SAISD SPOTLIGHT:  Student rock band “Within” to perform at national conference
 
"Within," a veteran band in the ALA/CAST Tech/Fox Tech Modern Band program, has been selected to perform at the Association for Popular Music Educators' national conference at the University of Memphis in June 2025. It is a new highlight for the young group that was formed three years ago when the district Modern Rock program was first offered to SAISD students.

The group, which consists of ALA students - senior Viviana Villanueva and juniors Marissa Esparza, Kathleen Juarez, and Evan Bohmann - has been playing gigs at local venues including Tandem and The Rock Box. Now they are currently raising funds for their upcoming trip to Memphis. Within is doing this by scheduling more show dates, including one this week on Thursday, Feb. 13 at the Josephine Theater (see below).
 
Calendar items? 

Feb. 8 (Sat) – 3rd annual Black History Month Scholastic Chess Tournament
9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sam Houston High School, 4635 E. Houston St., 78220
The 3rd Annual Black History Month Scholastic Tournament brings together the brightest young chess minds in the area. This is a classic chess tournament, with five rounds of competition with a focus on Black History Month. Last year more than 200 students from grades K-12 competed from all over the region. The event is hosted by the SAISD Gifted and Talented Department.

Feb. 13 (Thurs) – SAISD student band “Within” at the Josephine Theater 
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., 339 W. Josephine St., 78212
“Within,” a student rock band from the Modern Rock program at ALA/CAST Tech/Fox Tech, will take the stage at the historic Josephine Theater with two other groups. The four members of Within are ALA students who have been in the Modern Rock program since its inception three years ago.