Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Welcome to the start of another inspiring school year! With the first day just around the corner, our campus is coming alive as we greet our dedicated teachers and prepare to welcome back our incredible students. Together, let's make this year a memorable journey filled with curiosity, connection, and achievement—the Comm Arts way!

As we prepare to start the school year on Monday, here are a few friendly reminders:

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 their first period begins. Students will not be allowed to wait outside the building.

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.

Students will use the front doors for arrival and dismissal. Instructions on passing periods will be shared with students during their Comm Arts classes during the first day of school.

Seniors with off-campus 1st and 8th periods must report to the Comm Arts LGI on August 10th.

Juniors and seniors interested in off-campus lunch can pick up a Comm Arts form in our information station near the LGI. This form must be completed, including a parent's signature, before an off-campus sticker will be issued. A new off-campus sticker will be issued each grading period. Administration may revoke this privilege at any time if a student does not meet the campus's academic, attendance, and behavior expectations.

Beginning at 8 am on Monday, Comm Arts students are welcome to enter the building to locate their first-period class. Students can reference their schedules via HAC or the paper schedule provided during prep days. Teachers will have an official schedule for each student in their 1st-period class. Students, don't lose the new paper schedule your first period teacher gives you.

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!

¡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 should be available on August 3rd. Please reach out to the station closest to your location. 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.

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

Hi Parents! Students at Comm Arts need their own personal emails. For several reasons, students cannot use their NISD emails for College Board, Dual Credit, and OnRamps courses. If students don't have a personal email, please take time to create one. Please keep professionalism in mind when creating the email. If you have questions or concerns, reach out to Elizabeth Lewis at elizabeth.lewis@nisd.net.

Attached below are the athletic pre-enrollment form and procedures for magnet/program transfer students. This form is to be filled out by Northside students who have been given District approval to attend or transfer to a magnet/program outside of their attendance zone in which he/she resides to participate in any athletic activity before the first day of school (August 10th). Ex. summer strength & conditioning, sports camps, etc.

All Comm Arts students have a summer reading assignment. The PDFs attached below are the instructions for all grade levels. The summer reading is below. Happy Reading!

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