STAAR - an acronym for State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness - begins Monday, April 1, 2013, with a high school English I Writing test for 9th graders. "STAAR" replaces the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills or "TAKS" which was given to students prior to 2012. STAAR in grades 3–8 tests the same subjects and grades assessed on TAKS. At high school, however, STAAR is grade-specific in 12 end-of-courses ("EOC's"), including Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, biology, chemistry, physics, English I, English II, English III, world geography, world history, and U.S. history.

Alternative Classes STAAR schedule for the week of April 1 follows:
Monday, April 1, (High School) "EOC" English I Writing (9th grade)

Tuesday, April 2, (High School) "EOC" English I Reading (9th grade)
Tuesday, April 2, 4th & 7th Grade STAAR Writing Day 1
Tuesday, April 2, 5th & 8th Grade STAAR Math

Wednesday, April 3, (High School) "EOC" English II Writing (10th grade)
Wednesday, April 3, 4th & 7th Grade STAAR Writing Day 2
Wednesday, April 3, 5th & 8th Grade STAAR Reading

Thursday, April 4, (High School) "EOC" English II Reading (10th grade)

And add, "In time of test, family is best!" We appreciate the parents and families who prepare for STAAR with a good night of sleep, something on an empty stomach (we can help with that), and timely arrival to school (be sure to catch the bus - you won't be late)!

Students report to testing classrooms before 7:50 am. STAAR is a 4-hour timed test - no exceptions!

Here’s a few tips for a good first day with Alternative Classes:

• Wear the Alternative Classes dress code apparel to school: beige khaki pants, white shirt with a collar (no logo), brown or black belt, white or black shoes with matching color shoelaces.


• Bring loose leaf paper, a pen & a pencil.


• Bring AGR card as reviewed and signed by parent/guardian. This sheet was included in a packet of information mailed to your residence that included information about this program.


• If you are enrolled in PE, bring shorts & a t-shirt for PE dress out. (You can bring PE apparel on the second day of attendance.)


• Transportation Department personnel will call with a bus number & approximate pick up time prior to the first day of assignment. If you have not received a call two days prior to the start of assignment, call your transportation center: Residences north of FM 1960: (832) 249-4575 or (832) 249-4590 Residences south of FM 1960: (832) 249-4106.


• Questions? Call the Alternative Classes office: (832) 249-4801. We can help!

Welcome to Brian Marr, assistant director of Alternative Classes. Mr. Marr has transferred from Klein Oak High School and he will assist K. E. Kaufman, director of KISD's disciplinary alternative education program. Mr. Kaufman opened Alternative Classes in January 1994 with a staff of 10 that included Speech Communications teacher Claudette Hunt and school secretary Mary McVeigh. Counselor Colleth Punch joined the counseling staff in 2005, transferring from Klein High School. Counselor Marcy Wilson joined the counseling staff in August 2008, transferring from Klein Intermediate. Frank Lemmon and Kevin Wood will join the staff as administrators during the course of the school year.

Twenty five teachers instruct students in the core academic areas of English Language Arts (English and Reading), Math, Science and Social Studies, as well as electives in the areas of Art, Computer Science, Health, Physical Education, Spanish, and Speech Communications.

Make plans to attend school everyday and arrive on time (the school bus will always bring students to school on time).

If a parent or guardian provides transportation to school, please come into the office to sign your student in. Arrival at school should be between 7:00 a.m. and 7:25 a.m.
Students are dismissed to 1st period class at 7:25 a.m.
A student is tardy to 1st period class between 7:32 a.m. and 7:47 a.m.
A student who arrives after 7:47 a.m. is absent to first period (the student has missed 15 or more minutes to 1st period class).
Excessive absences to 1st period can result in “no credit” in the course. Please refer to the student handbook.
Buses are released at 2:15 p.m.

The KISD Student Handbook contains a guideline concerning attendance at the Alternative Education Classes. The approved recommendation states that a student assigned to the disciplinary alternative education program (Alternative Classes) will be required to make up days missed due to truancy and/or out-of-school suspension for disciplinary incidents before returning to his/her home campus.

Please phone attendance secretary Judy Brown, 832-249-4804, before or on the date of your student’s absence. Send a note to the attendance secretary that specifies the dates and reason of your student’s absence whenever your student is absent from school. This note should be received in the attendance office within five days of the absence. Refer to the KISD Student Handbooks for information on student attendance.

En espanol -
Hola! Mi nombre es Tamaiba Patino pero mucha gente me conoce como Tammy! Naci y creci en Caracas, Venezuela y por eso hablo español! En el año 2000 llegue a Estados Unidos, especificamente a Atlanta, GA la cual fue mi casa hasta el Verano del 2012 cuando me mude a Spring, TX con mi familia. Fui a la Universidad y poseo un grado de Asociado en Educacion Temprana y he trabajado en Educacion por mas de 12 años. Este es mi primer año trabajando para Kein ISD, estoy muy contenta de estar aqui para servirle a uds y a su familia! Para español marque el 832-249-4161.

In English -
Hello there! My name is Tamaiba Patino, but most everybody calls me Tammy! I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, so I am a native Spanish speaker! I moved to the United States almost 13 years ago. Atlanta, Georgia was my home until the summer of 2012 when I moved to Spring, Texas with my family. I have an Associates Degree in Early childhood Education and I have been in the field of education over 12 years. This is my first year with Klein ISD. I’m very excited to be here and I look forward to serving you and your family!

A standardized dress code for students assigned to Alternative Classes was approved by Klein ISD Board of Trustees and adopted in 2004-2005. The dress code remains effective and is enforced from the time students board the bus for transit to school until the student de-boards the bus at their assigned stop. Alternative Classes dress code for both girls and boys includes beige khaki pants worn at the waist (no shorts, Capri length pant, skirt, or dress), a solid color black, brown or white belt with a small belt buckle, a white shirt with a collar (no logo or writing) that is long enough to tuck neatly into pants at the waist (a white or light gray undershirt may be worn under the white collared shirt), and white or black shoes with corresponding colored shoelaces and a white or light gray sweatshirt (no hood, no logo or writing) for classroom appropriate outer wear. Shirts must be tucked into pants with the belt showing and pants must be worn at the waist on arrival to school. The dress code is strictly enforced – campus isolated instruction or out of school suspension could be assigned on the first dress code violation.

On arrival to school, students must have shirts tucked in at the waist and belts on and fastened. As students enter the Annex building each day, they should be prepared to remove their belt, turn out all pockets from pants, and remove any metal objects that would cause alert from a metal detector. Metal objects should be turned over to designated Alternative Classes staff who supervise transit through a metal detector. Students must pass through the metal detector with palms up.

Students assigned to Alternative Classes are enrolled in the district's web-based communication service. District campuses utilize ParentLink to send information to parents as soon as possible. The service delivers informative and emergency messages to parents via several communication methods including phone and e-mail. Should schools need to close early due to weather, for example, this system would notify you via home phone, cell phone, or email. In addition, schools use ParentLink to keep you up to date on important school wide information.

Klein ISD’s information about safety measures for students follow -
Dusk and dawn are the most prevalent times for mosquito activity, meaning that students are most likely at risk when riding very early morning buses and while participating in outdoor activities that extend into dusk.

Two measures to take to minimize exposure and provide a safe environment -
1. Use mosquito repellant sprays or lotions before leaving for school.
2. Parents or guardians can bring a mosquito lotion for their student to the school nurse. The lotion will be kept in the clinic. On the lotion’s label, look for the word "deet" or "diethyl-m-toulamide." (Sprays cannot be used at school, since they pose the risk of accidental exposure to other students who could be allergic.) The school district will not be able to supply repellants of any type. Parents are encouraged to instruct their children in the proper use and application of lotions.

Five measures the school district and school district personnel have taken to minimize exposure and provide a safe environment -
1. Eliminate mosquito breeding and harboring areas, i.e., standing water, buckets, tires, etc.
2. Treat detention ponds.
3. Suspend outdoor activities whenever mosquitoes are especially active.
4. Solicit support from the county for spraying areas near the school.
5. Continue to monitor and investigate other measures as appropriate.

Additional information about West Nile virus can be obtained over the Internet at www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/disease/arboviral/westNile.