Keeping Up with Comm Arts
~ February 3, 2026 ~
Hello Comm Arts Family and Friends!
This week is National School Counseling Week, and we are excited to celebrate our incredible counselors, Mrs. Martinez and Dr. Rosales! They dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to uplifting our students, profoundly impacting their success and well-being each day. Let’s express our gratitude for their unwavering commitment and hard work!
Wednesday, February 4th, is a Professional Learning Time for teachers. Because they will be in a meeting, there will be no tutoring before school.
On February 6th, the Comm Arts student body will take Panoramic pictures. The student body picture is at 10:30 am, and the senior-only picture is at 11:00 am. Students and parents, please plan accordingly. We love having everyone in the picture. Students, please adhere to the dress code.
Seniors, the deadline to sign up and pay for your AP macroeconomics exam is March 1st.
Déjà Vu
On Saturday, the film Déjà Vu, created by AV2 students, was selected for screening at URBAN-15 and the Josiah Media Festival. Way to go!
AV Casting Call
AV 2 students are looking to cast characters for their upcoming film project. The film takes place in a scary haunted house, but is presented in the style of a reality show, resulting in absurdist comedy. There are seven roles to fill, so if interested, submit a form to audition: https://forms.gle/Rz2Kvxif1ZXZpTxF9
Grassroots
Are you interested in being a comedic announcer for Grassroots? If so, complete the interest form link linked below (students only): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWh4MypbFDu36fs6snzZjkAsn-w7P1AkfnTTSoKqeO-hsr7w/viewform?usp=header
Just Keep Reading
Looking for a way to earn free food and books? Then don't forget to log the number of minutes you read in Beanstack. It's in the portal, and everyone can participate. Also, all types of reading count, including magazines, ebooks, and audiobooks!
Varsity Tutors
Students, you can find a new tutoring support system in your NISD portal.
Varsity Tutoring offers:
- 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring (including AP courses)
- On-Demand Essay Review
- Live Enrichment Classes
- Test Prep Classes (ACT, SAT, GED, etc), Academic Classes (study halls, algebra bootcamps, etc) and Enrichment Classes (languages, robotics, chess, etc)
Don't forget to check it out!
BigFuture Ambassador
Here are their links:
- Jessai - BigFuture - JessaiAmbassadorLink
- Adrian - BigFuture - AdrianAmbassadorLink
You can use these links to explore post-secondary plans as well as other information related to college and scholarships.
Personal Communication Device Policy
We would like to remind everyone of our No Personal Communication Device Policy during school hours. This includes cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and similar devices. This policy was implemented to comply with Texas House Bill 1481 and to support a focused and distraction-free learning environment.
However, we understand the importance of technology in education. Therefore, students are allowed to bring and use personal laptops for classwork, note-taking, and other academic activities as directed by their teachers. Content specific technology such as an Adobe equipped iPad for an Animation course will also be allowed while in that class. Like all other devices previously mentioned, they will not be allowed during passing periods, lunch periods or in non-applicable courses and academic activities.
Please ensure that laptops are used responsibly and only for educational purposes during school hours. Misuse will result in loss of this privilege. Devices including cell phones must be powered off and kept in student's backpacks.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a productive and respectful learning environment.
Attendance Matters
The Texas Compulsory Attendance Law states that students between the ages of 6 and 19 are subject to the Texas Compulsory Attendance Laws.
Let's start with how it affects a student's academics. The Law states that a student must be in attendance 90% of the class time offered to receive credit for a course. In Northside, we have a calendar that shows 174 days of school for the 25/26 school year. This equates to 17 absences in a full-year course before attendance recovery is required or a student loses credit, regardless of their grade. For a semester course, we have 87 days in the fall, which allows for 9 absences, and 87 days in the spring, which allows 9 absences before attendance recovery is required or a student loses credit, regardless of their grade. Remember, when considering the 90% rule and its impact on gaining credit, both excused and unexcused absences count.
A student who is absent more than 75% of the class time will no longer be eligible for attendance recovery and will need to retake the course to earn the credit. This equates to 22 absences per semester.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email cahs.attendance@nisd.net.
Here Comes the Bus
Safety
As a safety reminder, NISD does not allow food deliveries for students or faculty/staff members. Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff must wear their school IDs on campus for safety.
Here is the link for more information: Safety First, 2025-2026
Additionally, any visitors to campus will need to apply and pass a background check. This does need to be completed every year. It will not roll over. Here is the link to the background check: https://www.nisd.net/community/volunteer-mentor
If you notice anything unusual or a potential safety concern throughout the school year, please contact the NISD Safeline. The Safeline is anonymous and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone number: 210-397-7233
Email: safe@nisd.net
