AHS/DNG Counselor's Corner
August 2026
AHS BEARCATS ARE BACK! SAVE THE DATE!
We're excited to welcome our Bearcats back for the 2026–27 school year!
Our Bearcats Are Back event is designed as a one-stop experience where students can complete nearly all of their back-to-school tasks in one convenient visit before the first day of school.
Event Dates (1:30–6:30 PM each day)
Tuesday, Aug. 4 — Returning Seniors (Grade 12)
Wednesday, Aug. 5 — Returning Juniors (Grade 11)
Thursday, Aug. 6 — Returning Sophomores (Grade 10)
Monday, Aug. 10 — Freshmen (Grade 9) and all NEW to AHS Students
Parents and guardians are welcome to attend with their student. Our staff will be available throughout the event to answer questions and help ensure your family is ready for a successful start to the school year.
Smile! Your official 2026–27 student ID photo will be taken during your visit. This ID will be used throughout the school year, so come photo-ready!
During your visit, you can:
Verify registration (staff will be available to assist if needed)
Pay fees and fines, including parking and Chromebook Device Protection Plan (DPP)
Receive your 2026–27 student ID badge
Pick up your class schedule and meet with a counselor if needed
Pick up your district-issued Chromebook
Ask questions and connect with campus staff
Parking Reminder: Students purchasing a parking permit should bring a valid driver's license and proof of insurance listing the student driver to pickup their placard.
Freshman & New Student Day – Monday, August 10th
To help our newest Bearcats feel confident on the first day of school, Freshmen and their families are invited to walk their class schedules on August 10th. Student leaders will be stationed throughout the building to help students locate classrooms, answer questions, and make the transition to high school as smooth as possible.
Please Note: Classroom access and schedule walks will be available for freshmen and new students on August 10th only. During August 4–6, teachers will be participating in professional learning and preparing their classrooms for the new school year.
We can't wait to welcome our Bearcats back and kick off another outstanding year at Aledo High School. See you soon!
A few things to note:
Early release periods were granted only to students who met the previously communicated CCMR requirement and passed all STAAR EOC exams.
Seniors may see College Prep Math or College Prep English on your schedules. The College Prep courses are to help you meet the standard on the TSI exam, and/or earn your CCMR indicator. They may not be year-long classes. As you complete the requirements, you may be able to request a release period following the schedule change rules/timelines.
During the course selection process in the spring semester of last year, students had the opportunity to add/drop courses they’ve selected. As shared in all presentations, communication and printed in our AISD Academic Planning Guide, the last day to make changes to any selected courses, was the last day of school prior to summer. At this time, the only changes that will be made to student schedules are those to address errors including:
Program change- Student has been placed in or is no longer enrolled in a specific extra-curricular activity (choir, band, athletics, etc.--this does not include CTE electives)
Prerequisite not met- student does not have the required prerequisite for a course they are enrolled in.
Missing an academic class- student is missing a core class ( English, Math, Science, Social Studies)
Wrong Level- student requested AP and is enrolled in an on-level course
Missing a graduation requirement- student is missing a class necessary to graduate this year or next (Health, LOTE, Endorsement, etc.)
Outside of the potential errors outlined above, no schedule changes will be made. No changes should be requested for teacher or lunch preference, and all schedule changes require administrative approval.
If you believe you have an error on your schedule and need to request a correction, please use this link. It will open when schedules are released. Until you hear from your counselor regarding your request, please follow your current schedule as it is in Ascender. This will help you avoid any absences.
Counselors will not be able to address schedule errors via email or respond to emails about schedule errors. The only changes that will be looked into must be requested via the form linked above. We do this in order to ensure every error is looked at and resolved in a timely manner.
We appreciate your support in following the outlined processes as we work to serve all Bearcats! We will see you for the first day of school August 12!
School Counselor vs. Therapist: What’s the Difference?
We’re often asked how a school counselor differs from a therapist—and it’s an important distinction to understand when supporting your teen.
As a school counselor, we focus on short-term, school-based support. This includes:
✔️ Friendship issues
✔️ Emotional regulation
✔️ Coping with academic stress
✔️ Conflict resolution
✔️ Making healthy choices
Support is typically provided through quick check-ins, small groups, or classroom lessons.
A therapist offers ongoing, specialized mental health care. This might include:
✔️ Anxiety or depression
✔️ Trauma or grief
✔️ Family changes
✔️ Behavioral concerns
✔️ Diagnosed mental health conditions
Therapists usually meet with students weekly and involve families in long-term treatment plans.
When to reach out?
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If it’s school-related, we are here to help during the day.
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If it’s more complex or affecting life beyond school, a therapist may be the right next step.
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And sometimes, both supports work best together.
Not sure where to start? Please reach out—We are happy to help guide you.
Together, we can make sure your child feels supported and ready to thrive.
🎉 Mindset Monday at Aledo High School 🎉
Let’s start each week with positivity and purpose!
Every Monday, we’re setting the tone for the week ahead with Mindset Monday—a chance to focus on positive thinking, goal setting, and showing up with the right attitude.
🙌 What to Do:
Wear a T-shirt with a positive message—something uplifting, encouraging, or inspiring. Whether it’s about kindness, hard work, growth mindset, or mental wellness, your shirt can help someone start their week off right.
💡 Why It Matters:
A positive mindset sets you up for success—in school, in sports, in relationships, and in life. Mondays are the perfect time to reset, refocus, and choose positivity.
👕 Need Ideas?
Look for shirts that say things like:
“Be the reason someone smiles today”
“Progress, not perfection”
“Your mindset determines your success”
“Kindness is cool”
“You’ve got this”
Let’s build a school culture where encouragement is the norm and positive vibes are everywhere.
We can’t wait to see your shirts and your Monday mindset!
#MindsetMonday #AllInAledo #GrowingGreatness
College & Career Readiness Focus
Every first Wednesday of the month is College & Career Readiness Day!
Students and staff are invited to wear shirts representing their favorite college, career, or military path.
Let’s celebrate goals, inspire dreams, and build a future-ready culture—together!
#AlllInAledo #GrowingGreatness
2025-26 Data
Check out our AHS Counseling Department Data from the 2025-2026 school year!
We are thrilled to be able to share what we do and the impact of our counseling program on the AHS campus.
College Applications and Transcripts
Now is the time for the Class of 2027 to start making their post-secondary plans! We are here to help you as you start the planning and applying process!
College Applications
If you are applying to a Texas public school, you may use the Apply Texas application that can be found HERE.
Most private schools will use the Common Application which can be found HERE.
If the school you are applying to does not use the Apply Texas or the Common Application for their application process, please visit the college’s admissions page and you will most likely find a link on their website to apply.
College and Career Resources
Please visit the Aledo High School College and Career Readiness site HERE for helpful post-secondary information.
Our AHS Counseling website is always a great place to start! We have several pages there, but one especially for College & Career exploration.
In June, you will receive your student's High School Transcript. These will be mailed to the address on file in Ascender. this is the transcript your student will use for their College applications. As a reminder, only students in the top 10% receive a class rank. For more information on the AISD Academic Achievement guidelines, please click here.
Rising Seniors who apply to college over the summer and need their initial transcript sent, will use Major Clarity to request them. Major Clarity is the platform we use for post-secondary planning.
To request a transcript via Major Clarity, please follow the steps below. Universities require that they receive transcripts from a secure online resource.
- Go to the Launch Pad and then click on your "Major Clarity" Application
- Click on "Application Center" located on the left bar under your Profile Name
- Scroll down to "Transcript Request", then click on the "Request Transcript"
- Type in the name of the college or university, then click "Send Request"
Click here for a tutorial video for further assistance.
We look forward to our continued work with the AHS Class of 2027 and families! Time flies, so enjoy every moment!
Post-Secondary Planning
Check it out HERE!
Major Clarity is a great resource and is also where you will request transcripts and letters of recommendation.
Major Clarity Resources
- Career Exploration
- Post-Secondary Exploration
- Portfolio
- Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation (12th grade only)
- Connecting Your Common Application (12th grade only)
- Common Application Evaluator (12th grade only)
My Texas Future
Check out My Texas Future for more college and career planning information! It's a great site that also has direct admissions information for 25+ schools in Texas!
Connect with your AHS/DNG Counseling team!
Follow us on Instagram and X (twitter) and like our Facebook page (Aledo High School Counseling Department) for all things AHS Counseling and even some Bearcat fun! We will share upcoming dates, important information, and show you a look at AHS/DNG through our eyes.
