May Newsletter
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A Note From Dr. Kevin Phillips, Superintendent of Schools
Congratulations teachers, students, and parents! We have made it through the toughest school year in history. That may be a little dramatic, but in my 21 years of education I have never seen such an amazing accomplishment by teachers, students, and parents. To make it through this year with the focus and determination you have shown is worthy of a standing ovation. Thank you for your commitment and dedication.
Our district enrollment is currently 5,894 students. We have certainly seen an increase in applications as well as interest in Jubilee over the past few months. Our goal as a district is 6,800 students for the 2021-2022 school year. Classes are filling up fast so tell your friends and family to get their seat reserved ASAP.
We are excited to share we are planning on a 100% face-to-face instructional model for the 2021-2022 school year. The data shows that students who returned face-to-face this year outperformed students who continued virtually (parents thank you for your support). We have heard from the students that they missed school, their teachers, and most of all their friends.
In the 2021-2022 school year we will emphasize embracing the change our district has had over the past three years. With that in mind, we will definitely put a focus on our after school clubs for our students. We have students asking for chess club, robotics, and gaming just to name a few. Get ready students and teachers! Next year is going to be amazing at Jubilee.
We are proud of our 9 graduates from Jubilee-Lakeview Univ. Prep, our 46 graduates from Jubilee- San Antonio and our 93 graduates from Jubilee-Brownsville. You all make us very proud!
Have a great summer and please stay in touch!
Dr. Kevin Phillips
Superintendent of Schools
Important Dates
Click here to access all academic calendars.
Last Day of School (Early Release) Central & Coastal Bend | May 27
Last Day of School (Early Release) South Central & RGV | May 28
Jubilee-Harlingen Kick Off to Summer | May 28 | 6:00pm
Jubilee-Lakeview Univ Prep & Jubilee-San Antonio Graduation | June 5
Jubilee-Brownsville Graduation | June 8
First Day of School (All Regions) | August 16
RGV Leadership Transition
We want to take a moment and share some significant changes taking place as we move into the new academic year. Mr. Carlos Moreno, Principal at Jubilee-Brownsville, will be transitioning out of his administrative role at the campus. Rest assured; he is not going far. Jubilee is pleased to announce, Mr. Moreno will join the District office in San Antonio as the new PEIMS Director. After three years at JB, this announcement may catch some by surprise, but we hope it is well received by all. Mr. Moreno has been a wonderful asset to the growth at Jubilee-Brownsville and district looks forward to his leadership and customer service in his new role.
In his departure, we are happy to introduce Mrs. Cecilia Septimo as the newly named Senior Principal of Jubilee-Brownsville. She has been with the district for seven years serving as the Principal at our Jubilee-Livingway school. Her transition should allow for little to no interruption as all our administrators work to create a nurturing community focused on leadership and academic excellence. Mrs. Septimo has a true passion for education, students and family. Mrs. Castillo will continue at Jubilee-Brownsville and step into the Principal position for 8th-12th grade.
Jubilee-Brownsville Assistant Principal, Juan Garza will serve as Principal at Jubilee-Livingway. He has proudly supported the Brownsville community for five years and very excited for this new opportunity. These role changes will be effective beginning the 2021-2022 school year.
P-EBT Benefits For Families
This information is for families with:
Children who are certified for free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Children who attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2 (P2) school that offers free meals to all students. (Contact your child’s school if you have questions about the school’s participation in these programs.)
Children born after Aug. 1, 2014, in families who received SNAP benefits for at least one month between October 2020 and June 2021.
If you do not meet at least one of the requirements listed above, your child is not eligible for the P-EBT benefits described below.
Enrolled students (up to 21 years of age) in families that temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals for the 2020–2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to receive Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). P-EBT benefits can be used to buy food from any retailer that accepts the Lone Star Card.
The application for P-EBT will open June 2, 2021. Go to yourtexasbenefits.com/Learn/PEBT to apply. The application link is case-sensitive. The deadline to apply is Aug. 13, 2021.
Who Needs to Apply?
A parent/guardian must apply if eligible child is:
Enrolled in K-12 and NOT part of a family who received SNAP benefits for at least one month between August 2020 and June 2021.
Born on or before Aug. 1, 2014, and is part of a family who received SNAP benefits for the first time during the 2020–2021 school year in May or June 2021.
A parent/guardian does not have to apply if eligible child is:
Born on or before Aug. 1, 2014, and is part of a family who received SNAP benefits for at least one month between August 2020 and April 2021.
Born after Aug. 1, 2014, and is part of a family who received SNAP benefits for at least one month between October 2020 and June 2021.
For more information about eligibility, applying and getting your P-EBT benefits, visit hhs.texas.gov/pebt, or call the P-EBT Call Center at 833-442-1255, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central time.
Summer Meal Distribution
This summer, Jubilee Academies will connect children 18 years old and younger and enrolled students with disabilities up to 21 years old with healthy, no cost summer meals. The Seamless Summer Program (SSO) is a U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition program administered in the Lone Star State by the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). For the children who rely on school meals during the academic year, these meals offer a source of good nutrition when school is out for the long summer vacation.
Jubilee Academies is one of the nonprofit organizations partnering with TDA to serve meals across Texas. Families are encouraged to use the tools to find a meal site anywhere in the state:
Call 2-1-1 to speak to a live operator
Visit www.SummerFood.org for an interactive site locator map
Text FOODTX or COMIDA to 877-877
Summer meal sites help children succeed by providing the nourishment they need to return to school in the fall ready to thrive.
June 1 - June 30th | Breakfast 7:30 - 8:30 Am | Lunch 12:00 - 1:00 pm
DISTRIBUTION SITES:
Kingsville
Jubilee-Kingsville, 201 N. 19th Street, 78363
San Antonio
Jubilee-Highland Hills, 1515 Goliad, 78223
Jubilee-Lakeview Univ. Prep , 325 Castroville Road, 78207
Austin
Jubilee-Wells Branch, 3711 Shoreline, 78728
Brownsville
Jubilee-Brownsville, 4955 Pablo Kisel Blvd., 78520
Harlingen
Jubilee-Harlingen, 123 S. Palm Court Dr., 78552
***Please email childnutrition@jubileeacademic.org for any questions or concerns regarding summer meals services at Jubilee Academies locations.
Teachers & Staff of The Year
We would like to congratulate this year’s Teachers and Staff Members of the Year! These individuals go above and beyond each day to make our schools and community better. Jubilee truly would not be what it is without you all! To see all of this year’s award winners, click here!
(Pictured, are award winners from Jubilee-San Antonio, Veronica Mueller and Benjamin Fernandez with Principal James Montano and Associate Superintendent Dr. Alicia Bolt)
Staff Appreciation
Throughout the month of May, Jubilee has celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week, Nurse’s Week, and School Lunch Hero Day. Each person plays a critical role in the success of our campuses so we made sure to celebrate them with special cards, gifts, lunches, and other tokens of our appreciation. Together, we Rise Up and Stand Strong!
If you have not gotten a chance to say thank you to some of our Jubilee Heroes, we invite you to take some time to reach out!
Student Spotlight
We are proud to announce that Zegen Orrison and Marlila Aguado have been accepted into Alamo Academies starting the fall 2021 semester. These students will be exposed to STEM careers driven by industry.
Zegen Orrison (pictured) from Jubilee-Lakeview Univ Prep will be attending the Information Technology & Security Academy. This academy focuses on computer engineering, computer science, problem-solving, and communication skills. Zegen will have an opportunity to earn certifications in PC Pro, Network Pro, Linux Pro, and Security Pro.
Marlila Aguado from Jubilee-San Antonio will be attending the Health Professions Academy. This program focuses of careers in healthcare and will automatically earn Marlila a spot into the San Antonio College’s Nursing program. Great job Zegen and Marlila!
CHEF SA Graduation
Congratulations to our PreK Future Chefs for completing all 10 modules through the CHEF SA Program. Through these modules, students learned how to properly use cooking utensils, read recipes, and cook healthy and delicious meals. We are so proud of them!
Thank you to the Culinary Institute of America Chef Instructors and Jubilee Academies Board Member, Jose Frade, for being our guest speakers and presenting our students with their very own toques.
BBQ University
On May 22nd, students joined local pit masters across the region to learn the basics of smoking brisket as well as other tips and tricks of barbecue. Our community partners included Smoke BBQ + Skybar, 2M Smokehouse, Texican BBQ Company, and Pure Country Smokin.
Determined Destiny Value Coins
Students from Jubilee-Highland Hills were awarded Determined Destiny Coins after showing traits of our three pillars; Leadership, Character, and Excellence. As we wrap up the school year, take some time to discuss with your students what they have learned about these pillars and how to live these values every day!
Jubilee-Westwood Expo of the Arts
On May 20, Jubilee-Westwood held Expo of the Arts. There were a variety of presenters showcasing their love of art. We had Jubilee’s very own, Mr. Martin Medina, Digital Media Coordinator and Westwood’s former paraprofessional, Esmeralda Santillan. Ms. Santillan is a small business owner in San Antonio and makes clay earrings by hand. One of our non-instructional aides was also joined by one of our Middle School students who is a young entrepreneur and has developed her very own makeup line. Students enjoyed learning about the different forms of art within various professions. We are excited to launch the Fine Arts Academy next school year!
From the Jubilee Kitchen
May is National Salad Month. For school lunch this month we continued the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Farm Fresh Challenge showcasing local fresh produce. The Jubilee Academies Kitchens created a Kale & Cranberry Salad featuring Texas grown kale from the Rio Grande Valley for the School Lunch Program. The recipe featured kale from El Sabino Family Farms, a 3rd generation family farm located in Alamo, Texas. The founder of the farm left Austria as a young teenager and settled in the Rio Grande Valley. His children and grandchildren have been running the farm since 1977. They grow over 2,400 acres of vegetables (30 different types) every year. Check out their social media page here.
What is kale? Kale is a cruciferous vegetable part of the Brassica (Brassicaceae) family along with cauliflower and broccoli. It is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K. It is considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and because of this, it was a popular vegetable to grow in wartime victory gardens to ensure that Americans’ diets remained healthy due to food rationing.
Just like lettuce, there are many types of kale that vary in appearance, taste, even nutritional contents. Curly kale is the most common and recognizable type and is best characterized by its tight-ruffled leaves with frilly edges. It makes great crispy kale chips. When eating it raw, you need to massage it a bit more as compared to other varieties. Lacinato kale is probably the second most popular kale variety. It is also known as Tuscan kale and dinosaur kale. The name stems from the fact that its leaves are bumpy and resemble the skin of a dinosaur. These leaves are thinner and chewier than other varieties making them easier to eat and release a very rich, earthy flavor.
Smoky Kale Salad with Red Peppers & Nuts
We hope you enjoy this kale salad, great for the whole family! Pair it with any BBQ favorite main dish.
Servings: 8 (1 cup per serving)
Ingredients:
16 to 20 large leaves or 1 bunch of lacinato kale, aka dinosaur kale, center ribs and tough stems removed, cut or finely shredded (chiffonade) (about 8 cups)
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
pinch of salt
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup roasted red pepper, cut in strips or jarred, and drained
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup toasted nuts of choice (walnuts, hazelnuts), chopped
Additional salt and pepper to taste, if desired
Shaved parmesan cheese to garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Put the shredded kale in a large salad bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, smoked paprika, black pepper and salt. Slowly add oil, whisking to emulsify.
Drizzle the dressing over the kale. Using your hands (wear gloves to prevent staining) or tongs, toss together the kale and dressing. Spend a few minutes thoroughly working the dressing into the kale.
Add the roasted red peppers, raisins and nuts. Toss again.
Taste and adjust with salt and pepper, if desired.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top, if desired.
Variations:
Replace roasted red peppers with 2 chopped hard boiled eggs.
Substitute shaved Parmesan cheese with shaved Parmesan, Romano & Asiago Cheese Blend.
Nutrition Facts per serving (not including optional ingredients): Calories 190, Fat 11g, Saturated Fat 1g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 65mg, Carbs 24g, Fiber 4g, Sugars 14g, Protein 5g
Friends of Friends Initiative
Parents, our school needs your help! Seats are still available for the 2021-2022 school year! Jubilee is kicking off a ‘Friends of Friends’ initiative! Here’s how it works:
1. Spread the word to your friends and extended family
2. Refer them to your campus
3. Get them to sign up
For every person you get to sign up, you win a prize! All they have to do is mention they heard about the school through YOU! Your support is greatly appreciated! Ready, Set, GO!
Does your family have a great story to share?
want to highlight a positive experience or Staff Member?
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all ofthe information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
(1)mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email:program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
