Northwood News
Sept. 7, 2026
Happy Labor Day, Northwood Families!
We hope everyone is enjoying the Labor Day holiday today and taking some time to relax and recharge. It’s hard to believe we have already completed our first three weeks of school! We have had a great start to the year, and our students are settling into their routines, building relationships, and diving into their curriculum. It has been wonderful to see our classrooms buzzing with learning!
We will continue MAP testing this week. Please help your child do their best by getting a good night’s sleep, eating a healthy breakfast, and arriving at school on time at 7:25 am and ready to learn.
- Tuesday, September 8: MAP Math – Grades 1, 3, 4 & 5
- Wednesday, September 9: MAP Math – Kindergarten & 2nd Grade
Thank you for helping us make sure our students are ready to show what they know!
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to recognize the children and families whose lives have been affected by childhood cancer and to honor those who have fought or are currently fighting this disease. Each year in the United States, approximately 16,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer. Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children, making awareness, research, and support so important.
On Thursday, September 10, we will GO GOLD! Students and staff are encouraged to wear gold or yellow to show our support and honor children who have fought or are fighting childhood cancer.
September is also Attendance Awareness Month. Every day at school matters! Research shows that missing just 10% of the school year—about 18 days in most school districts—can negatively affect a student’s academic performance. That may sound like a lot, but it is only about two days a month. Missing this much school is considered chronic absence.
At Northwood, we want every student to be present, engaged, and ready to learn every day! We will celebrate Attendance Awareness and make a commitment to good attendance during September 14–18 with fun dress-up days and activities. See the schedule below for our special attendance spirit days!
Thank you for partnering with us as we begin another wonderful school year. When our students are at school, engaged in learning, and surrounded by a community that believes in them, amazing things can grow. We are excited about all that is ahead and look forward to another great week at Northwood!
Have a wonderful week, and as always, thank you for helping make Northwood such a special place to learn and grow!
Mrs. Harper
Games with Grandparents
Join us on Monday, September 14 from 5:30-6:30PM in the Northwood Elementary School Cafeteria to have an evening of funt to celebrate our Grandparents. Bring your favorite game or pick one of the games we’ll have ready to play! Invite your grandparent , aunt, uncle, parent, neighbor, or family friend and get ready for a fun night of games and memories! Family Photo Opportunities and small snacks and refreshments will be available.
Future Brahmas Thurs. Sept. 10
Come out and support our feeder high school, MacArthur High School, this Thursday at the Future Brahmas Football Game at Heroes Stadium!
Northwood students will have a chance to enjoy paletas and face painting and even run onto the field in front of the players! Even better, students who wear their Northwood shirt get in FREE!
Let's show our Brahmas family how proud we are to be part of the MacArthur feeder pattern. We are also hoping to win back the Spirit Trophy by having the most Northwood students at the game!
Wear your Northwood shirt and come cheer on the Brahmas!
Spirit Shop
Family Engagement for the Week of Sept. 7-11
Monday, September 7 - Labor Day Holiday - Enjoy time with your kiddos.
Wednesday, September 9th - Conversation English Registration at Vineyard Ranch Elementary 9-11 AM.
Thursday, September 10th - 9 - 10 AM Tai Chi Walking from, 10 -11 AM Book Club "The Last Morning" pages 1-68
6 - 7 PM Special Ed Support Training (Virtual) Family Engagement Fall Districtwide Trainings
For more information, please feel free to contact me.
Elizabeth De La Rosa, M.Ed.
(210) 407-5465
Family Liaison for Northwood/Vineyard Ranch/Wilderness Oak
Northwood Elementary (Monday/Tuesday and Thursday)
School Meal Information
For more information on meal payments, you can visit our School Nutrition website.
We know that access to healthy school meals directly impacts student success, so we want to work with you to remove any barriers. Our campus family specialist can offer additional assistance and connect families to food resources at our District food pantry or any of our campus food pantries.
Please reach out to the School Nutrition office at 210-356-9113 or mealapplication@neisd.net with any questions about applying for meal benefits.
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, Northwood is no longer eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which previously allowed all students to receive free meals. Students will now be charged for lunch unless they qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
If you believe your child may qualify, please complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application:
- Online: Through schoolcafe.com
- Paper: Complete the form included in your child’s First Day Folder
We encourage families to apply as soon as possible so applications can be processed promptly.
Good news! Free breakfast will continue to be available to all Northwood students this school year.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact School Nutrition at 210-356-9113 or mealapplication@neisd.net.
Morning Drop Off 6:50 -7:20 am
- Students may be dropped off no earlier than 6:50am. There is no supervison before this time and students will not be allowed into the building.
- Breakfast is free for all students and is served from 6:50-7:20 am. Students arriving after 7:20 am will need to have breakfast at home.
- Students who arrive before 7:20 will report to the follow locations to wait for their teacher:
- Kinder - 1st grade: K/1 Hallway
- 2nd - 5th grade: Gym
- Teachers will pick up the students at 7:20 and walk them to the classroom.
- The tardy bell rings at 7:25 am, so please allow plenty of time to get to class.
- In order to ensure the safety of all of our students, we ask that parents not come into the building in the mornings. We will make sure that everyone gets to class safely.
After School Dismissal 2:50-3:05 pm
In order to ensure the safety of all our students everyone picking up a student from school at dismissal is required to present an official Northwood Dismissal Tag, whether it is by car or walk up. If you need a dismissal tag, please come to the front office and present your ID. All students will wait inside the building for dismissal which will start at 2:50 pm
Parent Pick Up will line up on the sidewalk near the marquee, with their dismissal tag and wait to be called.
Car pick up will hang their tag on their rear view mirror, line up on Rockhill and turn right into the school driveway. Wait for your child's name to be called and pull all the way forward. Please stay in your car. If you need to help your child with their buckle, please park and walk up.
We understand that this may take a little longer, however, we want to ensure that everyone goes homes safely. Thank you for your cooperation.
School Hours 7:25 am - 2:45 pm
Threre is a change to our school day this year. The tardy bell rings and 7:25 am and the dismissal bell rings at 2:45 pm. Please make plans to get up a few minutes earlier so that your child is in class ready to learn at 7:25 am. Students who come into the building after 7:25 am will be counted tardy and parents will need to come into the office and sign them in.
Visitors to Campus
All visitors to campus will be required to present an ID and receive a visitors badge through the Raptor system in order to come into the building during the school day. This includes on the first day of school. We understand that this may not be convenient, but it is necessary in order to ensure safety.
School Absences
Our goal is for all of our students to maintain outstanding attendance (at least 95%).
The best way to learn is by being present at school and on time, ready to learn at 7:25 am every day! If your child needs to be absent due to illness, please be sure to send a note to school the day they return explaining the reason for the absence. Absences for illness and medical appointments will be excused with a written note. A student can have no more than 18 absences in order to recieve credit for the course/grade level.
Catherine Harper, Principal
Email: charpe5@neisd.net
Website: https://www.neisd.net/northwood
Location: 519 Pike Road, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-407-5400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorthwoodNEISD
Twitter: @northwoodneisd