Harlandale Family,
December has arrived and with it, the excitement, joy and happy jitters that come with the holiday season. As the semester draws to a close, I urge you to finish strong. For students, that can mean tackling that extra credit assignment or aiming to surpass your personal goals. For our staff, this is a time to shine. Even a simple gesture, like offering a smile and kind words to a colleague, can make a world of difference. Ultimately, it’s up to you to shape each day and leave a positive impact. Choose to end this semester on a high note.
I want to begin this week’s newsletter by congratulating Schulze Elementary Counselor Roxane Lopez for being awarded the 2023 Texas School Counseling Association’s CREST Award! Ms. Lopez is being honored with this prestigious award for her commitment to serving her students, campus and community. She will be recognized at a special CREST Reception in early February. Congratulations Ms. Lopez! We are incredibly proud of you and the work that you do. We know you will continue to represent Harlandale ISD with pride!
Adams Elementary was recently chosen as one of only five schools in the country to receive a "Little Yellow Library" donation from the Kendra Scott Foundation. We are incredibly grateful for this generous gift, which will provide our students with greater access to diverse and engaging books. The Little Yellow Library, which came stocked with dozens of books, will be a welcome addition to the campus, and we can't wait to see our students exploring its shelves and discovering new literary treasures. We are truly thankful to the Kendra Scott Foundation for investing in our young learners and helping us create a dynamic learning environment that inspires them to reach their full potential.
I am excited to announce that our 2024 Cultural Arts Parade & Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 13, 2024! This yearly tradition offers our entire Harlandale Community a day of fun and comradery. But before then, we need your help with this year’s theme. If you’re a current Harlandale ISD student, we’d love to hear your input. Please note, you must submit your theme idea by Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. The winner will participate in this year’s parade and even attend the opening ceremony at Mission Marquee Plaza. We are incredibly excited to see all the creative ideas you come up with. Best of luck to all who enter a submission! Click here to enter.
Our new Jewel Wietzel Center Makerspace is hosting its first-ever Winter Camp from Monday, Dec. 18 to Wednesday, Dec. 20. Our students will be able to explore and experiment with e-sports, robot racers, minecraft, an adventure camp, robotics and more. Space is limited, so we are encouraging our families to register students as soon as possible. Our goal is for our students to unleash their creativity and have a blast exploring the exciting worlds of technology and innovation. We look forward to seeing our students discover new passions and talents at this Winter Camp!
Enjoy the last few weeks before our winter break, Harlandale Family. Thank you for being part of the Harlandale Legacy!
Sincerely,
Gerardo Soto
Superintendent of Schools, Harlandale ISD