January 8, 2025 Monthly Message

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 January 8, 2025


Dear AHISD Families-

Happy New Year 2025! I loved seeing our students filling our classrooms once again this week. I’m hopeful that like me, you all had a wonderful break and that your children were ready to come back to start the new semester.

As we return to the year with a winter weather forecast this week, I remind you that I work with representatives from the National Weather Service, SA Operations of Emergency Management leaders, and other area Superintendents to determine whether or not the road conditions are safe for us to keep our schools open. Many of our staff members travel from areas outside of AHISD, and it is necessary to assess road conditions outside our local district boundaries as part of this decision. Whenever possible, I will try to make decisions about school closings the day before anticipated dangerous conditions. In most cases, however, I will wait until our highways are assessed in the early hours of the morning by area partners, and will make a call by 5 a.m. All communication about weather closings will be sent through social media and School Messenger. (Many of you know that I grew up in Pennsylvania where school closings were a matter of the number of inches of accumulation of snow and ice. I find myself in a different world here in San Antonio, but rely on the expertise of those on my calls to make final decisions.)

Teacher of the Year
At next week’s Board Meeting, we will celebrate the five AHISD Campus Teachers of the Year- Braden Cain, Alamo Heights HS; Kimberly Brady, The Junior School; Barry Adame- LeMaitre, Cambridge; Kim Holland, Woodridge; and Jaeleen Fullen, Howard ECC. We will also announce our District Teacher of the Year. I hope you will join me in honoring these five truly AH-mazing educators who choose to share their talents here in AHISD. If you’d like to celebrate them in person, the Board Meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on January 15 in the Woodridge Elementary auditorium.

School Board Recognition Month
January is School Board Recognition Month and I want to thank our Board of Trustees for their leadership, dedication, and love for AHISD. These seven volunteers work tirelessly on behalf of our students, staff, and district. Despite the many challenges facing public schools, our board has remained resolute in its commitment to excellence and continuous improvement. More than anything, I appreciate their big hearts for our students and our staff! Take a moment to read the message published in our most recent School Views, by our Board President, David Hornberger. I invite you to reach out to our Trustees to share your own words of appreciation throughout the month ([email protected]).  

Legislative Session
The 89th Texas Legislature will convene next week in Austin. Throughout this legislative session, I hope you will remain engaged and advocate for the needs of public schools. As a reminder, our AHISD Legislative Priorities are posted on our website. A group of Trustees, and a few students will join me for a trip to the capitol on January 29 to meet with our leaders about the importance of adequately funding our schools.

As I’ve shared before, our District Budget Advisory Council met throughout the fall to provide input and feedback regarding budget cuts for non-required programs and positions in the case that additional funding is not allocated from the state to the basic allotment. Without an increase to the basic allotment, our Trustees will need to consider strategic reduction in programming. The initial recommendation for reductions will be presented at the January 15 Board Meeting.

On Location Video of the Month
Finally, I invite you to watch my latest On Location video which highlights the MuleTime Media program at The Junior School. I enjoyed visiting with these students and their teacher Mr. Boylan and learning how they’re proudly sharing the story of AHJS through social media, podcasting, and their own news website.

I look forward to all this upcoming semester holds for our school community. It is a great privilege to serve as your Superintendent and I thank you for sharing your children with us each day in AHISD!


Mules up!

Dana Bashara Signature

Dr. Dana Bashara

Photo of the Month:

National Certification Teachers

We're excited that 2 Alamo Heights HS teachers have earned National Board Certification! Rebeca Marshburn and Dr. Leslie Gautreaux have attained the highest credential in the teaching profession!

As a part of the certification process, they built a portfolio that includes student work samples, assignments, video, and a thorough analysis of their classroom teaching. For this incredible accomplishment, each educator will receive additional compensation each year.

Congratulations to these AH-mazing educators!


Reminders:

Grand Mules and Senior Mules
If you are a Grand (Parent) Mule or a Senior (Citizen) Mule in our community, I invite you to join us at our next Grand Mules/Senior Mules event from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 7.

We’ll start at Central Office, 7101 Broadway, and then hop on board a school bus for this ‘Mules on Wheels’ style event with visits to Howard Early Childhood Center and The Junior School! Participants will receive a Grand Mules or Senior Mules t-shirt and those 65 years old and older will receive their Gold Card for free admission to all district athletic and fine arts events.

RSVP to reserve your spot by Jan. 24 by calling or emailing Cristina De La Cerda- [email protected] or (210) 832-5953. Please share this information with any community Senior Citizen who would like to learn more about our AHISD offerings!

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

Tuesday, January 7 - Start of Third Nine Weeks
Wednesday, January 8 - G&P/Committee Meeting - 11:00-1:00 PM - Location:, Boardroom, Central Office
Friday, January 10 - Elementary Report Card Distributed
Monday, January 13 - HECC PreK Preview - 9:30 AM - Location: Cafeteria, Howard Early Childhood Center
Wednesday, January 15 - District Early Dismissal
Howard Early Childhood Center - 11:45 AM
Cambridge & Woodridge - 12:15 PM
Junior School & High School - 12:45 PM
Wednesday, January 15 - Regular Board Meeting - 6:00 PM - Location: The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Monday, January 20 - School Holiday
Wednesday, January 22 - 8th Grade High School Ahead - 6:00-7:00 PM - Location: The Oaks, Alamo Heights High School
Friday, January 24 - AHJS Honor and Symphonic Band Practice Marathon - 4:30-7:00 PM - Location: Band Hall, Alamo Heights Junior School
Tuesday, January 28 - WE 5th Grade Presentation: Much Ado About Nothing - 6:00 PM - Location: The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Wednesday, January 29 - ACHS/PTECH Recruitment - 12:55-1:40 PM - Location: Foyer, Alamo Heights Junior School
Friday, January 31 - CE PTO Stay and Play - 3:30 PM - Location: Playground, Cambridge Elementary


PTO General Meetings
Tuesday, January 14 - HECC PTO Meeting - 12:00-1:00 PM - Location: Library, Howard Early Childhood Center
Tuesday, January 14 - WE PTO Meeting - 12:00-1:00 PM - Location: The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary

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