October 1, 2025

Dear AHISD Families-

Happy Fall! October promises to be another busy and exciting month in AHISD. From Fine Arts performances and Athletics events to beloved traditions like Howard Hay Day and the Woodridge Carnival, I hope you’ve marked your calendars!
Also, our Homecoming festivities will take place later this month-Howdy Night is Wednesday, October 15. We start with the Howdy Parade at 4:30 p.m. along Alamo Heights Boulevard and we will end up at AHHS for the carnival from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the MuleDome parking lot. The pep rally and bonfire start at 7 p.m. Our Homecoming football game is Friday, Oct. 17 with kickoff at 7p.m.

Academic Screening Update

As part of our Community-Based Accountability System (CBAS), specifically Pillars I and II, AHISD is committed to comprehensive academic screening in reading and math. We use a single, consistent tool—NWEA MAP Growth—for grades K–10 to track progress and strengthen communication with parents. Students are assessed three times a year beginning September 2025. Elementary parents have already received score reports; secondary parents will receive them by mid-October.
In addition, all kindergarten and first-grade students are universally screened for characteristics of dyslexia using mCLASS or the Spanish assessment Lectura. Kindergarten students are screened at year’s end, and first graders in January. Parents are notified of results in writing. Families may also request a dyslexia evaluation at any time by submitting a written referral to the campus principal.
This year, MAP and mCLASS scores are also being used to identify elementary students for gifted and talented (GT) services. With this change, all students are considered for GT three times a year, though eligibility remains at the 98th percentile of national norms.
These ongoing assessments allow teachers to differentiate instruction, ultimately supporting greater achievement and growth.

Bond Update

We continue to see tremendous progress on our bond construction projects. This past month we attended a Topping Out Ceremony for the new high school academic building which signifies the last piece of structural steel being placed.
I do want to update our community on a change in our bond timeline. The AHISD Board of Trustees made the strategic decision in a September Building Committee meeting to change the order of the Howard and Junior School construction projects. Now, AHJS construction will take place before Howard. Changing the order ensures that there will be enough bond dollars to complete the new Howard building as designed. Updated construction timelines are posted to the Bond Upgrades website.

On Location

I am grateful for the continued partnership of our families and community. This month I’m celebrating all of the cafeteria volunteers who have stepped up and partnered with our campuses during lunchtime. Watch the latest edition of my On Location video series as we visit the Woodridge Cafeteria. I’m impressed with not only the PTO volunteers, but the students who initiated a group -”The Sparklers”-last year to be of service. Please reach out to your campus PTO if you would like to volunteer - they’ll help you sign up, ensure background checks are completed, and make sure you’re trained to step in any day of the week that fits your schedule. This is a really meaningful way to help our staff.
In closing, as we welcome the month of October, we also pause to recognize our campus principals during National Principal Appreciation Month. Our principals are the steady guides who lead with vision, compassion, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every child. Their commitment to supporting teachers, encouraging students, and partnering with families makes a lasting impact on each of our campuses. They are truly everyday heroes in AHISD. Make some time to reach out to share your appreciation with our incredible AHISD Principals this month!

Mules up!



Dr. Dana Bashara

Photo of the Month:


AHHS Spanish teacher Dr. Maria Cubero is the 2025-26 EXCEL Award Winner for Alamo Heights ISD. She was surprised in her classroom and presented with an apple trophy and a $2,000 check. The EXCEL Award is sponsored by KENS 5 and Credit Human. Watch the KENS-5 story featuring Dr. Cubero.

Reminders:

Grand/Senior Mules: If you are a Grand (Parent) Mule or a Senior (Citizen) Mule in our community, I invite you to join us at our next Grand Mules/Senior Mules event from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 13.

We’ll start at Central Office, 7101 Broadway, and then hop on board a school bus for this ‘Mules on Wheels’ style event with visits to Alamo Heights HS and Woodridge. Participants will receive a Grand Mules or Senior Mules t-shirt and those 65 years old and older will receive their Gold Card for free admission to all district athletic and fine arts events.

RSVP to reserve your spot by Oct. 30 by calling or emailing Cristina De La Cerda- [email protected] or (210) 832-5953. Please share this information with any community Senior Citizen who would like to learn more about our AHISD offerings!

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, September 29 - WE Book Fair Week - Location: Library, Woodridge Elementary
Wednesday, October 1 - National Principals Month
Wednesday, October 1 - WE PTO Meeting - 12:00-1:00 PM - Location: The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Thursday, October 2 - Custodian Appreciation Day
Thursday, October 2 - CE 5th Grade Fall Strings Concert - 10:20-10:50 AM - Location: The Evelyn Phillips Auditorium, Cambridge Elementary
Friday, October 3 - CE & WE Tug-A-War - 9:00-12:00 PM - Location: Both Gyms, Cambridge Elementary
Friday, October 3 - HECC Hay Day Carnival - 4:00-6:00 PM - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Monday, October 6 - AHHS Orchestra Fall Concert - 7:00-8:30 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Tuesday, October 7 - HECC Individual Pictures - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Tuesday, October 7 - AHJS & AHHS Choir Fall Concert - 7:00-8:30 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Wednesday, October 8 - National Walk to School Day
Wednesday, October 8 - HECC Individual Pictures - Location: Howard Early Childhood Center
Wednesday, October 8 - WE 5th Grade Fall Strings Concert - 2:20-2:50 PM - The Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge Auditorium, Woodridge Elementary
Thursday, October 9 - EXCEL Graduation - 12:30-1:30 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights High School
Friday, October 10 - Student Holiday/Teacher Workday
Monday, October 13 - School Holiday
Wednesday, October 15 - G&P/Committee Meetings - 7:00 AM - Location: Boardroom, Central Office
Wednesday, October 15 - End of 1st Nine Weeks
Wednesday, October 15 - Howdy Parade - 4:30 PM - Location: Alamo Heights Boulevard
Wednesday, October 15 - Howdy Night - 5:00-7:00 PM - Location: Mule Dome Parking Lot, Alamo Heights High School
Friday, October 17 - Homecoming Night
Saturday, October 18 - AHHS Homecoming Dance - 7:00-10:00 PM - Location: The Oaks, Alamo Heights High School
Monday, October 20 - Elementary Student Holiday/Parent Conference
Monday, October 20 - CE Fall Book Fair Week - Location: Library, Cambridge Elementary
Tuesday, October 21 - Secondary Report Card Distribution
Tuesday, October 21 - HECC PTO Meeting - 12:00-1:00 PM - Location: Library, Howard Early Childhood Center
Tuesday, October 21 - AHJS Symphonic Winds & Honors Band Fall Concert - 6:00-8:00 PM - Location: Auditorium, Alamo Heights Junior School
Wednesday, October 22 - CE Picture Retake Day - Location: Cambridge Elementary
Wednesday, October 22 - Regular Board Meeting - 6:00 PM - Location: Boardroom, Central Office
Friday, October 24 - Elementary Report Card Distribution
Friday, October 24 - WE Carnival - 3:30-6:00 PM - Location: Field, Woodridge Elementary
Tuesday, October 28 - AHJS Play 1 Performance: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 5:00-6:00 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Wednesday, October 29 - AHJS Play 1 Performance: Jekyll and Hyde and The Hounds of Baskerville - 5:00-6:00 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Thursday, October 30 - AHJS Play 1 Performance: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 5:00-6:00 PM - Location: Little Theater, Alamo Heights Junior School
Friday, October 31 - WE Picture Retake Day - Location: Woodridge Elementary
Friday, October 31 - HECC Fall Fest - Location: Gym, Howard Early Childhood Center