Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Welcome back. We hope you had a fantastic three-day weekend!.

Just a quick reminder: this is your last chance to sign up for Summer School. Please connect with your student's counselor to get registered. Registration and payment deadline is Friday, May 1st.

Don't forget, grades for our final progress reports are due today, April 27th, and they'll be available on HAC by Friday, May 1st.

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.

AP Testing is almost here! Parents and students, morning AP exams begin promptly at 8 am. Students need to be on campus for their exam by 7:30 am. Students who usually ride the bus will need to arrange for alternative transportation.

Morning exams for Comm Arts classes are:

• Tuesday, May 5th - AP Human Geography (9th grade)
• Wednesday, May 6th - AP English Literature (12th grade)
• Thursday, May 7th - AP World History (10th grade)
• Friday, May 8th - AP US History (11th grade)
• Wednesday, May 13th - AP English Language (11th grade)

Afternoon exams for Comm Arts classes are :

• Monday, May 4th - AP European History
• Tuesday, May 5th - AP Government (12th grade)
• Friday, May 8th - AP Macro (12th grade)

Students who are testing will eat lunch during 3rd period and need to report to their testing room by 11:40 am. There will be no off-campus lunch for seniors who are testing on these days. Seniors, if you have an off-campus period 8th, you will not be released until testing is complete. Be prepared to stay on campus.

All other AP exams will be proctored at Taft.

The College Board requires the start time. Students who arrive after the start time will have their AP exam marked as unused, and your AP payment will be used as the cancellation/unused fee. Email Ms. Lewis (elizabeth.lewis@nisd.net) with any follow-up questions.

Due to AP testing, students will not be able to hang out in the Comm Arts building before school on May 5-8th, and 14th. Non-testing students will be able to enter the building at 8:50 am and quietly move to their classroom. Before school, students can hang out in the cafeteria at Taft.

AP exams are digital. Please charge your device the night before and bring your charger. If you have a mouse, you may use it during your exam. Please double-check your login before the morning. Also, please restart your Chromebook and log in to the Bluebook app. This will allow for the needed updates. Also, know your login information.

The 2026 induction ceremony for the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica was a tremendous success, as students were recognized for their outstanding achievements in their Spanish language classes.

Last Thursday, we held a joint ceremony that united our French and Spanish programs and celebrated the SNHS induction. The evening featured remarkable performances, including a beautiful dance by our very own Xitlali Martinez. Our guest speaker, Ms. Claire Plantenga, shared inspiring words with the new inductees. We concluded the evening with cake, celebrating this special milestone together.

Congratulations and welcome to all the new SNHS members! A special thank you goes out to Ms. Navarro and the SNHS officers for organizing this beautiful event.

StuCo and Class officer elections will be held on Wednesday, April 29th and Thursday, April 30th via Google Form voting. Look for a form on April 29th in your Social Studies teacher's Schoology. Voting ends April 30th at 4:20pm and winners are announced on Friday, May 1st.

Want to get a 3, 4, or 5 on your World History AP exam? Mr. Harris begun his afterschool AP review sessions, in the Comm Arts LGI from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm. These review sessions will take place every Wednesday until the AP exam on May 7th.

AP Macroeconomics and AP Government exams are right around the corner in early May, and we're here to help you finish strong! (AP Gov: Tuesday May 5th, and AP Macro: Friday May 8th both at 12PM) Join us for after-school review sessions every Wednesday and Thursday in Room C215 from 4:30–5:15 PM all of April. These sessions are designed to review key concepts, tackle practice questions, and boost your confidence before test day.

The payoff is real; students who attend review sessions like these consistently see improvement in their AP exam performance. This is your chance to get extra support, ask questions, and lock in what you've learned all year. Let's put in the work now and see the results in May. We hope to see you there!

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.

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.

Parents and students, please refer to the Summer School link in this newsletter for more detailed information about courses offered, dates, tuition, and deadlines. To register, email your child's respective counselor and let the counselor know which course you would like your child to take over the summer.

The deadline to register and pay for summer school courses is May 1st, 2026.

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!

As you wrap up the school year, the "end-of-year scramble" can feel more like a marathon than a finish line. As counselors, our goal is to help you cross that line! Here are a few tips to navigate the final weeks of school.

1. The "Big Picture."

Before you dive into a pile of textbooks, you need to know exactly where you stand.

• Check your HAC: Look for missing assignments or "Incomplete" marks. A zero is much harder to recover from than a late 70.
• Identify "The Pivot" points: Focus your energy where it matters most. If you have an A in History but a C- in Algebra, your study schedule should reflect that.
• Talk to your teachers: Now, not the day before finals. Ask: "What is the one thing I can do to improve my standing in this class before finals? What grade do I need to earn in the last marking period to earn credit for this class?"

2. Master the Schedule

Cramming is a recipe for burnout and mediocre grades.

• The 50/10 Rule: Study for 50 minutes, then take a 10-minute break away from your phone. Walk, stretch, or grab a snack.
• Prioritize Sleep: Your brain processes and stores what you learned during REM sleep. Pulling an all-nighter is like trying to save a document on a computer that's about to crash.
• The "Finals Week" Blueprint: Create a visual calendar. Seeing that you have two exams on Tuesday and none on Wednesday helps you allocate your "brain power" effectively.

3. Summer "Future-Proofing."

The end of the year isn't just about finishing; it's about setting up the next version of you.

• Summer School: There are 9 days remaining to register for summer credit advancement. The deadline is May 1st. Contact your respective counselor if you want to register for a course this summer.
• Course Requests: Double-check your classes for next year. If you're unhappy with a placement, talk to your counselor now before schedules lock over the summer.
• Update your Resume/Brag Sheet: While the year is fresh in your mind, write down your clubs, awards, and volunteer hours. You will thank yourself when college applications or job hunts roll around.
• Secure Recommendations: If you're a junior, ask two teachers if they'd be willing to write a letter of recommendation for you in the fall. Doing this now puts you at the top of their list.

4. Mental Health & Closure

High school is intense, and the transition to summer can actually be stressful for some.

• Declutter your space: Physically cleaning your backpack, desk, and locker can provide a psychological "reset."
• Celebrate the wins: You survived another year. Whether you aced every test or just managed to show up when things were hard, acknowledge that effort.
• Digital Boundaries: Use the summer to detox from school-related group chats or social media drama. Give your brain a chance to be bored; that's where creativity starts.

Counselor's Note: Remember, your grades are a reflection of your performance in a specific moment, not a reflection of your worth as a human being. Do your best, but keep perspective.

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

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.

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.

Northside ISD joined the Texas School Safety Center's public awareness campaign, "Threats Are No Joke!" aimed at educating students and parents about the serious consequences of making or sharing threats. The campaign highlights that even joking about threats can have legal repercussions and endanger safety, as shown in the PSA video linked below. Students are encouraged to report any concerning information through NISD's Safeline. We encourage everyone to watch the video at https://txssc.txstate.edu/videos/threats-are-no-joke/ to understand better the importance of keeping our schools safe. Thank you.

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