OCTOBER 5, 2022

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 5th - I.C.C. 6:30 P.M.

†ISABEL GARZA by Mr. & Mrs. Richard Georgi †JOSE ISRAEL MAGAÑA by Family †PEDRO CONTRERAS (8TH AN.) by Wife & Daughters

ACCION DE GRACIAS POR SANTA FAUSTINA by Anna Pope & Family

THURSDAY OCTOBER 6th LOS GARCIAS 6:00 P.M. †ARTURO O. TREVIÑO, SR. by Alma Gloria T. Gonzalez & Family †CENOBIO GARZA by Wife Camila Garza & Family

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7th - I.C.C. 12:00 P.M. †OLIVIA R. TREVIÑO by Alma Gloria T. Gonzalez & Family

†SERGIO FLORES by Family †ROLAND MANCHA (14TH AN.) by Mom & Sisters

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8th - I.C.C.

5:00 P.M.

†TRINIDAD & JULIAN CARRERA (AN.) by Flerida Guerra & Family †RUDY MARTINEZ, JR. by Mr. & Mrs. Pete Garcia †RODOLFO & INEZ O. MARTINEZ by Cristina Martinez †LEONARDA B. GONZALEZ by Cristina Martinez †ALBERTO GARZA by Cristina Martinez

†DECEASED MEMBERS KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS OF COUNCIL #2597 ACCION DE GRACIAS POR CUMPLEAÑOS DE KEVIN GUERRA by Thelma Molina & Family

Public School Withdrawals to Homeschool Rise 40%

According to the most recent data released by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in an open records request to the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), withdrawals from public school to homeschool in the spring of 2021 were 40% up over the prior year.

More recent accurate data from the TEA, including withdrawal rates from the fall of 2021 and spring of 2022, will not be

available until next spring.

We fielded 1,702 inquiries from new homeschoolers this past August. That is below the August 2020 numbers (3,500 inquiries) and 2021 peak numbers (13,000 inquiries) but still within the range of pre-covid August numbers, which averaged between 1,500 and 2,000 inquiries each August.

So far, the data shows that the rate of homeschooling families

going back to public school has not increased.

While we don’t have any definitive data on how the tragedy in Uvalde is driving decisions to homeschool, we do often see a spike in homeschooling following mass shootings. We also know that concern about safety and the school environment are the reasons that parents cite as the most important reasons they chose to homeschool.

Based on U.S. Census data, we estimate that there are currently 750,000 homeschool students in Texas; this is more than all private and charter school students combined.

Statistically, homeschooled students significantly outperform their public school peers on standardized tests. This remains true regardless of the education level of the parent, the income level of the family, or the level of state regulation on homeschooling.

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9th – L.G.

7:00 A.M.

PRO POPULO – MASS SAID FOR THE PEOPLE

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9th - I.C.C.

9:00 A.M.

†DECEASED MEMBERS KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS OF COUNCIL #2597

†GILBERTO RAMIREZ (4TH AN.) by Wife & Family

†SABAS & MARIA ESPERANZA FLORES by Raul & Humberina Flores

SUNDAY OCTOBER 9th – I.C.C.

11:00 A.M.

†JOHN A. POPE, III by Anna Pope & Family

†ELOY & MARIA MONTALVO by Anna Pope & Family †ELOY MONTALVO, JR. by Anna Pope & Family

†JOHN JR. & RAQUEL POPE by Anna Pope & Family

†LILLY L. ROBINSON (4TH AN.) by Mom

†BENITA FLORES VILLANUEVA by Family

†SERGIO FLORES by Family

†EMMA G. GUERRA (1ST AN.) by Family

†DECEASED MEMBERS KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS OF COUNCIL #2597

5:00 P.M.

†BISHOP RAYMUNDO PEÑA

GARCIA by Family

MEMBERS KNIGHT OF COLUMBUS OF COUNCIL #2597

MONDAY OCTOBER 10th – I.C.C.

6:00 P.M. †BISHOP RAYMUNDO PEÑA

TUESDAY OCTOBER 11th – I.C.C.

P.M. †BISHOP RAYMUNDO PEÑA

Roma ISD Kicks Off Annual United Way Charitable Giving Campaign

Thank you to the volunteers with The United Way of South Texas for coming out to present to the Roma ISD faculty and staff to

annual

for

RGV Food Bank provides years’ worth of supplies to STC student food pantries

Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley will now be providing student food pantries at South Texas College’s Mid-Valley and Pecan campuses with free food supplies for one year estimated at more than $10,000.

“We want to make sure our students are focused on their education and not where their next meal is coming from,” said Libby

Ann Saenz, Food Bank RGV cochief executive officer. “We are very big on education because we know it’s the way out of poverty so whatever we can do, we are going to make sure we can do it.”

According to a recent Hope survey, 38% of college students at two-year colleges around the country experienced food insecurity. The problem has

worsened in the wake of the pandemic.

STC’s food pantry sole purpose remains to supply food to the students and families who need it most. The initiative gives students the opportunity to receive a college education and have food in their refrigerator, without sacrificing one for the other.

The college’s Pecan campus in McAllen and Mid-Valley Campus in Weslaco are both located in Hidalgo County, which holds a poverty rate of 26.9%. Meanwhile, STC’s Starr County campus in Rio Grande City resides in a county with a poverty rate of 32.5%—one of the highest in the state.

The pandemic heightened the food pantries need, as students facing unemployment, housing concerns, and less opportunities for work struggled to meet basic needs.

Today, STC food pantries can assist more than 200 students and their family members in a given month at Pecan and Mid-Valley campuses.

Natalie Salinas, a student from the Mid-Valley campus, says the food pantry has helped her tremendously as she works to receive her degree in Criminal Justice.

She said nobody should be embarrassed to seek help.

“This has given me peace of mind,” Salinas said. “I think it often has a negative connotation because people think it’s for low-income people, but hunger happens to everyone. We shouldn’t be ashamed, feel bad or connect ourselves to that stigma. This allows us get ahead as a student and be able to focus on the end goal, which is to graduate and move forward in life.”

Since 2017, the pantry has helped provide eligible students with food items such as canned vegetables, canned fruit, rice, beans, flour, oil and other essential items. Eligible students can pick up food from the pantry two days a week for themselves and their families.

The pantry’s benefits don’t stop at food. Additional resources to help students thrive in their education are also available across the Pecan, Mid-Valley and Starr County campuses, such as counseling services and career and employer services.

Students can begin the anonymous process and receive information about the food pantry at life.southtexascollege.edu/ food-pantry/ Meanwhile, STC food pantries across the Mid Valley, Pecan and Starr County campuses continue to accept monetary donations through the STC Marketplace website at secure.touchnet.com/C20193_ ustores/web/

La Aplicación iWatchTexas Ya

Está Disponible en Español

Con el regreso a las escuelas en el estado de la estrella solitaria y la llegada del otoño, el Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DPS) se enorgullece en de presentar la aplicación iWatchTexas, ahora disponible en español, para usuarios de iOS y Android.

“Este es un paso importante para asegurar que más personas puedan usar fácilmente iWatchTexas,” dijo el director de DPS Steven McCraw.

“Esperamos que más personas descarguen la aplicación y se sientan confiados para usarla cuando vean algo sospechoso. Debemos utilizar las herramientas que tenemos disponible para mantener seguras a nuestras familias, nuestras comunidades y a nuestro estado de Texas.”

Una vez que un usuario descargue la aplicación iWatchTexas en su teléfono móvil, la aplicación detectará la configuración del idioma en su dispositivo y se cambiará al idioma preferido, sea el ingles o el español.

La aplicación iWatchTexas es un recurso crítico para reportar actividades sospechosas en las escuelas y comunidades para

prevenir ataques peligrosos.

En el 2021, DPS notó un incremento de denuncias por la aplicación iWatch Texas, que en el año anterior.

iWatchTexas es una herramienta valiosa para comunicar sobre la seguridad escolar, ya que permite denunciar amenazas y obtener datos de la Red de Seguridad Escolar de Texas. DPS puede usar todos los recursos disponibles para proporcionar una mayor claridad de la situación y aumentar el intercambio de información entre las escuelas y agencias de la ley y orden, mientras que a la misma vez la privacidad de los estudiantes será protegida.

Las denuncias se pueden realizar a través del sitio web, la aplicación móvil gratuita iWatchTexas en iOS o Android, y también llamando al 844-6432251. Todos los informes son confidenciales.

Para obtener información sobre cómo usar iWatchTexas, puede ver video instructivo.

Recuerde, iWatchTexas no es para las emergencias. Si hay una emergencia en una escuela o en una comunidad, llame al 911 inmediatamente.

Roma High Students Celebrate Skills Portion of CNA Program

Veterans Middle School

Grade Boys Cross Country Team Earns

Congratulations to Veterans Middle School 7th grade boys cross country team in earning a 1st place on this past Saturday, September 24 cross country meet!

Roma High students celebrated the completion of the lecture and skills portion of the CNA Program with a Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations to the students for taking advantage of the Summer Program!! Roma ISD wishes them the best of luck as they take their CNA certification exams.