Keeping Up with Comm Arts

Grades for our first report card were uploaded on Friday, October 10th. Report cards will be available on HAC by Friday, October 17th. Juniors and seniors must pass all classes on their report cards to remain eligible to go off-campus for lunch. Students must pick up a new off-campus lunch sticker each marking period. Stickers for the new marking period will go into effect on Thursday, October 16th.

The PSAT is this Wednesday, October 15th. All students taking the PSAT need to bring their NISD Chromebooks fully charged. Please make sure to pack your chargers, too. Students participating in the PSAT take a few minutes to read the email Ms. Lewis sent out on Thursday with details. The email will walk you through the steps to update your Chromebook and complete the Digital Readiness Check. If you have questions, see Ms. Lewis.

The last day for students to sign up and pay for AP exams is November 1st. Any exam unpaid by November 2nd will be canceled. See the AP Exams section of the newsletter for more details.

This week is Free College Application Week! This means you can apply to any Texas public university or college for FREE using the Apply Texas application. Don't let this fantastic opportunity pass you by!

The Spanish Spelling Bee will take place on Thursday, October 16th, in Room C224. See Señora Navarro to sign up students from all grade levels are welcome to participate, even if they are not currently enrolled in a Spanish class.

Daniel Ramirez went to tour and shadow KENS 5 very own Joe DeCarlo for his senior mentorship this school year! Daniel is an aspiring meteorologist and hopes to broadcast the weather one day. Our broadcasting strand is very proud of him and all of his accomplishments! Way to go, Daniel! Here he is seen with Joe DeCarlo and Kristina De Leon.

Congratulations to our Taft Raider Orchestra Musicians who made Region 29 Orchestra! Patrick Edwards, Viola, Arianna Occiuzzi, Violin, Francesca Chiapoco, Violin, Wraith Midler, Violin. Please make sure to congratulate these outstanding students!

Mr. Villarreal's students were tasked with making a grocery list that could feed them for 7 days for 3 meals a day. They had a limited budget and used grocery store websites to create their grocery list and meal plans for the week.

Part of learning a new language is exploring the cultures of the people who speak it. One of the most meaningful celebrations in Mexico and other Latin American countries is Día de los Muertos.

The Spanish National Honor Society (SNHS) is displaying a community ofrenda featuring mini ofrendas, sugar skulls, and more.

If you would like to participate in our school community ofrenda, please fill out the Google form. You may honor a relative, a pet, or someone who has inspired you and is no longer with us physically. https://forms.gle/6joZNy7Mmzdcwu6S9

There is a new organization at Taft open to 10th-12th-grade students currently enrolled in a college-level math course. Mu Alpha Theta, or Math National Honor Society, is a new honor organization open to both Communications Arts and Taft. If you are interested, pick up an application and talk to Mr. Zarate in A370, or email him at manuel.zarate@nisd.net.

Communications Arts High School would like to honor the Veterans within our community. Please register using the Google Form if you would like to attend the Veterans Breakfast Celebration on November 11th at 8:15 a.m.

Students, you can find a new tutoring support system in your NISD portal.

Varsity Tutoring offers:

• 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring (including AP courses)
• On-Demand Essay Review
• Live Enrichment Classes
• Test Prep Classes (ACT, SAT, GED, etc), Academic Classes (study halls, algebra bootcamps, etc) and Enrichment Classes (languages, robotics, chess, etc)

Don't forget to check it out!

Seniors

CAHS counselors visited seniors on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025, during their English 4 AP class to discuss college information. We strongly encouraged all seniors to visit with Ms. Torres, the College and Career Military Readiness Advisor, so they can get started on applying to college and scholarships, and get financial aid information, etc.

Senior Guidance Lesson

Juniors

Check your College Board checklist to see what you need to be completing this year.

Juniors' College Planning Checklist

Sophomores

CAHS counselors visited the Sophomores toward the end of last month to enlighten them about taking Advanced Courses and the benefits of being college-bound and ready.

Sophomores College Planning Checklist

Freshman

CAHS counselors met with freshmen to help them develop their 4-year high school plans. Students will be taking copies home for parents to review.

Freshman College Planning Checklist

College Career & Military Advisor - Elaine Torres (elaine.torres@nisd.net)

The 2025-26 Coolidge Scholarship application is now live. This opportunity is for high school juniors.

A quick refresher: the Coolidge Scholarship is a full-ride, four-year, merit scholarship that recipients may use for undergraduate study at any accredited college or university in the United States. Any high school junior who plans to enroll in college in the fall of 2027 and is an American citizen or legal permanent resident is eligible to apply (current high school seniors are not eligible to apply). Winners may use the scholarship to pursue any academic major.

NISD Council of PTAs offers a $1,000 scholarship to one high school senior from each Northside ISD high school PTSA, who will be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university or a technical institute in the summer or fall semester immediately following applicant’s high school graduation.

Through our scholarship program, Northside ISD Council of PTAs works to support students who are focused on achieving career goals through higher education. In evaluating each application, the Scholarship Committee will also consider service and participation in school activities, community involvement and scholastic merit.

Application deadline is Friday, November 14, 2025 at midnight.

Applicant must use a NON SCHOOL ISSUED EMAIL ADDRESS. NO EXCEPTIONS.

For more information: https://nisdpta.wordpress.com/programs-events/jack-c-jordan-scholarship/

Exciting news! Our Comm Arts program proudly presents two standout seniors as BigFuture Ambassadors: Jessai Begay and Adrian Molina! These remarkable individuals are ready to make an impact and inspire others on their journey to success!

Here are their links:

• Jessai - BigFuture - JessaiAmbassadorLink
• Adrian - BigFuture - AdrianAmbassadorLink

You can use these links to explore post-secondary plans as well as other information related to college and scholarships.

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

It's time to register for AP Exams. Payments for AP exams will be made using MySchoolBucks online or by cash/check (payable to ‘Taft High School’) handed directly to Mr. Kevin Bernardino in room A222a before November 1, 2025 (for full-year & fall semester AP courses). Payment for spring semester only exams (AP Macro) is due in full by March 1, 2026.

The AP Exam Fee for the 2025-2026 school year is $40 per exam, or $10 if a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch. If a student registers for an exam and cancels after the November ordering deadline, they will be charged a $40 cancellation fee. Additionally, if a student does not order an exam by November 1, 2025 (for a full-year course), a $40 late order fee may apply.

Reminder: All My School Bucks School Store products will be disabled during NISD's Winter Break and Spring Break

If you are a senior and need to take the SAT, you can sign up through the College Board. Most NISD high schools are typically testing sites on weekends.

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.

Here is the information for those who took pictures during Prep Days and want to order picture online.

https://lifetouch.com/

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If you missed school pictures during Prep Day, Lifetouch will be back on campus October 24th.

To appear in the 2026 section of your yearbook, you must photograph with Presitge Senior Portraits. Book your appointment ASAP. To schedule your summer studio appointment, click HERE or call 1-877-244-9873—options 2, then option 1 for assistance.

Only pictures taken with Prestige will be in the yearbook. Please keep these things in mind:

• Ensure they list you as a Communications Arts student, not Taft.
• Our yearbook pose is a cap and gown, NOT a tux and drape. Be sure that the cap and gown you are given is WHITE with a red and white tassel, and for those in NHS, our stole is blue, NOT white. The yearbook pose is cap on, and you MUST BE DRESS CODE COMPLIANT. We will NOT be Photoshopping pictures.
• Yearbook ONLY sessions are free, but we encourage you to choose a package with a variety of outfits and poses to reflect your personality and interests.
• Be sure to have your pictures taken by the end of November so you can be included in the yearbook. The sooner, the better, so you have time to retake the pictures if you are unhappy with the first session.

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. This policy was implemented to comply with Texas House Bill 1481 and to support a focused and distraction-free learning environment.

However, we understand the importance of technology in education. Therefore, students are allowed to bring and use personal laptops for classwork, note-taking, and other academic activities as directed by their teachers. Content specific technology such as an Adobe equipped iPad for an Animation course will also be allowed while in that class. Like all other devices previously mentioned, they will not be allowed during passing periods, lunch periods or in non-applicable courses and academic activities.

Please ensure that laptops are used responsibly and only for educational purposes during school hours. Misuse will result in loss of this privilege. Devices including cell phones must be powered off and kept in student's backpacks.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a productive and respectful learning environment.

The Texas Compulsory Attendance Law states that students between the ages of 6 and 19 are subject to the Texas Compulsory Attendance Laws.

Let's start with how it affects a student's academics. The Law states that a student must be in attendance 90% of the class time offered to receive credit for a course. In Northside, we have a calendar that shows 174 days of school for the 25/26 school year. This equates to 17 absences in a full-year course before attendance recovery is required or a student loses credit, regardless of their grade. For a semester course, we have 87 days in the fall, which allows for 9 absences, and 87 days in the spring, which allows 9 absences before attendance recovery is required or a student loses credit, regardless of their grade. Remember, when considering the 90% rule and its impact on gaining credit, both excused and unexcused absences count.

A student who is absent more than 75% of the class time will no longer be eligible for attendance recovery and will need to retake the course to earn the credit. This equates to 22 absences per semester.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email cahs.attendance@nisd.net.

Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. The VOE form is used for driver's permits and licenses. Use the Google Form to request a copy.

Summer tends to be a busy time for new drivers. Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. Use the Google Form below to request a copy. The VOE will remain valid through the summer months.

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