Northwood News
October 14, 2025
Dear Northwood Community,
I hope everyone enjoyed the long four-day weekend and had some time to relax and recharge! We’re looking forward to a short but exciting week here at Northwood.
We’re kicking off our APEX Fun Run Fundraiser this week, leading up to the big event on Friday, October 24! Be on the lookout for information coming home about how your family can get involved. Our APEX team members will be on campus each day to bring energy, fun, and school spirit with special daily challenges for students.
Additionally, the first nine weeks came to an end on Friday. Can you believe we are already a fourth of the way through the school year? Report cards will be available in Skyward Family Access on Thursday, or sent home in your child’s backpack if you requested a paper copy.
This week our assistant principal, Ms. Young, will out. We are pleased to welcome Mr. Bill Serns, a retired school administrator to Northwood this week. He will be here to help with administrative duties this week in Ms. Young's absence. Please join me in giving him a warm Northwood welcome.
Thank you for your continued support in helping make Northwood such a wonderful place to learn and grow. Let’s make it a great week!
Warmly,
Mrs Harper
Attendance All Stars
We have too many classes with great attendance last week to fit on our regular graphic! What a great problem! Our overall attendance rate last week was 95.7% We met our goal!
The following classes had 100% attendance last week:
- Bills
- Brooks
- Hildebrand
- Johnstone
- Luetkenhaus
- Will
The following classes had 98% attendance (only 1 absence)
- Goldsmith
- Rodriguez
- Robles
- Straube
The following classes had 96% attendance (only 2 absences)
- Padilla
- Petrutsas
- Knapp
- Gloege
Let's keep up the great work of being at school everyday!
Trunk or Treat Oct. 31
We are excited to announce that Northwood Elementary will be hosting our very first annual Trunk or Treat! This fun-filled event, being held on Oct. 31 from 2:00-3:00 pm will bring our school community together for an afternoon of costumes, candy, and celebration.
All of our amazing staff members will be there, and we would love for some of our families to join in too! We have 8 spots available for families who would like to decorate a trunk and be part of the fun. If you’d like to volunteer your trunk, please sign up using THIS link. All candy for the event will be provided.
Clinic and Counseling Services
Picture Re-takes on Friday
News from PTA
October 16: Bosses/Principal's Day
October 17: Individual Picture Retakes
October 21: Wear Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness
October 23: Author Visit Kari Lavelle
October 23: 6:00 pm Literary Pumpkin Night
October 24: APEX Fun Run 7-31
October 27-31: Literary Pumpkin Patch
October 27-31: Red Ribbon Week
October 31: Early Dismissal 12:25 pm
October 31: Trunk or Treat 2:00-3:00 pm
Need the district calendar? Bookmark this link.
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.
Literary Pumpkin Night
Save the date, Thursday, October 23rd, for Northwood's annual Literary Pumpkin night. We invite all students and families to join us in the cafeteria for an evening of fun as we transform pumpkins into our favorite book characters. We'll be providing all the essentials—pumpkins, decorating supplies, and pizza to fuel your creativity. After the event, your masterpieces will be part of a temporary "Storybook Pumpkin Patch” on display in the library for the entire school to admire.
Reflections Art Competition
Northwood is part of this year's national Reflections art competition! We hope to see our students share their amazing creativity in the visual arts, photography, literature, music composition, dance choreography, film production, or in the accessible arts division. All submissions are due by October 24th!
Get more information and submit your work here: https://bit.ly/northwoodreflections2025
PTA Life Membership Award
Now accepting nominations for PTA Life Membership Awards! Please fill out the attached form and email to lauren.k.ahrens@gmail.com to nominate someone who has gone the extra mile for Northwood and its students. Parents and teachers are eligible for nomination. Please submit by 10/31/25. Winners will be announced at the December general meeting on 12/2.
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.
-
🤚 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