2025-2026 Bearcat Blast

We're ready to welcome back our Bearcats tomorrow for the #firstdayofschool! We can't wait to see those adorable #firstday pictures, and we've created this Back to School board for you to print and use at home!

Be sure to tag us in your photos tomorrow and use the hashtag #bearcatsfirstday

Have an awesome 25-26 school year, Bearcats!

School hours will remain the same for the 2025-2026 school year:

Elementary/Early Childhood Academy (PK-5):

• 7:30 AM first bell

• 7:40 AM tardy bell

• 3:10 PM dismissal

Secondary (6-12):

• 8:30 AM first bell

• 8:40 AM tardy bell

• 4:10 PM dismissal

New for the 2025 - 2026 School Year
The USDA waiver will cover the cost of reduced-price breakfast and lunch for the 2025 - 2026 school year. Reduced-price breakfast and lunch will be provided at no cost to students who qualify.

Parent Reminders:
The Aledo ISD Child Nutrition Department serves nutritious breakfast and lunch daily at all schools!

More Information:

• Check out the Aledo ISD App, visit the Cafeteria Services page, or give us a call at: 817-441-5142

• Find menus, pricing, nutritional information, allergens, PK–5 account restrictions, special dietary needs, and more.

MySchoolBucks:

• For online café account payments, click here for more information about My School Bucks. A $3.50 convenience fee is charged.

• Payments may also be made in the cafeteria by cash or check (no fee).

Free/Reduced-Price Meals:

• Apply online each year by clicking here to see if you qualify. Paper applications are also available on campus.

Meal Charging (Maximum Charge Amount: $15):

• If a student has no meal/money, we can provide a school meal only, followed by an alternate meal.

• No snacks or extras will be provided if the account has a negative or low balance.

• Negative balances are communicated to parents via the email address on file (Parent Link) and/or by letter to the household address on file.

Account Monitoring:

• Use MySchoolBucks to view café account balances and transactions or to set up café balance email notifications.

Financial Assistance:

• If you are experiencing a financial hardship, please contact us so we can help.

Thank you for allowing us to serve your students!

Aledo ISD has expanded its after-school opportunities for elementary students to include more exciting learning experiences. Aledo ISD is All In on Growing Greatness by offering a variety of opportunities designed to engage, inspire and develop new skills for our elementary Bearcats.

For the 2025-2026 School Year, all Bearcats Beyond the Bell Enrichment Opportunities will be available at ALL Aledo ISD elementary schools and are for students in grades K-5!

As we start a new school year, it is important to familiarize yourself with the pick-up and drop-off procedures at our campuses. While most of our campuses have not changed their procedures, it never hurts to freshen up on expectations for this coming school year. Below are links to each campus's traffic pattern video.

Please refrain from parking and walking your student into the building. Parents and guardians are not allowed to walk their students to class. We request the same for picking up students in the classroom. We do recognize there will be times where a late arrival or early dismissal will require you going inside the building; however, please be mindful of campus operations that are taking place and avoid disruption where possible.

Please be cautious and keep and eye out when entering and exiting the drop-off and pick-up locations. Watch out for students, staff and vehicles. Thank you for your patience and working together to help plan and improve flow, safety and efficiency.

View drop off and pick up traffic videos for each campus below:

• Aledo High School/Daniel Ninth Grade
• Aledo Middle School
• McAnally Middle School
• Early Childhood Academy/Child Development Center
• Annetta Elementary School
• Coder Elementary School
• McCall Elementary School
• McKinney Elementary School
• Stuard Elementary School
• Vandagriff Elementary School
• Walsh Elementary School

Aledo ISD uses the Versatrans My Stop App for parents to track their students' bus location and arrival times as well as to receive notifications on delays or other pertinent information.

Having issues logging into the Versatrans My Stop App? Can't remember your password. Visit the Aledo ISD Transportation page or click on the button below for more information. Below are a few frequently asked questions.

Why are my username and password saying they are incorrect?

• First, make sure you have selected the proper school district from the menu. Select 'Not your school' to go back to a list of districts and select Aledo Independent School District.

Why don't I get a black screen asking me to enter my Username and Password?

• It is important to download Versatrans My Stop; there are multiple similar applications in the application store and downloading the incorrect application will create confusion.

Why does the screen say there is "No Active Route Found"?

• If your student’s bus is not yet running, then the message will be "No Active Route Found". As soon as the bus is running you will see route information.

A new Texas law bans the use of personal communication devices, including cell phones, by students during school hours in Texas.

With such an engaging and supportive parental community in Aledo ISD, we have no doubt that our parents will partner with us in setting expectations regarding this new law with their children. We are working to follow the law and hope you will encourage your students to do the same.

The simplest way to put it, in Aledo ISD BELL to BELL, NO CELL! Aledo ISD students must have cell phones, smart watches, personal tablets, Bluetooth devices (including wireless headphones, earbuds and AirPods), gaming systems, personal laptops or any other personal electronic device capable of telecommunication or digital communication put away and out of sight bell to bell during the school day.

We have created this very detailed list of FAQs for you to review related to House Bill 1481. Thank you for reviewing these with your children. This is a big change for our high schoolers! Please do not hesitate to reach out to your campus administrators with any questions you may have that have not been answered in the FAQ.

Just as it is to you, this law is new to us, so we appreciate your understanding as we potentially refine our practices throughout the year to make them better. Don’t worry - if there are any changes that need to be made, we’ll let you know with plenty of heads up! Thank you for your patience!

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:

EECU Credit Union
Loyal Laundry
Magnolia Learning Academy
Mathnasium of Aledo
Myser Orthodontics
The Atkins Agency
United Educators Association
Wholesale Payments

Gold Level Sponsors

Christi James - TWFG Insurance Services
First Financial Bank
Nothing Bundt Cakes
P1 Roofing and Solar
Redwood Financial

Silver Level Sponsors

Bearcat Financial Network
Brookshire's
Kisselburgh Law Firm

Bronze Level Sponsors

Aaron Valencia, The A GAME Agent, Realtor
Aledo InterBank
Bigfoot Ink
First Bank
NBT Financial Bank
Paradigm Wealth Management
Turquant Builder 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. Click here or the button below for the Absence Reporting Form!

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