Natalia ISD – The Devine News

Devine, Natalia and Lytle bands to participate in UIL Marching Contest Saturday

Devine Warhorse Band received first place at God’s Country Marching Contest.

The UIL Region XI Marching Band Contest will be held on Saturday, October 17 at Barry Stadium in Hondo. Class A and AA schools will be performed from 4 to 6 pm. Class AAA schools start at 7 pm with Carrizo Springs, then Devine at 7:15 pm, Crystal City at 7:30 pm, Natalia at 7:45 pm, Cotulla at 8 pm, Poteet at 8:15 pm, Lytle at 8:30 pm ending with Hondo at 8:45 pm.
Devine Warhorse Band performed their program “After The Long Night” at the God’s Country Marching Festival in Hondo on October 10 and received first place for the 3A classification and overall champion.
The Lytle Pirate Band won second place overall, just behind Devine HS. They received the Best…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Lytle Pirate Band received second place overall at God’s Country Marching Festival.

Natalia Mustang Band performed “Controlled” at the marching contest in Hondo.

Local Superintendent invited to Testify before Texas Senate Committee

Natalia ISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda traveled to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Tuesday, October 6, to provide testimony before the Texas Senate Committee on Education during an interim hearing focused on maximizing instructional time.
Dr. Avellaneda was specifically invited to share Natalia ISD’s experience after the district previously operated under a four-day instructional calendar before returning to a traditional five-day week.
Joining Dr. Avellaneda in presenting before the Senate Committee on Education will be Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath; Dr. Emily Morton, Director of Research Consulting with NWEA; and James Mosteller, Legislative Director with Excel-In-Ed.
During his remarks, Dr. Avellaneda will discuss the district’s experience with the four-day week, the decision to return to five days, lessons learned from the transition, and factors that have contributed to Natalia ISD’s recent academic improvement.
Dr. Avellaneda emphasizes that…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Natalia Band takes 2nd in Seguin!

The Natalia Marching Band traveled to Seguin this past week where they competed in the Seguin Marching Festival where they took second place! Photos by Mable Byrd.

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Natalia ISD celebrates Bond 2024 construction milestone with “Topping Out Ceremony” and final steel beam

NISD Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda (center) and members of the Central Office and Administration celebrate at the “Topping Out Ceremony” last Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. Natalia celebrated a major milestone in the construction of their new Natalia Elementary School. The ceremony marked the placement of the final steel beam, symbolizing the completion of the building’s structural framework and the continued growth of the district. Photos by Debbie Petty/ Natalia ISD Public Relations/Communication. Pictured above are: members of the Central Office and Adminstarion Maricela Passmore, Shelby Montgomery, Jeannette Roberts, Tanya Crisp, Julie Oppelt, Dr. Elmer Avellaneda, Nichole Speer, Rebecka Rendon, Sunnie Jass, Joseph Guidry, and Tina Castro.

NATALIA, Texas — Natalia Independent School District celebrated a significant milestone in its Bond 2024 construction program on September 25 with a Topping Out Ceremony recognizing the continued progress of the district’s construction projects.
Superintendent Dr. Elmer Avellaneda, Natalia ISD Board President Eric Smith, Elementary Principal Nichole Speer, Ag Teacher Madison Hightower Flores, and SpawGlass San Antonio Region President Jason Smith delivered remarks during the ceremony.
The event brought together representatives from SpawGlass, Pfluger Architects, and AG|CM, along with Natalia ISD School Board members, district administrators, staff, and other distinguished guests.
Natalia Mayor Tommy Ortiz and City Secretary Dora Rodriguez also attended the ceremony, joining district and community representatives in recognizing the milestone.
Bond 2024 improvements include…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $42 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Meet the teachers!

Devine ISD…

Ciavarra Elementary and Devine Intermediate is set for Thursday, August 6 from 5 to 6:30 pm. Devine High School will be 6:30 to 7:30pm.
Devine Middle School held Meet the Teacher on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.
The First Day of School is August 11.

Lytle ISD…

Lytle Jr High and High School will hold Meet the Teacher on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 from 5 – 7 PM. Lytle Elementary School is set for Thursday, August 6 from 4 – 6 PM and Primary School from 5 – 7 PM.
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 12.

Natalia ISD…

Natalia ECC and Elementary School will hold Meet the Teacher on Monday, August 10, 2026at 5 PM while Natalia Jr High and High School are set for 5:30 pm.
The first day of school is Tuesday, August 11.

Hats off to Natalia’s class of 2026!

Natalia’s graduating class of 2026 release their caps into the air in celebration of leaving High School behind and beginning their own unique journeys into the world. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Tessa Del Toro receiving her dipolma. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Raeann Juarez gave the benediction during Natalia’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Jayston Rodriguez gave the closing remarks and the recognition of the tassels during Natalia’s 2026 graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Andres Terrazas receives his dipolma during the 2026 Natalia graduation ceremony. Photo by Mable Byrd.

Natalia JH Band competes at JH Region Band competition

Natalia Junior High School band participated in the JH Region Band competition on Monday, January 19th along with more than 20 schools and almost 500 kids. Congratulations to the following students placed: Kloe Pinner, Flute Symphonic 5th chair; Braelyn Smith, Clarinet Symphonic 7th chair; Isaias Mendez, Trumpet Symphonic 5th chair; Joshua Reynolds, Alto Saxophone Concert, 2nd chair and Lorenzo Moralez, Clarinet Concert 2nd chair.
Alternates: Emma Gomez, Flute; Luna Perales, Tenor Saxophone and Memphis Lopez-Guerrero.

14 STATEBOUND!!!

This past Saturday, our Natalia BPA students competed against 4A, 5A, and 6A schools at the BPA Regional Competition—and we are proud to share that 14 students are advancing to the State Competition in Dallas this March!
-RJ De La O, Joshua Jalomo, and Danica Torrez – 1st Place, Visual Design Team
-Jerusalem Alvarado and Brianna Garcia – 2nd Place, Visual Design Team
-Mia Herrera and Camilia Mujica – 1st Place, Podcast Production Team
-Bridgett Lowman – 1st Place, Prepared Speech
-Juan Montes – 1st Place, JAVA Programming
-Christopher Tapia – 2nd Place, JAVA Programming
-Kenzlie Jarreau – 1st Place, Fundamental Accounting
-Roberto Garcia – 1st Place, Business Law & Ethics
-Savannah Ramirez – 2nd Place, Business Law & Ethics
-Christian Garcia – 5th Place, Business Law & Ethics
Additionally, Ariana Garcia, Phoenix Garza, Dante Lopez, and Jordan Reyna placed 4th in Visual Design Team, earning recognition as State Alternates.

Dr. Lana Collavo retires from Natalia ISD

The Mustang community extended its sincere gratitude to Dr. Lana Collavo, who will be retiring effective this Friday, November 14.

In a message addressed to Staff, Students, and Members of Our Community, Dr. Collavo commented:
I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received since I became Superintendent of Natalia
ISD. Serving this community is an honor and privilege, and I am genuinely excited to be here.
As I begin my tenure in this role, I want to emphasize my unwavering commitment to the
success and well-being of our students. Our young learners are the heart of our district, and
their growth and achievement will remain our top priority. I firmly believe that every student has
the potential to excel, and I am dedicated to providing the necessary resources, support, and
opportunities to help them reach their full potential.
Education is a collaborative effort, and the active participation of all stakeholders is crucial to
our success. I encourage parents, guardians, teachers, staff, and community members to
engage with our schools actively. Your insights, ideas, and feedback are invaluable. I am
committed to fostering open lines of communication to ensure that we work together effectively
to provide the best education possible for our students.
In the coming months, I will work closely with our dedicated educators, staff, and administrators
to identify and implement strategies to enhance student success and improve the overall quality
of our educational programs. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and I am
confident that we can achieve great things for our students and community together.
I look forward to meeting and collaborating with each of you as we embark on this journey
together. My office door is always open, and I welcome your input and ideas. Please feel free to
reach out to me at 830-663-4416.
Thank you once again for the warm welcome, and I am eager to work alongside you to make
Natalia ISD a place where every student can thrive.

Sincerely,
Dr. Lana Collavo
Superintendent
Natalia ISD

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