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Freedom Elementary

Students line up to receive Cardinal Academy Summer Blast t-shirts

For some students in the Southside Independent School District, the day they had been waiting for finally arrived. This is the day they received their custom-made t-shirts for participating in the District’s fun and captivating summer school called the “Cardinal Academy Summer Blast.”

Vanessa Vargas and three of her children were up early to get their shirts. The children were all smiles as they received their t-shirts and goodie bags as incentives for completing summer school. “I was happy because they’re learning. I thought the classes were good,” she said. Then added, “The only thing is we had internet trouble. My daughter Shaila would even cry when the internet went out.”

Southside High School senior Anastasia Rangel enrolled in the Cardinal Academy Summer Blast so she could stay on top of her course work. Rangel plans to become an attorney or enter the F.B.I. after college. “I feel more prepared for the senior year than if I didn’t study,” Rangel said.

Mr. Ricardo Moreno served as the elementary school principal with more than 600 students. “Our superintendent Mr. Rolando Ramirez wanted it to be engaging. The idea was also to simulate what we could expect for the upcoming academic year and troubleshoot any issues that we could uncover,” he said.

Superintendent Ramirez plans on making the Cardinal Academy Summer Blast a Southside tradition along with the t-shirts as an incentive.

In addition to the t-shirts, students received a Peter Piper Pizza coupon for a personal-sized pizza and soft drink, and goodie bags with incentives from Firstmark Credit Union and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Thanks to Dr. Lyssa Ochoa and the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular Clinic (SAVE Clinic) for sponsoring the Cardinal Academy Summer Blast t-shirts.

Virtual Special Board Meeting – Monday August 3 at 5:00 PM

A Special Board Meeting of the Board of Managers of Southside ISD will be held August 3, 2020, beginning at 5:00 p.m.  The Board meeting with be a virtual meeting. No one will be meeting in person due to the current COVD -19 conditions.

View the Board Meeting live at southsideisd.org/golive

Download the Special Board Agenda.

Register now for SAT. AUGUST 8 SAFB Food Distribution

The San Antonio Food Bank pre-registration link is now open for the Saturday, August 8, 2020 food distribution at Southside ISD. The distribution will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Kym Rapier Food Pantry located at Pearce Elementary. Pre-registration is required. Please register now and help others who may need help registering. The Food Bank allows only two registered families per car.

Volunteers desperately needed: Sat. Aug. 8 Food distribution

Volunteers are desperately needed to help distribute more than 20 tons of San Antonio Food Bank food on Saturday, August 8 at the Southside ISD Kym Rapier Food Pantry. Volunteers assemble outside of Pearce Elementary at 7:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturday’s of the month for the distributions. With enough help, volunteers can distribute enough food to feed about 2,700 people before noon. “The rewards of helping others is enormous. Everyone always feels leaving better,” said District Director of Public Relations/Community Engagement Randy Escamilla. If you can help, please send an email to  randy.escamilla@southsideisd.org or call 210-882-1600 ext. 5125.

 

Cardinal Spotlight Week of July 17: Freedom Elementary School

Crystal Dowell is a great team lead who is always willing to help! She will stay for enrichment groups and help you and your group if she can. Her 2nd grade level team members believe that she is a wonderful team lead and will help you find an answer to your problem no matter how big or small your problem is. Her door is always open when you need her! She goes the extra mile to help us all! Ms. Dowell is a go-getter!  She is always willing to put in the work for the betterment of her students.

When it comes to school, Maggie Navarro does not mess around. She takes her learning very seriously and strives to be her best at all times. Maggie was a first grader this past year at Freedom Elementary.  The teachers and staff describe Maggie as a natural leader who is always up for a challenge.  Maggie is very inquisitive and does not hesitate to ask questions to better her understanding.  She is an eager learner who truly enjoys the learning process.  She loves reading and science.  She loves being with her friends and teacher.  Her hobbies include swimming, playing with her sister and cousin, and enjoys visiting her Grandmother.  Congratulations Maggie! Keep up the great work!

Local Surgeon sponsors Cardinal Academy Summer Blast Shirts

Dr. Lyssa Ochoa

Dr. Lyssa Ochoa is a surgeon who founded the San Antonio Vascular and Endovascular (SAVE) Clinic.  She wanted to do something nice for Southside ISD students this summer whose lives have changed because of COVID-19. “We cannot forget the amount of unprecedented pressure this pandemic applies to the youth of our community. We, adults, are responsible for leading them through this,” said Dr. Ochoa.

SAVE is sponsoring custom-made t-shirts for about 1,000 students who complete the District’s Cardinal Academy Summer Blast. The t-shirts are the brainchild of Superintendent Rolando Ramirez who wanted to provide students with an incentive to improve academic performance. Dr. Ochoa is a huge advocate for education and stepped in to advance the superintendent’s vision.

“The t-shirts are a fun way for us to help the students feel a sense of unity as they experience new and different ways to participate in their education. The students need to know they don’t have to navigate this crisis alone,” she said.

The front of the cardinal red t-shirts reads, “I soared at Cardinal Academy Summer Blast 2020.” The back of the shirt has the Southside Cardinal and reads, “Proudly sponsored by the SAVE Clinic.”

Dr. Ochoa and SAVE have an established relationship with the Southside ISD. The SAVE Clinic has been a key sponsor of the District’s Wellness Extravaganza which focuses on improving health outcomes. “I want Southside ISD families to know that even if we can’t gather in large groups at this time, SAVE is still here to serve them and help in any way we can to stay healthy or get well during these times.”

Dr. Ochoa is a vascular surgeon and encourages students and their families to live healthy lifestyles.

“SAVE is a vascular disease clinic, which means we take care of all the blood vessels in the body outside of the heart. We help by providing diet and exercise information, medicines if needed, and even procedures or surgery to fix problems with blood vessels, such as blockages or clots,” Dr. Ochoa said.

As a vascular surgeon, Dr. Ochoa sees daily the harmful effects caused by diabetes.

“Diabetic amputations are a major complication that can result from diabetes and vascular disease. Many of us know someone or have a family member who has had a toe, foot, or leg amputation. We need to do everything we can to keep our diabetes under control, which is now harder than ever during a global pandemic.” The surgeon added, “The SAVE Clinic is here to help and will continue seeing patients in person to prevent amputations.”

Dr. Ochoa invites students, parents, and community members to learn more about the SAVE Clinic by visiting the SAVE Clinic website.

 

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