Military dad surprises sons at schoolWhen asked what the first thing he would do with his dad when they got home, five-year-old Abraham Acosta said, “unpack his bags – and then play video games.”

The kindergartner from Glass ES hadn’t seen his dad in more than seven months as he was deployed to Turkey. Captain Abraham Acosta surprised the younger Abraham and 13-year old son Diego at a special assembly held at Glass ES.

Diego, a student at Pat Neff MS, thought he was at the elementary school campus to watch his younger brother receive an award. He was brought to tears, as were a lot of those in attendance, when his father walked into the assembly.

Pictured (from l-r) are 1-year-old Azariah, wife Karina, Diego, Capt. Abraham Acosta, and Abraham.

Capt. Acosta will return to Turkey after a three-week reunion with his family.

For additional pictures, click here.

Counseling programs win state awardsThe Texas School Counselor Association recognized Brandeis, Harlan, O’Connor, and Warren/CCA high schools, and Connally, Hector Garcia, Pease, and Stinson middle schools with 2019-2020 CREST Awards for Counseling Excellence.

CREST stands for Counselors Reinforcing Excellence for Students in Texas. Schools receiving the CREST award have demonstrated a commitment using the school guidance and counseling program to improve the lives and achievement of students in academic, career, and social domains. 

More than 70 schools in Texas were recognized with CREST Awards this year.

The programs will be recognized in February at the annual Professional School Counselor Conference in San Antonio.

Student’s poem published nationally

Axa Soria, a student at Communications Arts HS, is a winner in the national Spanish literacy contest. Her poem, “Quien Era Yo,” will be published in the March 2020 issue of Albricias, a national student literacy magazine sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP).

High achieving students who are members of the Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS) are invited to compete at the national level by sending in original pieces in Spanish or Portuguese in written or graphic form. Their work is evaluated with the best entries published in the magazine. 

January 15, 2020

Bringing book lovers & book authors together“LibraryPalooza That Author Thing!,” an author festival for teens, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Brandeis HS. This year’s event will include authors Alan Gratz, Tiffany Jackson, Sandhya Menon, Marissa Meyer, and Judd Winick.

Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase books on site (or bring from home) and have them signed by the authors. Although geared toward middle and high school students, the event is open to anyone. There is no cost for the event and no advanced registration is required.

Lunch will be available for purchase, cash only.

The program is sponsored by Northside ISD, the Friends of Northside Libraries and H-E-B.

For more information on the schedule and the authors, go to their website. Updates about the event are posted on Twitter, and Instagram, and their Facebook page.

Happy NISD Maintenance/Custodial Staff Appreciation DayFriday, January 17, 2020

NISD salutes all our maintenance and custodial employees who work so hard to make our schools clean, safe, and inviting for all students and staff.

Showcase your outstanding educatorsGo Public is producing a highlights video of extraordinary teacher/educator stories as part of Mentorship Month. This video is the inspiration. If you would like to

submit photos or videos for consideration, please message Go Public (@WeGoPublic) on Facebook or email Lisa@wegopublic.com. Deadline is Jan. 24.

GRANT OF THE WEEKCaptain Planet Foundation kitsCaptain Planet Foundation’s ecoSTEM Kits were curated to engage students in project-based learning, including observing phenomena, conducting inquiry investigations, making models, collecting data for citizen science projects, creating solutions to engineering challenges, and conducting environmental stewardship projects to solve real-world problems. Each kit contains supplies for 32 students. Click here for more information on the Captain Planet Foundation or contact the Grants and Recognitions Department at 210-397-8562.

Phone service resolution solutionNISD employees are eligible for the Sprint Perks for Education Program. Get Sprint’s top tier Unlimited Premium plan for the price of a mid-tier Unlimited Plus plan, which is a $875 value. Visit here to start saving and use corporate ID: GAEDU_XTX_ZZZ.

PERK OF THE WEEK

Jefferson visits Jefferson MSWallace Jefferson, former Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court and a Jay HS graduate, visited the campus that bears his name after an invitation by Principal Monica Cabico.

Cabico reached out to Jefferson to introduce herself after becoming the proud new principal of the campus. To her delight, Jefferson responded and arranged to visit the campus with two of his siblings.

During the short visit, the Jefferson’s were treated to performances by the choir, band, and orchestra as well as a Q&A time with students.

Go Spurs for Go PublicThe San Antonio Spurs are helping to shine a light on the great things happening in San Antonio-areas Independent School Districts with the first Go Public Night with the Spurs on Saturday, Feb 1 at 8 p.m. Ticket purchases made through the Go Public special link found here are eligible

to receive exciting fan experiences and prizes.

The night also serves as a fundraiser for Go Public, the campaign comprised of the 19 ISDs in the San Antonio area. Go Public spotlights ISD and school successes, while also informing parents and the community about the benefits, services, and programs offered throughout our ISDs.

Pictured are (from l-r) Superintendent Dr. Brian Woods, Principal Monica Cabico, and Wallace Jefferson.