Bearcat Blast

Aledo ISD Parents and Guardians: The Aledo ISD is seeking your feedback on the proposed 2025-2026 Instructional Calendar.

The instructional calendar draft process is outlined below:

• Initial instructional calendar draft is created by the district taking into account all state requirements as well as feedback received on previous instructional calendars.
• Aledo ISD DWEIC - Districtwide Effectiveness Improvement Committee - which is composed of teacher, parent, business and community representatives from all 12 AISD campuses - reviews initial drafts, provides feedback and reaches consensus on a draft to be shared with staff and community.
• DWEIC recommended revisions are applied to the initial draft and the official calendar DRAFT is shared with DWEIC members to assist in seeking feedback.
• DWEIC members and district seek feedback from staff, teachers, parents and other stakeholders (CURRENT STEP)
• DWEIC meets and reviews all feedback and makes final recommendations for revisions.
• After revisions are considered, determined and applied as necessary, DWEIC makes the final instructional calendar recommendation to the Aledo ISD Board of Trustees.
• Trustees will consider approval of the 2025-2026 Instructional Calendar during the February 17, 2025, regular board meeting after first discussing it during the January 21, 2025, regular board meeting.

Aledo ISD will be closed for the winter holiday starting after an early release on Thursday, December 19. Staff will return on Monday, January 6 with a Professional Learning Day followed by a Staff Work Day on January 7. Students will return on Wednesday, January 8 for the start of the second semester.

We wish all of our Bearcat families a joyful and restful winter break filled with cheer and togetherness!

Thanks to Aledo High School senior and communications graphic design intern Kiara B. for our Winter Break graphic!

Don't forget: Aledo ISD will have an early dismissal on Thursday, December 19.

• Elementary campuses will dismiss at 11:40 a.m.
• Secondary campuses will dismiss at 12:40 p.m.

Aledo ISD Community: We are actively recruiting special education teacher aides to become a part of our Bearcat Staff!

Benefits to being a teacher aide in Aledo ISD include:

• Teacher aides are eligible to transfer their own children into Aledo ISD to attend our schools, even if they don’t live in the Aledo ISD boundaries.

• Teacher aides are eligible to send their babies and young children to the Aledo ISD Child Development Center employee daycare.

• Teacher aides follow the same school calendar as their kids/students in Aledo ISD.

• Teacher aides who are hired to work in a special education centralized program will receive a $600 sign-on bonus [when hired between September 20, 2024, and March 7, 2025, after completing 45 days of employment and maintaining an attendance rate of 90%].

• No experience required - we will train you!

• Want to become a certified teacher? We will work with you on your path to teacher certification.

Are you looking for a way to support our schools and make a positive impact on students' lives? We invite you to join our team as a substitute! We need substitutes who are sub teachers, front-office staff, nurses, aides and more!

As a substitute, you’ll have the flexibility to work around your schedule, connect with our students and play a vital role in our district.

Benefits of Becoming a Substitute:

• Flexible Hours: Choose days that work for you!
• Rewarding Experience: Support students and help shape their future.
• Community Involvement: Be a part of our schools’ success.

Interested? Learn more about how to apply by visiting our website at Aledo ISD Guest Teacher Application or contacting us at staylor@aledoisd.org.

Be a Bearcat today - join Aledo ISD as a substitute! Learn more at www.aledoisd.org/substitute.

Are you looking to support our Aledo ISD students? Did you know we have a method for community members wishing to donate to cover fees for those in need through the My School Bucks platform? Donations made will help cover various fees like device protection program fees, athletics fees and more.

It's SIMPLE!

• Open your MySchoolBucks account on your phone or on the website.
• Make sure you are under "Store" and not the "Meal Money" section.
• Select a Aledo ISD or a Campus and then select the option to "Donate to Pay Fees for Students in Need"
• Enter your donation amount and "Add to Cart" and complete the payment process.
  

The Aledo ISD Child Nutrition Department wishes all students a joyful and festive holiday season filled with cheer and delicious, nutritious treats! Stay safe, enjoy the break, and we’ll see you in the new year! 🎄✨

🚨 STATE QUALIFIERS 🚨 Huge congratulations to our incredible students and their sponsor Jana Wheaton for taking home the top scores at the TAFE Area Competition, on Saturday, December 7, in Denton! Their dedication, hard work, and innovative ideas truly shone through, proving once again the amazing talent we have here in our CTE programs at Aledo HS.

Shoutout to: Conley Hamilton, Havanna Parker, Avery Little, Mackenzie Godber, Grace Giglio, Abigail Huber, Brooke Rhoades, Eliana Depauw, Jenna Smith, Ella Williams, Marion Robbins and Charlotte Furst. Outstanding performance!

On December 10, the talented voices of Aledo High School, Aledo Middle School and McAnally Middle School choir programs filled the air with festive melodies and seasonal magic! Thank you to everyone who joined us for this heartwarming evening and supported our incredible students. Their hard work and talent truly shone, making this event a highlight of the season!

Thanks to Bearcat Backer EECU for your partnership as a Bearcat Backer and also for going one step further to support our staff with a surprise $50 monthly prize! It's partnerships like these that show how incredible it is to be a Bearcat here in Aledo!

🚨 If you made a purchase during the Lululemon online pop up shop, please pick up your purchases before we close for the winter break! Last day is Thursday, Dec. 19! 🚨

As the weather begins to change and the temperature begins to drop, it becomes more and more essential to be comfortable! Stop by the Aledo ISD Bearcat Store where comfort is guaranteed! Get these new items before the semester ends!

• Aledo A Santa Hats are the perfect way to show your Bearcat Spirit this holiday season. Get them while supplies last!
• New Aledo A fleece vests, in men's and women's sizes, are perfect for keeping you warm!

• New Aledo A hoodies to keep you warm and show off your Aledo spirit!
• New Aledo-themed beanies to keep your ears toasty when temperatures drop after sunset!

Next week, the Bearcat Store will be open Monday - Thursday from 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Administration Building Lobby. The store will be closed throughout the winter holiday and will reopen following normal hours on January 6, 2025.

Give the Bearcat Store a like and follow to stay up-to-date on all of our new merch!

• Facebook
• Instagram

Mark your calendars for the Aledo Education Foundation’s Bearcats n Boots — a night of boots, dancing, live music, dinner, and most importantly raising money for our teachers and students!
📅 March 28, 2025
📍 Stockyard Station

This is the MOST anticipated, BIGGEST, and most FUN event of the year, and you won’t want to miss it! Whether you’re coming for dinner, exciting live & silent auction, or to dance the night away, Bearcats N Boots has it ALL!

Stay tuned for more details, but trust us, this is going to be a night to remember!

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 Bearcatstudents 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 Sponsors

Canvas at Willow Park

EECU Credit Union

First Bank Texas

K&M Elevator, LLC

Myser Orthodontics

United Educators Association

Gold Level Sponsors

First Financial Bank
Impact Athletic Training Center

Redwood Financial

Stroud Pediatric Dentistry
TFWG Insurance Services

Silver Level Sponsors

Brookshire's

Kisselburgh Law Firm

Bronze Level Sponsors

A2Z Promotions, Inc.

BigFoot Ink

First Bank

Kinnear Child Psychology

Olympus Willow Park

Paradigm Wealth Management

Turquant Business Services

As a reminder, we have streamlined absence reporting for all of our campuses for this school year. It is very important that we have documented reasons for absences so that we can ensure your student is given an excused absence when needed.

In Aledo ISD, parents, students, community members, fellow staff members - ANYONE - can nominate ANY staff member to be recognized in this way! Take the time today to nominate someone who you've seen going above and beyond and being All in Aledo for Circle of Greatness!

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