May 2016
A monthly newsletter produced by the Communications Department
Greetings from your
Superintendent
Dear Friend,
It’s hard to believe we’ve
come to the end of another
school year. It seems like just
yesterday, we were holding
student orientations and meetthe-teacher nights.
I want to congratulate all of
our graduating students for
a successful year. Some are
moving on to middle school,
others to high schools, and our high school seniors are taking the
ultimate next step as they pursue futures in the workforce, military
and college.
As always, you—our parents—have been an incredible source of
support and feedback. We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Have a wonderful summer, and we look forward to seeing you
again in the fall.
NEISD announces its
2017 Teachers of the Year
North East ISD celebrated the annual Teacher of the Year
Banquet on May 4 at The Club at Sonterra. The timing of
the event was fitting as NEISD, along with the rest of the
nation, celebrated National Teacher Appreciation Week.
The event honored 72 NEISD campus teachers, but only
two teachers would be named District Teachers of the
Year. Haydee Canela of Oak Meadow Elementary School is
this year’s Elementary Teacher of the Year, and W. Patrick
Cunningham of Johnson High School earned Secondary
Teacher of the Year.
“It has been said that teaching is an art, it has been said
that it is a calling, or maybe a passion, I believe it is a
combination of all three,” said Dr. Brian G. Gottardy,
Superintendent of Schools. “Your impact on the future is
truly transformational.”
Sincerely,
Brian G. Gottardy, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
PHOTO OF THE MONTH
Dr. Brian G. Gottardy congratulates Haydee Canela and W. Patrick
Cunningham. Each Teacher of the Year was presented with a plaque,
a book entitled The Simple Truths of Appreciation by Barbara A. Glanz, a
leather-bound journal, NEISD pen, and a check for $100. Full Story.
Connect with NEISD
Like us at: facebook.com/NorthEastISD
Follow us at: twitter.com/neisd
Visit us at: http://www.neisd.net
Read additional news stories and view archived newsletters at:
http://www.neisd.net/ComRel/WebPostings.cfm
Roosevelt PALS and tenth-grade GT English students take part in a science and
math concepts field day at the Pre-K 4 SA center near the campus. Read story.
Please ensure that your contact information is up-to-date and on file at your
child’s school, in order to receive important notifications.
HTIPS
ealth
Protect your skin
DID YOU KNOW?
The North East Parent Academy honored
571 parents at its 15th annual Closing
Session and Recognition Ceremony.
The clouds and rain will eventually dissipate
and leave the scorching summer sun in its
place. Take a few minutes to protect your
skin and help prevent diseases.
•
•
•
•
•
Put on sunscreen with sun protective
factor (SPF) 15 or higher and with both
UVA and UVB protection.
Seek shade and consider wearing a
wide-brimmed hat.
Cover up with clothing and sunglasses.
Avoid using tanning beds and sunlamps.
Put on insect repellent with DEET or
Picaridin to protect from mosquito and
tick bites.
This information is according to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
To learn more about starting your healthy
eating plan click here.
The North East Parent Academy is about building relationships, creating connections, and making a
difference. After dedicating hours of their time to several Family Specialist-led sessions, a recording
breaking 571 parents crossed the stage at Roosevelt High School. Watch video coverage here.
The power of physics learned at NEISD Cardboard Boat Race
Nearly 600 students headed out to the Walker Pool at Blossom
Athletic Center on April 29 to learn about the power of duct tape and
the feeble strength of thin cardboard at this year’s North East ISD
Cardboard Boat Design and Race. Celebrating its 15th year, the sink
or swim speed competition invites high school physics students to
build boats using only cardboard and non-metallic duct tape that can
hold two people. Students are timed as they make their way across
the 50-meter pool in hopes that their boat floats and doesn’t turn
over.
“We want our physics students to apply some problem-solving skills,”
said Wesley Hausenfluke, physics teacher at Reagan High School and
coordinator of the cardboard race. Hausenfluke explained that there
is a long list of things the students must think about in preparation
for the race. “They have to learn things about how deep to make the
boat so it will float, creative ways to make stability, reinforcing the
boat with cardboard only, finding a way to learn how to paddle in the
straight line—a little fluid dynamics—and of course logistics. How do they get the boat here? It might rain on it, they need to find
a way to get here so it doesn’t get wet.”
The students bring plenty of creativity to the boat races. From adding flare to their boat with cardboard attachments and permanent
marker to themed costumes—the students were proud to represent their team and their schools.
NEEF Presents: Softball with the Sequel Financial Group hits the
ground running at NEISD
Superintendent
The North East
Educational
Foundation’s
Softball with the
Superintendent event
was a big hit! It was
the first public event
at the new North East
Sports Park. The game
was purchased by
Pfluger Architects as an
auction item for $6,000
Dr. Brian G. Gottardy, Superintendent of
at the NEEF gala last
Schools, ready to knock the ball out of the park.
February. The friendly
competition included two games of Pfluger and crew versus
Dr. Brian G. Gottardy and NEISD leadership. Tejeda, Hill and
Nimitz middle schools chimed in with great background music
and cheerleaders and mascots from NEISD high schools added
spirit to the event. Chuck Miketinac from Fox 29 San Antonio
and Olympic medalist Cat Osterman pitched the celebrity first
pitches.
Guests were able to donate to the foundation through Big Give
SA, a day of online-giving to benefit local charities, during
the event. Participants were entered into a raffle for an iPad
sponsored by Smith-Kenyon Insurance, and teachers received
free meals sponsored by RBFCU (Randolph-Brooks Federal Credit
Union) in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week. The night was
filled with laughs and fun was had by all! We’d like to give many
thanks to Pfluger Architects for sponsoring this great event.
Sequel Financial Group became
an official Partner in Education
with North East ISD just this
year, but they have hit the
ground running, and running
fast! In the first partnership
meeting, they agreed to sponsor
dinner for the administrative
intern class—a training class
for future principals and
assistant principals.
Sequel
Financial
Group
“I feel very strongly that the K-12 industry is an underserved
group,” said Ken Sedlock, the Managing Partner of Sequel
Financial Group. “It takes responsible corporate citizens to
make sure the District is getting the funding they need to
develop their leaders.”
Shortly after sponsoring
one dinner, Sedlock
offered to sponsor the
next two dinners, and
to become the sole
sponsor of the District’s
leadership social event
for 300 district leaders
in August.
“I know that when you’re
working toward a longterm, healthy business
Ken Sedlock, Managing Partner of
relationship, you have
Sequel Financial Group
to give back to the
community and authentically care about the people you are
working with,” said Sedlock.
Sequel Financial is a comprehensive financial planning
firm that seeks to bring simplicity and clarity to financial
questions and planning. NEISD is extremely grateful for
their generosity and willingness to step in and fill a major
need.
Each year the Partners in Education program brings
businesses and community groups together with schools
and the District in a collaborative effort that enriches
student learning. Through their donation of time and
services, employees and students benefit from this diverse
array of knowledge and resources. Partners come from
large and small companies, organizations, retirement
communities, colleges, and more to create strong, positive
role models for our students. If your business would like to
make a difference in the NEISD community, please contact
our Partners in Education department.
In accordance with Title VI-Civil Rights Act of 1964,Title IX-Education Amendment of 1972, Section 504-Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the American with Disabilities Act of 1992,
the North East Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or handicap.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thousand Oaks Barnes & Noble Book Fair
Northwoods Shopping Center, 10 a.m.(5/14)
ISA Borderland Collective Art Exhibition
AP Art Lab & SMART Art Project Space, 6 p.m. (5/14)
Lee High School’s Annual Spring Show
Lee HS, 7 p.m. (5/20)
Reagan Spirit Spring Show “Simply the Best”
Reagan HS, 6:30 p.m. (5/20)
Dylan Days May 2016 Kick-off Event
Molly Pruitt Library, 3:45 p.m. (5/20)
Reagan Spirit Spring Show “Simply the Best”
Reagan HS, 3 p.m. (5/21)
Dylan Days May 2016 Movie Night
Molly Pruitt Library, 4:30 p.m. (5/25)
North East ISD High School Graduations
Last Day of School
Thursday, June 2
Helpful Web Links
NEISD Bully Awareness Website
http://www.neisd.net/School_
Administration/bully/index.html
Volunteer Program
(background checks)
www.neisd.net/vol/index.html
North East 360 (Web Show)
http://www.neisd.net/NorthEast360/
Student Parent Handbook
www.neisd.net/pupil/studenthb.html
Free and Reduced Lunch Application
www.neisd.net/foodserv/HTML/Free_
Reduced_Meals.html
Transportation (bus service)
http://www.neisd.net/trans/index.htm
Cafeteria Menus
www.neisd.net/foodserv/HTML/menus.
html
Kids Involvement Network
(After-school care)
www.neisd.net/ComEd/kin/index.html
2015-2016 School Calendar
www.neisd.net/calendars/index.html
School Boundary Maps
www.neisd.net/neisdinfo/infomaps.html
Health Services (immunizations)
www.neisd.net/health/index.html
Bilingual Programs
(ELL, Dual Language)
www.neisd.net/curriculum/CurComp/ELL/
ellindex.html
School Supply Lists
www.neisd.net/ComRel/SupplyLists.htm
School Websites
www.neisd.net/Campuses.html
For more information, contact Communications at 210-407-0040.