Keeping Up with Comm Arts

As we approach Thanksgiving week, we want to express gratitude for sharing your most precious gifts. Your children are wonderful, and we feel truly fortunate to have the opportunity to serve them. Wishing you a restful Thanksgiving week!

This Thursday, November 20th, during Comm Arts lunch, we're excited to celebrate Turkey Fest! Many of our awesome campus organizations and student groups will be serving up some delicious food. Just a quick note: you'll need cash to buy your goodies.

Grades will be submitted this Friday, November 21st, for progress reports. Students, please keep track of your grades and attendance. Progress reports will be available via HAC on Monday, December 1st.

Seniors, if you have a December 1st College Application deadline, make sure to order transcripts by November 21st. Nothing will be processed during Thanksgiving Break.

If you know friends, family, or neighbors interested in attending Comm Arts next school year, please join us on Wednesday, November 19th, from 6:30 to 8 PM to learn more about our amazing school.

Last weekend, Comm Arts/Taft's Esports team took part in the qualifier competition. The Marvel Rivals have been competing in an online league, and we proudly finished 4th out of over 50 schools across Texas. As we return from break, the playoffs will kick off!

Meanwhile, our Rocket League team tied for second place with Holmes and Sotomayor, securing a spot in the top 4. In the team photo (from left to right), you'll see Bethzy Aguilar, Jaden Hairston, Daniel Ramirez, and Ethan Huynh.

Additionally, three of our students have made it into the top 16 in the district for Super Smash Bros: Zain Menge, Charles Guzman, and Cyrus Guzman.

Both the Rocket League and Smash Bros. players will head to the district finals on December 13th.

Don’t miss our new computer setup and Esports room at Comm Arts in the photos, too.

Several Comm Arts students visited Pease and Vale Middle Schools last week. They shared about all the amazing things at Comm Arts.

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:

Please keep your focus and concentration on preparing for and transitioning to college.

These are some urgent College Application Reminders:

• Deadlines: Keep an eye out for your chosen college/university deadlines.
• Transcript Requests: Keep in mind that it takes 10 business days to process a transcript request. Please keep those deadlines in mind. November 24-28 is the NISD Thanksgiving Holiday break, so transcripts will not be processed until we return from the break.
• FAFSA Follow-Up: This is a brief reminder to complete the FAFSA and any other financial aid applications if you haven't already.

Essay/Supplemental Prep:

• Regular Decision Prep: Use your time wisely and use the Thanksgiving Break to start/finish essays and supplemental applications.
• Interview Prep: When interviewing with a college representative, dress professionally, do your research, and prepare questions ahead of time.

Juniors/Sophomores:

• Academic Planning: Be mindful to complete the first semester strong, as these grades are essential for your overall GPA and future college applications.
• Test Prep: If interested in taking the SAT/ACT, please review the test dates available to you on College Board and make use of the resources at your fingertips.

Freshman:

• Completing 1st semester of High School Tips: Keep open communication with your teachers when struggling in their course. Talk to your parents about difficulties you may be experiencing in courses.
• Midterm Exams: Examine your study habits and improve on them as we prepare for exams in December. Use Varsity Tutors as you are getting closer to the end of this semester.

Stress Management Resources for all students:

• Managing Stress in High School
• Stress Management and Teens

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

If you have applied to one of the Alamo Colleges, the next step is to log into your ACES account and complete modules. They are coming to assist with that on November 12th! Sign up here to attend. You can also sign up if you missed the first one and want to start your Alamo Colleges application.

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

Thank you to everyone who signed up and paid for their AP exams. At this point, if you wish to sign up for an exam, there is an additional $40 late fee. Each exam costs $40. Those with free & reduced, exam costs are $10.

Payments for AP exams can be made using MySchoolBucks or by cash/check (payable to ‘Taft High School’) handed directly to Mr. Kevin Bernardino in room A222a. Payment for spring semester only exams (AP Macro) is due in full by March 1, 2026.

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

Students, you will be able to access your scores on November 6th.

Understanding Your Digital PSAT/NMSQT Score Report video

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.

As a token of appreciation, Lifetouch is offering discounts on school photography!

• 50% off a purchase of $50+ with code 50THANKS
• 40% off a purchase of $40+ with code 40THANKS
• 30% off a purchase of $30+ with code 30THANKS

Valid through 12/01/25

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account, find your student and order using your student's student ID number (if available at your school). Don’t forget to order your FREE Digital SmileSafe card! More about the Smilesafe program here.

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.

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.

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.

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