Subject Expert: SAISD Police Chief Johnny Reyes, Jr. 

Following the tragedy in Uvalde, police officers are finding themselves having to re-establish trust with the communities they serve. Chief Reyes, with 30 years of law enforcement experience, is available to speak to the significance of community service in building public trust. 

The SAISD Police Department for decades has made community service a pillar. While community service happens year-round, fall activities have particular meaning. During October, officers have been wearing uniforms with pink Police Department insignia to officially observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In November, officers will participate in No Shave November to raise funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center, which supports cancer research and treatment for children. Additionally, annual events like the police department's Trunk or Treat event at Sarah King Elementary School (see Monday 5:30 p.m. calendar item below) or Visit with Santa program during the holidays put the district police officers front and center with the citizens they serve. 

Student Voices: Twins Melody and Marissa Espinoza, Brackenridge High School cross country state qualifiers

Brackenridge High School seniors Melody and Marissa Espinoza, identical twins, are available to talk about the commitment and drive it takes to push yourself to personal records, while also cheering your twin and best friend to do even better. The duo will compete in the UIL State Cross Country Meet in Round Rock Nov. 4-5. The sisters qualified for the state competition on Oct. 25 at the Region IV-5A Meet in Corpus Christi with Melody finishing third and Marissa finishing in 10th place. The twins will be practicing Monday, Oct. 31 to Thursday, Nov. 3 beginning at 6:30 a.m. at Brackenridge High School. Interviews may also be arranged at other times.

Calendar items

Oct. 29-31 (Sat-Mon) – SAISD Trunk or Treat or Halloween events
Trick or treating fun abounds at these SAISD celebrations.
• Oct. 29 (Sat), 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Young Men’s Leadership Academy “Meet the Lions” Chili Cook Off and Trunk or Treat, 415 Gabriel St., 78202 – Athletes, band performances, chili tasting, candy collecting, and a book fair
• Oct. 31 (Mon), 2 p.m., Gonzales Early Childhood Education Center, 518 E. Magnolia, 78212 – Storybook Character parade, invited guests include the SAISD Police Department
• Oct. 31 (Mon), 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sarah King Elementary School, 101 Ceralvo St., 78207 – hosted by the SAISD Police Department

Oct. 29-Nov. 2 (Sat-Wed) – SAISD Día de los Muertos events
Various schools are holding events in celebration of Día de los Muertos, a cultural tradition that memorializes loved ones. 
• Oct. 29 (Sat), 8:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. (awards at 3:30 p.m.) District Chess Tournament, Highland Hills Elementary School, 734 Glamis Ave., 78223
• Oct. 31 (Mon), 6 p.m., Monsters & Flowers: a Halloween and Día de los Muertos Concert, Sam Houston High School, 4635 E. Houston St., 78220 – Open to the public; community encouraged to wear costumes
• Nov. 1 (Tues), 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., Second Annual Día de los Muertos celebration, Burbank High School, 1002 Edwards St., 78204 – Prizes awarded to best altars and ofrendas, face painting, and entertainment by Burbank Mariachi “Estrellas de Oro” and dance troop Grupo Folklorico de Bendiciones
• Nov. 2 (Wed), 9 a.m. Día de los Muertos Parade, Carvajal Elementary School, 225 Arizona Ave., 78207 – Students will carry a shoe box altar, a framed photo of a loved one, or a poster board creation
• Nov. 2 (Wed), 2 p.m., Día de los Muertos Presentations, Smith Elementary School, 823 S. Gevers St., 78203 – Students to present on the loved ones they are honoring with altars and ofrendas
• Nov. 2 (Wed), 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., La Feria del Día de los Muertos, Woodlawn Hills Elementary School, 110 W. Quill Drive, 78228 – Food, games, music and more

Nov. 3 (Thurs) – Jefferson High School JROTC Cadets serve as teachers at Fenwick Academy
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fenwick Academy, 1930 Waverly Ave., 78228
The Jefferson High School JROTC cadets will take charge of some classrooms for the entire day at Fenwick Academy. Their day as volunteer educators is part of the Junior Achievement service-learning program. 
 
Nov. 3 (Thurs) – Hawthorne Academy Science Fair
5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Hawthorne Academy, 115 W. Josephine St., 78212
The Hawthorne Academy Science Fair has a lineup of fun guest speakers including Scientist Dr. Vincent Hue from the Southwest Research Institute, KSAT-12 Meteorologist Mia Montgomery, and Edison High School P-Tech students. Hawthorne students will display and discuss the science projects they created for this event.