Message From the Superintendent, February 1, 2022

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Dear Aldine Community,

Today marks the beginning of Black History Month, and our theme in Aldine will be “Black Health and Wellness.” The theme acknowledges the legacy of Black scholars and medical practitioners as well as the legacy of Black people who have countered the economic and health disparities and discrimination in our communities, the state, and worldwide. The 2022 theme also considers activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black communities have done to be well. I encourage you to embark on a personal or community journey to improve health and wellbeing.

Black History Month also offers an opportunity to highlight leaders in our community like our Board of Trustees, Randy Bates Jr., Dr. Kimberley Booker, and Paul Shanklin. These individuals are a few examples of Aldine leaders making a positive difference in students’ lives. They advocate for students and are actively involved in the Aldine community. Their experience, expertise, and leadership make them invaluable assets to Aldine ISD and phenomenal champions for all children.

Be sure to share how you are celebrating Black History Month on social media. Include the hashtags #AldineBHM, #AldineForward, or #AldineAdelante.

On the subject of making a difference and moving forward, I  am excited to announce that we are taking another step to ensure a continued focus on improved student outcomes. During the 2019-2020 school year, we implemented the Accelerating Campus Excellence model at Goodman and Worsham. ACE is a school model intended to support a positive trajectory for each student’s educational journey based on five pillars that can dramatically improve student outcomes:  

• Effective principals and teachers
• Instructional excellence
• Extended school day
• Social and emotional support
• Parent and community partnerships

We will extend the ACE program at Goodman and Worsham through the 2023-2024 school year. The ACE model elements that families are familiar with will remain the same. I believe this is the most effective path toward increased student achievement, and I am excited that we will continue this endeavor together.

To continue our work in creating innovative programs for students, I encourage you to submit your public comment by taking a short survey on our District of Innovation (DOI) Plan. The current Local Innovation Plan has been in place since May 2017 and, if not renewed, will expire this spring. The Local Innovation Plan must be renewed every five years to maintain our DOI designation. The proposed plan is open for public comment until March 5. Your comments on our proposal will be invaluable for the committee working on the DOI renewal.

February is the busiest month for spring recruitment. Every one of you — no matter your position — impacts our students daily. Today, you received an email about the Retention Bonus. The one-time Retention Bonus for eligible full-time employees, approved last June by our Board of Trustees, will be paid on February 25. 

We continue to meet the challenges throughout the pandemic because many of you go above and beyond the call of duty. Without you, education doesn’t happen. All the money in the world could not adequately express our gratitude. Still, we hope this bonus sends employees the message that we do see and appreciate their hard work.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS
Jan. 24 – Feb. 17: Black History Oratory Campus Competition 

OBSERVATIONS
February
Black History Month

• Feb. 4: Student Holiday
• Feb. 7-11: National School Counseling Week
• Feb. 11: Student Holiday
• Feb. 18: Student Holiday/Staff Development Day
• Feb. 21: Presidents Day (Traditional Calendar — Student Holiday)
• Feb. 21: ADSY Schools — Ermel and Vines — Regular Day for Students
• Feb. 22: School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day
• Feb. 25: Wellness Day — Theme is Love Your Heart Month
• Feb. 25: Go Texas Day

Aldine ISD COVID-19 UPDATES
The district leadership team is committed to doing all we can to increase the safety and health of our students, staff, and families while implementing measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in our community. We want all our students healthy, learning, and thriving in our classrooms. I ask for your continued support as we prioritize safety without sacrificing learning.

• Face Masks: As we have done throughout the pandemic, we continue implementing COVID mitigation protocols. While we had hoped to lift the mask requirement after the midwinter break, we decided to maintain the mask requirement until further notice with rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the Houston area. The district requires students, staff, and visitors to wear face masks at all district facilities — schools, buildings, facilities, school buses — and events.
• Symptoms: We strongly encourage you to please keep your child home if they have COVID or any other communicable disease (.e.g., flu, whooping cough, measles, chickenpox) symptoms. Have your child tested if you suspect it is COVID-19. Here is a link to our Health Alerts web page regarding keeping your student/child home.
• Reduce Spread of Any Communicable Disease: Please continue to protect yourself and others by taking precautionary measures to prevent infection of all viruses, including COVID-19: wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes and keep a safe distance from others.
• Protocols: Our district administrative leadership team remains in constant communication. Based on CDC recommendations, we updated our protocols and guidelines. Our COVID reporting procedures have not changed. We will continue to monitor local and school cases to further adjust health and safety protocols as appropriate.
• District Dashboard: Families can always check the COVID-19 dashboard for an overview of the active cases by school. 
• Testing Sites: Please get tested if you exhibit symptoms, have been exposed to someone with the virus, have been with groups of people, or travel. Click here for a list of testing sites and to register online. Additionally, each campus has a testing opportunity weekly or biweekly. A parent/guardian must consent for testing.
• Vaccinations: The district continues to work with local officials, including Harris County Public Health (HCPH), to communicate the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is available to individuals five and older. On January 3, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster vaccine in adolescents from 12 to 15 years. Booster doses are now available to everyone over the age of 12. The FDA also shortened the time to receive the booster after completing the two-dose schedule. It went from six months to five months. The FDA also authorized the third dose as part of the primary series for certain immunosuppressed children between 5 and 11. The CDC announced on January 10 that at-risk Americans (immunocompromised) are eligible for the fourth COVID dose.

REMINDERS

• Aldine’s Family and Community Engagement Department launched the Family and Community University. It provides education and resources to empower families to support students academically, socially, and emotionally. Programming is free and open to all Aldine families. Register today.
• The state requires high school seniors to apply for financial aid to graduate. The FAFSA application opened on October 1, 2021.
• Aldine ISD’s top priorities continue to be all students’ safety and academic success. The district will post all information related to 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.