Message From Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Superintendent of Aldine ISD

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Dear Aldine Community,

I hope everyone enjoyed having Monday off to celebrate our Houston Astros winning their second World Series! Whether you were downtown or at home watching the parade on television, it was a memorable moment for everyone. I know it was for my family and me!

The semester is going by quickly and has been full of opportunities for our students and families. At our inaugural HOPE (High School Opportunities Provide Empowerment) Summit, over 1,000 eighth-grade emergent bilingual students were engaged and eager to learn about high school choices and opportunities. Thanks to Grace Delgado, our executive director of multilingual programs, our partner Dr. José Zelaya, and everyone that made this event possible.

Leadership within our district is essential for the work we do every day. Vital to that work is your engagement and input to guide us forward. We recently held our first DEAC (District Educational Advisory Committee) meeting of the school year. We had a record turnout of teachers, parents, and community members. Thank you for the great discussions and for being a part of our decision-making process.

In addition to leadership, the community is integral to expanding student opportunities. I thank the Acres Home Chamber for hosting the Carver HS student art auction in October. Seventeen student artworks were sold for a total of $3,325. Thank you for supporting our young artists! A big thank you goes out to our faith-based community leaders who attended the Partners of Excellence meeting last month. We shared the district’s successes and challenges as well as discussed ways they can collaborate as mentors and volunteers to support students academically. I can never say enough that we cannot do this work alone. It takes a community working together to expand opportunities for students and support them to reach their fullest potential.

In late October, we hosted our annual Choice Schools Festival. During this event, families were able to discover additional options for their students for the 2023-2024 school year. Each Choice School will host its Showcase Event throughout November, where families can tour our schools, learn more about our programs and meet with staff members. In addition to our Choice School options, we offer many opportunities at our traditional schools, like the pilot program at Davis High School. High school senior Sergio Avilés-Aguirre is the first in the district to obtain an official certified private pilot license. Congratulations Sergio!

Time is precious and seems to go faster and faster each year. Just think that we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our families and friends in a couple of weeks. I have many things to be grateful for, like my family, a daughter in college, and good friends. However, I also count my colleagues and partners supporting our work for all students among my favorite things to be grateful for. With gratitude in mind, I would love to hear what you are thankful for or why gratitude is essential to you. Click here to share your thoughts with me.

Kicking off the spirit of gratitude this month was a celebration of life. Our Donaldson Administrative Building staff members created an altar for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 2. This festive social occasion focuses on remembering family members and friends who have passed away. I enjoyed eating pan de muertos and seeing pictures the staff provided to form part of the altar. We remembered their lives and the impact and love they gave us in ours.

This month we also are celebrating the future. Our schools will observe Generation Texas Week from November 14 to November 18. The weeklong observance motivates students to pursue higher education and training after graduating from high school. Students and staff will have a daily theme like College Spirit Day and Dress for Success. Click here to view the calendar.

All The Things: The Aldine ISD Podcast released a new episode. Chief Academic Officer Dr. Todd Davis talks about what it takes to improve the lives of students and teachers, as well as some of the things he has learned in his 30 years in Aldine.

One way to improve students’ lives is to be aware of all the programs and resources available to students and families. Hundreds of families joined us at our Fall Family Conference at Davis High School this past Saturday. Each session helped families learn more about the various programs we offer in our school district and the services provided by organizations in the Aldine community. Our Family and Community Engagement Department staff created an excellent program.

Another way to support students is through college scholarships and teacher grants that help enhance the classroom learning experience. The 2022 M. B. ‘Sonny’ Donaldson Golf Tournament on October 27 benefited the Aldine Education Foundation (AEF) and was exceptional! It was such a wonderful, joyful day. The foundation grossed a record $118,800 for student scholarships — an impressive feat as we celebrate AEF’s 10th anniversary. I am super thankful to our AEF Board, the golf committee, volunteers, sponsors, and participants for their hard work and the money raised.

AEF isn’t done working to give our students opportunities for college. The foundation’s employee giving program, Your Dollar Makes a Difference Campaign, will kick off on Monday, November 28, and will run for three weeks. Staff members are invited to give $5 per paycheck, month, year, or whatever amount they feel comfortable with to support the 2023 graduating high school seniors in May. I urge every Aldine ISD employee to help our deserving high school student seniors. No donation is too small. Every dollar makes a difference. Be on the lookout for more details and information. Please get in touch with AEF Director Linda Flores Olson if you have questions or for further information at [email protected] or 281-924-6088.

I want you to save the date! Our 64th Annual Livestock Show Buyers Luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 17, at 11:30 a.m. at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center — West Concessions Area. The show and auction of FFA animals and projects and students’ artworks each year fund future projects and their post-secondary education. In the 2022 event, students earned $202,000 thanks to our community and staff members. For questions and details, email AldineLivestockShow@aldineisd.org.

It has been a great few weeks. Recent visits took me to Bussey Elementary school, Stovall Middle School, and Carroll Elementary School. I loved seeing so much positivity and everyone exuded excellence. That it all matters, and it showed that it impacts learning. In each classroom, students were engaged. In sports, Congratulations to Davis, MacArthur, and Nimitz volleyball teams that earned playoff spots in volleyball during the 2022 season. Thank you to every staff member for everything you do for our students every day.

Please remember that today Tuesday, November 8, is a student holiday. All campuses are closed to observe Election Day; many campuses are also serving as polling locations. If you haven’t had a chance to exercise your civic right, I encourage each of you to make your voice heard by casting your vote today.

We might be seeing changes in the weather but not changes in the priority of keeping students and staff members healthy. I urge you to get all the appropriate vaccines and ensure you and your loved one stay healthy when gathering together. Let’s all wash our hands frequently and cover our noses and mouths when we sneeze and cough. Stay home and see your doctor if necessary. With everyone doing their part, our staff will be in classrooms teaching, and our students will be in school learning and growing.

With two months left in 2022, let’s root ourselves in gratitude toward one another and let that energy propel us into 2023.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent

UPCOMING EVENTS

• En curso: El año 2022-2023 de la Universidad de la Familia y la Comunidad ha comenzado. Hagan clic aquí para inscribirse.
• En curso: iEducate contrata estudiantes universitarios, especialmente graduados de Aldine ISD, como tutores para trabajar con estudiantes de Aldine ISD. iEducate acepta solicitudes de forma continua y se recomienda a los estudiantes interesados que presenten su solicitud lo antes posible.

RECENT NEWS
Generation Texas Week, Nov. 14-18
Aldine ISD to Begin Distribution of Identification Kits in Early November in Grades K-8
Aldine Police Department Officer Works to Combat Catalytic Converter Thefts
Students Show Their Acting Skills at Aldine’s TheatreFest
Houston Rockets and Memorial Hermann Celebrate With Escamilla Elementary School Students
3 Carver High School Students Make Texas UIL Region 33 Mariachi Division

MONTHLY OBSERVATIONS
November
Native American Heritage Month
National Scholarship Month

• Nov. 7-11: National School Psychology Week
• Nov. 8: National STEAM/STEM Day
• Nov. 8: Elections Day/Student Holiday (Traditional and ADSY Calendars)
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day
• Nov. 15: America Recycles Day
• Nov. 17: Education Support Professionals Day
• Nov. 18: Substitute Educators Day
• Nov. 21-25: Thanksgiving Break

Click here to view the 2022-20223 school year calendars — traditional and Additional Days School Year (ADSY).

REMINDERS

• The state requires high school seniors to apply for financial aid to graduate. — FAFSA Application link or TASFA Application links
• The state requires all entering college students to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Assessment. (Details).
• Aldine ISD’s top priorities are students’ safety and academic success. The district posts information related to protocols along with any updates at www.aldineisd.org/healthalerts.
• Stay connected by visiting AldineISD.org. Check out our District News and Aldine ISD Podcast pages to stay updated on all the great things happening in our district. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.