Week of August 22, 2016 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL p.2 Like mother, like daughter - p.3 SA YES visits Gillette - p.4 Summer Graduation - p.5
HARLANDALE ISD KICKS-OFF NEW SCHOOL YEAR Summer break came to an end Monday morning as school buses and cars filled with wide-eyed students pulled up to Harlandale ISD campuses for the first day of school. The rainy morning weather didn t dampen the day as teachers and administrators were on hand to greet students with umbrellas. Once inside, the halls of schools across Harlandale ISD were bustling with activity. Some students ran to reunite with friends, while others were excited to see old teachers. Harlandale ISD s youngest students, however, tightly held on to their parents. Some were able to keep their emotions together, while others broke down into a sea of tears. They weren t the only ones crying though. Teary-eyed parents were seen lingering behind and peeking through closed-doors to make sure their little ones were going to be okay. Teachers did their best to comfort their crying students and soon enough the youngsters were making new friends. On the other hand, older students were pumped to be back in school. They sported new back packs, sneakers and fresh hair-cuts to kickoff another great school year. Now that all 15,000 students and 2,000 staff members are back on board, Harlandale ISD is ready to reach new heights. p.2
LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Harlandale ISD Gifted and Talented Middle School Teacher Ms. Maria Esparza changed her life through the power of education, and now her daughter, Elizabeth Ellie Herrera, is following in her footsteps. Herrera graduated third in her class from Harlandale High School in 2015 and is currently an aspiring teacher in her second year at Palo Alto College. Her unwavering dedication to school recently earned her the 2+2 STEM Teacher Scholarship from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas. The scholarship will fund her associate s degree at Palo Alto College as well as her bachelor s and teacher certification at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. When I found out that I was going to be a recipient of this scholarship, I was ecstatic and full of joy, Herrera said. I immediately called my mother, the person who has had my back throughout all these years. Growing up, Herrera saw her mother change her life by gaining a college education. Esparza was a stay at home mom when Herrera was younger, but her desire to give her children a better future led her to Palo Alto College. Soon enough, Esparza earned a bachelor s degree from Texas A&M San Antonio and became an elementary teacher. Her hunger for education, however, didn t stop there. While teaching, she attended graduate school at UTSA and earned a master s degree. Esparza is currently celebrating her eleventh year as an educator. Seeing her overcome the odds and all the struggles shows me that I can achieve anything I want no matter how bumpy the road is to get there, Herrera said. Upon graduation, Herrera hopes to become a high school math teacher for Harlandale ISD. p.3
SA YES Visits Gillette Elementary The San Antonio Youth Educational Support (SA YES) foundation visited Gillette Elementary on Aug. 25 to distribute school supplies to the students. Each year, SA YES selects numerous elementary schools in South Texas and supplies every student in those schools with a free packet of school supplies. Since 1998, SA YES has provided over 200,000 students with free school supplies. Along with the SA YES foundation members H-E-Buddy visited the school to wish the students good luck in the coming school year. Film School brings home awards Film School of San Antonio at Harlandale 2016 graduate Drew Garces had a successful summer. He won first place in comedy in the San Antonio Neighborhood Film Competition for his film Taco Run, which he produced at the HHS Film School. The award included a $2,000 prize, which will be beneficial this fall as he attends the School of Visual Arts in New York. Garces was also a recipient of the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists Scholarship. Way to go, Drew! p.4
Harlandale ISD celebrates summer graduation The excitement was palpable at the McCollum High School auditorium as Harlandale ISD summer graduates prepared to walk the stage on Aug. 24. When Harlandale ISD Superintendent Mr. Rey Madrigal accepted the candidates, the audience erupted into celebratory cheers. It was time to present the diplomas. Proud family members, friends, teachers, counselors, principals and other district representatives showed their support with loud cheers and claps when the 10 graduates donned in caps and gowns walked down the aisle to the traditional Pomp in Circumstance. One by one, each candidates shook hands with their principal, received their diploma and posed for a photo. To kick-off the ceremony, Harlandale ISD Board of Trustees Secretary Mr. Ricardo Moreno delivered a congratulatory message to the graduates and wished them the best of luck. Frank Tejeda Principal Mr. Ricardo Salmon, Harlandale High School Principal Mr. Fred Anthony and McCollum High School Principal Mr. Jacob Garcia were all present to certify the candidates. For each of them, the journey was different, but they all made it. McCollum High School graduate Liliana Medina moved to San Antonio from Mexico five years ago. Learning English and tackling all of her school coursework was overwhelming, but it wasn t anything a summer class couldn t fix. I m so excited and proud that I finally did it! Medina exclaimed. Congratulations to all of the graduates! p.5
Sweet Summer time in Har landale ISD p.6