Subject Expert: Mega food distributions to SAISD families in time for the holidays
 
Expert: Elsa Griffin, director, office of family and community engagement 
 
In time for the holidays, SAISD, in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, will host two mega food distribution events with the goal of serving more than 1,000 SAISD families. Families can expect to receive turkey breasts and other holiday meal items at the event. This is in addition to the meal bundles that Child Nutrition Services is also providing to families on other days. FACE (family and community engagement) specialists are attuned to needs of district families and will pre-register those they have identified as needing access to food. Elsa Griffin will speak to the work that FACE specialists are doing, as well as the logistics, planning and work that goes into the mega distribution events.  
 
Contact: Ryan Loyd, 210-554-2263 to coordinate interviews and stories. This item coincides with the calendar item below, Mega food distribution events for the holidays. 

Calendar items 

TODAY: Dec. 3 (Fri) – SAISD performs at Mariachi Vargas 
Beginning at 2 p.m., Lila Cockrell Theater, 200 E. Market, 78205 
Mariachi Vargas is the largest gathering of the most talented young mariachi artists in the nation. Performers are dressed in mariachi trajes and perform at the top of their game as a result of countless hours of practice and preparation. San Antonio ISD students will be participating in this largest and longest-running competition. The following groups will be competing at the times listed: 
• Mariachi Los Dragones, Hot Wells Middle School Mariachi (2:37 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Los Lobos, Twain Dual Language Academy Mariachi (2:51 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Juvenil, Irving Dual Language Academy Mariachi (3:05 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Halcon Juvenil, Harris Middle School Mariachi (3:40 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Orgullo de San Antonio, Lanier High School Mariachi (6:19 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Estrellas de Oro, Burbank Mariachi (6:46 p.m.) 
• Mariachi Bonito Tech-calitlán, Fox Tech High School, (7:22 p.m.)

The following groups will be participating in master class sessions:
• Whittier Middle School Mariachi 
• Edison High School Mariachi 
• Hawthorne Academy Mariachi 
• Advanced Learning Academy/CAST Tech Mariachi 

The mission of Mariachi Vargas is to preserve and promote mariachi history, culture and tradition through performances, workshops, and competitions.

TODAY: Dec. 3 (Fri) – Pfizer Vaccine & Booster Clinics, including 5+ and adult vaccines 
Various opportunities are available to receive a COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5-11, 12 and up, as well as adults. The following is a list of upcoming events: 
• Dec. 3 from 2-6 p.m., Highland Hills Elementary, 734 Glamis Ave., 78223; in partnership with Center of Advance Wellness. Click here to register. 
• Dec. 3 from 4:30-6:30, Hawthorne Academy, 115 W. Josephine St., 78212; in partnership with UT Health. Click here to register. 

Dec. 3-4 (Fri-Sat) – Annie, the Musical 
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., Highlands High School Auditorium, 3118 Elgin Ave., 78210 
Directed by Sara Smith and technical direction by Celeste Lozano, Highlands High School Owl’s Nest Theatre Company presents their fall student production of Annie, the Musical. Ticket prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students and children. 

Dec. 6 (Mon) – Holiday traditions from around the world 
9 a.m., Woodlawn Academy, 1717 W. Magnolia, 78201 
Jefferson High School and Woodlawn Academy students will celebrate the season by honoring cultural traditions from around the world, such as Mexican tamaladas, Hannukah’s playing of the dreidel, the Nguzo Saba of Kwanzaa and more. Woodlawn Academy students will enjoy hot cocoa while listening to readings and decorating stockings with the IB Learner Profile attributes. 

Dec. 6 (Mon) – 12 Days of Performances at SAISD 
10-11 a.m., SAISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy, 78212 
Burbank High School orchestra students will showcase their talents at SAISD’s new central office building as the district counts down to the winter break after a successful fall semester. Performances will take place in the building’s cafeteria.

Dec. 6 (Mon) – SAISD Public Hearing and Board Business Meeting A 
5:30 p.m., SAISD Central Office Board Room, 514 W. Quincy, 78212 
The San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees will convene for a public hearing regarding the SAISD 2021 School FIRST Rating and the Financial Management Report at 5:30 p.m. Trustees will hold Board Business Meeting A starting at 5:45 p.m. 

Dec. 7 (Tue) – Ogden Elementary STEAM Night 
5:30-6:30 p.m., Ogden Elementary, 2215 Leal St., 78207 
Families are invited to STEAM Night where each grade level presents a math or science activity for children, with an art activity also included. Students will have free choice as to what activities to complete during the event. Pre-K, kinder and first graders will be located in the cafeteria, with second, third, fourth and fifth graders in the gym.

Dec. 7 (Tue) – Bonham Academy Science Night 
5:30-7:00 p.m., Bonham Academy, 925 S. St. Mary’s St., 78205  
Families are invited to science night at Bonham Academy for grades K-5. 

Dec. 7 (Tue) – SAISD Family Power Hour: Setting Financial Goals 
6 p.m., Arnold Elementary, 467 Freiling Dr., 78213 
During this free family workshop, participants will create a simple budget to help reach their family’s financial goals during 2022. Frost Bank will guide families through an activity to establish both short-and-long term budgeting goals, as well as provide strategies to pay off holiday debt. Families will enjoy giveaways and interpretation services are available. Join in-person or via Zoom by visiting www.saisd.net/parentworkshops. 

Dec. 8 (Wed) – Mega food distribution events for the holidays 
9-11 a.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Dr., 78212 
The first of two mega food distribution events will allow SAISD families to receive meal items in time for the holidays, including turkey breasts and other holiday-related food. Families can pre-register by visiting www.saisd.net/fooddistribution. Families unable to attend the Alamo Stadium distribution can receive non-perishable food delivered to their home by their school’s FACE specialist or social worker. Another mega food distribution event is planned for Dec. 15 at Alamo Stadium from 9-11 a.m. 

Dec. 8 (Wed) – 12 Days of Performances at SAISD 
10-11 a.m., SAISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy, 78212 
Highlands High School’s drumline will perform outdoors at the amphitheater location, adjacent to the newly restored San Pedro Creek. 

Dec. 8 (Wed) – Family engagement night 
6-7 p.m., Jefferson High School Student Union Building, 723 Donaldson Ave., 78201 
Families interested in learning more about the IB Framework of Education and how to apply to Jefferson IB World High School will meet in the Jefferson Student Union Building, located off the cafeteria. Prospective students will hear from current students. A Mustang family tamalada event will also keep the little elves happy while they participate in making papel picado of the IB Learner Profile attributes. 

Dec. 9 (Thu) – SAISD Family Power Hour: What Parents Need to Know About Suicide Prevention 
6 p.m., Harris Middle School, 325 Pruitt Ave., 78204 
The SAISD Office of Family and Student Support Services will host a session on suicide prevention for parents. During the presentation, families will learn how to recognize the warning signs of stress, depression, and suicidal behavior and connect with tools and resources to keep youth safe. Families will enjoy giveaways and interpretation services are available. Join in-person or via Zoom by visiting www.saisd.net/parentworkshops. 

Dec. 10 (Fri) – 12 Days of Performances at SAISD 
10-11 a.m., SAISD Central Office, 514 W. Quincy, 78212 
The dance teams of Lanier, Edison, Highlands, Sam Houston and Jefferson high schools will perform for SAISD central office staff in the building’s cafeteria. The event aims to highlight the talent of SAISD students after a successful and busy fall semester.