October Parent Newsletter

As we welcome October, we are proud to reflect on a strong start to the school year and the growth our students have already shown. The first two months have been filled with learning, new opportunities, school spirit, and meaningful connections across our campus.

As we move into a new month, our focus remains on what matters most. Student growth, student success, and creating a safe and positive learning environment for every Spartan. We encourage our families to continue supporting their students by promoting regular attendance, arriving to school on time, staying engaged with their learning, and maintaining open communication with teachers and staff.

October will be a busy and exciting month at Rembrandt! From Homecoming festivities and student activities to counseling lessons, CharacterStrong, UIL practices, and special awareness initiatives, there will be many opportunities for our students to learn, participate, and make lasting memories.

Thank you to our Spartan families for your continued partnership and support. When our school, students, and families work together, we create an environment where every student has the opportunity to grow and succeed.

We look forward to another great month. Let’s continue Setting the Standard and Raising the Bar!

Mrs. D. Cano

Principal, Rembrandt P-TECH ECHS

If you need immediate assistance with any comments or concerns, please feel free to email me at dcano@vanguardac.net. This is the fastest way to get in communication with me directly.

At Rembrandt Secondary, supporting our students takes a team! Our Principal, Assistant Principals, Counselors, College Advisor, and ACE Program Director work together to help students succeed academically, socially, and personally while preparing them for their future.

Whether your family has a question, needs assistance, or simply wants to connect, our team is here to help. We value our partnership with our Rembrandt families and look forward to supporting every Spartan throughout the school year.

At Rembrandt, we believe that a great school starts with strong character. Every day, we encourage our Spartans to live out our three core values: Be Safe. Be Respectful. Be Responsible.

We invite you to partner with us by talking with your child about what these values look like both at school and at home. When students see the same expectations in both places, they’re more confident, successful, and prepared to make positive choices.

🛡️ Be Safe

At School: Follow campus expectations, keep hands and feet to yourself, walk in the hallways, and report concerns to a trusted adult.

At Home: Practice safe habits, be aware of your surroundings, and make good choices when using technology and social media.

💙 Be Respectful

At School: Use kind words, listen when others are speaking, value different perspectives, and treat classmates and staff with courtesy.

At Home: Speak kindly to family members, help around the house, show gratitude, and treat others the way you want to be treated.

⭐ Be Responsible

At School: Come prepared, complete assignments on time, be on time to class, and take ownership of your actions.

At Home: Finish chores, stay organized, be honest, and follow through on commitments.

Thank you for partnering with us as we build a school culture where every Spartan feels valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.

Together, we can make this our best year yet!

🌟 Spartan Spotlight: Heart of a Spartan

Each six weeks, Spartan Spotlight recognizes students who demonstrate positive character, growth, and what it means to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe. 💙💛

This six weeks, our Heart of a Spartan Award celebrates students who show kindness, empathy, respect, and care for others. ❤️

We can’t wait to celebrate our Spartans who make a positive difference every day! 🌟

A few missed days can add up quickly!

Missing just 2 days of school each month can lead to a student missing about 20 days in one school year.

Regular attendance helps students:

• 📚 Stay on track academically
• 🤝 Build connections with teachers and classmates
• ⭐ Develop strong habits
• 🎓 Be prepared for future success

Every day matters. Every class matters. Every Spartan matters. 💙💛

Why Join UIL? ⭐

Parents, encourage your child to give UIL a try! UIL gives students the opportunity to discover new interests, make new friends, strengthen academic skills, build confidence, and represent our school while competing for excellence. With events ranging from Spelling, Chess, Art, Music, Math, Science, Ready Writing, Dictionary Skills, and more, there is something for every student to explore.

5th grade students can participate too! They may choose to join a 5th grade UIL event or challenge themselves by competing in the 6th grade category. Encourage your child to step outside their comfort zone, try something new, and discover what they can accomplish! 💙💛🏆

As our seniors begin preparing for life after high school, I am sharing two very important opportunities/resources that I encourage every family to review together.

THE GATES SCHOLARSHIP

Application Deadline: September 15, 2026

Class of 2027 seniors who believe they may qualify should begin their myTGS profile and application

2027–28 FAFSA — START PREPARING NOW

The 2027–28 FAFSA is the FAFSA Class of 2027 seniors will complete if they plan to attend college, career school, or trade school beginning Fall 2027.

Gates Scholarship: Apply now — deadline Sept. 15
FAFSA: Prepare now — 2027–28 FAFSA available by Oct. 1

If you or your student have questions or need assistance, I am available to help students and parents throughout the process, including:

• Gates Scholarship eligibility and myTGS application support

• Creating StudentAid.gov accounts

• FAFSA parent/contributor questions

• FAFSA preparation and completion

• TASFA questions

• General college financial aid guidance

Mr. Efraim Cuellar
CCMR Coach
ecuellar@vanguardac.net
956-520-2770

Please take advantage of these opportunities and reach out for assistance.

My goal is to make sure our Class of 2027 seniors and families are informed, prepared, and do not miss important financial aid and scholarship opportunities.

Get ready for a night of Spartan fun! Our High School Homecoming Dance will be held on October 24 from 7:00 p.m.–12:00 a.m. at El Plebe Garden Event Center, 617 E. Moore Dr., San Juan, TX 78589.

🎟️ Tickets: $25 single | $40 couple
📅 Ticket sales begin September 28 and will continue until sold out.

Only 140 tickets are available, so students are encouraged to purchase their tickets early!

SUPPORT OUR 5TH GRADE! 💙💛

Our 5th Grade team would greatly appreciate your support! Please help us share our Raising Cane’s fundraiser on social media and spread the word.

We chose Wednesday to kick off Fall Break with Cane’s! 🎉

Every person who shows the flyer when ordering helps support our 5th Grade fundraiser!

📅 Wednesday, October 7
⏰ 5:00–10:00 PM

Share the flyer • Grab some Cane’s • Support our Spartans!

Spartan families, thank you for helping us ensure our students arrive at school each day ready to learn and in proper dress code. Please keep these important uniform expectations in mind:

• Correct school uniform is required each day.
• Uniform pants must be NAVY BLUE or KHAKI.
• Hair must be a natural hair color.
• Please remember that black pants are not permitted this school year.

We appreciate our parents and families for helping students follow campus expectations and represent Rembrandt Secondary with Spartan Pride! 💙💛