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Bernal Black Knights Newsletter
The Kingdom of Learning
Dr. Joe J. Bernal Middle School
Email: info@nisd.net
Website: nisd.net/Bernal
Location: 14045 Bella Vista Place, San Antonio, TX, USA
Phone: (210) 398-1900
Twitter: @nisdBernal
Congratulations to Bernal's New Principal, Mr. Jose Mendez!
Winter Break December 21 - January 1, 2021
Bernal Pride Award
Bernal Tennis Tryouts on January 6, 7 & 8, 2021
A La Carte Sales Return to Bernal!
on Jan 4th the cafeteria will start A La Carte sales. Students must have money for these items. Students are encouraged to use their "My School Bucks" account to promote safe measures by reducing hand to hand contact associated with cash and checks.
My School Bucks is a website and an app that parents can use to add money to their student breakfast and lunch accounts. My School Bucks Guide is attached below.
Click the following My School Bucks Link to create an account or add money to your student's account.
A LA CARTE ITEMS in Middle School include: Rise Krispy Regular & Choc Chip-Full Size, Pop Tarts, Baked Ruffles Cheddar, Sour Cream, Kettle BBQ, Cool Ranch Doritos, Nacho Cheese Doritos, Choc Chip Cookies, Double Choc Cookie, Brownies, Strawberry Fruit Roll Up and Water.
5 Curbside Meal Locations December 21-23
Why am I receiving Attendance Notification calls?
Attendance is taken every day for each class period at the middle school level. Your child is marked “P for PRESENT” if they are an in-person learner physically sitting in the classroom here on campus. Your child is marked “RA for REMOTE ASYNCHRONOUS” if they are a remote/virtual learner at home by the teacher when they join their daily zoom class meeting. Your child is marked “A for ABSENT” if they are not physically present on campus or in their zoom class meeting.
There are 3 main scenarios why you receive this attendance call notification:
Scenario #1 – Your child’s teacher was absent from school. If your child is a remote/virtual learner, they are marked absent for this class because our substitute teachers do not have access to the absent teacher’s zoom session to verify if your child is in the zoom class meeting.
Scenario #2 – Your child is a virtual learner and was not present for their daily class zoom meeting and was marked absent.
Scenario #3 – Your child is an in-person learner and was not physically present in class here on campus and also was not participating remotely from home in their daily class zoom meeting and was marked absent.
Attendance Reconciliation: In each of the above scenarios, as long as your child accesses their coursework for that day in Schoology by 11:59 pm for the class that they were marked absent, they will populate on an Attendance Reconciliation Report. This report is used to correctly recode your child’s attendance to reflect that they are present “RA – Remote Asynchronously”. This attendance reconciliation will occur within 3 to 5 days.
If you receive an attendance call that you were not expecting, please review your child’s attendance in the Home Access Center (HAC) and speak with your child regarding the above scenarios. If your student is marked absent on a particular day but did access their course in Schoology, we ask that you give our attendance team 5 days to reconcile the absence.
Please reach out to us if there is still a concern regarding an absence outside of the 5-day window of the original date of absence.
The remainder of this newsletter contains important information from previous newsletters!
Free & Reduced Meal Application
Did you know that filling out a Free & Reduced Meal Application provides more than just meals? In fact, this information is used to provide increased funding and resources for campus programs & services that benefit Northside students. Even though meals are at no cost during the USDA Waiver currently in place, you are encouraged to fill out your application today.
For more information on the NISD Free and Reduced lunch program, visit
https://www.nisd.net/schools/menus/free-reduced-meals
Or contact us:
Office: (210) 397-4517
Email: free-reduced@nisd.net
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
New Technology Lending Agreement
Northside ISD is updating the requirements for devices checked out to students. Moving forward, before a student can be issued a device, a parent or guardian must fill out and agree to the Technology Lending Agreement.
Go To Bernal Technology Lending Agreement
At this time, we are working to fulfill requests based on need.
Filling out the form does not guarantee a device will be ready.
Students with a device already checked out to them will not receive an additional device.
New late work policy beginning the second grading period - October 19th.
Beginning the second grading period (Oct. 19th), students will have a one week window to turn in missing/late assignments. The one week window will start once the assignment grade has been posted on Schoology. Late work will not be accepted after this one week window unless there are extenuating circumstances and prior arrangements have been made with the teacher. This new plan will help ensure our students are learning the material in a sequential order and that teachers are providing feedback to students in a timely manner.
Lifetouch School Pictures for students are scheduled February 12, 2021.
Support Bernal's PTA Membership Drive!
Parents and Teachers, please click to support and Join Bernal's PTA
Schoology Updates
Parent Schoology Account Information - Please check your student's NISD email from Friday, September 18 for a parent access code. Parents will use this code to create a Schoology parent account. Instructions for creating parent accounts will also be included in the email.
How to check for grades and missing assignments in Schoology.
Northside's Homework Helpline
Monday - Thursday: 4 - 8 p.m. for Elementary and 6 - 10 p.m. for Middle/High
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. All Levels
Sunday: 2 -6 p.m. All Levels
Click to get Secondary Student Homework Support
to request help by video conference, chat, or screen share.
Campus Health Information Updates
2. Daily Health Requirements for in-person learners each morning:
- QR Health Screener
- Temperature check
- Face covering
- Hand Sanitizer
3. We must all follow CDC guidelines for not attending school when Covid/Flu symptoms are present. *If your child has seasonal allergies, it is recommended to get a doctor's note stating that the child has allergies so that you will not be contacted by the campus every time symptoms (drainage, cough, sore throat) are present.
4. Health Screenings continue to be in place per Texas Law. The following screenings will take place during the school year:
- 7th Grade - vision/hearing/antes
- 7th Grade Girls - scoliosis
- 8th Grade Boys - scoliosis
All screenings will take place the first semester. If a parent does not want a screening to take place, please email the nurse tina.mcfall@nisd.net with a refusal.
5. Students that are moving from or visiting the following states or countries will need to quarantine for 14 days before attending in-person learning per Metropolitan Health District Guidelines. These include Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
6. Once on campus, if a student presents with symptoms (fever, cough, nasal congestion, sore throat, body aches, stomach ache/diarrhea/nausea, loss of taste or smell, they will be sent home. Even if a fever is not present but other symptoms are present, the student will be sent home.
Attendance Matters!
Attendance for virtual and in-person will be required DAILY! Teachers will record attendance for each course daily. There are multiple ways that students can earn attendance but Students are highly encouraged and expected to participate in live instruction via Zoom with their teachers for the first 15 - 20 minutes of class.
Best practice is to be logged in a few minutes early before each class!
Thank you Parents for supporting and sharing these expectations with you students!
Is your student enrolled in one of the following High School Credited Course?
- Communication Application and MAPS
- Algebra 1 Pre-AP
- Algebra II Pre-AP
- Art 1
- Advanced Art HS
- AVID 1
- Geometry Pre-AP
- Spanish (any level)
- Principles of Applied Engineering
- Principles of Human Service
The Minimum Attendance for High School Class Credit Law (section 25.092) states, "A student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90% of the days the class is offered." If a student accrues more than eighteen (18) absences in a year-long course, without attending Attendance Recovery or having extenuating circumstances, he or she will receive NO CREDIT for that course.
Absences will be reviewed periodically to ensure that students are in compliance with this expectation. Students will have an opportunity to retrieve time missed in order to ensure they meet the attendance requirements for high school credit.
Attendance Recovery will be offered for students who need to retrieve time for excessive absences. Students must attend Attendance Recovery for absences which exceed the legal limit.
Please feel free to call your student’s teacher(s) or counselor with any questions. We are very pleased to be able to offer high school credit courses on our campus and greatly appreciate your cooperation in supporting this opportunity for your child.
Technology Support
Technology Services will continue to offer families technical support via our dedicated student hotline. Beginning Aug. 24, families can call 1-877-768-4630 for technical support during the following hours:
Student Technical Support Hotline:
Toll Free Number: 1- 877-768-4630
Chat Feature: https://tinyurl.com/NISDchat
Monday - Thursday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday - 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday - 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday - 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The original Hotline Number 210-397-0020 is also still available
Bernal Administration
Principal Glenda Munson
Vice Principal Karen Avila
Academic Dean Jose Mendez
Assistant Principal David La Boy
Useful Campus Numbers
Bernal Middle School
210-398-1900
(FAX) 210-679-8216
210-398-1932
Registration and schedule information
Bernal Attendance Office
210-398-1908
Attendance information & absent notes can be sent to monica.flores@nisd.net
Bernal Nurse's Office
210-398-1909
Immunizations, Medication and Doctors' notes can be sent to tina.mcfall@nisd.net
Black Knights Victory Cry
We are the valiant Knights
Leading the just and right
Determined and focused on our quest
Striving always to do our best
Courageous and brave are we
To reach our goals and destiny
Encouraging others to join us on our journey
To reach and enter the Kingdom of Learning!
Written by Sandra Espinosa, Bernal Teacher