The first three weeks of the school year flew by fast. Grades were captured on Friday, September 6th, at 4:45 p.m. and are displayed via HAC as of Monday, September 9th. Please review grades with your child(ren). Just a friendly reminder: Students must maintain passing grades, wonderful behavior, and attendance to remain Comm Arts students. Thank you so much for being our partners in education. We can't wait to see you in person again!

Just a reminder that we are hosting an Open House on Wednesday, September 11th, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Taft Auditorium. After a short PTSA meeting, parents and students will be released to visit classrooms. It will be a free-flowing event, meaning you may visit each teacher in any order. You do not have to follow your child(ren) 's natural schedule. If you want to visit all of the Taft classes first since you are starting over there, that is fine - or vice versa. Please ensure you get through the schedule by 7:30 p.m. because our teachers need to go home and prepare for the next day. We look forward to seeing everyone on our campus!

*Date Change* Picture retakes for 9th- 11th graders for the 2024-2025 school year will be on October 25th.

Reminder: Prestige Portraits will be on campus in the LGI on September 18th to take yearbook-only pictures for those who have already made an appointment. Seniors, stop by Ms. De La Rosa's room to reserve your picture time. Before taking your photo, please check in with your teacher so they do not count you absent. If you did not get scheduled for this opportunity, you can schedule an appointment at the Prestige Studios by calling (877) 244-9873 or going online at local.prestigeportraits.com. They will also return to campus on Friday, November 1st, for retakes. Please note that if you wish for your picture to be in the yearbook, it must be taken through Prestige Portraits before Thanksgiving break.

Northside 10th and 11th graders can take the College Board Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test, or PSAT, on Wednesday, October 9th.

Registration is required and available at www.totalregistration.net/PSAT/446271. Last day to sign up without a $5 late fee is this Wednesday, September 11th. In order to register, campus needs to be set to Taft High School. Email Ms. Lewis at elizabeth.lewis@nisd.net with questions.

All 11th-grade students will be able to participate at no cost since results are connected to scholarship opportunities. 10th-grade students who choose to participate are also required to register in advance and pay a $20 testing fee. There is a reduced fee of $10 for students who receive free or reduced lunch.

For 11th-grade students, the PSAT/NMSQT is the entry route to the National Merit Scholarship Program. Requirements for participation, steps in the competition, and awards offered are explained in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide and on the National Merit Scholarship Corporation’s website at www.nationalmerit.org.

Don’t wait! Register now for this opportunity!

• Preparation for the SAT, where scores can help students get into honor college programs and college pathways (college within a college)
  
• Connects students to colleges and universities
  
• Scholarship opportunities for Grade 11 students
  
• Scores can be used to qualify for dual credit courses.
  
• Results will include resources about local two-year colleges, workforce training programs, and career options.
  

The Comm Arts Recruitment Video Production Team met with Chief Marketing Officer Chris Derby with the SA Livestock Show & Rodeo to discuss some Industry Expert Partnership opportunities this year. Students ran the meeting and presented their ideas for the upcoming video shoot. Staff and students shared ideas for an educational partnership with the Rodeo Marketing & Production Team this year. Equipment use, site visits, and industry mentorship opportunities were just a few things covered in this epic meet-up!

Homecoming week is September 16th-20th

• Sept 18th - Night Pep Rally (6-7 pm)
• Sept 20th - Homecoming Game
• Sept 21st - Homecoming Dance - ticket information below

All voting will be done through student email addresses.

The first round of voting was last week.

The second round of voting will occur from September 9th to September 12th.

9th, 10th, and 11th grade winners will be announced on the intercom announcements on September 13th.

Senior King and Queen will be announced at the football game on Friday, September 20th.

Any posters need to be approved in the Comm Arts front office first.

This year our high school is using MORP – We will use MORP for purchasing tickets, answering questions and sending notifications. Download the app MORP today. It is available on the Google Play Store and IOS App Store. It is important to turn on notifications to get all the latest information regarding Homecoming. Register as the Taft HS Homecoming Dance. When creating an account use your personal email, not school email.

Students can add a credit card/debit card to their account for prom ticket purchase. A student's credit/debit card is not charged until they are approved to purchase their ticket. Once tickets go on sale, you will get one of the following messages: *Students can be approved to be part of the school but not approved to purchase tickets, for various reasons. Approval can take up to 24 hours*

• Approved : The student joins the guest list and receives a QR code digital ticket. The student's card is charged. The student gets a notification of the approval.
• Denied : The student's card is not charged and will remain in the student list. You will get a notification of the denial and why.
• Come See Me : The student's transaction remains on hold in the pending approvals list. The student is notified that he/she needs to come see the admin prior to approval.

*Student Purchasing Options

• Buy a single ticket. The student purchases a single ticket for themselves.
• Buy a ticket for themselves and a date who attends the same school. The student selects the name of his/her date from the student list. You will need their contact info and student ID number.
• Buy a ticket for themselves and a date who does not attend the same school. The student fills out this google form that will go into "Pending Status" awaiting administrative approval.

Guest IDs must be uploaded. If guest ID is not uploaded then the form will automatically be denied. SEPTEMBER 13th is the last day to submit a guest form. If you do not fill out the form then your guest will not be allowed to attend. GUEST FORM FOR TAFT HS HOMECOMING 2024

Ticket Sales will be as follows: All students will be required to show ID at the Homecoming Dance Entrance.

• September 3 - September 10 = Tickets $20
• September 11 - September 18 = Ticket price will increase to $25

*Tickets will not be sold after September 18th*

*If a student does not have a phone or cannot purchase the ticket online, they must contact Mrs. Gleye before or after school or during 5th period lunch ONLY*

If you are a senior and would like to help support the freshmen in your strand, please complete the form. Mr. Alicea is looking to connect our new freshmen with upperclassmen who are willing to share advice, tips and even tutor to promote success in their freshmen year at Comm Arts. Mr. Alicea will contact those interested to discuss what the program would look like. We hope to be able to meet with the freshmen in your strand throughout the year. Comm Senior Support

High School Credits: Students are required by law to be in attendance for 90% of each class. If students' absences exceed 90%, they will lose credit for their class unless corrected through Attendance Recovery.

Health vs. EADN (Excused Absences - Non-Health -Doctor Note): Health absences do not count against a student's attendance. However, a student must be on campus for part of the school day and bring a doctor's note. A doctor's note counts as an excused absence if a student is absent for the whole school day.

Excused Absences (EA) vs. Unexcused Absences (UA): All absences count towards the allotted eight absences for the fall semester/9 absences for the spring semester. An absence is an absence.

College Visit: Juniors and seniors are allotted two days per year to visit colleges. To excuse these absences, students need to follow the required procedures. The form can be found at our information station near our front office.

The NISD Student Ambassadors is a select group of students chosen to be the "Face of the District through an application and interview process." This select group of 20 to 30 student leaders will be trained to assist with important public relations and communications services at NISD.

As a Student Ambassador, you'll be more than just a student leader. You'll be the face of NISD, representing our diverse community and advocating for our values. To excel in this role, you'll need strong leadership skills, a positive attitude, and a commitment to NISD.

Student Ambassadors will be privileged to meet new people, develop new skills, and work alongside District leaders to learn more about NISD's business and operations.

Ambassadors will be allowed to positively promote NISD while developing leadership skills through interacting with students and families, school staff, and the local community. They will represent NISD at various school and community activities and assist with the District's executive leadership team. The program will seek students from diverse backgrounds who are enthusiastic and who demonstrate exceptional communication and leadership skills.

Only juniors and seniors can apply.

For more information: https://www.nisd.net/district/student-ambassadors#Apply

Application - Student Ambassador

By now, students should have logged into their ACES accounts to verify that their dual credit courses are correct.

• Students can DROP a dual credit course until September 9th by 5:00 PM with no penalty.
• After September 11th, a DROP will require a withdrawal from the instructor, and a student's Northwest Vista transcript will show a "W," which may impact financial aid eligibility.
• Students MUST talk with their counselor and parent, then inform Mrs. Davern of any changes to their dual credit courses.

As we head to the 4th week of school and students are settling into a school routine, it's important for students to take preventative measures to help them stay on track by making good grades, thus reducing their stress and/or anxiety levels. One of the ways to reduce stress/anxiety is to stay organized, such as managing your time wisely, having a clean and neat area to study, away from distractions, etc... Here are some other medically reviewed tips to use to stay ahead of the game: Tips for Teens to Get and Stay Organized.

Progress Reports is a time for students to notice their current academic standing and progress. Depending on the grades your student may see, the results may create some anxiety. Before anxiety can get a hold of your student and consume them with feelings of discouragement, here are some medically reviewed ideas on how your teen can navigate and manage anxiety, according to Nemours Teen Health. 5 Ways to Cope With Anxiety (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth

Part of managing anxiety includes having a growth mindset. Here are some helpful tips for parents on fostering a growth mindset in their child(ren). How to Teach Growth Mindset to Teens | Big Life Journal

See Mrs. Torres in the Career Center if you have any questions, also check your student emails from Mrs. Torres for important college application information.

Students can request a fee waiver directly from College Board. Eligible students can receive SAT fee waiver benefits by logging in to their College Board account and submitting a request. Learn more on the College Board website.

Did you take your yearbook picture during prep days? Want to order pictures? Click HERE to order your pictures online. Use either your student ID or picture Day ID: EVT4KQVBF

ENJOY 10% OFF

your order!

CODE: F202410OFF

EXPIRES: July 31, 2025

Picture retakes will be September 11th and October 25th.

• Black Student Union (BSU) - Mrs. Lee and Ms. Cody - Every second and fourth Tuesday

• Chess Club - Ms. De La Rosa - Thursdays from 4:30-5:15 pm
• Commie Art Club - Ms. Cleveland

• Commie Lit Club - Mr. Polinard - Tuesdays during lunch

• Content Creators - Mrs. Lee & Ms. Cody - Every Friday
  
• Environmental Club - Mr. Polinard and Mr. Trevino - Wednesdays during lunch
  

• Esports - Mr. Villarreal - Thursdays after school

• Fiber Arts Club
  

• Film Club - Mr. Flores

• SkillsUSA - Ms. Cleveland, Mrs. Sabogal, and Mr. Flores

• Student Council (Comm Arts) - Mr. Harris and Mr. Trevino - Thursdays from 12:24-12:44 pm

• Tean to Teen / Pride - Mrs. Derby
  

• UIL Academics - Mrs. Davern

Our Verification of Enrollment (VOE) is available digitally. The VOE form is used for driver's permits and licenses. Use the Google Form to request a copy.

Mission: Our school promotes curiosity while providing rigorous academics in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Vision: Communications Arts H.S. students will be confident, capable, communicative leaders.

Email: cahs@nisd.net

Attendance Email: CAHS.attendance@nisd.net
Website: https://www.nisd.net/communicationsarts
Location: 11600 Culebra Road, San Antonio, TX 78253, USA
Phone: (210) 397-6043
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CommunicationsArtsHighSchool/
Twitter: @NISDComArts