The Southside ISD was the most represented school district during the April 8, 2022 Fiesta Battle of Flowers Parade. Entrants included:
- Air Force Junior ROTC
- Ballet Folklorico Cardenales
- Expressions of Eastern Europe (Ukraine) float
- Battle of the Flowers Band Festival Art Contest Winner
- Mighty Cardinal Band & the State Champion Color Guard
Southside High School sophomore Crystal Rodriguez rode on the Expressions of Eastern Europe Float. She beamed with pride as she described riding through downtown San Antonio in the parade. “It was amazing! People were like, “Oh my gosh, Southside! The European Expressions.’ Yeah, everybody was just looking at our float. They were amazed,” she said.
The Mighty Cardinal Band accompanied by the state champion Southside High School Color Guard proved to be crowd favorites during both the Battle of Flowers daytime parade and the Fiesta Flambeau nighttime parade.
Band members say people cheered for them and for the District throughout the entire parade route. “I heard lot of people screaming, ‘Southside!’ It meant a lot to everybody,” said high school junior Ismael Ochoa. Fellow band member Jonah Galindo added, “Everywhere we went, we were hearing, ‘Southside!’ in the crowds.”
Kim Hernandez walked the route with the Folklorico. Her oldest daughter marched with the color guard while her youngest danced with the Folklorico. She said the support given to the District’s students was genuine. “You have Southside fans everywhere.”
Superintendent Rolando Ramirez also walked the parade route with the District’s students. He became the first known superintendent in San Antonio to do so.
“Everybody just really cheers for the Southside! It’s just looking so much better for us,” said Ms. Hernandez.
