Message From the Superintendent, March 1, 2022

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Dear Aldine Community,

It’s hard to believe it, but March is here, and we are almost halfway done with our second semester. Today March 1, is Texas Girls in STEM Day. As a female, a mother to a high school daughter, and a person of color, I hope you encourage the girls in your homes and classrooms to consider STEM. We need more talented women in STEM careers where they are underrepresented. Even more lacking than a representation of women overall, minority women in STEM fields. According to the U.S. Census, 73% of STEM jobs are held by males. Texas Girls in STEM Day was passed in House Bill 3435. The special observation was proposed by State Representative Rhetta Bowers “to celebrate and encourage the participation of girls in this state in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.” Consider a Choice School option for your daughters as you look toward the 2022-2023 school year. We offer a wide range of STEM options, including an all-girls school. Registration for the new school year is open now.

As we move through year three of five in our partnership with The Holdsworth Center, the center is looking to collect valuable information from Aldine ISD employees. All employees should have received an email from Holdsworth last Friday, February 25. The survey will be open from March 1-8, and we strongly encourage everyone to take the time to complete the survey.

We closed February with our Black History Month celebrations, which included our 2nd annual Black History Oratory Competition. Students in grades 3-12 gave presentations, describing how an African American leader has demonstrated leadership by inspiring others, connecting people of different cultures, and impacting change. Twelfth-grader Jordan Nelson from Carver High School took first place in the Ninth Grade and High School Category; Katherine McKenzie, a seventh-grader at Young Women’s Leadership Academy at Parker, took first place in the Middle School Category; and Calvert Elementary School fifth-grader Alexa Watts took home first place in the Elementary School Category. A big congratulations to the winners. You did an amazing job, and I am so proud of you and all the students that took part.

The pandemic continues to be a part of our lives, and we have learned to live with it. Due to a continuing downward trajectory of cases, expanded vaccine eligibility, and the county reducing the threat level, we will be lifting the mask requirement on March 7. The district will no longer require students, staff, and visitors to wear face masks at district facilities, buses, or events. We did not come to this decision lightly. We continue to follow the data and experts, like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which announced that it relaxed face mask guidelines. From the beginning of the pandemic, we have continued to go as fast as we can but as slow as we must, ensuring we prioritize safety without sacrificing learning. We have remained flexible and continue moving forward during this pandemic. This is one of those times. I am grateful to you for your support as we navigate the pandemic together. While I remain cautious, we must follow the data and facts available to the district. The top priorities of Aldine ISD are the safety and academic success of all students. Let’s continue to create meaningful learning experiences for students — our number one priority, always. Let’s continue moving forward!

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS

• March 5: The district is hosting a Teacher and Substitute Teacher Job Fair on Saturday, March 5, from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at Davis High School (12525 Ella Blvd.• Houston, TX 77067). Click here for details.
• Ongoing Until 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.
• Mar. 14-18: Spring Break
• Mar. 21 on Traditional School Calendar: Student Holiday and a Staff Work Day
• Mar. 21 on ADSY Calendar (Ermel and Vines) is regular School Day and Staff Work Day
• Ongoing Until May 31: Preregistration for eligible PreK3, PreK4, and kindergarten students is open for the 2022-2023 school year. Click here for details on how to register.

OBSERVATIONS
March

• Mar.1: Texas Girls in STEM Day 
• Mar. 6-12: Texas Educational Diagnosticians’ Week
• Mar. 6-11: School Social Work Week 
• Mar. 7-11: National School Breakfast Week, theme “Take Off With School Breakfast” 
• Mar. 8: International Women’s Day 
• Mar. 11: International SEL Day 
• Mar. 31: César Chávez Day 

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.