Community Update for September 3
Dear ISA Families,
On Friday September 1st, we completed the third week of school! The rhythms of the school year have become more familiar. The hallway traffic is less erratic, more intentional, and more predictable as students have found the best routes between classes. There are still as many bumps in the road as there are moments of joy to come as students tackle and overcome the challenges of developing their global competence together in our little community. I am proud of the hard work, trust, and patience on display from teachers, students, and families during the first fifteen days of school! Friday also marked the end of the first grade progress reporting period. Students’ progress reports will be available in Skyward by the end of the week!
Last Wednesday, August 30, Lifetouch was on campus taking yearbook pictures. Families can order photos for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders using the school code: EVTSXG7N6. If your student missed Wednesday’s photo opportunity, a retake opportunity will be available to 9th-11th grade students on Friday, October 20, 2023!
ISA Seniors will have their first on-campus opportunity with Prestige Portraits on Tuesday, September 12th for cap & gown yearbook photos. Senior families can also schedule a free graduation portrait session with Prestige. This FLIER has details about how to schedule your senior’s session!
This week, ISA sophomores will attend the first field trip of the school year when they travel to The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment on Friday, September 8th! Sophomores should plan for an outdoor experience by wearing sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, tennis shoes, and bringing water! Families should submit travel permission forms to the Sophomore Team and check with teachers about other equipment needed for the trip!
The LEE Campus PTSA and RoodEd will host a tailgating event at the LEE football game on Saturday, September 9th! Come enjoy food and fun from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at this pre-game community event! Join the PTSA, and learn more about the tailgate celebration and other PTSA initiatives HERE!
On Saturday, ISA received word from our sister school Takayama Nishi in Takayama, Japan that they are excited to see ISA students again this year! As we continue to plan for exchange trips to Germany and Japan, we wanted to share opportunities for families to express interest in students traveling and hosting international students for these life-changing exchange opportunities! Click the links below to express interest:
Frankfurt, Germany (March 5 - March 16, 2024)
Looking ahead, ISA 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will have the opportunity to sit for administrations of the PSAT/NMSQT in October and ISA 12th graders may have the opportunity to sit for the ACT in October! Students and families can learn more about the PSAT/SAT/ACT upcoming dates, services, and events from our campus CCMR Specialist, Carin Schramm, HERE!
To prepare for the PSAT, ISA will be hosting PSAT Blitz sessions again this year! In person sessions for Reading and Math will begin during the week of September 11th--through October 11th--and online resources are available through Google Classroom. Here is the schedule:
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Reading (Mondays 4:20 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.) in room S-102
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Math (Wednesdays 4:20 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.) in room S-103
Sessions will focus on skills and items students can expect to see on the PSAT and SAT, and we encourage 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to attend. Ninth grade students will be accommodated if space is available and everyone is encouraged to join the Google Classroom for practice resources. Click HERE for the Google Classroom join code!
Again this year, ISA students will enjoy college preparation and guidance support from the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP). Read more about the SAEP Program HERE. Ms. Schramm works closely with our SAEP specialist to help ISA students explore post-secondary education options. Part of this exploration includes meeting with admissions counselors from colleges and universities across the country. This week, we will host admissions reps from St. Mary’s, Texas State, Texas Tech, and Carnegie Mellon. These visits are open to ALL students and reps will be in the ISA career center--across from the ISA Main Office--or in the PERC. Click the ISA Calendar for upcoming on campus visits.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, the LEE/ISA/NESA/STEM will celebrate our At Last We Meet Homecoming Dance! Tickets will be available for purchase during the week of September 18th. Follow this update for more information soon!
Finally, tomorrow, Monday, September 4, 2023, is a student and staff holiday in observance of the Labor Day holiday. We look forward to seeing students in the hallways again on Tuesday, September 5th.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Steve Magadance and the ISA Faculty
