December 3, 2024 Monthly Message

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December 3, 2024

Dear AHISD Families-

December is a busy month filled with festive events for our families, friends, and school community. This holiday season brings with it a sense of joy, gratitude, and community as we celebrate cherished traditions. From classroom holiday parties and seasonal service projects to the beautiful sounds of winter concerts and performances, there are so many opportunities to connect as a school community.

December is also a time that provides opportunity to take care of each other and those in our community who find themselves in a time of need. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the generosity shown through the many campus efforts to provide for those families in need of support during this season - it truly reflects the spirit of our community.

Winter Concerts
I hope you’ll join me in getting in the holiday spirit by attending a concert or performance featuring our talented Fine Arts students at all campuses. These events are open to the community and start this week. Visit our website for a schedule of upcoming performances.

Upcoming Legislative Event
Next Tuesday, Dec. 10, we will host a Legislative Lunch and Learn from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Barbara and Alan Dreeben Auditorium Foyer at AHHS. We will welcome a guest speaker, Missy Bender, from the Texas School Coalition- an organization that represents recapture districts across the state- and a light lunch will be provided by the Alamo Heights School Foundation. This meeting will offer attendees a brief work session to determine the next steps for the engagement of our community in the upcoming Legislative Session.

I ask that you please reach out to friends and neighbors and invite them to attend. I don’t think there has ever been a more important time for the AHISD community to speak about the importance of funding our public schools adequately.

Teachers of the Year
There’s no place like AHISD because of our AH-mazing teaching staff! Please help me congratulate the five AHISD Campus Teachers of the Year- Braden Cain, Alamo Heights HS; Kim Brady, The Junior School; Barry Adame- Lemaitre, Cambridge; Kim Holland, Woodridge; and Jaeleen Fullen, Howard ECC.

We look forward to celebrating these outstanding teachers in the coming months. In January we will announce our 2025 District Teacher of the Year who will go on to compete at the region level. I’m so proud of all five of our nominees and am grateful they choose to share their talents and their hearts with us here in AHISD.

On Location Video of the Month
Finally, I invite you to watch my latest On Location video which highlights the Alamo Heights Printing Co. This new student-led business provides meaningful and authentic work opportunities for students with disabilities at AHHS. The Printing Co. creates, prints, and delivers note cards packaged with envelopes. These students are truly AH-mazing and I enjoyed spending time with them learning about the important job responsibilities they have through this new venture. You can even order some of their note cards as a holiday gift!

Mules up!

Dana Bashara Signature

Dr. Dana Bashara

Photo of the Month:

Coach and Players
Congratulations to our varsity football team on another outstanding season. I am so proud of our student athletes and coaches. Thank you to our community for their amazing turnout at the Alamodome on Friday.  

Reminders:

Kinder Registration 2025
Kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year opens on January 13, 2025. To introduce parents and children to the school, Howard Early Childhood Center is hosting Kinder Preview events beginning in January. Visit the Howard website for the schedule and to register to attend a Kinder Preview. Please share with your family, friends, and neighbors who will have five-year-olds next year.

Early College High School Applications Open
Applications are now open for the Early College High School at AHHS. A new cohort of freshmen will be accepted into the program for fall 2025. In four years, they will graduate with their high school diploma and an Associate of Arts (AA) degree. Students will earn up to 60 college credit hours at no charge. Interested eighth graders should submit an application by Feb. 1, 2025. Visit the AHHS website for the application.


Opt-In for School Text Messages: AHISD utilizes the School Messenger system to communicate important information to families through email, text, and/or phone calls. If any contact information has changed over the summer, like phone numbers or email addresses, families should contact their campus office to update in our student information system. In order to receive text messages, which the district sends only in emergencies, families must opt in to this service. Here's how to sign up for text messages. Those who have previously opted in do not have to complete again.

If you see something, say something! We ask all AHISD families to commit to having ongoing conversations with students about safety and security and to encourage the reporting of any concerns to a trusted adult on campus. Families can also report safety concerns on our website by clicking Students / Parents and then Safety Concerns.
 
Please stay connected with all things AHISD by visiting Heights Happenings and also following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
 

Upcoming Events:


Athletic Events

Visit Rank One for all sporting events.

Master Calendar Events

Wednesday, December 4 - CE Second Grade Musical - 2:30-3:15 PM - The Evelyn Philips Auditorium, Cambridge Elementary
Wednesday, December 4 - AHJS Spanish Spelling Bee - 5:30-7:30 PM, Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Thursday, December 5 - AHJS Lifetouch Picture Re-takes - Auditorium, Alamo Heights Junior School
Thursday, December 5 - CE Second Grade Musical - 2:30-3:15 PM - The Evelyn Philips Auditorium, Cambridge Elementary
Thursday, December 5 - AHHS Battle of the Bands - 4:0-9:00 PM - Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Monday, December 9 - CE Library Night (First - Fifth Grade) - 4:30-6:30 PM - Library, Cambridge Elementary
Wednesday, December 11 - G&P/Committee Meetings - 11:00-1:00 PM - Boardroom, Central Office
Wednesday, December 18 - Regular Board Meeting - 6:00 PM, The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Friday, December 20 - End of Second Nine Weeks
Friday, December 20 - Secondary Early Dismissal

Winter Concerts

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