Harlandale Family,
It’s hard to believe we’ve begun the second six weeks of school. It feels like just yesterday we were welcoming everyone back for a new school year, and now here we are making our way into October. As we move into these next six weeks, I want to emphasize how important it is that you’re getting enough sleep, eating healthy and thinking about your own goals for the year. I’m confident that together, we can make this a successful school year for our students.
I want to begin this week’s newsletter by highlighting our Special Education students for taking part in Special Olympics Bowling. Throughout the month of September, our elementary, middle and high school students traveled to Astro SuperBowl for a fun-filled morning. The students learned about perseverance, healthy competition, and had the opportunity to meet other students from across our district. I’d also like to commend a few of our McCollum High School students for volunteering at the events. It truly warms my heart when our Harlandale Family comes together for one another. If you're looking for a way to show your support, our Special Education Department will be hosting its first ever Frontier Bowl at Harlandale Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 3 at 10:00 am. We'd love to see you there!
I’d like to recognize Harlandale and McCollum High School’s mariachi groups for being featured on Univision during a special segment on 16 de septiembre! I am incredibly proud of our students for showcasing their talents and representing our district so well. Their performances were fantastic, and I am certain they made Harlandale ISD shine across San Antonio. Thank you Univision for featuring our mariachi groups and for highlighting the importance of our Hispanic culture on such a large platform. Be sure to check out their performance below!
Please join me in congratulating four of our students for receiving the coveted San Antonio Area Foundation Legacy Scholarship. The scholarship, which is one of the nation's largest, was awarded to McCollum High School’s Katalina De Leon and Donovan Martinez, and STEM Early College High School’s Heaven Fuentes and Anabella Rodriguez. Each student will receive $10,000 per academic year! Congratulations to these students and best of luck in college. We know you will make a difference.
Join us as we come together and celebrate what makes our community special at our Neighbors Together event on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at Harlandale Memorial Stadium from 5-7 pm. During the event, you can enjoy student performances, free food, valuable resources from community members, and a special surprise for our kids. Neighbors Together is a great opportunity to get to know our Harlandale Police Department, in addition to various free resources available in our community. This event is open to all, so bring your family and friends. We can't wait to see you there.
Hispanic Heritage Month is still in full swing! Here at Harlandale, we are celebrating our roots and culture with pride. We love hearing your stories and learn about how you are celebrating this important month. Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #YoSoyHarlandale, so we can continue to celebrate our community and show the world just how proud we are to be a part of it.
There’s a lot to be proud of at Harlandale ISD. Our students are working hard in their classes, and our teachers are doing a fantastic job of delivering engaging instruction. I want to emphasize how grateful we are for your continued support of our great District. We're committed to providing our students with the best education possible, and we couldn't do it without you. Thank you for being a part of the Harlandale Legacy.
Sincerely,
Gerardo Soto
Harlandale ISD Superintendent of Schools