Superintendent's Newsletter
I want to begin the last newsletter of 2024 by celebrating the talented McCollum High School Art Club for their work in creating a stunning mural for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo fairgrounds. As one of only five schools in San Antonio selected for this opportunity, their creativity and hard work truly stand out when looking at their mural. Under the guidance of Mr. Eduardo De La Cruz, Mr. Edward Escobedo and Mr. Eric Schorp, this masterpiece will be displayed there for the next six years! Congratulations to our artists: Alejandro Martinez, Fatima Abonce, Obidiah Obaya, Antonio Salazar, Cerise Rodriguez, Belen Briseno, Gabrielle Ramos, and Nicole Garcia for bringing this vision to life.
I could not be more thrilled with the success of our inaugural Winter Mariachi Festival. Our community spent the day immersed in the beautiful sounds of Mariachi music, with students from our elementary, middle, and high school campuses showcasing their incredible talents. I loved seeing our community come together to celebrate and honor the rich culture that Harlandale prides itself on. We are incredibly grateful for your support and look forward to making this event an annual tradition.
Amid the joyful chaos of the holiday season, it’s important to pause and remember the true spirit of giving. Our Harlandale Police Department has always gone beyond the call of duty to embody this spirit. In partnership with Walmart, they recently hosted a 'Shop with a Cop' event, where a lucky group of students enjoyed a memorable shopping spree. Their annual Toy Drive also brought holiday cheer to 45 families and 116 children from across our campuses in partnership with our Morrill Center Student Support Services Department. While this time of year can be busy, I want to take a moment to thank everyone in our District who works tirelessly to bring joy to our students—it truly makes all the difference.
Join us in congratulating Harlandale High School’s Giada Navaira for making history by earning the KENS5 Play of the Year—the first time a cheerleader has ever received this recognition! This incredible achievement highlights Giada’s talent, dedication and the unwavering support of our community. A special thank you to her family, friends and teammates who rallied together to make this recognition possible. Congratulations, Giada—we are incredibly proud of you!
We’re gearing up for our 2025 Cultural Arts Parade & Fair scheduled for Saturday, March 29, 2025! This yearly tradition offers our entire Harlandale Community a day of camaraderie. But before then, we need our students’ help with this year’s theme. If you’re a current Harlandale ISD student, we’d love to hear your input. The deadline to submit your theme idea is Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. We are incredibly excited to see all the creative ideas our students come up with. Best of luck to all who enter a submission! Click here to enter.
Mark your calendars for the return of our Second Annual Harlandale Health Fest as part of the It's Time Texas Community Challenge. Join us on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM for an evening dedicated to wellness and community. Whether you’re a seasoned health enthusiast or just beginning your wellness journey, we invite you to come out for a night of motivation and fun. Learn more at www.harlandale.net/healthfest. We hope to see you there!
As we look to 2025, we are reminded of the many individuals who make our district thrive.
When we return, we’re kicking off School Board Recognition Month, and want to take a moment to thank our Trustees for their unwavering support of our students and district.
Let’s approach the new year with excitement for all we will achieve together and a conviction to make a difference. Happy holidays!