Dear ISA Families,

There are only two weeks remaining in the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year! Our students have been working hard completing coursework and collaborating with their teachers to demonstrate their mastery of content as the first semester comes to a close. 

On Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. through Thursday, December 7, at 4:30 p.m., students will be able to access the Exam Exemption Application through Skyward: Student Access. Students are invited to review THIS handout to assist in accessing the exemption application process. 

The NEISD Exam Exemption Policy contains important differences from previous years. Key pieces of the policy of which to be aware include:

• Extenuating Circumstances “X” attendance codes will not count toward determining eligibility for an exemption, and

• There will not be an appeal process for this year’s exemption submissions.

If you have questions about the information contained in the above link that also contains an FAQ, please contact us at smagad@neisd.net or dgauna@neisd.net. 

The Final NEISD High School Magnet Night will take place at Garner Middle School on Monday, December 4th! ISA’s Ambassador Team will be in the cafeteria from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Send your friends who are interested in ISA to visit and learn more about what it means to be a Globie! The Lottery Application for the ISA Class of 2028 is available HERE! 

Now through December 11, 2023, the Campus Volunteer Pack is hosting a Toy Drive! The Volunteer Pack is a student organization composed of LEE/ISA/NESA/STEM students. If your family is willing to donate to the drive benefiting SAMMinistries and Haven for Hope, there is a donation station in the ISA Main Office!

Looking ahead, NEISD staff is hosting a community-wide meeting on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, in the Littleton Gymnasium (12002 Jones Maltsberger, 78216) from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  This public informational presentation will focus on clearing up some of the complexities of school accountability. Staff hope to help audience members walk away with a better understanding of the changes in the state accountability system, STAAR test administration, and the district rating system. Parents, employees, and community members are all impacted by these issues, and NEISD wants to ensure accurate information is shared. Join us next Tuesday to learn more together so we can better support our students. Click HERE to email questions or suggestions and for more information!

MUNSA XXVIII: Unity is one month away! This Friday, December 8, our MUNSA staff and all of our sophomore delegates will participate in a pull-out session to practice parliamentary procedure and hone the skills they will need to ensure their readiness for MUNSA at Trinity University on January 4th and 5th, 2023. Good luck this week MUNSA staff and delegates!

The Fall Semester Exam Schedule will begin on Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Students will have finals in the following sequence:

• Tuesday, December 12th - Periods 4 and 6

• Wednesday, December 13th - Period 2 and 5

• Thursday, December 14th - Periods 1 and 7*

• Friday, December 15th - Periods 3 and 8*

*On Thursday and Friday, we will follow an early release schedule. School will end at 1:20 p.m. on each of these days and buses will be on campus at that time. Students who ride buses home should report to the bus loop immediately after school.

Finally, Friday, December 1, 2023, marked the end of the final progress reporting period until the end of the quarter on December 15th. Progress reports will be posted in Skyward: Family Access next week!

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Steve Magadance and the ISA Faculty