Message From the Superintendent, Nov. 2, 2020

Disponible en: Español

Dear Aldine Community

Can you believe it is already November? The 11th month of the year comes with changes in the weather but not changes in the priority of our students’ and staff’s safety. As the weather turns colder and holidays approach, it will become increasingly crucial for us to stay the course by wearing masks and practicing social distancing. We will continue to do our part during the school day and rely on our families’ partnership to encourage safety at home, daily activities, and going out.

Attendance and Grades are Important
When we started the school year, we committed ourselves to ensure Aldine ISD students would learn anywhere. Aldine educators remain dedicated to this goal and are working very hard to ensure learning continues.

Whether your student is learning from home or at school, engagement and attendance are key to their success. The district’s official attendance period for Learning At Home students is the class called “homeroom” (for primary and elementary schools) or second period (for middle and high school campuses). If they are not physically present on campus or do not log on to Schoology, they are marked absent.

As a reminder, lessons are available for all students every day by 8:30 a.m. If students cannot attend school because they are ill, they may log into their Schoology account by 11:59 p.m. Their engagement will count as part of their attendance, and they will be considered present for the day. Families can access Schoology by visiting aldine.schoology.com.

Being counted present is not the same as completing assignments and keeping grades up. Learning At Home students should be checking in to every class on Schoology, engaging with the lessons, and completing assignments, quizzes, and projects. Parents, please reach out to your school if your at-home learner needs assistance or support.

Free Breakfast and Lunch Available to All Aldine ISD Students and Children 18 and Under
Aldine ISD Child Nutrition Services extended meal bundle pickup services to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all Aldine ISD students and children 18 and younger. Learn more about the following changes on our district website. There is no meal bundle pick up on Tuesday, November 3. Meal bundle pickup will resume on Thursday, November 5.

Students Learning At Home

Meal bundle pickup will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at all meal sites every Tuesday and Thursday and from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Aldine, Blanson CTE, Carver, Davis, Eisenhower, MacArthur, and Nimitz high schools.
Aldine ISD employees can also take advantage of the evening meal bundles. Employees can pick up meals for their children on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 3:30 p.m. at any of the high schools providing evening meal bundles.

Students Learning On Campus
All students learning on campus can eat FREE breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday. Elementary, middle, and high school students learning on-campus can take home weekend meal bundles each Friday after school. These bundles will include breakfast and lunch meals for Saturday and Sunday.

Meals are available at middle schools, ninth grade campuses, and all high schools
Starting November 6: Available at elementary schools

Stay Involved through Family and Community Engagement (FACE)

The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Department is committed to strengthening partnerships with families, neighborhoods, and business communities. We exist to empower, engage, and lead. Here are a few avenues families can engage in to support student learning and strengthen the community:

Attend parent training sessions
Take adult literacy classes
Learn about family advocacy and resources
Participate in parent groups
Join the Superintendent Parent Advisory Committee
Receive community resources
Volunteer with Aldine ISD
Attend and support campus family events

To learn more, email [email protected]

Parent Training Opportunities
Each month, FACE offers online opportunities to connect. Please see below for the next session.

Wednesday, November 11

English Session
9:00 a.m. Cyber Safety
http://bit.ly/cybersafetyPT

Sesión en español
11:00 a.m. Cómo navegar el sitio web con seguridad
http://bit.ly/seguridadwebPT

Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign Kicks Off

The Aldine Education Foundation (AEF) launched our employee giving program known as Dollar Makes a Difference today! This year’s theme, Shoot for the Stars, is a challenge to support our future leaders as they reach new heights by providing scholarship assistance.

The Aldine Education Foundation invites Aldine ISD employees to help our students Shoot for the Stars by making a $1 per paycheck gift, only $24 a year for our students who wish to pursue college. AEF encourages Aldine ISD employees to give more if you are able, and one-time gifts are also welcomed. Every dollar makes a difference. No gift is too small, and everyone is important to our students’ success.

There’s more! Every dollar donated increases the staff members’ chances of winning great prizes like United Airlines tickets, lunch with me, and entry into a raffle for many fantastic prizes! And top giving campuses and departments serve on a staff committee to determine how these scholarships will be awarded. Please contact Linda Flores Olson at [email protected] or 281-924-6088 for more information.

Election Day Holiday

Please remember that Tuesday, November 3, is a student holiday. All campuses will be closed in observation of Election Day, and many will serve as polling locations. If you have not had a chance to exercise your civic right through early or mail-in voting, I encourage each of you to make your voice heard by casting your vote on Tuesday.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent