Message From the Superintendent, February 22, 2022

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Dear Aldine Community,

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and are ready to tackle the week ahead. Black History Month is a humbling reminder that we stand on the shoulder of giants. Giants who endured more and strived for more for themselves and future generations. Giants who contributed so greatly to society here in the U.S. and throughout the world. For the final week of Black History Month, I want to celebrate the Black members of our Executive Leadership Team (ELT). They are among our Aldine leaders making a difference and positively impacting students’ lives. 

We are fortunate to have a talented group of leaders who add various perspectives and experiences to the work underway in the district. They are an integral part of our success, and I am proud to serve alongside each of them. I invite you to take a look at each bio to learn a bit more about the phenomenal Black leaders we have on our ELT:

• Sheleah D. Reed, APR, Chief of Staff
• Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens, Chief Business & Operations Officer
• M. Kaye DeWalt, General Counsel
• Dr. Crystal Watson, School Assistant Superintendent — Elementary Schools
• LaToya Wynne, School Assistant Superintendent — Elementary Schools
• LaTonia Amerson, School Assistant Superintendent — Middle Schools
• Dr. Charlotte J. Davis, ​​Assistant Superintendent for Student Support Services

I hope you have used this month to learn more about one another and expand your cultural awareness. Finally, I hope you took the opportunity to focus on health and wellness, which is this year’s theme.

On February 15, the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees approved the 2022-2023 school year calendars. The first school day is August 17, 2022, for campuses under the district’s traditional school year calendar. For students attending the district’s four schools on the additional school days school year (ADSY) calendar — Vines Primary, Ermel Elementary, Harris Elementary, and Smith Elementary — the first day of school will be July 18, 2022.

Can you believe that we will be in March in less than six days? The end of February also marks the kickoff of RODEOHOUSTON. Aldine has had a long partnership with the organization that has benefitted many in the area, including many Aldine grads with college scholarships. Join me in supporting the Houston Rodeo by dressing up in your best western style on Friday, February 25, for Go Texan Day! And you know I want to see your best outfits on social media, so don’t forget to share.

February 22 marked School Bus Drivers Appreciation Day. Aldine ISD bus drivers play a critical role that ensures students get to school to learn. The work you do supports our students every day. That is where the magic happens. A big thank you to all of our bus drivers for your commitment and for ensuring our students are safe whether to and from school, games, UIL contests, and field trips. Click here to see a video of one of our supervisor drivers serving the westside of the district. He embodies the Aldine ISD Leadership Definition. Hear how he leads by empowering others and making a difference in students’ lives.

The mask mandate will be lifted on Friday, March 11. For the safety and wellbeing of our community, I still encourage everyone to wear masks and take precautions. I strongly encourage everyone to get vaccinated to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy. With everyone following and taking preventive measures, we can all stay healthy against COVID-19 and all communicable infections.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Feb. 1-March 5: District of Innovation (DOI) Plan Survey — The current Local Innovation Plan will expire this spring. The proposed plan is open for public comment until March 5. Click here to submit your comments on our proposal. Click here for more information.
• Feb. 24: The Spring 2022 Dual Credit Application Night in-person event initially scheduled for February 22 has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 24. The event is for students who would like to submit their application for Dual Credit. Click here to sign up to attend.
• Feb. 22: Preregistration for eligible PreK3, PreK4, and kindergarten students opens for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here for details on how to register.

OBSERVATIONS
February
Black History Month
Digital Citizenship Program: The focus in February is “Relationships and Communication: We know the power of words and actions.”
Feb. 25: Wellness Day — Theme is Love Your Heart Month
Feb. 25: Go Texan 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. The mask mandate will be lifted on March 11. The district will no longer require 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 or TASFA application.
• The state requires all entering college students to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment. Click here for more information.
• 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.