Joe Straus III Newsletter
April 21, 2021
Campus Updates
I want to start off by saying how thankful I am to our students for taking the time to vote for our new mascot. We are so excited to share our new mascot image! We now officially have a Twitter and Instagram account. Follow us @ NISDStraus
If you have not had the opportunity to complete your annual data verification, please take the time to do so. Data verification can be completed on the Home Access Center (HAC). When completing the update, you will log in to the HAC system and ensure that your contact information is up to date. It is very important that you complete the update so that we have your current information as we open our new campus. The information that you submit is what we will use to communicate with our families and we don’t want you to miss any news regarding the 2021-22 school year.
As we move forward with hiring for our campus, we would like to take the time to introduce you to our new Head Counselor, Mrs. Davis, and our Band Director, Mr. Canales. They both come to us with a wealth of knowledge and experience and will do an amazing job serving our Straus community! #MEETTHEMAVERICKS
Meet Mrs. Davis
I am Leigh Davis, the newest addition to the Maverick family! I am beyond excited to serve as your head counselor and so pleased at the thought of getting to know the Straus community. I have been in Northside ISD since the start of my career 18 years ago, and I have had the opportunity to work at several different campuses all over the district. Currently, I am the head counselor at Vale Middle School where I will be until I make my transition to Straus in June.
Both of my degrees (undergraduate and masters) were earned at the University of Texas at San Antonio. My career began as a Language Arts teacher and in learning about the lives of my students through their writing, I found that I wanted to help them with the struggles they shared which led me to pursue a counseling degree. Becoming a counselor 12 years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made, and it has allowed me to help students with their personal and academic dilemmas.
As the head counselor of Straus Middle School, I plan to build a counseling program that will benefit all students and create an environment where students feel welcomed and safe. My goal is to make certain that students know we are a resource available to them in classroom guidance, group counseling, or individual counseling. It is important that we help students develop the skills they will need to be successful in all aspects of their lives whether it’s social, emotional, or academic. I look forward to working with you and your child in the very near future!
Meet Mr. Canales
I am extremely honored in joining Straus Middle School and serving its students, parents, and community. I am a graduate of Texas A&M University – Kingsville where I earned a Bachelor of Music. I am currently working on my Masters of Educational Leadership from the University of Texas at San Antonio and will be graduating in May of 2021. As an 18-year veteran educator, with 15 of those years in Northside ISD, I am excited to be opening NISD's newest middle school and establishing a band and school culture of excellence.
As your Head Band Director and Elective Department Coordinator, it is my goal to ensure your child receives a safe, supportive, well-rounded educational experience in every program that we offer. My goal is for every student to be cherished and to establish programs that are our student's home away from home. I immensely look forward to working with you and your child.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, an NISD Special Education Teacher, and our children watching movies (huge Marvel Fan), low & slow BBQing, and reading.
Parent Q&A
Parent Q&A Questions and Responses
Will you have a meeting soon to start PTA? We have started PTA planning and will have our first meeting on May 19th. We will be sending out information to sign up for the meeting in our next Smore.
Will you have sports for 7th and 8th Grade? Absolutely! We have just hired our head coaches and they will be featured next week in our Smore and will be available answer any questions that you may have.
When will schedules be ready? Student schedules will be ready in mid august. We will schedule a "meet the teacher" day where students can come to get their schedules and meet their teachers.
Registration Reminders
- All NISD campuses have similar academic programs to include Advanced Academics and Special Education programs.
- Straus will offer electives that are currently offered at Folks and Briscoe.
- Your child's CURRENT school will do the registration for next year and then at the appropriate time Straus will take that registration over and build the courses in our system.
- AVID applications can be sent to the current campus counseling department (to be forwarded to me) or directly to the campus at straus@nisd.net. Once the AVID position is filled, the staff will reach out to families.
- Straus will have a Robotics program, however, we do not know if it will be offered thru advisory or as an after school program. That decision will be based on campus staffing.
- If you have any course registration questions, the counselors at your child's current school can answer them or you can contact Straus at 210-398-2550.
2021-2022 NISD Official Calendar Approved
The Board of Trustees approved the District calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Northside ISD traditionally approves school calendars two years ahead to provide parents and students ample lead time. Given the COVID disruption along with significant changes to instructional delivery that necessitated changing the current year calendar, the typical two-year lead time couldn't be accomplished. Multiple options for the calendar were shared and discussed with Cabinet, the Northside Educational Improvement Council (NEIC), and the Academics Committee of the Board.
Teacher planning dates/early dismissal dates will be added later. Click here to view the calendar.
What is Happening at JSMS?
- The campus mascot has been created!
- We have a new Twitter and Instagram for Straus, please follow us @ NISDStraus!
- We hired a head counselor and head band director!
- We just ordered the furniture for our cafeteria, library (check out the pic below) and our offices.
Joe Straus III MS
Email: straus@nisd.net
Website: https://www.nisd.net/straus
Phone: 210-398-2550