Student Voice: Learning confidence, creativity and communication

Student: Pruedencia Castro, freshman at Burbank High School

Through the Miss Burbank competition, Pruedencia Castro has challenged herself in ways she never expected. With a physical impairment in her foot, she overcame the odds and learned how to walk in heels – in front of her peers. Castro is one of only two freshmen who entered Miss Burbank, a contest that teaches students communications skills, confidence, and creativity. The show was held Thursday, Sept. 30. Castro placed as 4th runner up. Miss Burbank is an annual fundraiser for the school’s choral program. Photos are available upon request.

Student Voice: Marching On After COVID

Student: Clarissa Ramos, Jefferson High School drum major

The last time senior Clarissa Ramos had the chance to march in the band was her sophomore year due to COVID. As a senior, she is now the drum major and couldn’t be more excited to be back on the field. She is an outstanding student academically, but she takes her music to heart. She is one of the top clarinet players at Jefferson and is working hard this year to ensure that the band continues its legacy of excellence. Ramos is a member of the National Honor Society, as well as president of the MJR Club, a girls club named for Thomas Jefferson’s daughter.

This item coincides with the calendar event listed below, SAISD Marching Band Showcase. Contact Ryan Loyd, 210-554-2263 to set up interviews.

Subject Expert: SAISD Presents Marching Band Showcase
  
Expert: Roland Sandoval, fine arts coordinator
 
Calling all half-time show enthusiasts. The Marching Band Showcase is back and will be better than ever! The showcase, presented by the District’s fine arts department, is a pre-UIL marching contest that features the high school bands throughout SAISD. It’s a tradition that families look forward to every year in preparation for marching season.

This item coincides with the calendar event listed below, SAISD Marching Band Showcase. Contact Ryan Loyd, 210-554-2263 to set up interviews.

Calendar items 

Oct. 1 (Today) – Free COVID-19 Pfizer Vaccine Clinic
3-6 p.m., Lanier High School, 1514 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., & Fox Tech High School, 637 N. Main Ave.
SAISD and Center of Advanced Wellness are offering students 12 years and older, their families and staff another opportunity to receive their free COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. Walk-ins are welcome while supplies last, but registration is encouraged by visiting saisd.net/vaccines. Note: children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or adult. Participants must also take a rapid COVID-19 test (free of charge) prior to receiving their vaccine. But transportation is available from a student’s home campus to the high school clinic site. To request transportation, email Sylvia Esparza at sesparza@saisd.net.

Oct. 4/5 (Mon/Tues) – Town Halls and Vaccine Clinics
6-7 p.m., Oct. 4, Sam Houston High School, 4635 E. Houston St., 78220
2-6 p.m., Oct. 5, Sam Houston High School, 4635 E. Houston St., 78220
The COVID-19 town hall will feature Dr. Ruth Berggren, an infectious disease specialist. The events will include raffles for gift cards, refreshments, free book bundles for students, and vaccines at the end of the town halls as well as vital checks. The clinics will offer all students 12 years and older, as well as their families and staff members another opportunity to receive their free COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. The J&J vaccine will also be available for adults. Walk-ins are welcome but registration is encouraged by visiting saisd.net/vaccines.

Oct. 5 (Tues) – SAISD Marching Band Showcase
6:30 p.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Dr., 78212
The SAISD Marching Band Showcase will feature all seven SAISD comprehensive high school marching bands. All SAISD middle school and academy bands will do both individual band and group band performances between the high school band performances. The event serves as a pre-UIL event as the bands will be judged. Awards include Outstanding Color Guard, Percussion, Drum Majors, Marching and Music Performance. Outstanding soloists will be selected by the judging panel. The awards ceremony will begin at 8:30 p.m.

Oct. 6 (Wed) – 10th Annual Inspire Awards
6 to 9 p.m., Witte Museum Mays Center, 3801 Broadway, 78209
The SAISD Foundation presents the 10th annual Inspire Awards honoring distinguished SAISD alumni and the Greehey Family Foundation. Recipients include Boone Powell (Jefferson High School), Suzanne Scott (Highlands High School), and Catherine Torres-Stahl (Fox Tech High School). The Greehey Family Foundation will be recognized as a partner organization that has invested significantly to expand dual credit offerings at SAISD. 

Oct. 7 (Thurs) – 4th Annual IB Bowl
7 p.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212
The 4th annual IB Bowl will feature a matchup between the Thomas Jefferson Mustangs and Luther Burbank Bulldogs, both International Baccalaureate World Schools. Prior to the game, the head of schools from each high school will gather on the field with a student representative from their campus, selected because they exemplify the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. These students will participate in the game coin toss. IB students work to be: balanced, caring, communicators, inquirers, knowledgeable, open-minded, principled, reflective, risk-takers and thinkers. The game is a great example of how IB calls for each student to learn how to lead a balanced life where learning and pursuit of interests and community are seen as equal parts of a full life.