LISD E-Newsletter

September 17, 2021

Admin Alley

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month September 15- October 15, 2021

 Every year from September 15 to October 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by appreciating the community’s history, heritage, and contributions of the ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South- and Central America. 

Hispanic Heritage Month originally started with one week of commemoration when it was first introduced by Congressman George E. Brown in June 1968. With the civil rights movement, the need to recognize the contributions of the Latin community gained traction in the 1960s. Awareness of the multicultural groups living in the United States was also gradually growing. 

Two heavily Latinx and Hispanic populated areas, the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles, were represented by Brown. His aim was to recognize the integral roles of these communities in American history. Observation of Hispanic Heritage Week started in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson and was later extended to a 30-day celebration by President Ronald Reagan, starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law via approval of Public Law 100-402 on August 17, 1988. 

September 15 is set as the starting date for the month as it is important for many reasons. It is the independence anniversary for Latin American countries El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. From here onwards, the independence days of Mexico and Chile fall on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Dia de la Raza or Columbus Day also falls within this month, on October 12.

Hispanic Americans have been integral to the prosperity of the U.S. Their contributions to the nation are immeasurable, and they embody the best of American values. The Hispanic-American community has left an indelible mark on the U.S. culture and economy.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH TIMELINE

1777 – Fighting for Freedom

The Spanish governor of Louisiana, Bernardo de Gálvez, joins General George Washington's fight against British soldiers and helps win independence.

1845 – Texas Becomes a U.S. State

Texas joins the Union as the 28th state — Mexico had controlled the territory until 1836 when Texas won its independence.

1945 – Brothers in Arms

Over 300,000 Latinos enlist in the American military and fight in World War II.

1960s – Calls for Recognition

The push to recognize the Latinx community gains momentum when the civil rights movement is at its peak.

June 1968- Hispanic Heritage Week

California Congressman George E. Brown introduces Hispanic Heritage Week.

1988 – Month Established

Hispanic Heritage Week is first observed under President Lyndon B. Johnson, but it is Ronald Reagan who extends it to a month-long celebration.

July 1, 2019 – Largest Minority

The Hispanic population of the United States totals 60.6 million people, making it the largest ethnic minority.

2020 – Highlighting Hispanic Employees

The U.S. Department of State highlights biographies of outstanding Hispanic employees who support diplomatic efforts around the world.

 

Source: HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH --September 2021 | National Today

Around the District

Staff Zumba kicked off this week with sweat, laughter, and a lot of fun!  Thank you all who participated and we hope to see more next time!

Click here for the full document

Volunteer and Parent Engagement Opportunities

 

Lackland ISD strongly desires parent participation in decision-making committees. You have an opportunity to share your voice and 
help us actualize our vision as The Premier leader in educational excellence. As you engage as a parent, we also invite your 
participation in campus and district-level committees. Below are the descriptions for these committees for your consideration. Each 
committee’s point of contact is listed with the committee description if you have additional questions. 
Please read each description and let us know if you are interested in supporting the committee or learning more about it. 

 

Click Here for all of the committee information! 

FREE LUNCH & BREAKFAST

FOR ALL LISD STUDENTS DURING THE 2021-2022 SY

LISD students will receive free lunch and breakfast meals during the 2021- 2022 school year with special funding authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture.  For meals to be free for students, they must be compliant with USDA regulations.  Second meals and a la carte items are available for purchase.

Research shows students learn better when they are well nourished.  Healthy eating has been linked to higher grades, better memory, more alertness, faster information processing, and improved health leading to better school attendance.

We encourage our students to join us for well-balanced, free meals in one of our cafeterias every school day. Menus are available online at: https://www.lacklandisd.net/departments/operations/child-nutrition-services.

 

*More Information

Job Opportunities!

Lackland Independent School District is looking for…

 

*Elementary, Middle School and High School Substitutes

*Substitute Nurses

*Elementary Cafeteria Monitors

*Elementary Cafeteria Monitor/cross-walk

*Bus Drivers

*Custodians

Click on the link to apply https://www.applitrack.com/lacklandisd/onlineapp/default.aspx

Stacey Happenings

Mrs. Baltazar's 10th grade ELA classes spent this week analyzing children's story books to study characterization, tone, and theme.  They put what they learned onto posters highlighting their knowledge and creativity.

A Freshman’s Perspective On the Transition to High School

By: Helena Sawvel, Senior

Meet Christian Cunningham, a freshman here at Virginia Allred Stacey Junior-Senior High School. Christian has just started his second year at Stacey, after moving from Misawa Air Force Base in Japan to San Antonio back in the summer of 2020. He is on the cross country team, and a member of the high school student council, and just like any other kid, loves listening to music and learning about the world. He certainly has a lot to juggle on his plate, with coursework coming from the following classes: AP Human Geography, Algebra ll (this class is typically a class for juniors, so Christian is already two years ahead in math), Biology, English l, Professional Communications/Health, Band, Animation I, and online Russian l.

 

Here is a Q&A based on Christian’s thoughts on high school:

 

What is the most significant thing that is different about high school compared to junior high?

“The most apparent thing I would say about becoming a high schooler is that you have more responsibility. Each of your classes expect more from you, and you need to learn to manage your time so you can deal with this. Also if you were in middle school here at Stacey and you’re going into high school (as I was), you will have very few or none of the same teachers you had in middle school.”

 

What are your favorite and least favorite classes?

“Ms. Brock’s band class is one of my favorite classes, as well as Ms. Loewenstein’s AP Human Geography. [My least favorite classes are] probably Algebra ll and Biology because they have a lot of homework and I tend to prefer English/history classes anyways.”

 

Are you excited about high school? Why or why not?

“I suppose whether I’m excited or not, high school is here. There are some things that are not exciting, and some things I suppose that I can look forward to, but if I were to give a yes or a no, I would probably say that I am excited.”

 

What is one thing about high school that you are worried about, and how do you think you will overcome that worry?

“I would probably say that I am worried about being overwhelmed with homework or studying, but I think that will probably get better as I get more practice dealing with high school classes and better at managing my time.”

 

What is taking an AP class like, and what advice do you have for future freshmen willing to take an AP class their first year of high school?

“AP classes seem scary at first, and they can be, but once you get used to them they can be fairly manageable. I’m taking AP Human Geography, and I have to remember to spend extra time studying and prioritize homework for that class. The main thing about AP classes in my opinion is that they aren’t necessarily any more academically challenging than normal classes, but they demand more effort.”

 

What are your future plans for once you graduate high school, and what kind of steps do you think you are going to take to achieve that goal while in high school?

“When I graduate from high school, I’m planning on going to college and getting a degree. In order to get in to a competitive school, I will have to make sure that I spend extra time studying to get good grades, participate in extracurriculars, and try to avoid burnout.”

 

Thank you for letting me interview you, Christian!

On August 3, 1492, Columbus set out on an adventurous voyage with three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, and enough supplies to last for six months.  His crew urged him to turn around after a few months.  He kept two sets of ship diaries....a secret one with the real distances traveled and another with shorter distances (to convince his crew they were just...moving...very...slowly).  Finally, in October, they saw land!!!  They went ashore in the Bahamas, on an island they named San Salvador, or "Holy Savior".  Columbus made three more voyages in search of gold and tobacco and explored Hispaniola (the island of present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Cuba, Jamaica, and the coasts of Central and South America. 

 

Columbus and his crew thought they were in the Indies in Asia, and this is why the Caribbean Islands are called the WEST Indies, and why Native Americans were called Indians. 

 

 

Pam Torre

Social Studies Teacher

Bldg. 8244 Room 4404

 

"No one rises to low expectations"

Meet Mrs.McCray!

by: Hannah Darity, sophomore

The new 3rd grade teacher at Lackland Elementary recently moved here from Arizona.  Mrs. Patricia McCray is ecstatic to begin her second career path in education. She has two children in the Lackland school system (at Stacey). I am eager to share the inside scoop about her goals, hobbies, and her love for teaching!

 

When and why did you decide to become a teacher?

-I became a teacher later in my career path (2018). I was a nurse for over 15 years. I enjoyed my career and did my job to the highest caliber. I began to feel a sense of stagnancy and knew there was another path awaiting me. In the process of a military move, I decided to take a break from nursing and volunteer at my child’s elementary school. I applied to be a volunteer reading coach. It was the “a ha” moment for me. The satisfaction of children understanding reading strategies and becoming successful with reading was a game changer. This experience solidified my yearning to branch out into the education field.

 

What are your goals for your first year of teaching at Lackland Elementary?

My goals for my first year of teaching at Lackland Elementary is to serve EVERY child. I want to be an educator that brings excitement to learning. I want my students to be excited to come to school. I want to be a teacher that a student may look back on and say, “I remember Mrs. McCray, she was always so positive and happy”. I have those teachers in life and I hope to be one of those teachers for at least ONE of my amazing students.

 

What would be your ideal grade to teach?

My ideal grade to teach “was” Kindergarten. I say this because this is the grade that I was used to. I must say now that I am LOVING 3rd grade. The students are a lot more independent yet still need me as a teacher. I’m loving 3rd grade thus far.

 

What do you think makes you a good teacher?

I feel that I’m a good teacher because I want success for all my students. I take their success personally. If there is a subject or skill that a majority of my students are lacking in, it is my job to rearrange my teaching rubric so that I reach more students.

 

What’s your favorite subject to teach?

My favorite subject to teach is Science. I love experiments. Observing wide eyed students dealing with foam, bubbling materials, and flashing lights, etc. makes me happy inside.  Hands on learning is my favorite.

 

What do you think are the biggest challenges in teaching elementary schoolers?

My biggest challenge in teaching elementary schoolers is staying current.  Trends change so quickly.  Keeping students engaged is key.  Staying current on what’s in the new is very important to keep student engagement at the highest peaks possible.

 

What is most rewarding to you about teaching elementary schoolers?

The most rewarding about teaching elementary schoolers are the moments of true understanding (the “a ha” moments). The smiles that come across when my students are happy to be in my classroom. When I finally reach “that” student who seems “unreachable”. These are the moments that make teaching rewarding for me.

 

Do you have any freedom in curriculum or does the school choose it for you?

I do have freedom in curriculum. Although there may be particular brand of curriculum that is recommended, the style in which it is taught is completely up to me. However, I feel that I can keep my students engaged with the TEKS that are needed. How they are taught is up to me.

 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to exercise, hike and shop.  My family is very important to me as well. I’ll never turn down a mani/pedi!

 

If you weren’t a teacher, what other career would you choose?

Well I already did the nursing route so I would say an interior designer. I love to decorate my surrounding. Hence the shopping hobby. I like to change up my surroundings.

 

THANK You Mrs. McCray!

Elementary Happenings

The 2021-2022 Lackland Elementary Student Council Officers:

Left to right:

Secretary - Lucy Smith, President - Flora Davis,

Vice President - Savannah Pennington

Mrs. Crawford’s class testing objects for electrical conductivity and magnetism. There may have been a few jaws dropping when pennies and aluminum foil were hooked up to the circuits. Students did a great job making hypotheses then testing to see if they were correct.

Mrs. Crawford’s class is practicing their measurement skills by finding the mass and volume of different objects.

After reading The Three Bears, Ms. Heineman’s PreK class designed chairs that were “just right” for Goldilocks!

Pre/K painty hands in elementary art!

Elementary Specials team after school meeting!

*Click here for the full Tiny Dancer permission form

PTSO Spot light 

Good Information

Adapting to Life After COVID

September 21, 2021

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

COVID-19 was not only a health crisis, it was a mental health crisis. Between working from home, losing jobs, schools being closed and the real threat of a deadly pandemic, life got very heavy. While the world will never go back to what it was, hopefully this presentation will help provide the tools to adapt to the ever changing world we find ourselves in. This session is brought to you by James Denning from The Denning Center.

Session ID 78620

 

Understanding Your Child's Present Levels and IEP Goals

September 22, 2021

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

In this session, participants will review the required components in their child's special education Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) statements and Individualized Education Program (IEP) Goals and discuss techniques for working with school personnel to develop appropriate programming for your child.

Session ID 76431

Lackland ISD has incredible Homework Help and Tutoring resources through our Local Public Libraries! 

Both the JBSA Lackland Library and the San Antonio Public Library have great Homework Help resources for grades Kinder–College, and for Parents!

For JBSA Lackland Library, go to https://sites.google.com/view/jbsalibrarieskidsathome
To get a JBSA Lackland Library Card – give them a call at 210-671-3610 from 11AM-4PM Monday-Friday and they can set it up over the phone.
SAPL’s Back to School Website: https://guides.mysapl.org/backtoschool
To get a SAPL Library Card: https://mysapl.ent.sirsi.net/
 

If you have questions or need help, feel free to reach out to your LISD Librarian!

 

SAPL Homework Help

 

JBSA Library Homework help at home

 

Tutor.com for Parents

*Military One Source

 

*Steven A Cohen Military Family Life Clinic at Endeavors

 

*The Ecumenical Center for Education, Counseling and Health

Random Shots

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