Points of Pride
Southwest ISD Newsletter
February 24, 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.
McAuliffe MS Principal Named As A Finalist For HEB Excellence In Education Award
Texas A&M San Antonio Award $125,000 In Scholarships to Titan Seniors
Texas A&M University-San Antonio, in part of its ongoing commitment to making college affordable, is awarding hundreds of San Antonio high school seniors with scholarship opportunities. Kicking off the financial aid awarding season Texas A&M-San Antonio is poised to award over $28 million in aid this month including more than $100,000 in scholarships at several local high schools, including Southwest Legacy High School.
The top 25 Seniors at Southwest Legacy received a nice award from Texas A&M San Antonio. Proving hard work pays off. Each student in the top 25% of the 2023 Graduating Class at SW Legacy was presented with a $1000 check to be applied to their tuition. The special assembly at Southwest Legacy High School also featured nationally-recognized motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur, Roy Juarez, Jr., CEO of Impact Truth. Juarez, a one-time student of Southwest ISD and former high school dropout, is now a successful college graduate and small business owner. Juarez spoke to students about the importance of finishing high school and getting a college degree.
Southwest HS Trainers Selected To Compete For Program of the Year Award
For this second season, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football partnered with University Health to shine the light on student training programs across the Greater San Antonio area with the Student Training Program Spotlight.
This year, 10 schools have been selected as the Student Trainer Program Team of the Week which includes a commemorative plaque and presentation, as well as a $500 donation to the program. Each school is then also entered to compete for the San Antonio Student Training Program Spotlight – Program of the Year Award partnered with a $2,500 donation to their school’s athletic training program.
SWISD Communications and Community Relations Win Awards and Present at the 2023 TSPRA Conference
The SWISD Communications and Community Relations teams attended the annual Texas Schools Public Relations Association (TSPRA) conference this past week. Both teams were excited to share and learn about public relations, marketing, and communications trends. The Community Relations team also presented the successful strategies they use for community engagement and communication.
The TSPRA conference also includes a competitive showcase for all the work that school districts across the state have completed. The SWISD communications team competed in the ‘Under 15,000 students’ category and was collectively awarded over 15 awards in multiple categories. These awards were judged by TSPRA officials and colleagues. Congratulations to Ian Lozano, Daniel Barcenez, Roger Campos, and Jenny Collier for winning the "Gold Star Award" in the following categories: Flier, Brochure, Published News Release, Photo Academic Classroom subjects, Photo Other Subjects. Video Documentary, Video Marketing, and E-Newsletter.
It's Not Her First Rodeo, Dr. Ball Welcomes Faculty and Staff To The SWISD Cowboy Breakfast
Southwest High School Students Selected to Join Public Health Corps
After consideration amongst the leadership of the UT Health Confianza Public Health Corps, 11 SWHS Health Science students have been selected to join the Public Health Corps (PHC). Their application attested to each student's passion for health literacy, community health, and leadership. The PHC will be an incredible way for each student to learn more on these topics while collaborating with peers and the PHC leadership team of medical students, Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant students, and UT Medical Doctors over the next 4 months.
Southwest Health Science Host Mini Medics Camp
In this week's edition of SWISD Snippets, we meet SWHS Senior Kaycee Kunz, who plays shortstop for the Lady Dragons Varsity Softball team.
Kaycee is a model student-athlete, she just received her dental certification this week through the SWHS Medical Program. Back in the fall, Kaycee took to the court and helped the Lady Dragon Volleyball team get to the playoffs. Way to go Kaycee!
Athletics has taught her to be a leader both in the classroom and out on the diamond. Kaycee loves her teammates, especially their post-game huddles, in which, win or lose Kaycee and her teammates are there to lift each other up.
Kaycee plans to go to Texas A&M to become a doctor and one day a surgeon. She loves to hang out with her friends and BFFs when she's not busy with school. Her favorite food and hobbies include chicken alfredo, doing puzzles, and watching Sponge Bob SquarePants cartoons.
Best of luck this softball season and with the rest of the semester. Keep up the good work! Thanks for being a part of this week's SWID Snippets.
SWISD Homegrown: Joshua De La Rosa
We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their great accomplishments. In our new segment called ‘Homegrown' we highlight successful SW alumni who grew up in the SWISD community. We also look at how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. In this week's spotlight, we spoke with Joshua De La Rosa, Life skills Aid at Southwest Legacy High School.
If you know of alumni that work in the SWISD district that you would like to recommend to participate in this seg please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net
ScoreBoard Podcast with Brandon Medina & Peter Wagner:
We are so excited to announce that the 'ScoreBoard' Podcast with Brandon Medina and Peter Wagner is now available on Spotify, Amazon Music & Apple Podcasts, in addition to our weekly YouTube highlight. We are launching this today because this week's SWISD ScoreBoard podcast was a special episode with SWISD's new Superintendent, Dr. Jeanette Ball! We spoke about her vision of athletics, what she loves about Southwest ISD and the new things she hopes to bring to our athletics programs.
Click the link to listen in and remember to follow the show on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube!
SWISD Teacher Feature: Matthew Martinez
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 the Mighty Challengers at McNair Middle School to get to know 8th Grade Math and Algebra 1 teacher Matthew Martinez. Mr. Martinez has been teaching Math for 12 years and has been a McNair student favorite the whole time. Matthew is a Southwest ISD graduate and has spent his entire teaching career giving back to the only district he has ever called home.
Here's the scoop on Mr. Martinez.
What kind of student were you in Middle School?
In middle school, I was the "talkative" student. I would talk a lot when my teacher was at the front of the room. Funny story: I dislike it when my students are talking when I am teaching.
What was your favorite subject in school?
My favorite subject in school was math!
How do you keep things fresh and engaging for your students?
To keep things fresh in my classroom, I often incorporate accents randomly in teaching. The students laugh and it makes the environment fun.
What was the best advice any of your teachers have given you?
The best advice a teacher ever gave me was, “Notice the little things!” As teachers, it is our main job to teach students content. However, there are times when students are going through something and they need a caring/positive rapport with an adult. I want my students to know that someone cares about them and their problems.
If you could pass on a piece of wisdom to your students, what would you share?
I always remind my students that the decisions we make today, affect our future!
How often do you "accidentally" start teaching at home?
I often find myself teaching family members and incorporating math puns and jokes in daily conversation.
What inspires you as a teacher at school?
My students are my biggest inspiration. Math is sometimes a difficult concept for most people to grasp, but I let my students know that anyone can do Math. So I try to create instruction that all students can understand and make learning fun in any way I can. My campus has the mindset to be the best, which makes me want to perform my best and do the best for my teachers and students.
What is your favorite dish from the cafeteria?
My favorite dish from the cafeteria is the Nachos!!!!
Who is your hero? Why?
My parents are my heroes. Both of them have worked so hard and supported me through everything. They let me know that I can do anything and remain faithful throughout the process. I could not do anything without them.
Okay let’s switch gears a bit…
What can you cook to perfection? Are you willing to share the recipe?"
I make a mean grilled cheese! The ingredients are Butter, Bread, and Cheese!
What mythical creature or universal monster would you believe has the best chance of being real?
I think that Big Foot definitely has the best chance of being real... I think we’re related, Bigfoot might be my cousin!
How long would you survive a zombie apocalypse? Why?
I would not survive a zombie apocalypse for a long period of time, I can not run fast or long enough to survive.
If you could be a character in any book, movie, or show which book, movie, or show would it be?
Percy Jackson! I love the series and the movies. I would love to have superpowers!
Which superpower?
I think the superpower I would love to have, would be to have the ability to fly!
On this week's edition of 'Beyond the Arches', we are swinging for the fence with the Southwest Lady Dragons Softball team.
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