Points of Pride
Southwest ISD Newsletter
April 14, 2023
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.
Purple Up, Month of the Military Child
Students at Medio Creek Elementary School and throughout the District recently showed their support for military families by celebrating Purple Up during the Month of the Military Child.
The celebration wasn't limited to Medio Creek ES, as students from other schools throughout the district also participated in the Purple Up celebration. This show of support from the entire district highlights the importance of recognizing and supporting military families, not just during the Month of the Military Child, but throughout the year.
The Month of the Military Child is a time to recognize and honor the sacrifices made by military families and their children. Purple Up is a special day within the month where individuals wear purple to show their support and appreciation for military families.
Sky Harbor Elementary Motivates Campus for STAAR Testing
CAST STEM Top Five Dinner
CAST STEM High School recognized the Top Five students by honoring them at a banquet on Tuesday night for their exceptional academic achievements. These students have shown a dedication to excellence and a passion for learning that sets them apart.
During the banquet, the students had the opportunity to recognize a teacher who has had a significant impact on their success. The students highlighted the importance of teachers and their roles in guiding them over the years. The students also took the time to thank their parents for their support throughout their academic journeys. We know that parents are an integral part of a student's success, and it's wonderful to see their efforts acknowledged.
We are so proud of these students and their achievements. They have shown that hard work, dedication, and a thirst for knowledge can lead to great things. We look forward to seeing the impact they will make in their future endeavors.
CAST STEM High School is dedicated to providing our students with a world-class education that prepares them for success in college and beyond. We strive to foster a culture of academic excellence, and our Top Five students serve as an inspiration to all of us.
Congratulations to the Top Five students from CAST STEM High School, and to their teachers and parents who have played such an important role in their success. We can't wait to see what the future holds for each of you. Click here to see more pictures from the banquet.
Top Five Students
Kayla Rivera - Valedictorian
Alexis Martinez - Salutatorian
Jaymes Stuart
Matthew Friesenhahn
Bryan Vela
Bond 2023 FB Live
We will host another opportunity for the community to receive information about the 2023 bond during a Facebook Live with Dr. Jeanette Ball! Join us on Monday, April 17 at 6 p.m. at https://www.facebook.com/SWISDsatx
In the meantime, check out the video below and see how the bond would address safety upgrades.
San Antonio Youth Commission Offers Microgrants for Mental Health
San Antonio Youth Commission (SAYC) is giving away microgrants up to $3,000 to support projects and events that help improve the mental health of youth and young adults in San Antonio. Since last year's Teen Mental Health Survey, SAYC has been advocating for better mental health support for their peers.
SAYC members are excited to offer microgrants for projects that can have a lasting impact on school campuses and provide more opportunities for young people to get involved and make a positive impact on their learning environments. This will also help SAYC learn more about the community's areas of need and let the younger residents guide city leaders to better solutions.
Some of the projects that microgrants can be used for include Zen centers, calming stations, gardening centers, therapy dog visits, field trips, music and art therapy, and mobile mental health clinic visits. Students and school faculty can apply for the microgrants here until April 23, 2023, and SAYC will announce the recipients at the Youth Summit on May 20th at the Rise Recovery Center.
Supper with the Super
We had an amazing turnout for the Supper with Superintendent event at McAuliffe Middle School Thursday night. Thank you to all the families that joined us this evening. Dr. Ball and her leadership team had a wonderful time meeting and talking with everyone.
But our work doesn't stop here! We want to connect with as many of you as possible to understand the issues that matter most to our community. Our top priority is to engage with YOU and seek your valuable input on important issues. This will help us continue the SWISD tradition of providing innovative opportunities for our students to thrive and succeed in their future.
So, let's keep the conversation going! We have a few more events planned in the next couple of weeks. Details to be posted soon.
In the meantime, feel free to reach out to us and share your thoughts and ideas. Together, we can make a difference!
Student Advisory Prepare for Night in Old SW
The Superintendents Student Advisory Council (SSAC) Meeting was a great success this week. Among many other topics, the council discussed the preparations for tonight's Night in Old Southwest event, which promises to be a wonderful evening of fun and entertainment.
This event is the result of the SSAC's monthly meeting, where the students expressed a desire to work in collaboration with other campuses and host a fundraising event for student clubs. Their hard work and determination have culminated in tonight's event, which takes place in the Southwest Elementary Parking Lot from 5:30-9:00 p.m. The Night in Old Southwest event is entirely student-created and driven, and it promises to be a night to remember. With plenty of food, music, games, and live student performances, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to showcase their talents, have some fun, and raise money for their clubs.
We want to extend our congratulations to the Superintendents Student Advisory Council for their hard work and dedication in organizing this fantastic event. We hope that the Night in Old Southwest event is a resounding success and that it brings our community together for an enjoyable evening of entertainment and fundraising.
Superintendent Dr. Ball also stopped by the meeting to explain the SWISD Bond referendum and how school district bonds work. Bonds are a way for school districts to fund essential projects such as building new schools, repairing existing facilities, and purchasing equipment. Understanding the process of how school district bonds work is vital for students because they will be the ones who will eventually inherit these facilities and benefit from the improvements that these bonds make possible. Additionally, young people can learn about how these bonds can impact their community and shape their future.
SWISD Student Snippets: McAuliffe MS 7th and 8th Grade Boys and Girls Track teams
The McAuliffe MS 7th and 8th Grade Boys and Girls Track teams are ready for this season to take off. The Rockets have been practicing hard for their upcoming track meet on April 20th. At the helm are Coach Brian Gonzales and his coaching staff prepping our Rockets to reach team and individual goals this season.
Eighth-grade runner Lisa Juneman has her sights on her personal records in the 400-meter and 100-meter runs this season. The duo sport student-athlete loves to hang out with friends when she is not busy with school.
Also leading the way for the eighth-grade girl's team is Savannah Vargas. Savannah is excited for the upcoming season where she will participate in the long jump event for the Rockets. Her favorite class is her first period (Mission Class) where they get to build robots in there. Savannah's hobbies are enjoying her Mom’s cooking, and working out with her sister who likes to do deadlifts.
Isabella Cano is a seventh-grader on the girl's track team and says she too is excited about the chance to run. She loved to run as a child because running for her not only keeps her in great condition but also clears her mind which she feels is important to her. Isabella’s favorite class activity has been the creation of the cardboard kids this semester. Her cardboard kid creation is a ninja turtle, and she says Leonardo is her favorite ninja turtle.
Like Isabella, Emory Ramirez is participating in her first season of track with the Rockets. The seventh grader is excited about the season and for the opportunity to hang out with her friends as well as meet new people along the way. Emory’s favorite class is science and when she is not in school plays volleyball, soccer, and softball for fun.
In his first season on the Rockets track team seventh grader, Matthew Hernandez will be running the 4x1 and 4x4 running events for the team this season. He’s motivated to have fun and set his personal running goals this season. Matthew’s favorite class is Journalism and likes to indulge in a good pepperoni pizza with his cousins in his downtime.
Jordi Mendez is in his second go-around in Rocket track season. The Rocket eighth grader is eager for the thrill of competing this season and hopes to improve his personal records too.
To round out this group of Rocket track stars we spoke to eighth grader Alberto Rodriguez. Alberto is determined to beat his current 25 feet PR in the shot put with goals of hitting 40 feet. Science class is his favorite and gets fueled for class and track by none other than Mom’s home cooking.
Good Luck this season to all the seventh and eighth-grade boys and girls track teams. Thank you all for taking time out of your practice schedule to be featured on this week’s SWISD Snippets. GO ROCKETS!!
Homegrown
We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their great accomplishments. ‘Homegrown,' is our weekly segment where we highlight successful SW alumni who grew up in the SWISD community. We also look at how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. This week we spoke with Assistant Principal at McNair Middle School, Sam Ripps.
If you know of alumni that work in the SWISD district that you would like to recommend to participate in this segment, please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net.
SWISD Teacher Feature: Stephen Salinas
Welcome to the SWISD Teacher Feature, where we take a ‘behind the curtain’ look at some of the amazing teachers in the district.
In this week's Teacher Feature, we visit Southwest High School to get to know Coach Stephen Salinas. Coach Salinas is a Southwest ISD graduate and has spent his entire teaching career of nine years giving back to the only district he has ever called home.
Here is an inside look at Coach Salinas.
What is your favorite hobby?
Going to different coffee shops
What is one thing you wish you enjoyed more?
The moments in life because it happens in a blink of an eye.
Who is your hero?
My dad because he is the calmest person I know and always figures out a way to weather the storms.
What song do you know all the lyrics to?
To Zion by Lauryn Hill. My mom dedicated this song to me when she had me at 15 years old.
What is your go-to karaoke song?
Still Tippin' by Slim Thug
If you could be a character in any book, movie, or show which book, movie, or show would it be?
John Wick because he is one bad dude!
If you were to attend Hogwarts, which house would you be sorted into?
Gryffindor!
How do you spend your summer breaks?
On the beach.
What are your “Trapped on a desert island” books or movies?
Think Like A Monk by Jay Shetty.
What can you cook to perfection? Are you willing to share the recipe?
Chicken Adobo and NOPE!
If you won the lottery and decided to give up teaching, what would you do instead?
Sail the seas and chase Great White Sharks.
What is one of your favorite memories from childhood?
Living in Panama City, Panama.
What is one of your hidden talents?
Making people feel welcome in any room.
What is your dream vacation?
Palawan Island, Philippines
What would the students be surprised to find out about you?
I'm a 1/4 Filipino, 1/4 Irish, and 1/2 Mexican
Quick Response Questions
We have a new addition to the Teacher Feature called The Lightning Round, a fast and furious one-word answer to a random get-to-know-you series of questions. Teachers were presented with two options and had to choose one option without thinking about their selection or providing an explanation.
Work or play?
Play
Cats or dogs?
Dogs
Winter or Summer?
Summer
Morning or evening?
Morning
Sweet or salty?
Salty
Binge whole seasons or watch episodes one at a time?
Binge whole seasons
Win the lottery or find a dream job?
Win the lottery
Travel to the past or travel to the future?
Travel to the future
Learn by doing or learn by watching?
Learn by doing
Cannonball into the pool or dip a toe in first to test the waters?
Cannonball into the pool
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