Back to School Aug. 25th

Public Schools, Colleges prepared


The summer is over. You can tell by the preparations everywhere for students to start back to school on Monday, August 25 in most districts and colleges.

The Tax-Free weekend is over, with bargains and tax-free sales helping prepare families for the school year. Many stores added sales to the tax-free feature, and malls and parking lots were full last Friday through Sunday.

Other signs of school preparation include high school football teams starting their scrimmages prior to the first games on August 29th; teachers in the schools, preparing for the grand opening; and many Health Fairs and Back to School Fairs being held around the community. One of the largest of these was held at Aldine High School last July 26th, when over 8000 students and parents showed up for free school supplies, backpacks, and required immunizations. In addition, over 100 vendors were on hand for this fair, to acquaint parents with their capabilities.

The Aldine Fair was sponsored by the Aldine ISD, the YMCA, and the Texas Childrens Hospital, and is an annual event.

Aldine Teachers Welcome

Aldine ISD has scheduled their annual convocation for educators for Monday, August 18 at 10 a.m. This is a large, upbeat, welcome-back event, held at the Campbell Center on Aldine Bender. The community and AISD Business Partners participate in this welcome, which includes student performances, a welcome talk by Superintendent Wanda Bamberg, and an inspirational guest speaker.

YOUTH Back to School

Last weekend also saw the Y.O.U.T.H. hold a well attended Back-To-School Community Festival. This event included a free Calvin Murphy Basketball Clinic, refreshments, performances, BBQ by the Noon Aldine Optimist Club, free clothing, and a Raffle for a $100 gift certificate to Greenspoint Mall. Over 150 children and adults were present for this event.

It also included information booths for Lone Star College, lead-free housing information, and a voter registration stand.

The highlight of the event was a dedication ceremony for YOUTH’s new Soccer Field.

Physical Changes

Many districts and colleges will open in new facilities, or changed environments.

Aldine ISD is opening several new schools, with more under construction due to their bond issue.

Much the same is true at Lone Star College, although construction is just starting on most of their projects that will be built with the new bond money. North Harris College is using the bond money to build a new Student Services Center, renovate the academic building, add on to the Fine Arts building and the Applied Technology building, and build a new Health Professions Building on I-45 at a new location. In addition, the Greenspoint Center, formerly Parkway Center, will receive renovations during the year. Improvements are also due at Carver Center, and the new Aldine Center.

North Forest will not open any new buildings, but will consolidate its two high schools into the old Forest Brook building, and use the Smiley high school building as a 9th grade center.