ALA Community Update
August 18th, 2024
What's happening at ALA? (PreK-12th Grade Communication)
Volunteering at ALA
The 24-25 volunteer application is now available. Please create an account and apply using this link. Here is a step by step guide if needed. This is required if you wish to volunteer at the school, school events and chaperone during field trips. ALA appreciates our family volunteers.
ALA PTSA: The primary purpose of the ALA PTSA is to support the educational activities of the Advanced Learning Academy through educational workshops and volunteer opportunities such as front office support, classroom support, field trips, and special events. Visit https://www.alaptsa.org/join-pta if you are interested in joining our ALA PTSA. Reach out to info@alaptsa.org if you have any questions.
Opening Ceremony: The 2024 ALA Opening Ceremony will be held this Friday, August 23rd, at 9:15 am in the Learning Staircase of the ALA Tech campus. The ceremony will feature performances from our band, musical theatre, and mariachi groups, as well as speeches from our ALA Principals and poetry readings. Join us as we recognize our senior class and energize our campuses for the upcoming school year! Families are welcome to attend in-person or watch via the Zoom link that will be sent out later this week. If you would like to join us in-person, please plan on arriving at campus no later than 8:45am to check-in with a photo ID in the ALA Tech front office and to receive a visitor’s pass. Parking is available in the main lot at ALA Tech or in the overflow lot.
Frontline Parent & Student Portal: We encourage all families (PreK-12th Grade) to sign-up for the SAISD frontline parent portal. The SAISD Parent Portal is an easy-to-use and secure communication tool. The Frontline Parent Portal linked HERE can be used to view your child’s attendance, grades (8th-12th grade only), and schedule. It can also be used to contact your child’s teacher by email and receive important notifications on your phone. This flier (English & Spanish) contains directions for setting up your Parent Portal account and will provide families with information about the Frontline App. More information can also be found on the Frontline Parent Portal SAISD webpage.
Attendance and Excused Absences: Attendance is a crucial factor in your child’s academic success. Ensuring they attend regularly helps your child(ren) stay on track with their studies and also fosters a strong commitment to learning and personal growth.
If your child is absent, please provide an excuse note either from a doctor or a parent, which should include the following information:
Student’s full name and ID number
Teacher’s name (for PreK-3rd Grades)
Date of absence (s)
Parent’s contact information
Upon your child’s return to school, please ensure that the excuse note is submitted to the Front Office within 48 hours. Timely submission of this note is necessary for the absence to be excused, as required by district policy. These notes can be emailed to Ms. Cenese (cwooten1@saisd.net) for PreK-3rd grade students. For 4th-12th grade students, these can be emailed to Ms. Cantu (bcantu2@saisd.net).
ALA @ Euclid
Arrival and Dismissal
Thank you so much for your patience this past week! By the end of the week, we noticed a significant improvement in our dismissal process. YMCA begins this week and with ⅓ of our students enrolled, it will further help alleviate our dismissal time.
As we look ahead to next week, please be aware that street closures will continue to affect our use of Jackson Street.
- PreK Families: Please continue to follow the route up South Flores and take a right onto Marshall to walk in and pick up your PreK student. We greatly appreciate your adherence to street signs, lawful parking, and consideration for our neighbors. Continue to avoid blocking driveways, mailboxes, or trash cans.
- Kinder-3rd Grade Families: Due to an unexpected road closure this week, please continue to start the route up South Flores, turn right on Warren St., and instead of turning right on Jackson (which remains closed), take a right on San Pedro Ave, followed by a right onto Euclid. This revised route will remain in place until further notice.
ALA @ Tech
YMCA After School Care
After school care through our partners at the YMCA begins on Monday, August 19 for our 4th-8th grade families who registered for the program. Please be sure to remind your child if they will be attending YMCA on Monday.
- 4th-5th Grade Families: Message your child’s teacher to confirm that they should attend, continue car pick-up, or bus transportation.
- 6th-8th Grade Families: If your middle school child is enrolled, they will be able to report to the cafeteria at dismissal to check-in and receive directions from YMCA staff.
Arrival & Dismissal Reminders
Thank you for your support and patience as we have improved our arrival and dismissal process throughout the course of this week. We have a few arrival and dismissal reminders for ALA Tech:
Please remind your child to be actively looking for your car and listening for their name (in the cafeteria and on Buffalo Lane). If a student does not respond and we are unable to quickly locate them, we may need your car to pull up or ask you to circle around in order to keep the line moving.
4th-7th grade families should label the car tag given to you with your child's name, homegroup teacher and grade level. It should hang on your rearview mirror as you drive through Buffalo Run.
While we want to create the most efficient dismissal possible, please know that student and staff safety will always supersede all else.
Studios and Sports
Middle School 7 on 7 Football and Volleyball will have their first games of the season this week.
7 on 7 Football will play at Spring Sports Complex; 1000 Edwards 78204
Bohnam vs. ALA on 8/20 @6:00 pm Field #1
Volleyball will play at Mission Concepcion Sports Complex , 714 E. Theo 78210
Bohnam vs. ALA on 8/21 @ 6:00 Court 1 East
HS Volleyball will host St. Anthony at the TECH campus Aug. 20, @ 5:00 (F), 6:15 (JV), 7:20 (V).
All athletic tickets for SAISD venues will be purchased through Hometown Ticketing. NO CASH will be accepted at the gate.
Highlights
Gator News Splash: Upcoming Events!
Testing Information
Campus Lunch Menus
Each link below has a drop down at the top to select the menu view (either breakfast or lunch). Dinner is offered but not pictured in either menu.
ECE = PreK menu
Academy = Kinder - 8th grade menu
Special Campus = High School menu (9th-12th grade only)
Not receiving the community update?
If an ALA family is not receiving the Community Update, please ensure they have not unsubscribed to School Messenger (the SAISD communication platform used to send out messages and emails) and also check their junk email. Families are also welcome to email their campus Operations Clerk for additional assistance, Brenda Cantu (bcantu2@saisd.net) at ALA Tech or Ce’nese Wooten (cwooten1@saisd.net) at ALA Euclid.
