February 2026 Parent Newsletter

The 2026-2027 Student Ambassador Application is open. Northside ISD is seeking passionate students eager to lead, represent, and make a difference in their schools and community. This program provides a unique opportunity to amplify student voices, develop leadership skills, and contribute to meaningful initiatives. The Student Ambassador program is open to students who will be juniors and seniors during the 2026-27 school year. Applications close on March 23. To apply and for more information, click here. 

College Readiness Exams to be given on April 1st

On Wednesday, April 1, Northside ISD high school campuses will administer college readiness exams to all NISD-enrolled 11th-grade students. There is no fee to participate. View the following flyers to see the kinds of tests available. Have your child talk to their counselor to choose the test that best fits their plans. 

A Shared Commitment: Protecting Student Privacy at Northside ISD

At Northside ISD, safeguarding our students' personal information is a top priority. We believe that data privacy is a shared responsibility between the district, our staff, and our families.

🛡️ Staff as "Digital Guardians."

Our educators act as the first line of defense in the classroom. By embracing the role of a Digital Guardian, staff members follow systematic habits to protect district data:

• Secure Storage: Staff are trained on where to store sensitive files.
• Safeguarding PII: Educators intentionally protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII)—such as student IDs and grades—to ensure compliance with federal laws, such as FERPA.
• Intentional Sharing: When sensitive files must be shared, staff use a strict process to send passwords separately from the protected documents.

🤝 How the District Protects Your Student

Beyond classroom practices, Northside ISD employs strategic, programmatic measures to ensure a secure learning environment:

What are Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs)? DPAs are legal contracts between NISD and third-party vendors (like app developers) that clearly outline:

• Data Collection: What information is gathered, and the educational reason for it.
• Data Usage: How the vendor is permitted to use the information for educational purposes.
• Security Measures: The specific protections in place to prevent unauthorized access.

Our Commitment to You:

• Strict Vendor Selection: We partner only with vendors that prioritize student privacy.
• Systematic Audits: We conduct regular reviews to ensure vendors remain compliant with our privacy terms.
• Ongoing Education: We provide continuous training to staff on data privacy best practices to keep our digital fortress strong.

To learn more about how we work together to protect our students, visit nisd.net/district/technology.

If you are wondering what's for dinner, you might want to stop by the ASTA General Store to pick up something.

The Agriculture and Science and Technology Academy (ASTA) opened a public-facing general store operated and stocked entirely by students. Housed in a new, state-of-the-art facility, the program allows students to experience the full farm-to-table process, from livestock processing to packaging and retail sales. 

Students in the Food Science Lab will process and prepare products for sale, including steaks, ribs, sausage, and jalapeño poppers. Other student projects available for purchase include eggs, quail eggs, salsas, jams, flowers, and candles.

The ASTA General Store will be open to the public Monday through Wednesday next week from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and beginning in February on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. (depending on school holidays and campus events). 

Chief Richard Palomo marks new era for NISD Police Department

Chief Richard Palomo, the new Chief of Police in Northside ISD, is already making his mark with several new initiatives, including a swearing-in and pinning ceremony held this week, along with the debut of the NISD Police Department Honor Guard. 

Seven new police officers were sworn in, and two officers received their promotional badges in a formal ceremony, a first for NISD. Family members were included in this special ceremony, and many outside agencies and district officials attended. 

“This is the beginning of a new era in Northside ISD,” Chief Richard Palomo said. “When I came in three weeks ago, I told these police officers that we were going to make Northside ISD the premier school ISD Police Department in the State – and that starts today.” 

“I am big on networking and removing barriers to communications,” he said. “So, moving forward, you will see more collaboration, communication, transparency, and community engagement.”

Click here for a quick video message from Chief Palomo. 

NOTE: The NISD Police Department has committed to take "the plunge" on Feb. 21 at Boerne Lake alongside other local law enforcement agencies in support of Special Olympics. If you would like to support our police officers in their chilly efforts, click here.   Thank you for your continued support of our officers and for helping to support our local Special Olympians. 

Parent volunteer saves life of Ott ES student

John Gomez, a devoted parent volunteer at Ott ES, is the latest recipient of the Northside Citizenship Award, marking the 25th time since 1999 this high district honor has been presented. 

The prestigious award was established to recognize individuals or groups whose actions go above and beyond, making a meaningful impact on the NISD community. Past recipients include students, staff, and volunteers whose quick thinking and selflessness saved lives and helped others in moments of crisis.

While helping in the cafeteria, Mr. Gomez noticed students urgently calling for help. A fourth-grade student was choking and unable to breathe. Without hesitation, Mr. Gomez rushed in and performed the Heimlich maneuver, quickly clearing the obstruction and saving the student’s life.

As the student began breathing again, the cafeteria erupted in applause, thankful that their friend was safe. We are thankful for Mr. Gomez and parent volunteers like him who continue to show the Northside Unstoppable attitude. 

Northside ISD boasts 10 high schools designated as Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Roll Campuses. 

They are Brandeis, Brennan, Clark, Harlan, Health Careers, Holmes, Jay, O’Connor, Sotomayor, and Taft high schools.  

Of special note, Harlan, Holmes, and Taft high schools achieved the “Gold” Honor Roll status, signifying strong AP program results. Gold Status Criteria includes 65% or more of the graduating seniors took at least one AP Exam; 35% or more of graduating seniors scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam; and 10% or more of graduating seniors took five or more AP Exams with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade. 

Click here for more information.

Marshall High School celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Nineteen-fifty was a pivotal year marked by the start of the Korean War, the debut of the Peanuts comic strip, and most importantly, the beginning of Northside High School (now Marshall High School). 

Staff, students, alumni, and former administrators gathered for a 75th Anniversary Celebration. A highlight of the event was a student performance highlighting all the construction the campus has undergone and is currently undergoing. Five former principals attended the celebration. 

Click on images to enlarge.