
Southwest ISD Points of Pride
August 22nd, 2023

September 8, 2023
Welcome to Points of Pride, our weekly district e-newsletter featuring highlights from around Southwest Independent School District. If you have a story or highlight that you would like to submit, email communications@swisd.net.
Prescribing School Pride: The Future Doctor from Southwest High School
In the bustling halls of Southwest High School, where ambition meets opportunity, there exists a remarkable Senior named Gerardo Padilla. He's not just your typical high school student; he's a shining star in the constellation of academic and extracurricular excellence.
You see, Gerardo is no stranger to success. He's not only a member of the esteemed National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society but also a passionate participant in the Mariachi fine arts program. He's not just dipping his toes in the waters of the medical world; Gerardo has charted his course through the Health Sciences Pathway. And if that weren't impressive enough, he holds the distinguished title of the leader of the Southwest High School student section, guiding the fiery spirit of the Dragons.
When you ask Gerardo about his journey through the Health Sciences Pathway, his eyes light up with enthusiasm. He passionately shares, "The ability to start in the medical field has thrown me into the right direction and has given me the skills I would have had to pay for elsewhere. Here, I don't have to pay for it, and I am getting a head start compared to other students and other school districts."
As he prepares to embark on his final year at Southwest, Gerardo Padilla has grand plans. He wants to infuse even more spirit into sporting events and fine arts performances, igniting a blaze of Dragon pride. And as the curtain falls on his high school journey, Gerardo dreams of donning the white coat and stethoscope, with aspirations of becoming a doctor—a dream nurtured and shaped by his experiences at Southwest High.
Brave Rhythms: Student Club at Indian Creek is Not Missing a Beat
Attend to Win
At Southwest ISD, we're dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of consistent school attendance. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive academically and socially. Join us in our mission to empower families with knowledge, highlight the benefits of regular attendance, and provide support services for students and their loved ones to overcome any challenges they may face. Click on the video to hear from Dr. Ball as she shares insights and valuable tips on how YOU can make a difference when it comes to attendance.
Kriewald Road School of the Arts Students Incorporate Art Into Writing Assignments
Kriewald Road School of the Arts 5th Graders incorporated the arts by introducing the writing process through sculpture & by using music and movement to identify figurative language within Taylor Swift's lyrics.
Grandparents Day Celebration at Southwest ES Filled with Hugs and Kisses
Southwest ES had a packed cafeteria for it's Grandparents Day celebration. Students and their grandparents enjoyed a delicious breakfast and spent some quality time together. Thank you to all the grandparents who attended the celebration.
Cool Creations at McNair Middle School
Discover the creativity at McNair Middle School as Ms. Guerra's Advanced 3D students craft unique planters with drainage, design matching saucers, add dazzling glazes to their exceptional creations, and explore the art of propagation.
Resnik Middle School Volleball Teams Take Home Wins
A triumphant night for Resnik Middle School! The 7th and 8th grade volleyball teams secured impressive victories against the Somerset Bulldogs.
SWEF Grant Winner Gives Tips on How to Win A Grant
Mrs. Sollohub,, an inspiring educator at Elm Creek Elementary, has an extraordinary talent for securing grants year after year. Her dedication to her students and innovative teaching methods have consistently caught the attention of the Education Foundation's grant committee. With each successful application, she brings invaluable resources to her campus, from field trips to performances. For grant application tips, see the short video below on how you can successfully fill out a SWEF grant application.
About Southwest Education Foundation
SWEF believes in empowering educators to make a difference in our students' lives. That's they offering grant funds to supplement district resources, giving you the financial support you need to bring your creative teaching ideas to life. The SWEF mission is clear: provide students with the "value-added" education they deserve, helping them become exemplary members of our society.
If you have a project or program in mind that aligns with the district's priorities, this is your chance to shine! Application Deadline: Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 5 p.m. (Grants are awarded for use before the completion of the 2023-24 academic year).
Ready to apply? Click on the button below!
Homegrown: Paul Patiña
We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their great accomplishments. ‘Homegrown,' is our weekly segment where we highlight successful Southwest ISD alumni who grew up in the SWISD community. We also look at how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. This week we interviewed Paul Patiña, Social Studies teacher at Scobee Middle School.
Mr. Patiña shared how he was influenced as a student-ahtlete at SWISD"My greatest influencers were my teachers and my coaches."
If you know of alumni that work in the SWISD district that you would like to nominate to participate in this segment, please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net.
SWISD Snippets: Southwest Legacy Senior Deborah Servin
During senior year of high school, we have a unique opportunity to create memories that will stay with us forever. This is certainly true for Deborah Servin, a SW Legacy Senior and the captain of the Titans color guard team. Deborah leads her team on the field and hopes to inspire her underclassmen teammates to have fun and find success during their time in high school. Aside from leading the color guard team, Deborah is also involved in Theatre Arts at Legacy. She shares with Snippets that her favorite subject in school is psychology and that she enjoys listening to a wide range of music genres, particularly classic rock. Deborah credits Ms. Rivas, one of her teachers, for motivating her to become the person she is today. After a long day of school, color guard, and theater, Deborah likes to unwind with her favorite food: tacos. At Snippets, we can certainly relate to her love of tacos. We wish Deborah all the best for the rest of her senior year and UIL competitions. Thank you for taking the time to chat with us!
SWISD Teacher Feature: Ryan Castillo
Welcome to the SWISD Teacher Feature, where we take a ‘behind the curtain’ look at some of the amazing teachers in the district.
In this week's Teacher Feature, we visit Southwest Legacy High School to get to know US History Teacher Mrs. Ryan Castillo. Mrs. Castillo has spent her entire eleven-year teaching career in SWISD.
So what does a high school student whose favorite subject is Social Studies, whose top priorities are to just make good grades, do her best on the dance team, and basically stay out of trouble do with her life? You guessed it. She became a US History teacher. When it comes to teaching, Mrs. Castillo tries to keep things relevant by making connections to current events and modern phrases. She also sprinkles a little bit of humor into her lessons. Like any other great teacher, Mrs. Castillo is inspired by just being in the classroom teaching, and building relationships with her students. When we asked her if she could have a meal with any historical figure who would it be? She answered, Theodore Roosevelt because she would love to hear his stories about the West and his plans for future foreign events which have impacted the United States and the world.
Besides History, Mrs. Castillo is passionate about gardening and traveling to scenic locations. She claims that the one thing that makes her happy in an instant is flowers. If she could you live anywhere in the world for just one year? She would love to live anywhere in Europe because there is so much history, scenery, and delicious food throughout all those countries. For example, once I'm done in Spain, I can jump on a train and travel to another country and explore everything that country has to offer.
Mrs. Castillo, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. We wish you and your students the best this year.
If you would like to suggest a teacher for us to feature, you can email your nominations to communications@swisd.net with the subject line: Teacher Feature.