Hector J. Garcia Early College High School

Congratulations, Kaylie Elizondo!

GECHS is proud to recognize Kaylie Elizondo for being selected as our Border Patrol Youth of the Month for September! Your hard work, leadership, and dedication make us Phoenix Proud!

GECHS Remembers 9/11

On Friday, September 11, our GECHS Phoenix family came together in remembrance of the lives lost and the heroes who courageously served during the events of September 11, 2001.

Through reflection and remembrance, we honored the bravery, sacrifice, and unity that emerged on a day our nation will never forget.

A special thank you to Mrs. Mastee for sharing a meaningful poem as part of our commemoration and helping us reflect on the significance of this historic day.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

A big THANK YOU to our Pawsitivity Club and sponsor, Ms. Rodriguez, for kicking off the year with a fun Dieciséis de Septiembre Contest! Students brought the flavor and creativity with a Salsa Contest and Dessert Contest, celebrating culture, school spirit, and a little friendly competition! Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make the event a success! #DieciseisDeSeptiembre #PhoenixPride

College Readiness at GECHS! On Friday, our GECHS students, teachers, & staff showed their college spirit by sporting their favorite college T-shirts for College Readiness Day! College Ready. Future Focused. Phoenix Proud! #CollegeReadiness #CollegeBound

Friendly Reminder, Phoenixes! There will be NO LISD or TAMIU classes tomorrow, Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. Faculty and staff will have Staff Development. Classes resume Tuesday, September 8.

Enjoy your Labor Day and we’ll see you Tuesday!

Progress Reports are available on Skyward today, Sept. 2, 2026. Please see the flyer for instructions on how to access your child’s report.

Our GECHS seniors had the opportunity to participate in a special presentation from the United States Navy as part of our continued efforts to expose students to the many pathways available after graduation. Students learned about career opportunities, education and training, scholarships and financial benefits, specialized career fields, and the experiences available through military service. The presentation gave our seniors another opportunity to explore their options and ask questions as they make important decisions about life after high school. At GECHS, we believe college and career readiness means helping students understand all of the opportunities available to them so they can make informed decisions about their futures. A special thank you to our U.S. Navy representative Petty Officer Espitia Nava for taking the time to visit our campus, speak with our seniors, and provide valuable information and guidance.

Friendly Reminder, to ALL Students! As we continue the school year, please remember these important expectations: 📅 Attendance Matters: Every day counts! Be present and on time. If you are absent, remember to submit your excuse the following day to Mrs. Guajardo in the Front Office. 🎒 Clear Backpacks: Clear backpacks are required for all students. A small non-transparent bag may be used for PE/personal items as permitted by district guidelines. 👕 Dress Code: Please follow the LISD standardized dress code and come to school dressed appropriately each day. Thank you, Phoenixes, for following all district / school rules, making safe choices, and coming to school each day ready to learn and succeed!

Phoenix Parent Academy: Strong Families. Strong Students. Stronger Futures.

We are proud to celebrate the successful kickoff of our 2026–2027 Phoenix Parent Academy at Hector J. Garcia Early College High School!

A special thank you to Ms. Maggie Martinez, LISD Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, for helping us kick off this year's academy and sharing in our commitment to strengthening the partnership between families and schools.

We are also grateful to Mrs. Claudia Garcia, Coordinator for Parent and Family Engagement, and our wonderful LISD Parent Liaisons for their collaboration, encouragement, and continued support of our GECHS families.

A special highlight of our session was Mrs. Annalee Moreno, LISD Digital Learning Specialist, who delivered an outstanding presentation on "The Language of the Institutions." Parents learned how to better navigate Skyward and UConnect, two important systems for staying informed about their child's high school and university experience. Understanding these platforms gives parents another tool to monitor progress, ask informed questions, and actively support their child's educational journey.

Most importantly, thank you to every parent and guardian who attended! Your presence matters. Research and experience continue to show us that when families are informed, connected, and actively involved, students are better positioned to succeed. Simply showing up sends a powerful message to your child: "Your education and your future matter to me."

We also celebrated several lucky door-prize winners, who received small tokens of appreciation for taking the time to join us! A Huge thank you to L2 for a certificate for a diagnostic test for either ELAR or MATH and 2 free tutoring sessions (study for a test, assignment help) and to Kaylie Elizondo and Gonzalez Cakes & Pastry Shoppe for the delicious sweet bread.

This is just the beginning of a year filled with learning, connection, and partnership. We look forward to welcoming our families back for Phoenix Parent Academy Session 2 - "College Begins Now!" on September 29 at 12:30 p.m.

STRONG FAMILIES. STRONG STUDENTS. STRONGER FUTURES.

Together We Rise. Together We Thrive.
#PhoenixParentAcademy #PhoenixPride #GECHS #FamilyEngagement #TogetherWeRise

Congratulations, GECHS! Phoenix Pride is soaring! Hector J. Garcia Early College High School has once again earned outstanding recognition in the 2026–2027 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools Rankings!

🏆 #155 Nationally
⭐ #22 in Texas
🥇 #1 in the Laredo Metro Area
🥇 #1 in Laredo ISD

Congratulations to our students, faculty, staff, and families for continuing the tradition of excellence!

Phoenix Pride — Soaring to Excellence! #PhoenixPride #lisdtheplacetobe

Donate Blood. Save Lives. A special thank you to our school nurse, Mrs. Bedolla, for hosting our Blood Drive, and to all of our students who donated blood! Your generosity can help save lives. ❤️ #DonateBlood #SaveLives #PhoenixPride

CLASS OF 2027 — READY TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD! Our GECHS Class of 2027 seniors who are eligible and of age took an important step by registering to vote! As our seniors prepare for graduation, college, careers, and life beyond high school, they are also learning the importance of civic responsibility and making their voices count. Phoenix Seniors, your future is ahead of you—and your voice matters! Thank you for taking another step toward becoming informed and engaged citizens!

Senior Year Priorities | Class of 2027 Mrs. Alaniz met with the Class of 2027 to discuss important Senior Year Priorities as students begin their final year at GECHS! Topics included attendance, graduation requirements, college and career plans, financial aid, scholarships, community service hours, and other important senior responsibilities and opportunities. Seniors, you’re almost there! Stay focused, stay committed, and finish strong until the very end. Your future is waiting—make every day count! #ClassOf2027 #FinishStrong #PhoenixPride

Today, our Hector J. Garcia Early College High School students had the valuable opportunity to attend a LULAC meeting, where they were able to experience firsthand the importance of leadership, civic engagement, advocacy, and community involvement. #PhoenixPride

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. A. Guajardo on earning her Master of Science in Information Science. Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to continuing your education are truly worth celebrating. We are Phoenix Proud!

Thank You, GECHS Parents! A huge THANK YOU to all our parents and families who attended Meet the Teacher! We truly appreciate you taking the time to visit our campus, meet our teachers, and support your child’s education. If you were unable to attend, you are always welcome to call or email your child’s teacher with any questions or concerns. 📣 Friendly Reminder:
Our Parent Academy will be held tomorrow, Friday, August 28, from 9:00–10:00 AM in the Phoenix Cafeteria. We hope to see you there! 
Together, we support our Phoenixes and help them soar!

Friendly reminder: HAPPENING TOMORROW 🔥 PHOENIX PARENT ACADEMY 🔥 SESSION 1 — YOU'RE INVITED! Strong Families. Strong Students. Stronger Futures. GECHS parents and guardians are invited to join us for our first Phoenix Parent Academy session of the 2026–2027 school year! August - PPA 101 Ready, Set, Succeed! 📅 Friday, August 28, 2026 ⏰ 9:00–10:00 AM 📍 GECHS Come connect with us, learn more about how to support your child's success at GECHS, and begin a year of partnership, learning, and involvement. ⭐ ATTEND & EARN! For each Parent Academy session you attend, your child will earn 5 community service hours! Attend all 10 sessions and your child can earn up to 50 community service hours, and parents who complete all 10 sessions will be recognized as Phoenix Parent Academy Graduates at our end-of-year celebration! We hope to see you there! TOGETHER WE RISE. TOGETHER WE SUCCEED. Ms. Marla Carrillo Alaniz

Join us for Meet the Teacher! Come meet GECHS teachers, ask questions, and kick off a successful school year! Wednesday, August 26, 2026 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM We can’t wait to see you! #PhoenixPride #PhoenixFamily

ATTENDANCE MATTERS! GECHS students participated in the 14th Annual Drive Sames 4 Education Perfect Attendance Incentive Program! ALL LISD students have a chance to win a CAR by maintaining perfect attendance. Phoenixes, every day counts—SHOW UP and you could end up in the driver’s seat! 🚘 #PhoenixPride #lisdtheplacetobe