Points of Pride

Welcome to Points of Pride, our weekly district e-newsletter featuring highlights from around Southwest Independent School District. If you have a story or highlight that you would like to submit, email communications@swisd.net.

There's nothing like going back to where it all started and that's exactly what KSAT SA Live's Jen Struski wanted to do when she interviewed fellow SWHS alum and TikTok rising star Joanna Estrada aka Chona E. Chona, a nickname Joanna picked up as she was growing up, was created as a skit and filmed on her brother's cell phone. The video was posted to social media during the pandemic and it spread like wildfire. Today, the comedian has thousand of followers and a sold out show this weekend at the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club San Antonio but she will never forget her roots. She loves visiting her old stomping grounds and still keeps in touch with many of her former classmates and teachers. Check back on SWISD's social media for the full interview.

Who doesn't love it when a plan comes together? After years of hard work, and even working through a pandemic, the students of the Supreme Dragon Aviation Program at Southwest High School saw some of their hard work come to fruition, with the "1st Crank" of the plane’s engine. A successful working engine means the students can start to focus on fabricating the interior of the cockpit. After the plane’s cockpit is built it will be inspected and then subjected to 10 hours of flight before it can be certified as flight worthy for its maiden voyage.

The SWISD Penguin Project had its first rehearsal this week with special guest from Corsicana ISD, Mr. Cranston Dodd. The cast got to know each other and even learned some dance moves. The Penguin Project pairs students with special needs with a peer mentor to participate in a unique theatrical experience. Click here to learn more about the SWISD Penguin Project.

With the new Southwest ISD Aquatic Center, all 2nd and 4th grade students will be given the opportunity to participate in the Learn to Swim program! The first group of students from Sun Valley Elementary began last week, and will continue with all elementary schools in the weeks to come! For all the latest action from the SWISD Aquatic Center follow its Twitter account: @swisd_swac

In this edition of the SW Spotlight - Student Edition, we spoke with Xitlali Hernandez, a CAST STEM HS student enrolled in Practicum, a business course which teaches student the principles, strategies, and basics of creating a business.

Campuses across Southwest ISD continued to celebrate all the amazing grandparents on National Grandparents Day. Several of our schools including Hidden Cove STEAM Academy and Southwest Elementary school had more than 200 guests attend the celebrations. Grandparents were treated to light refreshments and worked on arts and craft activities with their grandchildren. Southwest ES had a grandmother virtually attend all the way from Maine! Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure that connection and spend some quality family time together.

It's not too late for 9th and 10th grade students looking for a unique learning experience to apply to CAST STEM High School. CAST STEM allows students to explore careers in engineering, advanced manufacturing, energy & power, and global logistics. Students learn to build and program robots, drones, and electric cars and travel to competitions with teams. The chance to experience a college setting during high school and to work directly with industry mentors sets CAST STEM students apart and sets their futures in motion, no matter where they decide to take them.

Email: news@swisd.net
Website: www.swisd.net
Location: 11914 Dragon Ln, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: 210-622-4408
Facebook: facebook.com/SWISDsatx
Twitter: @swisd