Ready, Steady, Beat the Heat!

Launched in 2022, the Beat the Heat college enrollment program is in its third year with 13 college visits scheduled for the summer. Former SAISD students, including our students from the Class of 2024, are accompanied by the Foundation’s postsecondary navigators and staff of the SAISD Postsecondary Department.

While visiting Alamo Colleges and local four-year college campuses, recent grads meet with college advisors and postsecondary navigators to ensure all paperwork and requirements are met such as vaccination records, final transcripts and test scores, so that students are ready to start classes.

Postsecondary Navigator Patty Carvajal shared the impact these trips have on participants. Carvajal said, “When a student goes on one of these trips with our SAISD and postsecondary navigator staff, not only will they have the opportunity to clear holds, check on their financial aid, and register for classes, but they can meet a 

postsecondary navigator to guide them for the next two, four or however many years it takes for them to reach their college goals. That is why it’s so important for our students to attend these trips. They will come on the trip and have an advocate with them every step of the way.” These efforts are especially important as we reach new highs for college enrollment with 55% of the Class of 2023 enrolled in college as of fall 2023.

Thanks to the City of San Antonio Human Services Department and USAA funding, the SAISD Foundation can continue to support college enrollment and persistence programs like this. Learn more about our efforts to increase postsecondary success below. 

Book Buddies Bus at the Juneteenth Parade

The San Antonio ISD Transportation Department, the Black Educator Advisory Council (BEAC), the Office of Family and Community Engagement and the Office of Access and Enrollment came together for the 25th Annual Juneteenth Parade on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Organized by Juneteenth San Antonio Texas, the parade honors and celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas.

Konise Millender, a Career and Technical Education Coordinator in SAISD and BEAC President said, “Being in the parade together as a group was significant because we let our community know SAISD does care about your students. We heard people say, ‘Hey SAISD! Thank you for being here.'” At Comanche Park #2, BEAC connected with the extended community. Of note, you don’t have to be an SAISD educator to join BEAC. Learn more about this council below. 

Having more organizations and the SAISD Foundation's Book Buddies Bus participate in the parade was also new this year. Transportation Senior Executive Director Nathan Graff said, “This is the 5th year that SAISD Transportation has participated in the parade. Each year we have a decorated bus and around a dozen drivers and monitors that walk the parade route from Sam Houston to Comanche Park #2.

It will be the first year for these additional groups to participate in the parade and we are excited about building up SAISD's presence.”

We were honored to be included by our friends at Transportation through the Book Buddies Bus! Foundation and district staff in the parade handed out books to children all along the parade route so they could add more books to their home libraries. Learn more about this literacy initiative below. 

SAISD Educators Take Austin!

Twenty-eight educators took a charter bus to Austin, Texas, to visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum and the Texas State Capitol to experience the top-rated educational tours available for their students. 

Rachel Lumsdon, a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher at Tafolla Middle School, shared how this opportunity enhances the learning her students already do in her classroom. "[Field Trips] help history come alive for my kids. I can make sure I give them something that will guide their learning when we come out here," said Lumsdon. Thank you to all the educators who joined us for this opportunity.

Social Studies Instructional Specialist Perry Jackson shared how trips taken ahead of the school year help them plan for a teacher toolkit and understand what resources they could use when they look at the best dates to visit throughout the school year. “If we know a teacher is coming to the Bullock in November, we know where [they are] in the 7th grade pace calendar. It gives us an idea of what information students can engage with and enjoy even if they haven’t covered it yet.” The educator trip was also an opportunity for instructional specialists to see the resources available to help teachers who are new to Texas history or interested in real-world experiences in their classroom. 

In collaboration with SAISD’s Social Studies Department, the SAISD Foundation and the Battle of Flowers Foundation are working to provide a common learning experience for 7th grade students in SAISD. This Texas history adventure ties to 7th grade Social Studies TEKS. Having also held two pilot middle school trips in May, the partnership intends to support 15 middle schools in the 2024-25 school year to make the same trip. Costs for transportation and meals are covered to remove barriers for schools to participate. To help with overall efforts to expand student learning opportunities through field trips, donate with “Field Trips” in the comments.

Dorm Room Giveaway

Moving into a college dorm can be both exciting and stressful. The SAISD Foundation will host its 3rd Dorm Room Giveaway to make the transition from home to the college dorm a little smoother for our students from the Class of 2024. 

From cozy bedding sets and towels to practical items like a shower caddy and laundry detergent, we have them covered. "We understand that starting college can be overwhelming, especially for those who may not have the financial means to get everything they need," said Alumni and Community Engagement Manager Carrie Smith. "Our goal is to ease some of that burden and make sure every student has what they need to start the year off right."

A big thank you to the individuals and groups who donated items and funds to help us reach this increasing number of students heading to college. Special thanks to the Joe A. Gamez Law Firm for their continued support of this important event! You are all making a difference in these students' lives.

New this year, and thanks to our partners Compudopt and Methodist Healthcare Ministries, eligible students could also receive a laptop to help them stay on top of their studies. SAISD students who need a laptop to take to college and are attending the Dorm Room Giveaway can receive a laptop at the event on July 18 and must RSVP for both the Dorm Room Giveaway and the computer giveaway through Compudopt no later than Friday, July 12, 2024. Students will be notified by Compudopt if a laptop will be available to them at the event. If you know a 2024 SAISD graduate planning to live in a dorm, please share the links below.

For SAISD students who are going to college and not attending the Dorm Room Giveaway, we will send information to students for a second computer giveaway opportunity held in early August.

As these new college students set up their dorm rooms and dive into their studies, they will carry the knowledge that there's a community rooting for their success, ready to lend a hand when they need it most.

Graduation Recap and Postsecondary Support

Nearly 2,600 students walked across SAISD stages at 18 graduation ceremonies and we couldn't be more proud. The SAISD Foundation is honored to offer unique support as our newest alumni start the next chapter of their lives. One of the ways we support San Antonio ISD's youngest alumni is in their transition from high school to college. 

We are recruiting volunteers who will foster positive, supportive one-on-one relationships, offer guidance through college life, academic challenges, and career exploration, while emphasizing the importance of education with matched students.

At our recent State of the District, Joe Bray, the civilian aid to the Secretary of the Army, shared his story of working with a 2023 Sam Houston High School graduate as a part of our Remote Mentor program. Joe’s mentee has completed his first year at St. Philip's College and decided to join the U.S. Army Reserves in May because school is his top priority. Joe said that he and his mentee are joined at the hip.

“Over the last year of mentoring him, I have gotten to take him to meetings and engagements with key influencers and leaders in the community.” After completing his first two years at St. Philip's, Joe’s mentee can transfer to a four-year university and receive tuition assistance from the Army. “That’s what mentoring can do for our young men and women who are in this fabulous school district.”

Make an impact and become a remote mentor by signing up below.

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