Keeping Up With Comm Arts
September 7 - September 10, 2021
Communications Arts High School students will be confident, capable , communicative leaders.
Hello Comm Arts Families!
Starting this week, parents will also be receiving the Taft High School Newsletter so you can be kept up to date on all the Taft happenings. Here is last week's edition of the Raider News.
Upcoming Important Dates
September 14th: Senior Pictures See flyer for more info and click here to register for a time. Students should fill this out since it is restricted to NISD email accounts. Any questions should be forwarded to carey.mccarthy@nisd.net.
6:00-7:00--(A-L)
7:15-8:15--(M-Z)
October 13th: PSAT for 9-11th Grades and SAT for 12th grade. Both exams will take place during the day and on campus. All students will be testing.
October 28th: 9-11 Grade Makeup Pictures
Message from CAHS Counselors
Senior Parents –
The counselors and Ms. Montellano, from our College, Career Military Readiness Center visited with
seniors this past Friday.
A Google Classroom was set up for All Communications Arts HS Seniors and it was shared with them. They were encouraged to join with the password provided to them. The Senior Google Classroom will help students get access to all kinds of information the need to successfully navigate to scholarships, college/university information and application process, upcoming college events and more.
Students were instructed in how to order transcripts, and the college application process. A template on how to write a resume was shared with students. All Seniors were guided to learn how to get their total count of College Hours they have earned to date.
Students also received their rank and GPA information
Parking Stickers
If you are paying through MySchoolBucks, click on Taft Fines and select Parking Fee and you can pay online.
Please make sure that you pay online or have the exact payment amount. We will not have change.
We cannot issue decals to students with a learners permit, only those with Provisional Licenses may get one.
If you have 5th lunch, Mr. Lopez will be distributing decals during 5th lunch.
Dress Code
As a reminder, Comm Arts/Taft follows the NISD approved dress code--this is the dress code that ALL NISD schools use. It is attached below.
Attendance
Please see the Attendance FAQ for the most popular questions or feel free to call the front office.
As a reminder, students are only allowed 8 absences for the Fall Semester, at 9 absences, the student will lose credit for the course.
Verification of Enrollment (VOE)
TEACT Home Internet Initiative
Dear Family,
As a student of Northside ISD, we are excited to announce that your household may be eligible for free high-speed broadband internet through a partnership with the Texas Education Agency
Connect Texas (TEACT) program.
A limited number of line are available and will be given on a first come, first serve basis.
There are two ways to register to see if you are eligible:
1. For the quickest response, please confirm your information through the TEACT Parent/Guardian
Portal: www.TEAConnectTexas.com.
2. Alternatively, you can fill out the attached form and return it to your school office.
After receiving your information, we will contact you to let you know if your household meets
eligibility requirements and work with your family to proceed with installation.
Band Updates
Weekly Email -- Week 3: September 6-11 -- Labor Day, Leadership Meeting, Band Parent Meeting, Old Time Rock and Roll Pass Off, Pep Rally, Friday Football Game vs Holmes HS (Visitors Side at Gus)
Important Links for the week:
Optional Pre-Game Meal Plan Order: https://form.jotform.com/211435512715044 (cutoff Monday at 11:59 PM for this week’s order)
NISD Required Volunteer Background Check (Up to 2 week turnaround time): https://hrvolunteer.nisd.net/TempMod.nsf?Open
Upcoming Concessions Sign-Ups: https://www.taftraiderband.org/volunteer/volunteer-shifts
We had a great time at our first home game in a Northside Stadium this weekend. A huge thank you to all the parents that worked as chaperones and roadies- especially to help us debut our props on the field! Next week we will be adding more props onto the field, so we really do need ALL hands on deck as we move into our next games and competitions.
This Monday is student and band holiday- no classes and no band rehearsal. Please be aware that we DO have Monday off on October 11th in which students do not have classes but we still have a mandatory rehearsal due to it being the week of our UIL contest. This has been announced to all students this past week, on our band calendar and in our band information night back in May, but please be aware of this date as you make plans for the upcoming month.
Band Parent Meeting - Tuesday, September 7 at 7 PM
Our second official band parent meeting of the year will take place this Tuesday at 7 PM in Band Hall 1 while the kids are still rehearsing outdoors. If you normally pick your child up from practice, please come a bit early and join us as we prepare to enter our competitive season. Masks are required while indoors.
Water Bottle Donations
We are in need of our annual water bottle donations to help in feeding the kids through the marching season. If each family was to donate a single case of water from Costco, Walmart, HEB, or Sam's Club, we would have enough to last the entire year. Water can be dropped off at the band hall when students come to school in the morning or at the end of Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday after-school marching rehearsals.
Chaperone and Roadie Sign-Ups
We are always in need of more parent volunteers to roadie and chaperone as we travel to our games this year. All parent volunteers need to have filled out a background check through the link at the top of this email. To sign up to be a roadie or chaperone, reserve your spot in the following sign-up genius links:
Roadies: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4fa5a72fa31-football99
Chaperones: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050f4fa5a72fa31-football98
GameDay Meal Orders
Prior to students leaving for any football game, it is important that they eat so they have energy to perform and have fun through the evening. This is not required, but is very handy when times get busy. Students that do not buy the meal plan must bring a sack dinner so they have the nutrients to last through the night. If you missed your opportunity to order, you can still get into the meal plan by ordering online at https://form.jotform.com/211435512715044. Orders will always be finalized at 11:59 PM each Monday night prior to a football game without exception.
Please see this week’s schedule below:
MONDAY -- Labor Day: No Classes/Rehearsal
Please be aware, both Tuesday and Thursday rehearsals will go till 8 PM to help make up time for a full day off. Enjoy your day off with your family and friends- make smart and healthy choices!
TUESDAY -- PM Rehearsal, Band Parent Meeting
Before School -- Go to tutoring/Practice in the Band Hall
8:15 AM -- Leadership Meeting in BH1
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble/Drumline
2nd Period-- Symphonic Band/Front Ensemble
3rd Period -- Concert Band Winds
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Color Guard/Music Theory
5:00 PM -- Marching Band PM Rehearsal
7:00 PM -- Band Parent Meeting in Band Hall 1
8:00 PM -- Dismissal from Band Pad
WEDNESDAY - Old Time Rock and Roll Playoff Due, No PM Rehearsal
Before School -- Go to tutoring/Practice in the Band Hall
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble/Drumline
2nd Period-- Symphonic Band/Front Ensemble
3rd Period -- Concert Band Winds
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Color Guard/Music Theory
After School -- Go home, do homework
5:00 PM -- Band Hall Closes
THURSDAY -- PM Rehearsal
Before School -- Go to tutoring/Practice in the Band Hall
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble/Drumline
2nd Period-- Symphonic Band/Front Ensemble
3rd Period -- Concert Band Winds
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- Color Guard/Music Theory
5:00 PM -- Marching Band PM Rehearsal
8:00 PM -- Dismissal from Band Pad
FRIDAY -- Pep Rally, Football Game
7:45 AM -- Pep Rally Call Time - WEAR SHOW SHIRT and JEANS
1st Period -- Wind Ensemble/Drumline
2nd Period-- Symphonic Band/Front Ensemble
3rd Period -- Concert Band Winds
7th Period -- Jazz Ensemble
8th Period -- All students report to Band Hall 1
3:40 PM -- Change into Rehearsal Attire and go to Band Pad (Low’s & Battery bring cases)
4:10 PM -- Outdoor Runthrough Rehearsal begins on Band Pad
4:50 PM -- Rehearsal Ends, Load Trailer, Eat Food, Get Dressed/Inspection
5:45 PM -- Depart Taft HS for Gustafson Stadium
6:15 PM -- Arrive at Gus Stadium (Visitor’s Side)
7:00 PM -- Kickoff
10:00 PMish -- Game Ends, Pack and Load
10:45 PMish -- Students arrive back at Taft High School - Bring in instruments and return uniforms.
SATURDAY -- Region Jazz Auditions
8:00 AM -- Arrive at Clark HS for warm-up and auditions. All students need to bring $25 cash for area recording fee for the potential of making area. If you don’t make area (top band) you will keep the money. This must be cash.
Last Week’s Performance Video Link (not for sharing outside of current Taft Band members)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyUweoKO6rE
***STUDENTS: Welcome to the school year! It is now your responsibility to keep up with your school work AND your band work. Band students are called to be leaders in and out of our classrooms. Take advantage of our late class start time by seeing teachers for help, turning in work, and focusing on your school work.
***PARENTS: Please keep one eye on the band calendar and your emails throughout the season. It is each family's responsibility to be aware of upcoming dates and avoiding appointment and scheduling conflicts with band events. Wednesdays are always non-band days, so they are ideal for all doctor, dentist, and other appointments. All rehearsals, performances, and events are very difficult to make up. Also, please ensure your child is starting to wake up earlier each day so summer band isn’t such a shock to their system. They need to be eating non-dairy based breakfast daily (even if they aren’t hungry), and drinking exclusively water- no soda,energy drinks…. Anything in a can. This will help them be successful, feel great, and be ready to learn!
Let's have a GREAT week of school, Raiders!
Respectfully,
Greg Mills
Director of Bands
Communications Arts High School
Website: www.nisd.net/communicationsarts
Location: 11600 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-397-6043
Facebook: facebook.com/communicationsartshighschool
Twitter: @NISDComArts