SAISD SPOTLIGHT: ?Highlands High School Drum Major Ben Mendez can speak to the thrill of taking part in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City for the second year in a row.
Ben Mendez is the drum major and plays trombone at Highlands High School. For the second straight year, Mendez was selected to play in this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as part of the Great American Marching Band.?High school musicians from around the country are chosen to make the ultimate holiday trip for a band member. Highlands High School Band Director David Torch says Mendez is blessed with “God given talent.”
Calendar items??
Nov. 18 (Mon) – San Antonio Book Festival Author Field Trip
10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., Alamo Stadium, 110 Tuleta Drive, 78212
The San Antonio Book Festival is sponsoring another field trip for SAISD (and Edgewood ISD) students. This time 1200 students are going to the Majestic (600 from each district) to hear author Lincoln Peirce of the BIG NATE and MAX series. Students will receive a copy of a Big Nate book and hear about writing and stories from the author. SAISD students and staff from Irving and Longfellow will enjoy an engaging author talk with a beloved writer.
Nov. 18 (Mon) – SAISD Board Meeting
5:30 p.m., SAISD Board Room,?514 W. Quincy St., 78212?or online
Link:?https://www.saisd.net/page/dis-board-videos
The SAISD Board of Trustees will hold its regularly scheduled meeting at the central administrative office. Whittier Middle School is inviting veterans to join the annual campus parade to honor and celebrate the service of all men and women in uniform.
Nov. 19 (Tues) to Nov. 21 (Thurs) – SAISD Spanish Spelling Bee
8:30 a.m. to Noon, Twain Dual Language Academy, 2411 San Pedro Ave., 78212
SAISD is hosting its famous Spanish Spelling Bee over three days at Twain Dual Language Academy. Spelling in Spanish proficiently will be onstage for the three days, as the district crowns winners in Elementary, Middle School and High School categories.
Nov. 19 (Tues) – Burbank High School “Ag in the City” farm experience
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Burbank High School, 1002 Edwards St., 78204
This is always a fun day on the school calendar. Agriculture science students at Burbank High School will host their younger student counterparts at the Burbank Farm for “Ag in the City.” The high school students have spent the last few months planting and rearing livestock in preparation for this event, which is bringing 1,600 elementary school students this week, 550 of them on Tuesday, for a day of science learning. Students will rotate throughout the day and participate in activities like planting seeds, making butter and ice cream, exploring science careers in agriculture and horticulture, and getting a close-up look at farm animals, and will have the opportunity to touch the goats, sheep, pigs and rabbits, many of which are still babies. They will also explore horticulture, food sciences, ag mechanics, and tractor safety, and leave with a book of facts and an experience that could lead them to a greater appreciation for where their food comes from.
Nov. 19 (Tues) – Highland Hills Elementary Family Picnic
11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Highland Hills Elementary, 734 Glamis Ave., 78223
Highland Hills Elementary will be using this outdoor space on campus one last time as a final goodbye to the playing fields before new construction begins early next year. The campus invites all Highland Hills Elementary community to this family style picnic during lunch periods.
Nov. 20 (Wed) – SAISD Thanksgiving Food Distribution
9 a.m. to Noon, SAISD Sports Complex, 1000 Edwards St., 78204
San Antonio ISD is hosting its largest food distribution of the year yet. Together with the San Antonio Food Bank, SAISD is providing supplemental nutritional food resources and books to 1,000 families who have already been invited to this Holiday Mega Food Distribution.
Nov. 20 (Wed) – Lanier High School Perfect Attendance Laptop Giveway
6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Lanier High School, 1514 W. Cesar Chavez Blvd., 78207
SAISD is teaming up with Compudot to award Lanier High School students with a FREE Chromebook for achieving perfect attendance in the first nine weeks of the school year. More than 250 Lanier students will walk away with a new computer just for showing up to school every day.
Nov. 21 (Thurs) – Green Elementary at Riverside National Park Blue Ribbon Celebration
12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Green Elementary at Riverside Park, 202 School St., 78210
Green Elementary at Riverside Park was the only school in Bexar County to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award this year, and one of only 31 in the entire state of Texas. The campus is formally celebrating the achievement with a huge pep rally with Superintendent Dr. Jaime Aquino and Principal Jennifer Soto.
Nov. 22 (Fri) – Collins Garden Elementary annual Turkey Run
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Collin Gardens Park, 1525 Nogalitos St, 78204
The annual Collins Garden Elementary Turkey Run promotes a healthy lifestyle for the student during the holiday. ?Exercise can positively impact social-emotional development.