Sw Wire Dec 2007.pdf - Southwest ISD

SouthweSt wire
Volume 17
Volume 17 Number 1 Fall, 2007
oFFice oF Public relatioNS
11914 DragoN laNe SaN aNtoNio, tX 78252
The Undefeated!!!
The Southwest Dragons completed the football
season Thursday evening, November 8 th , with a perfect
10-0 run in the district match-up. The Dragons reigned
as Bi-District champs with a record of 11-0. They
clinched the District crown at 9-0, and the flawless
season was a tribute to the teamwork solidified early in
the season. Thanks for a great season!!
Ty Detmer and family at retiring of
Southwest jersey #10
Homecoming Royalty: King Jesus Ramirez and
Queen Janeth Rivera are all smiles as they leave the field
Computerized Scoreboard with Message
Center Gifted by Toyota (story, page7)
Southwest Retires Heisman Trophy Winner Ty Detmer’s Jersey #10
Amid wild cheering and respectful applause, the #10 jersey of Heisman Trophy Winner Ty Detmer was
officially retired in a pre-game ceremony on October 19th. Surrounded by his immediate family at centerfield, the
framed jersey, complete with High School photos of his football days, was unveiled to the appreciative crowd
while his statistics from his High School days were announced over the PA system. Prior to the game, a reception
in his honor was held at the High School where his entire family and many friends greeted the superstar.
January, 2008
7 School resumes
15 Board mtg.; 6p; Central Office
21 Martin Luther King holiday
February
1 Student holiday/teacher workday
19 Board mtg.; 6p; Central Office
March
6 Regional Grass Roots mtg.; 6-9p; HS mall
11 Board mtg.; 6p; Central Office
14 One hour early out
17-21 Spring Break

Page 2 SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
Sun Valley Featured on KONO
Dave E. Rios with the KONO 101.1
Morning Show featured Ms. Debra
White’s 2nd grade class at Sun Valley
on his Monday morning show reciting
the “Pledge of Allegiance.” A part of a
contest package won by Ms. White,
students also received a visit from Rios
where he read to them before presenting
the library a check for $101 sponsored
by Ken Batchelor Cadillac.
Indian Creek Hosts Hudson III, World-Traveling Teddy Bear
The 1st grade classes of Ms. Estrada and Ms. Light hosted Hudson III, a traveling
Teddy Bear from Canada,
who visited the campus
through October 20 th when he
left to visit schools in
Australia, Brazil, and other
U.S. cities. Students shared
information about their
school, the city, and the state
of Texas. Hudson III will
return in May so that Indian
Creek students will be able
to read the journals of all the
schools he has visited since
he left.
TAKS Celebrations and Gold Commendations
Underscore Academic Strength
1st place Science
Fair Winners
Elm Creek (above) “signed” to a song at their TAKS
celebration while Big Country Student Council proudly
carried the banner. Indian Creek and Southwest
Elementary also held celebrations for TAKS. The Texas
Education Agency awarded Gold
Commendations to the following schools Bob Hope Honors Veterans
for performance at a high level: Indian
Creek for Writing, Science, Reading, Math,
Comparable Improvement in Math, and
Comparable Improvement in Reading; Big
Country in Writing; Kriewald Road in
Science; Elm Creek in Math, Writing, and
Comparable Improvement in Math;
Southwest Elementary in Writing,
Science, Reading, and Math; McNair in
Reading and Comparable Improvement in
Reading; Sun Valley for Comparable
Improvement in Math; Sky Harbour for
Attendance; Southwest High School for
Required High School Program and the
Southwest School District for the
Required High School Program.
Bob Hope Elementary held
a Veterans’ Day Ceremony
which included the posting
of the colors by High School
NJROTC Cadets Debora
Hernandez, Keyshla Rosa,
Sabrina Robles, and Josue
Silva, while Band Facilitator
Richard Flores played Taps.
A speech by an active Air
Force member and an
inspirational message from
community member Mac
Umack provided historical
background on Veterans’
Day. Patriotic songs by each
of the grade levels rounded
out the morning.

Page 3
SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
Sky Harbour Involves Community
Grandparents’ Day Activities
Reading Together at Sky Harbour...
Sky Harbour celebrated Grandparent’s Day by inviting all
grandparents to come to the school and enjoy the morning
with their grandchildren! They hosted a “Read In” and
grandparents were welcomed to read to the students. The
Toyota Family Literacy played a vital role in the event through
their “Toyota Grandparents Inspire Literacy” program.
Parent Child Incorporated (PCI) held a parent information
meeting where the children sang songs and teachers discussed
what the children could be expected to learn through the
program.
A successful “Meet The Teacher” night where parents
Sharing lunch at Elm Creek...
explored their child’s classroom and met their child’s teacher
at the beginning of school attracted many parents from the
community..
PTA and community parents decorated the lighthouse for
Halloween, complete with cobwebs, a mummy in a coffin, bats,
and a witches’ caldron with fog. Library students who
completed their storybook reading could then tour the
“haunted lighthouse” with a PTA member.
Special Education attended a field trip to the Witte Museum.
Safety First! (left and bottom) Students and teachers
throughout the District are receiving bus evacuation training
presented by the Transportation Department.
The Texas association of School Boards (TASB) elected
its 2007-08 officers during the Association’s recent annual
Delegate Assembly and Convention in Dallas. New TASB
President Renard Thomas of Angleton ISD succeeds Immediate
Past President Jim Ash of Arlington ISD. Robert Seward
of Mesquite ISD will serve as president-elect; Sarah Winkler,
Alief ISD, and Sylvester Vasquez, Jr., Southwest ISD, will
serve as vice-presidents; and Gary Inmon of Schertz-Cibolo-
Universal City ISD will serve as TASB’s secretary-treasurer.
Sylvester Vasquez, Jr., has served as a member of the Southwest
ISD board since 2000 and is currently the board’s vicepresident.
Elected to the TASB Board in 2003, he has participated
in Delegate Assembly and School Board Advocacy
Network.
On Thursday, November 15 th, the Elm Creek PTA officially
presented the new playground playscape to the school during
the PTA meeting. The playscape was purchased this summer
by the PTA with funds raised over a two-year period.

District Construction Progress Continues...
The new McNair Middle School campus is taking shape despite heavy summer
rains. The building is scheduled to open for the second semester of the 2008-
2009 school year.
The Multi-purpose Building adjacent to the
Career Center is shaping up for use in the late
spring of 2008.
The Spring Sports Complex is on schedule to open for the
2008 spring sports events.
Southwest Education Foundation President,
Dr. James Gates, presented a plaque thanking the
Southwest ISD Board of Trustees for their support
in the inaugural year of the Foundation to Board
President Mike Frazier. The presentation was
made during a dinner prepared by the Child
Nutrition Services Catering Unit. The guests
attended the evening presentation of “Guys and
Dolls” staged by the Fine Arts Department
following the dinner.

Southwest ISD personnel were prepared to assist
Hurricane Dean evacuees and flood victims in the Fall
Superintendent Villegas congratulates McAuliffe
custodians Joe Guevara and Ernestina Sanchez
and Assistant Principal Joseph Guidry for
helping flooding victims by opening and manning
the campus during the rains.
Dr. Villegas and Executive Director Russell Ehlinger thank bus
drivers Lydia Borrego, Josie Morales, Mike Mireles, Margie
Guerrero, Oscar Sandoval, Matias Munoz, David Jimenez and
supervisors Steve Casas and Marion Fey for making the trip to the
valley to be on hand to transport Hurricane Dean evacuees.
Dr. Villegas recognized the Facilites and Maintenance Department for
their dedication and extraordinary efforts following the summer
flooding and extreme vegetative growth. Accepting for the Department
were Joe Trejo, Ed Garcia, Debra Martin, Eulla Krueger , and Frances
Hartley.
McAuliffe mural artists Joseph
Delgado, Cristian Miranda, James
DeLaFuente, Guicelda De La Cruz,
Christopher Bolado, Alex Villarreal,
Martha Robles, Juan Palomo, Manuel
Avila, John Dominguez, Alessandria
Jaramillo, Destiny Sotello, Sebrina
Sathe, Guadalupe Rodriguez,
Roxanne Rodriguez, and Rolando
Mazuka, facilitator, were honored at
the October Board Meeting. The tiled
piece was the cover for the Fall
Community Ed paper.

Page 4 SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
District Science Fair Produces Young Scientists
The annual District Science Fair was hosted by Sun Valley Elementary and coordinated by Gina Fernandez. Two representatives
from each grade level at each of the nine elementaries displayed their projects and answered questions posed by the
judges. Winners in each division included:
Kindergarten First Grade Second Grade
1st place Marcus Garcia, BH Joel Guerro, SWE Tillman Haby, EC
2nd place Gabriel Hernandez, EC Hailey Smith, EC Hailey Stramoski, BC
3rd place Daniel Dillard, SWE Alison Maddox, EC Ariel Romero, BC
4th place Jacquline Young, KR Briana Palermo-Perez, IC Destiny Lechuga, BH
5th place Luke Padron, IC Abigail Bakker, KR Allie Austin, SWE
Third Grade Fourth Grade Fifth Grade
1st place Miranda Mueller, SWE Travis Quillin, EC Brandon Enriquez, BC
2nd place Nicholas Entzi, IC Victoria Gatlin, KR Brittany Sullivan, SWE
3rd place Samantha Webb, EC Matthew Serna, KR Sabrina Esparza, EC
4th place Adrian Trevino, SH Keaton Tamayo, EC Judaea Saldana, KR
5th place Maria Briones, SWE Fernando Luna, SWE Riley Riggs, BC
(left to right) 1st place Science Fair winners were honored
at November Board Meeting: Marcus Garcia, Joel Guerro,
Tillman Haby, Miranda Mueller, Travis Quillin,and
Brandon Enriquez with Dr. Villegas
(right) The annual District Science Fair was hosted by
Sun Valley where campus winners explained their
experiments and results to visiting judges
The Southwest Education
Foundation presented the
first Grant check to Sun
Valley for a 4th grade
Real Life Concepts field
trip. Surprising teacher
Larlan Randolph were
Maria Ferrier, Ed. D.,
Florinda Bernal, Ms.
Randolph, Joe Kierstead,
and Vanessa Trevino
New OASIS Program Opens
The Overage Student Intervention Site
opened with 30 students enrolled in November.
The program serves students who
are two years older than their peers and
academically behind, but possess the potential
to benefit from intense academic acceleration.
The program will prepare students
to enter high school on or above
grade level. The program consists of intense
reading instruction, along with
math, science, social studies, and writing
instruction.

Page 5
SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
McAuliffe Teacher Floats in Space
McAuliffe 7th grade science teacher Robert Boucher was part of a special project at NASA this summer who had a
chance to try science at zero gravity during the same week that the space agency resumed its teacher-in-space program. He
survived 50 parabolic plunges into weightlessness or near-weightlessness and emerged almost speechless. “I can’t
describe it,” said Boucher. “It is this wonderful, comfortable feeling of floating and not falling down.” The purpose was to
give teachers the opportunity to use real-world reduced gravity to test the concepts they will be teaching to students in the
classroom.
Boucher’s experiment was a simple one to help seventh-graders learn about the laws of force and motion. He used a
Newton’s cradle, a toy with four or five metal balls tethered by wires that bang off of each other, demonstrating how force is
transferred from one object to another. His experiment was filmed and students will get the chance to hypothesize about
what they think will happen, then watch the video to see if they are correct.
ESCALA
Students Visit
Toyota
Touring the
Toyota Plant was
the ESCALA
class, a summer program for bilingual students. The tour gave 2nd language students
a community experience that strenghtened their language skills when the
Toyota Team guided the tour in both Spanish and English. Accompanying the
students were Assistant Superintendent Virginia Aguilar, Bilingual Director Susan
Dean and summer teachers.
McNair Science Club Honored
The McNair Science Club was recognized
by the Express-News for being part
of the clean up at Brackenridge Park.
Sixth grade students Bianca Martinez,
Kathy Torres, and Miguel Perez participated
in a dance performance at the Texas
Association for Bilingual Educators Conference
held at the Henry B. Gonzalez
Convention Center.
Reunion News
The Class of 1998 is planning a 10-
year reunion. For information,
contact Edward Vargas,
southwestdragons1998@gmail.com
Beta Science team: Stephan Sperber, teacher, with
Matthew Alcorta, Sergio Melendez, and Alex Varela
(left) Alpha
Science
team: teacher
Stephanie
Wilson with
Jordan Vagts,
Emily
McClellan,
Melissa
Barraza, and
Kasey Dakota
Stallworth
McAuliffe and McNair Science Teams Soar in Space TEAM Competition
Seven students and two science teachers attended the Northwest Vista College Space TEAMS program in a two week
summer program intended to enable students to design, build, and program robots to broaden their career horizons. Two
separate scoring events were used to calculate the winner of the Space TEAMS competition: the trail points run and a double
elimination competition, where robots went head to head in performing such tasks as collecting bins, picking up and
delivering balls to specified areas for points. Dragon Science Club Alpha, led by McNair teacher, Stephanie Wilson with
students Jordan Vagts, Emily McClellan, Melissa Barraza, and Kasey Dakota Stallworth received second place in the
double elimination competition and First Place overall 2007 Space TEAMS Competition. Dragon Science Club Beta, led by
McAuliffe teacher Stephan Sperber included students Matthew Alcorta, Sergio Melendez and Alex Varela, received the
Judge’s Choice Award for Best Overall Design.

Page 6 SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
NASCAR Driver Terry Cook Visits Career Tech Center
Toyota-sponsored NASCAR driver Terry Cook was brought to the High School Career Tech classes that focus on automotive
interests by Toyota Texas in late October. Cook spoke to the students about a Driver’s role and the education, skills, work ethic,
and dedication it takes to be a driver and a part of the team for NASCAR. Being a team player and developing good relationships
were also stressed as attributes for success in the world after
high school. After talking with students, he autographed posters
of the 2007 NASCAR Toyota Tundra Truck series.
Terry Cook began his career in the NCTS a little over a decade
ago and has earned himself a place among NASCAR’s
top competitors posting six wins, seven poles, 26 top-five and
90 top-10 finishes. Cook also holds the record for the most
consecutive starts in the NCTS beating out previous record
holder Rick Crawford (210) with 222 starts.
At the close of the 2006 season, Terry Cook secured one win
at Kansas Speedway and an eighth place standing in the overall
driver point
Cynthia Sanchez and 1st Place quilt
standings
Library Notes
At McAuliffe Jr. High, Mrs. Rendon’s 7 th grade Reading classes learned about
“Día de los Muertos”, a three-day Mexican holiday honoring and celebrating
loved ones who have died beginning on October 31 through November 2.
McAuliffe students wrote letters to deceased family members and/or friends.
A cultural display was on exhibit in the library through November 5th. At
Scobee Jr. High, librarian Ellen M. Ramon completed library orientation for all
7 th Graders (460+ students) with orientation for new students scheduled
throughout the year. Increased usage of the library through class rotations
and walk-ins is reflected in the circulation statistics with combined checkouts
for September and October of nearly 3,000 books. A well-rounded collection of
magazines, newspapers, reference materials, Destiny OPAC (online public
access card catalog), K-12 online databases are available in the library. A Fall
Book Fair in November with a Parent’s Night to allow the community the
opportunity to visit, select and purchase materials for leisure reading, as well
as instructional reading. At McNair 6 th Grade Campus, the library has beautiful
Mars rovers on display. Enrique Guerra’s art students constructed the rovers,
small, unmanned robotic vehicles used for exploration of the planet Mars. It
took the students seven days to construct them. Mr. Guerra’s students received
prior information before starting projects and based their art work using the
information and their imagination to continue the central theme for the year
that “art is about ideas.”At Big Country, students in Grades 3-5 participated in
the Texas Bluebonnet Award (TBA) reading program, established in 1979 to
“encourage Texas children to read more books, explore a variety of current
books, develop powers of discrimination, and identify their favorite books”.
Under Mrs. Ince’s guidance, students will read a minimum of five books from
the current master TBA list before they may vote for their favorite title. If you
want to see the master list with a short synopsis of this year’s titles, please go
the following link: http://www.txla.org/groups/tba/nominees.html.The author
of the book receiving the most votes statewide is declared the winner of the
Texas Bluebonnet Award. At the TLA annual conference, ten children, selected
randomly, who participated in the reading and voting, will present the author
with the Texas Bluebonnet Award. Sun Valley K-2 nd students viewed a
Halloween puppet show on “Trick or Treating” safety. Third grade students
saw the McGruff Halloween safety video and made good use of the Biography
and Reference sections to complete projects on famous people.
Dragon Football Team:
11-0 and Bi-District Champs!
After a wet start, the football team finally
came home to play in late September for
Parents’ Night. The Athletic Booster Club
sponsored “White Shirt Day” and had
white T-shirts made for those unprepared
to dress accordingly! Featuring an SW on
the front, the back was printed with “D-
Boys are Back Home!”
The Dragon Football Team was named as
District Champs after garnering a perfect
record of 10-0 and went on to become the
Bi-District champs.
Southwest ISD Chief of
Police Ed Vasquez shows off
updated uniforms including
new patch for the Dragon
Security team

Page 7 SouthweSt wire Fall 2007
Toyota Gifts Computerized Scoreboard to District
The Computerized Scoreboard with Message Center that now graces the west end of
Dragon Stadium is a gift from Toyota Texas to the Southwest Community. Dedicated at
the Homecoming Football game, a parade of Tundras bearing the Board of Trustees,
Toyota officials, the Dragon and cheerleaders, the parade was greeted by the Band and
an appreciative crowd. A plaque in honor of the occasion was presented to Toyota in
acknowledgement of the generous state-of-the-art scoreboard. (See photo, front page)
Southwest Garners 25% of
All-Region Jazz Band Chairs
Six SWHS Band students participated
in the Region XI Jazz Ensemble
Auditions on Saturday 9/22 at
Clark HS. Four students placed in the
All-Region Jazz Band:Jaclyn Merlo, 3rd
Chair Trumpet; Sam Gonzalez, 1st Chair
Trombone; Matthew Banuelos, 1st Chair Bass Guitar; Matthew Sanchez, 1st Chair Drum
Set. Only 20 students are selected to the ensemble band and Southwest had four of the
20 for the whole region. The jazz program at Southwest High School was selected as
one of five Growing Jazz Select schools for the 2007-2008 academic year from a field of
eighteen applications in the San Antonio area,
Union Pacific Awards Grant
to High School Band Program
Union Pacific sponsored selected
Southwest Band students to attend
the Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes
performance and attend the kick-off
media event for the symphony. At
that event, the Band learned about
a grant program that sponsors
school groups. The Dragon Band
applied and was awarded to be
earmarked for clarinet instruments.
Thirty Years of Firsts
Saturday, October 20, 2007, the
Dragon Band reached a milestone
when they achieved 30 consecutive
years of First Division Ratings for UIL
Marching Contests. The tradition began
in 1978 under the direction of John
Davis and the last 14 years of success
have been under the direction of Richard
Flores (directorial tenure overlapped
from 1994-1998.)
The Fall Ag Fair was held in the Pecan Bottom. Fourth grade
students experienced a variety of activities offered in agriculture
education through the Career Center.
Southwest ISD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion,
color, national origin, gender, sex or disability in providing education
services, activities, and programs, including vocational programs, in
accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended;
Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972; and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Dr. Alana Collins, 210
622-4355, has been designated to coordinate compliance with these
requirements as Title IX Coordinator regarding discrimination on the
basis of sex and Section 504 Coordinator regarding discrimination on
the basis of disability.
El distrito de Southwest no discrimina en contra de ninguna religion,
raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, o deshabilidad en proveer servicios
educatives, actividades incluyendo programas vocacionales de acuendo
al Titulo VI del Acto de Derechos Civiles de 1964, de acuerdo a la
enmienda; el Titulo IX de las Enmiendas de 1972, y la Seccion 504 del
Acto de Rehabilitacion de 1973, de acuerdo a la enmienda. Dr. Alana
Collins, 210 622-4355, han sido designados para coordinar el seguimiento
de estos requisitos para del Titulo IX, para asuntos de discriminacion en
base al sexo y para Seccion 504, para asuntos de discriminacion en base
a una deshabilidad.
District Co-Champs!
Boot Camp Opens in January
In an effort to address the needs of students who are not
flourishing in a traditional academic setting, Southwest High
School will open Boot Camp after the holiday break. Focusing
on strict discipline with a no-nonsense approach to curriculum,
students will receive instruction in reading, writing, math,
science, and social studies to better prepare them to take and
pass the standardized tests necessary for graduation.
Raptor System
The Raptor system was introduced in early November on
all campuses to ensure the safety of children by providing
visitor identification.

Wanted: Southwest Community History
Saturday, January 26 from10:00a until 3p, community
members are encouraged to come to Bob Hope
Elementary at 3022 Reforma Drive to relate the rich
history of the Southwest Community to members of
the City South Management Authority for archiving at
the Institute of Texas Cultures. There will be a large
room for pictures which will be digitally copied for
display.Classrooms for one-on-one oral history
interviews will be available to record area stories for
future generations. This is a great opportunity to insure
that the colorful heritage of the area will be preserved.
For more information, contact Russell Ehlinger, at
623-6900.
Bus Drivers Needed!
Contact Russell Ehlinger @623-6900
Full-time route drivers have full benefits
$12.10/hr.
$12.10/hr.
Board Notes
Fall quote by Sylvester Vasquez, Jr., Vice President
Due to new legislation in 2006, school districts are
now required to hold elections jointly with a city or
county general election. In order to maintain three-year
terms with annual elections, the Board of Trustees
approved a resolution in October to provide for Trustee
elections in conjunction with Lytle general elections.
These general elections are held in May, which necessitated
the exension of current Board Member terms by
six months.
Southwest ISD will hold the election for the Board of
Trustees on May 10, 2008 jointly with the City of Lytle
general elections. The District will continue to
contract with Bexar County to run the election
which will be held at the usual polling places.
Visit our website at www.swisd.net
Click media on the web site for
TimeWarner video showtimes
210 622-4395
Contributing Writers
Sharon Woldhagen, Exec. Administrator, PR Printing, Southwest Print Shop
Laura Sexton, Sky Harbour Frances Gerber, Advanced Academics
Frances Ortiz, Athletic Booster Club, Anjanette Pena, Elm Creek
Southwest Independent School District
11914 Dragon Lane
San Antonio, TX 78252-2647
Permit #3
Von Ormy, Texas
Carrier Route
Pre-sort
Non-Profit Org.
CR - RT WS
Residential Customer
Board of Trustees
Mike Frazier, President
Sylvester Vasquez, Jr., Vice Pres.
Ida Sudolcan, Secretary
James Sullivan, Jr., Asst. Sec.
Florinda Bernal
Keith Byrom, Ph. D.
Raul Guzman
Superintendent
Velma Villegas, Ph. D.