May 5, 2025

Dear AHISD Families-

May is one of the busiest months of the year as we wind down another AH-mazing year in Alamo Heights ISD. It’s hard to believe but this is my last monthly message of the 2024-2025 school year!
This month is filled with pride, reflection, and celebration across our school district, especially as we honor the incredible journey of our graduating seniors. I look forward to celebrating the Class of 2025 through awards ceremonies and final performances and graduation itself, to be held on May 22 at 8pm, once again at Harry B. Orem Stadium. This is a time when the hard work, progress, and growth of our seniors comes into full view, and we are reminded of the collective effort—by educators, families, and the community—that helped shape their path.

School Views

Our latest edition of the School Views publication is now available electronically. This is our first digital-only version and it features some truly outstanding student and staff honors and accomplishments, bond construction updates, and curriculum and instruction program updates. I hope you’ll take the time to read it and share it with your networks. There is so much to be proud of in AHISD!

Bond Update

Next month marks one year of construction at Alamo Heights HS. The transformation continues and now we have multiple bond construction projects underway or about to begin. This past month, work began on our AHISD Athletics Complex over at Robbins, and the beginning of our new softball field. Work continues on the Visitors Bleachers Complex at Orem Stadium, and it will be complete by football season in the fall.

Cambridge and Woodridge will start construction work as soon as school lets out, and I’m excited for the first group of refreshed classrooms to be complete in August when students and staff return. The refresh includes new lighting, ceilings, paint, flooring, and millwork.

We’ve also begun the design process for the new Howard building with input from staff in these early phases.

Over the summer, we’ll continue to provide bond updates on our Bond Updates website and social media.

Advocacy and Budget Planning

This summer, the Board will adopt our 2025-2026 budget. The process of budget planning is made more complex as we wait for the Texas Legislature to act on legislation for public education funding. We anticipate seeing some additional dollars allocated to the Basic Allotment and programs like special education and safety, but the amounts are far below the needs to simply adjust for inflation since 2019.

I am grateful for the leadership of our Board of Trustees and the tremendous work that went on in the fall and winter with our Budget Advisory Council and Budget Committee. We have had to make some difficult decisions moving forward but we remain committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for students and creating an environment that values our teachers and staff. You can review the planning recommendations that have been approved by the Trustees for our 2025 budget here. Please continue to reach out to legislators as we approach the end of the Legislative Session in June, asking that they fully fund our schools.

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week, May 5 through May 9, is Teacher Appreciation Week - a time to recognize the extraordinary talent, heart, and dedication of the educators who make Alamo Heights ISD such a special place. Our teachers are the heart of our schools—innovative, compassionate, and deeply committed to the success of every student. They create classrooms where curiosity is sparked, confidence is built, and young minds are inspired to dream big. Their impact extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the lives of our students in ways that last a lifetime. This month, and always, we honor our teachers for the incredible difference they make. Please reach out with words of appreciation, and consider having your child write a note of thanks as well.

May is a month that shines the spotlight on the incredible power of public education and the lifelong impact of a caring school community. I feel privileged to serve AHISD as Superintendent and am very proud of the successes we celebrate from this past year. Mules Up!

Mules up!



Dr. Dana Bashara

Photo of the Month:


 Eight hundred musicians from Cambridge, Woodridge, the Junior School, and AHHS joined forces for an AH-mazing night of performances at our annual Strings Festival in the MuleDome, capped off with the traditional finale song Ode to Joy! Bravo to these musicians and our instructors for a memorable night of music.

Reminders:

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

Monday, May 5 - AHHS Orchestra Concert - 7:00-8:30 PM - Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Tuesday, May 6 - Kinder Preview - 9:30-11:00 AM - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Tuesday, May 6 - AHHS Fine Arts Signing Day - 3:00-5:00 PM - Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Tuesday, May 6 - AHJS Little Theater Showcase - 5:00-6:00 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Wednesday, May 7 - WE Final PTO Meeting - 12:30-12:30 PM - Location: The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Wednesday, May 7 - CE Walk, Bike, or Roll to School Day - Location: Cambridge Elementary
Wednesday, May 7 - AHJS Play 1 Performance - 5:00-6:00 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Wednesday, May 7 - School Nurses Day
Thursday, May 8 - CE PTO Stay & Play - 3:30-4:30 PM - Location: Playground, Howard Early Childhood Center
Thursday, May 8 - AHJS Athletic Awards - 4:00-5:20 PM - Location: Gym & Field (both), Alamo Heights Junior School
Thursday, May 8 - AHHS Band Spring Concert - 6:30-8:00 PM - Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Monday, May 12 - AHHS Senior Awards - 2:30-3:30 PM - Location: MuleDome, Alamo Heights High School
Monday, May 12 - AHJS Spring Orchestra Concert - 6:30 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights Junior School
Monday, May 12 - AHHS PVSA Award Ceremony - 6:00-7:00 PM - Location: Barbara and Alan Dreeben Auditorium Foyer and Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Tuesday, May 13 - CE Senior Send Off - 3:30-5:30 PM - Location: Cambridge Elementary
Tuesday, May 13 - AHJS Spring Band Awards Concert - 6:00-8:00 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Wednesday, May 14 - CE 5th Grade Variety Show - 9:00 AM & 10:15 AM - Location: Evelyn Phillips Auditorium, Cambridge Elementary
Thursday, May 15 - NHJS Induction Ceremony - 5:30-6:30 PM - Auditorium, Alamo Heights Junior School
Thursday, May 15 - AHJS Pop Show - 7:00 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Friday, May 16 - Kindergarten Splash Day - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Friday, May 16 - AHHS Visual Arts Showcase - 5:00-7:00 PM - Location: Studio ‘09, Alamo Heights High School
Monday, May 19 - Pre-K Splash Day - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Monday, May 19 - AHJS Voice Recital - 5:30 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Tuesday, May 20 - Kinder Completion Ceremony, Location: Gym, Howard Early Childhood Center
HECC Team 1 9:30am
HECC Team 4 1:00pm
Wednesday, May 21 - Kinder Completion Ceremony, Location: Gym, Howard Early Childhood Center
HECC Team 3 9:30am
HECC Team 2 1:00pm
Wednesday, May 21 - WE Variety Show - The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
1st-3rd Grade - 9:00-10:00 AM
4th & 5th Grade - 1:45-2:45 PM
Wednesday, May 21 - Girls Soccer Banquet - 5:00-8:30 PM - Location The Oaks, Alamo Heights High School
Wednesday, May 21 - AHJS 8th Grade Completion Ceremony - 6:00 PM - Location: MuleDome, Alamo Heights High School
Thursday, May 22 - Pre-K3 Splash Day - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Thursday, May 22 - CE 5th Graduation Ceremony - 9:30-11:00 AM - Evelyn Phillips Auditorium, Cambridge Elementary
Thursday, May 22 - WE 5th Promotion Ceremony - 9:30-10:30 AM - Thursday, May 22 - The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Thursday, May 22 - Last Day of School
Thursday, May 22 - Secondary Early Release
Alamo Heights Junior School - 12:45 PM
Alamo Heights High School - 12:45 PM
Thursday, May 22 - Report Cards Distributed