Bearcat Blast

Aledo ISD welcomed staff members new to the district last week and this week, and we are so excited that they've chosen to be Bearcats! We hope you will join us in welcoming them to AISD!

Thank you to our Bearcat Backers who provided items to put in a reusable bag provided by the Aledo Education Foundation to give to all of our new employees!

We are so grateful for a community that wants to get connected to our school district and be #AllinAledo! Thank you to the hundreds of families who came to Bearcat Nation 101 on Saturday, making it a HUGE success!

We hope you enjoyed your experience as much as we enjoyed hosting you! If you attended, we'd love to have your feedback! Please take a moment to fill out this feedback form.

The Student Code of Conduct (SCoC) is updated and approved annually by the Board of Trustees. Please review the SCoC with your student so that they understand what conduct is prohibited. The district wanted to bring to your attention a significant change that has been made to the SCoC due to a recent change in state law.

Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, as required by law, any student found in possession of, using, selling, giving, or delivering e-cigarettes on school grounds or at school-related events must be placed in the district’s Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP).

Please note that the change in state law required this significant change in discipline for this offense as compared to last year. By strictly enforcing the DAEP placement for e-cigarette violations, we aim to discourage the use of harmful substances and create a safer environment that supports the overall health and development of our students. As we work together as partners with our parents and guardians, we ask that you share feedback and information about your child’s needs with your child’s counselor or administrator, especially if you believe your child is in need of support to quit vaping.

The safety and security of our children and staff at school is our top priority as Bearcats. The district consistently works to improve safety and security measures. Below are a few measures to remind you about or share with you at this time.

• Aledo ISD has its own police department and licensed and trained police officers located on our campuses and devoted solely to the safety and security of those at our facilities and events. This spring, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to hire an additional itinerant police officer for the 2023-2024 school year. This extra police officer has joined the Aledo ISD Police Department and is available to serve on campuses when one of our officers is off campus due to illness, training, etc.

• All exterior and interior doors are to remain locked at all Aledo ISD campuses.

• Propping exterior doors open is not permitted.

• As a reminder, we use the Blackboard system to communicate in an emergency. Through Blackboard, we can send text messages, emails and push notifications to our Aledo ISD App. It is important that your email address and phone number is correct in the Ascender Parent Portal, so please notify your campus if you have any changes throughout the school year to ensure you receive these important messages. In any emergency, we will communicate with you as quickly as possible and keep you informed throughout and after an incident. Please note that if we don’t tell you it’s happening, it’s not happening! With cell phones and social media, rumors can get started pretty quickly, so please rely on the school district to give you official information. Please take the time to go over how we "Work the Plan" during an emergency situation.

As you are aware, schools across the state were required to administer STAAR assessments in April and May. New state law required a redesign of the state assessments and accountability system which caused a delay in the release of scores. Results are expected to be posted in the TEA Family Portal on August 16. Parents may access their student's data by logging into the Ascender Parent Portal and clicking on the Texas Assessment button. Click here for instructions. After results are posted, if you have questions about accessing your student’s STAAR scores, please contact your campus administration.

Put in your bid NOW to take home a piece of HISTORY! AISD is auctioning off 20 sections (11'x11') of recently-removed Bearcat Stadium turf that have the State of Texas and State Championship Year! There are only 20 available (two per championship year).

Bids open 1PM on 8/12 (at Meet the Bearcats) and run through midnight 8/26.

Any funds raised above and beyond the cost of the signage will go to the Aledo ISD Athletics Department. This auction is in partnership with an Aledo QB Club fundraiser auction.

Auction is online only at www.32auctions.com/ClaimYourTurfAuction or click the button below.

Please find a way to get involved in our schools and district! There are several district committees where parent and community participation is vital. If you are interested in serving on any of the following committees, please complete this form and check the committees where you have an interest to serve. There are time commitments involved in each of these committees and your full participation is very important.

Please complete this interest form by 4 p.m. on Friday, August 25, 2023.

COMMITTEES:

District Wide Effectiveness Improvement Committee (DWEIC): DWEIC is composed of staff, parents and community members who provide feedback and assist in communication of important district topics such as the instructional calendar, comprehensive needs assessment and expenditure of federal funds. This committee meets approximately 5 to 6 times each year, in the late afternoon after school hours, for approximately an hour.

School Health Advisory Council (SHAC): The purpose of the SHAC is to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health education instruction. The SHAC is composed of parents, staff and students representing district schools, and the committee meets approximately 5 times a year outside of school hours.

District Safety Team: This multidisciplinary group - made up of parents, administrators, teachers, community members and members of various law enforcement organizations, including the Aledo ISD Police Department - works together to provide insight and feedback to the district on safety planning and emergency operations planning. The District Safety Team meets 5-6 times per year outside of school hours.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Board: The primary purpose of the CTE Advisory Board is to serve as a resource and a connection to the workplace by providing advice and input on CTE programs for CTE teachers, administrators and students. The CTE Advisory Board meets 2-3 times per year at various times of the day.

Campus Advisory Committee: Campus advisory committees are made up of parents, staff, business and community representatives and their role is to review and provide input on the campus educational program, campus performance, campus improvement plan, staff development and budget. Campus advisory committees meet 2-6 times per year generally at the end of the school day.

VOLUNTEERING:

Aledo ISD also has many volunteer opportunities and other ways to get involved with our campuses.

SilverCats: The SilverCats program is designed for community members who are 55 years and older. The program provides members an opportunity to learn more about the district, free admission to all home Aledo ISD events (excluding varsity football games) and the chance to become volunteers and mentors. Aledo ISD will host special SilverCats events during the school year providing members a chance to engage with staff and students. The District also stays connected with the SilverCats through special newsletters for members.

Connections Mentoring Program: The Connections Mentoring Program of Aledo ISD helps to empower youth in our community to make positive life choices that enable them to maximize their potential. The mentoring program uses adult volunteers to commit to supporting, guiding, and being a friend to a young person for a period of at least one year. By becoming part of the social network of adults and community members who care about the youth, the mentor can help youth develop and reach positive academic, career, and personal goals.

Volunteering in Aledo ISD: Each year, all volunteers must complete a Volunteer Background Check as well as safety training on each campus where they volunteer in order to begin volunteering. Each campus will communicate times, dates and places for their volunteer safety training soon.

Another great way to volunteer is through Aledo ISD's Strategic Partners: Aledo Children's AdvoCats, Aledo Education Foundation and Aledo PTO. Please visit their websites for more information on how you can get involved!

Aledo ISD is offering a Device Protection Plan for all 6th-12th graders who check out a district Chromebook. The plan is optional but highly recommended by Aledo ISD.

For just $25, you can get FULL COVERAGE for your child’s district-issued Chromebook. This includes unlimited breakage incidents as well as theft protection coverage. Please note that this is non-refundable and only applies to the current school year.

Please note that if you decline this coverage you will be responsible for the full cost of any repairs, theft or loss of the Chromebook, including:

• Cost for broken screen - $100

• Cost for theft, loss or intentional damage - $250

If you’re ready to purchase the Device Protection Plan for your student(s), please log in to the district’s InTouch website. Or click here for instructions for using InTouch and purchasing the Device Protection Plan.

NEW THIS YEAR: State of Texas announced that all Reduced Price Breakfast will be free for 23/24 School Year! Apply for Free/Reduced Meal Program Online on the School Lunch App website.

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL START OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:

• Please help your student learn their 6-digit AISD student ID number so they can enter it in the point of sale pinpad successfully!
• Pay into your student’s lunch account at MySchoolBucks OR pay with cash or check anytime in the cafeteria or school office.
  
• Find menus and meal pricing on the Aledo ISD app or Aledo ISD Cafeteria Services website.

For more information, if you have any questions or if we can help in any way, contact the Child Nutrition office at (817) 441-5142.

Earlier this summer, Emily Arnold, journalism teacher at Aledo High School-Daniel Ninth Grade Campus, and Tiffany Stokes, Vandagriff Elementary teacher, represented Aledo ISD at the ESC Region 11 Teacher of the Year banquet - two of the very best to show what it means to be #AllInAledo for our students! Both Mrs. Arnold and Mrs. Stokes were honored at the end of the 2022-2023 school year as Marva Collins Teachers of the Year - Mrs. Arnold as secondary teacher of the year and Mrs. Stokes as the overall district teacher of the year.

At the banquet, Mrs. Stokes was named as an Elementary "Best of Category" Essay winner for her Defining Lesson/Unit Essay.

Congratulations to both of these outstanding educators!

Aledo Children's AdvoCats is proud to partner with AISD in helping students and families. Because of supporters throughout the district, we have been able to help fulfill unmet needs and aid children and families in Aledo ISD communities since 2002. It is our goal to not only provide basic needs but also provide students with the opportunity to participate in advanced academic courses and pursue post-secondary education.

Through our partnership with Aledo ISD, during the 2022-2023 school year, generous financial contributions and volunteer efforts have enabled us to provide qualified students and families with financial assistance for needs such as medical, dental, and vision expenses, counseling, career, and technical education courses, living expenses, clothing needs, and crisis intervention. Last year, nearly 600 children received $81,000 worth of assistance, 574 children were sponsored through the Angel Project, food cards were given at Thanksgiving and Christmas totalling over $25,000, and $21,000 in scholarships were awarded. We also provided $43,332 worth of clothing through our resale boutique, the Clothes Closet.

Find out how you can join the Aledo AdvoCats here.

Aledo ISD and the Aledo Education Foundation are partnering once again for the Bearcat Backer program, and we'd love your support!

As our district is #GrowingGreatness through exceptional experiences that empower learners for life, we are committed to fostering relationships and partnerships with our outstanding businesses and organizations to help support our Bearcats. Your partnership provides a direct investment and benefit to our Bearcat students and staff.

If your business is interested in joining our Bearcat Backers program, please visit our Bearcat Backers webpage that includes sponsorship levels as well as a commitment form to fill out.

Platinum Level

Brookshire's

CANVAS at Willow Park

EECU

K&M Elevator

Myser Orthodontics

The Towson Law Office, PLCC

UEA

Gold Level Sponsors

First Bank Texas
First Financial Bank
Skin MD Medspa
TWFG Insurance Services - Christi James

Silver Level Sponsors

JW Mechanical Systems
Stroud Pediatric Dentistry

Bronze Level Sponsors

Aaron Valencia, REALTOR - #AGAMEagent
Aeldo Pediatric Dentistry
Bigfoot Ink
Bryan Insurance Agency
InterBank Aledo

Kinnear Child Psychology
Paradigm Wealth Management - Christopher Roberts
Reading Friends Aledo
Slade & Nash
Turquant Business Services

The Bearcat Blast E-Newletter is managed by the Aledo ISD Communications Department. To submit news items, email communications@aledoisd.org.

https://www.aledoisd.org/
1008 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo, TX • Phone: 817-441-8327
Facebook: facebook.com/AledoISD • Twitter: @AledoISD