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Some Aldine students return for In-Person classes

September 29, 2020
Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney visits with a pre-kindergarten student at Magrill Primary School during the first day on in-person learning in AISD on Monday, Sept. 21.

ALDINE – Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney toured five campuses as a group of students returned to in-person instruction on Monday, Sept. 21.

Dr. Goffney made her first stop at Davis High School where she was greeted by the school’s drum corps, which performed for her and other onlookers.

“Thank you for waking us up,” Dr. Goffney said to the percussionists. “How are you all feeling? I hope you are all cautiously optimistic. I can’t wait to see you all perform during the year.”

She then toured a number of classrooms along with Davis High Principal Anthony Watkins.

Dr. Goffney’s next stop was to Hambrick Middle School where she was greeted by the school’s new Principal Jose Almendarez. She also stopped by the cafeteria to visit with members of the school’s Child Nutrition and thanked them for their dedicated service to Hambrick’s students.

“Thank you all so much,” she sad. “You have been working so hard.”

Education Foundation names new head Director

September 15, 2020
LINDA FLORES OLSON

Linda Flores Olson to head Aldine Education Foundation

Linda Flores Olson has joined Aldine ISD as Director of the Aldine Education Foundation.

Mrs. Olson brings 34 years of nonprofit managerial experience to her new role.

“We are super excited to have Linda join our team and lead our Aldine Education Foundation,” said Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “Linda brings a wealth of experience to her new position and I am confident she will serve as a strong leader and bring fresh ideas to the Foundation.”

Mrs. Olson comes to Aldine after serving as the Development Director of the Houston Community College Foundation. She has also served as Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director of the Wesley Community Center, as Executive Director of the Houston Hispanic Forum, as Deputy Director of Children At Risk, as Director of Development of Houston PBS, as Director of Major Goals & Planning for Houston PBS, as Director of Corporate Affairs of the Alley Theater, and as Manager of Member Services for the Greater Houston Partnership.

Aldine ISD celebrates Hispanic Heritage month

September 15, 2020

National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates a diverse group of people. They trace their roots to Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Of the district’s nearly 70,000 students, more than 73 percent are Hispanic. They represent many Spanish-speaking countries.

By the Numbers:

Aldine ISD extends at-home learning thru Sept. 11

August 25, 2020

October class start possible

Aldine ISD Trustees approve waiver request to allow virtual learning to continue into October, if necessary

Aldine ISD will extend virtual learning for one additional week. This will make the adjusted first day of on-campus instruction Monday, Sept. 14.

Students should continue to log in, participate, complete and submit assignments in Schoology daily. Lessons are available every day by 8:30 a.m. for students to complete by 11:59 p.m. As a reminder, if students do not engage with the curriculum daily, they will be marked absent for the day.

Teachers will continue to have the option to hold classes from home or from their assigned campus.

“Aldine ISD’s core beliefs prioritize safety,” said Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “I have always said, we will go as fast as we can but as slow as we must. We review current local, city, and county data daily and will continue to use the Decision Meter to make decisions concerning the re-opening of our schools. We are going to do what is in the best interest of our students and staff. Right now, that is extending virtual learning for an additional week and keeping our options open for an additional four weeks if necessary.”

In addition to the one-week extension, Aldine ISD Trustees approved the district’s waiver request to the Texas Education Agency to extend at-home learning another four weeks through Friday, October 9, if necessary.

Message from the Aldine Superintendent

August 18, 2020
Superintendent Goffney with Students

August 10, 2020

Dear Aldine Community,

We are counting down to the first day of school! In just one week, we will kick off the 2020-21 school year. Teachers across the district will welcome students back in creative and innovative ways to start the year virtually. I’ve seen digital classrooms, bitmoji avatars, and video messages preparing to welcome students back on August 17. Our current plan has us learning online for three weeks. We will continue to monitor the number of COVID-19 cases in our community and consider extending this virtual period as needed to keep staff and students safe.

As we count down the days, we’ve received a few questions about school supplies, uniforms, and a possible daily schedule that can guide at home learning. We’ve got you covered:

• Information about School Supplies

• Attendance and Grading Guidelines

• School Orientations and Meet the Teacher Events

• Schedules for each student will be available in the Home Access Center after August 12, and you may receive additional details and instructions from teachers.

RETURN TO LEARN AUGUST 17

August 17, 2020

Aldine ISD to start first 3 weeks of school virtually August 17

Aldine ISD’s re-entry plan, Return to Learn, will now have all students learning virtually from home for at least the first three weeks of the 2020- 2021 school year. The 2020- 21 school year begins Monday, August 17.

“We are thankful that the TEA made the decision to allow districts to use virtual learning as an option for the first three weeks,” Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney said. “Aldine will take advantage of this option. Regardless of the model families select — Learning At Home or Learning On Campus — the first three weeks of school will be virtual. As we move forward, we must remain flexible as we continue to monitor the conditions in Harris County and Houston. We will open as fast as we can but as slow as we must.”

Goffney emphasized that the academic school year begins on August 17. She stressed that the three-week remote learning period would help facilitate and ease the transition of the on-campus, back-to-school process for staff and families. The time will also be used for teacher training and planning. The district will continue to monitor local health conditions and reassess as needed throughout the school year.

Aldine starts back to school August 17

August 11, 2020
THOUSANDS of cars lined up at M.O. Campbell Center last Wednesday for a free food and backpack distribution, sponsored by Aldine ISD and BakerRipley. There were also 5000 free computers and hotspots handed out on another day at Aldine High School. There will be a second handout of computers on August 14 of this week.

Distributes computers, hotspots, food boxes, backpacks

ALDINE – Like many school districts in the Houston-area, the Aldine Independent School District is going to begin the school year with virtual learning. In order to meet the needs of students in the district and bridge the digital divide, Aldine ISD officials handed out Chromebooks and hotspots to hundreds of families last Monday.

The drive-thru distribution event took place at Aldine High School Monday afternoon ahead of the district’s Aug. 17 start date.

“All children deserve equal access to education and so with COVID-19 magnifying that devise, we are making sure that our students are getting the learning tools that they need to be successful,” said Aldine High School Assistant Principal Shavonya Rasberry-Vaughan.

District officials said more than 5,000 families signed up for the event and each family got one set of devices. With such a high need among students in the district, officials say they will plan a second event to hand out devices to more students.

Aldine ISD distributed computers at Aldine HS Monday.

Governor Abbott waives grade promotion requirements for 2020-2021 STAAR testing

August 4, 2020

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that the grade promotion requirement related to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test for students in grades 5 and 8 has been waived for the upcoming school year. Typically, school systems must take into account a student’s score on the STAAR test to determine whether the student can be promoted to the next grade level. The traditional A-F rating system will remain in place, albeit with certain adjustments due to COVID-19.

Typically, students enrolled in grades 5 and 8 are required to re-take a STAAR test late in the school year, and sometimes again in the summer, if they do not meet grade level when taken during the spring. With this waiver, there will only be one administration of the STAAR grades 5 and 8 mathematics and reading assessments for the 2020–21 school year. The test will be administered in May to coincide with the administration of other STAAR grades 3-8 assessments.

“As always, our goal is to provide a high quality education for every Texas student,” said Governor Abbott. “This will be a uniquely challenging school year, therefore, this year is about providing students every opportunity to overcome the disruptions caused by COVID-19. By waiving these promotion requirements, we are providing greater flexibility for students and teachers, while at the same time ensuring that Texas students continue to receive a great education — which we will continue to measure with high quality assessments.”

Houston Community College announces plans for Fall 2020

July 28, 2020

Offering Four Safe Flexible Learning Options

HOUSTON, TX (June 16, 2020) – Houston Community College (HCC) announces the launch of nextLearning, a new approach to education that provides various in person and online formats that allow for safe, flexible learning options for the Fall 2020 semester. Students have the opportunity to choose from the following four different options: Online Anytime, Online on a Schedule, Flex Campus, and Lab-Based Courses.

Aldine ISD Graduation Ceremonies Cancelled

July 21, 2020

Just 11 days ago, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo upgraded the COVID-19 public threat level from significant (Orange, Level 2) to severe (Red, Level 1). This is the highest level, and those who live in Harris County are encouraged to follow safety precautions and limit activities outside of their home.

Following this guidance, Aldine ISD has decided to cancel the Class of 2020 outdoor graduation ceremonies, scheduled for July 22-25. District leaders made the decision after reviewing guidance from the Harris County Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Canceling our in-person graduation was a difficult decision to make, but we believe we must act out of an abundance of caution to protect the safety and well-being of our students and families,” said Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney. “I want to thank our families for their patience as we have dealt with this unprecedented situation.”

While the traditional ceremony will not take place, the District held a virtual conferral ceremony on June 1, recognizing the senior class as official graduates of Aldine ISD. During this ceremony, the Aldine ISD Board of Trustees and Dr. Goffney officially recognized the completion of graduating seniors’ high school diplomas. The graduates of the Class of 2020 are officially Aldine ISD alumni.