Dear SAISD Family Member:
We hope you are enjoying a “Fantastic Fiesta” week across our 79 square miles of excellence.
It is truly an honor and privilege for me to be a part of this amazing SAISD Family. During my seven months on the job, I have had the distinct pleasure of visiting with our students, teachers, employees, parents, business leaders, community members, and Alliance partners.
As I visit our schools and walk through our classrooms, I can sense the pride and dedication of both our students and staff. The energy level and commitment to student achievement is inspiring. I observe teachers and staff who are enthusiastic and helpful at every opportunity, and I witness students who are extremely excited about being in school.
This past weekend, several of our remarkable students competed at the SkillsUSA Texas State Competition in Corpus Christi. It is an outstanding accomplishment to compete at the state level, and it takes amazing advocates and teachers to mentor them along the way. Our extraordinary educators led exceptional students from Brackenridge, Edison, Fox Tech, and Lanier high schools to this moment. The students had the opportunity to showcase their incredible skills, and displayed confidence, aptitude, proficiency, and great leadership while making us all – “SAISD PROUD.”
As the competition concluded, three Fox Tech High School students took second place in the Career Pathway Showcase and an Edison High School student placed first in Fire Fighting. Please join me in congratulating all of our competing student leaders, and in wishing Edison student Michael Guajardo best wishes as he heads to the national competition in Atlanta in June.
This week, and especially today, many of our campuses are holding Fiesta celebrations. Beginning this evening, and throughout the weekend, our talented and amazing students will be participating in citywide festivities. We hope you will have an opportunity to enjoy performances from our marching bands, mariachi ensembles, JROTC battalions, and cheer and spirit groups. I also want to thank the student mariachi groups that have performed for us at Central Office this week, including high school performers from Burbank High School and middle school performers from ALA, Hot Wells and Harris. They were truly awesome!
One of the most important reasons why we can celebrate our students participating in person at these types of events is our ongoing adherence to safety protocols. Our most entrusted partner throughout this pandemic has been Community Labs, who has provided weekly COVID-19 testing at all of our campuses and facilities. Over the course of the pandemic, they have administered more than 750,000 tests to our students, staff, and family members!
While we are very disappointed their funding sources haven’t been extended, we are immensely grateful to the critical role they played in keeping our SAISD Family Members safe. We hope that additional funding is soon secured to continue testing in our buildings, and until then, please know that testing is still available at Community Labs’ general sites throughout San Antonio. We also have daily Accu Reference testing at Alamo Stadium and weekday testing at the SAISD Sports Complex.
Robert Louis Stevenson once stated, “To be what we are and to become what we are capable of becoming is the only end in life.”
On behalf of our Board of Trustees and our entire SAISD Family, we extend our sincere appreciation for your positive attitude and your willingness to make a difference in the lives of our students. Each day you serve as a guiding light for all those in need and we truly appreciate you and all that you do.
Have a “Terrific Thursday.” Viva Fiesta!
"Dr. J"
Robert Jaklich, Ed. D.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."
~Mahatma Gandhi