The Blazer Beat
November 21, 2025
North Lake Family,
We have reached our Thanksgiving Break and have earned a well-deserved week off from school. I hope everyone has a restful week and has the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. I will always remember visiting my abuelita’s home every year and planning our Thanksgiving Meal around the Cowboys game. Those core memories of hearing my family discuss different parts of their lives have left a lasting impression on me, and I hope you have a special tradition or people you can spend time with.
When we return from break, students will have 5 school days before Dallas College finals. I encourage students during the break to take some time to study for their finals and also make sure they complete any work assigned by their Dallas College Professor. Additionally, many of our teachers have provided students with supplemental supports to stay on top of their academic studies during the break.
To add to the countdown to the end of the Fall Semester, each day will have a theme! I have added the calendar below and will send out a reminder before we return from school. Please note that there will not be an edition of the Blazer Beat next week due to the Thanksgiving Break. Have a great week off and see you all on December 1, 2025!
Sincerely,
Adrian Hernandez
Principal
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernandez2648
Familias de North Lake,
Llegamos a las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias y nos hemos ganado una merecida semana de descanso. Espero que todos tengan una semana reparadora y la oportunidad de pasar tiempo con familiares y amigos. Siempre recordaré visitar la casa de mi abuelita cada año y planear nuestra cena de Acción de Gracias en torno al partido de los Cowboys. Esos recuerdos entrañables de escuchar a mi familia hablar sobre diferentes aspectos de sus vidas me han dejado una huella imborrable, y espero que ustedes también tengan una tradición especial o personas con quienes puedan compartir momentos.
Al regresar de las vacaciones, los estudiantes tendrán 5 días de clases antes de los exámenes finales de Dallas College. Les recomiendo que durante las vacaciones dediquen tiempo a estudiar para los exámenes finales y que también se aseguren de completar cualquier tarea asignada por sus profesores de Dallas College. Además, muchos de nuestros profesores han brindado apoyo adicional a los estudiantes para que se mantengan al día con sus estudios durante las vacaciones.
Para aumentar la cuenta regresiva para el final del semestre de otoño, ¡cada día tendrá un tema! He añadido el calendario a continuación y les enviaré un recordatorio antes de regresar a clases. Les informo que no habrá edición de Blazer Beat la próxima semana debido a las vacaciones de Acción de Gracias. ¡Que tengan una excelente semana de vacaciones y nos vemos el 1 de diciembre de 2025!
Atentamente,
Adrián Hernández
Director
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernández2648
Dr. Baker 10th/11th Grade
Dr. Parker Hart 9th/12th
Hello North Lake Families!
What a week! The final Early Decision 1/Early Action deadline was on November 15th, and our seniors were hard at work getting all of their applications in on time! This year we had 13 students apply as Early Decision applicants, and 30 students applied for Early Action!
This was the highest number of ED & EA applicants we have ever had at North Lake! Some of the schools our students applied to include New York University, Syracuse University, Texas Christian University, Gettysburg College, Davidson College, Augustana College, University of Texas Austin, and many more!
While this application season was demanding, it was also immensely rewarding because of our increible teachers and students!
Most of the ED/EA applications required letters of recommendation, and our teachers rose to the challenge! Each letter I read was unique, intentional, and fiercely advocated for our students.
Seeing our students support each other through the application process this year was one of the highlights of my time at North Lake.
Every single day for the last few months I have witnessed our students tirelessly assisting each other with their essays, navigating complex challenges like the SRAR and the CSS Profile, encouraging each other, pushing one another, and more.
I am so grateful to work with such amazing students and teachers who truly live the North Lake Way!
Our ASP updates this week are as follows:
Metrics
· Applications: 54/77 of our seniors (70%) have applied to affordable 4 year universities!
· FAFSA: 37/77 (48%) of our seniors have completed their FAFSA!
· Dallas County Promise: 74/77 (96.1%) of our seniors have completed the DCP Path form!
· Scholarships: I am in the process of collecting initial scholarship awards, and will give you our current total soon!
Upcoming Events
SAT Prep: Our next SAT prep class will be tomorrow after school! Due to the time changes with Girls Inc I will move future SAT prep sessions back to Thursdays after school. The room will be announced on remind!
Application Party: Myself and the ASP Ambassadors will be hosting an application pizza party this Friday during the long lunch in room G401! Students can attend to receive help on their applications!
ASP X Centre College Meet & Greet I have nominated 16 of our Seniors for the new ASP X Centre College Scholarship program! Our nominated students have been invited to attend a meet and greet dinner with representatives from Centre College tomorrow evening at Molina high school. I will be attending the event as well so I will make sure to take pictures!
Thanksgiving Break Office Hours: During Thanksgiving break I will be available to students on Monday & Tuesday via Zoom from 9:00-1:00! I will send out a flyer with my office hours and instructions for how to sign up on remind.
Thank you all for your continued support!
Beginning on the first day of school (August 12, 2025), all students will be expected to adhere to the the North Lake Early College dress code and uniform policy.
Wednesday will be "Uniform Day" On Uniform Wednesdays, students are required to wear their ECHS uniform shirt, black slacks, khaki slacks or a skirt (no shorter than “finger-tip length” with arms in normal position, i.e., arms hanging naturally, as student is standing straight and upright).
Senior Only Uniform of grey slacks or Grey/Blue plaid skirt with the North Lake ECHS uniform shirt or Senior Shirt!
North Lake ECHS Uniform can be purchased at Levine's two locations or via their website https://levinesstores.com/collections/north-lake-early-college-high-school.
Students will be required to follow the North Lake Dress Code on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please see the image below which outlines the do's and don'ts.
All students will be required to have clear or mesh backpacks for the 25/26 school year, small personal non clear bags are allowed. Dallas ISD will provide all students with one free clear back from the school year. I would recommend the mesh bag as they are more durable for the year. If you require a backpack, you can pick up at open house or first day of school
Mesh/Clear Backpack examples - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mesh+backpack&crid=21Z8OKVNB5ZZY&sprefix=Mesh+Bac%2Caps%2C144&ref=nb_sb_ss_pltr-data-refreshed_1_8
Seniors Only, click on the photo for product info at Levine's
John Johnson - Assistant Principal
Monique Gossett - Campus Coordinator
Kara Hoover - English I Cluster Lead Teacher
Kane Cortez - MAPS and Algebra I
Ana Martinez - Biology and AP Environmental Science
Hector Osegueda - AP Human Geography and AP African American Studies
Aaronia Ferguson - English II, Senior Sponsor and Cluster Lead Teacher
Bethany Crawford - Dual Credit German
Jeff Heiple - Geometry and Cluster Lead Teacher
Samah Al-Hamadi - Dual Credit Biology
Alexandra Locker - Algebra II
Swati Chakarvarty - Honors Chemistry
Aubry Born - Dual Credit English
Dr. John Davis II - Special Education
Elida Rueda - Parent Support Specialist
Dr. August Darbonne - Dual Credit US History and Mexican American Studies
Dhara Katbamna - Dual Credit Math and AP AB Calculus
Kelly Green - Dual Credit Government and AP Economics
Steven Nguyen - Dual Credit Health/PE and Cluster Lead Teacher
Michelle Smith - Dual Credit English
Danny Whitsell - Business and Financial Literacy
Nurse Archie - School Nurse
Natasha Sublet - Office Manager
Sandra Fisher - Financial Clerk and Parent Liaison
Cledy Olivares - Campus Safety Monitor
Tierra King - Teacher's Assistant and TSIA2 Math Tutor
Tonya Caston - Data Clerk/Registrar
