Keeping Up with Comm Arts

The first day of school is just a weekend away. It's great to have teachers back on campus, but we can't wait for students to join us!

We are excited to announce a new team member joining us this school year. Ms. Joanne Patron is our Student Retention Clerk. She is here to support our students, staff, and parents. We are so lucky to have her with us!

(Right) Comm Arts juniors, Luciano Sandoval and Alessandra Sarabia-Chapa did a fantastic job at Convocation!

As we prepare to start the school year on Monday, here are a few friendly reminders:

Student access to the building will begin at 8:00 am. If students arrive earlier, they are to report to the Taft cafeteria. Students can stay in the cafeteria or come to Comm Arts until the first period begins. Students will not be allowed to wait outside the building.

There are two bus drop-off/pickup points for Comm Arts students. One location is the driveway between Comm Arts and Taft (mainly Comm Arts students who live outside the Taft attendance zone) and the Taft bus loop, which is on the right side of the campus if looking at Taft from Culebra (this location is mainly for students who attend Comm Arts and live in the Taft attendance zone). Students, please remember that the bus will pick you up after school, where the bus drops you off in the morning.

Students will use the front doors for arrival and dismissal. Instructions on passing periods will be shared with students during their Comm Arts classes during the first day of school.

Seniors with off-campus 1st and 8th periods must report to the Comm Arts LGI on August 11th.

Students and parents, please review the District dress code policy. If you have questions or concerns, please get in touch with campus administration to avoid disruptions to your student's school day.

Juniors and seniors interested in off-campus lunch can pick up a Comm Arts form in our information station near the LGI. This form must be completed, including a parent's signature, before an off-campus sticker will be issued. A new off-campus sticker will be issued each grading period. Administration may revoke this privilege at any time if a student does not meet the campus's academic, attendance, and behavior expectations.

Beginning at 8 am on Monday, Comm Arts students are welcome to enter the building to locate their first-period class. Students can reference their schedules via HAC or the paper schedule provided during prep days. We will have a roster with student names and their first-period class in the front foyer for those needing it. Teachers will have an official schedule for each student in their 1st-period class. Students, it's recommended that you take a picture of your schedule since it also has your locker number and combination.

Similar to previous years, Comm Arts students will have limited access to their devices this school year. Students will not have access to their phones, smart watches, earbuds, iPads, and other personal devices during class time and passing periods. Student phones will need to be turned off and put away. Phones will be allowed during lunch time. District Chromebooks will be checked out to students on Wednesday, August 13th. Parents, if an emergency occurs and you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our front office.

Comm Arts students will attend assemblies during the second week of school to discuss campus expectations.

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. Students who need an ID will have opportunities during the first week of school.

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

¡Hola! Do you speak Spanish at home? Our campus is offering the Spanish Placement Test to help determine which level of Spanish class your student can take in NISD. It’s free and available on our campus but only for a limited time. Contact Sra. Navarro to sign up at wanda.navarrorivera@nisd.net.

Please Note: The placement exam will be available on specific dates only. The final deadline to take the exam is August 19 at 4:00 PM. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made after this time.

Si su estudiante habla español en casa y le gustaría tomar el curso de español en Northside, su estudiante debe tomar una prueba de nivel de español para determinar su nivel de curso de acuerdo con su habilidad. Esta prueba se ofrecerá de forma gratuita en su campus. Para obtener más información y registrar a su estudiante, comuníquese con la Sra. Navarro a wanda.navarrorivera@nisd.net.

Aviso: El examen de ubicación estará disponible únicamente en fechas específicas. La fecha límite para tomar el examen es el 19 de agosto a las 4:00 p. m. Lamentablemente, no se podrán hacer excepciones después de ese momento.

For those who need to order PE uniforms. The online store will close on August 10th.

Seniors, if you would like a locker, complete this Google form. Lockers are limited, so only request one if you intend to use it.

Below are the school supplies list for Comm Arts classes. Students will receive lists for the Taft classes on the first day of school.

As back-to-school shopping begins, please keep the NISD district dress code in mind. Students with dress code violations will be required to change.

1. Shorts of mid-thigh length may be worn at all school levels. Suggestive and/or indecent shorts will be prohibited.
2. Mid-thigh length skirts, skorts, and dresses may be worn at all levels. There should not be a cut or slit in the clothing that extends above the mid-thigh. Suggestive and/or indecent styles will be prohibited. These requirements also apply to school uniforms.
3. Appropriate footwear must be worn; footwear which has toes reinforced with steel, hard plastics or similar materials are specifically prohibited.
4. Hair must be neat and clean. Unconventional hairstyles that distract from teaching and learning will be prohibited.
5. Any clothes that are suggestive or indecent or which cause a distraction will be prohibited. Specifically, oversized clothing, tank tops, muscle shirts, halter/crop tops, spaghetti straps, exposed backs or midriffs, and see-through garments are prohibited.
6. Indecent/inappropriate patches, writings, or drawings on clothing are prohibited. Undergarments must not be visible.
7. All pants are to be worn at the waist (no "sagging") Tight fitting pants (e.g. tights, spandex, bicycle pants, etc.) are also prohibited. Frays or holes above the knees are prohibited.
8. Body piercing jewelry is prohibited except for rings, studs or other traditional jewelry. Any piercing that distracts the teaching and learning environment will be prohibited.

Because fads in dress and grooming are subject to sudden, and sometimes radical change, a basic rule to remember is that student dress and grooming should not be suggestive or indecent, or so bizarre and unusual as to detract from the classroom environment.

All students attending Communications Arts HS are expected to adhere to the standardized attire requirement.

Hi Parents! Students at Comm Arts need their own personal emails. For several reasons, students cannot use their NISD emails for College Board, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses. If students don't have a personal email, please take time to create one. Please keep professionalism in mind when creating the email. If you have questions or concerns, reach out to Elizabeth Lewis at elizabeth.lewis@nisd.net.

Attached below are the athletic pre-enrollment form and procedures for magnet/program transfer students.

This form is to be filled out by Northside students who have been given District approval to attend or transfer to a magnet/program outside of their attendance zone in which he/she resides to participate in any athletic activity before the first day of school (August 11th). Ex. summer strength & conditioning, sports camps, etc.

All Comm Arts students have a summer reading assignment. The PDFs attached below are the instructions for all grade levels. Happy Reading!

Last names A-K = Mrs. Martinez (yvonne.martinez@nisd.net)

Last names L-Z = Dr. Rosales (minerva.rosales@nisd.net)

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

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.

Students can now sign in to their College Board account and access their AP scores. Use the link below to log in and access your AP scores.

All AP Exams Have Benefits
Completing an AP course and exam means students took college-level coursework in high school. No matter the score, preparing for and taking an AP Exam sharpens students' skills to transition from high school to college. Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams have better college outcomes than their peers. Whatever the score, taking an AP Exam can keep students on track for college. Most students who score a 1 or 2 on their first AP Exam are likely to improve their score on a future exam. Students who achieve an exam score of 2 do significantly better in introductory college classes. Students who achieve exam scores of 1 or 2 are still more likely to attend college and graduate on time (than academically similar students who don’t take AP).

Helpful Resources:

• Do you want to understand better what your scores mean? Click HERE.
• Click HERE to learn more about AP Awards & Recognitions.

Northside 10th and 11th graders can take the College Board Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test, or PSAT, on Wednesday, October 15th.

Registration is required, and the link will be shared once registration has opened.

All 11th-grade students will be able to participate at no cost since results are connected to scholarship opportunities. 10th-grade students who choose to participate are also required to register in advance and pay a $20 testing fee. There is a reduced fee of $10 for students who receive free or reduced lunch.

For 11th-grade students, the PSAT/NMSQT is the entry route to the National Merit Scholarship Program. Requirements for participation, steps in the competition, and awards offered are explained in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide and on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation's website at www.nationalmerit.org.

Don't wait! Register now for this opportunity!

• Preparation for the SAT, where scores can help students get into honors college programs and college pathways (college within a college)
• Connects students to colleges and universities
• Scholarship opportunities for Grade 11 students
• Scores can be used to qualify for dual credit courses.
• Results will include resources about local two-year colleges, workforce training programs, and career options.

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

Yearbooks for 24-25 are here!

Here is the information for those who took pictures during Prep Days and want to order picture online.

https://lifetouch.com/

Picture Day ID: EVT99RR2G

If you missed school pictures during Prep Day, Lifetouch will be back on campus October 24th.

If you were able to attend Prep Days, School pictures are ready!

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number. All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card. More about the Smilesafe program here.

To appear in the 2026 section of your yearbook, you must photograph with Presitge Senior Portraits. Book your appointment ASAP. To schedule your summer studio appointment, click HERE or call 1-877-244-9873—options 2, then option 1 for assistance.

Only pictures taken with Prestige will be in the yearbook. Please keep these things in mind:

• Ensure they list you as a Communications Arts student, not Taft.
• Our yearbook pose is a cap and gown, NOT a tux and drape. Be sure that the cap and gown you are given is WHITE with a red and white tassel, and for those in NHS, our stole is blue, NOT white. The yearbook pose is cap on, and you MUST BE DRESS CODE COMPLIANT. We will NOT be Photoshopping pictures.
• Yearbook ONLY sessions are free, but we encourage you to choose a package with a variety of outfits and poses to reflect your personality and interests.
• Be sure to have your pictures taken by November so you can be included in the yearbook. The sooner, the better, so you have time to retake the pictures if you are unhappy with the first session.

They will be on campus September 8th. Students will need to sign up ahead of time to reserve their spot.

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.

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