Eagles,

As a 21-year-old soldier, I signed up as a donor in the US Army's Salute to Life Program, a registry for bone marrow donors. I had all but forgotten that my name and markers remained on the registry for possible matches until November of last year when I received a call from the Department of Defense that informed me that I was a match with a 15-year-old girl fighting non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Back then (1998), the most common treatment option was an invasive bone marrow extraction that was painful to donors and dangerous for immunocompromised recipients. Now, we're looking at a future brightened by advances in peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) extraction technology, a method that promises a less invasive CURE to lymphoma. Pioneered in the 1980s and refined through the 1990s, this breakthrough was made possible by the hard work of young students who were just a little older than our students here at Woodlawn Academy at the time of my registry. It's a stark reminder of the power of education and our students' role in shaping the future.

In the coming days, I will undergo a procedure to donate my stem cells, hoping to give this young girl a chance at a new life. This process, supported by Be The Match®, involves several days of preparation but represents a beacon of hope for those in dire need. I made this decision out of a sense of duty to others, grounded in the belief that we should do for others as we would have them do for us or our loved ones.

This personal journey, while unique, is symbolic of the broader narrative we share at Woodlawn Academy. It is a narrative of progress, innovation, and, above all, hope. It serves as a reminder of the impact our students are poised to make in the world. Their future contributions to science and technology will undoubtedly change the human experience in ways we can only begin to imagine. But it all starts here, with a commitment to learning and a refusal to shun knowledge out of fear.

I am reminded of our community's strength and support. Your understanding and encouragement are invaluable, and I remain ever grateful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity. Together, we are not just nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators; we are contributing to a legacy of hope and healing that transcends the confines of Woodlawn. Let us continue to foster an environment where curiosity leads to discovery and challenges are seen as opportunities to excel. Our journey together is far from over, and I am excited to see where it takes us next.

I encourage each and everyone to investigate the "Be the Match" website below and find out how you can become a donor too!

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

Ever Stalwart,

Luis De La Garza

Head of School and Principal

Woodlawn Academy

Inquirer

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Indagadores

Cultivamos nuestra curiosidad, a la vez que desarrollamos habilidades para la indagación. Sabemos cómo aprender de manera autónoma y junto con otros. Aprendemos con entusiasmo y mantenemos estas ansias de aprender.

Stay curious and explore the Google Arts and Culture Experiments here.

Our 8th graders began the initial stages of the IB 8th Grade Community Project this past week. Their Investigation began with activating prior knowledge and constructing together a definition for "community". They began with sketching their ideas of their communities. Some sketched buildings, schools, San Antonio landmarks, while others drew playgrounds, the world, and individuals in their inner circle. They learned that there are many communities at different levels.

Images from: Toddle MYP Community Project Handbook

Students will engage in their community projects throughout several weeks spending about 2 weeks per phase in the Community Project cycle of learning.

SAVE THE DATE: 8th Grade Community Project Showcase May 15, 2024

Our community enjoyed an evening of fun literacy events during our Family Literacy Night sponsored by our Language Cadre. Activities included Puppet Theatre, Bingo, Legos, Bookmark Making, and Read Aloud Station. Thank you to all of the volunteers that helped make this event a success!

Woodlawn Academy competed as one, combined group with Cotton Academy for the UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation. Our band received a 1,2,1 rating in their prepared music and a 1, 1, 1 rating from the sight reading portion. This is the first time that both groups receive a trophy!

Congratulations to all of our talented Eagles and Mr. Gonzalez, our Band Director!

The National Wildlife Federation has certified that Woodlawn Academy has a Native Monarch Butterfly. A special thank you to the team that helped set up this garden and apply for this status, led by 1st grade Dual Language teacher, Paola De Dominicis!

Continuing to reflect on the memorable experience of PYP 5th Grade Exhibition Night.

Enjoy and appreciate the Student Art Exhibit from PYPX.

How We Express Ourselves: the ways in which we reflect on, extend, and enjoy our creativity

Congratulations to our soaring eagle, Mrs. Miranda, on being awarded Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Miranda currently serves as the lead teacher for the 4th grade team. She is designated as a Texas Education Agency (TEA) Recognized teacher- a distinction awarded to highly effective public school teachers. This year marks her 10th year anniversary at Woodlawn Academy and 21 years of experience teaching.

A Favorite Quote:

"One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world."

-Malala Yousafzai

Mrs. Miranda, your dedication, passion, and compassion to our students are truly inspiring. Your ability to ignite a love for learning and create a supportive environment sets you apart! This recognition is well-deserved! Woodlawn is proud to call you one of our own!

Our kinder students enjoyed their first field trip out at the unforgettable DoSeum- San Antonio's Museum for Kids. There, students enjoyed role playing as pilots, grocery patrons and cashiers, and superheroes. They also got to explore with over top materials like enlarged snowflake connectors and cars and roadways that cover the entire floor. They were introduced to the world of engineering with coding robot opportunities and observing and exploring water wheels in the Waterworks area.

It was joyful experience for all!

A group of our Woodlawn 3rd graders had the opportunity to connect with students from Thomas Edison American School in Nicaragua. This shared experience is the first of many for Woodlawn Eagles to connect virtually with students at the former teaching school of our Spanish Teacher, Ms. Dormus. Our eagles had an explicable joy viewing students that on the surface may seem different due to location and language, but pleasantly surprised to understand that they seemed just like them! They also were able to put some of their Spanish greetings to use!

Every International Baccalaureate school aims to nurture "...young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect".

We believe this opportunity is a moment when work towards this mission is evident.

Go to https://my.lifetouch.com/mylifetouch/#/ to order your pictures BEFORE picture day. The Picture Day ID is: EVTJH3T4N

SAISD wants to hear from you! If you have not yet taken the Family-School Relations Survey, please do so asap. Your voice matters and we use the feedback provided to plan improvements for a rich and positive learning experience for your child.

Click on the link and input your child's ID number to take the survey. There is no way for us to track individuals who have taken it, but we will receive the collective feedback.

www.saisd.net/familysurvey

¡SAISD quiere saber de usted! Si aún no ha realizado la Encuesta sobre relaciones entre familia y escuela, hágalo lo antes posible. Su voz importa y utilizamos los comentarios proporcionados para planificar mejoras para una experiencia de aprendizaje rica y positiva para su hijo.

Haga clic en el enlace e ingrese el número de identificación de su hijo para realizar la encuesta. No tenemos forma de rastrear a las personas que lo han tomado, pero recibiremos comentarios colectivos.

Our 2nd round of U.I.L. Competition including Art, Listening, and Music Memory is scheduled for the following dates:

• Listening- Friday March 22 @ 3:30pm-4:30pm in Mrs. Femath's Room
• Art- Monday, March 25 @ 3:30-4:30pm in Mrs. Femath's Room
• Music Memory- Monday, March 25 @ 3:30-4:30pm in Choir Room

If your child signed up for this back in December, please be sure they connect with their U.I.L. Coach or the U.I.L. Coordinator for more information on their specific competition on campus.

We are so proud of all our eagle competitors!

Click below to englarge

Click below to enlarge.

Nurse Senter would like to thank PTO for their generous monetary donation that will help fund clinic items and resources needed for our students.

Ms. Cavazos and Woodlawn Academy would like to thank everyone that supported our school with your purchase at our Annual Scholastic Book Fair! Ms. Cavazos would especially like to thank all of the volunteers who helped throughout the week and whom without, the Book Fair would not have been as successful as it was!

Until next year!

Woodlawn Academy is an authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme and Middle Years Programme. In 2019, we became an SAISD In-District Charter School with Texas Council forInternational Studies, (TCIS) as our managing partner.Through this partnership, we receive additional funding.

Are you interested in participating in a school event as a volunteer. Perhaps support PTO with teacher appreciation events, join your child on a field trip, or help out in a Field Day? You will need a background check through SAISD process. The process can take a few weeks to complete, don't miss out on an opportunity of volunteering because the background check wasn't in on time.

SAISD Volunteer App-Garden

Website: https://schools.saisd.net/page/175.homepage/
Location: 1717 West Magnolia Avenue, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 438-6560
Facebook: facebook.com/SAISDWoodlawnAcademy
Twitter: @IB_Woodlawn