In this issue:
On the cover: The Northside Education Foundation (NEF) 5K Run/Walk is always a highlight of the year, with hundreds of people coming out to support NEF and have fun at the same time. Over the years it has become a family affair, as shown by Rawlinson Middle School (pictured). The annual 5K is one of the largest fundraisers for the Foundation. Pictures from the event can be found here.
Drip by Drip: Raba Students Make Every Drop Count
Stephanie Griego, a first-grade teacher at Raba ES, and her students Emily, Finley, Lilly, Thomas, Xiomara, Olivia, Serenity, Gigi, Jesse, Mason, and Alexa were awarded a Student Innovation Grant totaling $741.18 for their project, Raba Needs Water.
The team is designing a drip irrigation system for the campus garden that is projected to conserve approximately 1,820 gallons of water each year. Their work began with a simple but powerful question: how much water are we using, and how much is being wasted?
Students took a hands-on approach to answering it. They measured water flow by timing how long it took to fill a five-gallon bucket using a hose, researched the weekly water needs of a garden of their size, and compared those findings to the efficiency of a drip irrigation system. They then extended their investigation further by reviewing local water utility rates, including drought surcharges, and calculating estimated annual cost savings step by step.
For an after-school elementary team, the depth of this work stands out. It reflects authentic STEM learning in action—students gathering data, conducting research, and applying mathematical reasoning to a real-world challenge they identified themselves.
“We have been impressed with how seriously this team approached the work,” said Elizabeth Harper, Senior Program Manager at EcoRise. “They did not guess. They measured, researched, and reasoned through a solution. Their hand-drawn graph comparing water output from a hose versus a drip system over time is exactly the kind of student work we are proud to support.”
HELPFUL RESOURCES
2025-2026 Student Device Collection: Staff Guidelines
It is almost time for our annual student device collection! To support our Technology Support Specialists (TSS) and ensure our inventory is ready for next year’s distribution, please review the collection procedures.
As a reminder, High Schools remain in a 1:1 environment, while Elementary and Middle Schools are now utilizing a classroom cart model.
Collection Priorities by Grade Level
- High Schools: All students must turn in their individually assigned Chromebooks and chargers before the last day of school.
- Elementary & Middle Schools: TSS will collect devices by collecting carts from classrooms. However, if you have students who were issued a "loaner device" for home use, please ensure they bring the device and charger to school for collection.
Staff Action Items: Preparing Your Students
To ensure a quick and efficient collection, please assist your students with the following tasks before your scheduled collection date:
Pre-Collection Checklist:
- Charger Cables: Neatly roll up all chargers.
- Decals/Stickers: Remove all non-NISD stickers, labels, or personal decorations.
- Sanitize: Clean the device surfaces (see Cleaning a Device: Do’s and Don’ts).
- Power: Ideally, students should return their devices fully charged.
- Damage Check: Have students check for damage and report damage to TSS.
On the Day of Collection:
- Power On: Have devices powered on before the TSS arrives.
- Report: Make TSS aware of any damage or missing equipment.
- Log Out: Ensure students have fully logged out of their NISD accounts.
Maintenance & Damage
Do not wait until collection day to report damage! If a student has a broken or malfunctioning device, please send it to your campus TSS immediately so the repair process can begin before the summer rush.
Note: Specific collection times and campus-specific locations will be shared by your campus admin team. Thank you for your help in protecting our district technology!
Transition from Frontline to SameGoal
This summer, we will be adopting a new system to document special programs such as SE, 504, EB, LPAC, and HB 1416. Currently we use Frontline for this and in the upcoming school year we will be using SameGoal. For a sneak peek at the SameGoal system and its capabilities, watch this video.
During this transition, we will be moving all archived plans from Frontline to SameGoal this summer. Here are a few important upcoming dates to be aware of in this transition:
- June 29 - Last day to access Frontline.
- June 30 - All users no longer have Frontline access. A few select users per campus will retain access, including the campus administrator and SE Coordinator.
- July 20* - SameGoal accounts are active, and the icon is loaded to the NISD portals. Note: Archived student plans from Frontline WILL NOT be available in SameGoal as of this date.
- Aug 3* - Archived plans from Frontline available in SameGoal.
Aug - In the first week, teachers return; an introduction to SameGoal and a training course will be provided.
*Note: Tentative dates
For additional details, click here. For information on SameGoal training and support, visit the support site located in the Instructional Systems HUB.
Save your CMS Assessments
Assessments, such as CCAs and unit assessments that were created and administered in CMS this school year, are associated with your current campus. When a teacher moves to a new campus, the assessments are no longer accessible. To access them at your new campus, you will need to create a copy of each assessment, making sure they are categorized as My Assessment and left in Private Draft Mode. For instructions, click here. This resource is also available on the CMS Support Site available on the HUB. For a listing of previous Schoolnet articles, click here.
CELEBRATIONS
NISD Artists Dominate Congressional Art Competition
It was a clean sweep by our talented NISD art students who captured the top three places in the 20th Congressional District Art Competition. This prestigious national event celebrates the country’s top high school artists, and our students officially swept the top spots.
Kimberly Campbell, a senior at Brandeis HS, earned First Place for her charcoal drawing, "Sibling Beginnings." Her achievement includes a cash prize and a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet members of Congress. Most impressively, her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year.
Daniela Vargas, a senior at Brandeis HS, received Second Place for her oil painting, "Mal de Ojo." Layla Vigil, an 11th grader at Communications Arts HS, earned third place for her photograph titled “Working Class Hero.” Their artwork will be displayed for the year in Congressman Joaquin Castro’s Washington, D.C. office.
Congratulations to these talented students on their incredible national success!
art
art
art
AROUND THE DISTRICT
STEM teacher honored at EXCEL Awards
Karen Conner, a STEM teacher at Kuentz and Los Reyes elementary schools, was honored alongside 18 other educators from across Bexar County as a recipient of the 2025–26 EXCEL Award. Sponsored by KENS 5 and Credit Human, the annual end-of-year banquet celebrates teachers’ outstanding impact both in the classroom and beyond.
More information about the EXCEL Awards, including videos highlighting each honoree, is available here. (Pictured with Karen Conner is a representative from KENS 5 and Credit Human.)
PERKS OF THE WEEK
A Sweet Celebration for Teacher Appreciation Week
In honor of the incredible work you do every day for our Northside ISD community, we have a special treat for you! Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating our teachers with a free Bundlet at select locations.
- The Treat: One free Bundlet.
- Where: Northwest, La Cantera, West, and Westover locations.
- How: Simply present the coupon linked HERE.
Deadline: Offer expires May 21, 2026.
Honoring Texas Educators: Teacher Appreciation Week at SA Zoo
The San Antonio Zoo is proud to celebrate our educators during Teacher Appreciation Week. Through Sunday, May 10, all Texas teachers will receive complimentary Standard Admission to the zoo. To make it a family affair, they are also offering 50% off Any Day Tickets for up to four additional guests when purchased on the day of the visit.
To qualify, provide your driver's license and a NISD badge or a copy of your teaching certificate. Click here to get the offer and for more information.
GRANT OF THE WEEK
Karma for Cara Microgrants
The Karma for Cara (K4C) Microgrant Program offers microgrants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to support young citizen leaders (age 18 and under) in executing and expanding their initiatives to improve the world. Click here to apply or contact The Grants & Recognitions Dept. at 210-397-8563. Deadline is July 1.
VIDEO MOMENT
Pausing for Paws of Excellence Awards
The Month of May tends to be full of awards ceremonies, and Stories of Northside Host David Norris found a big one happening on the Krueger Elementary School campus called the Paws of Excellence Awards. Take a look at this meaningful event.
UPCOMING EVENTS
