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Pony Express
Week of January 29- February 4, 2023
In this Issue
Newest Updates in BOLD
- Principal's Update
- Happening This Week at O. Henry
- Enrollment for 24-25 School Year
- Counselor Corner-, 245-25 Choice Sheets, Austin HS Academy News, Crockett Choice Fair, UT Stem Program, OHMS Spring Break 2025 Costa Rica Trip
- Athletic and PE News-Thank you to Canes, 7thh Gr Girls Recognition, Winter Weather
- Fine Art News-Art in Action, Band Celebrations
- O. Henry Times
- Hoofbeat-- OHMS Student News
- Mustang News- Episode 16
- PTA Updates- Mustang Spirit Wear, Randall's Rewards
- Other Campus and AISD News: Absence Reporting, Bell Schedule, AISD Calendar, Transportation, AISD Health Services
Principal's Update
Weekly Principal Update
1/28/04
Mustang Families,
The counseling team has been hard at work making sure that our Mustangs are aware of all the amazing courses they can take next year. This week we will be collecting course sheets from 6th and 7th graders and 8th graders will begin working with the high school counselors. As a reminder, if you have any questions about choice sheets please contact our counseling team.
A-L-- Rachel Price
M-Z-- Ivy Claflin
Due to the rise in campus enrollment, it is crucial that your students dedicate sufficient time to choose their desired courses. Our goal is to ensure students are placed in their preferred classes, and it's important to note that we'll have limitations on course change requests once schedules are finalized in August.
This week our Math and English Teacher will be reviewing and showing our students how to find their academic growth from the MAP assessments.
As students navigate their academic journey, remember that interim assessments are more than just tests; they are valuable checkpoints on the path to success. As we gear up for STAAR Interim Assessment during the first week of February, students can learn to embrace these opportunities to gauge their understanding of content, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Interim assessments provide a roadmap for academic growth, helping our students know how to stay on course toward goals. Teachers will also use this data to design in class extensions and interventions as well as specialized tutoring.
SAVE THE DATES--Families-- We will be checking Chromebooks this week and appreciate the reminder for your student to bring fully charged devices to school each day
February 5: ELA
February 6: Math
February 7 and 8: Science and Social Studies
Make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!
☮❤️&🐴's,
Marlo Malott
Happening This Week Around Campus
Choice sheets for 24-25 School Year are due to Science Teachers
Monday, January 29--C Day
5th period- AHS PALS
4:00- HW Club, Twilight Credit Recovery, Orchestra UIL practice
Tuesday, January 30- C Day
AHS Choice Sheets in Science
5th Period- Leader in Me Tuesday
4:00-HW Club, A Team Soccer, GBB, 7-CTeam, Theater
6:30-7:15--Costa Rica Information Session- Spring Break 2025
Wednesday, January 31 - A Day
College Shirt Day
B Lunch-7th Grade Book Club
4:00-HW Club, A Team Soccer, GBB, Theater
Thursday, February 1 - B Day
7:00 FCA Huddle
C Lunch- 6th Grade Book Club
4:00-HW Club, Soccer, DND, 7/8-C Team, Theater
6:00/7:30 Boys BB OHMS vs Lively 7th @OHMS; 8th @Lively
Friday, February 2- C Day
4:00 Orchestra Rehearsal
5:15 Band-o-Rama at AHS
Saturday, February 3
9:00 Girls Soccer vs. Lively @OHMS
NEW AISD Enrollment System
All families should enroll in school for next year.
Why is matters?
School budgets are based on enrollments. For O. Henry this impacts the number of courses we can offer and the number of teachers and staff members we can hire.
For students applying to high schools, an application may be necessary, This is due on February 6th.
Counseling Corner
6th and 7th Grade Choice Sheets
Dear 6th and 7th Grade Parents,
Counselors will be going to the Science classes January 16th and 19th for choice sheet presentations. We will be in the 6th grade Science classes Tuesday, January 16th and 7th grade Science classes Friday, January 19th. The choice sheets will be due to the science teachers on Monday January 29th. Please check out our Transition Smore below with all the choice sheet information.
8th Grade Austin High School Information
The Austin High School Counselors will also be coming to O. Henry January 30th in your Science classes to go over the 9th Grade Choice Sheet Information . The High School Counselors on this day will be having you enter in your courses in the scheduling system as well. If you are not zoned for Austin High School, you can still fill out the paper choice sheet they provide, but you may not be able to enter the courses in the scheduling system.
___________________________________________________________
Are you planning to attend Austin High School next year?
If you live IN the attendance zone to attend Austin High, go to the "Academy Admissions" tab of the Austin High School website and complete the Academy Preference Survey by February 6, 2024. We recommend you complete the survey after attending Maroon & White Night on November 15.
If you live OUTSIDE THE ATTENDANCE ZONE, go to the Enroll Austin tile on the parent portal, scroll to the yellow "Registration" box and click on "Start Application Now." You'll be completing the "Priority Registration" process and ranking Austin High as one of your top choices. To complete the Next Steps of the curriculum transfer process for Austin High, complete this Academy Preference Survey, which has the written component (short answer response) built into the survey.
Update on the process: We will not be scheduling essay writing sessions at the middle schools or at Austin High this year. All information we need will be collected through the Priority Registration application on Enroll Now and the Academy Preference Survey. Please keep in mind: students do not transfer to a specific academy at AHS. Students sign up to come to our Academy Model, and all academy placements are made via a blind lottery process. We do our best to place all students in their 1st or 2nd choice academy.
Rachel Price
O. Henry Middle School
Counselor
512-414-3229
Ext 70652
Costa Rica Spring Break-2025 Information Session
Join us Tuesday, January 30th to find out more about Costa Rica 2025
Virtual Meeting 1/30/24 from 6:30-7:15
_____________________________
We are excited to announce our educational trip to Costa Rica with parents and students next spring break! Our tour will allow students to connect more deeply with a foreign culture and history and will showcase a glimpse of so much of what this unique country has to offer. We’ll explore the Caribbean Sea down the coast of Costa Rica, keep our eyes out for monkeys and sloths in the jungle, and see stunning underwater life as we snorkel the crystal blue waters.
This trip will fill up quickly, so please join our informational meeting where we’ll discuss:
● Where and when we’re going
● What we’ll see and do
● Travel logistics
● How your child can earn academic credit
● Flexible payment options that keep the tour affordable
We’ll also share details about how to sign up (space is limited!) and answer any questions you might have.
Meeting Details & Registration (must register to receive meeting Zoom link): https://bit.ly/49Sy1dR
Athletics News
Thank you
Thank you fot Cane's for sponsoring meals for our Athletics programs.
7th Grade Girls at Austin High Game
Mustang 7th Grade Girls Basketball Team were acknowledge at the half-time Varsity Basketball Game on Friday for their undefeated season. Special Thanks for Coach Richardson for the support of our future AHS players for also coming to our games and practices.
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.
Fine Arts News
Art In Action
BAND News
We had a great time at 6th Grade Mustang Band Bowling Night!
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Band-O-Rama at Austin High School - Friday Feb. 2 (5:30 – 8:00 PM)
All O.Henry 7th/ 8th grade Symphonic and Honor Band students will participate in this special event at Austin High. Austin High directors will serve as guest clinicians, while Austin High band section leaders will tutor our students during sectionals. This is a great opportunity for us to improve our skills while rehearsing UIL music.
The Austin High band parents will be providing pizza and drinks immediately after rehearsal. Students should arrive by 5:15 PM. There will be a one-way bus available for students who need transportation from O. Henry to Austin High.
All students should be picked up from Austin High by 8:00 PM. Although this is not an actual performance, parents are always welcome to join us.
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.
Volunteer for the PTA Nominating Committee
It's the time of year when we begin thinking about leadership for the upcoming school year! The PTA is recruiting a nominating committee, which has the special responsibility of helping find the most qualified candidates for O. Henry's PTA leadership roles. With just a few meetings and a big impact, this is a great way to support the school! We are looking for interested parents and caregivers who would be willing to help between February and April of this year. If this sounds like you, please contact Rachel Elder at rachelreit@gmail.com
And THANK YOU for PTA Help!
Thank you to Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs Kristie Buscaglio, Crystal Cotti, Acia Moody and Margaret Rigby for providing teachers and staff with dinner before the Course Fair this week.
Thank you to Anne Henderson and Sara Trantham for providing Breakfast Bites for staff in January.
Thank you to Heather Chesney and Ann Marie Gonin for assisting with the 6th Grade Recognition Assembly this past week.
And Lissa Anderson for selling O. Henry Mustang spiritwear at the Course Fair. Go Mustangs!
Show your Spirit with Mustang Wear!
Let's show our spirit in 2024. Mustang Spirit wear for students and all ages can be purchased here: https://ohenrypta.org/market/spirit-wear/
Randall's Good Neighbor Program gives 1% back to O.Henry!
Randall's Good Neighbor Program gives 1% back to O.Henry!
Start the new year by signing up for Randall's Rewards to support O.Henry. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Setup a Randalls for U account through the Randalls app or at www.randalls.com
2. Email good.neighbor@randalls.com with the following:
Please link my phone number to O. Henry Middle School PTA Charity #713 (First Name, Last Name and full phone number.)
3. Start shopping! Randalls will donate 1% of all sales linked to our Good Neighbor number!
Other Campus and AISD News
Attendance and Absence Reporting
News In Review - Previously Published, Reposted For Your Reference
Regular Bell Schedule 2023-2024
AISD School Calendar
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
Spring 2024 Club Basketball Tryouts!
Spring 2024 Club Basketball Tryouts!
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, our mission is dedicated to provide players with on and off the court development, exposure, and life building characteristics through the game of basketball.
- Tryouts Registration Link: https://www.hoopgeneration.org/spring-2024-tryouts
- Reduced Fees Application for Underprivileged Students: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6d8b89d414962d009ecd7/t/656ea6c38f22c247cd7a6be2/1701750467868/HG+reduced+fee+program+application+-+2.pdf