Star Gazette
Week of February 5, 2024
Alief ISD Climate/Safety Survey
Dear Alief Families/Parents:
We value your opinion and would like to know what you think about Alief ISD! Our Safety and Climate Survey is now open. The survey asks about safety and behavior, school quality, academic support, and more. This survey is meant for families/parents, students, and all staff.
Our parent/family survey is available in English, Spanish Español, Vietnamese Tiếng Việt, and Chinese 中文. To better serve our parents/families, technology will be available in the front office and the Family Centers of each campus during school hours. We will also have technology available between 7:30 am - 4:00 pm at the Alief Center for Talent and Development (14411 Westheimer Road), ASF (14051 Bellaire Blvd), and at the Alief Administration building (4250 Cook Road).
Please be assured that your answers are anonymous. Leaders will use collective responses to drive future decisions, celebrate successes, and address concerns. Thank you for assisting us in building a stronger school community in Alief ISD!
Estimada comunidad de Alief,
¡Valoramos su opinión y nos gustaría saber lo que piensa de Alief ISD! Nuestra encuesta de Seguridad y Ambiente ya está disponible. La encuesta les pregunta acerca de la seguridad y la conducta, la calidad de las escuelas, el apoyo académico, y más. Esta encuesta está dirigida a las familias/padres, los estudiantes y todo el personal.
La encuesta se administra a través de una empresa externa y se ha traducido al español. Para servir mejor a nuestros padres/familias, habrá computadoras disponibles en las oficinas principales y en los Centros de Familia de cada escuela durante el horario escolar. También tendremos computadoras disponibles de 7:30 am a 4:00 pm en el Centro para el Desarrollo del Talento de Alief (14411 Westheimer Road), ASF (14051 Bellaire Blvd), y en el Edificio Administrativo de Alief (4250 Cook Road).
Tenga la seguridad de que sus respuestas son anónimas. Los líderes del distrito utilizarán las respuestas colectivas para tomar decisiones futuras, celebrar los éxitos y resolver las inquietudes. ¡Gracias por ayudarnos a crear una comunidad escolar más fuerte en Alief ISD!
Por favor, haga clic en el siguiente enlace para la encuesta de padres y familias. Español: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aliefisd/FamilyClimateWinter2024/surveys?language=es
Kính Gửi Cộng Đồng Alief
Chúng tôi đánh giá cao ý kiến góp ý của quý vị và muốn được biết quý vị có suy nghĩ gì về Alief ISD! Hiện tại chúng tôi đang mở Khảo Sát về An Toàn và Môi Trường. Khảo sát này đặt câu hỏi về an toàn và hành vi, chất lượng trường học, hỗ trợ học tập, và nhiều điều khác. Khảo sát này dành cho các gia đình/phụ huynh, học sinh, và tất cả nhân viên.
Khảo sát này do một bên thứ ba tổ chức, và đã được dịch sang tiếng Tây Ban Nha và tiếng Việt. Để có thể phục vụ tốt hơn cho các phụ huynh/gia đình chúng tôi, chúng tôi có cung cấp công nghệ ở phía trước văn phòng và tại Các Trung Tâm Gia Đình tại mỗi trường trong giờ đi học. Chúng tôi cũng sẽ cung cấp công nghệ từ 7:30 sáng - 4 giờ chiều tại Trung Tâm Tài Năng và Phát Triển Alief (Alief Center for Talent and Development, 14411 Westheimer Road),ASF (14051 Bellaire Blvd), và tại tòa nhà Hành Chính Alief (Alief Administration building, 4250 Cook Road).
Xin hãy yên tâm rằng các câu trả lời của quý vị sẽ được ẩn danh. Lãnh đạo sẽ sử dụng các câu trả lời tổng hợp khi đưa ra các quyết định trong tương lai, mừng các thành công, và giải quyết các lo ngại. Cảm ơn quý vị trợ giúp chúng tôi tạo ra một cộng đồng trường học vững mạnh hơn tại Alief ISD!
Xin hãy bấm dưới đây để tham gia khảo sát phụ huynh/gia đình. Tiếng Việt: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aliefisd/FamilyClimateWinter2024/surveys?language=vt
尊敬的Alief社區成員:
我們非常重視您的看法,並希望了解您對Alief獨立學區的意見。我們的安全與環境調查現已開啟,涉及安全與行為、教學品質、學業支持等方面。本次調查對象為家庭/家長、學生及全體教職員。
本次調查由第三方機構負責,並已提供中文版本。為了更好地服務家長/家庭,各校區前台辦公室和家庭中心將在工作時間提供技術支援。此外,Alief人才與發展中心(地址:14411 Westheimer Road),ASF (14051 Bellaire Blvd), 和 Alief行政大樓(地址:4250 Cook Road)也將提供技術服務,時間為上午7:30至下午4:00。
請放心,您的回答將保持匿名。領導層將利用這些匯總數據來指導未來的決策、肯定成就並解決問題。感謝您的參與,協助我們共同為Alief獨立學區打造更強大的學校社區!
請點選下面的家長/家庭調查。 中文: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/aliefisd/FamilyClimateWinter2024/surveys?language=zh_tw
February is Black History Month!
Please click on the banner below to access the calendar.
Black History Chronicles - Famous People in Black History
Claudette Colvin (1939- )
Before Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, there was a brave 15-year-old who chose not to sit at the back of the bus. That young girl was Colvin. Touting her constitutional rights to remain seated near the middle of the vehicle, Colvin challenged the driver and was subsequently arrested. She was the first woman to be detained for her resistance. However, her story isn't nearly as well-known as Parks's.
"31 History Making Black-Americans Everyone Should Know". 1 February 2023, www.oprahdaily.com/life/g25954127/african-american-historical-figures/, photo credit - Getty Images)
National School Counseling Week
This week we celebrate our counselor, Mrs. Murnane. Mrs. Murnane has been the counselor at Mahanay Elementary for an amazing 24 years! She loves when former students come to visit. Her counseling program teaches skills for social, emotional, and personal growth to help each child maximize their potential. Mrs. Murnane sees students at Mahanay through individual sessions, small group, lunch bunch, and classroom guidance lessons that promote kindness, respect, personal safety and achieving goals. Mrs. Murnane has a husband, one son and a dog.
Thank you Mrs. Murnane for all you do for the students of Mahanay Elementary!
February Character Trait of the Month
Mahanay Kindness Club
Valentine's Day Candy Grams
Star Students of the Week
Upcoming Dates
February 16 - Progress Reports Go Home
February 19 - Student/Staff Holiday - President's Day
February 20 - Coffee with the Principal
February 22 - APTT/STEM Night
February 23 - Go Texan/Ho Down
March 2 - Alief Family U
Your Child's Name in Lights!
Reminders
Attendance Matters!
Dear Families,
We love having your children at school all school year!
This is the time of year when winter weather takes a toll on school attendance. Cold weather and rain can make it hard to get your children to school. So can illnesses such as colds, flu, and fevers.
These absences, even if they are excused, break the routine of daily attendance that contributes to students feeling connected and engaged in learning. Please consider these steps to keep your children healthy and in school this winter.
1) Develop back up plans for getting your children to school. Check who can give your children a ride if you can’t take them or form a “walking school bus” to walk to school with other families in your area.
2) If your children get sick talk to your child’s medical provider or the school nurse for advice.
3) Stomach pain and headaches can be signs of anxiety and may not be reasons for keeping a child home. If you feel that anxiety or stress is playing a role, talk to your child’s teacher, the school nurse, school counselor, or your medical provider about how best to support your child.
4) Encourage children to wash their hands before and after eating and after using the restroom.
5) Avoid sharing cups and utensils with other individuals.
6) Dress your children for the cold weather. If you need help with winter clothing, call the school.
7) Encourage healthy habits such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods, drinking fluids and getting exercise.
8) If your children need to stay home for a prolonged period due to illness, talk to your child’s teacher to find out about resources, including computer or internet access, that they can use at home to keep learning once they feel well enough.
Let us know how we can help you. If you’re having trouble, need resources or advice, please call us at 281-983-8355 and ask to speak with our Attendance Clerk.
Thank you for partnering with us!
Birthday Celebrations at Mahanay
If it is your child's birthday, we want to celebrate him or her! Please feel free to send store bought cupcakes or individually packaged treats with your child. Please send enough for the whole class. Please do not send other food items, juices, or decorations (including balloons).
Birthday treats will be shared and eaten immediately after your child’s lunch, which is their designated recess time.
SmartTags For Bus Riders
Alief ISD uses a program known as SmartTag which is designed to increase safety and security for students riding on the bus.
By using SMART ID cards and iPads mounted inside each bus, students will scan onto and off of the bus each morning and afternoon.
SMART tag technology provides real-time information on students loading and unloading data to the school, the Alief ISD Transportation Department and to you, the parent.
If your child is a bus rider, his SMART TAG ID is also their school ID, which allows them to check out books in the library and to scan as their lunch tag during lunch.
It is very important that they do not lose, or leave their IDs at home.
Benefits
- It ensures that students load on the right but and unload at the correct bus stop.
Requirements:
- All students must keep their SMART ID cards attached to their shirt or on a lanyard.
- Students must wear the cards home each day and back to school the next day.
- Cards are $5 to replace.
Kindergarten Riders:
- Families of Kindergarten students will continue to use the established system for authorized guardian releases at bus stops.
If you have any questions, please contact the Alief ISD Transportation Department at 281-983-8400.
Time for School!!
Daily School Schedule
Students are having a great time learning! In order to receive all of this great learning, it is important to get students to school on time. Remember, students are tardy after 7:55 a.m., and a parent or guardian must escort the student inside if they arrive after 8:00.
Daily Schedule
- School doors open at 7:15 a.m. daily
- Pre-Kindergarten- 4th Grade- 7:55 a.m. -3:20 p.m.
- Your child is tardy at 7:55 a.m.
- If your child arrives after 8:00 a.m., they must be brought inside by whomever drops them off.
Important Dismissal Information
Dismissal Changes
If you need to change your child's transportation, please send a note in writing to your child's teacher. Make sure your child knows to give it to the teacher first thing in the morning. You may also come to the front office to make a change in person.
Transportation changes must be made prior to 2:30 p.m. the day of the transportation change.
Car Riders
Please display your blue car rider tag on your dashboard when picking up your child. Please leave it in place until after you have picked up your child. If you need another car rider tag, please come to the front office to pick up a replacement. Please do not park and get out of your car to pick up your child. Students will be released to parents in the car rider line.
Walkers
Walkers are released on the High Star side of the school. If your child is a walker, please pick them up by 3:30 p.m.
Dress Code 2023-24
Please make sure your child comes to school in dress code daily.
- Any solid color collared shirts
- Pants or knee-length shorts (khaki, navy, or blue jeans)
- Leggings may not be worn unless they are worn under a skirt or dress.
- Dresses and skirts must be knee-length (Khaki or navy)
- Fridays are college shirt day! Wear the college shirt of your choice!
- Mahanay School Shirts can be worn any day of the week.
- Jeans may be worn with a Mahanay School Shirt any day of the week
- Shoes: Close-toed shoes- No Crocs
- Our students run and play a lot at recess and PE, and we want them to be safe.
Remind for Parents
Parents, another way to stay connected with Mahanay Happenings is to join our Parent Remind. With Remind, you can receive important school information. To join, text @feakhf to 81010. If you have trouble connecting using 81010, try texting @feakhf to (774) 353-0907
Stay Connected!
Parent/Teacher Communication
The best way to communicate with your child's teacher is through class dojo. Please make sure to connect so you don't miss out on important information! We look forward to partnering with you to help your child have a successful school year!
Not receiving school or district callouts or texts?
During time of emergencies, the district sends out calls, emails, and texts to district staff or parents. If you are not receiving these notifications and you would like to, please proceed through the steps below.
If you have may have opted out (blocked notifications) from receiving notifications from Blackboard.
- Users can opt back into: Phone calls: Call the Blackboard Phone Hotline at "855-502-STOP (855-502-7867)" from the phone line that has been opted out.
- Text (SMS) messages: Reply START to "60680" from the phone line that has been opted out for non-emergency messages. Reply START to "54968" for emergency messages.