Message From the Superintendent, Oct. 12, 2020

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Dear Aldine Community,

While it hardly feels like a time to celebrate, we have so much to be grateful for this week. I want to be sure to highlight the incredible things happening at schools across our district. Thank you to the students and staff who have made this week’s milestones possible and who continue to keep safety at the center of our work.

• As of today, we have welcomed back all groups of students who selected on-campus learning! As a reminder, the hybrid model period for high school students has ended. Today high schools welcomed back every student who chose on-campus learning. 
• We are celebrating the final days of Hispanic Heritage Month! Check out ways to celebrate virtually here.
• This week is National School Lunch Week, highlighting healthy eating habits for students. As a reminder, all students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day. Aldine ISD students learning at home and children 18 and under can pick up meal bundles from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 
• It is National Principals Month! Please help us honor our principals on social media using #ThankAnAISDPrincipal. 
• Football is back! Our teams continue to play each week under the big lights at Thorne stadium. They are also reminding us why it is crucial to stay masked up.

Return To Learn: Second Nine Weeks
We are preparing for the second nine weeks of the school year, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 20. 

There is still time to enroll students in prekindergarten (PreK) programs. Each of our 12 primary schools has planned special fall enrollment events that allow families to select the learning option that is best for their family. Visit your neighborhood campus for details about the event and how to enroll. 

As we gear up to welcome back more students who have selected on-campus learning, safety protocols will be more important than ever. We continue to see very few positive cases, and we are aiming to keep this number low. You can always check the COVID-19 dashboard for an overview of the reported positive cases by school.

Our protocols follow the Texas Education Agency’s reporting structure, which communicates cases Monday through Saturday and considers a case active for 10 days.

As a reminder, in the event of a positive COVID-19 case, each campus/department will follow the Three Cs:

• Contain (student/staff will wait for departure in the wellness room on each campus)
• Contact  (all those who have been in close contact with the individual are notified)
• Communicate (share information about confirmed cases with our community)

Transportation Updates
To accommodate all students who chose to ride the bus to and from school, many routes and stops may be updated this week. Please check the  Here Comes the Bus app or with your campus for details. The app is a great resource for families; however, it is important to remember that your bus driver’s directions are the most accurate information. Please follow their instructions rather than only relying on the app’s GPS service.

Free Meals for the School Year
The Aldine ISD Child Nutrition Services Department will continue to offer free meals for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year for students learning on campus and at home. 

All students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch per day. If a student eats breakfast and lunch on campus, the student is ineligible to pick up meal bundles at the curbside meal site. Free meal bundles are also available to students participating in virtual learning and children 18 and under not currently enrolled in Aldine ISD. A full list of curbside meal sites can be found on our district website. 

School Choice Survey Closes Oct. 16
Aldine ISD seeks to ensure every child has a future filled with choice and opportunity. To that end, we ask students, families, and community members for your input about the schools and programs we will offer in the future. 

I hope you will take a few minutes to share your thoughts on our school choice survey.

I am optimistic that we have had such a wonderful first few weeks of welcoming students back on campus and seeing them virtually at home. Let’s keep the momentum going, keep safety protocols and precautions at the forefront, and keep celebrating the amazing work we have accomplished together.

With Aldine Pride,

Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney
Superintendent