Keeping Up with Comm Arts
~ August 29, 2022 ~
Hello Comm Arts Family and Friends!
We had a great first week back to school. Parents, students, and teachers, thank you for your support and dedication to education! This newsletter highlights some of the fantastic happenings that occurred last week.
Just a reminder that next week Monday, September 5th, is Labor Day. There will be no school, and all buildings/offices will be closed.
Week of Welcome
Classroom Highlights
More education fun for the juniors
Join CAHS Esports
Advanced Broadcast Journalism News
Newsies Published on PBS Student Reporting Labs Site
As part of the Advanced Broadcast Journalism 3 (ABJ3) class, students produce content for PBS's Student Reporting Labs (SRL). The juniors work with our Youth Media Producer Becky Wandel on various topics throughout the school year. Some pieces they produce are chosen to appear on their site, others are posted to their social media like Twitter, and on occasion, pieces produced by students are aired on PBS Newshour. Two of our video packages produced last spring were selected to be featured on the PBS Student Reporting Labs (SRL) site. We are proud of all the ABJ3 students from last year for producing and submitting work to PBS SRL.How this teen is reclaiming her Hispanic heritage through poetry
Produced by senior Cuauhtemoc Nunez, senior Flora Farr, senior Rachel Setlik, and senior Noha Miller https://studentreportinglabs.org/youth-reporting/how-this-teen-is-reclaiming-her-hispanic-heritage-through-poetry/
This postal worker turned painter taps into his Latin heritage to make art
Produced by '22 Graduate Megan Gonzales, former student Ariyana Galvan, senior Alyssa Requejo, and '22 Graduate Eva Pate https://studentreportinglabs.org/youth-reporting/this-postal-worker-turned-painter-taps-into-his-latin-heritage-to-make-art/
Two Seniors Appointed Regional Organizing Specialists For New Voices Texas
Seniors Flora Farr and Rachel Setlik volunteered for the New Voices Texas committee and were appointed Regional Organizing Specialists. Farr and Setlik will recruit and organize student journalists in the Central and South Texas Region to lobby for the New Voice Texas Law in the upcoming state legislative session. Currently, 16 states have passed the New Voices law that protects the First Amendment Rights of student journalists. These young ladies will work with others to have HB2244 and SB514 passed. According to the Student Press Law Centers (SPLC) site: New Voices is a student-powered nonpartisan grassroots movement of state-based activists who seek to protect student press freedom with state laws. These laws counteract the impact of the 1988 Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court decision, which dramatically changed the balance of student press rights. New Voices supporters include advocates in law, education, journalism, and civics who want schools and colleges to be more welcoming places for student voices.
This summer, Farr was the only Texas student journalist to attend the SPLC New Voices Leadership Institute, where she spoke to Mary Beth Tinker (Tinker vs. Des Moines) and Cathy Kuhlmeier (Hazelwood vs. Kulhmeier)
This artist encourages San Antonians to stop and smell the flowers
Produced by senior Mireya Escobar, '22 graduate "Celeste" Leal, and senior Sergio Torres. https://studentreportinglabs.org/youth-reporting/this-artist-encourages-san-antonians-to-stop-and-smell-the-flowers/
Be sure to follow our socials and visit our student news site regularly to read, view, and hear the latest student-produced news.
Comm Arts Media (CAM) Sports Editor Sergio Torres Scores Big
Torres earned an internship with Texas Sports Production and a scholarship to the Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp in New York this past summer.
In July, he attended the Bruce Beck Sports Broadcasting Camp Rookie Camp in New York City. During the camp, Torres interviewed a former pro athlete and current broadcaster, called the play-by-play of a Yankees game at iconic Yankee Stadium, and took a road trip to MetLife Stadium, among other things. He has been invited back next summer to attend the Veteran's Camp to continue learning, and he may also serve as a counselor at the Rookie Camp.
SA Worx Summer Internships
Dress Code - Please read this carefully
NISD's board recently voted on a few changes to the dress code. All students attending Communications Arts HS must adhere to the standardized attire requirement. You will be asked to change if you are out of the dress code. Please plan accordingly. If you are unsure, please ask. Link to district dress code
The dress code items most addressed Monday morning were: midriffs, short shorts, and pants with holes above the knee. Shirts must be long enough to cover the stomach/back area, shorts/skirts must be at least mid-thigh, and pants cannot have holes above the knee. Zipping up jackets will no longer be enough for short shirts. Students will be asked to change their shirts.
Campus Procedure Reminders
Student access to the building will begin at 8:00 am. If students arrive earlier, they are to report to the Taft cafeteria. Students can stay in the cafeteria or come to Comm Arts until 1st period begins. Students will not be allowed to wait outside the building.
The only entry/exit point for the campus will be the front doors. All doors, including the front doors, will remain locked during the school day but will be opened by the admin during morning arrival and passing periods. To gain access to the building outside these times, please call the main office at 210-397-6043 or use the doorbell to the left of the main doors.
There are two bus drop-off/pickup points for Comm Arts students. One location is the driveway between Comm Arts and Taft (mainly Comm Arts students who live outside the Taft attendance zone) and the Taft bus loop, which is on the right side of the campus if looking at Taft from Culebra (this location is mainly for students who attend Comm Arts and live in the Taft attendance zone). Students, please remember that you will board the bus after school where the bus dropped you off in the morning.
Please remember that our free lunch waiver is no longer in place. Students will need cash or check to purchase lunch. You may also put money in their lunch account using this link: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ Information on applying for free and reduced lunch and some additional benefits can be found in this newsletter.
Juniors and Seniors interested in Off-Campus Lunch can pick up a Comm Arts form in the Comm Arts front office. This form must be completed, including a parent's signature, before an off-campus sticker will be issued. This privilege will need to be renewed with a new sticker each grading period and revoked by the administration at any time if a student does not meet the academic, attendance, and behavior expectations for the campus. If an Off Campus period is granted, you must be off-campus. Being on campus is technically trespassing.
Student Parking does not exist in the back of the "B" building. Please make sure to park in the front lots of the school. Be sure to fill out the parking permit paperwork from the Taft VPO.
New Bell Schedule
Electronics during Instruction Time
Students will have limited access to their devices this school year. Phones, more often than not, become personal distraction devices. Unless otherwise stated, students will not have access to other phones during instructional time. Student phones will need to be on silent and put away. Parents, if you need to communicate with your child, they can check their phones during the passing period and at lunch. If an emergency occurs and you need to reach your child during class time, please call the front office.
Counselors' Corner
Comm Arts Counselors will be visiting all 9th-grade students next week to talk about graduation requirements and finding their balance in high school. They will also conduct individual conferences with Seniors to audit graduation requirements courses and credits starting on September 8th.
Senior Portraits
Seniors, if you haven't already done so, please call Prestige at (210) 691-1284 or visit our local Prestige website to set up your senior portrait session. Only pictures taken with Prestige will be in the yearbook. Please keep these things in mind:
- Make sure they have you as a Communications Arts student NOT Taft.
- Our yearbook pose is a cap and gown, NOT a tux and drape. Be sure that the cap and gown you are given is WHITE with a red and white tassel, and for those in NHS, our stole is blue, NOT white.
- Yearbook ONLY sessions are free, but we encourage you to choose a package with a variety of outfits and poses to reflect your personality and interests.
- Please consider purchasing a portrait package. A percentage of each sale is returned to our yearbook account to cover the cost of printing the portraits in the yearbook.
- Be sure to have your pictures taken by Nov. 15, so you can be included in the yearbook. The sooner, the better, so you have time to do retakes if you are unhappy with the first session pictures.
- Prestige will be on campus on Sept. 13 for those without transportation to their studio or for any yearbook pose retakes. The date is for yearbook pictures ONLY.
ComArts Gear
This is the FINAL week to pre-order your short-sleeved and long-sleeved t-shirts and hoodies. Purchases can be made through MySchool Bucks until Friday, September 2nd. Don't miss your chance to get some great new gear!
Link to purchase: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZI62IWM8104GS3_ZZ5VO8APC8TT5WU
For questions about orders, please contact Mrs. Barton (jill.barton@nisd.net).
SkillsUSA - Join Today!
AP Exams
Football Game Themes
Cross Country Schedule
Volleyball Schedule
Pre-Season Kick-Off for Esports
CAHS Calendar (August - October)
August 2022
29th - Freshmen assemblies
30th - Sophomore assemblies
31st - Junior assembly
September 2022
Hispanic Heritage Month
2nd - Senior assembly, NHS New Member Orientation in the LGI
5th - Labor Day (schools/offices closed)
11-17th - National Arts in Education Week
11th - Patriot Day, National Grandparents Day
12th - Progress Reports
13th - Senior Pictures
21st - Early Release (1 pm)
29th - 1st - National America's Heroes Week (recognitions at sports events)
October 2022
National Principals Month
National Crime Prevention Month
7th - AP payments due in full
10th - Columbus Day/ Indigenous Peoples' Day
12th- PSAT (9-11th grades)
14th - Homecoming
15th - National Boss’s Day
18th - Skills & Strategies Day
19th - Early Release (1 pm)
24-28th - Red Ribbon Week
27th - Picture Retakes (9-11th grades)
TBD - FAFSA Night
31st - Halloween
'22-'23 United Yearbook
Attention senior parents
School Safety
As we continue to evaluate safety measures, deliveries will not be allowed this year. Additionally, any visitors to campus will need to apply and pass a background check. This does need to be completed every year. It will not roll over. Here is the link to the background check: https://www.nisd.net/community/volunteer-mentor
If you notice anything unusual or a potential safety concern throughout the school year, please contact the NISD Safeline. The Safeline is anonymous and available 24 hours/7 days a week.
Phone number: 210-397-7233
Email: safe@nisd.net
Voluntary student accident insurance forms will be passed out to students during the first week of school. If you have questions regarding this insurance, please contact the number on the form.
Important Flyers
Communications Arts High School
Mission: Our school promotes curiosity while providing rigorous academics in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Vision: Communications Arts H.S. students will be confident, capable, communicative leaders.
Email: cahs@nisd.net
Website: https://www.nisd.net/communicationsarts
Location: 11600 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78253, USA
Phone: (210) 397-6043
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommunicationsArtsHighSchool/
Twitter: @NISDComArts