Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Welcome back to another exciting school year! It was wonderful to have students back in the Comm Arts hallways. Here's to a year filled with learning, laughter, and memorable experiences. Let's make this year remarkable together.

If you already have your student ID, please continue to wear it. If you don't have one, stop by the Comm Arts front office and let us know.

We have student assemblies this week. All Comm Arts students must report to the Comm Arts LGI for their assigned assembly time and date.

• Tuesday Aug 18th - 2nd period 9th grade guys
• Tuesday Aug 18th - 3rd period 9th grade ladies
• Wednesday Aug 19th - 2nd period All 10th graders
• Wednesday Aug 19th - 3rd period all 11th graders
• Thursday Aug 20th - 2nd period All 12th graders

Students will also watch the Run, Hide, Fight video to review lockdown drill procedures. Parents, if you would like to view the video, click on the link: Run, Hide, Fight.

Before School

Student access to the building will begin at 8:00 am. If students arrive earlier, they are to report to the Taft cafeteria. Students can stay in the cafeteria or come to Comm Arts until the first period begins. Students should not be waiting outside the building.

Buses

There are two bus drop-off/pickup points for Comm Arts students. One location is the driveway between Comm Arts and Taft (mainly Comm Arts students who live outside the Taft attendance zone), and the Taft bus loop, which is on the right side of the campus if looking at Taft from Culebra (this location is mainly for students who attend Comm Arts and live in the Taft attendance zone). Students, please remember that the bus will pick you up after school, where the bus drops you off in the morning.

Doors

Students will use the front doors for arrival and dismissal—the side doors are only to be used during passing periods.

Off Campus Lunch

Juniors and seniors with off-campus lunch, don't forget to check out with a Comm Arts adult (show your student ID with the off-campus sticker) before you leave for lunch. Report to the cafeteria if you return to campus before passing period.

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, in line with Texas House Bill 1481, to support a focused learning environment.

Students may use personal laptops for classwork as directed by their teachers. Specific devices, such as Adobe-equipped iPads for certain courses, are also permitted. However, all devices must be powered off and kept in backpacks during passing periods, lunch, and non-applicable classes.

Please use laptops responsibly for educational purposes only. Misuse will result in loss of privileges. Thank you for your cooperation!

At Northside ISD, we are committed to proactively ensuring the safety of our students on school-provided devices and accounts. In line with this commitment, NISD utilizes Bark for Schools, a student safety monitoring application. Bark is an additional proactive measure to protect our students' online activity at school and home.

What is Bark for Schools and How Does it Work?

Installed as an extension of Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Chat, Bark for Schools is a content monitoring tool that uses powerful artificial intelligence to help detect potentially dangerous or inappropriate situations students may be facing both in and out of school.

Alert Process

When potential digital concerns arise on school-issued accounts, Bark for Schools sends specialized alerts to school representatives to ensure we can promptly address the situation. These alerts are important because they provide insight that could help us continue promoting the well-being and safety of the entire student body. Finally, NISD and Bark are strongly committed to protecting student privacy. This student safety application will only serve as a resource to flag or identify if/when any of the above situations take place. The District will not utilize this tool to monitor communications other than what is flagged in the previously mentioned categories, with the intention of student safety in mind.

For more information on the Bark for Schools software solution, please visit their website at https://bark.us or nisd.net/safety to learn more.

Thank you for helping us to keep our students safer online and in real life.

Comm Arts students will attend assemblies during the second week of school to discuss campus expectations.

As a safety reminder, NISD does not allow food deliveries for students or faculty/staff members. Additionally, all students, faculty, and staff must wear their school IDs on campus for safety. Students who need an ID will have opportunities during the first week of school.

Here is the link for more information: https://www.nisd.net/schools/safetySafety First, 2026-2027

Additionally, any visitors to campus will need to apply and pass a background check. This must be completed every year. It will not roll over. Here is the link to the background check: https://www.nisd.net/community/volunteer-mentor

If you notice anything unusual or a potential safety concern throughout the school year, please get in touch with the NISD Safeline. The Safeline is anonymous and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Phone number: 210-397-7233

Email: safe@nisd.net

¡Hola! Do you speak Spanish at home? Our campus is offering the Spanish Placement Test to help determine which level of Spanish class your student can take in NISD. It’s free and available on our campus, but only for a limited time. Contact Sra. Navarro to sign up at wanda.navarrorivera@nisd.net or stop by Room C224.

Please Note: The placement exam will be available on specific dates only. The final deadline to take the exam is August 18 before 4:20 PM. Unfortunately, no exceptions can be made after this time.

Si su estudiante habla español en casa y le gustaría tomar el curso de español en Northside, debe tomar una prueba para determinar el nivel adecuado de acuerdo con su habilidad. Esta prueba se ofrecerá de forma gratuita en nuestro campus. Para obtener más información y registrar a su estudiante, comuníquese con la Sra. Navarro enviando un correo a wanda.navarrorivera@nisd.net o pasen por el salón C224.

Aviso: El examen de ubicación estará disponible únicamente en fechas específicas. La fecha límite para tomar el examen es el 18 de agosto antes de las 4:20 p. m. Lamentablemente, no se podrán hacer excepciones después de esa fecha y hora.

Bus information is now available. Please reach out to the station closest to your address. Students in the Taft area should reach out to the McClung station.

• Culebra Station (210) 397-0275
• North Station (210) 397-0850
• Rhodes Center (210) 397-0900
• South Station (210) 397-0250
• McClung Station (210) 398-1550

Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. Use this Google Form to request a copy.

At Northside ISD, we believe all students deserve a quality education that prepares them to be engaged, successful citizens. Our counseling program supports the "whole child," ensuring our campus is a safe environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

To achieve this, we implement the Texas Comprehensive School Counseling Program (TCCP), a structured framework built upon four primary service delivery components and four essential skill areas.

Core Skill Content Areas

In Texas, our guidance curriculum focuses on four key areas to prepare students for life beyond high school:

1. Intrapersonal Effectiveness: Building self-esteem, motivation, and the ability to manage personal emotions.
2. Interpersonal Effectiveness: Developing effective communication skills, appreciation for diversity, and healthy relationships.
3. Post-Secondary Education and Career Readiness: Planning for college and careers, understanding assessment scores, and identifying individual strengths.
4. Personal Health and Safety: Learning about responsible technology use, bullying prevention, and mental health wellness.

Important Update: Parental Consent (Senate Bill 12)

In accordance with Texas Senate Bill 12, NISD now requires annual parental consent for routine health and mental health services. This consent covers the routine services mentioned above, including guidance curriculum and responsive services. Please ensure you completed the unique digital consent form that was part of the re-enrollment process in the spring. This ensures your student has continued access to these vital support systems.

Information Regarding Schedules

As we settle into the new school year, I want to share essential information about your course schedules. My primary goal is to ensure that every student is placed in the correct classes required for graduation and academic success.

Please note that schedule changes will be processed only for necessary corrections. These include:

• Missing Periods: If you have a gap in your schedule or are missing a required class period.
• Prerequisite Issues: If you have been placed in a course for which you have not completed the required prerequisite.
• Duplicate Courses: If you have already received credit for a course currently on your schedule.

Please note that we cannot process schedule changes based on elective preferences, teacher requests, or changes in course interest at this time. The master schedule is built based on initial requests, and many courses have reached their maximum capacity.

How to Reach Me

As your only Communications Arts HS Counselor, I am here to help you have a successful year. If you need a correction to your schedule or have any other counseling-related questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. The best way to contact me is via email at Minerva.Rosales@nisd.net.

Respectfully yours,

Dr. Minerva Rosales

Communications Arts High School Counselor

Minerva.Rosales@nisd.net

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

Students can now sign in to their College Board account and access their AP scores. Use the link below to log in and access your AP scores.

All AP Exams Have Benefits

Completing an AP course and exam means students took college-level coursework in high school. No matter the score, preparing for and taking an AP Exam sharpens students' skills to transition from high school to college. Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams have better college outcomes than their peers. Whatever the score, taking an AP Exam can keep students on track for college. Most students who score a 1 or 2 on their first AP Exam are likely to improve their score on a future exam. Students who achieve an exam score of 2 do significantly better in introductory college classes. Students who achieve exam scores of 1 or 2 are still more likely to attend college and graduate on time (than academically similar students who don’t take AP).

Helpful Resources:

• Do you want to understand better what your scores mean? Click HERE.
• Click HERE to learn more about AP Awards & Recognitions.

In school year 2026-2027, NISD will offer College Board's SAT and PSAT/NMSQT assessments.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, PSAT/NMSQT will be administered at high school campuses to 10th and 11th grade NISD enrolled students who register in advance to participate. There is a fee for this optional test for Grade 10 students. There is no fee for Grade 11 students since the PSAT/NMSQT exam is the route of entry to the National Merit Scholarship Program for 11th grade students.

On Wednesday, April 7, 2027, all 11th graders will be able to take the SAT or TSIA2 at high school campuses.

• Preparation for the SAT, where scores can help students get into honors college programs and college pathways (college within a college)
• Connects students to colleges and universities
• Scholarship opportunities for Grade 11 students - National Merit Scholarship Corporation's website at www.nationalmerit.org
• Scores can be used to qualify for dual credit courses.
• Results will include resources about local two-year colleges, workforce training programs, and career options.

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.

Seniors, take time to schedule your senior portraits with CADY this summer.

The Home Access Center (HAC) allows parents to access grades and attendance information.

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