Southwest ISD Points of Pride

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.

Campuses throughout the District are currently celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month. This month, from September 15th to October 15th, the U.S. government recognizes the numerous contributions of over 60 million Hispanic Americans to our culture and society. SWISD schools actively celebrate Hispanic Heritage by organizing various student and family activities. To witness these celebrations firsthand, you can visit the social media pages of each campus. Sky Harbor ES, for instance, kicked off the observance a bit early with Patriot Day, and today marked Selena/Como La Flor Day.

Leah Gonzalez is a senior at Southwest High School and has been part of the spirit squad and dance team since her freshman year. However, Leah's proudest accomplishment is being one of the top 10 students at Southwest High School.

"I've been in the top ten since freshman year. Balancing that achievement with all my extracurricular activities has made it so much fun."

When we asked her about what it feels like to be a senior and the friendships and memories she has made along the way, she said, "I've known some of these girls since freshman year and even middle school. Seeing us grow up together is just incredible. We were all so little, and now we are all grown."

Leah also mentioned that she could not have done it alone and recognized many of her teachers for helping her achieve her senior-year goals.

"My teachers have played such a big role, even since elementary school. They have always been there for me, serving as my academic advisors and providing the support I needed. They've pushed me so far, and that's why I've done so well. I love them."

We all wish Leah Gonzalez the best of luck in the future and are proud of all the incredible things she is accomplishing here at Southwest ISD!

On the solemn occasion of 9/11, several SWISD campuses paid their respects in different meaningful ways. At Resnik Middle School, Assistant Principal Mr. Chris Barrera played TAPS, bringing students together in a moment of reflection to honor the lives lost on that tragic day. Meanwhile, at Southwest Elementary, the SWHS JROTC came to present the colors, and a student recounted the events of 9/11, followed by a moment of silence. Additionally, Scobee Middle School produced a touching video, capturing the perspectives of teachers of where they were on 9/11, some of whom were teaching at Scobee. This video was shared with students during advisory on the anniversary, fostering a sense of remembrance and unity within the school community.

This week, in Mr. Jorge Alvarez's dual language class at Bob Hope Elementary, fourth-grade students are delving into the world of multi-step math problem-solving and utilizing the strip diagram method in a small group setting. As the new school year begins, these students revisit the fundamentals, concentrating on honing their addition and subtraction skills while tackling complex math challenges. Mr. Alvarez's connection with his students originates from his own upbringing in a dual-language education environment, allowing him to relate to his students daily. Through his teaching approach and inspiring message, he motivates his students to strive for greatness daily, reinforcing the belief that anything is achievable. We're cheering on Mr. Alvarez and his excellent students to keep up the good work and have an amazing school year!

Indian Creek P.E. Coach Michael Bendele is ecstatic about a new platform that his PE classes can access: The Lü Interactive Playground. SWISD purchased three learning, interactive playgrounds last year. The Lü offers a fun twist to learning. It allows students to be active while practicing critical classroom curriculum such as numbers, spelling, and much more. These platforms are available for coaches to check out for their classes.

Coach Bendele's classes enjoy the ability to learn and play simultaneously. Coach Bendele enjoys taking Physical Education to the next level every chance he gets. This past week, his students could practice addition and spelling while getting exercise in his class.

The Penguin Project's very first rehearsal of the year was an absolute blast, with our incredible talent and mentors coming together. Our students are all geared up and eager to put in the hard work that will make this year an unforgettable experience! Before the first rehearsal, Penguin Project Mentors started the season with introductions and some fun team-building activities, setting the stage for a fantastic production of "The Little Mermaid." Follow the SWISD Penguin Project FB page here for updates and sneak peeks as we dive into this fantastic journey!

Our very own Kelly Villanueva from Medio Creek Elementary has been selected from a competitive pool of applicants as a 2023-24 EcoRise Teacher Ambassador, joining a network of passionate and talented educators that teach grades preK–12 and hail from 11 different regions across the country.

EcoRise mobilizes a new generation of leaders to design healthy, just, and thriving communities for all. They work at the intersection of sustainability education, climate resilience, and environmental justice by elevating youth voices and advancing student-led solutions to real-world challenges. EcoRise offers a range of TEKS-based curricula and programs for students, teachers, school districts, and partners, designed to advance environmental literacy, sustainable schools, and equitable access to green career pathways.

EcoRise Teacher Ambassadors are experienced EcoRise teachers who have demonstrated a strong interest in and commitment to the EcoRise mission and core values. Teacher Ambassadors regularly and effectively implement EcoRise curriculum, Eco-Audits, green-school projects, and microgrants, in addition to leveraging EcoRise support services and connecting with community partners and the larger EcoRise teacher community.

This year Mrs. Villanueva hopes to focus her EcoRise resources to help with the Medio Creek Gator Garden. Specifically, she wants to focus on adding more native plants around campus.

We are excited that Mrs. Villanueva will work with EcoRise this school year to champion sustainability education in our region, support and work with teachers in the community, and encourage students to improve local environmental and social issues through design thinking. Please join us in giving Mrs. Villanueva a big round of applause and congratulations!

SWISD teachers at all levels, If you are interested in incorporating the TEKS Based EcoRise Curriculum into your lessons, please reach out to Mrs. Villanueva at kvillanueva6209@swisd.net, and she can help get you set up. The curriculum is free and available to any Texas teacher. All lessons are TEKS-based and geared towards multiple levels. To learn more about the EcoRise, check out their website at www.https://www.ecorise.org.

Elm Creek ES staff joined forces with this little girl's amazing mother to put together a surprise reunion that melted our hearts. Her dad had been away on a tour of duty, and the adorable little girl wore a patriotic dress, thinking she was about to take a photo to send to her dad. But guess what? Her dad surprised her right at the school, and her reaction was pure joy!

Get your tissues ready and watch this heartwarming moment unfold in this video the school shared on its Facebook.

Huge shoutout to Elm Creek for creating this unforgettable experience for one of our incredible families.

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 some of our board members discuss the importance of daily attendance.

We are proud of our SWISD graduates and want to share their great accomplishments. ‘Homegrown' is our weekly segment highlighting successful Southwest ISD alumni who work for SWISD. We also examine how SWISD ignited their success, goals, and career. This week, we interviewed Meghan Castillo, DLC teacher at Southwest High School.

Castillo talked about how SWISD is 'home' to her. "It always felt like home. It was always very welcoming, very warming, it felt like a family." She also shared her passion for advocating for her students. "I'm the one that is going to be their advocate. They can do anything that they set their heart and mind to. "

If you would like to nominate someone or participate in this segment, please email Dr. Sam Ruiz at sruiz9098@swisd.net.

The senior year traditions continue at CAST STEM HS, where the Class of 2024 came together for their Senior Sunrise event on Thursday morning. Cobras assembled on the campus, indulged in delicious breakfast tacos and enjoyed a movie screening of Coraline in the gym. Wishing you all an outstanding senior year ahead. GO COBRAS!

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 Resnik Middle School to get to know 7th-grade English Language Arts and Reading Teacher Mr. Andrew Lappegaard. Mr. Lappegaard has been teaching for seven years, and this is his first year teaching at SWISD.

During middle school, Andrew Lappegaard was still exploring his identity as a student, much like any other student. He was in the process of figuring out his future aspirations. Looking back, Mr. Lappegaard acknowledges the pivotal role played by a few supportive teachers who pushed him to reach his full potential. He expresses gratitude for their belief in him.

As a teacher himself now, Mr. Lappegaard draws inspiration from his own students. He observes that they exemplify qualities like persistence, acceptance, and courage each day. He particularly cherishes moments when students voluntarily assist their peers. He strives to cultivate a positive and collaborative learning environment as a teacher. One piece of advice he imparts to his students is to confront the challenges they encounter on their journey.

Although Mr. Lappegaard is an ELAR teacher, his favorite subject to study during his school years wasn't English but rather Geography. He has a deep passion for studying maps. Additionally, he has a strong affinity for animals and dedicates his time as a volunteer at the San Antonio Humane Society. His volunteer work includes walking dogs, creating enrichment activities, and even doing the dishes, all of which he finds personally rewarding because you can see the impact that you are making.

Mr. Lappegaard has had the privilege of traveling extensively, but his favorite destinations are those that offer insights into different ways of life. For instance, in Kenya, he had the remarkable experience of witnessing the great migration on the Masai Mara, where over 1.5 million wildebeest and 200,000 zebras embark on their legendary 1,800-mile journey from the Serengeti in neighboring Tanzania.

Mr. Lappegaard, Thank you for all that you do. We wish you and your students all the best.

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.