We are asking our A-Team family to give us input on the start of the 2020-2021 school year so we can learn what’s most important to our stakeholders as we continue to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on Angleton ISD.

We would like you to participate in a Thoughtexchange by clicking one of the two links below to join the exchange, share your thoughts, and rate the thoughts that others have shared. Your participation is confidential, so no one will know who shared or rated which thoughts. (Comments submitted in other languages will be automatically translated by Google Translate.)

Then, we will have a Facebook Live event on Thursday, September 24 at 5:30 pm where we will address the most prominent questions, comments and concerns as an overview of the Thoughtexchange. We will close the exchange after the Facebook Live event, and we will post a summary of the results on our district website for your review.

 

What is Thoughtexchange?

Thoughtexchange is an online platform that allows participants to share ideas through a unique, two-way process. It replaces the methods used in traditional surveys with a naturally collaborative platform that allows participants to engage in a completely confidential exchange where they can share their ideas in response to an open-ended question.

We are using Thoughtexchange so everyone has a chance to share his or her perspectives and understand what’s most important to the group.

 

How does Thoughtexchange work?

Once participants have shared their own ideas, they are asked to rate the thoughts that others have provided on a scale of one to five stars based on how much they agree with the idea or how important they think it is. In the final step, participants can view how the thoughts in the exchange have been rated by the group.

Unlike a traditional survey, the forum is kept open for a while after the initial exchange is launched, and participants are encouraged to keep coming back to share additional thoughts, read and rate what others contribute, and view direct responses from the exchange leader.

 

Why are we doing this Thoughtexchange?

This process will help us look at the challenges we have faced and continue to face related to the COVID-19 crisis, and it will allow us the opportunity for true, meaningful engagement and growth. An exchange will help us learn from one another, discover important insights, and make informed decisions moving forward.

 

Thoughtexchange

• Open Now (will stay open through Facebook Live event and a little after it)
• Traditional Link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/333717956
• Scrolling Link: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/333717956

 

Facebook Live Event

Thursday, September 24 at 5:30 pm

We want to make parents aware of some changes in our communications and procedures regarding COVID-19.

We will no longer send letters home or contact parents/guardians about other students who are sent home with symptoms of COVID-19. We will continue to communicate with parents/guardians if there is a positive COVID-19 case on a campus.

Parents/Guardians will receive an individual phone call or text if their child has been in a room or in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19. Parents/Guardians will receive a letter if there is an individual on the campus who has tested positive for COVID-19 but the individual has not been in the same room as their child.

AISD administrators have been tracing cases or possible cases where someone has symptoms. In situations where an individual has symptoms, AISD administrators have found that most symptoms are ultimately not related to COVID-19. Therefore, we will only send out communications based on positive COVID-19 cases.

Also, students and employees will only be asked to quarantine if they have a positive test or have been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed positive case of COVID-19.

Close contact is defined by the Texas Education Agency as being within six (6) feet of the individual, whether wearing a mask or not, for a cumulative time of 15 minutes. Close contact also includes being coughed or sneezed on by the individual or having an exchange of other bodily fluids.

If parents/guardians have any questions, they should contact their child’s campus.

We also ask parents to continue to talk with their children about the proper safety precautions they can take while at school. We will continue to participate and encourage best safety practices at school, which include washing hands, use of hand sanitizer, wearing masks and/or face shields, and social distancing.

AISD elementary schools and Angleton Junior High School have been scheduled to return all On-Campus Learning students starting the week of September 14. Angleton High School has been scheduled to continue the A/B schedule as allowed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). AISD continues to monitor the District’s COVID-19 data, and we will use this data to make informed decisions as we see trends and projections emerge. AISD is committed to student safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TEA will grant school districts a waiver that allows PreK-8th grade schools to have four additional weeks that limit the school week for On-Campus Learning. Through the waiver, schools can continue an A/B schedule where not all students attend a full five-day school week.

For all elementary schools and Angleton High School On-Campus Learning students, AISD will follow the previously announced schedule. All elementary On-Campus Learning students will return to schools starting September 14 for a full regular school week as already planned. Angleton High School will continue to follow the announced A/B schedule for On-Campus Learning students.

Right now, we do not have any active cases at the junior high campus; however, we want to make the transition to a full five-day school week at AJH as safe as possible. Therefore, AISD will submit the waiver to TEA for Angleton Junior High School and will follow an altered transitioned rollout of grade levels at AJH for students who are enrolled in On-Campus Learning.

As we transition students from A/B schedules to a full five-day school week at AJH, we want parents to be aware of some factors that affect the On-Campus Learning environment specifically at the junior high campus:

• The ratio of classroom square footage to the number of students in the classroom - Students may have classes where they will be sitting closer than six feet apart.
• Parents’ decisions to move their children from Online Learning to On-Campus Learning - This is causing an increase in the number of students on the campuses, which then increases the number of total individuals in the space.
• Frequency of period transitions during the day
• Enrollment growth at the campus

AISD wants to create a safe return for all students. We will take all steps to ensure that students are going into a school and classrooms that meet the levels of operations that AISD has determined to be safe.

AJH is taking the following steps to enhance safe learning environments at the junior high campus:

• Balancing classroom sections to reduce large class sizes when at all possible
• Moving classes to larger rooms when necessary
• Maximizing all classroom square footage to allow the largest social distancing possible in a classroom
• Staggering the release of students between class periods
• Requiring everyone in the school to wear masks at all times other than during mealtimes and when not appropriate for specialized classes

We also want AJH parents to understand the following:

• All classroom rows will be facing the same direction.
• Students will be closer than six feet apart. Students will be separated as much as possible in classrooms, but in most cases that will not allow for six feet of distance.
• On-campus students will be expected to bring their own water bottles. Water fountains will not be available.
• Students will eat in the classrooms. They will not have masks on while eating.
• Students will have the opportunity to sanitize their hands before and after meals and at other times throughout the day.
• Online Learning students must have a structured learning schedule and environment at home in order to be successful with Online Learning. Students must have a dedicated learning space, interact with teachers daily, and turn in assignments on time. Students who cannot follow these structures may be having academic issues with the Online Learning model.

The return schedule for AJH On-Campus Learning students has been altered to allow for a safer learning environment and for administration to meet the demands of the increase in students choosing On-Campus Learning. Students can still participate in the Online Learning model.

The On-Campus Learning Schedule (as of September 9, 2020):

Week of September 14

• All on-campus PreK-6th grade students attend classes Monday-Friday. 
• All on-campus 7th and 8th grade students remain on A/B schedule.
• All on-campus AHS students remain on A/B schedule.

Week of September 21

• All on-campus PreK-6th grade and 7th grade students attend classes Monday-Friday.
• All on-campus 8th grade students remain on A/B schedule.
• All on-campus AHS students remain on A/B schedule.

Week of September 28

• All on-campus PreK-7th grade and 8th grade students attend classes Monday-Friday.
• All on-campus AHS students remain on A/B schedule.

AISD believes this plan for AJH will provide the needed time to implement a safe transition for our largest campus that must return to a full five-day school week regardless of enrollment size based on the TEA requirements.

We must remember that the COVID-19 pandemic is fast-moving and ever-changing. Our responses to this pandemic will not be made out of intuition but, instead, will be data-driven. AISD will continue to make decisions that put student safety first, and we want to make sure our parents have the most up-to-date information so that they can make informed decisions in the best interest of their children.

If parents have questions, please contact their campus office.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Angleton ISD is implementing several new measures in an effort to help enhance safety at its public athletic events.

AISD thanks its Wildcat community for helping keep its events safe and allowing the students a chance to participate this year.

This information is based on the public health situation as AISD understands it today and is for the 2020-2021 school year. Changes to the public health situation over the course of the 2020-2021 school year may necessitate changes to these specifications.

General Requirements

Social distancing and proper face coverings/masks will be required at all times. AISD requires the use of non-medical grade face coverings in all AISD facilities for individuals of all ages.

Online Tickets

The district has moved to an online ticketing system. Fans will be required to purchase tickets online through GoFan.

The process to purchase tickets through GoFan is simple and secure. Fans will need to download the GoFan app to make their purchases, and they will show their purchased tickets on their phone to a gate attendee.

Due to UIL requirements, tickets to events will be limited to allow the district to ensure social distancing in the stands.

At this time, the only pass that will be accepted is the Texas High School Coaches Association pass, which will be for scouts only. Golden Cat passes will not be accepted for entry this year, and there will be no season tickets. Season ticket holders will maintain the rights to their already reserved seats for future seasons.

Also, all scrimmages for all sports and all grade levels will be closed to the public.

Concessions

As of now, concession stands will be open for athletic events at the stadium and gyms. They will only offer pre-packaged items, and all items will be priced with whole dollar amounts. Fans will be expected to socially distance while waiting in lines.

Streaming

Since seating will be limited, AISD plans to stream athletic events at Wildcat Stadium, the Angleton High School gymnasium, and the AISD Aquatic Center through the NFHS Network..

Subscriptions can be purchased monthly or for the entire year through the NFHS website. A subscription is good for any event streamed through the NFHS network and is not specific to a single school or sport. The monthly subscription is $10.99, and the yearly subscription is $69.99.

The district is working with NFHS to get the system installed as soon as possible. It may not be ready for the start of the season. More information will be released once streaming is available.

Varsity Football

For varsity football games, the chance to purchase tickets will be open to parents/families of student participants first on Mondays. This includes football, band, drill and cheer parents/families. Student participants will be given a special access code that allows them four (4) tickets each for their parents/families.

On the Tuesdays before the games at 8:00 am, the chance to purchase tickets will be available for the general public until they are sold out. The chance to purchase tickets will close on Fridays at 3:00 pm. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

Sideline gates will be closed before and after games. No fans or media will be allowed on the field or sidelines, and fans are asked not to congregate outside the stadium to watch the games.

9th Grade and JV Football

The chance to purchase tickets will be open to parents/families of student participants first on Mondays. This includes football and cheer parents/families. Student participants will be given a special access code that allows them four (4) tickets each for their parents/families.

On the Tuesdays before the game at 8:00 am, the chance to purchase tickets will be available for the general public until they are sold out. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

High School Volleyball

Only home tickets will be sold; no visiting fans will be allowed. The chance to purchase online tickets will open on Mondays for parents/families of student participants only. Players will be given a special access code that allows them two (2) tickets each for their parents/families. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

Fans and parents will not be allowed on the court after the games.

Aquatic Center

All UIL school events will be closed to the public. This includes parents.

All Junior High Athletics

Only home tickets will be sold; no visiting fans will be allowed. The chance to purchase online tickets will open on Mondays for parents/families of student participants only. Student participants will be given a special access code that allows them two (2) tickets each for their parents/families. No tickets will be sold at the gate.

Away Games

For away games, AISD must follow all policies for the home team. Head coaches will send out more information about away games based on the other schools’ policies.

More information, including links to the GoFan and NFHS websites, can be found at on the Athletics website under 2020 Athletic Event Safety Guidelines (www.angletonisd.net/2020AthleticEventSafety).

We have confirmed that a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 was present in the office area at Angleton High School. The office, which has been closed due to the district-wide closing related to Hurricane Laura, will be closed tomorrow (Friday, August 28) and through the weekend in order for AISD to sanitize and disinfect the office area. The entire campus will also be sanitized and disinfected.

Other than the office area, the school will be open tomorrow and is safe for students and staff, and all classes will continue as previously announced. The office will be open Monday after it has been sanitized and disinfected.

Anyone who has been in contact with the individual who tested positive for COVID-19 has already been notified by phone.

For those needing to contact the AHS office or office staff, the 979-864-8001 number is still active.

Please continue to practice proper safety measures such as social distancing, hand washing and/or hand sanitizing, and mask-wearing when appropriate. We will continue to practice such safety measures while at school.

If parents have questions, they should contact the high school at 979-864-8001.

AISD will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation at all AISD campuses and will make appropriate decisions in the best interest of student and staff safety.