Northwood News
December 8, 2025
Hello Northwood Community,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the start of this festive season. We are now just two weeks away from winter break and the end of the nine weeks, and it’s an important time to stay focused on attendance and learning—while still embracing the fun and celebration this time of year brings.
Our choir students helped kick off the season beautifully with performances at the airport over the weekend and again today at Brookdale Senior Center. We are so proud of the joy and holiday cheer they are sharing with our community.
MAP testing continues this week, and the schedule is included below for your reference. Thank you for helping keep routines and daily schedules as consistent as possible during this busy month. Regular attendance and predictable structure make a big difference in student success.
We appreciate your continued partnership and wish you a wonderful week ahead.
Warmly,
Mrs. Harper
Lost and Found
Holiday Giving
MAP Testing Schedule
Tuesday, Dec. 9 - 1st & 3rd grade: MAP Math
Wednesday Dec. 10- 2nd, 4th, 5th MAP Math
Thursday, Dec 11 - 4th & 5th grade MAP Science, Kinder Math
News from PTA
December 8: NW Choir performs at Brookdale Sr. Center 4:00pm
December 10: Carnival meeting @ 11:30
December 15-16: PTA Gift Wrapping for staff
December 19: Class Holiday Parties
December 22 - January 5: Winter Holidays
Need the district calendar? Bookmark this link.
Raising Cane's Fundraiser -We will have our next Spirit Night Fundraiser with Raising Cane’s on Austin Hwywhich wil! Grab a bite to eat during this busy time of year and help support Northwood PTA. A portion of the sales for this evening will be donated to the PTA. Mark your calendars for Wednesday December 17th 4pm-9pm.
Winter Coat Drive -Let’s help keep our Unicorns warm now that it has finally cooled down! We will be running a coat drive until we leave for the holiday break in December! We are accepting new and gently used coats in all sizes, but there is always a big need for larger sizes! Please place your donations in the labeled box on the front steps of the school near the doors!
Giving for Custodians and Cafeteria -The caretakers of our campus, custodial and cafeteria staff, are truly advocates for our children. They cheerfully complete daily tasks that are far too often taken for granted -- spotless hallways, clean classrooms and bathrooms, warm and nutritious meals. Their efforts make Northwood Elementary a safer, healthier environment for our children!To show our appreciation for all they do, we would like to present the custodial and cafeteria staff members with a monetary gift this holiday season. We are asking each child to contribute one dollar (or more). Parents who wish to contribute toward this gift may do so by giving a cash donation to Northwood. Please place your contribution in an envelope marked “Auxiliary Staff” and return it to the school by Thursday, December 18.
New PTA Website
Northwood PTA now has a website! NorthwoodPTA.org is your new online hub for all PTA sponsored events, volunteer opportunities, and information. Please go to NorthwoodPTA.org and create an account. It only takes a minute and it’s free! You do not need to be a PTA member to create an account, but members do get special access to our new Online Directory. Never worry about losing that QR code or misplacing that volunteer link again, it’s all in one place! If you have already joined PTA this year, you do not need to purchase a membership again. Reach out to Lisa Miller at info@northwoodpta.org with any questions or for assistance with registration.
Elevate Your Impact: Join the PTA Today! joinPTA.org
Unlock a world of opportunities by becoming a part of our passionate PTA community.
Membership is $8.50 and your involvement is a chance to make a tangible difference in your child's education and school experience.
By joining PTA, you are showing support for your child and their education. There is no obligation to volunteer or take on additional responsibilities (unless you want to!)
Join fellow parents and educators to shape the future, advocate for quality education, and create a nurturing environment where students can thrive.
Amplify Your Voice, Forge Lasting Connections, Enrich Learning Experiences, Drive Positive Change, Shape the Future!
Join the PTA today and embark on a rewarding journey of collaboration, empowerment, and growth.
Together, we can create a brighter future for our children and build a stronger, more vibrant school community. joinPTA.org
School Lunch
We have a wonderful cafeteria that serves breakfast and lunch daily. This year meals are provided at no charge to ALL students as part of the Community Eligibility Program. Click THIS link to watch a short video about what is included on the school breakfast or lunch tray and what items are an extra charge.
If your child wants "extras" beyond the regular school tray, you need to add money to their cafeteria account by visiting schoolcafe.com or sending in a check or cash.
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.
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.
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🤚 Passenger Side Only
For Safety, students should exit the vehicle from the passenger side only. If they are unable to exit by themselves on the passenger side, please pull into a parking spot and assist them.
- Breakfast 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 2:45-3:00 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 2:45 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.
🤚 Passenger Side Only
For Safety, students should enter the vehicle from the passenger side only. If they are unable to get in the passenger side please pull into a parking spot and walk up so that you can assist your child
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 - 2:40 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 2:40 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.
Skyward Family Access
Skyward Family Access is an important tool for all parents to stay informed with their child's education. This is where check grades, update contact information, complete forms and more. You should have received an email earlier this week to complete important beginning of the year forms. Please take some time to log in or create an account if you have not already done so. click and open the document below for full instructions. Click THIS link to login and for all the information you need.
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