Superintendent's Newsletter
I’d like to begin by congratulating students from both Harlandale and McCollum High School who recently competed in the State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) Art Competition. In their first year participating at the state level, Harlandale High School students Susan Cacares-Perez and Gemma Gamez earned top scores and were awarded Gold Medals. Angelina “Ace” Muñoz also represented Harlandale with a strong piece. We’re also proud to recognize McCollum High School student Gabrielle Ramos, who qualified for state and represented her campus with impressive artwork. We’re incredibly proud of our students and the strong foundation they’re building for the future of our District’s visual arts program!
Our students have been hard at work preparing for this year’s Battle of the Books, and I’m proud to share that three of our campuses—Wright Elementary, Gilbert Elementary and Stonewall Flanders Elementary—have advanced to the City Wide Battle of the Bluebonnets. The competition challenges students to answer questions from the Texas Bluebonnet reading list, and our teams will represent Harlandale ISD on Saturday, May 10 at Rayburn Middle School. Best of luck to all three campuses, we’re rooting for you!
Join me in congratulating the Harlandale ISD students who were recently honored with the Sheri Coleman Achievement Award for their leadership, growth and perseverance. This year’s recipients include Marilyn Gonzales from Schulze Elementary, Teresa Fisher Gutierrez and Jayce Chantaca from Wright Elementary, Evangelina Cervantes from Leal Middle School and Jonas Villela from Terrell Wells Middle School. We’re proud of these students for setting a strong example and representing the best of what it means to be part of the Harlandale Legacy.
Several of our schools recently took part in the Special Olympics basketball tournament for a fun and memorable day on the court. From high-fives to buzzer beaters, the games were filled with energy and teamwork. At the middle school level, congratulations are in order for Terrell Wells Middle School for taking home the championship title with a 13–10 win in the final game. Thank you to all the coaches, staff and families who helped make this tournament such a meaningful experience for our students.
In observance of Battle of Flowers, there will be no school for students or staff on Friday, May 2. We hope you enjoy the long weekend and have a safe and happy Fiesta!
I’d like to close this week’s newsletter by thanking our teachers, staff and campuses for the continued effort they put into helping our students be the best they can be. Testing season can bring added pressure, but it also gives us a chance to support one another and stay focused on finishing strong. We should all take pride in the hard work and dedication shown across our community. Let’s continue to celebrate the progress we’ve made and work together to carry forward the Harlandale Legacy.