Published On: August 17th, 2017By

Class is in Session: A Parent’s Back-to-School Survival Guide

Aldine ISD shares a few tips to boost children’s academic potential. Learn key information as well as resources available to students. And discover how to stay connected and be in the know.


[dropcap color=”#888″ type=”square”]W[/dropcap]hether your kid is a first-timer or an “old” hand, our resources will make sure he or she gets a running start on the new school year.

Find the answers to your questions with Aldine ISD resources. Below are common areas of interests with links included. This is just a small sample of the information families can find at AldineISD.org. 

Everyone wants your child to have a positive educational experience. So we encourage you to read and check out the links. Help your child get the most out of school!

Tips for Back-to-School

Through active engagement, families can help ensure there is joy in learning. Below are a few strategies to maintain a healthy study-life balance.

Aldine-ISD-Hinojosa-Early-Childhood-Prekindergarten-Center-Teacher-Jill-Charrier-Image-2[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Focus on What Matters — Determine the top priorities and what has to get done.[/li] [li]Attendance Matters — Absences matter. Attendance is a key factor in determining your child’s long-term success. Studies have linked dropout patterns with poor attendance beginning in kindergarten. The data show that youngsters who miss too many days have trouble mastering reading. By sixth grade, chronic absence is a proven warning sign that a student is at risk of dropping out. Chronic absences can lead to a student not receiving a grade or grade retention. It is each parent’s duty to ensure his or her child attends school. Parents who do not are subject to civil prosecution by the truancy court. Become familiar with the District’s attendance policy. Remember to communicate with the campus if your child cannot attend school. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Establish a Schedule — Create a routine for extracurricular activities and homework. Don’t forget to also set family time, playtime and downtime. Establish a bedtime schedule. Young children and teens are healthier and are ready to learn when they are well rested.[/li] [li]Girl-in-Library-1Encourage Reading — Literacy is the foundation for all learning. Reading and conversation are essential in developing literacy and language skills. Parents play a critical role at home. Make reading a hobby the kids see you do on a regular basis. Read aloud to young children at least once a day; have them read to you. Motivate older children to read too. Find out what your kids are reading or who their favorite authors are. Conversation is a great way to build vocabulary too. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Eat Breakfast — Children with a full tummy are ready for the day’s lessons. The District offers breakfast at no cost to all students.[/li] [li]Eat Dinner Together — Make dinner the time to communicate the day’s events. Studies show that children who eat dinner with their families do better in school. They are also healthier. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Make Learning a Positive Experience — Expectations are important. It’s important is to have positive conversations with your children about their performance. Find out where they need help or if they have concerns. Remember to celebrate your children’s strengths and accomplishments. And work with the school or teacher to address concerns.[/li] [li]Remember Learning Is a Partnership — Develop a partnership with your child’s teacher(s). Learn the teacher’s expectations. Share your child’s performance concerns. Find out how you can collaborate to support areas where your child needs to grow. If you notice a change in attitude toward school in your child, contact the teacher and ask for input. Come prepared to the parent-teacher conference. Think ahead about important talking points or specific questions you have. This will ensure you have a productive meeting. Parent-teacher conferences should occur as soon as parents notice a student struggling. They can provide useful insight for immediate and clear next steps. Contact your child’s school to schedule a conference. [/li][/ul]

Do get involved on campus. Join any of the programs to engage in school activities. These include PTO/PTAs, booster clubs, Volunteers In the Schools of Aldine (VISA), and Students Need A Pat and a Push (SNAPP). Contact your child’s school to see how you can volunteer.

Stay Connected

District leaders encourage parents to stay connected. Bookmark AldineISD.org and your child’s school website for campus-specific information and deadlines. The District website is a one-stop-shop for all things back-to-school, including supply lists, open house schedules (TBA), bell schedules and much more.

Share information and interact with AISD. Social media is another way to connect. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for up-to-date news and highlights. Include the handle @AldineISD in your tweets.

Subscribe to our news blog InsideAldine.org. Read about national, state, regional, area or local recognition students and staff receive. Families will also find stories about unique programs the District offers. Stories may include images and video. The free subscription includes an email notification with a weekly roundup of stories.

Don’t forget to update your contact information at your child’s school. This will ensure the campus has current information in case of an emergency. Personnel will mail important school-related documents will go to the address on file. AISD uses an automated messaging system to communicate in case of an emergency. AISD will also share school-related information by phone, text and email.

District Website Resources

Families will find the District website a valuable source of information. The site contains department pages, resources, testing dates and links to campus websites. Below are a few examples.

Here-Comes-the-Bus-app-logo-1

Click on icon for Here Comes the Bus

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Meals: Manage account balances under the Child Nutrition Services website. The site also provides menus and nutritional information. The District offers breakfast at no cost to all students. Lunch costs $1.75 at elementary campuses and is $2 at secondary schools. If you have questions, call (281) 985-6450. Please visit the website to apply for free and reduced-priced meals.[/li] [li]Transportation: For information about eligibility and bus stops, contact your child’s school. You can also visit the Transportation Department’s Web pages. AISD also offers the free app Here Comes the Bus to track school buses. Families can view in real-time their children’s bus location on their smart phone, tablet or computer. For any transportation question the campus cannot answer, email [email protected]. Be sure to provide pertinent information and a callback number. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Medical Care: Staff will contact families in case of illness, injury or emergency. Be sure your and the designee’s contact information is up-to-date. The school nurse can administer medications at school. But this is only with advance written parental and physician permission. Visit the District’s website for state immunization requirements. (Requerimientos para la vacunación) [/li] [li]Discipline: The Code of Conduct reflects the District’s discipline policy. You will also find policy about dress code and grooming. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Promotion: To move to the next grade level, students must show that they have met standards. This includes classroom grades, local or state tests and attendance. STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) is the current state assessment for students in Grades 3 through 12. Visit the Aldine ISD website to learn about the promotion policy.[/li] [li]Home Access Center:  Register to have access to Home Access Center. The online parent portal offers parents/legal guardians access to student information. This system does require a username and password for access. Student information available to parents includes:

— Daily Summary of Attendance
— Schedule
— Discipline Incidents
— Class Work
— Student Performance
— Attendance
— View Assignments Anytime, Anywhere
— Current Class Schedule & Dropped Classes
— Student Information, Emergency Contacts & Calendars
— Discipline Records
— Report Cards
— Teacher Alerts, Notes & Comments
— Teacher Contact Information [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Gifted and Talented Identification: AISD provides a Gifted and Talented Program to students. This is a subject-specific academic program. The District identifies students’ characteristics (i.e. test scores, classroom performance). AISD bases placement on their strengths to identify the subject area. Identification is ongoing to ensure appropriate placement. Screening for the GT program begins in kindergarten and continues through 12th grade. Visit the site to learn about dual credit, advanced placement and college readiness.[/li] [li]School Choice: AISD offers a strong magnet school program (PK-12). The focus is on science, applied technology, engineering, and the arts. The magnet program also has two Montessori campuses. The IB Diploma Program is a rigorous, globally recognized honors curriculum. Many colleges and universities award credit upon exam results. Aldine is one of the few districts in Texas to offer the entire IB continuum. This includes the Primary Years Program, Middle Years Program and Diploma Program. To learn about programs and the application process, email [email protected]. The District also offers one early college high school. A second campus is set to open in the future. [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Parents/Students Resources: Visit the District website. Find “Parents/Students” in the menu bar at top of the homepage. Scroll to view the many resources the District offers families and students. These include college information, programs, eBooks, Virtual School and much more. These include college information, programs, eBooks, Virtual School and much more. These include college information, programs, eBooks, Virtual School and much more.[/li] [li] District Athletic Schedules: The Web page provides links to the various schedules. This is a great way to keep up with your child’s sports schedule. The community can also check it out to come out and support our student athletes. Athletics: AISD offers a coordinated boys and girls sports program. The District offers 11 high school sports and seven in the middle school level. Students compete in University Interscholastic League District 19-5A.[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Career and Technical Education: AISD offers more than 20 career pathways. The programs prepare students for challenging career. Students explore career interests. They also undergo practical experiences in a chosen career field. Visit the CTE web pages to learn more about endorsements and programs. [/li] [li] Scholarship Office: Stay informed about PSAT/SAT (college admissions testing) dates. Learn about the college application process and get leads on scholarship opportunities.[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Aldine ISD Police Department: AISDPD operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The department has 59 sworn personnel, nine civilian employees, and a K-9 search dog unit. AISD also works with area law enforcement agencies. For immediate help or if you see suspicious or unusual activity, please call (281) 442-4923. In an emergency call 911.[/li] [li]Visit AldineISD.org to view other departments and services. Discover early childhood/prekindergarten and Head Start programs. Learn about performing and visual arts opportunities. Additional resources include guidance and counselingbilingual/English as a Second Language, special education, and dyslexia services. [/li][/ul]

2017-2018 Holidays & Significant Dates

Left-and-Right-Brain-Art-and-Science-Image-1First Day of School: Aug. 21

Labor Day (Holiday): Sep. 4

Staff Development Day (No Classes for Students): Oct. 6

Columbus Day: Oct. 9

Thanksgiving Holiday: Nov. 20-24

Winter Break: Dec. 21-Jan. 5

Staff Development Days (No Classes for Students; End of Second First Semester): Jan. 4-5 

Aldine-ISD-Houston-Academy-STEM-SmartLab-7

Beginning of Second Semester: Jan. 8

Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday: Jan. 15

Staff Development Day (No Classes for Students): Feb. 16

Presidents’ Day (Holiday; No Classes for Students): Feb. 19

Spring Break: Mar. 12-16

Good Friday (Holiday): Mar. 30

Victory-Early-College-High-Newsweek-6Memorial Day (Holiday; No Classes for Students): May 28

Last Day of School (End of Second Semester): May 31

Grading Periods

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]1st Nine Weeks: Aug. 21-Oct. 13[/li] [li]2nd Nine Weeks: Oct. 16-Dec. 20 [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]3rd Nine Weeks: Jan. 8-Mar. 9[/li] [li]4th Nine Weeks: Mar. 19-May 31 [/li][/ul]

Carver-HS-Ana-Colindres-PSAT-Nat-Hispanic-Scholar-1Progress Report Schedule

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Sep. 13[/li] [li]Oct. 4 [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Nov. 8[/li] [li]Dec. 6 [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Jan. 31[/li] [li]Feb. 22 [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Apr. 11[/li] [li]May 2 [/li][/ul]

The future is so bright!

Report Card Dates

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Oct. 20[/li] [li]

Jan. 12 [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Mar. 23[/li] [li]May 31 (Elementary & Intermediate Levels) [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]June 8 (Middle School & High School Levels)[/li][/ul]

Inclement Weather Days … School Closings

Aldine ISD announces and posts school closings through the following outlets:

Click to view standardized instructional schedule.

[ul class=”list list-search”] [li]AldineISD.org[/li] [li]ES.AldineISD.org[/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Facebook.com/AldineSchoolDistrict[/li] [li]Twitter.com/AldineISD [/li][/ul][ul class=”list list-search”] [li]Local radio and television stations[/li] [li]Phone calls [/li][/ul]

Bond 2015 News: Your Bond Money at Work

An architectural rendering of the Career and Technical Education HS set to open in fall 2018.

Voters approved a $798 million bond proposal in 2015 to meet the needs of the District over the next five years. Projects are in different stages of progress. The Facilities Planning and Construction Department is busy on projects throughout the District. These include the construction of new schools, renovations, enhancements and other projects. Visit the District’s Bond 2015 web pages. Stay informed about the progress of these projects.

Have a wonderful school year!

About the Author: Leticia Fehling

Director of Internal Communications