Alto ISD

Mean Sting- Thank you for another GREAT week at Alto ISD!!☝️ I would like to share a few highlights of "Hard Work and Respect" from this week with you: 1. Alto Girls Basketball defeated Garrison yesterday and have won 6 out of the last 7 games!!🏀 2. Enrollment stays up at 523 students. Attendance was great, and reached our goal, at an awesome 96.85% for the week.⬆️ 3. Alto Middle School and Elementary UIL Spelling teams began our competition with some great success this week. 🏅 4. Alto ISD students began our next round of Gold Standard Testing Days, and we are very proud of the effort and growth in our kids. 💪 5. Alto Boys Basketball with a big win yesterday versus Cumberland Academy. 🏆 6. Incredible overall community and school partnership to organize a great event to honor Cody Sell with an invitational basketball tournament. 💛🖤 It is always a great week to be a Jacket!!🐝 -- Derrick Conley Superintendent Alto ISD

🎉 It’s time to celebrate our AES Students of the Week! 🎉

We are so proud of these amazing students. Each one has shown what it means to be a Yellowjacket—working hard, treating others with respect, and being a positive part of our school community. Their effort in the classroom, kindness toward others, and “can-do” attitude make AES a great place to learn and grow.

We are also excited to celebrate Mrs. Cirkel, who runs our AES computer lab. She takes on extra duties with a smile and steps in wherever she’s needed. Her dedication, flexibility, and willingness to support students and staff make a huge impact on our campus. Thank you, Mrs. Cirkel, for all you do!

Thank you to two of our local churches—Calvary Tabernacle and A. Frank Smith Methodist Church—for ensuring every student has a warm coat this winter. We are truly blessed to have such caring and generous community partners! 🧥💛

We’re a little late sharing, but we still want to celebrate our AES Students of the Week from the week before Thanksgiving break! 🎉

These outstanding students showed what it means to work hard and treat others with respect. From giving their best effort to being kind classmates, they truly shined leading up to the holiday break.

We also want to recognize our Staff Member of the Week, Mrs. Blair Castillo! Mrs. Castillo teaches first grade, and her caring heart and creativity shine in everything she does. She brings an artistic touch and creative ideas to her classroom, making learning fun and meaningful for her students. 💛

Thank you to those who took time out of their evening to attend Bilingual Family Night! 💛 We loved getting to connect with families, and the book giveaway was a fun highlight!

🎄✨ Save the Date! ✨🎄
Join us for the Annual Alto Elementary Christmas Program on Thursday, December 11, at 6:00 PM in the Alto High School Gymnasium. Our AES students will share their musical talents as we celebrate the season together!

🎄✨ You’re invited to Elf Academy at Alto Elementary! ✨🎄

Join us for a family night filled with Christmas cheer!
Bring the whole family and enjoy:

🎁 Game stations hosted by our very own Alto Elves
🍪 Milk & cookies with Santa
📖 A cozy Christmas storytime
🎨 A fun holiday craft to take home
📸 FREE digital pictures with a very special Christmas celebrity!

We hope to see you there! 💛🎅🧝‍♂️

🚨 Teen Anxiety on the Rise Anxiety levels among teens have doubled in recent years, and 1 in 6 youth (ages 6–17) experience a mental health disorder each year (NAMI).

💔 When healthy coping skills are missing, substances can feel like a “quick fix” — but it’s a dangerous one. Teens may turn to alcohol or drugs to manage painful emotions, yet self‑medication during adolescence is especially risky because the brain is still developing.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents & caregivers can make a huge difference by:
Recognizing emotional warning signs
Helping teens build real coping strategies
Offering healthy alternatives

Learn more and find resources at 👉angelinacoalition.org/resources

The Drug-Free Council program is funded by a grant from TxDOT to reduce the number of alcohol-related crashes in Texas. #EndTheStreakTX #TalkTheyHearYou #ParentingMatters #UnderageDrinkingPrevention

There will be no boys games this evening. Come out and support the Lady Jackets at 5:00!

✨ Alto ISD is now accepting nominations for the Advanced Academics (Gifted & Talented) Program! ✨

If you think your student may qualify for the G/T program, now is the perfect time to submit a nomination. Nominations are open through December 18, 2025.

Students who are highly curious, innovative, use advanced vocabulary, or show strong exploratory behavior may be good candidates for testing.

For more information, please contact your child’s teacher or AISD G/T Coordinator, Emily Rabago, at erabago@alto.esc7.net.

Alto Elementary will host Pictures with Santa next Monday, December 8! 🎅✨
Digital images are available for $5, and order forms were sent home with students. We can’t wait to see those Christmas smiles!

The middle school basketball games scheduled to be played in Cushing this evening will be played IN ALTO instead. Girls will play in the middle school gym and boys will play in the high school gym.

Happy Thanksgiving, Alto ISD! What are you thankful for today? Let us know in the comments.

When we come back from Thanksgiving break, we’ll have exactly 12 school days before Christmas break—and we’re celebrating every one of them! 🎄✨ Join us for 12 Days of Christmas Dress-Up with fun, simple themes each day. Let’s spread some holiday cheer, Yellowjackets!

1. Feelin’ Festive (Monday, 12/1) – Wear your favorite Christmas shirt or anything red, white, or green.
2. Mistletoes (Tuesday, 12/2) – Show off your favorite Christmas socks.
3. Holiday Headwear Day (Wednesday, 12/3) – Wear a festive hat, headband, or holiday hair accessory.
4. Twinkle Thursday (Thursday, 12/4) – Wear anything that sparkles or shines—lights, sequins, glitter, etc.
5. Candy Cane Lane (Monday, 12/8) – Wear stripes or dress in red and white.
6. Whoville! (Tuesday, 12/9) – Dress as the Grinch or your favorite Whoville character.
7. Winter Wonderland (Wednesday, 12/10) – Wear blue and white and bundle up for a cozy winter look.
8. Mad for Plaid (Thursday, 12/11) – Wear your favorite plaid or comfy flannel.
9. North Pole (Monday, 12/15) – Dress as Santa, Mrs. Claus, an elf, or a reindeer.
10. Polar Express (Tuesday, 12/16) – Wear your cozy pajamas.
11. Merry & Bright (Wednesday, 12/17) – Wear bright, cheerful colors to celebrate the season.
12. Tacky & Wacky (Thursday, 12/18) – Wear an ugly sweater or any fun, tacky holiday outfit.

Mean Sting-

Thank you for another GREAT week at Alto ISD!!☝️

I would like to share a few highlights of "Hard Work and Respect" from this week with you:

1. Alto Girls Basketball defeated Garrison on Tuesday and Daingerfield on Friday.🏀

2. Enrollment is up at 523 students. Attendance was at 95.14% for the week.⬆️

3. Alto Middle School softball completes an UNDEFEATED fall season in defeating Douglas. 🥎

4. Alto Elementary and Middle School UIL writing team shined in our first competition for the Academic District meet this week. ✍️

5. Special congratulations to Emily Weatherford on receiving First Team Academic All-State Volleyball recognition. 🏐

6. Alto ISD hosted a 3rd Annual Welding Competition on Wednesday. Janet Rodriguez won 2nd place in the Girls Division. 🏅

7. Alto Middle School One Act Play performed, “Anne of Green Gables," at Panola College on Monday and received 2nd place honors. 🎬

Thank you for choosing to change the world in Alto, Texas. 🌎

It is always a great week to be a Jacket!!🐝

--
Derrick Conley
Superintendent
Alto ISD

The week of November 24–28 will be a holiday for all Alto ISD staff and students. We hope everyone enjoys a safe, restful break with family and friends.

As we enter this season of gratitude, remember: “Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

Happy Thanksgiving, Yellowjackets! 🧡🦃

Patsy’s Pantry Food Drive will take place this Saturday, November 22, at the Booker T. Washington Community Center.

This event is held in honor of Coach Whitaker’s late mother, Patsy Thacker-Whitaker, an Alto native who passed away from breast cancer in 2016. Her family hopes to honor her legacy by giving back to our community in a meaningful way.

For students or families who may need support, or anyone who would like to donate, please help us spread the word. Thank you for supporting this effort to care for one another.

Congratulations to Asia R. for being recognized as a Gold Standard Student! Ms. Jones says that Asia "is such a hard worker and gives 100% every day and with every task. She is always focused, respectful, and kind to everyone around her. I'm very proud to be her teacher!"

The senior class is hosting a bake sale on Friday, November 21! 🍪🥧 Come grab your favorite Thanksgiving desserts and help support their senior trip. Don’t miss out on some sweet treats for a great cause!