Message From the Superintendent, Oct. 19, 2020

Disponible en: Español

Dear Aldine Community,

We are in the middle of October! It has been an unprecedented year as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Even in this uncertain school year, the days have flown by. Aldine is truly a great place to be!

Several of our athletic sports teams have begun their seasons, including football, tennis, cross country, and volleyball. To ensure everyone stays safe, a few of our football players have been reminding us why it’s important to stand up for our families.

Additionally, last week brought an end to our first nine weeks. Report Cards will be available in the Home Access Center on Monday, Oct. 26.

Return To Learn: Second Nine Weeks
The second nine-week period starts tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 20. All students whose families requested a change from the at-home learning setting during the window between Sept. 21-Oct. 3, will move to the on-campus learning setting.

Aldine ISD will also continue to provide virtual learning for students who opted for the at-home learning model.

Protocols
On-campus safety protocols should remain top of mind. As more students return, following the guidelines and protocols will be more important than ever. As a reminder, masks are required for staff and students.

We continue to see very few positive cases, and we are aiming to keep this number low. You can always check the COVID-19 dashboard for an overview of the reported positive cases by school.

Our protocols follow the Texas Education Agency’s reporting structure, which communicates cases Monday through Saturday and considers a case active for 10 days.

As a reminder, in the event of a positive COVID-19 case, each campus/department will follow the Three Cs:

Contain (student/staff will wait for departure in the wellness room on each campus)
Contact (all those who have been in close contact with the individual are notified)
Communicate (share information about confirmed cases with our community)

Enroll Your Young Learner in Prekindergarten and Kindergarten
There is still time to enroll students in our primary school programs. Each of our 12 primary schools has planned special fall enrollment events that allow families to select the learning option that is best for their family. All of our pre-K students will be given their own technology regardless of their learning model. Visit your neighborhood campus for details about the event and how to enroll.

Transportation Updates
Please check the Here Comes the Bus app or with your campus for details. The app is an excellent resource for families; however, it is important to remember that your bus driver’s directions are the most accurate information. Please follow their instructions rather than only relying on the app’s GPS service.

Aldine ISD will provide bus service to students returning to in-person learning on Tuesday, October 20. Each student scheduled to receive bus service on October 20 should have received bus route and bus stop information from their campus. Students who are eligible for transportation and would like bus service should reach out to their campus to request transportation services. The campus will process requests on behalf of the parents and students. To learn more, click here.

Free Meals for the School Year
The Aldine ISD Child Nutrition Services Department will continue to offer free meals for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year for students learning on campus and at home.

All students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day. Free meal bundles are also available to students participating in virtual learning and children 18 and under not currently enrolled in Aldine ISD. A full list of curbside meal sites can be found on our district website.

Family and Community Engagement (FACE)
The FACE Department is offering an informative session online on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Please take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the resources available to you and how you can participate in your children’s education.

Date: Wed, Oct. 21
Topics: How to Apply for Medicaid and CHIP and Understanding the District’s Gifted and Talented Process
- English Session
  - Start Time: 9:00 a.m.
  - https://zoom.us/j/99687034156
- Spanish Session
  - Start Time: 11:00 a.m.
  - https://zoom.us/j/95196989416
No password is needed.

Decision Meter Update
Leadership is hard — especially during a crisis. However, I hope the fact that we have phased in our return slower than nearly all districts across the state and the Houston area demonstrates our commitment to prioritizing safety without sacrificing learning.

When we created our district COVID Meter, the positivity rate for Houston was over 20%. The positivity rate is now below 10%. It is still an important tool, but it no longer determines our actions. Each week we look at a variety of metrics to maintain the safety of our staff and students. These include:

Monitoring local conditions and seeking feedback from stakeholders and health professionals.
Reviewing the most updated CDC, TEA, UIL, and county guidelines.
Enforcing health and safety guidelines — social distance requirements such as requiring staff and students to stay apart, requiring universal masking, and encouraging frequent hand washing.

These are tough times — unprecedented times, and we are in uncharted territory. No decision is easy, and things are in constant flux. I try very hard to make the very best decisions for our staff and students with the information I have in front of me while also complying with the city, state, and federal expectations. Some days are easier than others, but one thing remains constant: the support of our community.

I look forward to seeing more faces in our school buildings this week. Thank you for your continued support.

Be well and be safe.

With Aldine Pride,