Aldine ISD Spring 2024

PREGAME

AISD NEWS

ALDINE ISD BOARD MEMBERS

SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear VYPE Community, We are already nearly halfway through the spring semester. There is much to share between students competing in sports and academic competitions and new opportunities, and we have so much to celebrate. First on our list of celebrations is the rating Aldine ISD received under Texas’ School FIRST accountability system. AISD received a “Superior” rating for the 20th consecutive year. I thank our Chief Financial Officer and his team for ensuring the district meets critical indicators, including timely payments, financial solvency, and competency indicators. It takes good people in the right positions to ensure we have the resources to give teachers and students what they need to teach and grow in the classroom. In January, we announced that Memorial Hermann Health System and Aldine ISD are collaborating to design a Houston-based career-technical education high school,

President

DR. KIMBERLEY BOOKER

the Health Education And Learning (HEAL) High School. The $250 million initiative, led by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will integrate healthcare career knowledge and job training with a high-quality high-school experience, serving around 760 students. This partnership is another example of how we continue offering options and choices that prepare students for their future. We are focused on giving students access to high-quality schools and learning experiences. It is with pride that I share that eight of our Choices Schools won National Merit Awards for 2024 from Magnet Schools of America. Magnet Schools of Excellence include Reece Academy for Montessori, Direct Instruction and Fine Arts; Carter Academy for Performing and Visual Arts; and Drew Academy for Math, Science, Technology, and Fine Arts. Magnet Schools of Distinction are Kujawa EC/PreK/K School for International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program; Kujawa Elementary School for IB ® Primary Years Program; Grantham Academy for Engineering; Shotwell Middle School for IB ® Middle Years Program; and Carver High School for Applied Technology, Engineering, and the Arts. A school district’s success is based on the people behind it, and our teachers and campus leaders are the backbone of education. We recently celebrated our Educators of the Year. Congratulations to all our honorees: Rosalind Burns from Jones Primary is the Elementary Principal of the Year, Dr. Cedric Stewart from Houston Academy is the Secondary Principal of the Year, LaKeshia Williams from Carver High School is the Rookie Principal of the Year, Ricky Ward from Johnson Elementary School is the Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year; Ryyan Pritchett from Shotwell Middle School is the Secondary Rookie Teacher of the Year; Amanda Lee from Carmichael Elementary School is the Elementary Teacher of the Year; and Leticia Vargas from Davis High School is our Secondary Teacher of the Year. Amanda and Leticia will go on to represent Aldine ISD at the Region 4 ESC Teachers of the Year competition. Kudos to Eisenhower High School science teacher Remelia Arpino, who was named an H-E-B Excellence in Education Award finalist. The magic happens in our classrooms every day because of talented, unwavering individuals who believe in our students and all their possibilities. I am excited that we are on track to open the new Thorne Stadium, as promised, in time for the start of the 2024 football season. Before we started the project, it had been 44 years since the stadium was built. Everyone working on the project is thrilled with this state-of-the-art facility for our student-athletes, student performers, fans, and community members. And who can forget all the other performing arts events like a band or watching our ROTC cadets on the field that will benefit from playing and performing in a premier facility we can take pride in. The new state-of-the-art stadium will accommodate up to 10,000 guests with two tiers of seating, providing Aldine supporters and our students with a showplace. I am super excited that this dream is becoming a reality. I can’t wait for that first game at our new, improved Thorne Stadium. I have to mention the incredible run of our basketball teams. The Nimitz High Cougars advanced to the Region 2 Tournament in the Class 6A state basketball tournament. The Cougars won three playoff games to advance to the Regional Tournament, where they fell to Rockwall in the semifinals. The Davis High School Falcons advanced to bi-district. The Nimitz High School Lady Cougars won bi district. They advanced to the Area round of the Class 6A State Basketball Tournament. The Davis High School Lady Falcons advanced to bi-district. This is the deepest a Nimitz boys’ team has advanced in the Class 6A basketball playoffs since 2003! Congratulations to the student-athletes and Cougars coaches and players Dominic Samuel, Eric Woods, Jaden Bergeron, and Ke’Lyn Washom. Ya’ll made it an exciting hoops season! And congratulations to the incredible Nimitz High School UIL inclusive basketball team for winning the Silver medal at Regionals! The team advanced to the state. This is our inaugural year to have Unified Basketball games that promote inclusion, teamwork, and sportsmanship among students with and without disabilities. Thank you to Nimitz coach Kendra Venzant and Julie Grutzmacher, the Adapted Physical Education Department lead and one of the game organizers. This is so incredible! All means all in Aldine! Before I close, please look for information regarding upcoming events, such as our Festival de Primavera, set for April 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the M.O. Campbell Educational Center. You’ll also soon be hearing that families can pre-register their young learners in Head Start, prekindergarten, and kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. I urge families to visit AldineISD.org to pre-register their eligible children. Aldine offers many choices for eligible families, like our free, full-day programs for 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds. We have great neighborhood schools, Choice Schools with specialized programs, and schools that offer dual language instruction in English and Spanish. We know that kindergarten and first-grade readiness aren’t based on age but on a set of skills. Children start school with different language and literacy skills. Early childhood learning is the key to leveling the playing field and closing those gaps. With Aldine Pride, Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney Superintendent of Schools

PAUL SHANKLIN Vice President

Secretary

CONCEPTION ESPARZA

ROSE AVALOS

Assistant Secretary

Member

RANDY BATES

Member

DR. VIOLA M. GARCIA

Member

STEVE MEAD

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vype.com \\ SPRING 2024 \\