Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers and mother figures in our Comm Arts community! Your love and support make a world of difference, and we truly appreciate you.

Summer break is just two weeks away. Students, let's make every moment count. Keep an eye on your grades and attendance; we're so close to finishing strong.

We're in the final stretch of AP testing. The AP English Language & Composition exam is on Wednesday, May 13, at 8:00 am. Juniors, be on campus by 7:30 am and arrange alternative transportation if needed.

The AP English exam is digital, so please charge your device and bring your charger. A mouse can be used during the exam if you have one.

While AP testing is ongoing, students who are not testing will need to wait until 8:50 am to enter the Comm Arts building. You can hang out in the cafeteria at Taft before school.

Students, it's time to turn in your devices. Comm Arts NISD Chromebook will be turned in on Thursday, May 14. Please include the device charger and any additional devices/chargers that may have been checked out.

Mark your calendars for Attendance Recovery on May 14 in the Comm Arts' LGI from 4:20 to 6:00 pm. Bring something to work on

Congratulations to Layla Vigil! We are proud to share that Layla, an 11th-grade student at Communications Arts High School, has earned Third Place in Congressman Joaquin Castro’s 20th Congressional District Art Competition for her stunning photograph titled “Working Class Hero.” Her artwork will be displayed in Congressman Castro’s office for the entirety of the year, showcasing her talent and hard work.

Talina Koukoui from Comm Arts is a finalist for Best Lead Actress in a Musical at the Joci Awards for her performance as Ti Moune in *Once on This Island*. She will be featured on WOAI SA Living on Wednesday, May 13, from 10 to 11 a.m. She will be singing a selection from the show and talking with the hosts about her experiences with Taft Theatre and the Joci Awards! Here is the link to watch - https://news4sanantonio.com/watch

For those planning ahead, semester exams are from May 18th to 21st. Even if students are exempt, they'll need to be present to maintain eligibility.

Seniors, we have a mandatory graduation rehearsal meeting scheduled next week, May 20, at 1:30 pm in the Taft auditorium.

Transcripts - NWV & OnRamps

• Northwest Vista College Transcript: link with everything you need to know
• OnRamps College Transcript: link with everything you need to know

NISD Google Drive

Here are the instructions regarding transferring your school's Google Drive to your personal Google Drive. The district will remove your access quickly, so please do this quickly. See the Google Takeout PDF below.

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

Seniors, below are the elementary and middle schools that shared their information with us. As they are shared, they will be added. If you don't see your school below, you can contact your school directly for senior walk details.

Please be aware that this is an unexcused absence if you miss a class. If you bring in a note, this will be an excused absence. Plan accordingly for semester exam exemptions.

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!

Senior Reminders

1. Order your Final Transcript to be sent to the college or university you plan to attend in the fall. Be sure to indicate that you are requesting the Final Transcript.
2. Order your transcript that reflects your dual credit coursework through Northwest Vista - your ACES account to be sent to the college or university you plan to attend in the fall.
3. Order your transcript that reflects OnRamp's coursework through your UT Portal to be sent to the college or university you plan to attend in the fall.
4. Take advantage of College Board's Send Scores Free. Seniors can request one free score report sent to the college or university they plan to attend if they ordered by June 20. Students will need to activate the Send Scores Free My AP Profile, then Send Score.

Summer to-do list for Juniors

1. Register for a Campus Tour for your prospective universities. Go to the university's website and search for Visits.
2. Build your Resume - see Sample Resumes and Templates
3. Continue working on your college essays.
4. College Planning Checklist: College Planning Checklist for Juniors
5. Research College Scholarships - Scholarship Opportunities for Juniors

"Turning Awareness into Action" is this year's Mental Health theme. For more information, please click on this link: Mental Health Awareness.

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

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

Every year you take AP Exams, you can send one score report for free to your chosen college, university, or scholarship organization. This report includes both this year's and past AP Exam scores. If you're heading to college this fall, use your free score send to ensure your college receives your scores on time for credit or placement. For high school juniors, sophomores, or freshmen, this also shows your early interest. The deadline to submit is June 20th.

For more information, visit: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/sending-scores/free-score-send.

Is this your first time taking an AP exam? If so, here is a good read for you! - Click here to read

Here is a good read on building your confidence for taking an AP exam. - Click here to read

1. AP Daily Practice Sessions - This video series is available on AP Classroom and YouTube. Experienced AP teachers will provide practice on free-response and multiple-choice questions.
2. AP Daily Videos - In the AP Classroom, you can review short videos led by experienced AP teachers at your own pace.
3. AP Daily: Live Review Recordings - Last year's recordings are also available on AP Classroom.
4. Other AP Classroom Resources - Topic Questions, Progress Checks, My Reports, and Additional Tips are all available.
5. Other Free Resources - Use the About the Exam tab to learn more about the exams. Also, your teacher has provided many resources throughout the year that can be used to review. Don't forget that you can form study groups to review together.

For more information, click here: Prepare for AP Exams.

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.

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