Inside Aldine - Aldine Independent School District

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Inside AldineFall 2005Page 2Schools & CommunitySchool Board reorganizes:A.W. Jones (right)handed over the gavelto new President RickOgden during the June14 board meeting.Dear Parents:The new school year brings withit a wealth of challenges andopportunities for students andthe educators who are responsiblefor ensuring that learningoccurs in our classrooms.Our greatest challenge is helpingstudents meet the tougheracademic standards with statefunding that falls far short ofwhat we need. The fact is thatthe state and nation are askingstudents to learn more andmore each year. Yet, many studentsin Aldine need additionalprograms during and after theregular school day, fewer studentsin classrooms, and a varietyof special services to givethem the same educationalopportunities as students inother communities and schooldistricts. They also need highlyqualified educators and supportstaff who want to remain in ourschool district. Aldine has keptsalaries among the highest inTexas so that the best educatorswill want to come here and stay.However, if state funding continuesto fall behind our needs,we will need to make eventougher choices to continue offeringoutstanding instructionalprograms.As we meet these challenges, Iwant you to know that our bestdays are still ahead. This summerwe have worked very hardto prepare for the new schoolyear. We have plans to increasestudent performance, and improvestudent behavior and attendancewhich all impact howmuch and how quickly studentslearn. With help from our parentsin ensuring that studentscome to school everyday, ontime and make the best use oftheir time, I believe the 2005-06 school year will be a banneryear for Producing the Nation’sBest!Welcome to the new schoolyear!Sincerely,Nadine Kujawa,Superintendent of SchoolsTransportation set for 2005-2006 school yearAldine ISD’s transportation department spent the summer preparing for the new schoolyear. The district’s fleet of 649 buses is ready to roll for the first day of school, Aug. 11.Aldine ISD’s fleet remains one of thethree largest in the state of Texas,according to John Wilson, executivedirector of transportation. To meetthe transportation needs of the district,the transportation departmentpurchased, 13 new 47 passengerbuses and 20 new 71 passenger busesduring the summer. Wilson saidthe new buses were purchased todeal with growth in the district andto upgrade its fleet.Transportation officials remind motoriststo use extreme caution whendriving near a school bus or bus stop.Nearly 50 percent of the childrenkilled in school bus related accidentsdie because motorists fail to stop forthe flashing red lights which signalthat a bus is loading or unloading.Bus drivers warn motorists whenbuses are about to stop by flashingtheir yellow caution lights. Oncethe bus comes to a complete stop, aswitch on the door activates the redflashing lights. At that point, motoristsin ALL directions are to stop atleast 20 feet from the bus. At thiscritical time, students may cross infront of the bus.Motorists should also be aware thatall of Aldine ISD’s police officers willbe out in full force to ensure that achild’s trip to and from school is assafe as possible.Police officers will be on the lookoutfor school zone violators surroundingAldine’s 65 campuses. Schoolzone speed limits are set up at differenttimes throughout the day, someas early as from 7-9a.m. and others aslate as 3:45-4:30p.m. Motorists areurged to familiarizethemselveswith school zonetimes during theirtravels throughoutthe district.“Motoristsshould becareful inany situationinvolvingchildrenand schoolbuses.”Aldine ISD Police Chief Brian Allenalso has cars in the district fleet thatcan be used to pace traffic. Thesecars are calibrated with a radar unitonce a month and are used as patrolcars. An officer with a calibrated carcan follow a vehicle for three cityblocks and then issue a citation ifthat person is speeding.To crack down on speeding motorists,Allen has enlisted the help ofother law enforcement agencies- Houston Police Department, Precinct1 Constables, and the HarrisCounty Sheriff ’s Department.Another problem during the schoolyear is vehicles that pass buses whileloading or unloading students,whether on a two-lane or four-laneroad. Section 545.066 of the TransportationCode clearly outlinesguidelines for school buses stoppedto load or unload students. Whenthe bus is stopped with its red lightsflashing, motorists on both sides ofthe street must stop to allow childrento exit the bus. A violation ofthis law can include a fine up to$1,000. An exception to the law is afour-lane road with an esplanade ormedian in between opposing directionsof traffic.“Motorists should be careful in anysituation involving children andschool buses. It only takes a coupleof minutes to load or unload a busand it’s worth a short amount oftime to ensure that students aresafe,” Allen said. “Drivers shouldbegin slowing down when they seethe yellow flashing lights and thenmake a complete stop when the redflashing lights are visible. Vehiclesshould not begin moving until theschool bus has turned off its redflashing lights.”New free/reduced meal guidelines announcedAldine ISD Child NutritionServices Department administersthe federal free/reduced meal program.Both breakfast and lunchwill be available to all studentsin Aldine ISD.Aldine ISD school meals meet the DietaryGuidelines for Healthy Americansand the recommendations ofreduced fat and saturated fat levels.The U.S. Department of Agriculturerecently announced new incomepoverty guidelines. The income eligibilityguidelines for 2005-06 canbe found in the chart accompanyingthis article.Children may be eligible for free orreduced price meals without applicationif they are listed on the TexasDepartment of Agriculture’s DirectCertification Program. Families whoare direct certified will receive aletter from Aldine ISD’s Child NutritionServices Department. Thisletter tells parents or guardians thattheir children are already approvedfor meal benefits. Families receivingthis letter should not completea new application. If any school-agechildren in a Direct-Certified familyare not listed on the letter, you mustcomplete a new application.All families that were approved forfree or reduced price meals at theend of the 2004-05 school year willreceive meal service through early-September. Federal law dictates thateveryone receiving free/reducedmeals must reapply each year, un-National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Programs 2005-06 Income Eligibility GuidelinesFamilySizeFreeAnnually Monthly Twice Per Month Every Two Weeks WeeklyReduced-PriceFreeReduced-PriceFreeReduced-PriceFreeReduced-PriceFreeReduced-Price1 12,441 17,705 1,037 1,476 519 738 479 681 240 3412 16,679 23,736 1,390 1,978 695 989 642 913 321 4573 20,917 29,767 1,744 2,481 872 1,241 805 1,145 403 5734 25,155 35,798 2,097 2,984 1,049 1,492 968 1,377 484 6895 29,393 41,829 2,450 3,486 1,225 1,743 1,131 1,609 566 8056 33,631 47,860 2,803 3,989 1,402 1,995 1,294 1,841 647 9217 37,869 53,891 3,156 4,491 1,578 2,246 1,457 2,073 729 1,0378 42,107 59,922 3,509 4,994 1,755 2,497 1,620 2,305 810 1,1539 46,345 65,953 3,863 5,497 1,932 2,749 1,783 2,537 892 1,26910 50,583 71,984 4,217 6,000 2,109 3,001 1,946 2,769 974 1,38511 54,821 78,015 4,571 6,503 2,286 3,253 2,109 3,001 1,056 1,50112 59,059 84,046 4,925 7,006 2,463 3,505 2,272 3,233 1,138 1,617For each additional family member add:4,238 6,031 354 503 177 252 163 232 82 116less they are Direct-Certified. Forthose who are not Direct-Certified,and feel they need assistance for the2005-06 school year, applicationsare currently available in schools orat the central Child Nutrition ServicesOffice, located at 2112 AldineMeadows. Early completion of theapplication assures families faster,better service in the processing ofapplications. Parents or guardiansare asked to only fill out one applicationper family. Applications mustbe filled out completely and signedbefore they can be processed.In accordance with Federal lawand U.S. Department of Agriculturepolicy, this institution is prohibitedfrom discriminating on the basis ofrace, color, national origin, sex, ageMeal PricesBreakfastLunchElementary $.50 $1.25Secondary $.60 $1.50Reduced-priced $.30 $.40Adults $.90 $2.00or disability. To file a complaint ofdiscrimination, write USDA, Director,Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W,Whitten Building, 1400 IndependenceAvenue, SW, Washington, D.C.20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964(voice and TDD). USDA is an equalopportunity provider and employer.Aldine ISD breakfast and lunchmeal prices, one of the lowest in thegreater Houston area, will remainAldine ISD enhancessecurity measuresBeginning with the 2005-06 school year, Aldine ISDwill begin annual criminalbackground checks on allemployees.Similar annual background checksconducted in other large school districtshave resulted in minimal disruptionsto school district employeesor operations. This procedure will assistthe district in making AISD evensafer for students and staff and followthe district’s implementation in September2004 of conducting criminalchecks on all visitors who enter campusesincluding parents, volunteersand staff from other school districtbuildings using Raptor, a system thatwas installed on every Aldine ISDcampus. Campus staff swipe a driverslicense or other acceptable formof identification presented by visitorsto compare identification informationagainst a data base of knownsex offenders. Employees who desireto enter campuses (go beyond thereception area) should be preparedto present a valid drivers license orother acceptable form of identificationto assist the district in this safetyenhancement program.the same as last year.Students are encouraged to use thecomputerized cash register systemin the cafeterias. Parents pay formeals in advance. Students use apersonal identification number topay for meals, which deducts fromthe account. The lines move morequickly and students maintain theirprivacy because no will know whatmeal plan they are on.
Inside AldineFall 2005Page 3Schools & CommunityAldine ISD’snew police chief:Brian Allen.State and Aldine ISDgraduation andpromotion requirementsAldine ISD wants to make sureparents and guardians are keptinformed of what is required oftheir children to graduate and beable to participate (walk) in theirrespective graduation ceremonies.Additionally, parents alsoneed to be informed of promotionrequirements from one gradelevel to the next.With that in mind, Inside Aldinewill publish those requirementsin each edition beginning with theBack To School edition.High School LevelBelow are the state and district requirementsan AISD senior mustmeet to graduate and participate(walk) in graduation ceremonies.To receive a diploma in AldineISD, a student must:• complete all the necessarycoursework for graduation,• earn the required number ofcredits,• and pass ALL parts of the exitlevel Texas Assessment ofKnowledge and Skills (TAKS)test.The exit level TAKS includes foursubject areas: English languagearts, math, science and social studies.The exit level TAKS test is givenin the spring of the student’s junioryear (11th grade) of high school.If a student passes all parts of thetest on his/her first try, he/she willhave fulfilled his/her testing requirementfor graduation (walking).A complete list of graduationrequirements can be found in theHigh School Planning Guide or inthe counseling office at the student’shigh school campus.Elementary LevelIn order for students to be promotedat the elementary level,students must achieve an overallaverage of 70 or better in readingand math.Additionally, third-grade studentsmust pass the TAKS reading test inorder to be eligible for promotionto the fourth grade.Intermediate LevelIn order for students to be promotedfrom one grade to anotherin intermediate school, studentsmust achieve an overall averageof 70 or better in each of the followingcourses: English, reading,math, science and social studies.Additionally, fifth-grade studentsmust pass the TAKS reading andmath tests to be eligible to be promotedto sixth grade.Middle School LevelIn order for students to be promotedfrom one grade to anotherin middle school, students mustachieve an overall average of 70or better in each of the followingcourses: English, reading, math,science and social studies.Aldine’s VisionProduce the Nation’s BestOur MissionWe exist to prepare each studentacademically and socially to be a:• critical thinker;• problem solver; and• responsible and productivecitizen.FootballPreviewALDINE MUSTINGSHead coach – Bob Jones (secondyear)2004 record – 6-4 (did not qualifyfor playoffs)Returning letterman – 27Returning offensive starters – 9Returning defensive starters – 8Players to watch – QB TerranceAnderson (1,450 total yards in2004); RBs – Chris Moses and OtisWiley; WRs – Chancious Rose andTerrell Foy; OL – Charles Austin,Jeremy Johnson, Daniel Campbelland Mario Salias; DL – JuanMartinez, Terrance Garnett, TerryMallbrough and Marlin Williams;LB – Justin Brewer; DBs – CurtisThomas, Vincent Jones and DamianEdwards; K – Frank TuscanoKeys to success in 2005 – “We willneed to stay healthy and developa more balanced running gamewith Chris Moses and Otis Wiley.Terrance Anderson will providegreat leadership and will be ourgo-to guy early on. Our defensemust adjust to a new system,which means the offense will haveto carry us early,” said head coachBob Jones.EISENHOWER EAGLESHead coach – Daryl Phipps (firstyear)2004 record – 5-6 (lost in firstround of playoffs)Returning lettermen – 32Returning offensive starters – 5Returning defensive starters – 6Players to watch – QBs – FreddieBrown and Nick Cannon; RB– Frank Eugene; WRs – JamarcusCollins (42 receptions, 714 yardsand 9 touchdowns) and OnterioThomas; TE – R. Resendez andC. Amaya; DL – Kevin Lockett; LB– Teco Myer; DB – Otis Johnsonand Mister Alexander (112 tackles,6 interceptions)Keys to success in 2005 – “We havea good nucleus returning and our2005 Aldine ISD Varsity Football SchedulesAll Games Begin at 7:30 p.m. Unless Otherwise IndicatedAldine MustangsEisenhower EaglesDate Opponent Site Date Opponent Site9-3 Madison Thorne 8-27 A&M Cons. Reliant****9-9 LaPorte LaPorte* 9-2 Lufkin Lufkin9-16 Washington Delmar 9-10 Elsik Thorne**9-24 Stratford Tully** 9-24 Northbrook Thorne**9-30 Nimitz Thorne 10-1 Memorial Tully10-8 S. Woods Tully** 10-7 MacArthur Thorne10-15 Memorial Thorne** 10-15 S. Woods Tully10-21 Eisenhower Thorne 10-21 Aldine Thorne10-28 Northbrook Tully** 10-28 Stratford Thorne11-5 MacArthur Thorne*** 11-5 Nimitz ThorneMacArthur Generals Nimitz CougarsDate Opponent Site Date Opponent Site8-26 Gal. Ball Galveston 8-26 Clear Brook CCISD9-2 Conroe Thorne 9-1 Klein Klein*9-8 Klein Collins Klein* 9-9 Westside Thorne9-23 Memorial Thorne 9-23 S. Woods Thorne10-1 Northbrook Thorne** 9-30 Aldine Thorne10-7 Eisenhower Thorne 10-8 Stratford Tully**10-14 Nimitz Thorne 10-14 MacArthur Thorne10-22 Stratford Thorne** 10-22 Northbrook Tully**10-29 S. Woods Thorne 10-29 Memorial Tully**11-5 Aldine Thorne*** 11-4 Eisenhower Thorne* 7 p.m. Kickoff, ** 6 p.m. Kickoff, *** 2 p.m. Kickoff, **** 1 p.m. Kickoffseniors must provide strong leadership.We feel we could be veryspecial on defense with Lockettand Alexander, who could be twoof the best at their respective positionsin the state. We will be youngat quarterback, but we like both ofour prospects,” said head coachDaryl Phipps.MACARTHUR GENERALSHead coach – Jerry Drones (fourthyear)2004 record – 2-8 (did not qualifyfor playoffs)Returning lettermen – 23Returning offensive starters – 8Returning defensive starters – 10Players to watch – QB – AnthonyGibson; RB – Dakari Franklin;WRs – Janus Farnell and WesleyArmstrong; OL – Jermaine Martin,Michael Cantu, Dewayne Burks-Green and Matthew Noel; DL– Martin and Burks-Green, LBs– Felton McWhorter, AlexanderJohnson, Halston Higgins andTydarious Wilson; Punter/PlaceKicker – Edger MontroyKeys to success in 2005 – “We hada good spring and found somedepth, which we have lacked thelast couple of years. We will haveover 30 seniors this year, comparedto seven last year, so weshould be more experienced. Thekey to our success will be howwell our offensive and defensivelines perform. We need to avoidinjuries,” said head coach JerryDrones.NIMITZ COUGARSHead coach – David Suggs (secondyear)2004 record – 6-5 (lost in firstround of playoffs)Returning lettermen – 15Returning offensive starters – 5Returning defensive starters – 5Players to watch – QB X’ZavierBloodsaw; RBs – Cedric Johnsonand Raymond Johnson; WRs– Kendrick Blue, Arcenia Davis andColby Deal; OL – Joshua Jackson;DL – Andrew Harper and JuniousVilal; LBs – Davion Marshall andLe Thomas; DBs – Jamal Ferguson,Barry Graves and Nicholas NubinKeys to success in 2005 – “We (thecoaching staff) feel this is going to bea very interesting season. We havesome questions in the offensiveline, but if our young men preparedproperly during the summer, weshould be OK there. We have solidleadership and talent at quarterbackand that’s where it all starts,” saidhead coach David Suggs.2005-2006 School bus schedules announcedDuring the first threedays of school (Aug. 11,12 and 15), all schoolbus drivers began theirroutes according to thefollowing schedule:• high school routes begin noearlier than 6 a.m.;• elementary school routes beginno earlier than 6:50 a.m.;• and middle school and intermediateschool routes begin noearlier than 7:30 a.m.Students attending middle schoolsor intermediate schools should beaware that starting times for thoseroutes are the same and studentsmay share bus stops. Students areencouraged to look for schoolsigns in the front passenger sidewindshield of the buses that willindicate the school they will attend.The only exception to this startingtime schedule may be specialeducation, bilingual/ESL routesor magnet school routes. Theseroutes may start slightly earlier.The bus driver picks up all studentsalong the route during thefirst three days of school. After thefirst three days, drivers are authorizedto set designated bus stops.At this point, the driver may alsoelect to change the starting timesdepending on traffic patterns,route length, and the number ofstudents on the route.For more information, call eitherthe east side transportation officeat (281) 985-6628 or the west sitetransportation office at (281) 878-7800.Questions and AnswersWe hope you enjoy this editionof Inside Aldine. If you havequestions or comments aboutinformation included in this issue,our schools or operations,please call 713-756-7855 or visitwww.aldine.k12.tx.us/feedback/.Footballtickets availableFans of Aldine ISD’s fourvarsity football programscan purchase tickets nowto see their favorite teamsin action during the 2005season.Tickets can be purchased throughthe Aldine ISD Athletic Department,located in the M.O. Campbell EducationalCenter, located at 1865 AldineBender Road. Advance tickets(to home games at Thorne Stadium)are $4 in advance and $5 at the gate.Student tickets are $2 in advanceand $5 at the gate.The season begins the weekend ofAug. 26-27. For more information,contact Daryl Wade, AISD directorof athletics, at (281) 985-6100.Important EventsAugust11 First Day of School16 School Board Meeting18 Summer Graduation, MOCSeptember5 Labor Day Holiday13 School Board MeetingOctober1 Science Pipeline, MOC6 College Night, MOC18 School Board Meeting22 Make a Difference Day23-31 Red Ribbon WeekThe Aldine Independent School District offerscareer and technology education in agriculturescience, business education, career orientation,family and consumer science, health sciencetechnology, hospitality services, marketing education,technology education and trade andindustrial technology. Admission to these programsis based on ability, aptitude, interest, gradelevel and class size. It is the policy of the AldineIndepen dent School District not to discriminateon the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,or handicap in its vocational programs, services,or activities as required by Title VI of the CivilRights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of theEducation Amendments of 1972; and Section504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended.It is the policy of the Aldine Indepen dentSchool District not to discriminate on the basisof race, color, national origin, sex, handicap,or age in its employment practices as requiredby Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, asamended; Title IX of the Education Amendmentsof 1972; the Age Dis crimination Act of 1975, asamended; and Section 504 of the RehabilitationAct of 1973, as amended. Aldine IndependentSchool District will take steps to ensure that lackof English language skills will not be a barrier toadmission and participation in all educationaland vocational programs.For information about your rights or grievanceprocedures, contact the Title IX Coordinator,Dr. Wanda Bamberg, assistant superintendentof curriculum and instruction, 14910 AldineWest field Road, at (281) 985-6318, and/orthe Section 504 Coordinator, Charlotte J. Davis,director of guidance and counseling and at-riskstudents, 14909 Aldine Westfield Road, at (281)985-6403.Aldine Independent School District does not discriminateagainst persons because of race, creed,national origin, age, sex, disabilities, economicstatus or language disability in employment,promotion or educational programming.Any complaints or grievances that cannot besolved at the campus level through the principalmay be submitted in writing to Dr. WandaBamberg, assistant super in ten dent of curriculumand instruction, 14910 Aldine Westfield Rd.,Houston, TX 77032.Inside Aldine / Noticias de Aldine, August 5, 2005,is published quarterly by Aldine Independent SchoolDistrict, 14910 Aldine Westfield Road, Houston, TX77032-3099, Issue Vol. 28, No. 1, Spring 2005.
Page 1: Fall2005Vol. 28, No. 1Inside Aldine
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Inside Aldine - Aldine Independent School District

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