March 2017 78260 61 for web by Russell Groomer

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March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

Note From The Publisher Spring In Full Swing

Your bridge from hospital to home.

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looking forward to hearing all about it. Hopefully everyone is pounding the pavement on their 2017 goals and things are going well. Here at Welcome Home we are settling into the new year with confidence. Our team is growing and we have welcomed home some of our previous staff and sent off others to pursue their dreams. March is here, so let’s embrace it! Get outside and enjoy the season of renewal and reflection. Summer will be here in no time bringing with it those one hundred degree temperatures. (The article published last month regarding Johnson HS Shattered Dreams was in error. No event occured in 2017)

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March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

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odeo is a wrap and Spring Break is two weeks away. 2017 is in flight with no signs of stopping! March first also lands on Ash Wednesday for those that observe Lent. Groomer’s Seafood partnered with us this month sponsoring several pages in the paper. The promotion gave restaurants a chance to advertise during Lent. Don’t forget to turn to pages 10 and 11. It is only 3 months into the new year and I feel like it has been quite the whirlwind. The greatest Super Bowl in history kicked off February, then the Rodeo, Valentine’s Day and my Grandfather’s 80th birthday. With all of that behind me I am a little afraid of March! March always makes me think of green, spring and rain. The color of life and season of renewal. Our days get longer and more productive and the weather turns warmer. Big plans for Spring Break? We would love to hear about your adventures. Welcome Home is your community newspaper, so make sure to share your news. Baseball, Softball and soccer are in full swing, literally. Let us know how your team is doing this season. And don’t forget about Prom season! With so many amazing themes this year the photos will be amazing. NEISD’s prom is held in April and NISD in May. We are

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On The Cover By Alissa Reinhard resh Grouper salad with mango and jicama, balsamic pearls, lemon juice and roasted cashews. Amberjack hot off the grill, seasoned with salt, pepper and garlic. Beer battered Texas Gulf Black Drum with a side of tartar or aioli sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Is your mouthwatering yet? It’s seafood season and Groomer’s Seafood is ready to help you add a little variety to your dinner table! Groomer’s Seafood, family owned and operated since the 1800s, is known nationwide for procuring and producing the highest quality seafood in the nation. The family Patriarch, Gilbert Groomer, has been in the industry since he was a teenager. His experience is unmatched. Groomer’s is known for its hands on ownership, commitment to customer service, and of course, mouthwatering seafood. Located right here in San Antonio, the door to countless fresh and delicious seafood options is always open. “We’ve been a part of this community for almost 40 years,” stated Michael Groomer, CFO of Groomer’s. “And the people here have supported us through all those years, more than welcoming our family. San

Antonio is a big city with a small town feel. Groomer’s Seafood has so many loyal customers, many of whom are now our friends.” Groomer’s is also committed to providing sustainable seafood options to customers so that the long-term health of the fishing environment and the livelihood of those who depend on that environment are never compromised. Whether you’re in the market for one pound of fish for dinner on Friday night, or a crawfish boil for your next big get together, at Groomer’s you’ll always be treated like family. To learn more about Groomer’s Seafood and their commitment to sustainable seafood options, turn to pages 10 and 11.

College Tutors Educator Of The Month By Steve Johnson, Owner of College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors t is our pleasure here at College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors to announce the College Tutors Educator of the Month for March. The purpose of this award is to highlight and recognize a local high school educator that acts as a role model to our students. The award recipient, determined by input from the school administration, recognizes educators in our area high schools that personify the three core values of College Tutors: “Can Do, Results Matter and Leave It Better.” This month we recognize David Christie who has been at Johnson High School for three years. Mr. Christie teaches Pre-AP and on level World Geography. He has a passion for this subject and helps his students

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attain the following skills: critical reading, class discussion, time management, organization, historical analysis, and writing skills. He is very conscientious about meeting the needs of all his students. David Christie Mr. Christie’s classroom is truly student-centered. His lessons lead students on an exploration, each idea building on another, helping students to reach their own conclusions. He uses a variety of images, video and other technologies to offer students a clear understanding of the world around them. His lessons offer students cultural and political backgrounds as a lens to view current issues facing humanity. The passion Mr. Christie brings to teaching is invaluable to the teachers that work around him, his enthusiasm for his students is contagious. The owners of College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors of San Antonio established this recognition with the support of Welcome Home Community Newspaper to recognize and honor the educators in our local schools for their efforts with their students. We firmly believe that the quality of education in our community is primarily a direct reflection of their daily efforts as role models for our students. For more information on this award please contact College Tutors at 210-2020303 or stoneoaktx@collegenannies.com.

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March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

Habitat For Humanity Celebrating One Thousandth Home

Submitted By Bianca Peralta abitat For Humanity of San Antonio is kicking off 2017 with a bang – building their 1,000th home in San Antonio. This milestone home is located in Habitat’s newest community, Lenwood Heights, located on the city’s west side off Acme Road. Habitat was fortunate to purchase the land from Bethel United Methodist Church, which sits next to the rising neighborhood. When completed, the community will serve as an affordable home to 167 hardworking families. Habitat’s roots in San Antonio are deep. The organization built the very first Habitat home in the world in San Antonio in 1976. It took dedicated volunteers two years. Habitat is equally as excited to build their

1,000th home – which today can be built in as little as two months! It is only due to the generous support of the Valero Energy Foundation and the hard work of their volunteers that Habitat is able to build their 1,000th home. Valero Energy Foundation continues to be an amazing partner – this special home marks their tenth Habitat build in San Antonio. Valero makes sure to use their home builds as a great team building activity for volunteers at all levels within their company. This special home will be for the Guevara family – Reyna and her daughter. Reyna is putting in her “sweat equity” and is enjoying attending homeownership readiness classes. “As a single mother of an eight-year-old daughter, I set a goal for myself to provide

Book Bargains Are Back! Submitted By Michelle Shaw he NEISD Council of PTAs is sponsoring the 15th Annual Used Book Sale with the help and participation of the local PTAs in the North East Independent School District. The sale of more than 80,000 books will be held at Blossom Athletic Center in Littleton Gym, 12002 Jones Maltsberger Road, 78216 from April 7-9. The book sale is the largest of its kind in the area and is not only a fundraising effort for PTAs throughout NEISD, but also a community service project. Prices are kept low, low, low to promote literacy in the home. The sale is one of the best bargains in town with soft cover books priced at $.50

and hardcover books and DVDS/CDs at $1.00! The sale begins April 7, and is a threeday event: Friday, April 7 and Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, April 9, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday is the everpopular bag sale day where a bag can be purchased for $15.00 and stuffed to the brim with all the books that can fit; additional bags can be purchased for $10 each. Cash and MasterCard/Visa are accepted. Please, no checks. Admission is free. A reader’s favorite subjects are easy to find with more than 25 book categories represented including art, biography, business, classics/poetry/plays, comic

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

A Habitat For Humanity volunteer works on the The 1,000th home will be located on the city’s west side organization’s 1,000th home build in San Antonio. in Habitat’s newest community, Lenwood Heights.

my daughter a stable home where she could have her very own bedroom,” said Reyna. “I love my community and helping people so I am very excited to be in this program where I will be able to help other families

books and graphic novels, computers, fiction, foreign language and travel, health and fitness along with self-help, history, military and politics, hobbies, how-to and crafts, horror, humor and games, music, mystery and thrillers, non-fiction, parenting and childcare, pets and animals, reference, religious and inspirational, romance, scifi and fantasy, sports, westerns, young adult and CDs and DVDs. The enormous selection of children’s books is divided into board books, picture books, leveled readers, chapter books, and series books. Used book sale proceeds will fund PTA projects such as the Blossom Scholarship Fund, Arts in Education, Health Education

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build their homes.” Join Habitat For Humanity for the house dedication of this and other homes on Saturday, March 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Awareness, Alcohol and Drug Education, Project Graduation, Bike Rodeos and many, many others that benefit students throughout NEISD. For more information email booksale@necouncilpta.com.

How Hormones Can Help You Think And Cope

By Donna Becker, D.O. Enhancement of Life (210) 545-5224 he menopausal woman who cannot remember where she put her keys, the name of a commonly used item, or song title, may be experiencing symptoms of dreaded brain-fog. The best time to start hormones to preserve cognitive function is at the beginning of menopause. Young women given estradiol after a hysterectomy performed better on memory tests as compared to hysterectomized women not given hormones. Estradiol causes both physical and chemical changes in the brains of humans and rats. (Hormones &

Behavior Vol 86, September 2014, pages 602-618). Thus, in order for estrogen to exert positive effects on neural functioning, hormonal replacement must be given close to the initiation of menopause. (Hormones & Behavior Vol 86, September 2014, pages 602-61) Although the majority of women do not develop depression after menopause, for those who do, hormone therapy significantly decreased depression scores in a doubleblind trial, meaning no one knew who got the estradiol capsule versus the blank capsule. Eighty percent of subjects receiving the real

Welcome To Spring! By Monica Allison, O.D. Stone Oak Vision Source (210) 495-9020 tone Oak Vision Source will host two Spring Frame Showcases at our NEW Stone Oak location at 810 Knights Cross on March 24 and March 31 from 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.! If you haven’t yet visited our new location, we would love to see you! Just stop in and say hello.

Representatives from Michael Kors, Emporio Armani, Tory Burch, Vogue, and Costa Del Mar will be in attendance with their entire collections. We will also offer special discounts and promotions on these frame lines. Stop by the office and enjoy some complimentary drinks and snacks

hormone capsule showed improvement or resolution of depression after three weeks, while only 22 percent of the placebo group reported an improvement. (Obstet Gynecol 183:414-420) I have observed this improvement in mood over 10 years of hormone replacement therapy in which I have treated over 3,000 patients. Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone in the right combination can help women sleep, stop hot flashes/night sweats, restore sexual desire, and rejuvenate the vagina. An enhanced quality of life and an inner feeling of peace and contentment commonly prevails. However, if you are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, you need to see a good psychiatrist and undergo a full physical, laboratory, and mental evaluation. Depression is treatable. Intense physical exertion also relieves depression in some people. A great read extolling exercise for mood disorders is the book “Spark” by Dr.

Ratey. Switching to a vegan diet can also help. Another great book on that subject, “How Not To Die” by Dr. Greger. Hormones are not for everyone. Many physicians believe and some studies show that hormones can trigger reproductive cancers, stroke, and heart attacks. However, there are other studies showing that hormones may be beneficial as we age. We also know that persons who do not take hormones may still suffer from reproductive cancers such as breast, ovary, and uterus, heart attacks, and strokes. Hormone replacement is a lifestyle choice, not a necessity, and the decision should be made only after careful consideration of the risks and benefits. Donna Becker, D.O., Board Certified in Emergency Medicine. Enhancement of Life is located at 14603 Huebner Rd., Suite 2601, San Antonio, TX 78231. For more information, call 210-545- 5224 or visit www.antiagingsa.com.

while viewing these exciting new releases for spring! March 24 – Michael Kors, Emporio Armani March 31 – Tory Burch, Vogue, Costa Del Mar (we now carry the ophthalmic line of Costa Del Mar as well as their sunglass line!) Our new doctors are all settled in and already getting to be old timers around here! And our new location features a larger optical space clinic area enabling us to be more efficient with our patient care. If anyone in your family needs eye care, please give our office a call and we will be happy to get an appointment scheduled. In

addition to specials on frames, we have an assortment of new contact lens trials on hand as well. For students athletes, contact lenses are a great option to give a wider field of view and less obstruction than a sport frame. All of our doctors are very comfortable working with first time contact lens wearers. If you have any vision questions or are looking for a family eye doctor, please visit Stone Oak Vision Source online at www.visionsource-stoneoak.com or call 210-495-9020. Visit us at our new location 810 Knights Cross, Ste 101, at the NE corner of Knights Cross and Stone Oak Parkway (behind the Excellence ER building).

Get Your Life Back With

Vision Source is the nation’s premier network of independent doctors of optometry with more than 4,000 doctors in over 2,000 practices across the United States and Canada. Each Vision Source practice is dedicated to maintaining the special relationship between a patient and his or her family eye doctor. Decisions regarding your eye health and vision correction are made by your Vision Source doctor based upon what’s best for your continued good vision. We are proud of our team and we emphasize the importance of customer service with every encounter.

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March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

“You’re always set for a sitter.” No really – local business owners Lynn & Steve Johnson mean it.

Celebrating 3 Years! By Alissa Reinhard teve and Lynn Johnson have worked with youth in the San Antonio area in a volunteer capacity for over a decade when they felt a calling to bring a family oriented business to the community. So, in 2014, they did just that and opened the doors to College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors in San Antonio. They have been growing ever since and now serve the entire north San Antonio area and surrounding communities. “The last three years have been amazing!” Lynn said, summing up the couple’s excitement. “We have served over 900 families with childcare or tutoring services. We have opened two community centers that provide a great environment for tutoring students and training of our staff.” Even while managing their growing business, the couple still finds time to give back to the community. They support monthly educator recognition in area high schools and provide free full-length practice SAT or ACT tests to local high school students on a regular basis. They also support community youth groups by donating services regularly to organization silent auction events.

College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors has made our lives much easier, knowing that when we need a nanny or sitter, we will have someone we can trust. I’ve been really impressed by the quality of the sitters—all smart, conscientious, and hard-working! We’re really spoiled now—I don’t know what I would do without them!” – Mary

We had a Nanny, Madelyn, from College Sitters for a week. She was so awesome. My 3 year old and 5 year old loved her. She was extremely attentive and she even scheduled their day. She made sure they had craft time, play time outside, downtime, etc. She even baked cookies and cupcakes with them. One day she took boxes (we had just moved) and she turned them into cars and made our living room a drive in theater. She made the girls movie tickets and popcorn buckets out of construction paper and they watched a movie at the “drive in theater”. She constantly played with them and kept them occupied. She was caring and responsible. She was really world class. My kids had a great week.” – Erin

“It is important to us that our business be a good and supportive community member,” explained Steve. “Part of that is giving back where we can.” Their growth has been fueled by high quality, consistent and caring service for families in both childcare and tutoring. They deliver all this through an easy and convenient customer experience. “First and foremost is delivering the best, high quality nanny, sitter or tutor experience to a family,” explained Steve. “The icing on the cake is the convenience of use our service provides for our busy customers.”

For example, this convenience is illustrated in their College Sitter business through their industry leading My Sitters ® App. The app allows families to schedule their favorite sitter whenever they need it from the convenience of their smart phone. Their sitter program has grown significantly in the last year due in large part to the adaptation and ease of use of the app. “Our families love it,” stated Lynn. “They can literally be having coffee with a friend, decide to go out, pull their phone out, book care with their favorite sitter and have a confirmation all before finishing their cup of coffee.” For all their services, they maintain a personal touch that starts with a complementary family meeting. At this meeting, they sit down with the family and get a good feel for their individual needs. This one-on-one customized approach helps the company match the right caregivers for nanny or sitter services or the right tutor role model for a students’ tutoring. Morgan Everett, their Role Model Manager, explains. “We build stronger families,” she stated. “And we use our core values of ‘Can Do’, ‘Results Matter’, and ‘Leave

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

www.welcomehomesa.com

Rubi did many activities with my children. She did arts/crafts, played soccer, took them on a walk, played games, and much more. It was refreshing and wonderful to see that a caregiver would do all of this instead of allowing them to watch TV all day. We are deﬁnitely requesting her again in the future!” – Cheri It Better’ as guiding principles for our team in working with the families we support.” Both Steve and Lynn credit their growth to the hard work and dedication of their role model nannies, sitters and tutors. “At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the quality of the services we provide,” emphasized Lynn. “The feedback from our regular follow up communication on our care and tutoring continues to provide us with the best indicator of the families’ satisfaction with our services. That satisfaction is what is driving our growth.”

College Nannies + Sitters + Tutors Stone Oak 20079 Stone Oak Parkway Suite 1104, San Antonio, TX 78258 Northwest 9110 N Loop 1604 W Suite 110, San Antonio, TX 78249 210-202-0303 www.facebook.com/ CNTSanAntonio www.collegenannies.com 9

Groomer’s Seafood – Your Hometown Seafood Experts

Photo credit: Oscar McAnally

Groomer family L to R: Richard Groomer, Blake Groomer, Patriarch Gilbert Groomer, Michael Groomer. Back Row: Russell Groomer. Not pictured: Family Matriarch (and the glue that binds), Susie Groomer.

By Alissa Reinhard here are many challenges to operating a successful business. Add the element of “family-owned” to that business, and you’ve elevated these challenges to a whole new level. But what you’ve also done is added passion, purpose, humility, and a myriad of other traits that are often missing in a larger, corporate run businesses. Groomer’s Seafood has been family owned and operated since the 1800s and is widely known for procuring and producing the highest quality seafood in the nation. Today, Groomer’s has grown to be one of the largest fresh seafood suppliers in the country, but they have never lost sight of where they came from or the passion for what they do. The Groomers have saltwater in their veins. First comes family, and then comes fish…and crawfish, lobster, shrimp, crab claws…the list goes on and on! “Anyone who has a family business can tell you that it’s a daily sacrifice,” said Michael Groomer, CFO of Groomer’s Seafood. “Every family member needs to work hard, be humble, forgiving, flexible, and always willing to listen to the opinions of the others, yet always work for the greater good of the company. When the family is successful, the company is successful. This is why we work to be the best seafood company we can…because it’s a reflection upon ourselves and our family.” The history of Groomer’s Seafood dates all the way back to the late 1800s in Port Isabel, Texas where Great Grandfather Bernando Perez fished the Lower Laguna Madre Bays of the Gulf of Mexico. Through selling his catch to the local population, the inception of the family business had begun. Bernardo was the father of eight children, one of which was Hortensia Perez. Hortensia married George Groomer, father of Gilbert Groomer, the patriarch of Groomer’s Seafood today. Gilbert’s Uncle Rodolfo, Hortensia’s brother, taught him how to fish the flats of the Lower Laguna Madre, just as his father had taught him. Gilbert became a skilled fisherman, married Susie, and had four sons – Rick, Mike, Russell and Troy. He moved Groomer’s Seafood from South Texas to San Antonio in 1982 so that the business could be more centrally located and supply seafood across the state of Texas. “Another uniqueness you experience at Groomer’s Seafood is hands on ownership and experience of the family,” explained Michael. “The family Patriarch, Gilbert Groomer, has been in the industry since he was a teenager. His experience in the industry is unmatched.” Chefs and caterers looking for premium seafood were Groomer’s original targeted clients, but locals began to seek out their services as well. “Prior to 2009, we were a relatively small seafood operation,” explained Michael. “But we have worked hard and always strive to be different. We are not your small retail store, but we are also not your large corporate seafood company that will not let the public see what goes on behind closed doors. We want everyone to see our daily operations – packaging, processing, and shipping. Our customers always

get the best quality seafood, just like the most expensive restaurant in the area.” Whether a customer is ordering just one pound of fish for dinner on Friday night, or 100 pounds for an area restaurant, they are treated like family. With wholesale already booming, today, retail sales account for one quarter of all of Groomer’s sales. During a special LobsterMania event in the summer, Groomer’s sold 15,000 lobsters in six hours. During crawfish season, they sold over 10,000 pounds of crawfish…in one day. And over the last seven years, Groomer’s has averaged a 20% growth rate each year. “No one is going to stay in business long without a commitment to providing the best customer service possible,” explained Michael. “Groomer’s Seafood would not be where we are today without having a reputation for providing our customers with the freshest seafood products available. Visit our retail store and you will see the difference right away. Your shopping experience will combine the freshest seafood anywhere with the down home feel of a neighborhood market. And a member of the family is always around to greet you.” Groomer’s reputation and relationship with their customers, both locally and worldwide, as well as their experience on the operational side of the business has served them tremendously and allowed them to expand their business. “Seafood is a world commodity which means that Groomer’s competes with other nations for our product,” explained Michael. “And product can be affected by natural disasters like volcanoes, earthquakes, droughts, and floods and also world events and politics. Because of this, relationships play a big part in the ability to get top quality seafood on a regular basis. We not only sell the seafood, but at some point in our lives, we were also the fishermen that caught the seafood. We know about shrimping, bay fishing and the production side of the business.” In September 2014, Groomer’s opened a location in Corpus Christi, a vital move for the company. This allowed them to be stationed directly on the coast and deal one-onone with the fishermen and maximized the potential to bring the freshest products to customers at the best prices. Next up is a location in Austin, estimated to open in September 2017. “Austin is the natural extension of our growth,” stated Michael. “It will allow us to distribute to Central and South Texas with same-day capabilities. When dealing with a perishable product, distribution is vital. We already deliver to Austin, but the time has come to bring the city it’s very own Groomer’s Seafood market.” With exciting new opportunities on the horizon, the legacy of Groomer’s Seafood is just beginning, but San Antonio will always be home. “We’ve been a part of this community for almost 40 years,” stated Michael. “And the people here have supported us through all those years, more than welcoming our family. San Antonio is a big city with a small town feel. Groomer’s Seafood has so many loyal customers, many of whom are

www.welcomehomesa.com

Richard Groomer, CEO of Groomers Seafood, talks to a customer while he is deciding what to purchase.

now our friends.” Groomer’s Seafood is your hometown seafood expert. From fresh fish fillets including Amberjack, Chilean Sea Bass, and New Zealand Salmon to Gulf Coast Brown Shrimp, Jumbo Scallops, and Texas Gulf Oysters – there’s Gilbert Groomer, Patriarch of something for every seafood Groomer’s Seafood, is a customer favorite. Many customers come by just lover. You can always count to hear about his many adventures in on healthy, fresh options in the seafood business. a place where you’re made to feel like family – part of the Groomer family, the first family of seafood! For more information about Groomer’s Seafood, visit www.groomerseafood.com where you can find in store specials updated weekly, recipes, shipping information, and more. Like Groomer’s on Facebook and follow them on Instagram for daily updates. Call 210-377-0951or visit their 3,000 sq ft retail space located at 9801 McCullough Avenue.

9801 McCullough San Antonio, Texas 78216 210.377.0951 4002 East Causeway Blvd. Corpus Christi, Texas 78402 361.730.1514 Austin Coming Soon 801 Ruby Dr. Austin, Texas 78757 March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

Eat More Seafood! Healthy, Fresh, Sustainable Options Available At Groomer’s

By Alissa Reinhard ost of us strive to stick to a healthy diet filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables, healthy grains and proteins, and limited amounts of fats, oils and sweets. But what about seafood? There are many reasons why it’s important to incorporate seafood into your diet. Seafood is considered a lean protein with a variety of nutrients beneficial to brain and heart health. The USDA/HHS Dietary Guidelines actually recommend that Americans eat at least two servings of seafood each week, but unfortunately, only approximately 1 in every 10 people follow this guideline. So are you ready to incorporate more seafood into your diet? With a host of feasts and celebrations right around the corner, now is the perfect time to find out how! Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, marks the beginning of the busy season for seafood markets like Groomer’s Seafood, one of the nation’s largest seafood suppliers, located right here in San Antonio. Groomer’s is committed to providing fresh, premium seafood items for local families, restaurants, caterers and more not only during the Lenten season, but year round. For many celebrating Lent, it’s a time of reflection, sacrifice and prayer. Catholics are also encouraged to abstain from eating meat on holy days and Fridays throughout Lent, thus making seafood a healthy and viable option. If you’re looking for delicious, healthy meals to prepare for your family this Lenten season, look no further than Groomer’s Seafood. As a family business established in the 1800s, Groomer’s views the sea and it’s bounty

as more than just a resource. The privilege to harvest, process and supply thousands of pounds of this precious commodity is something the Groomers don’t take lightly. The family business is a legacy that they hope to continue passing down for generations. Groomer’s and their Texas Gulf commercial fishermen are deeply committed to the principles of sustainability – meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to in turn, meet their needs. The long-term health of the fishing environment and the livelihood of those who depend on that environment are never forgotten nor taken for granted. During the Lenten Season, several sustainable species of fish are available at Groomer’s including Texas Gulf Black Drum – a flaky, but firm, whitefish perfect for blackening, baking, grilling, or battering and frying. There’s nothing quite as good as beer battered Texas Gulf Black Drum with a side of tartar or aioli sauce and some fresh lemon. Another sustainable option is the Texas Gulf Red Snapper. Red Snapper is the prize of the Texas Gulf with a wonderful, mild flavor, a nice, flaky flesh and high quality meat. And finally, the Texas Gulf Grouper, a delicious option with a mild flavor not considered very “fishy,” and a fantastic texture. All three of these fish selections are considered a “good alternative,” meaning that they are available in abundance and responsibly harvested without harming the environment. When choosing any seafood selection, it’s always good to consider sustainability and to feel comfortable with your choice. At Groomer’s, you will always know where and how your fish was caught and how sustainability played

an important role. The highly trained seafood experts and fishmongers at Groomer’s are more than happy to answer your questions. So as you prepare for the Lenten season, consider Groomer’s for your seafood needs. Make your Fat Tuesday celebration a little more special this year by incorporating a seafood dish or two into your feast. And each Friday during Lent, when you’re forgoing meat, try a sustainable fish option fresh from Groomer’s. There’s no better time than now to discover what fresh seafood options are available to you locally during Lent and year round!

Rendering of Groomers Seafood Austin. Projected opening end of 2017.

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

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March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

Crawfish Season Is In Full Swing

By Blake Groomer Groomer’s Seafood (210) 377-0951 reak out the corn on the cob and your potatoes, crawfish season is in full swing! Don’t be the only house on the block not taking advantage of this year’s crop of world famous Louisiana mudbugs! Right now we’re about to enter the “peak” of the season. Late February, March, April, and May have the ideal temperatures and rain amounts for our guys to harvest the best crawfish there is to find, and Groomer’s Seafood trucks them straight to our store for you to pick up for your weekend boil. Before you get too excited and start sending pre-orders for this weekend in, let’s go over a few pointers and the proper way to eat this Cajun delicacy. HOW TO EAT: 1. Invite the family and friends! Crawfish isn’t meant to be a solo meal! Don’t be shellfish and invite the the crew! 2. Pre-order your crawﬁsh. You will eat A LOT of crawfish. Trust me. I can plow through 5 pounds like nothing, but your typical eater will eat about 2-3 pounds. Our sacks average at about 34 pounds so they will feed around 12 or so people. 3. After the crawﬁsh have been boiled and you’re staring face to face with your bright red mudbug, slow down and grab a bib. Things are going to get messy. Once you’re properly protected, pinch the head of

Join Us For Your Fridays During Lent & Enjoy . . .

the crawfish between two fingers with one hand and hold the tail with your other hand. Then twist the head. 4. This is where casual crawﬁsh eaters are separated from serious Cajuns, if you’re serious suck the juices from the head of the crawﬁsh. There’s a ton of flavor in there, if you think you’d rather pass, no worries, skip this step or harvest all the heads for your true Cajun buddies at the meal. 5. Peel the shell off the tail. This is where most of the meat is. Pinch the shell that covers the tail to crack it and then remove. The more you do this the faster this process will get. So don’t worry if the first few take a little while. 6. Don’t eat that tail just yet! Clean it off first. Hold the tail with one hand and peel back the outer layer of skin from the top of the crawfish meat with your other hand. This will remove the undesirable bits in one swift motion. 7. Repeat steps 3 through 6 until royally stuffed. Peel whatever you don’t eat and save to make gumbo, etouffee, or even crawfish fettuccine! Alright that’s it! Now you’re a true mudbug eatin’ expert so get on making that pre-order. Either give us a call at 210-377-0951 or visit our website www. groomerseafood.com to find out how to place your order today! We look forward to seeing you soon!

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Discoveries Thru Vision By Erin Nevelow, O.D. Nevelow Eye Associates (210) 349-2437 • www.drsnevelow.com changing visual distances. Children’s Vision Problems Eye tracking: the ability to keep eyes on ormally we write about children’s a moving target, or move from one target to vision problems in August for back another and back again. to school, or September when school Eye teaming: basically using both eyes screenings are normally done. However, in the last couple of months, we have had quite together, or having good depth perception. Eye-hand coordination: the ability to a few kids in here with significant vision problems. Their parents always ask me, use visual information to direct the hands. Visual perception: the ability to organize “Why hasn’t this been caught before?” images on a printed page into letters, words My usual answer is, “because you can’t and ideas and to remember what is read. rely on a vision screening at school or in So how do you know if your child is a pediatrician’s office to truly determine how your child sees.” In Texas, school aged having vision problems? The most common children are only required to be screened signs are frequent eye rubbing or blinking, in kindergarten, first, third, fifth and short attention span, headaches, and sitting seventh grades. If a child develops vision to close to the television. However, the best problems between these years, then they get way to tell if your child is having problems missed. Also, school screenings only test is to get them a comprehensive, dilated eye distance vision. That’s fine if your child is exam. All children should have an exam nearsighted, but a farsighted child will see before starting kindergarten and every year fine at distance and have problems up close, after unless you notice a problem sooner. The most important tool your child has to especially learning to read. Then we have to consider the other visual achieve in school is their vision. If you have any questions about the skills beyond seeing 20/20 that are required topic in this article or any other visual for academic success. The following visual questions please call Dr.’s John and Erin skills are needed for effective reading and Nevelow at 210.349.2437. You can look learning1: us up online at www.drsnevelow.com or Visual acuity: the ability to see clearly our facebook page. at all distances. Eye focusing: the ability to quickly and efficiently maintain clear vision when

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t Nevelow Eye Associates, we focus on the specific needs of each patient. Regular eye exams are key to healthy eyesight as well as early detection of certain diseases, including glaucoma, diabetic eye diseases and macular degeneration. We provide the l a t e s t fashions in glasses, all types of contact lenses as well as laser vision consultations for the entire family.

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Growth Planned for Bexar-Bulverde VFD Submitted By Kenneth Jarvis esidents of the Bexar-Bulverde Volunteer Fire Department (BBVFD) in north-central Bexar County have more reason to be grateful to live in that district. Because of improvements made by the Fire Department, individual homeowner insurance costs may be reduced. The BBVFD was recently evaluated by the nationwide Insurance Services Office (ISO) and their rating improved from a Class 3/3Y to a Class 2/2Y, with Class 1 being the best score on the scale of 10. According to Fire Chief Jerry Bialick, “We are now rated within the top 1.8% of over 48,000 departments in the nation rated by the ISO.” This rating will become effective in March of 2017. Residents should check with their homeowners’ insurance carrier to see what the cost benefit will be. One of the many improvements the BBVFD is planning is the construction of a new fire station on Canyon Golf Road. “This will give us three stations and continue to improve our services to those who live in the north-east part of our district,” said Chief Bialick. “We plan to

Construction will start this spring on the new BBVFD fire station on Canyon Golf road.

break ground on this new station in the spring.” The Chief also noted that they are looking for land to build a fourth station and an order for two additional fire engines and another brush truck was recently placed. In addition to planning for the future, the BBVFD recently celebrated 50 years of service to the district. “We’ve grown from very humble beginnings,” said Chief Bialick. “From a few homes we now provide fire and rescue services to over 62,000 residents and neighborhoods with over $8.5 billion in

Step Into Decorating

By Mary Jenkins- Asquith The Jenkins Interior Design Group, Inc. (210) 490-0161 he cold is finally gone and we can manicures and pedicures, it has also entered begin to bring life back into our plants our fabrics, upholstery as well as drapes. and decorate our homes. Mirrors, mirrors and more mirrors remain The markets this year are filled with popular with furnishings and accessories. bling and glitter. Rugs are coming in with a lot of color and a Just like glitter has entered our adult lot of texture.

BBVFD firefighters must be ready for a wide variety of emergencies. Here firefighters extinguish a fire that started in an outbuilding.

assets.” Chief Bialick pointed out that their district includes a major resort hotel and

golf course, schools, multi-story apartment complexes, churches and businesses.

We have been very busy with organizing Magical Makeovers and remodeling. Clients are updating their homes with new accessories as well as new colors. Orange and lime green are hot, as are hot pinks and hot blues. Clearing your space and making changes is something that might not be fun. However, we open the good chi into our lives by doing this. What are you trying to achieve in your decorating? What new mood? Who are you entertaining? Are you ready for change? Please call us and we can come over and assist in developing your new design and decorating plan. Your Home is Your Castle! For more information, contact Mary

Lozano-Jenkins, Registered Interior Designer at mjkg1@aol.com or 210490-0161 or Jessica C. Jenkins, Interior Decorator at jessicacjenkins@gmail.com or 210-464-1519 or Jennifer Jenkins, Interior Decorator at jennjenkins720@ aol.com or 210-325-3772. Visit Jenkins Interior Design Group online at www. thejenkinsinteriordesigngroup.com.

Holy Spirit Celebrates Catholic Schools Week Submitted By Mary Delaney ach year, one week is dedicated to celebrating all the aspects that make Catholic schools unique: connection to parish, close-knit community, and the ability to discuss faith openly, to name a few. Catholic Schools Week, observed this year from January 30 – February 3, is a time when schools across the nation share their pride with the school community and the public. For Holy Spirit Catholic School, planning began in late fall so that team leaders and administrators could brainstorm and organize special activities. Recurring themes or concentrations for the week include: Vocation Day, Community Appreciation Day, Parent Appreciation Day, Pastor Appreciation Day, Celebrating our Future and lastly, Student Appreciation Day. On the first day of Catholic Schools Week, Vocation Day, students heard from parents and alumni in different professions as they shared information about their careers, the importance of good grades and taking advantage of leadership opportunities when offered. The students enjoyed the opportunity to learn about various industries straight from the source. On day two, students celebrated their parents at the bi-annual “Pastries with Parents” event where students were able

QUENEDIT BALLET SCHOOL Catalina Garza & Ernesto Quenedit Artistic Directors

SUMMER INTENSIVE PROGRAM Audition March 4, 2017

Holy Spirit students celebrated Catholic Schools Week the week of January 30. The final day was kicked off with a pep rally in the gym.

to enjoy a pastry with their mom and dad before starting the school day. On the third day, “Pastor Appreciation Day,” Holy Spirit students presented their pastor, Fr. Carlos Velasquez, with gifts in appreciation of his service and support for their school. The final two days of the week were all about the students. On day four, eighth graders took over the administrative and teaching roles. At the end of the day, the teachers smiled knowingly as the eighth graders shared how exhausted they were from their lessons and question and answer sessions. Day five, “Student Appreciation Day” did disappoint. Thanks to the work of two dedicated parents, all students enjoyed

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

a fun-filled, jam-packed day beginning with a pep rally in the gym. Students were entertained by Holy Spirit alumni, the Antonian High School Band, Dance, and Cheer in addition to Central Catholic Cheerleaders and ROTC. Following the morning festivities, various grades enjoyed cross making, pizza box relay yoga, as and more student-centered activities. All in all, faculty, staff and students enjoyed a great Catholic Schools Week. The students were once again very appreciative of a schooling environment where they can gain a great education, grow in their faith and give back to their community.

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LEVELS 1–6

June 19 – July 28

Optional 3-week Available Performance Opportunity July 28

Summer Program Information & Preregistration: queneditdance.org

210.535.4165

Johnson Cheer Defends Champion Title

Johnson cheer seniors enjoy their UIL 6A Spirit Competition win with their sponsor.

Submitted By Shawn Cunningham & Shannon McKinley his January, the Johnson High School Cheerleading Squad competed at the second annual UIL 6A Spirit Competition, returning as the reigning State Champion with the goal of defending their title. Even more teams entered the event this year, with 124 in the 6A category, making the competition even more fierce than 2016. With routines that are designed to

Johnson Jaguar Cheer Squad, back-to-back UIL 6A State Spirit Champions.

emulate real “game day” scenarios, the Jags finished the preliminary round in sixth place with only the top 20 teams advancing to the final round. After a nearly flawless performance in the finals round, the Johnson Jaguar Cheer Team was awarded the UIL 6A State Spirit Championship, earning them back-to-back titles. “I’m so proud of the girls for all of their hard work, dedication, and support of one another,” said Shannon McKinley, Johnson

Tuscany Heights Planning Annual 5K And Fun Run

Cheer Coach. McKinley was impressed by the amount of determination the girls displayed in their final performance, despite the added pressure of defending their state title. “They gave their full hearts, and it showed tremendously!” she said. “I am truly moved by the commitment they have to each other and the program!” “Even as stressful and nerve-racking as the week was, we still found a way to enjoy

every minute of the competition,” added Senior Head Cheerleader, Gracelyn Doctor. “I believe we were successful, because every single one of us love each other so much that we don’t want to let anyone down. We accomplished this together, but also for each other. The win was incredible, however the real trophy is my team, and being able to spend my last year with such a supportive and loving group of girls!” Congratulations, Jags!

You’re Invited! Johnson Craft Fair And Market

Participants last year’s Tuscany Heights Elementary Kids Fun Run near the finish line. This year, the Kids Fun Run will featuring a “color blasting” option.

Submitted By Erin Kirwan n your mark, get set … go! The race for registration is on as Tuscany Heights Elementary students, staff and families prepare for the annual Run For The Heights (RFTH) 5K Run / Walk, Kids’ Fun Run, and Community Health and Wellness Event on March 4. 2017 marks the seventh anniversary of the school’s largest fundraising event. To celebrate, event planners have added a “color blasting” option for children who would like to cross the Fun Run finish line colored like a rainbow. “Different themed runs and walks have become so popular,” said Kelly Lepeska, this year’s RFTH Event Chairperson. “What young child doesn’t love the idea of running, walking, and having fun while looking like he ran right through a rainbow.” The color aspect of the fun run will be optional. RFTH is organized at the hands of parent volunteers and students along with the support of Tuscany Heights staff. All three synergize their efforts to in order to execute a successful 5K Run / Walk and Community event that has quickly become a favorite

within the greater Stone Oak community. Proceeds from community sponsors and race registrations help the school with the majority of its PTA sponsored enrichment programs including speakers and presenters on topics such as fine arts, athletics, science, and more. Funds also benefit Red Ribbon Week activities, campus beautification, continuing education and professional development for staff, and special events like this year’s Veterans Day celebration which included breakfast and a patriotic parade honoring Veteran families. In addition to assisting the school with its academic and leadership goals, RFTH also aims to bring the community together to celebrate fitness, family and fun. RFTH kicks off at 7:45 a.m. on March 4 with pre-race warm ups followed by Opening Ceremonies, the Kids 3/4 mile Fun Color Run, and the Chip-Timed 5K Run / Walk beginning around 8:30 a.m. Throughout the morning, participants can meet and greet with area businesses, enjoy fitness demonstrations, live music, and more. For more information visit RFTH at www.runfortheheights.tuscanyheightspta. org

Submitted By Sue Engle ou’re invited to the Claudia Taylor Johnson Band’s first Spring Craft Fair and Market on March 25! The event will be held in the Johnson Cafeteria, 23203 Bulverde Rd (near TPC/Evans) from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. All are invited! Free admission and free parking! Enjoy over 80 vendors, entertainment, food trucks and photos with the Easter Bunny! Vendors will feature one-of-a-

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kind handcrafted art, jewelry, candles, pottery, woodworking, clothing, and more. Representatives from popular brands like The Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Scentsy, LulaRoe , Tupperware and many more will be on site! For a complete list, visit ctjbandspringmarke.wixsite.com/ springmarket . Stop by, enjoy a fun day of shopping and support the band! For more information, contact ctjbandspringmarket@ gmail.com.

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

SVHS Athletes Sign National Letters Of Intent

Jack Gibbens, Smithson Valley High School linebacker, with SVHS coaches (L-R) Craig Wersterfer, Larry Hill and Andy Cox.

Submitted By Jason Gordon n February, two Smithson Valley High School athletes signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers in college. SVHS senior linebacker Jack Gibbens signed a scholarship offer to play

at Abilene Christian University. Gibbens was a two-year starter for the Rangers and was named First-Team All-District this season. He helped SVHS to the Regional Quarterfinals as a junior and the Area Round of the Playoffs as a senior. His combined

Madeline Ferguson, Smithson Valley High School volleyball player, with her parents, Rusty and Sandra Ferguson, and SVHS coaches Liana Gombert (back row, left) and Jordan Madill.

stats during his junior and senior seasons were 228 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and seven quarterback sacks. SVHS senior volleyball player Madeline Ferguson also signed a national letter of intent to continue her career on the court

and in the classroom at Washington and Lee University in Virginia. Ferguson was a threeyear letterman at SVHS at outside hitter and was Academic All-State her senior year.

Johnson Student’s Audio Essay Reaches Nationals Submitted By Daniel Segura ith the multitude of activities, programs and clubs available in high school, students in the hustle and bustle of teenage life may find it difficult to truly thank our veterans for their sacrifices. For Johnson High School junior, Adam DeYoung, the opportunity to write a heartfelt essay in the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program was a perfect way to say thank you. Following the theme, “My Responsibility to America,” Adam’s impressive essay earned him a trip to Washington, D.C. for Nationals on February 25. With 50 students representing their respective states, Adam will represent Texas, giving him the opportunity to win a $30,000 scholarship. “I didn’t expect to go to state, I just wrote

it to say thank you for their service,” said DeYoung, who’s sister encouraged him to enter the essay contest after she entered back when she was a junior at Johnson. “Somehow just telling them ‘thank you’ doesn’t quite do it, but writing a paper from the heart, I felt like that could do more than just a thank you.” The scholarship earnings have stacked up for Adam ever since he entered the competition. He earned $175 after earning first place in the area, then earned $500 on top of that with a first place finish at the VFW District 20 level. But it didn’t stop there. Adam’s essay made its way to the VFW Texas Mid-Winter Conference where he was announced as the first place winner, accepting a $12,000 check. All the success has been a big surprise for Adam, but he is

Tips For Choosing Assisted Living

By Michelle Houriet, Executive Director Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community (210) 209-8956 he time has come when mom and/ parent(s). Ensure that your loved one will or dad needs a little assistance with receive the quality of care you know they medications or personal hygiene. So deserve. Check the calendar and visit during where do you turn? Assisted living with an activity. Does the staff treat the residents customized care levels is a great option. But with dignity and respect? Is there a good how do you choose the one best suited for variety of events, outings and activities? them? First and foremost, the more involved Are there opportunities to get outdoors and your parents are in the search, the better. Of enjoy some sunshine? Another great way to course you can do much of the legwork for see a community in action is to plan a visit them, but be open and discuss with your at mealtime. The dining experience is very parents their desires and preferences. important to seniors. Besides nutritional Visit the community you are considering concerns, it is a prime time for socializing. more than once. Plan one scheduled tour Of course, during your visits, you will and one or more drop-in visits. Walk around no doubt observe the level of cleanliness. until you feel comfortable that you have If you notice an unpleasant smell, don’t be seen it all and have a good understanding afraid to inquire. It could be from something of what life will be like there for your that just happened, and therefore isolated to

March 2017 • Welcome Home • 78259/60/61

very excited to visit Washington, D.C. Although Adam excels in writing, he is more of a math and science oriented student. With the help of his scholarship money, Adam is interested in attending the FAME (Facilitated Acceptance to Medical Education) program at UTSA with hopes to take on a career in the medical field. Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 40,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of $2.1 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program. North East ISD wishes Adam the best of a particular event. Ask about how often housekeeping and laundry services are provided for residents and how quickly maintenance responds to work orders. Discuss the particular needs of your loved one and what services can be tailored to meet those needs. From help with medications reminders to assistance with personal hygiene, there should be a care plan for each resident. The goal of assisted living should be to help the senior continue to be as independent, active and involved as possible. That’s our goal at Independence Hill Assisted Living. We only hire people passionate about making sure our residents are continuing to “live” life. We venture out to movies, the theatre, scenic drives, peach picking, museums – you name it! Because our residents want to continue to learn and stay fit, we offer crafts, great educational and exercise programs and more. Our kitchen continually scores 98 – 100% during inspections and we take pride in providing a well-rounded menu full variety

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Johnson High School junior Adam DeYoung will travel to Washington, D.C. for Nationals with a chance to win a $30,000 scholarship for his audio-essay thanking veterans.

luck as he heads to Nationals in Washington, D.C.

and special surprises. The Maintenance and Housekeeping Team always are rated highly in our Resident Surveys. We welcome you to see first hand how we strive to make this chapter of live a great one. Call our Lifestyle Specialists at (210) 209-8956 to set up your personal tour. Independence Hill Retirement Resort Community is located at 20450 Huebner Rd., San Antonio, TX 78258. For more information, call (210) 209-8956 or visit www.independencehill.com.

Johnson Athletes Sign Letters of Intent

Seven Johnson High School athletes signed National Letters of Intent on February 4.

Submitted By Sarah Romine n February 4, seven Johnson High School athletes signed National Letters of Intent to play their sport of choice in college, taking their athletic careers to the next level. The Jaguar Pride Association is pleased to congratulate these outstanding student athletes on their hard work and accomplishments! Jason Checchin, Diving – University of the Incarnate Word Raquel Morris, Soccer – Texas Lutheran University

Ariana Shroyer, Soccer – Texas Lutheran University Seth Holzmann, Soccer – Virginia Military Institute Miguel Ortega, Soccer – St. Mary’s University Mia Morena, Softball – Avila University Zach Elder, Football – Prarie View A&M Way to go Jags!

Students Shine On Indian Springs Stage Submitted By S. Lanford ith an enrollment of almost 800 students, the opportunity for every student at Indian Springs Elementary to shine on stage may seem small, but that’s just not the case! In fact, every student performs in a musical show once during the school year, and older students even have the opportunity to further their musical interests by joining the choir or strings programs. At each grade level performance, parents and family members watch in wonder as the children shine on stage in what looks like a professionally choreographed show with memorized lines, songs, dance moves, and elaborate set decorations. With 20 years of experience as a band director, Venessa Sloan is in her fourth year at Indian Springs as the school’s dynamic music teacher. She knows firsthand the impact that both music and performance can have on a student. “Music and performing gives them confidence and a sense of accomplishment,” stated Venessa. “It also teaches them how to work together.” Indian Springs second, third and fifth graders have already completed their performances this school year. The second grade wowed the audience with “Go Fish,” an underwater-themed musical. The third grade celebrated Veterans during their patriotic performance with a special visit from the Smithson Valley High School ROTC. Fifth graders celebrated their last

elementary performance with a vaudevillestyle musical called “Snowbiz.” Fourth graders worked hard on their Texas-themed performance in February and the first grade will perform a Barnyard Moosical in April. Fifth grade students will also audition to perform in a talent show and kindergarten students will perform songs for their promotion ceremony, both scheduled for May. In addition to grade level performances, third, fourth and fifth grade students may choose to be involved in the school’s Coyote Choir which practices twice a week before school and has performed during the school’s Grandparent’s Day celebration, Leadership Day, at Stone Oak Winter Celebration, with the Smithson Valley Middle School Choir, at Bulverde Baptist Church, and at a Rampage hockey game. Indian Springs has a strings program for fourth and fifth grade students which Mrs. Sloan also teaches. These students meet weekly after school and recently attended a performance by the Mid Texas Symphony. Affording students opportunities to experience music in all its forms is important to Mrs. Sloan who teaches her students to read music, play recorders, xylophones, African drums and recently, ukuleles. In fact, Mrs. Sloan applied and received a grant to purchase a class set of 26 ukuleles from the Comal Education Foundation. As a Leader in Me campus, based on the best-selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, each

Indian Springs RoboPACK Wins Area Competition Submitted By S. Lanford his January, Indian Springs Elementary RoboPACK competed amongst 23 teams during the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) area competition. After weeks of research, teambuilding and design, the team of fourth and fifth graders placed first! This year’s two-part FLL challenge centered around the theme, Animal Allies. For the project challenge, teams were tasked to identify a real world problem between animals and humans, research the problem, and create a solution. RoboPACK identified a problem in their own backyard - mercury levels in Canyon Lake and how those levels are affecting wildlife and people. The team discovered that the Texas Department of State Health Services had placed a consumption advisory due to the mercury levels on striped bass and longnose gar. The students worked together to propose a solution to this problem applying science, technology, engineering and math concepts (STEM) along with lots of imagination. “We knew we wanted to focus on a local issue,” said RoboPACK member Noah-David Aguilar, “and one of the team members pitched the idea of the mercury levels at Canyon Lake. The research took us over a month to complete, and we are expanding on it for Regionals. Through this experience, we learned how important teamwork and communication are. We are still focusing on improving those things.” Each team was also challenged to design, build and program a robot using a

Indian Springs Elementary RoboPACK team members: (Back Row L-R) Parent Cecily Walker, Teacher and Coach Megan Heath-McLane, Noah-David Aguilar, Mason Taylor, Colten Childs, Kaiden Strickland, Julian Licata, D.J. Onezie, and Teacher and Coach Michelle Trevino. (Front Row L-R) Clarey Haese, Andrew Blair, Cody Cramer, Rown A. Hamilton, Logan Walker, and Nicholas Mangan.

Lego Mindstorms kit for the robot game. Each team’s autonomous robot competed on a tabletop playing field to solve a set of missions based on this year’s theme. RoboPACK’s robot, Betty, performed amazingly during this portion of the competition. The judges were impressed with the variety of innovative attachments the students built in order to successfully complete their missions. The winning RoboPACK team members are Noah-David Aguilar, Andrew Blair, Colten Childs, Cody Cramer, Clarey Haese, Rowen A. Hamilton, Julian Licata, Nicholas Mangan, D.J. Onezine, Mohin Patel, Kaiden Strickland, Mason Taylor and Logan Walker. Team coaches are Megan Heath-McLane and Michelle Treviño.

Second grade students at Indian Springs Elementary starred in an under-water themed musical this fall.

classroom that teaches music incorporates the seven habits into its curriculum. Mrs. Sloan reinforces the habits in various ways, none of which are more fun than character drumming using African drums. For the second year, Mrs. Sloan also coordinated the fourth grade’s visit to the Tobin Center for a Nutcracker performance

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with the San Antonio Symphony and professional ballet dancers, including one from the Indian Springs family, fifth grader Jackson Keller, who was called on stage to be recognized. Whether it’s on stage or in the classroom, the music program at Indian Springs is making a lasting impression.

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Indian Springs Students Host Leadership Day Submitted By S. Lanford very student at Indian Springs Elementary is a leader and all 797 of them showcased their leadership skills for visitors from across the district, state, country and even Canada for the school’s Third Annual Leadership Day this January. Students led the visitors through their school, inside their classrooms and shared what they are learning as they work to become leaders in school organizations, at home and in their community. The Coyote Choir performed; the First Lego League team presented their winning project; and students at each grade level showcased

community service projects, leadership notebooks and more. As a Leader in Me campus, based on the best-selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, Indian Springs students live by the seven habits and incorporate them into their learning. Teachers integrate the habits into instruction and develop lessons in which students feel like they have an active role in their own learning. “During Leadership Day, students shared the Leader in Me’s impact on their daily lives in and out of the school environment,” said Indian Springs Counselor Rachel

The Importance Of Band At Tex Hill Submitted By Madge Ohman n January 25, parents, students, staff, and friends attended the Tex Hill Band Fundraiser. The Concert Band entertained the crowds with a special performance while attendees waited in line for dinner and perused a wide variety of over 60 donated gift baskets for purchase including Spurs and Texas A&M paraphernalia, food, perfume, and even a television. Tex Hill student and member of the Red Band Madge Ohman interviewed fellow band member and student, Reese Hannon inquiring as to her favorite song and her thoughts about the fundraiser. “‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ was my favorite song and the best part of the fundraiser was being able to play music and hang out with my friends,” said Reese. Towards the end of the night, Madge also spoke with Tex Hill Band Instructor, Mrs. Rosenberg. She asked the instructor why band is an important organization and what challenges the band faces. “Band is important because students not only learn to play an instrument and develop a lifetime love of music, but it also teaches valuable life skills that are so important in today’s work force,” said Mrs. Rosenberg. “Students learn self-discipline, goal setting strategies, how to work together as a team to reach these goals, and leadership skills they can use in all areas of their lives. There are numerous studies that show the importance of music education and how it develops both sides of the brain. It increases reading, math, and problem solving skills. Band is a big family and there is a place for

Kaspar. “Through the Leader in Me process, students are empowered to celebrate successes, set and reach their personal WIGs (wildly important goals) and share their plans for creating continual progress in academics and in their personal lives.” Hosting Leadership Day also moves Indian Springs one step closer to Lighthouse status, which is the ultimate goal of every Leader in Me school. Lighthouse status shows the world that a school embodies a leadership model that puts students first and allows them to discover and utilize their gifts to contribute to society.

Indian Springs students Aidan Fox, Thomas Barton and Joseph Lanford pose with Comal ISD School Board Trustee Denise Kern and Comal ISD Assistant Superintendent Kerry Gain during the school’s Third Annual Leadership Day.

San Antonio Fencer Wins Bronze

At right: Tex Hill Band students Madge Ohman and Reese Hannon.

everyone.” Madge couldn’t agree more. Band is a giant family and one of the best parts of her day! “The biggest challenge right now is budget,” added Mrs. Rosenberg. “We want to make sure everyone who wants to learn has an instrument and instruments are expensive.” Thank you to all who supported the Tex Hill Band at their January fundraiser.

Inspiring Youth Through Art

Submitted By Liliya Colston n January 21, the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library’s Art Time program held its sixth annual exhibit opening. Art Time is a children’s educational program that develops creative thinking through art. Classes take place at Hobby Lobby Stone Oak and CreekSide Way stores, Comal ISD schools, through Community Ed, and Hill Country Christian Homeschoolers PAC Day. Sixty young artists submitted the artwork they created during their participation in Art Time classes and Art and Science Summer Camps. This year’s Art Time Exhibit consisted of watercolors, foil, pastels, acrylics, and clay and was

Submitted By Velizar Iliev n January 14, 2017, Basis San Antonio School 12-year-old Ricky Gonzalez competed in three events in three days against youth fencers from Italy, Taipei, Canada, France, Korea, China, and across the United States. In the Youth 12 Men’s Epee event, Ricky competed against 95 fencers, finishing third and receiving a bronze medal. Ricky also competed in Youth 14 Men’s Epee event with 123 fencers, finishing 21st. Andin Cadet Men’s Epee, he finished 19th out

Sixty young artists submitted the artwork they created during their participation in Art Time classes to be displayed at the Bulverde/Spring Branch Library.

displayed at the library though February 18. If you would like to learn more about the Art Time program and its philosophy, visit ArtTimeParty.com.

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of 133 fencers. It goes without saying that these are outstanding results for this young fencer who made San Antonio, Basis San Antonio and his Fencing Club very proud. Ricky has competed in the Olympic sport of Fencing for over three years. He is currently training at the Olympian Fencing Club in San Antonio and is coached by three-time World Champion and U.S. Olympian Coach Velizar Iliev. For more information about this competition or Olympian Fencing Club please visit www. OlympianFencingClub.com

Champions Run The Earth Submitted By Susan Deleon ibolo Green Elementary’s Champions Run the Earth is truly an event for all ages. Join the Champions on April 22 at Cibolo Green for a 5K run/walk and ¾ mile Fun Run, fitness demonstrations, children activities, and a vendor expo. These activities are free and open to the community from 8:00-10:30 a.m. with fees only to register for the 5K and Fun Run. Champions Run the Earth will be the main source to raise funds for Champion Charities. During the holiday season, each grade level adopts a charity of their choice. Students collect various items needed for their charity. Cibolo Green hopes to also make a monetary donation as well. All fitness levels can participate. You can run or walk the Fun Run or 5K. Join a neighborhood running group to train before the event. You can even come to check out the various vendors that will be on site. If you are unable to attend but would still like to get involved, please consider

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registering or giving a “Champion’s Sleep In” spirit donation. Your contribution benefits the Champion Charities. Plus if you register in time, you can still get a t-shirt and goody bag! For more information or to register, visit championsruntheearth.weebly.com. Volunteer opportunities for all levels, talents, and time are available. Please email jzajic@neisd.net or sdeleo1@neisd.net for more information.

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