Message From the Superintendent, April 12, 2021

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Dear Aldine Community,

As the end of the year approaches, teachers, leaders, and staff are already hard at work planning a strong start for the 2021-2022 school year. It may seem far away, but the first day of school will get here faster than we know it, and we are doing everything we can to be prepared and ready to hit the ground running.  

While we are planning to return to Aldine campuses this fall, many of our seniors are looking forward to starting their college careers. For some of our highest-performing students, a program called EMERGE has provided a helpful pathway to postsecondary education. This Houston-based college-readiness program prepares high-performing high school students in grades 10-12 to attend and graduate from selective colleges and universities across the nation. Students participating in the program will receive SAT preparation, attend college admission and financial aid workshops, receive assistance with college applications, and visit colleges and universities during summer tours.

This week, tune into the Aldine podcast, All the Things, where host Sheleah Reed talks with Aldine ISD seniors Miguel Chacón and Jocelyn Goodman about how the EMERGE program helped transform and guide their college application journey. Miguel and Jocelyn also discuss why they chose a Choice School, their hopes for the future, college plans, and how Aldine students can plan for their future. 

Don’t forget! This Friday, April 16, is a remote learning day. 
Remote Learning Days are set aside for all students to learn from home while all campus-based staff will report to school. 

During Remote Learning Days, all students should log in to Schoology and revisit pre-recorded lessons and previously posted assignments. It is a perfect opportunity for students to catch up on any missing assignments and review any lessons they may have missed or need additional time to complete. Teachers will not present any live instruction and may not be available for live feedback sessions.

The district will mark attendance through the evidence of students completing assignments and/or logging into Schoology. Families who need students to be on campus Friday or during any designated Remote Learning Days should directly contact their child’s campus.

It is important for all students — whether learning at home or on campus — to engage with their lessons and complete assignments, quizzes, and projects. If you do not have a Home Access Center (HAC) account, please sign up via the Home Access Center website.

STAAR Testing Reminder
Today marks the first week of STAAR testing for our on-campus learners. This year, students will be scheduled to test according to their current learning model (on campus or at home). However, it is important to note that all students are required to test in their assigned school building. Safety guidelines will be followed to ensure that students and staff are as safe as possible. Campuses have gotten creative and are using additional spaces in their buildings to ensure social distancing. 

Transportation and meals are available to everyone, and dates will be available for students to make up the exams. All students taking the paper-based test will begin testing this week and should have been contacted directly by campus staff. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher or campus principal directly.

2020-2021 ALDINE ISD STANDARDIZED TESTING SCHEDULE
 

*All at-home learners must go to their home campus to take tests on their scheduled day(s).

** May 18 and May 19 are Remote Learning Days for students in 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade on-campus students.

Family and Community Engagement (FACE)
Keep up with the Aldine ISD FACE Department’s April newsletter for this month’s event dates and family resources, with a few highlights below:

Parent Training
Wednesday, April 14
Topic: Literacy Night
Zoom Session 
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

COVID Town Hall Presented by Texas Children’s Hospital
April 20 – English Town Hall (ENGLISH FLYER)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Session

April 22 – Spanish Town Hall (SPANISH FLYER)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Zoom Session

Choice School Updates

• Hall Success Academy Application Open for 2021-2022 Admission
• Two-Way Dual Language Program Application for 2021-2022 School Year 

COVID-19 Testing/Safety Protocols/Vaccination News
As a reminder, Texas has opened COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all adults. Under the expanded eligibility, Texans 16 and older can receive a vaccine. However, the Pfizer vaccine is the only approved vaccine available for that age group. The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been approved for people 18 and older. Learn more.

Drive-thru rapid COVID-19 testing continues to be available for all Aldine ISD students and staff. Online registration is required and can be found here. I encourage everyone to continue doing their part:  wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance.

REMINDER: School Meals Available
Free curbside meals are available for all children 18 and younger. It’s not easy to learn on an empty stomach — we encourage all of our families who need this program to take advantage of it. Please contact your campus for more information.

REMINDER: Preregistration for PreK3, PreK4, and Kindergarten is Open
Families can pre-enroll their eligible students for the 2021-2022 school year in three grades — prekindergarten for three-year-olds (PreK3) and Pre-K for four-year-olds (PreK4) and kindergarten. Again, pre-enrollment is for new, eligible students entering AISD for the first time. Families can click here to begin the preregistration process by completing online documents. The deadline to pre-enroll students to PreK and kindergarten is May 31, 2021.

REMINDER: Virtual Arise Youth Summit Taking Place on May 1
Aldine ISD and Spring ISD have teamed up to host Arise, a virtual youth summit for high school students (Grades 9-12), on Saturday, May 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The summit will feature presentations from Houston-area leaders on topics of interest to youth, including financial planning, self-care, professional development strategies, building healthy relationships, and other tips for building a successful future. The event has limited space. To ensure your child’s participation, they must register before April 16.

Register here http://bit.ly/AriseSummit2021

Before I close, I hope you got a chance to see how our students and staff across the district celebrated Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) Day today. Becoming a strong reader is essential to being a lifelong learner. We all took part by dedicating time, putting aside all distractions, and enjoyed books together. I loved seeing #DEARdayAldine images schools and departments shared on Twitter. We want our students to develop a love of reading and make reading a daily activity in their lives. I encourage you to create some DEAR time at home to show your children the joy of reading.

I wish you a wonderful week ahead. 

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent