January 2019

STEAM Center Open For K-8 Students Community Walk-Through On January 24 The Allen ISD STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Center welcomed its first group of students on January 8. Approximately 200 third graders have visited the STEAM Center each day since the new facility opened. Elementary and middle school grades will be visiting STEAM for orientation and learning activities through the spring. The high school portion will serve students starting in August 2019. The community is invited to a "First Look" open house at the new facility on Thursday, January 24 from 4:30 - 7 p.m. The building will be open for parents and community members to walk through and tour. A building dedication will take place in September 2019. The STEAM Center is located at 1680 Ridgeview Drive near the intersection of Exchange Parkway and Ridgeview Drive. Limited parking will be available on site. Overflow parking with shuttle service will be available at Evans Elementary, located at 1225 Walnut Springs Dr. Look for more details about the STEAM Center at www.allenisd.org/steamcenter.

Facility Committee Presents Recommendations To Board The Allen ISD Project SOAR Facilities Committee has asked the Board of Trustees to consider a list of recommendations to help address long-term needs of the school district. The citizen’s committee was formed by the Board of Trustees in October 2018 to review the school district’s current and future facility needs. The committee met five times and toured facilities with the purpose of recommending future projects that might be included in a bond proposal to the community.  Committee chairs Rev. Todd Harris and Bill Savage outlined the recommendations in a presentation to the Board on January 23.  The Board of Trustees will now review the recommendations and gather additional information from the school district administration before making a decision on what projects might be included in a future bond election. If a May bond election is called by the Board and approved by the community, the projects would be completed over a period of five or more years.  View details of the recommended projects here .

Annual Community Survey Underway

Allen ISD is conducting its annual online community survey through February 8. The online survey is held each year to give Allen residents and staff an opportunity to share their opinion on the district’s mission, academics, operations, communications, and challenges. The Allen ISD survey is being conducted by the independent research firm K12 Insight. The survey email will come from “SouthwestRegion@K12Insight.com” All responses are anonymous. The independent research firm K12 Insight will compile the results. The final reports will only include overall results, not individual responses.   Parents and employees should check their email for an invitation and participation link after 1 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22. They can also access the survey at the link below. https://survey.k12insight.com/r/18-19AllenCommunitySurvey We appreciate your time in completing the survey and sharing your opinions before Feb. 8.

2019-20 School Calendar Approved

The Board of Trustees approved the  Academic Calendar  for the 2019-2020 school year. Features of the calendar include: Fall 2019 August 14 - First day of school September 2 - No school - Labor Day October 14 - No school - Fall Break October 15 - No school / staff work day October 28 – No school / Parent conference day Nov. 22 - Early release day Nov. 25-29 - Thanksgiving vacation December 20 - Early release day Dec. 23-Jan. 3 - Winter vacation Spring 2020 January 6 - No school / staff work day / bad weather day January 20 - No school - MLK Day February 17 - No school / staff work day / bad weather day March 6 - Early release day March 9-13 - Spring Break  April 10 - No school May 22 - Last day of school / Early release day Download the 2019-2020 Academic School Year Calendar

School Schedule Changes For 19-20

School start and end times will change for the 2019-2020 school year as Allen ISD moves to a new transportation schedule. Beginning next fall, Allen ISD school buses will run three routes each morning and afternoon instead of two. The three-tiered system will provide more flexibility in scheduling drivers and transporting students to programs such as the new STEAM Center. The district will also begin transporting students to the new Collin College Technical Campus for dual credit classes in Fall 2020. Allen ISD is the only large school district in the area combining middle and high school students on the same routes. The current two tier system requires more drivers and is less efficient than running three separate routes. The new bell schedule will be: Elementary Schools:  7:45 a.m. – 2:55 p.m. Middle Schools : 8:20 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lowery Freshman Center: 8:45 a.m. – 4:05 p.m Allen High School: 8:50 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.  High school times may vary based on student schedules. Three factors led to the change, according to Daniel Pitcock, assistant superintendent for operations. “Increases in ridership, an ongoing shortage of drivers and the opening of special programs such as STEAM have required us to look at a different schedule.”

State of Allen To Feature Annual Reports

Community and business members are invited to attend the State of Allen Luncheon on February 7 at the new Delta Hotel by Marriott in Allen. Carrying the theme of “Watch Us Grow,” the luncheon will offer a celebration of the growth, accomplishments and future of the Allen community. The program will include presentations from the City of Allen, the Allen Independent School District and Collin College in cooperation with the Allen-Fairview Chamber of Commerce. Guest speakers will include the City of Allen Mayor Steven Terrell, Allen ISD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott Niven and Collin College President Dr. Neil Matkin. Serving as master of ceremonies will be the Collin County District Attorney Mr. Greg Willis. The luncheon will begin at 11 a.m. Individual tickets are available for $55 and table sponsorships are available starting at $500. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Foundation for Allen Schools.  For more information visit the State of Allen website at  www.allenisd.org/stateofallen or contact Tim Carroll, Allen ISD public information officer, at publicinfo@allenisd.org or 972-727-0510.

AHS Theater To Present Disney's Little Mermaid Musical The Allen High School Theatre Department will present Disney's The Little Mermaid on January 31 through February 2, at 7 p.m. in the AHS Performing Arts Center. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee on February 2. The under-sea musical adventure will include more than 65 cast members and 14 different set locations. Tickets may be purchased at www.AllenPAC.org or at the door if available. https://sa1.seatadvisor.com/sabo/servlets/EventSearch?presenter=ALLENPAC&tck=true

Next Parent University set for Feb. 12

The Allen ISD Community Education Department is sponsoring “Parent University,” a new speaker series for parents. The second program will feature Dr. Ryan Smith speaking on the topic: “Digital Kids: Parenting in the Age of Smartphones.” The free program will be held in the Lowery Freshman Center Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 12 from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. The program is intended for all parents. Register at www.allenisd.org/communityed or call 972-727-0503. Over 200 parents attended the first Parent University session on January 22.

Mother Son Dance Tickets on Sale Now

Tickets are on sale for the annual Mother-Son Dance sponsored by Allen ISD Community Education. The sports-themed dance will be held on Saturday February 16 in the Allen High School cafeteria from 7-9 p.m.    Tickets are $40 per couple and are sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tickets include dancing and refreshments. Photos and fresh flower boutonnieres are available for an added cost. More information is available at  www.allenisd.org/communityed . For more information, call 972-727-0502.

Eagle Run: March 2nd The 11th Annual Allen Eagle Run will be held on Saturday, March 2 at Eagle Stadium. As with previous years, the event will feature both a 1 mile Fun Run and a certified 5K Run. Hosted by the Foundation For Allen Schools and the Allen Council of PTAs, the event is expected to draw more than 3,500 runners in 2019. The start/finish line and all other activities will take place outside Eagle Stadium in the east parking lot. Designed for families and serious runners alike, the Allen Eagle Run also includes an activity area with merchant booths offering food and drink samples, games, prizes, photo opportunities and giveaways. Details about registration, fees and deadlines or information about becoming a sponsor are available at  www.AllenEagleRun.org . Proceeds from the Allen Eagle Run directly benefit Allen teachers and students through scholarships, teacher tuition reimbursements and classroom grants. To find out more about the Foundation For Allen Schools, visit  www.AISDfoundation.org  and  www.facebook.com/AISDfoundation .

Dates to Remember Jan. 24 - STEAM Center Community Open House, 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. Jan. 29 - Boys Basketball vs. McKinney Boyd, AHS Gymnasium, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 - Feb. 2 - AHS Musical - Little Mermaid, PAC, 7 p.m. Feb. 1 - Girls Basketball vs. Prosper, AHS Gymnasium, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5 - Boys Basketball vs. Plano West, AHS Gymnasium, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 - State of Allen Luncheon, Delta by Marriott Hotel in Allen, 11 a.m. Feb. 11 - Parent University, 6:30 p.m., Lowery Freshman Center Auditorium Feb. 16 - Community Ed Mother-Son Dance, AHS Cafeteria, 7 - 9 p.m. Feb. 18 - Student Holiday / Staff Development Day Feb. 27 - Board of Trustees Meeting, Allen City Hall, 7:00 p.m. March 11 - 15 - Spring Break

Allen Independent School District | 972-727-0510 | www.allenisd.org ‌ ‌ ‌