Message From the Superintendent, July 21, 2020

Disponible en: Español

Dear Aldine Community,

Earlier this month, we shared our Return to Learn plan for re-entering schools. We have missed our students and are excited to be reunited with them. Since the launch of our plan, TEA has issued additional guidance, and as you are aware, unfortunately, the Houston area continues to see increases in cases of COVID-19 every week. In fact, our community is among those zip codes hardest hit by the spread of the virus.

Yesterday, the Harris County Public Health Department released recommendations to limit face-to-face instruction, cancel on-campus activities, and continuously monitor the situation in each school district.

We have announced that the first three weeks of school will be conducted virtually. All students will learn from home. Our teachers also have the option to hold classes from home or from their assigned campus. As a reminder, instructional bell schedules and official teacher school day times will be the same. We made this decision to serve students in the most responsible way possible. We will continue to consult with health experts, local and state leaders, staff, and families and promise to update you as new information emerges.

Our core beliefs say it best: We will reopen our physical buildings as fast as we can but as slow as we must, all while continuing to provide choices and opportunities for our students.

Our team will continue to meet and discuss the best way to approach the fall. To learn more about our Return to Learn plan, you can view our recent Parent Town Hall. Aldine ISD leaders invite Spanish-speaking families to a virtual town hall on Tuesday, July 21, at 4 p.m. For more details, sign up here. We are also scheduling additional meetings for other stakeholders, including staff and community members. Invitations and details will be shared soon.

Aldine ISD’s first day of school remains August 17, 2020.

Return to Learn: Fall 2020

As of this writing, staff and families can anticipate the following for our Return to Learn.

First three weeks (August 17 – September 7):
Learning will take place entirely virtually. Students will be required to log in to Schoology daily and complete assignments online. Some courses may not be available virtually. Students will need to have access to a device such as laptops or tablets and consistent and robust access to the internet. Traditional learning packets will also be available. During this time, no UIL athletics or extracurricular activities will be permitted.

Beginning Tuesday, September 8: Students will start their selected instructional model.

Learning On Campus: This option consists of in-person instruction, which includes face-to-face, in-classroom learning using safety protocols to protect students and staff. Students will also complete projects and assignments online. This will make it easy to transition to virtual learning should there be a need to cancel school or limit access to a campus building. The district will follow local, state, and federal guidelines and safety precautions.

Learning At Home: This option is entirely virtual and requires students to have a consistent online presence to complete their assignments. Students who enroll in the Learning At Home option will be required to log in to Schoology daily and complete assignments online. Students who select this option should have access to a device such as laptops or tablets and the internet.

We have learned a great deal from the rapid online learning launch this past spring. We will implement improved, robust strategies to teach lessons virtually. Coursework will be assigned and can be completed at the student’s pace. Additionally, our new approach will include more office hours with teachers and opportunities for small group instruction.

Commitment Forms and Survey Results

Thank you to those who participated in our community survey. From survey results, more than 70% of families opted for the Learning At Home model, while a little under 30% are planning for Learning On Campus. Over the next few days, campus leaders will be reaching out to families who have been unable to complete the process to ensure they can make a selection for their children.

Teachers and Staff

After the initial three weeks of virtual learning, all Aldine ISD teachers should plan to support traditional on-campus learning this fall, and virtual teaching assignments will be based on need and assignment availability. Our Teaching and Learning team continues to improve our online learning processes. The team will work to ensure teachers are prepared to teach in both settings. They are also working to meet all of TEA’s requirements for funding to continue to offer all students the best educational experiences, choices, and opportunities. Teachers and staff will receive more details from their campus principals.

More updates:

Meal Service/Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT)

Families who qualify for a one-time benefit of up to $285 issued on an EBT card will now have until July 31, 2020, to complete and submit the application. The P-EBT benefit was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture to help eligible families buy food for their students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To prepare for the upcoming school year, we will be closing all summer meal distribution sites after meal service on Thursday, July 23.

Graduation

This week, we will celebrate the Class of 2020, July 22-25, with virtual graduation ceremonies on our district Facebook page. Senior families are invited to participate in the high school graduation ceremonies on Facebook, at their respective graduation time and date. The graduation videos will also be posted on the district website. Diploma pickup will take place at each campus on July 22 and July 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. The graduation schedule can be found below:

Wednesday, July 22
Carver High School at 8 a.m.
Hall Center for Education at 9:30 a.m.
Victory Early College High School at 8 p.m.

Thursday, July 23
Davis High School at 8 a.m.
Eisenhower High School at 8 p.m.

Friday, July 24
MacArthur High School at 8 a.m.
Nimitz High School at 8 p.m.

Saturday, July 25
Aldine High School at 8 a.m.
Blanson CTE High School at 8 p.m.

Aldine ISD in the News

All eyes were on Texas this month as COVID-19 cases rose, and the public wondered how this would impact school reopenings. I was honored to be a guest and to share details of our plans on CNN and MSNBC as well as with Houston area media outlets. You can watch these interviews via the links below:

Next Steps

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate the unique conditions related to our Return to Learn. This fall presents us with a new set of challenges and a chance to create meaningful learning experiences for our students. In many ways, this fall represents one of the greatest opportunities we have had as educators and parents to model mindsets, behaviors, and perspectives that our children will remember their entire lives. They are depending on us. We can’t let them down.

We will continue to send you updates each week. You can also access the district’s plans, preparations, and up-to-date health information impacting our community on our new school re-entry page: aldineisd.org/returntolearn.

Let’s continue moving forward together!

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent