Rattler Recap - October 19, 2026

Unity Day, started by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center in October 2011, is the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month. This is a day when we can come together to send a visible message of building community through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The call to action is simple: wear and share the color orange. This vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, showing support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention.

The San Marcos High School Band competed in the UIL Region 12 Band Competition on Saturday, October 17, and earned straight 1s and is headed to AREA! Congratulations to our talented student musicians, Band Directors Benjamin Pierce, Damon Knight and Shelbi Mago, and the parents and families who support our Rattlers every step of the way.

The day began with an exciting send-off as Rattler Nation came together with the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD), San Marcos Fire Department (SMFD), and San Marcos Rescue Tank to escort our band to the competition and show their support.

Thank you to our community partners and Rattler Nation for helping make this send-off special and cheering on our talented musicians! We are proud of our band members, directors, and everyone who helped make the day memorable. Next stop: AREA on Saturday, October 31! Performance details will be shared soon. Stay up to date by following official San Marcos CISD social media channels.

We are proud to celebrate these two Rattlers, Geronimo Vacaflores and Daisy White, who received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program for their outstanding performance on the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), placing them among the nation’s top 50,000 scorers out of approximately 1.3 million program entrants!

Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to academic excellence deserve to be celebrated. Congratulations, Rattlers! We are so proud of you and all you’ve accomplished!

Congratulations to our SMHS Cross Country team for a great performance at the 27-6A District Meet at Starcke Park in Seguin, TX on Tuesday, October 13!

Freshman Isabela Hathcock will represent #SMCISD at the Regional IV Meet in Corpus Christi on Monday, October 26 with a 2nd place finish at the district meet. Let’s wish her the best as she continues her postseason journey!

We are incredibly proud of Isabela and all our Rattler student-athletes for their hard work, dedication, and determination. It’s been a season of strides for Coach McGlothlin and his program, and we’re excited to see what’s next

San Marcos CISD went PINK on Friday, October 16, as the San Marcos Rattlers took on the Clemens Buffaloes! Our community came together to raise awareness for breast cancer and show support for those impacted by the disease.

Thank you to everyone who wore pink and helped make a difference! Together, we stand stronger in the fight against breast cancer. Interim Superintendent Dr. Sonya Y. Rodriguez and SMHS Principal Eileen Grose accepted the annual Community Giving check before kickoff! This year's check surpassed $47,000! We are thankful for our partnership with A+FCU.

SMCISD Gifted and Talented program is open for students in grades Kinder through 11th grade.

For questions regarding the program, please reach out to CJ.Odam@smcisd.net.

Our San Marcos FFA Floriculture Team made history by earning first place in District, first place in Area, and the title of State Champions in April!

Next stop: Indianapolis, Indiana! The team will compete at the National FFA Convention & Expo Tuesday, October 20–Friday, October 23, taking on 49 teams from across the country in the National Floriculture Career Development Event.

Team members are Tristan Toscano, Natalie Genaro, Nico Quintanilla, and Ivory Mendoza, coached by Mrs. Fallon Drennan.

We are so proud of their hard work, dedication, and accomplishments! We can’t wait to watch them represent San Marcos FFA, Texas FFA, and San Marcos CISD with pride on the national stage. Best of luck and Congratulations on this accomplishment! We are cheering you on!

Here in San Marcos, everything just got even Better! The new H-E-B location at I-35 and McCarty Lane celebrated its grand opening with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, marking the arrival of the largest H-E-B location in San Marcos!

Thank you to H-E-B for investing in our community and demonstrating a strong commitment to public education. Through its Trees for Texans initiative, H-E-B contributed $20,000 to San Marcos High School and gifted $10,000 to the San Marcos Education Foundation. We are grateful for community partners like H-E-B who help make a difference in the lives of our students, educators, and families. Thank you for supporting Rattler Nation and the San Marcos CISD community!

We are excited to celebrate the City of San Marcos recognizing October as Monarch Butterfly Month. Our Monarch Heroes were proud to attend the proclamation reading! This recognition reflects the city’s commitment to Mayor Hughson's Monarch Pledge and to protecting monarch butterflies and the habitats they need. Through our partnership with the city, your child can learn how neighbors working together can care for nature and make a difference in our community.

Families, schools, and local leaders all play a part in supporting pollinators and growing a lasting spirit of environmental stewardship. We invite you and your child to explore monarchs and their habitats at home, plant milkweed, or enjoy spotting butterflies around your neighborhood!

San Marcos CISD teachers and staff participated in a day of professional learning focused on strengthening instructional practices, fostering collaboration, and supporting continuous professional growth.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Sonya Y. Rodriguez kicked off the day by emphasizing the importance of educator learning and its impact on student success. The day provided educators with meaningful opportunities to learn, collaborate, and translate new ideas into impactful classroom practices.

October marks the beginning of National Principals Month, a time to recognize the dedicated leaders of San Marcos CISD who help our campuses thrive each and every day. Our principals do far more than lead from behind a desk. They are visible in classrooms, greeting students at the door, supporting teachers, partnering with families, celebrating accomplishments, navigating challenges, and helping create a school culture where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and belong.

Leadership in education is built on countless moments—listening to a student, encouraging a teacher, supporting a family, making a difficult decision, or simply showing up when it matters most.

This month, we celebrate the principals who lead with purpose, serve with heart, and continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and staff. Thank you for leading the way for #RattlerNation!

San Marcos High School Class of 2016 alumnus David Hamilton, current infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers, is headed to the 2026 World Series! David's clutch home run against the Dodgers helped the Brewers secure their National League Championship Series sweep and punch their ticket to the World Series!

Before making his mark on baseball's biggest stage, David made Rattler history on the diamond, starting at shortstop in all four seasons at San Marcos High School and helping lead the Rattlers to just the second regional quarterfinal appearance in program history. He also competed on the football team, represented his senior class as Homecoming King, and continued his academic and athletic careers at The University of Texas at Austin. From the Rattler dugout to the World Series, David is making his mark at the next level, and Rattler Nation couldn't be prouder! Good luck to the Milwaukee Brewers — San Marcos, TX, will be cheering you on, #6!

Do you know a Rattler alum doing great things at the next level? We want to hear their story! Share their accomplishments with us by emailing publicinformation@smcisd.net.