The Blazer Beat
March 27, 2026
North Lake Family,
Spring is here, and we are full swing into the heart of the testing session for the school year. We are about 2 weeks away from English I and English II STAAR exams for our 9th and 10th-grade students, who will be ready to shine! I know that the work they have put into their classes will pay off, and after this exam and after STAAR, we will be able to check this off the graduation requirement list.
This week, we also held AP practice exams to measure where our students are and the areas they need assistance with before exams begin in May. I remember as a former AP teacher, March was the part of the year my students would start to wrap up their main coursework, and then came the time to review the materials we had covered over the year. Our goal is always for students to not only pass the course but also pass the AP exam, and the work our staff is doing will ensure that.
We have also hit a milestone this week in terms of the funding that our Seniors have received for college. As of today, North Lake ECHS Seniors have earned over $18 million in scholarships and grants! This is a tremendous milestone for our school as it marks the highest total a North Lake ECHS Senior cohort has ever reached, and not all Seniors have received their financial packages. A huge thank you to Mr. Matney, representing ASP. Without his work, college may not have been a reality for our students. While North Lake ECHS provides the gift of time through our students receiving their associate degrees while in high school, Mr. Matney’s work is providing financial assurance and stability for our students!
Next week is a short one with a planned holiday on Friday and then an off day on Monday, April 6, 2026. I hope everyone has a great weekend and is able to enjoy the Spring weather before the heat of Summer starts here in Dallas. Thank you for your support of our campus and the vision of North Lake ECHS. Make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Adrian Hernandez
Principal
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernandez2648
Familias de North Lake,
La primavera ya está aquí, y nos encontramos de lleno en el corazón de la temporada de exámenes del año escolar. Estamos a unas dos semanas de los exámenes STAAR de Inglés I e Inglés II para nuestros estudiantes de 9.º y 10.º grado, ¡quienes estarán listos para brillar! Sé que el esfuerzo que han dedicado a sus clases dará sus frutos y que, una vez superado este examen —y el STAAR en general—, podremos tachar este requisito de la lista de condiciones para la graduación.
Esta semana también realizamos exámenes de práctica de AP (Advanced Placement) para evaluar el nivel actual de nuestros estudiantes e identificar las áreas en las que necesitan apoyo antes de que comiencen los exámenes oficiales en mayo. Recuerdo que, cuando yo era profesor de AP, marzo era la época del año en la que mis estudiantes comenzaban a concluir el temario principal del curso; luego llegaba el momento de repasar los contenidos que habíamos abordado a lo largo del año. Nuestro objetivo es siempre que los estudiantes no solo aprueben el curso, sino que también superen el examen de AP, y la labor que está realizando nuestro personal garantizará que así sea.
Esta semana también hemos alcanzado un hito importante en lo que respecta a la financiación universitaria obtenida por nuestros estudiantes de último año. ¡A día de hoy, los estudiantes de último año de North Lake ECHS han conseguido más de 18 millones de dólares en becas y subvenciones! Este es un logro extraordinario para nuestra escuela, ya que representa la cifra total más alta jamás alcanzada por una promoción de graduandos de North Lake ECHS, y eso que aún no todos los estudiantes han recibido sus paquetes de ayuda financiera. Un enorme agradecimiento al Sr. Matney, en representación de ASP. Sin su labor, la universidad podría no haber sido una realidad para nuestros estudiantes. Si bien North Lake ECHS ofrece a nuestros estudiantes la ventaja del tiempo al permitirles obtener sus títulos de asociado mientras cursan la escuela secundaria, ¡el trabajo del Sr. Matney consiste en brindarles seguridad y estabilidad financiera!
La próxima será una semana corta, con un día festivo programado para el viernes y otro día libre el lunes 6 de abril de 2026. Espero que todos disfruten de un excelente fin de semana y puedan aprovechar el clima primaveral antes de que comience el calor del verano aquí en Dallas. Gracias por su apoyo a nuestra escuela y a la visión de North Lake ECHS. ¡Que tengan una semana fantástica!
Atentamente,
Adrián Hernández
Director
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernández2648
Dr. Baker 10th/11th Grade
Dr. Hart 9th/12th Grade
North Lake ECHS Families!
I hope everyone had a relaxing and restful spring break! Over the break I received some exciting news!
- Erwin, Angelina, Gisselle, and Trayvon were accepted to Bentley University!
- Angelina was accepted to Mount Holyoke College!
- Nicolette was accepted to Davidson College! She and Paris will be going together!
Applications: 100% of our students have applied to at least 3 colleges and universities, and at least 92% have been accepted!
FAFSA: 97.4% of our students have completed their FAFSA/TASFA!
Scholarships: Our scholarship total is currently $18 Million! Many schools have not released financial aid awards just yet, so this number should continue to rise as more and more schools release aid!
Upcoming Events:
ASP Family Transition Camp:
- When: March 28th, 9:00-3:00
- Where: WT White HS (4505 Ridgeside Drive, Dallas, Texas 75244)
- What is it?
Transition Camp is a drop-in event designed to support students and families as they prepare for the transition to college. Students and/or families can stop by anytime during the event to get help, ask questions, and access resources that will make the transition smoother.
Students will have access to assistance and presentations focused on finishing off the next steps for college enrollment. Support will be available for accessing college portals, understanding financial aid award letters, and getting answers to any remaining questions. UT Austin Admissions officers will also be available to provide support to admitted students!
Families can attend presentations offered at the top of each hour covering topics such as understanding financial aid, deciding which college to attend, and preparing to support their students who will be leaving Dallas. Time and space will also be available for parent Q&A.
- Student & Family Sign Up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsLlH1Xvpam11kojtCnCLl-n3oDlyXFc_xp0Ai4lxj3Wz3gg/viewform
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
