Message From the Superintendent, October 26, 2021

Disponible en: Español

Dear Aldine Community,

We are almost halfway through the semester, and so many great things have already taken place. Speaking of great things, I want to take a moment to highlight the Aldine Young Women’s Leadership Academy (YWLA). The all-girls school is one of our newest Choice School options. YWLA officially opened its doors to sixth- and seventh-grade students in August 2021, with plans to grow the campus by one grade level each year, eventually serving young women in grades 6-12. YWLA is built on the foundation of STEM, focusing on college readiness and responsible leadership. Students are given opportunities to explore STEM fields embedded within the college preparatory coursework, allowing them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Our expanding options of Choice Schools is a direct result of this commitment, and we are excited to showcase all of the available options at this year’s Choice Schools Festival on November 6.

Speaking of choices and increasing options, last week, we held a virtual media event to announce our newest Choice School — a leadership academy focused on the development of young male students, slated to open during the 2022-2023 school year. The academy is geared towards male students in first through eighth grade and is part of a collaborative partnership with Prairie View A&M University. Click here to read more about the Young Men’s Leadership Academy.

Giving students access to high-quality schools involves having great teachers. Our students deserve the best teachers who are prepared to offer meaningful learning experiences every day. We will be looking for great teachers who can make a difference in our students’ lives at our Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, November 13, from 9-11 a.m. at Davis High School.

Updated school year calendars
As we continue to address the needs of both our students and staff in the wake of the pandemic, the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees has approved an amendment to both the instructional calendar and additional days school year (ADSY) calendar for the 2021-2022 school year. Please note: the changes do not impact the required instructional minutes or contract requirements for teachers or instructional staff.

Instructional Calendar
Friday, November 5, 2021, has been converted to a staff development/teacher workday and a student holiday. The change will provide additional time for teachers and campus staff to collaborate and plan.

ADSY Calendar
The ADSY Calendar affects Vines Primary School and Ermel Elementary School. Monday, February 21, 2022, has been converted to a student attendance day rather than a student holiday. The change was made to make up for the missed instructional time due to the district closure on September 14, 2021, in anticipation of Hurricane Nicholas.

As the mom of a high school senior, I know firsthand a date that is important to all parents: Graduation Day. I completely understand families making plans early to celebrate their students’ big day. Last week, the Board Trustees approved the high school graduation ceremony schedule, which will run from May 26 through May 28. Click here for details.

As always, I encourage you to visit our district website for the latest news like Aldine ISD, for a third consecutive year since the inception of the award, receiving the Texas Art Education Association’s (TAEA) District of Distinction Award. Only the top 4 percent of districts in the state earn the honor each year. You can also read about our more than 25 students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs.

I can’t end without saying congratulations to our hometown team, the Houston Astros, on advancing to the World Series! Yesterday, we sent out an email to staff about showing our support by wearing Astros t-shirts, polos, or jerseys, along with jeans for Games 1 and 2 of the World Series. The Astros will face off against the Atlanta Braves for Game 1 on Tuesday, October 26, at 7:09 p.m. Game 2 will take place on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:09 p.m.

Please remember that Election Day is Tuesday, November 2. 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.

I hope you all have a fantastic week, and if you learn something new, I would love to hear about it! Share it on social media using the hashtag #AldineForward.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 30: Aldine ISD is hosting the 2021 Technology & Curriculum Conference of Aldine (TCCA). Click here for more details.
October-November: Early Head Start Program — The district is holding open enrollment for its Early Head Start program at the Child Development Center. AISD’s Early Head Start program serves children from six weeks to three years of age and focuses on building their school-ready skills. There is no deadline to apply, but seats are limited. Click here for details.
October-November: The district is undergoing an audit focused on equity as it continues to evaluate how best to serve each and every student. Click here to learn more about the five-minute phone interview.
November 3: Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney will speak at the Kids in Need Foundation‘s Champions for Education panel event on November 3 at 12:30 p.m. Click here to join.
November 6: Choice Schools Festival – Saturday, November 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Students who live outside of Aldine ISD can also enroll. Click here for details.
November 13: Teacher Job Fair will take place at Davis High School (12525 Ella Blvd.• Houston, TX 77067), from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Click here for more information.

OBSERVATIONS
October
October: National Principals Month; Share your Principal Impact Story with us and take a moment to #ThankAnAISDPrincipal this month.

November
Picture Book Month
National Scholarship Month
GenTX Month

November 2: Election Day
November 8-12: School Psychology Awareness Week; theme “Let’s Get in Gear”
November 8-14: Children’s Book Week
November 11: Veterans’ Day
November 12: Wellness Day — Theme is Fuel Up With Dairy
November 15-19: American Education Week
November 17: National Education Support Professionals Day
November 18: National Parental Involvement Day

REMINDERS

Aldine’s Family and Community Engagement Department has launched the Family and Community University. Their goal is to provide the knowledge and resources to empower families to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. All programming is free and open to all Aldine families. Learn more and register today.
The state requires high school seniors to apply for financial aid to graduate. The FAFSA application was opened on October 1.
Aldine ISD’s top priorities continue to be the safety and academic success of all students. We will post all information related to our operations along with any updates at www.aldineisd.org/healthalerts.
Please stay connected by visiting the District News and District Podcast pages to stay up to date on all the wonderful things happening in our district. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.