Category: School News

Lytle ISD 2026-2027 School Calendar Now Available

The Lytle ISD 2026-2027 School Calendar is now available, and it features some small adjustments that provide big benefits for students. An additional 15 minutes have been added to the school day allowing for a 175-day student calendar that still meets all required instructional minutes under Texas law. It also includes built-in bad weather days that will help avoid make-up days.
Daily Schedule Adjustments
To gain the extra 15 minutes, the Primary and Elementary school day will end a little later and the Junior High and High School day will start a little earlier.
Primary and Elementary Schedule – 7:45 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Junior High and High School Schedule – 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Our transportation area has confirmed that these adjustments can be accommodated within our current bus routes.
Deeper Learning
For our students, this small adjustment allows for deeper learning and more time for acceleration and intervention.
Days Off
The calendar also features two extra days off and a change to the October days off:
Nov. 4 – This day off will allow our entire community to support our band WHEN they return to state competition.
April 23 – As a result of Easter falling in March in 2027, the April 23 day off was added to provide a needed break during the month and happens to align with the Battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio. This is consistent with our effort to provide at least one day off a month.
Oct. 2 and 5 – This past year, the October break included the Columbus Day holiday. Based on feedback we moved the October break to Oct 2-5 (football bye week) which allows more staff and students to enjoy the break as well.
The 2026-2027 School Calendar can be viewed on the district website at this link https://www.lytleisd.org/page/academic-calendar.

Devine HS One Act Play March 3 in Somerset

One Act Play seniors Maverick Beaty, Manuel Leal, Jaceylyn Delaney, and Gwyn DeLeon.

Jerel Beaty
Staff writer
Devine High School will compete in the district one act play contest at Somerset High School on Tuesday, March 3rd. Under the direction of Mr. Jose Guardiola, the performance is scheduled at 3:00 PM, though the time may shift depending on the timing of earlier plays.
“We invite everyone to join us for this exciting event and show their support as our students take the stage with the opportunity to advance to Area,” stated Mr. Guardiola, encouraging the community of Devine to show up to support the wonderful actors, actresses, and stage crew in his ensemble.
Preparing for Contest
Reflecting on the cast’s preparation, Director Mr. Jose Guardiola shared his admiration for the group’s dedication and teamwork:
“I am…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 $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

School board liaison to address “a very real and current missing piece”

Devine Intermediate School students performed a traditional Mexican dance known as folklorico during the Devine School Board meeting Thursday at the Devine Student Activity Center. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
By a 6-0 vote, the Devine School Board approved an annual $5,000 stipend to support an academic liaison and recruit coordinator to better support student athletes in their continuing education beyond grade school.
The vote was taken Thursday during the board’s regular meeting for January.
District Superintendent Todd Grandjean said the goal for the new role “is to address a very real and current missing piece in the overall success of Arabian/Warhorse student-athletes – both academically and athletically – while ensuring students who aspire to compete at the next level are properly supported, informed and protected.”
The position is designed to strengthen accountability, close communication gaps and provide structured guidance through the increasingly complex college eligibility and recruiting process, he said.
This new role is being implemented at schools across the state, including nearby Lytle, Poteet and Jourdanton.
Board member Chris Davis was…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 $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

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.

Beaver, Loeffler are Students of the Month

Devine High School students Mason Beaver and Brady Loeffler were honored as Students of the Month at a recent Devine Lions Club meeting. Both are seniors at DHS.
Mason Beaver
Beaver is a member of the varsity basketball team and earned a spot a starter. He is also a member of the National Honor Society since his junior year and does community service through Devine. He is in the top 10% of the Class of 2026; he’s #8 out of 131 as of the last rating.
“I will be attending Tarleton State University to pursue a major in Kinesiology. Once finished with aht, I plan to attend medical school, either in San Antonio or at Tarleton. When in medical school, I plan to study to become an Orthopaedic Surgeon,” said Beaver.
He is the son of Kayli and Sean Beaver.
Brady Loeffler
Loeffler is a senior, graduating in May 2026. He is active in band and FFA. He has been a member of the band since 6th grade and served as section leader for the sax section. He has worked three years in the consession stand to raise money for the band boosters. He has been in the FFA since his freshman year and been involved in many competitions, such as land, livestock and wildlife judging. He has served as the FFA chapter secretary, vice president, and currently is the president.
“My future plans after graduation are to continue working on our family farm until this fall, at which time I plan on attending TSTC, Texas State Technical College in Waco to earn a degree in diesel mechanics. I hope to pursue a career in large diesel mechanics and possibly return to our farming operation to work on equipment and keep our tractors running. I have grown up in the farming operation since I was little, driving tractors by age 5, so it is for sure in my blood,” said Loeffler.
He is the son of Mark and Kimberly Loeffler.

FCCLA Group is Teaching Local Kids to “Think Before You Click”

The eam during their presentation at the intermediate campus on December 4th.

Devine High School freshmen, Nayeli Muñoz and Collier Paige, have chosen internet safety as the focus for their FCCLA STAR (Students Taking Action for Recognition) event this year. The duo wants to educate students on the dangers of the internet and also teach them how to stay safe online.

The students began their project in October by creating an Instagram account to post information and helpful tips for their followers. In November, they stapled internet safety facts to candy and threw them from the float in the Fall Festival parade.  On November 21st, Muñoz and Paige presented to Ms. Beaty’s classes at the middle school. The team created a slideshow presentation on the dangers of the internet and ways to stay safe, and then played a game that reinforced these ideas. Overall, they taught 104 students.

On December 4th, the two FCCLA members taught 153 3rd- and 4th-grade students the same topics.  Using the same slideshow and a different game focused on the younger students, the team members helped answer questions and point out dangerous situations during their presentation time.

Muñoz and Paige have also hung flyers at the middle school and high school campuses to encourage the students to follow their Instagram account and to keep safety tips in view for the students to see daily. Starting this week at the high school, they will begin to have a weekly announcement in the morning called “Tech Tip Tuesday,” which will explain ways for students and staff to keep their accounts safe and to avoid dangers on the internet.

When asked why they chose this topic, Muñoz explained that they have noticed that kids at younger ages seem to be on electronics more.  Paige added that many of the really young kids play online games such as Roblox and Minecraft, and do not think that they could be in danger because it is a game. So the two of them decided that they needed to help educate them and decided they should educate their peers, as well.  Many older kids do not realize ways to keep their accounts safe, so the duo decided that this should be highlighted, as well.

Devine FCCLA travels to the Region V Conference in Corpus Christi, Texas, to compete on January 29-31.

Devine school board hears update on health advisory council

Devine Intermediate School Principal Reyes brought the student council from her campus to help make her report to the school board Monday evening. Left to right are:
Tiffany McGinn (Teacher/Sponsor), Jayden Palacios, Payton Coleman, Esme Eads, Kinsey Bendele, Kathryn McKinney (Teacher/Sponsor), and Lysandra Reyes (Principal) with board members Candace Esparza, Henry Moreno, Keri James, Carl Brown, Chris Davis, Ali Buvinghausen, and Superintendent Todd Grandjean. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Two new candidates for the Devine ISD school health advisory council (SHAC) were put forward during the council’s annual report to the school board Monday evening.
Devine High School nurse Joslyn Wilson sought approval for Patricia Garcia and Gina Morales to join the advisory council.
“Every independent school district is required by law to have a school health advisory council of which the majority of members must be parents who are not employed by the school district,” Wilson said. “The SHAC is annually appointed by the local education agency board of trustees.”
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DeLeon and Hinnant chosen as Students of the Month

Gwyn DeLeon and Tyler Hinnant were chosen as Students of the Month and honored during the November meeting of the Devine Lions Club. Presenting the certificates are Lions Evan Eads (DHS Vice Principal) and President Lewis Stroud.

Devine High School students Gwyn DeLeon and Tyler Hinnant were honored as Students of the Month at a recent Devine Lions Club meeting. Both are seniors at DHS.
Gwyn DeLeon
DeLeon is an active student and class president. She is involved with numerous clubs, such as robotics, where she serves as vice president, FFA, serving as sentinel and vice president of the National Honor Society. In her free time she enjoys being a part of theater and being on stage. She serves the community by volunteering to help out with concessions and volunteers at First Baptist Church in Devine.
“In my future plans I plan to attend college as I was accepted into Blinn’s Radiology Program in Bryan Station. However, I am also waiting for results from other colleges. I have always has a passion for the medical field and I plan to live that out helping those in need,” said DeLeon
She is the daughter of Beverly DeLeon and Jeremy Deleon.
Tyler Hinnant
Hinnant is a member and captain of the Devine Warhorse Varsity football team. He has also been a member of the Devine FFA Chapter for four years and the National Honor Society for two years. He has volunteered with Mission Devine and at the Bust and Burn Memorial event, as well as the food drive at the First Baptist Church in Devine.
“After high school, I am going to attend Texas A&M University in College Station. While in College Station I am going to study for a bachelor’s degree in business at the Mays Business School. After college I want to pursue a career in finance,” said Hinnant.
He is the son of Thomas and Jennifer Hinnant.