Message From the Superintendent, November 9, 2021

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Dear Aldine Community,

As we continue our month of gratitude, I am thrilled to say I am grateful that COVID vaccinations are now available for our youngest learners, elementary and middle school students. For vaccination providers in our area, please see the English and Spanish flyers from Region 4 ESC. We are working with partners to create opportunities right here in our community specifically for our families. As a reminder, all staff members are eligible for a vaccination incentive! Those who submit proof of vaccination by Friday, November 19, will receive their incentive on Friday, December 10.

While we welcome the vaccines now available to our younger students to include kids ages 5 and up, please do not forget about the vital vaccines that are available right now for your children to help prevent countless illnesses — measles, mumps, whooping cough. Let’s prevent the needless suffering of our children and of other vulnerable children who could catch these contagious diseases. Click here for information about annual required immunizations for school-age children.

With the cooler weather approaching, I would like to remind all of you of the 3 Ws of protecting yourself against COVID-19 (and other infectious diseases): 

• Wear a mask
• Wash your hands
• Watch your distance

I also encourage you to take advantage of the drive-thru rapid COVID-19 testing available for all Aldine ISD students and staff at the M.B. Sonny Donaldson Child Nutrition Services Center. Please note: online registration is required.

It was great to see so many families attend our Choice Schools Festival on November 6. It was a great opportunity to speak with staff and students about all of our Choice School options. Each of the Choice Schools will be hosting a Showcase Event giving families an opportunity to visit the campuses. The first Showcase Event is Tuesday, November 9. Click here for details. Please be aware that Choice Schools Application for the 2022-2023 school year is now available. The deadline to apply is December 9, with the First Lottery taking place on December 15. 

In an effort to ensure all families, including families whose children are receiving bilingual and English as a second language (ESL) services, are empowered and better able to help their young learners thrive, our Multilingual Department is offering a Parent Leadership Academy. Meeting once a month between November and April, families will “graduate” with the skills they need to assist their kids and be better able to communicate with teachers. The first session is Wednesday, November 17. Click here for details and to register.

On Sunday, we honored Kenneth ‘Ken’ R. Knippel posthumously when we officially dedicated the Knippel Education Center. The longtime educator and district leader served Aldine ISD for 39 years before passing away in January 2020. I encourage you to read the full story to learn more about Mr. Knippel and the center named after him.

With the days shortening and the cold weather settling in, it can become difficult to find inspiration in the day-to-day. Our Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team members have the solution! On Saturday, November 13, FACE will host its third virtual event of the Be Inspired series. The English session will be held from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., and the Spanish version from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. This inspirational event allows the audience to hear motivational stories from various stakeholders, including Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia. I hope each of you will take the time to listen in and find encouragement in these heartwarming stories.

I want to take a moment to give a shout-out to our school psychologists during School Psychology Awareness Week. Students learn best when they are healthy both physically and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community for all students. Thank your school psychologist and use the hashtag #AldineSchoolPsychWeek.

Let’s finish the year stronger than ever — remembering there is room for everyone’s contributions here. 

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS

• November: Early Head Start Program — Open enrollment for the Early Head Start program is at the Child Development Center. The program serves children from six weeks to three years of age and focuses on building their school-ready skills. No deadline to apply, but seats are limited. Click here for details.
• November: The district is undergoing an audit focused on equity as it continues to evaluate how best to serve every student. Click here to learn more about the five-minute phone interview.
• November: Choice School Showcase Events — The deadline to apply to a Choice School for the 2022-2023 school year is December 9.
• November 9: Aldine ISD and Lone Star College are presenting an in-person event to help students complete their dual credit applications. Students will need to know their social security numbers. Click here for details and how to sign up for one of three different time slots.
• November 13: Teacher Job Fair will occur at Davis High School (12525 Ella Blvd.• Houston, TX 77067), from 9 to 11:00 a.m. Click here for more information.

OBSERVATIONS 
November
Picture Book Month
National Scholarship Month
GenTX Month

• 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 & Generation Texas Week
• November 17: National Education Support Professionals Day
• November 18: National Parental Involvement Day

December

• December 2: Special Education Day
• December 6-12: Computer Science Education Week
• December 15: Early Signing Day (Student-Athletes)

REMINDERS

• Aldine’s Family and Community Engagement Department has launched the Family and Community University and aims to provide 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 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.