Week of October 15

The San Marcos High School Rattler Band concluded their competition season on Saturday, October 19 at the UIL Region 12 Competition hosted at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. The Rattler Band had a very successful season and we congratulate the team on their hard work, dedication, and teamwork. Thank you to our band directors, color guard directors, fine arts director and the parents for your support this season!

The Heroes of Hernandez hosted a spooktacular evening of fun at their Trunk-or-Treat on Thursday, October 17. Little ghouls and goblins in attendance enjoyed fun games and festive fun thanks for the committed staff members and local community and business members. Thank you for the candy donations and support!

This Saturday, October 19, the San Marcos HS Choir program took 31 singers to Madison HS in San Antonio to participate in the TMEA Region 12 Choir Auditions. This marked Round 2 of the 4 Step All-State Choir Audition process. 23 singing Rattlers placed in a Region ensemble, and 9 are advancing to the Pre-Area Auditions (round 3) scheduled for December 3. Please join us in congratulating all of our singing Rattlers! Lastly, we would like to wish our Pre-Area candidates the best of luck as they prepare a brand new set of music for the next round!

San Marcos CISD celebrated word-wide Unity Day on Wednesday, October 16. This day promotes togetherness, understanding, and acceptance among diverse communities. It emphasizes the importance of standing against bullying, discrimination, and division, encouraging people to come together in support of one another. Thanks to those who wore orange and a shoutout to our Rattler staff for showing our students love and kindness each day.

Ms. Bryant offers her students invaluable hands-on experience that enhances their understanding of forensic procedures and investigative techniques through a mock crime scene lab. By engaging in role-playing as detectives, forensic analysts, or witnesses, students learn to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, honing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This lab fosters teamwork and communication, as students have to collaborate to gather evidence and analyze data. Additionally, it cultivates a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the criminal justice system, encouraging students to think like professionals as they navigate real-world scenarios.

Criminal Justice is just one of 21 programs of study offered to Rattlers through our Career & Technical Education (CTE) department. To learn more about SMCISD CTE please click the button below.

National School Lunch Week, celebrated annually in October, highlights the importance of nutritious meals in promoting student health and learning. This week-long event brings attention to the efforts of our Child Nutrition Department who work hard to provide balanced, delicious lunches to our students. San Marcos CISD would like to thank our Child Nutrition department for supporting academic success and overall well-being, while also emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration in creating a healthier future for all students!

San Marcos High School Orchestra students both earned rankings at the TMEA Region 12 Symphony Orchestra auditions held at Madison High School in San Antonio on October 12.

Respectfully, Diego Vacaflores earned the 33rd rank while Ben Keller earned the number 1 ranked student in the Region.

Both Vacaflores and Keller will receive the honor of playing under the baton of Dr. Cliff Evans from UT Arlington!

SMCISD is thrilled to announce that Bonham Principal, Dr. Eulogia Martinez was awarded a $9,374 grant dedicated to enhancing educational opportunities on her campus! This funding will allow our youngest Rattlers to continue to play, learn and grow as scholars! Thank you to the Consortium of State Organizations for Teacher Education for your generous grant.

On October 19th, five students read their jazz essays for the Annual Eddie Durham Jazz Festival. Each student received a $50 gift card and an award certificate for turning in an excellent essay on why jazz is important to them. A total of 46 essays from elementary students were turned in. Pictured from left to right: Royal Hernandez, De Zavala Elementary, Jenna Patek, Hernandez Elementary, Cylas Salas, Rodriguez Elementary, Bryn Ervin, Rodriguez Elementary, and Noe Mendez, De Zavala Elementary.

This November, SMCISD will be on the ballot for a Voter-Approval Tax Rate, also known as a VATRE. If approved, the VATRE will generate a net of $2.8 million in additional funds. The additional funds will continue to support competitive salaries for teachers, instructional materials for SMCISD students, and enhanced safety equipment across San Marcos CISD. In preparation for the election, the SMCISD Maintenance team installed 15 banners throughout the district and community. We thank you all for the work you do behind the scenes to keep our environment safe, clean, and functioning smoothly. Your dedication and attention to detail often go unnoticed, but we truly appreciate the countless hours you invest in maintaining and enhancing our facilities.

A community meetings are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, October 22 at San Marcos High School from 5:30-6:30 PM. For more information, please visit smcisd.net/vatre24.