ALA Community Update
January 19th, 2025
STUDENT & STAFF HOLIDAY
Monday, January 20th will be a student and staff holiday as the district honors the life and transformative work of Martin Luther King Jr. NOTE: SAISD is monitoring weather conditions for Tuesday, January 21st. They will provide updates as decisions are made via email and social media. The overview of school holidays can always be found on our 2024-2025 Instructional Calendar for ALA Euclid and ALA Tech.
Free Family Workshops
To all parents who are interested in learning what workshops Region has to offer for free, please click here.
SAISD Food Distribution
San Antonio Independent School District, in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, is hosting a drive-through food distribution on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Lanier High School (1514 W Cesar Chavez, San Antonio, TX 78207).
All families are encouraged to pre-register online by visiting www.saisd.net/fooddistribution by Thursday, January 23, 2025. Distribution is on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. Reach out to Crystal Valdez at cvaldez7@saisd.net if you have any questions.
Studio Showcase: Learn More About High School Electives at ALA Tech!
Families of current ALA students, future ALA families and families interested in learning more about ALA are all invited to attend a Studio Showcase on Thursday, January 23rd from 4:30-6:30pm. See the flyer linked HERE. Families will have an opportunity to engage with our elective teachers and learn about the range of programs offered on our campus. If you know of families who are interested in learning more about high school at ALA, please invite them to attend! The event will run from 4:30-6:30pm at the ALA Tech campus and will occur on the same evening as our Middle of Year Student Led Conferences.
JANUARY 23RD Student Led Conferences & STEAM Brick Night
Save the Date of Thursday, January 23rd for our Annual Middle of Year Student Led Conferences! Student Led Conferences (SLCs) are an important foundational aspect of ALA. See the flyer linked HERE. These 6th-12th grade presentations of learning provide students with an opportunity to reflect on their first semester and present work to their family members. They will be held from 4:30-6:30pm on 1/23. Families can sign-up HERE!
All students are also invited to attend STEAM Brick Night on this evening. This LEGO-themed event will allow students of all ages to build with LEGos while completing challenges. There will also be raffle prizes! We look forward to seeing you there!
Black History Month Celebrations for 4th-12th Grade
The ALA Black Student Union is excited to celebrate Black History Month throughout February! The students have organized a variety of events that highlight Black history, culture, and provide opportunities for community building across our campus. Our ALA Tech students have dedicated significant time and effort to curating this month-long celebration.
Here is the calendar that outlines all of our events for February. On February 25, we will be hosting our biggest event of the month—a celebration that will highlight the creativity, talent, and hard work of our students! More details will be sent out in the coming weeks.
We look forward to seeing all students participate in these exciting and meaningful events!
Spanish Dual Credit for 24-25
We have some announcements for students and families about Spanish Dual Credit next school year. At ALA, we partner with SAC to offer college dual credit options for Spanish 2 and Spanish 3. Students enrolled in Spanish 2 as a 9th grader or above receive 2 college credit hours per semester when they pass the course. Students who continue on to Spanish 3, earn 3 credit hours a semester. If students finish Dual Credit Spanish 2 and 3, they will earn 10 total hours of college credit! Our goal is for 100% of students to participate in Spanish Dual Credit.
These are all the requirements to qualify for a Spanish dual credit class next year*:
1. Enroll in Spanish 2 Dual Credit
2. Complete the TSI Test (no score requirement)
3. Complete Apply Texas application
4. Complete Guardian permission slip
*If a student already has high school credit for Spanish 2 and would like to enroll in Dual Credit Spanish 3, a Spanish placement exam will be an additional requirement from SAC.
If you are a rising 9th grader or above who has not yet taken Spanish class, but already speak some Spanish, please email one of the teachers below.
More information can be found on this Dual Credit Spanish Flier. Families may email Lindsay Unsworth lunsworth1@saisd.net or Carol Passant cpassant1@saisd.net with questions.
Middle School Boys Basketball Trophy Presentation
We would like to extend an invitation to families to join us for a special moment. The Academy League Championship Trophy will be presented to the Gator Boys Basketball Team this Tuesday, January 21st, during halftime of the varsity game between Fox Tech and Edison highschool. The game will be located at the SAISD ACC (Alamo Convocation Center) located at 110 Tuleta Drive. Game time starts at 5:00 pm. We are incredibly proud of the boys and would love to ensure they receive the recognition they truly deserve for their hard work and dedication.
Pre-ACT Opportunity for 7th Grade G/T Students
The GATE Department is excited to offer 7th Grade G/T students the opportunity to take the PreACT 8/9 on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Edison High School. This test highlights academic strengths and provides valuable exposure to above-grade-level testing. Testing space is limited, and students are encouraged to register as soon as possible using the link provided in the distributed flyer. Please note that not all registrants will secure a spot; the final roster will be shared by Friday, February 21, 2025. On testing day, check-in begins at 7:45 a.m., and the test starts promptly at 8:30 a.m. Students must arrive on time and bring their physical home address, two #2 pencils, and a 4-function calculator (simple calculators only). Calculators may be checked out from the school if needed. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore their academic potential in a supportive and challenging environment. Please contact us with any questions! A parent/guardian Informational Zoom meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, from 6:00-6:30 pm. SAISD will share the importance of the PreACT in their student’s journey of being college and career ready and provide additional information regarding registration and testing day logistics.
