Director's Note
Week One is in the Books!
A Welcome Back That Warmed My Heart
The first week back has been nothing short of wonderful! While I knew I would be happy to see everyone, I was completely overwhelmed by the absolute joy it brought to my heart. It is fantastic to see returning faces—some sporting new pink hair, some with spiky hair, and a few who somehow grew a whole foot taller over the summer!
It has been equally wonderful to greet our new faces in the halls. I’ve already met students who radiate inclusiveness, others who share my passion for great book series (The Wool Omnibus... yes, please!), and so many with wide-eyed excitement for the year ahead. Whether you are returning or joining us for the first time, you already feel like family to me and to each other. In fact, one of our STEM teachers stopped by to share how impressed he was by the cohesion and instant bonds among the NESA students in his homeroom. That sense of community is what makes our school so special.
Important Safety Reminder: Closed Campus Policy
As we settle into our routines, please remember that NESA is a strictly closed campus. Students may not leave campus for lunch unless a parent or guardian physically signs them out and picks them up.
I’ve heard rumors that sneaking off for lunch is considered a "Senior Rite of Passage." I can assure you, it is not! If you are caught leaving campus, your only rite of passage will be a direct trip to ISS (see what I did there?).
All jokes aside, this policy exists purely for student safety. If students are off campus, we cannot protect them. It only takes one distracted driver—who may not even be part of our school community—for a routine lunch run to turn into a tragedy on the road or crosswalk. We care about our students far too much to take that risk. Thank you to our families and students for honoring this rule.
Spotlight: Legacy Night Live (LNL) This Weekend!
I am beyond excited for Legacy Night Live this Saturday! For those new to NESA, LNL is an incredible event where students pitch original sketch comedy ideas to a panel. Once selected, they refine the scripts, cast their peers, conduct table reads, and put on a fully produced live show.
Think about that for a moment: an entire show imagined, written, rehearsed, and brought to life in less than a week. Our students are truly mind-numbingly talented!
If you haven't secured your seats yet, head over to BookTix right away—tickets are selling fast, and you won't want to miss it.
Thank you all for making the start of this school year so magical. I look forward to seeing many of you in the audience this weekend!
Th
Aug 27
- National Just Because Day invites everyone to embrace spontaneity and perform random acts of kindness without needing a reason. This unique holiday encourages you to ditch the ‘why’ and simply do something joyful, whimsical, or thoughtful. Give a surprise gift, call a friend, or try a new activity—just because.
Sat
Aug 29
- It's Saturday Niiiiiiiight!!! Come see Legacy Night Live today! There are two performances, a matinee AND evening performance. Buy your tickets at Booktix. We will sell tickets at the door if any are left, but no guarantees.
Coming Soon
Coming soon
- Sept 2 - New York University will be in the MPR (Library) from 11:30-12:30. fill in the google form on Mr. Goodwin's newsletter found below to sign up
- Sep 4 - Afloat at Blue Star
- Sep 10- Berklee Visits NESA
- Sep 21 - University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance visits NESA
- Sep 25 - Movie Trivia Night
- Sep 30 - Music and Art Concert "Pets"
pARTners News
pARTners
Join the NESA pARTners! More Than Just a Membership—It's Your Community! nesapartners.net
Join the NESA pARTners: Enhance Your NESA Journey! Becoming a NESA parent is an exciting adventure, but with a million hours of rehearsals and new routines, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming! That's where the NESA pARTners come in. They are a non-profit group made up entirely of NESA parents dedicated to making the NESA experience as wonderful as possible for everyone – students and families alike.
What do the pARTners do? They are here to help you navigate it all! From understanding the ins and outs of rehearsal schedules to connecting you with other families, they are a supportive community. They also run concessions at NESA events, organize the unforgettable year-end banquet, provide essential student scholarships, and fund valuable classroom grants. Currently the pARTners are collecting info for anyone who is interested in carpooling 🚗🛻🚙
Above all, the pARTners have a whole lot of fun while making NESA an even better place. We invite you to be a part of this vibrant community! Please consider joining the NESA pARTners for annual dues of just $25.
Follow pARTners on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with the latest.
Our first concessions will be this week!!! If you want to donate to concessions, please use the link on the pARTners website. If you would like to volunteer for the LNL show, sign up is also on the pARTners website linked.
Ready to connect, contribute, and have fun? Click the link to join us today!
Testing Corner
Testing with Mr. Goodwin
Here is a link to Mr. Goodwin's newsletter which has everything AP testing, College visits, and CCMR related.
Important Dates:
- Sept 2 - New York University will be in the MPR (Library) from 11:30-12:30. Please fill out the Google form if you would like to attend.
- Sept 10 - Berklee College of Music will be in the MPR (Library) during all lunch periods. Please stop by and visit if you would like more information.
- Sept 14 - The Texas Workforce Commission will be in the Cafeteria during all lunches. Please stop by and visit if you would like more information.
- Sept 15 - ASVAB testing to any 10th, 11th, or 12 graders. In addition to a military entrance exam, the ASVAB can be used as a tool to help students explore career options.
- Sept 21 - University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance will be in the MPR (Library) from 11:30-12:30. Pleases stop by and visit if you would like more information.
- Sept 23 - Davidson College will be in room S103 from 9:00-10:00. Please fill out the Google form if you would like to attend.
- Sept 25 - The Syracuse University will be in the Cafeteria during 4th and 5th period lunches. Please stop by and visit if you would like more information.
- October 1 - Seniors can start applying for FAFSA/TAFSA/ or Opt Out Form. (Seniors must fill out one of the three in order to graduate). FAFSA Checklist: English and Spanish. Make sure you fill out FAFSA for the College School Year 27-28. Seniors also need to create a My TX Future Account.
- Oct 5 - Johns Hopkins University will be in the MPR (Library) during all lunch periods. Come by and visit if you would like more information.
- Oct 5 - Nov 8 - The Fall AP payment window is open. Students can pay online through their Skyward account, or with cash only to the LEE or ISA counseling office. A student must have joined their AP class on CollegeBoard before they sign up for the AP exam.
- Oct 6 - Amherst College will be in the MPR (Library) from 1:45-2:30. Come by and visit if you would like more information.
- Oct 12 - Oct 18 - Free College Application week through Apply Texas. Students can apply to any public Texas University for free during this week. Link
- Oct 13 - The Army National Guard will be in the cafeteria during all lunch periods. Please stop by and visit if you would like more information.
- Oct 15 - PSAT Testing for all 9th, 10th and 11th graders. No signup is needed. Students must arrive to their testing room by 8:55 a.m. If they show up after this time they won't be allowed to test.
- Dec 1 - The San Antonio College Fire Academy will be in the Cafeteria during all lunches. Please stop by and visit if you would like more information.