for parent pick-up, and avoid picking up behind the science building by the portables. I do not have staff on duty in this location and it could be a safety hazard for our students that load or walk home that way. Sometimes safety is an inconvenience but I would rather inconvenience some than have a student hurt.
Important Tardy Information:
We are having more students tardy to class. We will do more tardy sweeps to help get our students to class on time. Basically on a tardy sweep, ANY student in the hallway during the tardy sweep is assigned a lunch detention. Our students know what a tardy sweep is and what the consequence is but they do not know what day and time we perform the sweep.
Repeat Announcement: We have started using the SmartPass system to track how often our students are in the hallway. I have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of students that are in the hallways, which is a good thing. The more that our students are in class, the more they will learn.
Repeat Announcement: If your student walks home, please discuss with them the importance of using the crosswalk and paying attention to the crosswalk signs. Especially at a busy intersection such as Fountainwood and Judson Road. We will continue to remind the students.
WOW Students of the Week:
Our first WOW student of the week is Bentley Devine. Bentley is a great leader in Wrangler E-Sports. He makes sure the equipment is working properly and troubleshoots when it isn’t. He makes sure his station’s area is picked up at the end and he also makes sure everyone who is at his station gets a chance to play.
Wow Student Vincent "Vinny" High demonstrated student leadership on campus by assisting the Wood Wranglers at our Fiesta Festival. Vinny you are a very talented student and you shared your artistic gift with students, parents, and staff members from our campus and community. We appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication to the arts. We are proud to have you as a Wood Wrangler.
WOW Staff of the Week:
I would like to recognize Mrs. Catlin as our first WOW teacher of the week. She has sponsored our student to student program, and sponsored a couple of our school dances this year. She also modeled one of our faculty values by offering a solution to a situation. She was the first to step up and offer to take on additional classes when one of our math teachers was unable to return from spring break. Ms. Catlin, thank you for all that you do for our campus.
I also want to recognize our incredible Monica Orozco and our PTA board, Stephanie Portorreal, Larissa Hernandez, Jessica Garza, Melissa Vasquez, Guadalupe Madrigal and Thea Russo. They were the driving force behind our first Wrangler Fiesta. They were able to secure all the booths, dunk tank and sumo wrestling suits. Without their help an event like this would not have been possible.
Teacher Appreciation Week
If you would like to join us in showering our teachers with appreciation, please consider sending a shoutout by visiting https://portal.neisd.net/Shoutout to highlight the great work they are doing for your Wood Wrangler.
8th grade party Eligibility Criteria
-No more than 1 ISS placement
-No off-campus suspensions
-No more than 4 unexcused absences
-No ISS placement due to excessive tardies
Dance Spring Show
2024 Wood Wrangler Dance Spring Show
Mrs. Arevalo is excited to showcase her dancers this year in their 1st annual Spring Show
This performance is sure to be a crowd pleaser and will share the talents of over 100 dancers in grades 6-8.
5/10/24 6pm in the Competition Gym
Band Info
The Wood Wrangler Drumline enjoyed another year of kicking off the Fiesta Shoebox Float Parade at the Sunshine Cottage School for Deaf Children! Many thanks to their principal, Cindy Escobedo, and wonderful staff for welcoming our students to provide the musical entertainment for its parade participants.
"As an advocate and music educator who is also deaf and hard of hearing, I highly value the opportunities to show these students and their parents that participating in music CAN be done regardless of what you can and cannot hear. This school continues to hold a special place in my heart." Assistant Band Director, Adam Chitta
"It was so much fun seeing how those kids with hearing aids and cochlear implants wanted to play our drums and be like us!” 7th grade drumline student, Brody M.
End of Year Awards Ceremonies
Invitations for our end of year awards ceremonies went out today. If you receive an invitation, then your student won an award for the year. Awards range from attendance all the way to principal's or superintendent's awards.
Robotics World Competition Update
The kids have given their best. Tens of thousands competed around the world and only 420 made it to this level and we are top 70 of that right now. We will compete with Hawaii and Australia today!
Mariachi News
The Wood MS Mariachi Juvenil Los Charros has had an amazing FIESTA 2024! The students have been working incredibly hard the last month and a half to prepare for so many fun and exciting events! Our students participated in the annual “Alamo Heights Night” at UIW, the Fox Run Fiesta, the Ford Mariachi Festival on the Riverwalk, and finally the Elementary Fiesta Parades at both Fox Run Elementary and East Terrell Hills Elementary. Mrs. Esparza is incredibly proud all of the successful performances they have had this month! We look forward to our last two events this year, May 10th (Noche de Mariachi@Churchill HS) and May 22nd our final concert at Wood MS. Thank you to our amazing parents and staff for your amazing support! We would not have survived all of these events without your help!
Yearbook Information
REMINDER: The 2024 Wood Middle School yearbook is still on sale. Make sure that your student doesn’t miss out on our yearbook tradition. It’s the only book that captures the year’s events, activities, friendships, experiences and memories from Wood Middle School!
Have your student pick up an order form at school or place your order by scanning the QR code.
If you have already purchased a book, thank you! This year’s book is one you won’t want to miss!
Free Sports Physicals
Monday, May 6th
6th and 7th grade FREE PHYSICALS
Must return a completed medical history form to a coach.
Clinic Information
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL CURRENT 6TH GRADE STUDENTS
In accordance with Texas immunization requirements, current 6th grade students who will be in 7th grade next school year (2024-2025) need the following immunizations:
Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis containing vaccine (required)
▪ One booster dose if at least 5 years have passed since the last tetanus containing vaccine was received
AND
Meningococcal vaccine (required)
▪ One dose of meningococcal vaccine
These vaccines are DUE BEFORE August 12, 2024 in order for your student to start school.
PTA Board
Board Members
PTA President - Stephanie Portorreal
Vice President 2 - Larrisa Hernandez
Vice President 3 - Jessica Garza
Treasurer - Melissa Vasquez
Secretary - Guadalupe Madrigal
Parliamentarian - Thea Russo
https://sites.google.com/view/neisdwoodptsa
Food Deliveries
Also, we do not allow delivery services to deliver food to students. ONLY parents can drop off food to their students.
HB 114 - Vapes
Basically, I have to recommend ALL vape possession for an AMS placement.
Lunch and Breakfast Information
Athletic Information for 2023-2024
Soccer Results
8th Grade
Boys - Wood - 2 Jackson - 1
Girls - Wood - 1 Jackson - 2
7th Grade
Boys - Wood - 0 Jackson - 4
Girls - Wood - 1 Jackson - 2
Concessions at all games are cash only and 100% go to support our student groups on campus like: Robotics, Theatre, Band, Choir, Orchestra, NJHS, PALs, Spirit Squad, NJAHS, Art and ALE. We have had to increase our prices to combat inflation. We are grateful for all donations to support our Wrangler Pride!!!
Bus Information
Upcoming Dates
May 4 - Junior VASE
May 4 - Soccer Showcase
May 5 - Cinco De Mayo
May 7 - MAP End of Year Reading
May 7 - Musical Theater Showcase
May 9 - Soccer vs Krueger; Girls @ Krueger; Boys @ Wood
May 10 - Dance Spring Show
May 11 - FFA Area Convention
May 11 - Soccer vs. Driscoll; Girls @ Wood; Boys @ Driscoll
May 12 - Mother's Day
May 14 - Spring Band Concert
May 15 - EOY Math MAP
May 16 - Soccer vs. Garner; Girls @ Garner; Boys @ Wood
May 17 - Mariachi Field Trip
May 18 - ZDT's Fine Arts Field Trip
May 21 - EOY Science MAP
May 21 - Choir Pop Show
May 22 - Orchestra Concert
May 23 - AVID Graduation
May 24 - 8th Grade Fine Arts Banquet
May 27 - Memorial Day - No School
May 28 - EOY Fine Arts Party - Main Event
May 29 - 8th Grade Award Ceremony
May 30 - Early Release
May 31 - 7th Grade Awards Ceremony - 8:45-9:45
May 31 - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony - 9:45-10:45
May 31 - Last Day of School - Early Release
Contact Us
Brad Henze - Principal
Jessica Hernandez - 6th Grade and 7th Grade M-Z Counselor
Denise Garza-Cano - 8th Grade and 7th Grade A-L Counselor
Syrinna Garza - Student Well-Being Counselor
Rebecca Cerrillo- Special Education Coordinator
Thea Russo - Academic Dean
Heidi Curry - 6th Grade and 7th Grade M-Z Assistant Principal
Stephanie Ontiveros - 8th Grade and 7th Grade A-L Assistant Principal
Monica Orozco - Parent Involvement Specialist
Email: bhenze@neisd.net
Website: neisd.net/wood
Location: 14800 Judson Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-356-6200