Dear ISA Families,

This past Wednesday was an amazing and fun day at ISA! Afterschool, ISA teachers sat down to call students who were drawn in our lottery extending an invitation to join the ISA Class of 2028! The tradition of calling our newest Globies goes back to our community’s earliest years and continues to be a special time for faculty and the ISA Community. The excitement of the afternoon was contagious, and we look forward to welcoming our newest Globies for an orientation in March!

Recently, eligible ISA sophomores and juniors, were extended an invitation to apply for membership in ISA’s chapter of the National Honor Society. The deadline for completing and submitting the online application is Monday, February 26th at 5:30 p.m. The application can be accessed in a Google Classroom students received an invitation to join! Following submission and faculty feedback, students will be notified of their acceptance to NHS before Spring Break! If you have questions about NHS please contact Bonnie Brawner at bbrawn@neisd.net or Ashley Gans at agans@neisd.net.

On Thursday, February 29th, ISA families are invited to junior and senior student exhibitions! ISA students exhibiting their learning is an important way for students to practice the “Communicate Ideas” pillar of the ISA Graduate Profile. These exhibitions are also an especially valuable way for families to see what our students are learning and how they are making meaning of the world around them, and while the presenters are juniors and seniors, we encourage all families to attend as a way to see what is ahead for students in the coming years! Join us on Leap Day to see what our students are capable of! Here are the details for Thursday:

• Senior Public Policy Presentations:

  • When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

  • Where: ISA Main Hallway

  • What: Seniors will present their proposals in a “science fair/open house” style. The event is open to the public, and students are encouraged to invite those they’ve identified who may be interested in their proposal. It’s an exciting event!

• Juniors Multi-genre Projects:

  • When: 5:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.

  • Where: ISA Flex Space (S-103)

  • What: Juniors will present a social justice topic inspired by their travel experience to Alabama!
    

Because preparation turnaround is quick, ISA will provide a pizza snack for juniors and seniors after school!

Looking ahead, the ISA Amigos will hold their next board meeting on Monday, March 4, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Flex Space (S-103). Attendees can park in front of the LEE Main Entryway. Join us to discuss our upcoming 9th grade orientation and silent auction. All are welcome!

ISA sophomores will attend a Math and Science field trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens on Tuesday, March 5th. If your sophomore hasn't asked you to sign their field trip permission slip, please ask them about it, then send the signed permission slip back to school with your student. Additionally, the ISA Sophomore Team is looking for a few more parent chaperones for this field trip! If you have questions about the sophomore field trip please contact Bonnie Brawner at bbrawn@neisd.net or Ashley Gans at agans@neisd.net.

On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, ISA will honor this year’s summa cum laude graduates at our annual Summa Celebration and Recognition Ceremony. The event begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m. in the PAC foyer followed by our formal recognition ceremony at 7:00 p.m. also in the PAC Auditorium. During this event, ISA seniors from the Class of 2024 will recognize educators who have made an impact on their lives. We are excited to celebrate our Summa Graduates!

On Thursday, March 21, 2024, we will host our next ISA Community Night! We invite ISA families to save this date when our 9th graders will host the Make-A-Difference (MAD) Fair, and our 10th graders will host the Advocacy Fair! Sharing learning with others is a vital part of the ISA student experience, so mark your calendars and be part of this important event. 

As mentioned above, March 21st is a big day for our 9th and 10th graders. The Amigos will also host our annual silent auction, and planning has begun. This event is a fundraising opportunity that benefits all of our students. The silent auction committee is calling for donations to assemble gift baskets, any large ticket items, and gift cards. Proceeds from the silent auction will serve to advance the ISA Amigos’ mission to support the continued funding of experiences that enrich ISA students’ learning! If you are interested in making a donation for auction gift baskets, please use THIS Amazon Wishlist. If you, your employer or someone you know would like to donate a large ticket item or experience, please contact ISA Amigos at isaamigos94@gmail.com. 

Last week, LEE Dance hosted a virtual tryout meeting. Drill and Dance tryouts will be March 19-22. Students can click the HERE for a flier with more information and may contact Christina Alanis at calani@neisd.net with any questions.

The window to submit AP Exam payments for second semester AP courses (AP Comp. Govt. and AP Psychology) is still open! This window closes on March 5th and credit card payment can be submitted through Skyward:  Student Access--not Family Access. HERE are instructions about how to submit payment. Cash payments can be submitted to Ms. Schramm in the LEE Counseling Office.

This week, NEISD Superintendent, Dr. Maika, shared an important message about Door Safety. We encourage ISA families to view this short message together and discuss how to help ensure we keep each other safe on campus each week!

Finally, this Tuesday, February 27, 2024, is our next early release day.  Students will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m.

Sincerely,

Steve Magadance and the ISA Faculty