Community Update for October 29
Dear ISA Families,
In just under two weeks, ISA 9th, 10th, 11th graders, teachers, MAT Interns, and parent chaperones will depart on ISA’s fall travel experiences to Houston, New Mexico, and Alabama! Families unable to attend travel meetings last Thursday, can find links to travel presentations containing important information about departure and itinerary below:
Grade-level team teachers are working to finalize arrangements including paying admission, transportation, and meal balances for these annual travel experiences. This is a great time for families to process final payments for your student! Payments can be accepted by credit card using SchoolCash Online. Cash or check payments can be made to the following team teachers: Grayson Bull (9th), Aaron Perk (10th), and Jesus Cantu (11th).
Our nurse, Crystal Schweers, will continue to receive travel medication through Friday, November 10. However, the deadline to receive specialized doctor’s orders is Wednesday, November 1, 2023!
More detailed information about procedures--including items we CANNOT accept is outlined on THIS medical information form.
Last Thursday during our Advisory, a representative from the Council for International Educational Exchange (CIEE) shared information about the Global Navigator international exchange program. This past summer more than a dozen ISA students traveled to locations like Spain, Australia, Dominican Republic, and Japan! CIEE provides need and merit based scholarships to support applicants for this amazing opportunity! Also, applications received by December 1, 2023, are eligible to win a FREE FLIGHT!
On Friday last week, collaborative teams of ISA 9th graders traveled to LEE Cluster elementary schools to share their Storytelling Projects. Our 9th graders performed their stories and worked with 1st graders in student group designed activities exploring math, word recognition, and main idea comprehension. Knowing the level of collaborative planning, design, and communication that our students committed to this work and other ISA learning experiences affirms that developing students who are cooperative, kind, and globally competent is an important part of realizing a better global community. Thank you to our 9th Grade Team members--Grayson Bull, Emily Wilen, Suzeth Ramirez, Jenita Kurian, and Reilly Brown--for facilitating and supporting such an important formative experience for our students! This group project sets a foundation for the collaborative work that our students continue to practice throughout their 4 years at ISA.
Class of 2024, this Wednesday, November 1, Jostens will be on campus during all lunches to accept cap & gown orders from seniors!
Also this week, on Thursday, November 2, the LEE/ISA/NESA/STEM Community will celebrate this year’s National Merit Scholars! Join us at Comalander Stadium at 7:00 p.m. and stay for the halftime of the LEE vs. Churchill football game for the presentation recognizing ISA’s cohort of 18 scholars and their families!
HERE is the Campus PTSA newsletter! Upcoming highlights include Candy Grams, Lifetime Membership Nominations, and a donations drive for the NEISD PTSA clothes closet.
ISA junior, Lorenzo Milk, would like to share information about the Great Debate, a four-day summer debate program hosted by the National Hispanic Institute (NHI). Many ISA students count themselves among NHI Alumni, and the Great Debate focuses on growing students’ public speaking skills, college readiness, and cultural awareness. Financial assistance is available for the Great Debate program applicants and Hispanic lineage is not required to apply! Interested families/students can submit THIS form, and Lorenzo is available to answer questions by contacting him at lorenzoamild8@gmail.com!
Looking ahead to next week, on Monday, November 6th, Students of Service (SOS) will host Long Bridge to Freedom featuring former prison guard Christo Brand who will reflect on his friendship with Nelson Mandela. Mr. Brand will also participate in a panel discussion with SOS students that will include ISA senior, Michael Frere! The Long Bridge to Freedom is FREE and OPEN to the public but ticket reservations are required. This event will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the Carver Cultural Center (226 N. Hackberry St., 78202). FREE tickets can be reserved HERE or by pasting this URL in the browser of your choice: https://givebutter.com/GKOj4g.
Tuesday, November 7, is Election Day, and again this year, a student and staff holiday!
On Wednesday, November 8, 2023, NEISD will host a College & Career Expo at the Freeman Coliseum (3201 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78219). Click on THIS flier for more information!
The payment window for AP Exams is open until Friday, November 10th! AP Exams can be paid for by credit card through Skyward: Student Access--not Family Access. HERE are instructions about how to submit payment. Cash payments for AP Exams are also acceptable. Students can submit cash payments in the LEE Counseling Office!
The LEE High School Band is hosting their annual BBQ Fundraiser on November 11! Secure your BBQ plate by purchasing a ticket from any band or color guard member by November 3, 2023! Tickets are $10.
Friday, October 27, marked the end of the third week of the 2nd quarter of the 2023-2024 academic year. Student progress reports will be available in Skyward by the end of this week!
Finally, Tuesday, October 31st is our next early release day and school will release at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday is also Halloween! Please help remind your student(s) that costumes and masks are not allowed at school.
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Steve Magadance and the ISA Faculty
