Inside Jubilee

Noah Barnard: Jubilee Academies’ Very Own Shining Star

2020-06-11T12:07:00.000-05:00

Noah Barnard, Valedictorian of Jubilee Brownsville, has proved to have the essential skills needed to succeed in the demanding academic atmosphere of a university. At a young age, Noah exhibited the character of a leader and vows to be a motivated and responsible student who not only masters theory but applies it as well.

Noah joined the Jubilee- Brownsville family 6 years ago where he was quickly branded as a gifted student by faculty, staff, and classmates. During his time at Jubilee-Brownsville, Noah was inducted into the National Honor Society, elected as Student Council Vice President, served as a Character Ambassador, and accumulated 665 community service hours. In addition, Noah was part of the school’s Junior Varsity and Varsity Basketball, Varsity Flag Football, Cross-Country, and Chess teams. Academically, Noah has also been named an Advanced Placement Scholar with distinction. This distinction is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. In addition to AP classes, Noah enrolled in the dual enrollment program with Texas Southmost College and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Here he was able to accumulate over 60 credit hours and was granted an Associate Degree in General Studies.

After applying to several Texas universities and numerous Ivy League schools across the country, Noah is excited to begin the next chapter in his education at Southern Methodist University. At SMU less than 50% of students who apply are accepted. Noah was able to win the Hunt Scholarship, which will cover $43,000 of tuition and fees for 4 years. He is majoring in Computer Science and hopes to become a Video Game Designer in the future.

As if Noah didn’t already have a list of accomplishments that anyone would take pride in, he was also awarded the Gates Scholarship. This scholarship is a highly selective award that entailed a nine-month application process and will cover all educational expenses. It is “awarded to 300 top student leaders each year with the intent of promoting their academic excellence through college graduation and providing them the opportunity to reach their full potential.” This brings his scholarship packet total to $320,000.

Noah embodies the meaning of what Jubilee Academies stands for: leadership, excellence, and character. The Jubilee-Brownsville family is extremely proud of Noah and wishes him all the best in his future. The administrative team and faculty will truly miss him. Congratulations to Noah and the Barnard Family!

Celebrating Black History Month With a Motown Review

2020-02-20T12:06:00.001-06:00

Celebrating Black History Month with a Motown Review

Jubilee-San Antonio students and teachers celebrated Black History month with a fun twist this year by putting together a Motown Review. Students carefully chose songs from some of the best known African American artists, practiced, and performed for their classmates.

Reproductions include songs like Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown," Diana Ross' "Upside Down," The Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love," and Gladys Knight & The Pips' "Midnight Train to Georgia." The event also included a variety of soul foods provided by student clubs and PTO for students to enjoy after the performances.

A special thank you to all of the teachers and families who helped students practice, making this event a huge success!

JUBILEE ACADEMIES WELCOMES DAVID RICHARDSON AS NEW ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL AT JUBILEE-HIGHLAND PARK

2019-09-18T10:40:00.000-05:00

Jubilee Academies welcomes David Richardson to the role of Assistant Principal at Jubilee-Highland Park, beginning this 2019-2020 academic year.

Richardson is a native of North Carolina, an Air Force Veteran, and offers a Master of Arts in Public Administration and Human Resources. He brings with him extensive leadership experience from the Texas public school system where he served as an educator for 10 years. Prior to joining Jubilee Academies, Richardson served one year at San Antonio ISD and eight years with Judson ISD as a teacher, assistant principal and academic dean. He received his Principal Certification from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in 2015.

Mr. Richardson will serve as Assistant Principal under the direction of Jubilee-Highland Park Principal, James Montano. “I am excited about the opportunity to work with Mr. Richardson,” shared Mr. Montano. “He is an enthusiastic and passionate academic leader who in such a short period of time has built a solid rapport with our students and families.”

Remarking on the announcement, Jubilee Academies CEO, Tom Koger, expressed, “It is imperative we employ individuals who exemplify the leadership skills and commitment to excellence we teach our students here at Jubilee Academies. Mr. Richardson shares our values and understands our mission of developing tomorrow’s leaders.”

“It is an honor to serve the families of Jubilee,” Richardson stated. “I am committed to supporting Jubilee in their work towards academic achievement and I am eager to build on the traditions of success.”

2019 Grandparent's Day

2019-09-13T15:01:00.000-05:00

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO JOINED JUBILEE THIS WEEK TO CELEBRATE OUR WONDERFUL GRANDPARENTS!

'A grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend'

View video below:

Enrollment opens for 2019-2020 school year!

2018-12-05T16:25:00.006-06:00

Enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year has started!

Jubilee Academies is committed to the goal of excellence in education for all students. Our campuses, located in Austin, Brownsville, Harlingen, Kingsville and San Antonio, provide a safe and structured community focused on leadership, academics and a balance of mind and body for a lifetime of success.

Applying takes just a few moments, and we're here to help should you encounter any technical difficulties or have any questions about the application process. Contact us by email at admissions@jubileeacademic.org or by telephone at (210) 801-8122.

Begin by clicking New Student or ReturningStudent from our application page. You'll receive an email notification after creating an account and after submitting your application. If you'd like more information about Jubilee Academies before completing an application, please complete our Interest Form, and we'll contact you to answer any questions you may have.

In addition to academic excellence and a leadership emphasis, students are taught positive character traits to prepare them for success as they learn to build relationships with their peers. Jubilee is the only charter district in Texas to receive Stephen Covey’s Lighthouse Certification, awarded to Jubilee-Livingway in Brownsville.

To learn more about Jubilee Academies, please visit our website and follow us on Facebook.

Thankful for our Rockstar Teachers

2018-11-15T14:43:00.003-06:00

Let us help Jazz up your holiday break this Thanksgiving.

Better yet, let Mr. Mike Hamilton, Band Teacher at Jubilee-Wells Branch, give a little jump and jive to your plans.

Today, we want to take a moment to highlight Mr. Mike Hamilton for his outstanding work in the classroom and his success in the music industry.

Mr. Hamilton is not only a phenomenal teacher but a renowned music artist who performs world-wide.

Before his Jubilee days, Mr. Hamilton graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston MA. on a four-year scholarship. While there he received the Outstanding Achievement Award in Instrumental Performance as well as other awards. Hamilton was asked to join the faculty at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in 2002 and has written a book for the College titled “Producing and Mixing Hip-Hop/R&B”. He continues to teach for Berklee College of Music on-line school.

Most recently, Mr. Hamilton has been named the music director for the Austin Area Jazz Festival and it’s group the AAJF Allstars. He tours throughout the US, Brazil and Europe.

We are inviting you to support Mr. Hamilton in his upcoming performance at the Austin Area Jazz Festival on November 24. Doors open at 10am. For more information, you can visit austinareajazzfestival.com.

Mr. Hamilton shares a true gift and passion with the students of Jubilee-Wells Branch everyday and we wish him the best of luck in his musical journey!

To all our rockstar teachers, you are the real MVP (most valuable player) each and every day. Your commitment to students and educating the future is a true joy.

May you all have have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving break!

Jubilee Academies connects with community at city and neighborhood events

2018-10-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

Playing in the street during Síclovía

Síclovía, organized by the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, is a bi-annual event that turns the city's streets into a safe place for exercise and play. An estimated 67,548 people attended this season's Síclovía held on Sat., Sept. 30, 2018! Bicyclists and scooter riders, runners and walkers, the young and old and pets of all kinds enjoyed a day of playing in the street. Participants took part in walking, biking, exercise classes and more.

Jubilee Academies was there having fun with our San Antonio community. The young and the "young at heart" had the chance to spin our Fitness spinning wheel and were excited to win some Jubilee t-shirts and water bottles. In addition to having a great time, we also understand the importance of physical activity. Jubilee believes that by improving our student’s ability to move safely and efficiently, we can empower them with the knowledge necessary to live a happier and healthier lifestyle in and out of school.

Watch the video below to witness the fun!

Connecting with families during National Night Out

On Tues., Oct. 2, 2018, Jubilee Academies was once again honored to take part in this year's National Night Out. National Night Out is a neighborhood crime and drug prevention event to strengthen neighborhood spirit and community-police partnerships. Jubilee had four schools take part this year, Jubilee Highland Park, Jubilee-Highland Hills, Jubilee-Lake View University Prep and Jubilee-Kingsville.

Thank you to everyone for showing your support!! #NNO2018 #WeAreJubilee

Visit these schools on Facebook to see more pictures from National Night Out!

Jubilee Academies parents offered new avenue of learning

2018-09-19T11:25:00.001-05:00

Jubilee Academies is excited to provide a new avenue of learning for our parents in the San Antonio area. PARENT CONNECT will help parents keep informed of important information, trends and opportunities that can enhance the balance of family, life and work.

All sessions are free and will be held at the Jubilee Academies District Office and Jubilee-Lake View University Prep. The training is provided through the Education Service Center ~ Region 20. Parents interested in attending a session are asked to sign up by visiting or calling the main office at their child’s campus. Refreshments will be served.

Sept 20, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Drugs, Dares & Other Dangerous Teen Trends

Are you really in the know about drugs, dares, and dangerous technology trends? This training is designed to increase drug, alcohol, and technology awareness for all members of the school community. Parents attending this training will learn the latest trends as well as dangerous apps and technology affecting the school community.

Sept 26, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Social Emotional Development in Preschool: Talking with Your Child

Young children’s social emotional development is vital to their overall well-being, affecting their success in school and their ability to learn in all subject areas. Join us as we explore strategies to encourage communication with children; a dynamic aspect of building relationships. Participants will experience conversation strategies that either promote or inhibit communication, learn how to use open-ended questions and observations with children, and how to converse with children to support social and emotional development. This will be an active learning, participatory training– come ready to have some fun!

Oct. 10, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Parental Participation in Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) Meetings

Parents and guardians are essential members of the Admission, Review and Dismissal (ARD) committee. In this training, you will learn information needed to effectively participate in your child’s ARD committee meeting. We will build a common understanding of the special education process, the roles and responsibilities within the committee to ensure you are able to fully participate in the decision-making process regarding your child’s education.

Oct. 11, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Mindful Parenting

Have you ever said to a kid, “Why don’t you just calm down?!” Of course you have; we all have! Being able to “just calm down” is actually a skill called self-regulation that requires a part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. However, that part of a child’s brain doesn’t completely develop until he or she is in their early twenties. In addition, it doesn’t just develop in positive ways on its own; instead, optimal development is completely dependent on a child being raised in a warm, loving language-rich home environment. This interactive training will explore mindfulness activities for kids, and the type of language parents and teachers can use to foster children who will succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.

Oct. 16, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Parenting in the Digital Age

Our children's access to technology can both empower and endanger them. Come to this training to learn what to look out for as parents in your child's digital interactions. What is reasonable in usage? How do you find out about apps, games and websites? Should children and teens have social media accounts? How should you handle cyberbullying? You will leave this training with practical advice and tools to assist you in your role as a 21st Century parent!

Oct. 17, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Inspirational and Empowering Positive Behavior Supports for the Home

This training will provide positive and effective ways to support behavior in the home that are both empowering and inspiring.

Oct. 25, 2018 . 9am-12pm

Bullying Tips for Parents

Never before in history have parents had to face so many challenges when raising their children. Bullying is a serious issue and becoming more prevalent in schools today. Learn the characteristics of someone being bullied and how to recognize signs of students who bully. This training will provide participants with early intervention techniques to help prevent bullying, which one day may save your child.

New partnership gives Jubilee-Brownsville high school students real world experience

2018-09-12T09:48:00.000-05:00

Twelve high school students from Jubilee-Brownsville are taking their first steps into the medical field through an exciting partnership with the Cameron County Education Initiative, Inc. (CCEI). CCEI is a new non-profit vocational institution built on the foundation of alternative education and sustainable career opportunities for the Rio Grande Valley.

Opening its doors in June of 2017, CCEI offered post-secondary programs and training and career preparation for the citizens of Cameron County and has been growing steadily. Last month, they expanded their programs and began the partnership with Jubilee Academies to provide training for students interested in pursuing careers in a medical profession.

“We are thrilled about this partnership and the opportunity to serve as a training facility for the students of Jubilee Academies” said Dr. Rita Hernandez, President of CCEI. “These partnerships provide skilled medical training that not only will lead to employment, but possibly provide a base for those entering other medical professions.”

This collaborative effort marks the start of Jubilee’s desire to offer programs linked to careers that are in demand and have current labor market value. The partnership is aligned with the state’s HB 5 requirement and Governor Abbott’s desire to ensure all Texans have access to career training and certification.

“We want our students to experience a comprehensive and seamless path guiding them from primary foundations to secondary readiness and on to post-secondary success,” Jubilee Academies Associate Superintendent, Flor Robinson said. “We recognize the demand in Brownsville for innovation, and the partnership with CCEI is allowing us to not only provide students with the core competencies for academic success but with relevant learning experiences.”

The students enjoyed a kick-off event earlier this month where they were welcomed by a team from Valley Baptist Medical Center. They will embark on a 10-week program that includes a 7-week classroom learning experience followed by a 3-week practicum with home-health agencies to practice the skills they've learned. They'll also have the opportunity to take the State of Texas Certified Nursing Assistant exam in early November. Bernardo Garrido, Jubilee-Brownsville's Academic Advisor, envisions the program continuing to grow after this inaugural group of twelve completes their training.

Texas State Technical College (TSTC) will be an additional avenue available for students at the Jubilee-Brownsville campus, offering experience in technical programs with a high demand for career placement including Design Technology and Cyber Security.

Step inside the Jubilee Academies District Office

2018-09-06T16:25:00.000-05:00

This week we take you inside our Jubilee Academies District Office, located at 4434 Roland Road in San Antonio, Texas. Here, our staff members serve the nearly 6,000 students, their families and teachers across 12 campuses in Austin, Brownsville, Harlingen, Kingsville and San Antonio.

If you'd like additional information about our District Office or any of our departments, including Child Nutrition, Communications, Grants, Human Resources, Maintenance, Operations, PEIMS or Technology, please contact our Communications department at (210) 333-6227. We hope you enjoy the tour!

Pre-K 4 SA grants access to increased educational opportunities for Jubilee young leaders

2018-08-29T14:37:00.001-05:00

Jubilee Academies is proud to announce its recent partnership with the Pre-K 4 SA city initiative to successfully improve program and teacher quality.

Families involved in the full day Pre-K program at Jubilee-Highland Hills, Jubilee-Highland Park and Jubilee-Lake View University Prep are in for a treat! An overall classroom makeover targeting enhancement of early learning experiences that align to preparation for Kindergarten.

Grant funds and best practices will be utilized to customize professional development for staff, family engagement opportunities, increased field lessons and readily available access to technology.

September 1, 2018, implementation of plans and services are scheduled to begin. You can look forward to seeing an increase in instructional quality, physical learning environments, family activities and outreach throughout this academic year.

A project Jubilee is extremely excited to see come to fruition is the collaboration between our current Jubilee Academies robotics club, led by our students at Jubilee-San Antonio, and our Pre-K young leaders.

Jubilee Academies has attained funds for STEM to assist preschool educators in focusing and refining behaviors on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM science stations, learning kits and materials to include robotics activities are some new tools we can expect.

This year, parents will have the opportunity to observe their children engage in enriching relationships and activities with Jubilee college preparatory students. Together they will build two robots to be showcased this fall and next spring. This project will impact students in readiness for programming and use of technology.

Jubilee Academies is looking forward to the investment and lasting impact this opportunity will have on our students and staff. With a strong focus on professional development, there will be high quality staff to mentor and support teachers new to the Prekindergarten program. Long-term, this partnership is setting children on a path for success in and out of the classroom and for the years to come.

We invite you to mark your calendar and join us for the upcoming Pre-Kinder Showcases
(2018-2019):

Friday, December 14, 2018

6-7 PM

Jubilee-Highland Hills

1515 Goliad Rd

San Antonio, Texas 78223

Friday, March 29, 2019

6-7 PM

Jubilee-Lake View University Prep

325 Castroville Rd.

San Antonio, Texas 78207

Jubilee Academies welcomes new school year and celebrates Leader in Me milestone

2018-08-17T15:52:00.001-05:00

Jubilee Academies welcomed nearly 6,000 new and returning students this week at its twelve campuses in central and south Texas. And, while our Jubilee family continues to grow, we’ve remained committed to teaching leadership, building character and exemplifying excellence in everything we do.

The hugs and laughter that filled our schools’ hallways this week were particularly heartfelt at Jubilee-Livingway in Brownsville, Texas, as they were notified early this summer that they were named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School by FranklinCovey Education—a distinction their students, parents and staff have been working toward for several years. Jubilee-Livingway is the first elementary school in Brownsville, the first charter school in Texas, and the first school in the Jubilee Academies District to receive this recognition.

“We are honored to have been certified and named a Leader in Me Lighthouse School,” Mrs. Cecilia C. Septimo, principal of Jubilee-Livingway, said. “We have seen amazing results from implementing the Leader in Me program at our school, such as receiving all six distinctions awarded by the Texas Education Agency, a sense of student responsibility and ownership of academic progress, our school community working together to achieve goals, a decrease in discipline referrals, and an increase in our attendance rate.”

Since its official launch nearly a decade ago, over 3,500 public, private and charter schools across 50 countries have adopted the Leader in Me program, while just over 400 schools have achieved the prestigious Lighthouse certification.

Sean Covey, president of FranklinCovey Education said they are thrilled to recognize Jubilee-Livingway as a Leader in Me Lighthouse School. “Schools who achieve Lighthouse Certification are great examples of a strong leadership model and process, and of what it means to be a Leader in Me school. Jubilee-Livingway has experienced transformational results by implementing the principles and practices related to Leader in Me. We are so pleased and honored to celebrate the success they are experiencing.”

A student shares her Leadership Notebook

at a recent Leadership Day on the campus.

One example of student leadership at Jubilee-Livingway came from a fourth-grade student who identified a need to prevent students, parents and staff from getting wet while moving from one building to another on rainy days. She consulted with Mrs. Septimo and requested approval to work on a project to resolve the situation. With her family’s support, the student created different blue prints and ultimately executed the student-friendly project, “Umbrella for Umbrella.” Now, Jubilee-Livingway has one umbrella crate available inside each of their buildings. Students, parents and staff can get an umbrella from one building’s crate and return it to another crate after each use, so that umbrellas are available to everyone. “Through this project, the student displayed many leadership skills that allowed her to collaborate with school and family to bring her vision to life.” Mrs. Septimo said. “This process not only has had a significant impact on this student, but on the entire school community. We expect to see more great results from our students over time,” she predicts.

A student explains leadership roles at a recent Leadership
Day on the campus.

The Lighthouse Certification is a highly-regarded standard set by FranklinCovey Education that is attainable by every Leader in Me school. As it is a significant benchmark, applying for this certification typically occurs three to five years after a school begins the Leader in Me process.

It is earned by schools that demonstrate the following:

The principal, school administration and staff engage in ongoing learning and develop as leaders, while championing leadership for the school.
Leadership principles are effectively taught to all students through direct lessons, integrated approaches and staff modeling. Students are able to think critically about and apply leadership principles.
Families and the school partner together in learning about the 7 Habits and leadership principles through effective communication and mutual respect.
The school community is able to see leadership in the physical environment, hear leadership through the common language of the 7 Habits, and feel leadership through a culture of caring, relationships, and affirmation.
Leadership is shared with students through a variety of leadership roles, and student voice leads to innovations within the school.
Classroom, family and community leadership events provide authentic environments to celebrate leadership, build culture and allow students to practice leadership skills.
The school utilizes the 4DX® process to identify and track progress toward Wildly Important Goals (WIGs) for the school, classroom and staff.
Students lead their own learning with the skills to assess their needs, set appropriate goals and carry out action plans. They track progress toward goals in Leadership Notebooks and share these notebooks with adults in student-led conferences.

Teacher planning and reflection, trusting relationships, and student-led learning combine to create environments for highly engaged learning.

Jubilee-Livingway will maintain its Lighthouse Certification the next two years and will continue to foster its growth and proficiency in exemplifying a leadership culture and principles. At the end of the two years, Jubilee-Livingway will be able to re-certify its Lighthouse distinction through a virtual self-assessment, describing and celebrating its growth and accomplishments since its original Lighthouse designation.