Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Happy St. Patrick's Day. We're so excited to have you back. We hope you had a fantastic Spring Break filled with fun and adventure.

This Wednesday, March 18th, is Professional Learning Time. Teachers will be in meetings before school and unavailable for morning tutoring. Grades for report cards were due March 6th. Report cards will be available on HAC by Friday, March 20th.

Attention Juniors and Seniors! If you have off-campus lunch privileges, don't forget to swing by the front office to grab your off-campus sticker for the final grading cycle. New stickers will be in effect starting Wednesday, March 18th. Remember, your eligibility hinges on your attendance and grades, so make sure you're all set!

We are excited to announce the winners of this year's BSU Mac & Cheese Contest! Andre Reed won 1st place, Trinity Flowers came in 2nd place, and Chloe Scott took 3rd place. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this event a success. Congratulations!

Student Council will be selling tickets for the annual Banquet starting Monday, February 23rd!

• Cost: $25 per ticket (includes a Maggiano's Italian dinner, DJ, and dance)
• Theme: The Great Gatsby – come dressed in your fun 1920s attire, or simply business casual if you prefer.
• Tickets can be purchased on My SchoolBucks.

Important:

• This is a Comm Arts only event—students from other schools will not be admitted.
• Bring your Comm Arts student ID to the Banquet on March 28th.

Get your tickets early and get ready for a night of fun, music, and 1920s glam!

Students, StuCo is looking for student volunteers to help with banquet set up and tear down. Complete the Google Form if you are willing to assist.

The 2026-2027 Student Ambassador Applications are open. Northside ISD is seeking passionate students eager to lead, represent, and make a difference in their schools and community. This program provides a unique opportunity to amplify student voices, develop leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful initiatives. The Student Ambassador program is open to junior and senior students during the 2026-27 school year. Applications close on March 23rd. To apply and for more information, click here.

Get ready for the most enchanting night of the year! We are thrilled to announce that Prom 2026 will be held at the beautiful SSFCU Event Center, conveniently located at Loop 1604 and IH 10. Join us for an extraordinary evening on Saturday, May 2nd, from 7 PM to 11 PM.

Ticket Prices:

Today - April 7th: $60

April 8th - May 1st: $65

For more details about guest forms, seniors check your NISD email.

Any seniors who did not pick up their free Class of 2026 shirt last week must go to Mr. Flores' room before or after school this week to pick it up.

Graduation dates were released. Comm Arts/Taft High School graduation is Friday, May 29, 2026, at 2:30 pm. For more information, click HERE.

Make sure you order in a timely manner. Graduation items will be ready for pick up on April 21st, 2026. Our caps and gowns are white. Click here to order online.

Dual Credit Resources (use your NISD account to access):

1. Dual Credit Application Checklist 2026 (All resources are also linked within this document)
2. Step-by-Step guide to complete step 1
3. Step 2: New to Dual Credit- Course Selection form (printed and delivered directly to Mr. Bernardino in A222) *Copies can be found on the windows at the entrance of A222*
4. Dual Credit Parent Consent Form (printed, signed, and delivered directly to Mr. Bernardino in A222) *Copies can be found on the windows at the entrance of A222*
5. Dual Credit Student Orientation (DCSO) Instructions
6. Step 3: Dual Credit Student Orientation (DCSO) Module acknowledgement form

Please note that any Comm Arts students that are currently in dual credit this year do not need to reapply. The only necessary step would be to complete the returning to dual credit form that will need to be returned to Mr. Bernardino in A222a.

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!

With just 44 days left of school, we want you to take advantage of the time we have left for this school year. Whether you're heading out on a college tour or catching up on sleep lost during spring break, we want to ensure you find a balance between rest and readiness.

Here are just a few things to consider:

• Freshman: Take time to explore by volunteering, engaging in job shadowing, or starting your resume. For more information, visit the CCMR newsletter section included in our Keeping Up with Comm Arts newsletter.
• Sophomores: Look into the future and research summer programs that you can become involved in this upcoming summer. Also, consider practicing for the ACT or SAT on Khan Academy, the College Board Blue Book App, the College Board Question Bank, or even Varsity Tutors, which offers free practice test sessions.
• Juniors: Use this time to finalize your college lists and start thinking about keeping up with scholarship applications.
• Seniors: It's time to make final decisions. Compare the different financial aid options available to you. Visit Ms. Elaine Torres, the College, Career, and Military Readiness contact, to help you with final details as you transition to college or pursue post-high school plans. This is also a time to be on the lookout for "Regular Decision" results from colleges and universities.

Mental Health Matters: "The Art of Doing Nothing"

It is easy to feel pressured to be "productive" 24/7. However, burnout is real. We encourage you to:

• Unplug: Set a "No Screen" window for at least 2 hours a day.
• Get Outside: Even 15 minutes of sunlight can significantly improve mood and circadian rhythms.
• Sleep: Use this week to reset your internal clock before the final push to finals.

College Career & Military Advisor - Elaine Torres (elaine.torres@nisd.net)

Exciting news! Our Comm Arts program proudly presents two standout seniors as BigFuture Ambassadors: Jessai Begay and Adrian Molina! These remarkable individuals are ready to make an impact and inspire others on their journey to success!

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.

10th and 11th graders can qualify for $500 and $40,000 scholarships from BigFuture®! The scholarships are open to all students, with no GPA, test score, essay, income, or citizenship requirements. Every month, BigFuture will award $500 and $40,000 to students who take steps toward their career and the education they need to reach it.

For more information: BigFuture Scholarships

AP Macro Exam

The deadline to sign up & pay for AP exams has passed. At this point, an additional $40 late fee applies. Each exam costs $40. Those with free & reduced, exam costs are $10.

Payments for AP exams can be made using MySchoolBucks or by cash/check (payable to ‘Taft High School’) handed directly to Mr. Kevin Bernardino in room A222a. Payment for spring semester only exams (AP Macro) is due in full by March 1, 2026.

Reminder: All My School Bucks School Store products will be disabled during NISD's Winter Break and Spring Break

If you are a senior and need to take the SAT, you can sign up through the College Board. Most NISD high schools are typically testing sites on weekends.

Students can request a fee waiver directly from College Board. Eligible students can receive SAT fee waiver benefits by logging in to their College Board account and submitting a request. Learn more on the College Board website.

Practice Builds Confidence

Take advantage of free Official SAT Practice at Khan Academy®. Take a practice test, set a target score, and feel confident on test day.

A student enrolled in courses earning high school credit (full-year or semester) may be exempt from the spring semester exam if the following criteria are met:

1. For the Spring semester, the student has three or fewer absences, excluding school business absences; (Spring semester begins January 6th, 2026)
2. The student's final average for the spring semester is 80 or higher;
3. The student's conduct grade in that class is satisfactory or better; and
4. The student is in attendance during the scheduled exam time.

A student who is eligible for exemption may take the exam if desired.

Exam Weight: The two graded quarters of each semester shall weigh 90 percent of the semester grade, and the semester exam shall weigh 10 percent of the semester grade. If a student is exempt from the semester exam, the semester grade shall be calculated using only the two grade quarters of the semester.

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.

Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. The VOE form is used for driver's permits and licenses. Use the Google Form to request a copy.

Summer tends to be a busy time for new drivers. Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. Use the Google Form below to request a copy. The VOE will remain valid through the summer months.

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.

Adobe Creative Suite Software at Home for Personal Devices

ComArts CTE students can download and install Adobe Creative Suite software onto their personal laptops and computers (not Chromebooks) for FREE using your NISD student login credentials. Use the attached instructions for guidance. Keep in mind that the Adobe software version installed at home will be a newer version than what is available at school.

Mission: Our school promotes curiosity while providing rigorous academics in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Vision: Communications Arts H.S. students will be confident, capable, communicative leaders.

Email: cahs@nisd.net

Attendance Email: CAHS.attendance@nisd.net
Website: https://www.nisd.net/communicationsarts
Location: 11600 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78253, USA
Phone: (210) 397-6043
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommunicationsArtsHighSchool/
X: @NISDComArts