Subject Expert: Students learn important message on anti-bullying

Expert: Janie Morales, counselor at Hawthorne Academy

Anti-bullying is an important topic at schools. Hawthorne Academy counselor Janie Morales requested sponsorship from a local church to host a competition to create positive messaging on TikTok. Hawthorne students decided to take on the challenge to create a dance off in conjunction with Unity Day “to raise awareness about bullying.” The video had to include a teacher and students wearing orange for Unity Day. Their dance was judged by the church’s pastor. Morales is available to speak about the importance of teaching students this uplifting message and what she’s doing to create a positive environment at her school.

Student voice: Bullying “is not okay”

Student: Wendolyn Carreon, eighth grader

Through the TikTok dance off challenge, Wendolyn Carreon learned that it is not okay to bully someone. The experience also taught Carreon and others about cyberbullying and its impact, especially during the pandemic. With teens and pre-teens using social media, Carreon found that a person can easily be bullied. Carreon is available to speak about the fun experience that the challenge brought the students, especially with choreographing the dance.

 

Calendar items:

Nov. 15 (Mon) – Robotics in the Workforce
9:30 a.m., Plus One Robotics, 639 Billy Mitchell Blvd., 78226
Edison High School JROTC cadets will be taking a tour of Plus One Robotics to learn how robotics can be used in the workplace, their functionality, usefulness and how they will continue to change the landscape of San Antonio. It’s part of the STEM initiative in JROTC programs. The tour is an opportunity for cadets to explore potential career fields and expose them to various opportunities.

Nov. 15 (Mon) – Substitute teacher job fair
4:30-7 p.m., Sam Houston High School, 4635 E. Houston St., 78220
SAISD is hosting an in-person substitute teacher job fair for Sam Houston High School and Davis Middle School. Benefits include pay rates among the highest in the San Antonio area, with flexible schedules and daily assignment opportunities. Masks will be required during this event. The job fair will also include opportunities to receive a free COVID-19 rapid test and a Pfizer vaccination provided by the Center of Advanced Wellness. Applicants can apply online, and if attending in person, registration is encouraged by clicking here.

Nov. 15 (Mon) – SAISD Board of Trustees – Board Meeting B
5:30 p.m., SAISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy, 78212
The Board of Trustees of the San Antonio Independent School District will meet in the boardroom at the district’s central office location beginning at 5:30 p.m. Masks are required to attend the meeting.

Nov. 15-19 (Mon-Fri) – STEM week and workshop for students of M.L.K. Academy
M.L.K. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Dr., 78220
VelocityTX, Communities in Schools of San Antonio and SAISD will host a STEM week full of classroom curriculum and hands-on activities for east side students. It’s the culmination of VelocityTX’s STEM enrichment and mentoring program that kicked off last week for students at Davis Middle School. The program is designed to bring awareness and prepare students to take on STEM-related careers in bioscience. The following will take place during the week at M.L.K. Academy and VelocityTX:
• Nov. 15-17, classroom curriculum
• Nov. 17, family STEM night from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at M.L.K. Academy
• Nov. 19, program culminates with hands-on interactive workshop at VelocityTX Innovation Center, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 1305 E. Houston St., 78205

Nov. 16 (Tue) In-person bus driver job fair
10 a.m.-Noon, SAISD Transportation Department, 418 Roland Ave., 78210
SAISD is hiring bus drivers and is hosting an in-person job fair to recruit those interested in joining the team. Benefits include starting pay of $16.75 an hour with additional pay consideration for directly related experience, a $1,000 signing incentive for those with a CDL license and a $500 bonus for those without a CDL license. Paid CDL training is included. Competitive benefits package, generous holiday and vacation time, and opportunities to earn extra pay through field trips and supplemental work at the bus terminal are available. RSVP by clicking here.

Nov. 16-18 (Tue-Thu) District Spanish Spelling Bee
9 a.m.-1 p.m., Hawthorne Academy, 115 W. Josephine, 78212
In collaboration with the Dual Language Department, the World Languages Program is hosting a district Spanish spelling bee in-person on the following dates:
• The elementary third through fifth grade competition will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 16
• The middle school sixth through eighth grade competition will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 17.
• The high school ninth through 12th grade competition will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18.

Dignitaries, including Dr. Ruben Minutti Zanatta, Consul General de Mexico, and Dr. Paula De Gortari, Director of the Universidad Autónoma de Mexico (UNAM) en San Antonio, will serve as judges.

Nov. 18-20 (Thu-Sat) Vaccine town halls and clinics
Various opportunities are available to learn about COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as the chance to receive the shot. The following is a list of upcoming events:

1514 W. Cesar Chavez, 78207
• Nov. 18 from 6:30-8 p.m. This event is a town hall and vaccination clinic.
• Nov. 19 from 2-6 p.m. This event is a vaccination clinic.

Burnet Learning Center Vaccination Clinics  (ages 5+)
Register Here
406 Barrera St., 78210
• Nov. 19, 12:30-6:30 p.m. This event is a vaccination clinic.
• Nov. 20, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. This event is a vaccination clinic.

Nov. 22-26 (Mon-Fri) SAISD closed for the Thanksgiving holiday
SAISD central offices and schools will be closed during the week of Nov. 22-26 for the Thanksgiving holiday. Offices and schools will reopen on Monday, Nov. 29.