Newsletter Archive
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01/14/2021
CAST Schools Virtual Civics Fair and Youth Rally
CAST Schools hosts their inaugural Civics Fair and Youth Rally on January 19th and 20th. Students from the CAST Student Advisory, with representatives from the network’s five campuses, designed the 2-day virtual event to elevate student voice and agency, one of the network’s four core pillars. The event will include the regional Speak Up! Speak Out! Civics Fair, local and national speakers, student-led workshops, and the opening of an art installation at the DoSeum.
12/30/2020
2021 Will Be An Extraordinary Year
From our first-ever Youth Rally and Virtual Civics Fair to the graduation of the inaugural class from CAST Tech High School, we believe 2021 will be a year of remarkable accomplishments.
Happy New Year! Wishing you health and happiness.
12.23.2020
Thank You for the Joy You Bring
Thank you for the constant joy you bring our CAST School students and educators. In a year of uncertainty and social distancing, you have continued to connect, provide unwavering partnership, and hope. These are just a few examples. We are tremendously grateful and wish you continued happiness, health, and joy this holiday season.
12/11/2020
Contribute to our CAST Family Fund
Our school leaders have identified food insecurity as the biggest threat for our students as they break for the holiday season. As a response, we have established the CAST FAMILY FUND to purchase $25 gift cards that will be given to families in our network that are most in need.
11/20/2020
We're So Thankful for Your Partnership
To our entire CAST Community, our partners, our school leaders, educators, students and parents, we wish you a restful, peaceful, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving.
11/13/2020
What makes a CAST School a CAST School?
CAST Schools were created as a San Antonio regional partnership of local employers, independent school districts, and higher education institutions to offer a new model of teaching and learning to create a homegrown talent pipeline to high-demand jobs.
10/29/2020
Establishing COVID Safety Zones at CAST Schools
With support from and in collaboration with our partner independent school districts, CAST Schools launches the, "Accelerated Pandemic Suppression System," with Community Labs and designates CAST Schools as COVID Safety Zones.
10/23/2020
We're Having a Bash!
Do you know a rising freshman or sophomore for the 2021-2022 school year? Invite them to join a CAST Network-wide virtual information session, led by our young leaders. Learn more about our five tuition-free, career-themed high schools.
October 2, 2020
CAST Med Teacher Wins SAISD Innovative Grant
The grant will fund bicycles that will provide students the opportunity to develop health and fitness levels while utilizing nearby trails at The Greenline.
September 24, 2020
CAST Fiestsa
Today, we kick-off the 2020-2021 School Year at CAST Fiesta.
September 18, 2020
CAST Summer Internships
Students from across the CAST Schools Network shared their summer internship experiences during the recent CAST Live virtual town hall. Ninety CAST students interned across 18 different organizations in San Antonio.
September 3, 2020
CAST News by Jonathan
Hi, everyone! My name is Jonathan Rodriguez, and I'm a senior at CAST Tech who wants to be a designer, one day living on the beaches in California. I have been creating social media posts, working to raise student voices & deliver news about all the cool things happenings at CAST Tech.
I believe in everything CAST does and stands for. I have seen the promise of real dreams and real futures become a reality for my peers! I believe that students who come to this school transform into who they want to be, creating a beautiful, productive, innovative world and community. I want as many people to know the schools exist because CAST will alter your life, that is why I love creating social media post as an intern for CAST.
August 28, 2020
Teaching and Learning at CAST During COVID-19
The Urban Education Institute at UTSA surveyed students and families in select school districts across Bexar County and CAST Schools to document how COVID-19 affected teaching and learning, and what lessons we can learn from this experience.
Learning at CAST has always extended beyond the four walls of the classroom. The research showed how leveraging our CAST pillars of co-creation, equity, student-led and real-world learning better prepared both students and teachers to effectively pivot to distance learning.
August 21, 2020
The Year of Courage
Carol Mendenhall, Director of Program Design and Professional Development for the CAST Schools Network, shares why the 2020-2021 school year is, “The Year of Courage.”
“COVID has shown how teachers not only teach, they keep their students safe, they make sure their students feel valued, they make sure students have an adult advocating for them.” – Carol Mendenhall
July 31, 2020
CAST Tech Building an Esports Future
Fernando, a rising CAST Tech senior and president of the CAST Tech Gaming Club, created a video to highlight his experience during social distancing. Jonathan, CAST Tech Marketing and Communications intern, connected virtually, to discuss the video and to learn more about the CAST Tech Gaming Club and Esports Team.
July 23, 2020
CAST Students in Action
Dr. Ydania Pezzat, Partnership Coordinator for CAST Med, visited with the intern team to learn more about their internship experiences at the SAVE Clinic.
July 16, 2020
In the Service of Others
Dr. Eddie Muzquiz Rodriguez, Principal, shares how CAST Med High School is preparing students to help meet the future needs of medical professionals in San Antonio
July 10, 2020
The Best of CAST LIVE
Through CAST LIVE we are providing connectedness in a time of social distancing, enriching the community in a time of ambiguity. CAST LIVE is a platform to share stories of hope and resilience.
July 3, 2020
Lights, Camera, Action!
Ninth graders from across each CAST Network campus participated in spoken word, sound design, and mask making, culminating in the performance of, “I,” a collaborative discovery of self-identity through art, theatre and technology.
June 26, 2020
Welcome Ravae Villafranca Shaeffer
Southwest ISD officially announced Ravae Villafranca Shaeffer as the new principal for the District’s CAST STEM High School.
Shaeffer will bring her extensive knowledge of the STEM ecosystem to build on the school's powerful project-based learning and strengthen collaboration with partners.
June 19, 2020
What's it like to be a student at CAST?
Mya, a rising freshman at CAST Lead High School, moderated a CAST LIVE panel discussion about what it's like to be a student at CAST. The panel consisted of a representative from each CAST Network School:
Jocelyn, CAST STEM
Jonathan, CAST Tech
Kailey, CAST Med
Nia, Advanced Learning Academy
June 11, 2020
A Message from Dr. Wendy Fuller
Dr. Wendy Fuller, Principal, shares how CAST Lead High School will provide students with a unique educational experience. From career pathways to extracurricular activities, learn how CAST Lead co-creates with Industry, Higher Education and District Leaders to drive student success.
June 5, 2020
Taking a Stand
Since our founding, CAST has been committed to reinventing schooling for our young learners, inside and outside the classroom. Our efforts are guided by our four pillars: Equity, Relationships, Student Voice & Agency, and Authentic Experiences. We believe our students will be the leaders of tomorrow because they are positioned to drive change today.
May 28, 2020
Mentoring CAST Students
Future CAST students and their families joined Amir Samandi, Partnership Director for CAST Tech High School, for a panel discussion to learn more about the mentorship program. The panel included current mentors Selena Horn (Marketing Brand Specialist at Joeris General Contractors), Chris Flores, (Internal Management and Operations Consultant at H-E-B), and Brian Hawes (Chief Design Office, USAA). The mentees, CAST Tech Students, included Kimberley Samuels (Junior), Christian Gallegos (Junior) and Jason Salazar (Junior).
May 22, 2020
The Resiliency of our School Districts
Superintendent Pedro Martinez (SAISD), Superintendent Lloyd Verstuyft (SWISD) and Superintendent Roland Toscano (ECISD) joined us for CAST LIVE, our virtual gathering place. CAST students and educators were able to ask each superintendent their questions, and hear school leaders' reflections on the ways in which the pandemic will influence future learning.
May 8, 2020
Embracing Realities to Achieve Positive Outcomes
H-E-B Embodies True Leadership
Mike Georgoff, Chief Product Officer, H-E-B Digital
The spread of the coronavirus has pushed us all to rethink and reinvent how we approach everyday tasks. This includes how we shop for our essentials. Mike Georgoff, Chief Product Officer at H-E-B Digital, shared how H-E-B, and how he personally, has dealt with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 1, 2020
Join us as we say, "Mil Gracias."
Our educators are amazing and deserving of our gratefulness and gratitude every single day. However, this year, during Teachers Appreciation Week (May 4-8), join us as we thank our educators for their passion, creativity, resilience, and commitment. Through constant change and multiple obstacles posed by COVID-19, they persevered. Because of their leadership, our students continue to engage and learn.
April 24, 2020
The SAVE Clinic: Fighting Back Against COVID-19
Dr. Lyssa Ochoa addressing students during CAST LIVE
The mission of The SAVE Clinic is to reduce the number of diabetes-related amputations in San Antonio. The COVID-19 Pandemic posed new challenges that drove immediate changes as to how Dr. Ochoa and her staff provided care for her patients. From new protocols on how to receive patients to adapting to new, ever-changing guidelines from government, industry and hospitals. However, through it all, Dr. Ochoa was fully prepared.
April 17, 2020
Cherish Meaningful Memories
Whether it SPAM Fried Rice, Cheap-erole or Gallo Pinto and Chicken, our favorite dishes connect us to our fondest memories, our family traditions and the world around us. As Carly Dodd, the 10th Grade World History Teacher at CAST Tech High School, transitioned to online learning, she challenged her students to make their favorite dish and to share a personal reflection.
April 9, 2020
Gratefulness
Over the past couple of weeks, our students and educators have continuously shown their resilience as they adapt to distance learning and observe social distancing rules. Despite the difficulties and challenges, they continue to persevere. For that we are proud and very grateful.
April 3, 2020
CASA@CAST
CASA@CAST is our home for student voice as they make meaning in a time like no other. Here are some examples of creative expressions submitted by our students. Additional submissions range from book reviews to messages of thanks.Though we are physically apart, we can still connect.
March 27, 2020
CASA@CAST: Our Youth Sharing Their Stories
Today, we are launching CASA@CAST, our home for Student Voice and for connecting with our community to make sense of a time of upheaval and uncertainty. Here you will see our student’s observations, creative expressions and ideas as they experience this global pandemic. Submissions range from book reviews to messages for our community to works of art. We invite you to visit castschools.com to join in our dialogue.
March 6, 2020
In. Pursuit of a More Equitable World One Student at a Time
CAST believes that every student is entitled to a well-rounded education; one that, most importantly, equips them with the skills and resources needed to flourish as an adult and contributing member of society. We believe that this is not only a moral imperative, but also an economic need. Our society, more than ever before, requires a well-educated workforce in order to keep our economy strong.
February 14, 2020
Thanks for the love!
At every CAST School, we work hard to cultivate relationships with our students and the communities that help support their dreams. Relationships are one of our design pillars, and we look to industry and community partners as equal stakeholders in helping us grow the next generation of leaders. We work collaboratively with our partners to understand industry needs, and work closely with students to understand their own learning preferences and growth goals.
January 29, 2020
More Youth Voice, Please
Youth voice and agency is a way for us to make sure that student voices are always part of the conversation, whether we’re designing a new course together or leading parent-teacher conferences. Helping students find and use their voices, CAST Schools give students the tools to take the reins of their education and prepare them to be leaders in their communities.
December 3, 2019
Our Gratitude List
If you missed it, we recently announced our partnership with Bexar County on the creation of BiblioTech EDU, a digital library that'll include a makerspace, robotics lab, recording studio, children's studio and more. Built on the Fox Tech campus and slated to open in 2021, the digital library will be shared by all three schools. It'll be open to the community after school hours.
October 29, 2019
Partner Spotlight: Frost Donates $5,000
We are so excited to announce a $5,000 donation from our friends at Frost Bank! A CAST Tech industry partner, Frost connects students to local mentors, trained the CAST teachers in Agile project management, and has been especially influential in informing our entrepreneurship pathway.
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