January 2014, Edition
Dear Education Partner:
Gov. Rick Perry has proclaimed January School Board Recognition Month to honor the thousands of men and women who serve on school boards across the State of Texas. They volunteer their time to set policy and serve as educational leaders in their respective communities.
In Aldine, we are fortunate to have seven dedicated men and women who serve on our Board of Trustees. Our Trustees are focused on providing our students with the resources they need to attain academic success in the classroom, on the stage and through their athletic endeavors.
Our Board members are unpaid volunteers who in addition to having jobs and/or family commitments devote countless hours setting policy, supporting our students by attending various events, and acquiring continuing education hours.
During the Jan. 14 Board meeting a number of elected officials and organizations in the Aldine community honored our Trustees including:
• U.S. Congressman Gene Green sent a letter thanking the Board for their service to the Aldine community.
• State Senator Sylvia Garcia and State Rep. Armando Walle, a graduate of MacArthur High School, presented Trustees with a proclamation commending them for their hard work and dedication to the students of Aldine ISD.
• Harris County Pct. 2 Commissioner Jack Morman’s office presented each Board member with a certificate of appreciation.
• Sally Bradford, executive director of the Greater Greenspoint Redevelopment Authority presented the Board with a letter thanking them for their partnership with GGRA.
• Lisa Gutierrez, representing Reggie Gray and the Houston Intercontinental Chamber of Commerce, presented each Board member with a framed certificate of appreciation.
• Schools throughout the district provided Board members with gift bags, snacks, banners, posters and letters thanking them for their service.
Aldine ISD’s Board of Trustees is comprised of President Steve Mead, Vice-President Dr. Viola M. Garcia, Secretary Dr. Alton Smith, Assistant Secretary Rose Avalos and Members Rick Ogden, Patricia Ann Bourgeois and Merlin Griggs.
If you see Trustees in the community this month, or at any time during the school year, please take the time to thank them for their service. I know they will appreciate it!
I’d like to invite you to our annual State of the District Breakfast, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 24 at the Sheraton North Houston Hotel. The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. We will share data and information about the district and highlight achievements our students and staff attained during the 2012-13 school year. We’ll also look ahead to the challenges we face in the future and hear from students who will share their success stories with us.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Jason Spencer’s office at (281) 985-6202. I hope to see you there!
Sincerely,
Wanda Bamberg Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
District Highlights
• Former MacArthur High School Nancy Blackwell was honored during the Jan. 14 Trustees meeting by State Senator Sylvia Garcia and State Rep. Armando Walle. The two presented her with a joint resolution thanking her for her dedicated service to MacArthur High School’s students and the MacArthur community.
• Sydney Reed, marketing director of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, honored a number of Aldine ISD police officers for their support and assistance with the group’s Christmas event. Those honored were: Interim Police Chief Kevin Northey, Sgt. Rodney Thordsen, Cpl. Sue Frank, and officers Jose Cruz, Larry Kissam, Keith Martin, Gustavo Adame, Abraham Cortes and Linda Smith.
• A number of Aldine ISD art students took top honors in the Aldine/Spring/Klein Go Texan Committee’s Santa Stampede Art Contest. Eisenhower High’s Taylor Davidson placed first in the high school division, while COMPASS’ Karinton Moore placed second and Eisenhower High’s Yesenia Gonzalez placed third. In the middle school/intermediate division, Irving Cruz of Stovall Middle School placed first, while Marivio Rodriguez of Shotwell Middle School placed second and Orguidea Gomez of Escamilla Intermediate School placed third.
• The Aldine Education Foundation received a $24,368.17 donation from the district’s Energy Department as part of its partnership with CenterPoint Energy’s SCORE/City Smart Program. AISD received an incentive check from CenterPoint thanks to HVAC retrofits the district implemented that resulted in significant energy savings throughout the district.
• The Davis High School Choir spread holiday cheer to a number of businesses in the Aldine/Greenspoint area during December. The students performed at Exterran Energy, Noble Energy, Sysco and at United Airline’s Chelsea Kitchen facility.
• Former MacArthur High School star quarterback Odell James returned to his roots in December to serve as the keynote speaker at the MacArthur High School Fall Sports Banquet. As a sophomore, James led the Generals to the Class 5A Division II state title game, where the Generals fell to Lewisville, 43-37. That game is still considered one of the greatest state championship games in Texas high school history. James, a graduate of Baylor University, serves on the football operations staff at Baylor.
The Nation’s Best!
Rachel Herrera, the secretary for Hambrick Middle School principal Dr. Rebecca Hoyt, is fighting the battle of her life, but her friends and colleagues at Hambrick and MacArthur High School are making that battle a little bit easier. Rachel is battling cancer and over the last six months she has been confined to a wheelchair because of the treatments she is currently undertaking. She was having difficulty driving until staff members raised the necessary funds to purchase hand controls for her car. Assistant principal Andrew Papke contacted MacArthur High School career and technical education teacher Doug Struckmeyer who graciously installed the controls on Rachel’s car. Two days later, Rachel was driving again and regained some of her independence. Hambrick’s staff also held a BBQ fundraiser and sold lunches to staff members at Johnson Elementary, Escamilla Intermediate, Garcia-Leza EC/Pre-K Center, Orange Grove Elementary, MacArthur High School, MacArthur Ninth Grade School and Oleson Elementary. The event raised $5,100 and provided Rachel and her three children with the opportunity to go on a Disney Cruise. The staff at Hambrick Middle School, Doug Struckmeyer and the MacArthur Vertical should be commended for showing so much care and concern for one of their own. They are definitely The Nation’s Best!
Upcoming Events
Monday, Jan. 20
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (district schools/offices closed)
Thursday, Jan. 23
Winter Graduation, M.O. Campbell Educational Center, 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 24
State of the District Breakfast, Sheraton North Houston Hotel, 7:30 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30
FFA Livestock Show Judging, M.O. Campbell Educational Center Arena, all day
Friday, Jan. 31
FFA Sale of Champions Auction, M.O. Campbell Educational Center Arena, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 10
Board Study Session, Board Room, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 11
Board Meeting, Board Room, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 13
Parent Advisory Meeting, M.O. Campbell Educational Center, 7 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 17
President’s Day Holiday (district schools/offices closed)
Thursday, Feb. 20
Leadership Aldine, Board Room, 8 a.m.
