The Aldine Independent School District Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney is taking proactive measures against the coronavirus/COVID-19 to minimize risk to students, employees, and families relating to the spread of the coronavirus.
There are increasing cases of coronavirus confirmed in Harris and surrounding counties. The school district confirmed that these cases do not include students or employees of the school system.
“However, considering the virus is now confirmed in our county, we are taking additional steps to minimize risk to our students and staff,” Goffney said. “Our school district is following the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidance for schools. This includes making sure that our emergency operation plans are reviewed and up-to-date and that there is routine environmental cleaning. AISD uses cleaning products that have been verified by the manufacturer to kill viruses. Out of an abundance of caution, we are developing a plan to limit ‘non-essential’ school activities and travel to lessen the risk of exposure. We have set a date to reopen schools after the Easter/spring holiday in April, but we are evaluating the situation daily.
Children and adults made their kites, and then colored them with bright designs. Some also brought their own.
The East Aldine community held a Kite Festival last Saturday, at the Town Center. Meant to set a tradition for the community, the East Aldine District promoted the event with the help of sponsors. Families, friends and neighbors first met on the BakerRipley courtyard for a Zumba performance, and then enjoyed kite making, kite flying, games, face painting, raffles, moon walks, and food from food trucks. A great tradition of fun and neighborhood that the East Aldine community can look forward to again.
A proud young kite flyer demonstrtates his artwork on his kite, and his skill in flying it low (and later higher up in the sky). A few ended up in the trees and water.
Sheriff’s Deputies made a presentation of crime statistics for the Aldine area, and answered questions from a large audience. ABOVE, East Aldine’s Brian Burke, Captain Mike Koteras, Deputy Ray Scholwinski, and State Representative Armando Walle.
EAST ALDINE – Deputies from the Harris County Sheriff’s Office presented crime statistics to a large audience of residents, Aldine educators, and other officials that filled the meeting room at the East Aldine offices last Wednesday evening. After the presentation, they answered questions from residents on individual crime problems.
Captain Mike Koteras, patrol head for District 2, led the discussion. He said that in the last three months, there had been a decrease in violent crimes, but an increase in non-violent crimes.
Koteras said that in the near future, District 2 would have its own gang unit, and 19 trainees are designated for this district and will become probationary officers after their graduation.
He said that District 2 has 440,000 residents and covers 290 square miles. The average age of a robber is 17 years old, varying from 14 to 21.
Deputy Scholwinski reviewed detailed statistics of various types of crimes experience in Aldine in the last two months, and in a year-to-year comparison.
Mariana Sanchez, second from left, Director and founder of BAA poses with special guests and community leaders at the 10th year anniversary celebration.
On January 31, 2020 — BONDING AGAINST ADVERSITY (BAA) celebrated their 10th year of service to the community with a “Launch Breakfast” at the Lone Star Community College – North Harris Student Building. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez was the keynote speaker.
Reggie Gray, President/CEO of the Houston Intercontinental Chamber Of Commerce welcomed the participants and thanked all the people, organizations and volunteers who have given their financial contributions, time and knowledge, and their efforts of support to help BAA to fulfill their mission of “Helping Others Help Themselves.”
The keynote speaker, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, started by giving the statistics about crime in Houston and Harris County. Then, he reported about the difference that organizations involved in helping the community, such as Bonding Against Adversity, have made and the improvements resulting from their contribution in the education, assistance, caring and support provided to individuals in need. He encouraged BAA to continue their efforts and work with the educational and faith organizations, businesses and corporations, volunteers and all the people to make our community better and safer every day.
Mariana Sanchez, VP/ Chief Operating Officer and founder of Bonding Against Adversity, said, “10 years… it seems easy to say… but I still remember that 10 years ago, when I started Bonding Against Adversity, I worked from my car during the hot summer, since my car had become my office, and the only purpose of my work was to serve the community in North Houston. After a year of hard work, my efforts started to grow thanks to the East End District, who gave us our first grant, and HICC’s Reggie Gray, who felt sorry for me and invited us to share their office space. Then, Ken Fisher from Noble Energy gave us the next push with their financial contribution… and time went on and we kept growing. Now, thanks to the Lone Star College and Dr. Linda Head, Associate Vice Chancellor, we serve the community in our BAA offices at LSC Greenspoint Center and the East Aldine Center. From 2010 to 2020 BAA assisted 10,000 lawful residents to become U.S. Citizens and hundreds of students and their families to become better and more productive members of their community.”
Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney with future Promise scholars at Aldine Senior HS. An Aldine Senior HS student shows her Promise SWAG at the launch pep rally.
Provides full tuition to local community college
More than 4,000 high school seniors will have the opportunity to earn a tuition-free, postsecondary education through Harris County Promise, a new program that provides students with last-dollar scholarships to cover the cost of tuition and fees at participating community colleges.
This partnership between school districts, community colleges, and Good Reason Houston, aims to increase the number of Harris County students who graduate college and receive their degree. In this first year, Harris County Promise brings seven high schools in Aldine, Alief, and Pasadena Independent School Districts together with Houston Community College, Lone Star College and San Jacinto College to create a unique pathway to college graduation for Promise Scholars.
In January, Harris County Promise launched in Aldine, Eisenhower, and Nimitz high schools. Harris County Promise is available to all Texas resident high-school seniors from participating schools, regardless of high school GPA or income. The program provides a scholarship to cover any remaining tuition and fees not covered by other grants the student receives. Promise Scholars also receive assistance with books and a coach to help them navigate college life.
“We believe it is imperative to increase the number of students earning a degree or certification from our colleges to help meet the growing demand for an educated workforce,” said Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., LSC chancellor. “The Harris County Promise program provides a real opportunity for students in the Aldine Independent School District to further their education.”
A group of Aldine High School students pose with METRO employees as they visited METRO to get advice and hands-on experience as they and seven other teams from Aldine ISD participate in METRO’s design challenge.
METRO Houston, in partnership with Aldine ISD, is providing students with a real-world design challenge.
Students in grades 9-12 have been given the opportunity to redesign the Greenspoint METRO Transit Center. Teams from across Aldine will be submitting their design proposals to a panel of reviewers for a chance to earn a spot as one of the top eight teams. Each of the top eight teams will present their design ideas to a panel of experts at Metro’s headquarters downtown.
A group of Aldine High School students in Patrice Craft’s Architecture Design II class are involved in this year’s partnership and had the opportunity to meet with members of the construction and planning department from METRO Houston.
This year’s challenge will be using urban design concepts to re-imagine the Greenspoint Transit Center. Mike Martinez, Public Affairs Director for METRO, provided the students with METRO’s System Map and explained how the bus routes are color-coded based on service frequency. The service frequency for the red route is every 10 – 15 minutes, the blue route is every 20 – 30 minutes and the green route is every 60 minutes. Understanding how the bus routes work will help the students understand the customer’s needs. This knowledge will help the students design their projects with the needs of the customers at the forefront.
Brandie Lockett, Urban Designer for METRO, shared her passion for urban design with the students and discussed how urban design could play into the role of the METRO Transit Center at Greenspoint.
Aldine ISD police officer Mike Smith delivered remarks during the Texas Department of Transportation’s press conference to kickoff its “Teen Click it or Ticket” campaign at Davis High School on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
Officials from the Texas Department of Transportation chose Davis High School to hold a press conference to kickoff its “Teen Click it or Ticket” campaign on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
The press conference was held in the student parking lot and attended by a group of Davis High students.
TxDOT is holding press conferences across the state to make teenage drivers aware of the importance of wearing seat belts when they are driving or riding in a vehicle.
According to TxDOT, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of deaths among teenagers and in 2018 nearly half of teens killed in crashes were not wearing a seatbelt. In 2018, of the 264 teen drivers and passengers killed in crashes, 111 were unrestrained. That means more than 100 lives could have been saved just by buckling up.
In addition to hearing from a number of law enforcement personnel, and TXDOT officials, Davis students also viewed a mangled truck that was involved in a rollover crash in which two teens were able to walk away from with only minor scratches thanks to wearing their seat belts.
Texas law requires drivers and all passengers to wear a seat belt. Unbuckled drivers and passengers, even those in the back seat, face fines and fees of up to $200.
Grand Champion Steer was exhibited by Angel Allen, and purchased by First Construction Group for $16,500.
ALDINE – FFA agriculture students held their 61st Annual Livestock Show last Friday night at Campbell Center. Hundreds of people packed the stand, as 60 lots were auctioned off to high bidders.
Proceeds from the sale will go to scholarships, and the cost of raising the animals. An unofficial tally of the bids shows that over $175,000 was raised in the initial bidding, with later add-on increasing this figure. The Northeast News will have a photo report in an upcoming issue.
Bidders, family and fans packed the seats, including Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, Board President Paul Shanklin, Steve Mead, and many others.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia chats with an Aldine family at his Café last Saturday.
ALDINE – Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia held an informal meet the public event last Saturday, Jan. 25th at the Mi Tienda market on Little York Road.
Garcia listened and chatted with dozens of individuals and families about issues that concerned them in Precinct 2, including water and sewer availability, cleaning of ditches, removal of nuisances, dumping of trash on roads, and more.
Garcia conversed freely in Spanish and English, and says he plans more of these social events.
Mi Tienda employees welcomed the opportunity to meet and talk with Pct. 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia.
Eisenhower High School FFA student Nick Cain raised the Grand Champion Steer at the 2019 Aldine ISD Livestock Show and Country Fair. This year’s event will take place Jan. 30-31 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center.
The 61st annual Aldine ISD Livestock Show and Country Fair will be held Jan. 30-31 at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center.
Project judging will be held on Thursday, Jan. 30, beginning at 8 a.m. and concluding at 4 p.m. in the Campbell Center Arena.
On Thursday and Friday, all projects will be on display to the public throughout the day. The Sale of Champions, which produced $206,437 in sales in 2019, will be held Friday evening (Jan. 31) at 7 p.m. and will be held in the Arena.
