Director’s Notes December 7, 2019

Steppin’ and the Silent Auction

One more show of Steppin’ Into the Holidays left and as of right now there are only two seats left!

Sunday at Steppin’ is a pARTners Silent auction- you don’t have to go to the show to stop by and check it out. There are almost 100 items and just in time for the holidays!

Creative Writing show

On Tuesday, Dec. 10th at 7 pm join us for Nostalgia, a gathering of poets, writers, artists, musicians and more! $2 at the box office.

Outsiders Film Festival

Friday the 13th is filled with film fun! $8 entry for a night with Cinema from around the city, the state and the country! Show starts at 7pm.

NESA Holiday Ornament

Instrumental Music is selling beautiful holiday ornaments for only $10 as a fundraiser for their program. See the attached picture and order form for more information!

IM Holiday Ornament Order Slip

Exam Exemption time

Please note exam exemptions are working differently this year than in past years. They will be submitted through student’s Skyward access. Instructions went out to students this week.

The exam exemption window will be open from Tuesday, December 10th – Wednesday, December 11th. Students may request an exemption in up to three classes where they meet the attendance and grade requirements.

Willing to host an exchange student?

Each year our sister school, ISA, is proud to welcome international exchange students into our community. This year, they have welcomed students from Russia, Spain, and Italy. Alessandro is a 17 year old student visiting the United States from Italy this year. Alessandro is really enjoying his experience at ISA, especially learning the sport of baseball and the game of chess. Alessandro is currently looking for a second-semester host family. If your family is interested in hosting Alessandro for the second semester, please contact ISA Principal Steve Magadance at smagad@neisd.net or San Antonio’s local AFS support sponsor Ms. Denise Hoffman at dhoffman@afsusa.org.

Have a great weekend! Enjoy the beautiful weather.

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes Nov. 22, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving! We have arrived at a well deserved break for everyone. Every year at Thanksgiving I try to stop and reflect on all that I have and all that I am. I think of my year, my family, my friends, my job.  Today, I found myself thinking of how grateful I am to be a part of this wonderful community of teacher, students, and parents that are so hard working and inspiring. Just moments ago I saw a tech student take initiative and lead her class to help clean up the stage area so that her dance peers could prepare for their show. No one asked her to do this. No teacher gave her this instruction. She did it because it needed to be done and because she cared about tech, about the task, and for her fellow NESA students. And this is only one example of what I see here every day. I could speak forever of tales of people going above and beyond to ensure excellence and opportunity for each other here at NESA, but I won’t. How lucky I am to be able to witness and aid in the continued success of such a wonderful school. If you are reading this I am thankful for you. You and I are a part of this place together.

Celebration for Instrumental Music

This week NESA participated in the Region Band competition. We want to extend a hearty congratulations to their teacher Mr. Martinez and the students who placed, in addition to the students who placed at Region Orchestra earlier this month!  Way to go IM!

Ella Flister – Symphony Orchestra, 2nd Violin, Region Orchestra

Ben Welchman – District Band: Trumpet

Sam Schlesinger – District Band: Horn

Sara Dulaney- Symphony Orchestra, Honorable mention, Viola

 

Steppin’ Into the Holidays

When you return from break it will be time to get into the holiday spirit with Steppin’ Into the Holidays!

Steppin’ Into the Holidays runs Friday, Dec. 6 at 7:30, Saturday Dec. 7 at 2:30 and 7:30 and Sunday Dec. 8 at 2:30. Tickets are available at https://nesa.booktix.com/

Usher for Steppin’

Need an usher credit? Here is the sign up genius to usher for Steppin’ https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A48A9A62BA5FF2-steppin

 

From NESA pARTners

NESA Parents-

Be on the lookout for an email from your students director, parent rep or post on your individual Major FB pages. Each major is contributing and putting together a themed basket for our pARTners silent auction which will be held Sunday, December 8th during the matinee showing of Steppin’ Into the Holidays. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year!

In addition we are also accepting additional items that anyone would like to contribute. Lessons, tickets for sporting or music events, or any type of gift certificates for beauty, food, or family fun.

Or do you know a business that would like to contribute? Let us know!

All monies raised goes back to your child’s classroom, scholarships, end of year banquet, and master classes.

Sincerely,

Your NESA pARTners Fundraising Committee #nesa #bettertogether #RootEdnesa #weRpartners

 

Other upcoming dates:

Creative Writing Gathering of Poets and Writers- Dec. 10th , 7pm in the LEE Blackbox

Outsiders Film Festival- Dec 13th, 7pm in the theater

Exams start Dec. 17th.

 

 

I will leave this Director’s Notes with a quote from Maya Angelou: “Be present in all things and thankful for all things.”

Have a wonderful break.

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes Nov. 16, 2019

Happy Saturday! Beautiful weather to lift the spirits.  And with one week to go until Thanksgiving Break!

Just a few things for everyone to note this week.

Night With NESA

Night With NESA is this Tuesday! This is a huge open house event with performances, a food truck, activities for kids and more! Your student will probably be needed that night, if they haven’t told you already! And we could use parent help too. Get in contact with the director of your student’s program if you are interested in coming and helping, or you can always reach out to me!

Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia has one more run this Sunday at 2:30. We are going to be very close to selling out, so get your tickets now if you are planning on attending! It has been a wonderful fun show!

Steppin’ Into the Holidays

Steppin’ Into the Holidays is coming sooner than you think! Get into the Holiday Spirit! Tickets are on sale now. This show will sell out.  The show runs December 6th,7th, and 8th!

Outsiders Film Festival

Join Cinema for the Outsiders Film Festival Friday, December 13th at 7:00. Dinner and a movie anyone? Tickets are just $8 and they are on sale now.

All tickets can be purchased at https://nesa.booktix.com/

 

College Calling- Seniors!

Seniors- you should be on the LEE senior google classroom. If you are not, you are missing out on information that you need! The class code to join is k7r5iv2

Other News:

Congrats to Creative Writing on their stellar performances today at the Teen Art Fest at the San Antonio Public Library! Pics on my blog and on our social media!

NESA Banquet theme this year is MET Gala: The Evolution of Fashion.

PTSA Thanksgiving Pie Drive. The PTSA is collecting pies for the holiday to give to faculty and staff members at LEE, NESA, STEM, and ISA. If you can help, please click on this link to sign up with your donation. Thank you in advance! https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/8050944a5ab28a2f49-leenesastemisa

 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes Nov. 8, 2019

If you didn’t get to see the Mamma Mia on the news this morning with Where’s Cleto? We will send out the link as soon as it is ready! It was really early in the morning but it was a blast. I am so impressed with each and every one of the almost 100 kids involved in the production that left here after 10 last night and showed back up by 6. Yes, it is hard work, but your passion shows! And a big shout out to our teachers too! Everyone is tired but smiling!

Mamma Mia!

What an opening night! If you missed it, that’s ok. We run 7 more shows! Join us Saturday at 7:30 or Sunday at 2:30.

Steppin’ Into the Holidays and Outsiders Film Festival tickets now on sale

Visit https://nesa.booktix.com to purchase tickets.

Steppin Into the Holidays runs Dec, 6, 7, 8

Outsiders Film Festival is Friday, Dec. 13th.

Upcoming Recruitment Events

Magnet night is Wednesday at Blossom Athletic Center. We could use a few parent and student volunteers.

Night with NESA, our open house and celebration of creativity, is Tuesday Nov. 19th. We could use a lot of help! We are having all kinds of art stations and activities, pop up performances and more. More than likely you child will be needed this day. There will be food trucks and concessions!

pARTners Dinner Meeting

Tuesday Dec. 12, 2019 in lieu of a meeting this month, we are all going to Papoulis’s in the Quarry for a Give Back Restaurant night. 10% of the night proceeds go to NESA pARTners. We would love to see you there!

College Calling

From the Counseling Office:

Attention Seniors : Transcripts requests for the December 1st College Admission or Scholarship Deadline must be submitted no later than Thursday, November 21st –No exceptions.   This is especially important since School Offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving break the week of November 25th-29th.  Please see Ms. Norma Folley in the Counseling Office.  Any transcript requests received after the November 21st deadline will be processed after the Thanksgiving break beginning Monday, December 2nd.  Please submit your transcript requests early.

Have a great weekend!

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes- Friday, November 1, 2019

Wow! Hello November. Coming in with a chill! We have so much going on this month, we couldn’t be happier to share it with everyone!

Mamma Mia

In less than a week we will be rockin’ some beachy disco hits here at NESA. Join us! Tickets available at https://nesa.booktix.com/

DO210

Go to DO120 and find our events (Mamma Mia and Steppin’) and vote for them so we rise to the top of the calendar for people looking for fun things to do around San Antonio. You should be able to click on NESA and then like all the events on one page. Here is the direct link: https://do210.com/venues/nesa-north-east-school-of-the-arts

Senior Fees

We are extending the deadline for Senior Fees for another week. The NESA senior fees were $35, cash or check to the NESA office. Forms are on the table outside of my office and here: Senior dues

Papouli’s pARTners night

Nov. 12 Join us for diner at Papoulis’s in lieu of a pARTners meeting. 10% of your check with be donated back to NESA pARTners!

College Calling

FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and is used by colleges to determine financial aide awards. I would go ahead and call it mandatory for all students going to college. We recommend doing it ASAP because funds are first come first served. They even have an early aid estimator you can do on. Go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa to learn more or start an application.

Other stuff…

Saturday School is starting up soon so if you have excessive absences look out for the information coming from LEE. You must pay the small fee on Thursday if you want to attend on a Saturday.

AP payments are now due Nov. 4th. If you are struggling, just have your student pay in cash or money order (NO checks) in the counseling office. If you are AP 2D, 3D, or Drawing that test has already been paid, you will just need to pay for any additional tests you will be taking.

 

Have a great weekend. We will see you next week!

 

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes October 25, 2019

Steppin’ Into The Holidays

Tickets are now on sale for Steppin’ Into the Holidays! And they are going fast! Visit nesa.booktix.com to procure yours today.

And grab your seats for Mamma Mia too while you are at it! Starts November 7th, which will be here before we know it.

Usher for Mamma Mia!

Use this link to sign up to usher for Mamma Mia. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0A48A9A62BA5FF2-mamma

As an usher, you are expected to check in at 6:15 for usher duty in the lobby on the Office Ipad and stay until released. Ushers get into the show for free. Late ushers will be sent home.

TWOTEN: NESA’s Online lit mag

Creative Writing had a new online lit mag that went live this week! I am so proud that our students have yet another venue to publish their work. I look forward to seeing it grow and evolve as forum for our student’s creative voice. Way to go CW! https://sites.google.com/neisd.net/twoten/home

 

AP Testing Deadline Extended

The deadline to pay for an AP exam has been extended to November 4 at 4:00pm.
· The Fall Student Registration Payment Deadline has been extended to November 4, 2019 for the May 2020 AP exams.
· Student Fees: $40 for non-F/R exams; $20 for F/R exams; additional fee of $40 will be assessed for ordering an exam after November 15th . (Exception is 2nd Semester courses such as AP Government, AP Eco, and AP Psych.)
· There will be no refunds after November 15, 2019; if students miss their AP exams in May, they will not be refunded $40. For those students who paid the reduced fee of $20 and miss an exam, they will owe an additional fee of $20 per exam.
· If students choose to pay by credit card, they will need to log in to their Skyward Portal.
· If students do not choose to pay by credit card, they may pay with Cash, Cashier’s Check, or Money Order; they will need to see Ms. Hernandez or Mrs. Allen to pay with this method. If one of your tests was paid for by the school, you will have to choose this method.

Taking the AP test is a crucial component to AP classes and is the expectation for NESA students. Please let me know if you need any help.

See you Monday!

-Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes October 18, 2019

Auditions
Our first auditions of the year are this weekend. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered. We could still use a few parents to serve as a welcome wagon from 8-12. Any time you can stop by and give a little time can mean a lot to our future parents. Here is the link to the sign up genius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040d4fada72d6-help
Mamma Mia!
Tickets are on sale now. Some shows are already 50% sold so be sure to get your tickets early for good seats.
Steppin’ Into the Holidays
Tickets for Steppin’ Into the Holidays go on sale Friday the 25th at the stroke of midnight. Dancers will get their access codes on Thursday in an email. Hard to believe its coming so fast!
Homecoming
Homecoming game is Friday the 25th and Homecoming dance is Saturday the 26th. If students want to take a date from outside of LEE/NESA/STEM/ISA they need to pick up a form in the front office. I encourage everyone to be on their best behavior and remember to follow all school rules.
PTA Reflections Contest
The LEE PTSA is now accepting submissions for this year’s Reflections Art Contest! The theme for the year is “Look Within,” and students can submit original works of art in any of the following 6 categories: Visual Arts, Dance Choreography, Photography, Literature, Musical Composition, or Film Production. Contact l_perales@msn.com for more information! The deadline to submit is November 5th. Rules are attached.

Reflections Flyer 2019-2020 Look Within LEE

2019 Reflections Rules

Have a great weekend!
Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts

Director’s Notes Oct. 11, 2019

I want to start off this week’s Director’s Notes by talking about one of my top priorities to all parents, students and families of NESA students: safety and wellness. The safety of our babies is the number one priority for everyone at NESA and LEE High School. Our work in this area will never cease. I have heard from a couple of people this week due to a few issues that have arisen in our community, and I was able to be more proactive because of the information I was given. That care and concern is what I love about the NESA community. Please never hesitate to contact me with any questions or issues. It takes a village and I thank you for being that village with me.

 

Remember- Monday is a student holiday.

Cinema is going to the Josiah Film Festival Thursday.

Next Saturday is Auditions.

Chalk it Up- Saturday!

Saturday we have Chalk It Up! Come visit the VAs and NAHS down on Houston St. from 10-4 and maybe make a little art yourself!

 

NESA Student Artistic Enrichment Fund

Did you know pARTners provides financial support for eligible NESA students to access enhanced training and opportunities beyond the curriculum that NESA provides? SAEF application through NESA pARtners due October 25, 2019. Use this link to get the form and more information. https://www.nesapartners.net/saef You must be a member of NESA pARtners to receive the scholarship.

College Calling: Logging Volunteer hours

Did you know the NEISD student portal (and the Parent Portal) has a place to log in student volunteer hours? It keeps track of the hours and will email the supervisor (parent, teacher, CEO, whowever!) of those hours with an easy verification link so all the hours logged are accounted for. Students can then even ear recognition from the District! This is the kind of stuff colleges want to see. Here is the link to check it out: https://www.neisd.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=5507&ModuleInstanceID=21537&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=63976&PageID=9340

 

Student Opportunity: NESA pARTners Fiesta Medal Design Competition

Want to have hundreds of people wearing your design around Fiesta? Here is your chance!

Guidelines:

Fiesta medal should be NESA themed, and say NESA or North East School of the Arts somewhere on it.

Should have year 2020 on it as well.

Ultimate product will be around 2”x2”, so nothing too intricate.

4 colors maximum

Any medium is accepted.

You can turn designs in to Mrs. Pagona on paper by sending them to the NESA office, or if it is a digital drawing, through email. spagon@neisd.net

Winner receives a free Fiesta medal of their design and a NESA shirt!

Designs due October 28th.

 

Have a great three-day weekend. Enjoy the nice weather while it lasts!

 

Sarah Pagona

Director of the North East School of the Arts

Extra Director’s Notes- October 7th

Hello everyone! I few things that didn’t make it into the Friday update, but we want you to know!

pARTners meeting

NESA pARTners meeting is this Tuesday, October 8 at 7pm in the PERC! Park in the big lot by the NESA entrance.

CPK giveback

Join us at California Pizza Kitchen on Oct. 14th for lunch or dinner, mention NESA pARTners when ordering, and a portion of all the sales goes to fund the pARTners scholarship fund!  Plus, you don’t have to cook!

Card Drive

NRF is still having a card drive benefitting the San Antonio Behavior Center. If you have playing cards or card games you would like to donate send them to school with a student. Each classroom has a box for people to drop the games. The final collection date is this Friday.

SAAEA T-shirt

The San Antonio Art Education Association, a non-profit volunteer organization that supports art teachers all over the city with scholarships and professional development, is selling their t-shirts this year to help raise money to send teachers to conferences and classes. I am the VP of the organization so I can assure you that 100% of the proceeds go to benefit art education right here in San Antonio. The shirts are super soft! A picture of the shirt is attached if you are interested. Shirts can be delivered to NESA and I will pass them out or they can be shipped to you. Here is the link to order: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSciEAFDihUnisKyfyPG6z_ek-LvKb9IgAHxCWEC51IMQ7PlXA/viewform

Have a great Monday!

 

Sarah Pagona, Director of the North East School of the Arts