Message From the Superintendent, November 30, 2021

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Dear Aldine Community,

Welcome back! I hope each of you had a relaxing Thanksgiving week and enjoyed time with friends and family. It’s hard to believe that we are now counting down to the end of the semester. We have just 15 days remaining, and I am looking forward to making every day count. 

Over the next three weeks, we will all be facing different levels of stress: studying for semester exams, planning holiday gatherings, preparing for sporting events, and more. Amid the hustle and bustle, I want to encourage each of you to find something kind to do for someone else. It doesn’t take much, and the benefits far outweigh the effort put into doing so.

During the Thanksgiving break, we received both good and not-so-good news regarding COVID. A new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, was discovered. While no cases have been found in the U.S., its spread is being closely monitored. On a positive note, Houston’s threat level was lowered from Level 3 (Orange or Significant) to Level 2 (Yellow or Moderate) due to decreased cases and lower positivity rates. The decrease in numbers is another milestone in the right direction. We will continue to monitor county and local cases to adjust our protocols accordingly.

Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we stay on top of taking the right steps to keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy. With the colder weather coming in, more activities will move indoors. Let’s continue to wash our hands, watch our distance, and, most importantly, get vaccinated.

In district news, I am proud to state that we held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Aldine Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Parker (YWLA) on November 19. It was incredible to see the young ladies of YWLA express how an opportunity to explore different STEM pathways and career choices is having a positive impact on their educational journey. YWLA is a single-gender secondary campus focused on college prep, leadership, and STEM. Click here to read about the event and watch a video featuring Aldine Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Parker students and staff.

Additionally, All The Things: The Aldine ISD Podcast released a new episode about Postsecondary Outcomes. In this episode, Aldine ISD College Access Advisory, Michael Rogers, and Davis High School seniors, Anderson Branch and Nycolis Prudhomme discuss postsecondary outcomes, preparing for college, university, trade school, military, and beyond. You can listen to To College and Beyond on aldineisd.org/podcast or any podcast streaming service. 

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/December: Choice School Showcase Events

OBSERVATIONS 
November
Picture Book Month
National Scholarship Month
GenTX Month

December

• December 2: Special Education Day
• December 6-12: Computer Science Education Week
• December 7-10: December 2021 STAAR end-of-year (EOC) administration for eligible students
• December 9: Deadline to submit an application for enrollment in a Choice School.

REMINDERS

• Middle schools and high schools will have early dismissal on December 15-17. Students will take final/semester exams on these dates. High schools will dismiss at 11:10 a.m., and middle schools will begin dismissal at 12:00 p.m.
• The district encourages families with children who are bus riders to sign up for the Here Comes the Bus App and to download it if they haven’t already. With the free app, families can track their child’s school bus. Click here for details.
• Aldine’s Family and Community Engagement Department launched the Family and Community University. It 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 great things happening in our district. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.