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Keeping Up with Comm Arts
~ February 10, 2025 ~
Hello Comm Arts Family and Friends!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Grades for progress reports are due this Friday, February 14th. Progress reports will be available on HAC on Monday, February 17th. Students, check your grades and keep up with your assignments.
Next week, Monday, February 17th, is Presidents' Day. This is a student holiday and staff development. Students, we hope you have a wonderful three-day weekend.
Campus Reminders
- Dress Code - As the weather slowly gets warmer, remember that midriffs must be covered and shorts must be mid-thigh, even with tights.
- Lunch Expectations - Students must remain in the cafeteria or the back patio during lunch. If you plan on leaving the cafeteria, you will need a pass. This includes going to the library, tutoring, or attending elective classes such as choir, band, etc.
Campus Highlights
Educator of the Year
We're excited to announce Mrs. Wanda Navarro Rivera as our Communications Arts High School's Educator of the Year! We love having Mrs. Navarro as part of our Comm Arts family. Her enthusiasm and dedication to teaching Spanish 1-3 is contagious, and her leadership of the Spanish National Honors Society motivates our students to reach for the stars.
Thank you, Mrs. Navarro, for all that you do.
SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA District 11 contests are underway! 3D Visualization and Animation took 2nd Place and qualified for state.
Video Production also placed 2nd qualified for state. Digital Cinema is still ongoing. SkillsUSA State competition is the first weekend of April in Corpus Christi, TX.
A huge shoutout and congratulations to all the amazing students and their incredible sponsors who took part in SkillsUSA!
Scholarship Winner
Exciting news! Emma Bailey was awarded the Jack C. Jordan Comm Arts/Taft High School Scholarship! A huge congratulations to her! Emma was honored during NISD's PTA Founders Day celebration last week, and it was a moment to remember!
Los Leones Publicity Winners 2025
Congratulations to Sieloh Valdez! She proudly claimed the impressive 2nd place with her stunning artwork, "Roar of Creativity!" What an incredible achievement. We can't wait to see it displayed at Los Leones.
Non-Stop
Juniors spent part of English 3 AP/DC toe-tapping and singing along to the musical, Hamilton, as they rhetorically analyzed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s character of Hamilton’s choices to convey his leadership aspirations in the song, “Non-Stop.”
SNHS
A huge thank you to all our SNHS members who went above and beyond for the Hygiene Drive, generously donating and assembling care packages for Haven for Hope. Your kindness and dedication truly shine!
Announcements
Candy Grams
NHS will be selling Valentine’s Day Candy-grams before school (in the foyer) and during 4th lunch (in the cafeteria) 2/10-2/13. Candy-grams are 1 for $3 or 2 for $5! Get a little treat for someone sweet!
Comm Arts Alleyway
You are cordially invited to Comm Arts Alleyway on February 21st, 5:30- 7:00 PM. Come support our talented students as they showcase some of their amazing artwork. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 for adults and $3 for students. Concessions will also be available.
Esports
Esports Spring Season has begun; if you are interested, please fill out the interest form or go by C109 for more information.
Loteria Night
SAT Prep Course
There are only a few spots left. The last day to register is noon on February 13th, depending on availability.
MSB link for payment - https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/prdembd?ref=ZZI62IWM8104GS3_ZZK1L780QQ0UYUI
Panoramic Pictures
Mac & Cheese Contest
Comm Stock
Band Registration for 25-26
It's that time of year again- returning, and new members must ensure they register for the 2025-2026 school year in the band database. Please fill out the following link with updated and accurate information to be counted for the next big step in the Taft Band legacy! Register at: https://form.jotform.com/243086019203146
Student Project
Julio Villarreal is a junior in A.V. looking for voice actors for an animation he is working on. There are multiple characters and multiple background/side characters. Complete the form linked below to apply.
Counselors' Corner
Sophomores & Parents: The counselors meet with sophomores on last Friday, February 7th, during their English classes, to review course selection guides for next year. Sophomores will receive an updated credit count based on first-semester grades.
The counselors will meet individually with sophomores starting February 10th during their AP World History class to discuss their course selections for their upcoming junior year.
Freshmen & Parents: The counselors are scheduled to meet with 9th graders on February 14th, during their English classes, to go over their course selection guides for next year. Freshmen will receive an updated credit count based on first-semester grades.
The counselors will meet individually with freshmen starting February 18th during their AP World History class to discuss their course selections for their upcoming junior year.
BigFuture Scholarships
10th and 11th graders can qualify for $500 and $40,000 scholarships from BigFuture®! The scholarships are open to all students, with no GPA, test score, essay, income, or citizenship requirements. Every month, BigFuture will award $500 and $40,000 to students who take steps toward their career and the education they need to reach it.
For more information: BigFuture Scholarships
Dual Credit Information
Dual Credit Enrollment Process for 2024-25 (new students only)
New to dual students must have their application completed by February 12th at 5 pm. Students who took a dual credit class in the past but are not currently enrolled must reapply.
Parents / students who complete their application should look for an email from Mrs. Davern regarding next steps—testing, modules, etc (should arrive by the February 19). Please address any questions regarding dual credit to julie.davern@nisd.net.
Dual Credit Interest Google form - Completing this Google form does NOT qualify a student for dual credit enrollment but simply indicates an interest.
Go Center
Seniors, here are 2 local scholarship opportunities with deadlines in February!
Alamo Promise
Seniors, College Connections Phase 2 will be in your English classes on Thursday to assist you with college applications. They will provide additional information on the Alamo Promise for the different Alamo Colleges. If you want 2 years of free college, please start the application and ask questions.
The guaranteed deadline for the Alamo Promise is February 28th.
SAT Fee Waivers
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.
AP Exams
Seniors, the deadline to sign up and pay for your AP macroeconomics exam is March 1st.
If you wish to sign up for an exam, there is an additional $40 late fee. Each exam cost $40. Those with free & reduced, exam costs are $10.
Reminder: All My School Bucks School Store products will be disabled during NISD's Winter Break and Spring Break
Pictures & Yearbooks
Our 2024-25 yearbook strictly features Comm Arts students, so why not get one! Don't forget about purchasing ads. Any student, parent, or business can purchase an ad!
Link for the yearbook
Link to purchase ads
9th-11th Grade 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
Calendar
Tutoring Schedule
Graduation Dates
Graduation dates are here. Comm Arts/Taft High School graduation is June 3rd at 9:30 am. For more information, click HERE.
Make sure you order in a timely manner. Graduation items will be ready for pick up on April 25, 2025. Our cap and gown are white. For those who just want to order the cap and gown, click here.
Important Links & Documents
Spring Semester Exam Exemptions
A student enrolled in courses earning high school credit (full-year or semester) may be exempt from the spring semester exam if the following criteria are met:
- For the Spring semester, the student has three or fewer absences, excluding school business absences; (Spring semester begins January 7, 2025)
- The student’s final average for the spring semester is 80 or higher;
- The student’s conduct grade in that class is satisfactory or better; and
- The student is in attendance during the scheduled exam time.
A student who is eligible for exemption may take the exam if desired.
Exam Weight: The two graded quarters of each semester shall weigh 90 percent of the semester grade, and the semester exam shall weigh 10 percent of the semester grade. If a student is exempt from the semester exam, the semester grade shall be calculated using only the two grade quarters of the semester.
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutoring offers:
- 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring (including AP courses)
- On-Demand Essay Review
- Live Enrichment Classes
- Test Prep Classes (ACT, SAT, GED, etc), Academic Classes (study halls, algebra bootcamps, etc) and Enrichment Classes (languages, robotics, chess, etc)
Don't forget to check it out!
HB 114
The Texas Legislature recently enacted HB 114, requiring all school districts to implement mandatory disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) placement for students found in possession of, using, selling, giving, or delivering e-cigarettes or vaping devices on school grounds or at a school-related event.
This alternative school placement, required by law, is made regardless of whether the substance being vaped is a controlled substance or not.
Click here for more information: https://www.nisd.net/parents/vape-free
Safety
Here is the link for information related to district safety: Safety First, 2024-2025
Any visitors to campus will need to apply and pass a background check. This does need to be completed every year. It will not roll over. Here is the link to the background check: https://www.nisd.net/community/volunteer-mentor
If you notice anything unusual or a potential safety concern throughout the school year, please contact the NISD Safeline. The Safeline is anonymous and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Phone number: 210-397-7233
Email: safe@nisd.net
Adobe Access
Adobe Creative Suite Software at Home for Personal Devices
ComArts CTE students, please remember that you can download and install Adobe Creative Suite software onto your personal laptops and computers (not Chromebooks) for FREE using your NISD student login credentials. Use the attached instructions for guidance. Keep in mind that the Adobe software version installed at home will be a newer version than what is available at school. Please get in touch with your Communications teacher (Cleveland, Villarreal, Sabogal, or Flores) if you have questions.
24-25 Bell Schedule
VOE
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.
Communications Arts High School
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/
X: @NISDComArts