In this issue:
On the cover: Student-athletes from Franklin Elementary were ready to participate in Special Olympics, along with hundreds of students from across the District. For additional pictures from Special Olympics, click here.
Happy National Public Schools Week!
From February 23–27, we’re proud to join schools, districts, educators, families, and public education advocates nationwide in celebrating Public Schools Week 2026 (#PSW26).
This year’s theme—“Building Stronger, Fairer, and More Resilient Public Education Systems”—highlights the essential role public schools play in strengthening communities, expanding opportunity, and preparing every learner to thrive.
Nominate your Outstanding Partner of the Year!
Help Northside ISD celebrate the businesses and community leaders who go above and beyond. Every nominee will receive a special gift and an invitation to our spectacular recognition event in April.
- Deadline: March 20
- Need help? Whether you’re unsure about eligibility or want tips on writing a winning nomination, the Partnerships Department is here to help.
- Contact: Call (210) 397-8599 or email norma.rabago@nisd.net.
Submit your nomination here today and let’s give our partners the spotlight they deserve!
HELPFUL RESOURCES
New in Google Docs: Listen to your Document Summaries
We are excited to introduce a brand-new, Gemini-powered feature in Google Docs designed to boost staff efficiency: Audio Summaries. This tool is set to help our team save time and process information more effectively.
In a busy school day, finding time to read through lengthy reports, meeting minutes, or multi-tabbed project documents can be challenging. With this new update, you can now listen to a brief, natural-sounding verbal synopsis of your document’s most important points.
How It Works:
- Quick Catch-Up: Simply go to the Tools menu and select "Listen to document summary." Gemini will generate a short audio overview (typically under a few minutes) that covers the highlights of your content, even across multiple tabs.
- Personalized Voices: You can choose a voice that fits your preference, with options like Narrator, Coach, or Persuader.
- Custom Playback: Just like a podcast, you can adjust the playback speed to suit your learning style or to get through the information even faster.
Whether you are catching up on notes while setting up your classroom or reviewing a report during a quick break, audio summaries allow you to get the "big picture" without being tied to your screen.
Breaking News: New Way to Assign Google Material to Students
Starting next school year, Google Assignments will be created using a new process. Google has released an updated Schoology app called Google Assignments, which all Schoology customers will adopt. This new app will be turned on after Spring Break, so you can begin exploring and using it. Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, this will be the new way for assigning Google work in Schoology, as the previous app will be retired. Here are some resources to assist you in this transition.
| Initially Connecting the Google Assignment App in Schoology Video | (Clicksheet) |
| Creating a Google Assignment Video | (Clicksheet) |
| Students Opening Google Assignments Video |
No Clicksheet |
This will be the new app you will see when creating Google Assignments. If there are any questions, please reach out to: continuous.improvement@nisd.net
End of Cycle 3 in Schoology
With the grading period ending soon, there are several timely items.
- Course linking and Combining will be available in Schoology from March 2-6. Procedures for Linking and Combining can be found here.
- Cycle 4 courses will be opened to make them accessible to teachers after 5pm on March 6.
- Use Bulk Edit to review assignment categories, due dates, marking period, and sync status in the Schoology Gradebook.Directions for Using Bulk Edit can be found here.
This resource is also available on the Schoology Support site available on the HUB.
AROUND THE DISTRICT
Congratulations to Northside School District’s 210 campus first-year and veteran educators of the year for the 2025-2026 school year.
They will be recognized at two special celebrations in their honor, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Northside Sports Gym. Family, friends, and coworkers are invited to attend the events. For those who cannot be there, each celebration will be webcast live here, per the following schedule.
- Elementary First-Year and Veteran Educators of the Year – Wednesday, March 25
- Secondary First-Year and Veteran Educators of the Year – Thursday, March 26
Hooked on learning: Raba Fishing Club nets fun and attention
Raba Elementary School may be far from a pond or lake, but did you know they had a Fishing Club?
The program launched with 10 fourth-grade participants and kicked off with an off-campus gathering at Miller’s Pond that drew a strong turnout from friends and families. Through club activities, students have learned about different fishing rods and lures, Texas native species, conservation practices, and strategies for targeting stocked trout during the winter season. They also put their creativity to work by designing their own lures.
The students’ efforts gained attention on social media from two San Antonio lure manufacturers, leading to an invitation to showcase their collaborations and casting skills in an interactive exhibit at the San Antonio Rodeo Youth Day. The club is sponsored by 4th-grade teacher Anthony Soler and PE Coach Derek Scherf.
fishing pix
fishing pix
fishing pix
Car wash makes a splash for NISD employee
To celebrate the grand opening of its new Babcock Road location, Quick Quack Car Wash hosted a special fundraiser on Feb. 16, raising $4,500 for Pamela Torres and her family. The check was presented during the Feb. 17 ribbon-cutting ceremony, made possible through generous community donations and a corporate match. We are deeply grateful for their outstanding partnership and commitment to our families.
Torres’ journey is one of resilience and hope. Once an NISD parent in our NISD Connections program experiencing homelessness, she was hired by the District in September 2025 to manage Northside Threads. That opportunity helped her move from living in her car to staying in a hotel. Thanks to the funds raised, she is now able to apply for an apartment, bringing her family one step closer to lasting stability and a place to truly call home.
PERK OF THE WEEK
A night with the Spurs!
The San Antonio Spurs want to celebrate you for the incredible work you do every day. Join them for School Employee Appreciation Night on March 5 as they take on the Detroit Pistons!
When: March 5 @ 7 p.m.
Where: Frost Bank Center
The Perk: Discounted tickets and an exclusive Spurs Employee crewneck t-shirt.
GRANT OF THE WEEK
Grant program brings pets into the classroom
The Pets in the Classroom grant program supports Pre-K through 12th-grade teachers in enhancing students’ educational and personal development through classroom pet interactions. Click here to apply or contact the Grants Dept. at 210-397-8563. Deadline is May 1, 2026.
Click on graphic to enlarge.
United Way
public school week
national FFA week
Pilar Nominations
child care
partner of the year
