Principal's Message- Week of July 23, 2023
Marshall Families,
Thank you for your emails with cool club, elective, and class suggestions! I have taken note and shared club ideas with our incoming staff to gather interests for sponsors.
We have had an eventful summer of preparations for your child! Please see a few of the highlights below.
This newsletter contains a large amount of information. We will be discussing these items at our Rams Round Up on August 2nd. There will be a short parent session. If you are unable to make that session, we will also have a Back to School Virtual Lunch and Learn on Friday, August 4th from 12-12:40pm. There is more information below.
Finally, please reach out to us with questions. Our front office staff is in place. Our assistant principals are also excited to engage in supporting your child. Students are split into cohorts by last name. See your assistant principal assignment below.
Jordan Benson (she/her)
Principal
General Marshall Middle School
Austin ISD
AVID Summer Institute in Dallas, TX
Admin Team visits Ron Clark Academy in Atlanta, Georgia
We are (in the process of) moving in!
General Marshall Middle School is proud to promote sustainable commuting for students within a two-mile radius of the school, in alignment with Safe Routes to School, and with Ghisallo Cycling Initiative and woom Bikes as partners. To this end, we are currently recruiting community volunteers to assist with our BOWWOW (Bike On Wednesdays / Walk on Wednesdays) program to help navigate busy streets and get students to school safely, with plans to expand to more days per week.
Interested biking volunteers should complete this google form to indicate interest and to receive an Invite for the training. Training for volunteers of BOWWOWs and an opportunity for families to ride the routes (AKA "a practice ride") is scheduled for Saturday, July 29. Additional training dates for volunteers will be offered in the future, so as to maintain a sufficient pool of volunteers. All volunteers are required to participate in a background check provided through Austin ISD.
Interested students and families should indicate interest, training, and access to equipment by completing this google form. General Marshall Middle School, Ghisallo Cycling Initiative, and WOOM Bikes are invested in ensuring accessibility for interested students; please complete the survey even if you do not have a bicycle and/or if extra assistance is needed in order to participate!
A dry-run practice ride will take place for students and volunteers on Wednesday, August 2nd, leading into the Rams Round Up Orientation event. A Woom Bike Demo and Obstacle Course will be provided on campus from 8-9 am. More details about the training and practice rides will be shared with volunteers and students with the completion of the surveys, above.
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Ghisallo Cycling Initiative prioritizes sustainable commuting through education and supporting community efforts in Central Texas. We envision a community of comfortable and confident lifelong riders. We see a future in which all ages and abilities can explore and connect with their communities by bicycle, and all have access to bikes at an affordable cost.
Woom's mission is to empower millions of kids to love riding a bike to make the world a better place. We only make high-quality children's bikes, specifically engineered for children's physiology. This partnership is in perfect alignment with woom values and we're excited to join the community in getting more kids on bikes, supporting sustainable commuting, and building a strong bike-friendly community.
Email bobby.quindlensandoval@austinisd.org with questions.
Overview:
Students will review appropriate cell phone use and digital citizenship at the beginning of each school year or upon enrollment.
Phones should stay out of sight and not in use.
Not allowed: social media; pictures/videos of students/teachers that are not class related.
Phones should remain in backpacks during hallway transitions, restrooms, dining commons, and CONNECT outside time.
Airpods or speakers are not allowed on campus.
Should an Administrator or Security Guard be called to a classroom to retrieve a phone, then the student’s cell phone will be confiscated. Read below for next steps depending on number of offenses.
If the phone is confiscated on a Friday, the 48-hour hold will be over the weekend, and the phone can be picked up by a parent or guardian on the following Monday at the end of the school day.
Violation of the Cell Phone Policy:
1st Offense:
Staff member gives the phone to Assistant Principal (AP). AP calls home, reviews policy, and student can pick up phone at the front office at the end of the school day.
2nd Offense:
Staff member gives the phone to AP, AP calls home, reviews policy, and parent must pick up the phone.
3rd Offense:
Staff member gives the phone to AP, AP calls home, 48-hour hold, the parent must pick up the phone. A fee of $10.00 or 1 hour community service assigned to students.
4th Offense:
Student put on phone contract. Phone is picked up in the office at the start of each school day and returned at the end of the school day.
General Marshall Middle School
Email: jordan.benson@austinisd.org
Website: https://www.austinisd.org/schools/marshall
Location: 4401 Tilley Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-414-4163
Twitter: @GMMS_AISD
