Ninth Grade News

We have so many talented and hard-working students at Daniel Ninth Grade and many accomplishments to celebrate for their first year of high school! Many students are taking a challenging course load and we are continually reinforcing that the benefit of taking an academically challenging load is not only in the numerical grade that can result from great work habits and study skills but also that the learning that occurs when engaged in academically rigorous environments is the goal.

In past years at DNG, we calculated an unfinished term to award academics at the mid-May ceremony. After careful consideration, our team did not feel that is the best practice moving forward as our current Aledo ISD policy does not allow us to rank students until their sophomore year and we would be calculating achievements based upon an unfinished body of work. Students taking advanced course loads will earn an average based on a weighted system after final grade calculations. Additionally, many of our high-achieving Ninth Graders took their first AP exam in early May and those scores are not available until the first of July.

We know that the hard work of our top-achieving students will lead to future recognitions that are founded on the completion of wonderful achievements such as College Board National Recognition Program Scholars, National Merit Scholars, Top Ten Percent of ranking in the senior class, On-Ramps Scholars, AP Scholar Awards, AP Capstone Awards, National Honor Society, etc. I understand that this decision might cause disappointment, but I believe it is in the best interest of our students. I encourage you to emphasize the importance of the learning journey and remind students that the true value lies not only in the recognition of awards, but also in the growth, knowledge, and skills they acquire throughout their academic pursuits. This approach will foster resilience, perseverance, and a deeper appreciation for the educational experience.

The DNG Recognition Ceremony is a student-led ceremony that recognizes positive work habits, character qualities, and academic achievements in classes. Students also recognize their teachers for their contributions to their academic and educational experiences. It is a fun and special time with our students before launching into the final week of semester exams.

Parents/guardians of students who are receiving an award were notified via email on Friday, May 12th. We will have seats reserved for this parent/guardian group for those who choose to attend this in-person ceremony. Many additional students will be acknowledged in categories chosen by both students and teachers. They will have their names called and will stand to be recognized. Physical space is limited for this event, therefore, we wish to welcome all parents to join us via Facebook Livestream (on the DNG Facebook page) for this awards/recognition event.

Student dress is casual as we will be transitioning directly into Bearcat Intramurals/Freshman Fun Day immediately following the recognition ceremony. Students who do not wish to participate in the intramural games will have an arts and games option indoors. Students who are passing all courses and have completed any assigned credit recovery will be eligible to participate in choice activities for the afternoon. Students will eat lunch in their Advisory classrooms and may bring a sack/picnic lunch from home or purchase a to-go lunch from the cafeteria before we begin the intramural games.

We are looking forward to a fun day of connecting with our students before final exam week begins!

8:40 – 9:27 – Attend 1st Period Class

9:32 – 10:22– Attend 2nd Period Class

10:25– 10:55– All 9th graders report to Advisory Class

(Students will listen for announcements to be released to the AHS Auditorium)

11:00 – 11:45- Freshman Recognition Ceremony (in AHS Auditorium)

11:50-12:25– All 9th graders report to Advisory Class

(Students will eat lunch in Advisory classroom. Students will be called to the cafeteria by hallway to purchase lunch from the cafeteria and return to their Advisory classroom to eat lunch.) Students who are passing all classes and are not currently assigned to a credit recovery course will be released to the gym/cafeteria/art room for Intramurals & choice activities for the afternoon.

12:30 – 1:20 - Rotation 1 - Bearcat Intramurals

(students will rotate with their teams through volleyball, cornhole, and kickball tournaments.)

1:20 – 2:10 - Rotation 2 - Bearcat Intramurals

(students will rotate with their teams through volleyball, cornhole, and kickball tournaments.)

2:10 – 3:15 - Rotation 3 - Bearcat Intramurals

(students will rotate with their teams through volleyball, cornhole, and kickball tournaments.)

3:22 – 4:10 – Attend 8th Period Class

If your student has medication in the Nurse’s Office, it must be picked up by the last day of school – Thursday, May 25th. Any Medication not picked up by the end of the school year will be disposed of and therefore will not be returned. Please contact Nurse Barnes with any questions or concerns that you may have regarding medication pick-up.

Thank you,

Nurse Barnes

dbarnes@aledoisd.org

With Aledo ISD’s rapid growth and because we are in the middle of hiring season and our administrative teams and counselors are hard at work already on master schedules and teacher and class assignments, having an accurate enrollment number for each campus is paramount. For this purpose, we ask that you please complete registration by the last day of school on Thursday, May 25!

Register today at aledoisd.org/register.

Student Chromebook & charger cord collection will take place on May 22 during math classes. All stickers/personalization and sticky residue must be removed from student Chromebooks before this date (this does NOT include the barcode label on the back of the Chromebook).

*The front office will connect with students who have math classes at AHS to facilitate Chromebook turn-in on this same date.

Semester exams will be given on May 23 - 25. See the exam schedule below for more details.

No exams may be given early. If students are absent during exams, they are required to make arrangements with their teachers to make up their exams.

Aledo ISD is excited to offer summer school courses for the summer of 2022 through the Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN). The TxVSN offers accredited high school courses to supplement regular instructional programs. The courses available this summer through TxVSN will only be for original credit, not re-taking classes that have previously been taken.

This web page offers additional information, an overview video, and links to complete the enrollment process for those who may be interested. Feel free to reach out with any questions to your child's school counselor or to Scott Kessel, the TxVSN summer school contact, at either 817-441-5161 or skessel@aledoisd.org.

Make plans to attend our final Parenting University of the school year: A Parent Night with Nathan Harmon!

A Night of Hope

6:30-8 p.m.

Thursday, May 18

McAnally Middle School

Babysitting and dinner will be available

As the AHS counselors received information about various collegiate and civic leadership opportunities, they will place that information on their website. Currently, you can find information about Boys & Girls State and a Stanford Mentorship Program. For more information and links to the applications, click on the link below

Aledo PTO is looking for new faces for all of our district-level positions! We have five officer positions (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect, and Secretary) and chairpersons/members for the following committees: Audit, Food Drive, School Supplies, Scholarships, Shattered Dreams, and Community Sponsorships.

All positions are open to current members of Aledo PTO and the term will run from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024. You can submit your interest form through April 28th at: https://forms.gle/W19Ei2ftSJpxgaph8 .

Aledo High School Class of 2026 parents/guardians are invited to attend a Project Celebration 2026 meeting in the DLC room across from the front office at the high school on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 p.m. We will discuss current funding, upcoming fundraisers, etc. We hope to see you there!

Thanks again for supporting our students! Happy New Year!

Aledo PC2026 Board
aledopc2026@gmail.com

Please join us from 5-6 p.m. on Monday, May 15 at the Aledo Learning Center as we bid farewell & best wishes to outgoing Aledo ISD Trustee Julie Turner and welcome incoming Aledo ISD Trustee Zach Tarrant.

Brief remarks will begin at 5:20 p.m.; the Aledo ISD May Regular Monthly Board Meeting with Swearing-In Ceremony to follow at 6 p.m. in the Aledo ISD Administration Building, 1008 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo.

Join us on May 19 from 8:30 - 11:00 a.m. for an in-person "watch party." This event will focus on building connections with our Emerging Bilingual families and providing valuable resources offered through the community.

Make plans to take the whole family to watch a Texas Rangers game and celebrate Aledo ISD Night at the Rangers game! When you purchase a special ticket through texasrangers.com/schools you'll be eligible to receive the Aledo/Texas Rangers hat!

The game is at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, June 5 at Globe Life Field against the St. Louis Cardinals.

As a reminder, parental consent must be obtained before any student is allowed to leave campus for any part of the school day. A parent or authorized adult must call in advance to inform the school that their student will be leaving campus. The student must check out through the front office before leaving. Upon returning to school, students must check in with the front office.

During Advisory on Monday, students will verify the courses they selected for the 2023-2024 school year. Students will follow this process to verify their course selections: Link to Course Verification Student Information

Please help us remind them to use the steps below to verify their course selections:

1. Using Chromebook, Students log into their student portal account

2. On the left-hand side scroll down to "Course Request"

3. Click on "Course Request"

4. Use the link below to request any changes for consideration

5. Please email AHS counselors with questions

Students may make changes to their course requests HERE or utilize the provided QR code. There are additional QR codes posted around the school.

*Reminder - the final day to make changes is, May 25, 2023, the LAST DAY of school.

The third nine-week report card grades are accessible in Ascender Parent Portal. Paper report cards will not be sent home.

• Click here for instructions for accessing report card grades in Parent Portal.
• Click here for information regarding K-2 standards-based report cards.

Thank you for your continued support and for your partnership! Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any specific questions related to grades.

• Advisory
• After School Tutorials at DNG, 4:10 - 5:10 p.m.
  
*Students attending tutorials must arrive directly after 8th period

• Flex
• After School Tutorials at DNG, 4:10 - 5:10 p.m.
  
*Students attending tutorials must arrive directly after 8th period
• Spring Choir Concert @AHS Auditorium, 7:00 p.m.

• Flex
• After School Tutorials at DNG, 4:10 - 5:10 p.m.
  
*Students attending tutorials must arrive directly after 8th period

• Flex

• After School Tutorials at DNG, 4:10 - 5:10 p.m.

*Students attending tutorials must arrive directly after 8th period

• Flex
• Aledo Bilingual Community Event @AISD Administration Building, 8:30 - 11:00 a.m.
  
• Freshman Recognition Ceremony @11am (see live stream on DNG facebook page)
• Picnic lunch in Advisory classrooms to follow (students will have access to cafeteria to purchase lunch)
• Freshman Intramural Games for the afternoon

*Students will attend 1st, 2nd, & 8th period classes at normal scheduled times on this date

May 23: Semester Exam Schedule

May 24: Semester Exam Schedule

May 25: Semester Exam Schedule

May 25: Cycle 4 Ends

May 25: Early Release for Students/PM Staff Workday

May 26: Staff Workday/Student Holiday

May 29: Memorial Day Holiday

June 5: AISD Night at the Rangers Game

June 14: DNG campus closed for summer break

The end of the year and colder weather often means illnesses going around and, with that, busy doctors offices and clinics. Please remember that the Aledo ISD is proud to offer Bearcat Care Clinics at each campus to our students and employees as a convenient option when getting into your primary care doctor or going to a stand alone clinic isn’t an option for your family. We know Bearcat Care Clinics do not replace our local pediatricians, and we are so grateful for them! Bearcat Care instead is a partnership with the Parker County Hospital District where each school nurse’s clinic is set up with a medical cart similar to what you would find in a hospital setting. This Bearcat Care setup essentially turns our school nurse offices into minor care clinics able to facilitate telemedicine visits with family doctors or nurse practitioners as well as making flu, strep, and COVID testing available (all with parent consent, of course) right at school.

Parents are even able to join the telemedicine visit with the nurse and doctor from the convenience of home or work or elsewhere. If a Bearcat Care visit determines that kids or staff may need to go home or get some prescription medicine, the prescription can be called in to your chosen pharmacy to be picked up as soon as possible and eliminate additional stops or appointments when not feeling well!

Access to Bearcat Care is for any student or staff member. Registration is necessary before a visit can take place and we encourage all parents to register your students right away to avoid any delays in having to register in a pinch when your child may be sick and needing a quick telemedicine visit. Registration also must occur each year, so if you registered last year, you will need to update your registration this year. AISD staff are also encouraged to register now to be ready later. It only takes a few minutes!

Registration for Bearcat Care can be done quickly and easily here; simply scroll down and click ENROLL NOW!

• Ladycat Spring Golf
  
• Bearcat Spring Golf
• Ladycat Varsity Soccer and JV Ladycat Soccer
• Bearcat Soccer
• Baseball
• Softball
• Varsity Spring Tennis and JV Spring Tennis
• Track & Field

Aledo Sports Schedules

Our after-school tutorials are held in the DNG Library. Students may come to the library after school for quiet study time or receive homework help from a National Honor Society (NHS) student tutor.

Kristina Neal is the PEIMS/Attendance Secretary at DNG. Please send anything pertaining to attendance to kneal@aledoisd.org.

Student Attendance Information:

• Teachers record attendance every period (8 periods).
• Students must be seated at 8:40 for first period, to be considered on time. When planning drop-off, please consider time to eat breakfast (if buying) and transition to class.
• If you drop your student off after 8:40, the student will need to come through the front office to get a tardy pass.
• If a student is checked out for an appointment during the school day, he/she must check back in through the front office if returning to school after the appointment.
• 9:45 a.m. is ADA time.
• 90% of each semester must be spent in class. An administrator will contact you if the minimum requirements are not being met and time missed needs to be made up.
• Doctor/Medical notes may be emailed to Ms. Neal or the student may drop them off in the front office upon return to school.
• If your student is absent you must email Kristina Neal (kneal@aledoisd.org) each day they are out. You only have 5 school days (counting the day of the absences) to report the absence.

• In your email to Ms. Neal, please include:

• Your student's name
• The date(s) of their absence
• The reason for their absence

If your student's absence is COVID-related, please complete the COVID-19 Reporting Form.

This is a security measure that involves students wearing their badge on the school-issued lanyard around their neck from the time they enter the campus to the time they leave in the afternoon. Students who do not have their ID badge report directly to the DNG library to receive a temporary ID badge/ID sticker that is worn for the school day.

The first badge and lanyard have been issued to students at no cost. For any student that cannot locate their ID badge at the start of the 2nd semester, a replacement badge will be ordered. Replacement costs are $10 for a new badge and $2 for a new lanyard. Payment for replacement badges/lanyards may be made in the front office from 8:00 - 8:30 a.m. by cash, check, or credit card.

Students are welcome to purchase a TI-84 Color Graphing Calculator or TI-Nspire Color Graphing Calculator (not the CAS). This is a recommended purchase, but not a required purchase since class sets of calculators are available for student use during the math class period.

The calculator you purchase will be utilized for the rest of your student’s high school years and for SAT testing. Students tend to perform their best when they are able to use the same calculator from day to day, especially during standardized testing events.

Please allow for a few extra minutes when picking up your student as we will verify release information and notify your student's teacher to send your student to the office for check-out.

We kindly ask that you follow these procedures when picking up your student:

1. Pull up to the student pick up/drop off area in front of our main doors.
2. Ring the doorbell to interact with our office staff to report the reason for your visit and provide identifying information.
3. Once you enter through the front doors of our building, our office staff will greet you and ask to scan your ID. You can also call our office at 817-441-4504 to let us know you are here.
4. We will then call your student’s teacher to notify them that you are here to pick them up.

*Students can only be checked out from their home campus. (Example: if a ninth-grade student is in a class at the High School when a parent arrives on campus for check-out, the parent will complete the check-out process at DNG and our office staff will notify the teacher to send the student for early release).

Food deliveries will not be accepted at 9th-12th grade campuses. Deliveries of this type are a disruption to the operation of our campus and it is a priority to ensure our office staff is ready to respond to the needs of our students, parents, and staff. A student who forgets their lunch will be able to obtain lunch in our cafeteria.

• Cell phones are allowed for student use before school, after school, during your student's lunch, and passing periods.
• Cell phones are prohibited from use in classrooms, unless otherwise instructed by the teacher.
• Cell phones must be powered off and kept in backpack or in designated area of the teacher's classroom during the instructional period (including Advisory & Flex).
• Headphones/earbuds are not permitted to be worn in class or in hallways.
• If you have an urgent message to communicate to your child, please call our front office. We will deliver the message to your student.

See Entire Cell Phone Policy Here

As students are gearing up to get their driver's permits and driver's licenses, please make note of the Verification of Enrollment Requirement. To be eligible for a TX Drivers' Permit/License, students must present a Verification of Enrollment form indicating that they have met the 90% Compulsory Attendance Law. Students must scan the QR code located in the front office and complete the Google Form request. Students may pick up the VOE the following school day. Unfortunately, we are unable to guarantee immediate turn-around time.

Also note that a VOE will expire in 30 days, so students should request within the 30-day window of when they have an appointment to receive their Driver's Permit/License.

Check out the Aledo ISD cafeteria services webpage and the AISD app for information on:

• Menus, pricing, nutritional info, allergens, setting account restrictions (PK-5), special dietary needs and more!
• Paying for school meals: MySchoolBucks or AISD app for online payments. Or pay in Cafeteria by cash/check.
• Free/Reduced Price Meals: Apply online or see if you qualify (paper applications also available on campus). A new application must be submitted at the start of each school year.
• Meal charge policy: If a student has no meal & no money, the cafeteria will provide them with a nutritious school meal. Students can charge up to $15.00 (school meal only, no snacks or extras if negative/low balance), then alternate meal offered.
• Negative balances will be communicated to parents via parent email and/or letter to household address on file.

Go to MySchoolBucks to view café account balances/transactions/install café balance email notifications. If you are experiencing a financial setback, please contact us so we can help. For questions or comments, please call the Child Nutrition Department at 817-441-5142.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SERVE YOUR STUDENTS!

Aledo ISD has updated its COVID-19 protocols for the 2022-2023 school year, and you can find them on the district's COVID-19 webpage. Please remember that any student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19 should notify the district by using this form.

Email: cansley@aledoisd.org
Website: https://www.aledoisd.org/DNGC
Location: 990 Bailey Ranch Road, Aledo, TX, USA
Phone: (817) 441-4504
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielninthgrade
Twitter: @danielninthgrade