Briscoe Innovative Thinkers

6th grade will be taking a field trip to the San Antonio Zoo. We will be studying the layout, animal habitats, guest experiences, educational opportunities, structures and more. This field trip is one of the ways we will research for an upcoming unit in which students will create their own utopian zoological facility.

Permission Slips will be sent home with all 6th grade students on Tuesday. Please sign and return no later than Friday, October 16th. This will help us plan for lunches, medicine, etc.

If you are interested in joining us as a chaperone, please sign up using the SignUpGenius link below.

Also, all chaperones must have completed and passed the NISD background check: It takes a week or two to clear. Here is the link:https://hrvolunteer.nisd.net/TempMod.nsf?Open

• 6th grade - 10/7 - in the Cafeteria - Self-Portraits

• 7th grade - 11/10 - in the library - Community Research Floats

• 8th grade - 12/8 - in the library - Entrepreneurship

• Make-up Date - 12/15 - In my classroom - varied as needed

All Showcase times will be 5:30-6:30

If a child is sick or can't make it on their showcase date, they can come to the subsequent grade level's showcase as a make up option. If you know ahead of time that your student can not make the date of the showcase for their grade level, let me know. If we plan ahead they could possibly even present an alternate GT project at an earlier showcase date if needed.

The NISD GT department created a M.S. GT shirt — they are just $7.00. Each school's shirts will be in their school colors. Our shirts will be maroon with white print. When you order, the preview will show white, but at checkout enter Briscoe and the final order will be maroon, this also ensures your order is delivered to the correct campus.

Students may wear the shirt on GT field trips, at showcases, GT Market Days, spirit days, games, and similar events. The shirts will be delivered to my GT meeting on 11/3, in time for our 6th grade zoo field trip.

Here is the link to the online store (closes at noon on Oct. 16): https://designstore.alamotees.com/nisd_gt_ms/shop/home

6th grade: SPHERO STORIES: Our students are writing collaborative, creative stories, drawing blueprints of the setting and coding three Sphero Bolts to perform as the actors in the performance of their story.

Don't forget, they will showcase their introspective self-portraits at the 6th grade GT showcase on 10/7 in the cafeteria. Students presented in class. They should continue practicing at home. Students who had very few or no artifacts should gather those items to display at the showcase. They should also think about bringing a small shelf or box with a blanket or cloth, or decorating the box to create a way to display these items. Artifacts can include medals, pictures, favorite mementos, items or toys, or items from crafts or activities they do. Think of it as an "all about me" display to put around and enhance their self portrait display.

7th graders are learning about their place in their community. We are branching out from our community art unit to learning about the unique places in San Antonio, that make our city special. Students will be researching a chosen historical or cultural location in San Antonio that is unique to our city. They will then be displaying what they learn about this venue in the form of a Fiesta Float which should include at least 8 facts about their venue. They will present and share this learning with you on the night of our 7th grade GT Parent Showcase on 11/10. Please make plans now :-)

Students should bring a shoebox (or similarly sized box that fits in their locker) and craft supplies related to their chosen location/event. Common materials include thin cardboard (cereal-box weight), recycled items (toilet paper rolls, fruit containers), wrapping or tissue paper, glitter, sequins, pipe cleaners, small toys, or clay. For example, a student making a military base once used toy army figures; another used a toy dinosaur to create tracks in clay for Government Canyon.

Please have your student plan their design at home and discuss which supplies you can help find. We’ll also work on planning in class. If a requested item isn’t available, encourage them to choose a suitable alternative.

Please send their supplies no later than 10/5. We will build in class the week of 10/5 and continue the week of 10/13. Building in class must be complete by 10/16. We will work on plan, practice and present in class on the week of 10/19.

8th graders are learning about various real world purposes and venues for their art such as memoriam, commemoration, self-expression, activism, and therapy. Students will choose a cause they care about and create an art piece to support their cause. We will also take a look at art through games and literature such as illustrations, gaming art and cartoonists. The students will make Artist Trading Cards of their own design. They will innovate a series of original characters with +/- aura points, slogans, and art work.

This is not an NISD trip, so all are welcome! Parents and families can join us! Want to know more? RSVP for the parent meeting on 10/15.

Have you traveled with me in the past? There is an extra discount for those travelers who came with to Europe this summer.

https://naturalbridgecaverns.com/events-list/

https://sabgtx.org/

Explore giant Catrinas and more than 10,000 marigolds and hundreds of living plants in this colorful fall exhibition!

https://www.visitsanantonio.com/events/arts-culture-events/day-of-the-dead/

https://www.visitsanantonio.com/event/corny-maze/12500/

https://www.visitsanantonio.com/event/halloween-kick-off-party/12835/

Northside ISD offers parents an opportunity to serve on the district GT Enrichment Advisory Council along with campus and district administrators and teachers. The mission of the GTEAC is to enhance the opportunities and experiences of Northside students by sharing resources with parents, by expanding public opinion and awareness through communications, and by providing funds for grants and specialized GT projects.

Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Where: Available at Panda Express locations nationwide
How: Online orders only -- apply code 9016407 in the Fundraiser Code box during online checkout at www.pandaexpress.com or via the app

28% of all sales will be donated directly to the NISD Gifted, Talented & Enrichment Advisory Council! Your purchase helps raise funds for the grants and scholarships we provide to GT students throughout NISD.

Please note that orders must be placed for pickup or delivery on Friday, October 30th and the fundraiser code must be applied at checkout in order for the donation to count.

Tutoring for GT/ Innovative Thinkers will be held on Thursday mornings. This is the time to catch up on projects, makeup missing work, ask questions, get help, and fill in missed information from absences. When students are absent, they should come to the next available tutoring session to get caught up. If students have a specific reason for needing an additional or alternate tutoring session, they should come talk to me. I will do my best to work with them to schedule a special tutoring session.

It is expected that:

• students are respectful in GT- of the class, themselves, and others.
• students are responsible for their materials, their best-quality work, their grades, having a positive attitude, and taking ownership of their learning.
• students act in a safe manner at all times.
• students engage in and strive toward the Habits of a Scholar expected of all NISD GT students in grades K-12.
• phones, earbuds, and all other non-district-issued techs will be kept off/silent and in the student's backpack throughout the duration of the class.

A little bit about me, I grew up in El Paso. I was also in a Gifted Program as a kid. This is my 18th year teaching and 10th year in GT. I have 5 kids and 2 dogs. I am a swimmer, I love to read, travel, camp and crochet. I run the Destination Imagination Club at Briscoe. I also run the program for the district and the region. In addition to DI, I am one of the NJHS sponsors here at Briscoe. I love creativity, and curiosity! I strongly believe that every learner has the right to be challenged, learn from productive struggle, and share their learning and accomplishments.

Email: mary.cedio@nisd.net
Phone: 210-398-1100
Twitter: @BriscoeGT_Cedio

FB: @BriscoeGT