
Pony Express
Week of November 13-19, 2023
Reminder- No School on Monday, November 13th
In this Issue
- Principal''s Update
- Happening This Week at O. Henry
- Mustang News
- School Tours
- Counselor Corner- 8th Graders Please attend AHS Maroon and White Night
- Athletic and PE News-Weather Guidelines, 8th Girls Basketball
- Fine Art News-Art in Action, Choir, Guitar, Yearbook
- PTA Updates
- Quick References: Bell Schedule, AISD Calendar, Absence Reporting, Transportation, AISD Health Services
Principal's Update
Principal's Update
11/11/23
Mustang Families,
Congratulations to our Guitar, Choir, and Soccer students. This past week our Guitar performed All City Guitar, Choir performed on Veterans Day at HEB for holiday tunes, and our A Team Boys Soccer won in a penalty shootout. Thank you Robbie Horvath and OHMS PTA for hosting Author Neal Shusterman.
Our newsletter is loaded with pictures from our campus classes and happenings in our programs. Know a future Mustang Family or want to sign up for a school tour? We have our tour page linked for sign ups. Don’t forget that Austin High will be hosting Maroon Night this week for their tours of programs.
Check our What’s Happening section of the newsletter for more on sports and school activities.
This is also a time of the year to send a note of kindness. Consider sending a shout-out to a staff member at RAVE or even signing up for our 7th Annual Sur-PIES.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BADAC229-45900037-7thannual
Make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!
☮❤️&🐴's,
Marlo Malott
Happening This Week Around Campus
Monday, November 13th-- No School
Tuesday, November 14th - C Day
- 7:00 6th Girls Wts. and Conditioning Club
- 8th Grade Book Club at A Lunch
- 4:00 PM - HW Club, Soccer Practice, Girls BB Practice
Wednesday, November 15 - A Day
- 7th Grade Book Club at B Lunch
- 4:00-- HW Club, Workout Club, Boys Soccer
Thursday, November 16th - B Day
- 7:30 FCA Huddle
- 6th grade Book Club at C lunch
- 4:00 HW Club, DND Club, Boys Soccer
- 6:00/7:30 Girls Basketball vs Paredes 7th @OHMS, 8th Away
- No HW Club after school on Fridays
- Sur-PIES
Saturday, November 18th
No Saturday School this week
9:00 Boys Soccer vs. Lively at Travis HS
Thanksgiving Holiday Break- No School until Monday, November 27th
Counseling Corner
8th Grade Camp O. Henry
Dear Camp O.Henry Parents,
Thank you for attending the parent meeting this past Wednesday. We had over 90 families join us! We really appreciate you taking the time to learn more about camp and to ask questions. If you were unable to attend, please take a look at the following documents:
Camp permission forms and money are due Friday, November 17th.
We will have a "student only" meeting in mid December during Advisory class to review this information.
Please reach out to Ms. Gaffney or Ms. Cohen if you have any questions.
Native Plants and Animals
NPA enjoying the nice weather in our outdoor classroom, goats, decorating the goat hotel and making some pesto with the basil from our garden!
7th Graders Dissections
7th graders in Ms. Hibbard's classes participate in dissections.
Athletics News
Weather Guidelines for PE and Athletics
Please plan on dressing for the ever changing Texas weather. We expect students to be prepared to be outside. We encourage sweatpants, hoodies, coats, beanies, etc whatever else is needed to feel comfortable.
Girls Basketball
8th grade girls basketball (week of 11/13):
Monday - no school/practice
Tuesday - practice 8th period until 4:30PM
Wednesday - no practice
Thursday - Game Day! 8th period practice, study hall and team dinner, away game at Paredes MS (B team at 6, A team at 7)
Friday- 8th period practice, 3:50 dismissal
Fine Arts News
Art in Action
Choir News
Choir Sings at HEB on Saturday
Yearbook Pre-Orders Starting Now at Balfour.com!
O.Henry Middle School peeps! 🎉 Guess what? The 23-24 Yearbook is packed with all our crazy moments, and awesome memories. Grab yours now for just $35! But heads up, if you snooze and wait till after December 1st, it's gonna cost ya $40. So, why pay more later when you can snag it for less today? Let's make this year unforgettable! Don't miss out! Go to balfour.com and click the "Shop My School" tab or go directly to this O. Henry hyperlink to pre-order your copy.
Library News
Neal Shusterman Visit to O. Henry MS- Friday, November 10th
Special Thanks to OHMS PTA and Book People for making this visit possible for our Mustangs.
National Junior Honors Society
Coats For Kids
NJHS Coat for Kids drive has begun.
Help our comunity and NJHS make a difference.
Our goal this year is 150 coats.
Please help and donate online or on campus a gently use coat, hoddie or jacket.
Just $20 = one coat, donate online @ Coats for Kids and note that it is for O.Henry MS.
https://members.jlaustin.org/?nd=donate_detail&donation_id=14492
Thank you for your support and giving.
PTA Updates - November Dates and To Dos!
7th Annual Sur-PIES -- SIGN UP IS LIVE!
Now is the chance to sign up for a faculty and staff holiday tradition. Let's give thanks to those who work at O. Henry Middle School by signing up to bring sweet treats to our staff.
Sign up HERE to drop off a homemade or store-bought dessert. Please help fill up the last few available spots if you can so that everyone has something to take home. Drop off by 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 17, before Thanksgiving Break!
*Randall's Good Neighbor Program gives 1% back to O.Henry!
As we enter the holidays, please take a moment to link your Randall's Rewards card to help earn money for O.Henry. It is as simple as emailing good.neighbor@randalls.com and requesting a link between your phone number to O.Henry Middle School #713. See attached flyer for more details - every trip to Randall's adds up!
Thursday, November 15, 6-7:30 p.m - Maroon & White Night at Austin High. All O.Henry families are welcome to attend to explore programs and academic opportunities as a future student of Austin High School.
PTA Thank yous
We can't do it without you! Thank you to Heather Chesney and Marjann Cooper for helping with our first Prospective Parent Tour of the year.
To Karen Harrell for organizing refreshments for the November PTA/Admin Coffee.
And to Anne Henderson and Sara Trantham for providing Breakfast Bites for staff.
Austin High School Vertical Team Connection and News
News In Review - Previously Published, Reposted For Your Reference
Attendance and Absence Reporting
AISD School Calendar
Regular Bell Schedule 2023-2024
Transportation and Traffic
Car Riders: To keep traffic flowing, follow the arrows on the map below. Be patient, student safety is our most important priority. To keep our Mustangs safe, do not drop off in back bus lot. If pickup is altered due to bad weather, a Schoolmessenger alert will go out from the Principal.
Bus Riders: Bus riders may only ride their assigned bus. Use the Bus Finder page to check which route you are assigned. Buses leave promptly at 3:57 PM each day - information about late buses will be available in coming weeks. Buses drop off and pick up on the east side of campus. For additional questions about transportation see AISD's website here.
Walkers/Bike Riders: If walking or biking to school please be safe and use crosswalks to get across streets. Bike racks are available for student use.
AISD Health Services
O. Henry Middle School
Website: https://ohenry.austinschools.org/
Location: 2610 West 10th Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-3229
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohenryms
Twitter: @Ohenryms