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Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
SPRING BREAK- Week of March 13-19
In this Edition
NEW featureed items will be in BOLD
- School Calendar for the week
- Native Plants and Animals Field Trip
- Mustang News-episode 23
- Art in Action- National Youth Art Month
- Athletics-Mountain Biking Team,Cap10K, Golf, Tennis, Track and Field,, Save the Date-Summer Camp
- Counselor Corner--Gifted and Talented Showcase, 8th grade Panoramic Picture, 8th Grade Field Trip
- Fine Arts News-Band
- PTA News-NEW SAVE THE DATE- Cornhole Tournament, -g
- From AISD--Events and News--Model UN, Hoop Generation Basketball
School Calendar for Week of March 6
Monday, 3/6
Yearbook Pictures Retakes- 6th and 7th grade
1:45-- 8th Grade Panoramic Picture during ACES
4:00 Homework Club in Library
4:00-5:15 7th and 8th Track Practice-see note in Athletics Section
6:00 Basketball Championship Games
7th playing for 1st place vs. Gorzycki @Burger
8th playing for 3rd place vs. Bailey @Bailey
Tuesday, 3/7 B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8
7:00 Tennis Practice Starts-Courts at OHMS
AVID Field Trip to CSI Lab at St. Edwards University
Yearbook Pictures Retakes- 6th and 7th grade
4:00-5:15 7th and 8th Track Practice-see note in Athletics Section
Wednesday, 3/8--A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4
4:00 HW Club, Track and Field Practice, Cheer Practice
4:00-5:15 7th and 8th Track Practice-see note in Athletics Section
5:15- C- Team Basketball Game
Thursday,3/9 B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8
Wind Ensemble UIL Competition
Native Plants and Animals Field Trip to Austin Nature and Science Center
4:00 HW Club, Math Club, Golf Practice
6:00 Spring Dance Show in Cafe
6:45 Cheer at WAYA
Friday, 3/10 C Day 1-8 no ACES
Staff vs. Student Basketball Games
Each grade level will play during a different class period:
7th Grade: 1st Period
6th Grade: 4th Period
8th Grade: 8th Period
Native Plants and Animals Field Trip on Thursday
All NPA classes will be going on a field trip to the Austin Science and Nature Center on Thursday, March 9th; from 9:00-1:30. We are attending this location so that students have the opportunity to experience hands-on nature exhibits and see the native plants and animals that can be found in Central Texas.
Austin Science & Nature Center Website
The fee for the field trip is $6.00 which covers buses, substitutes, and park entrance fees. This link was not included on the permission slip that was given to the students on Monday/Tuesday. Please be on the lookout for a blue field trip form from students. The field trip form is due no later than Wednesday, March 8th for all students planning to attend.
Click here to pay the field trip fee.
We are still needing parent volunteers for this week’s NPA field trip. Please contact Dawn.Davis@austinisd.org or Daniel.Moise@austinisd.org if you can join us on the NPA field trip mentioned below. Thanks!
Fun at Band Bowling Night
Student Council Leads ACES lessons
Weight Room In Action
Art in Action
March is National Youth Art Month
March is National Youth Art Month.
From March 6 - 31, all families can visit the AISD Performing Arts Center to see amazing visual art created by AISD students. Congratulations to our O. Henry students who were chosen to have their artwork displayed.
Stella Misenhimer, Nikhil Sridharan,Ivy Stone, Eva Flint, Bella Rochlen, Koruna Ingram, Emme Shade-Shell, Zoe Vertiz, Henry McGuire, Julianna Trevino, Tiffany Nahmens, Nico Williamson Hatch Borth, Maddie Garza, Kate Stanley, Lula Scanell, Maddie Halbert, Helena Ritter,Brooklyn Granato,Trinity Ortiz, Emily Ortiz,Beck Aleshire, Clementine Shook, Charolotte Garza, Morgan Burke, Melody Serrano, Eli Celestion,Truman Andresen, Avery Germany, Raven Kidman, Coco Jastrow, Calla Pitt,Theo Hull
Yearbook Photo Retakes
We want to make sure all of our Mustangs have the opportunity to be featured with their classmates. The re-shoot dates are March 6th for 6th and 7th graders and March 7th for 8th graders.
If you opt your Mustang Student out of a yearbook picture we will list "portrait not available" in front of your student's name.
Thank you,
Gerard Castillo
O.Henry Middle School,Photography/Yearbook
ATHLETICS
Congratulations Mountain Biking Team
Congratulations to our O. Henry Mustangs!
On Saturday, February 25th, our OHMS Mountain Bikers competed with the Austin High School Mountain Boke Team. Over 600 students raced at NICA (National Interscholastic Cycling Association) with teams from all of Texas.
Students Grayton Willison (8th), August Pac (7th), Sally Moore (6th), James Potoplyak (6th), and Zeke Davis (6th). All five of them did OUTSTANDING.
GOLF
Contact Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GyWpQZL8IFCBkL1-6Lc_qNiIqzKC_8SV2zUaEero8Bo/edit
Golf Payment:
SchoolCash Online Link:
Golf Schedule:
Pre-Spring Break Practice Schedule (Thursdays): 4:30 - 5:30
February 16th, 23rd
March 2nd, 9th
Post-Spring Break Practice Schedule (Wednesdays & Thursdays): 4:30 - 5:30
March 22nd, 23rd, 29th, 30th
April 5th, 6th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th
Tournaments:
Practice Round at Lions Municipal Golf Course - Wednesday & Thursday April 12th & 13th
Mustang Invitational at Hancock Golf Course - Tuesday April 25th
AISD Invitational at Hancock Golf Course - Tuesday May 2ndTENNIS
Please fill this out before 3/7. There will be a $25 fee to play to cover tennis balls for practices and matches/ other tennis equipment. Once you complete the google form, I will send out more information.
Track and Field
Track & Field practice for 7th and 8th graders begins tomorrow, Monday March 6th!
This week, we will practice on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 4-5:15 PM. Meet on the track dressed and ready to go by 3:55. You may use the locker rooms to change if needed. Look for an email later this week with optional Spring Break workouts.
Fill out this form to add you email address to our contact list - https://forms.gle/tGH9KgPz4D5LRx4M8
Click here for information about Track and Field
Newsletter and Track Expectations https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iVvFdY4Hz3OALTRQOa2wIYKL6FZzb3-D/view?usp=share_link
Cap10K Team
Attention Students!
Please join the O. Henry team and run the Cap10K with us on April 16, 2023! If you are interested in running or walking the 6.2-mile race, register on the following link. To be on the O. Henry team be sure to choose "School Team Member" and "O. Henry Middle School" when you register.
Our team will be comprised of current staff and students. Email jenny.parker@austinisd.org if you have any questions.
O. Henry Summer Sports Camp (Volleyball/Basketball)
O.Henry Summer Sports Camp (Volleyball/Basketball)
Who: Girls entering 5th-8th grade
When: June 5th-8th
Where: O.Henry Gym
Please sign up using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkbrjmlaCsa44EmKDRb8cRx0YQCjHuESTQqCsCUyC5kMWGrQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Thanks,
Coach Cohen, Coach Gaffney, and Coach Kobs
COUNSELOR CORNER
8th Grade Panoramic Picture
8th grade End of the Year Trip
"We are going to Typhoon Texas this year for our EOY 8th grade field trip.
Permission forms have been handed out through science and should be returned to science teachers. They are due by March 31st. Please click on the link below for information about the field trip and payment. If you have questions, please email Crystal Gaffney or Megan Aguilar."
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1b2bqlWjkK1aWR4VUfM1a-QU-PWFB-gVC386Chsk5pTA/edit
Gifted and Talented Showcase
AISD Gifted and Talented Showcase
AISD is hosting the 2nd annual Austin ISD GT Student Showcase. Project submissions will be accepted from March 1-31 and will showcase exemplary GT student work in May on our main AISD website.
The 2023 GT Student Showcase Theme is "Find the Good" which comes from a Jesse Owens quote:
"Find the good. It's all around you. Find it, showcase it and you'll start believing in it."
You will find all the details on the links below:
Austin ISD GT Student Showcase Website
Austin ISD GT Student Showcase Flyers
Note: AISD will only accept ONE link for each project submission. If students have multiple links, they need to find a way to organize/collect them into one link... for example they can create a Google Slide Deck or website and include all their links.
FINE ARTS NEWS
Band at Bowling on Friday Night
BAND
Best of luck to members of our Wind Ensemble as they prepare for UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluation On Thursday, March 9th. On Thursday morning Wind Ensemble members need to arrive at the band hall by 7:00 AM for uniform inspection and final instructions. Please make sure your child eats a hearty, healthy breakfast before heading to school.
At 6:45 AM we will have fresh fruit, breakfast bars, and water available for students who prefer to eat at school.
OHMS Wind Ensemble UIL Performance – Thursday, March 9
7:00 am Report to the OHMS band hall in formal uniform
7:25 am Load bus/depart for AISD PAC
8:20 am Warm-up on stage
9:00 am Concert performance on stage
9:30 am Sightreading evaluation
10:15 am Load bus/depart for OHMS
10:45 am Arrive at OHMS - unload bus, change, and report to 6th Period
This event will take place at the AISD Performing Arts Center (1500 Barbara Jordan, Austin, TX 78723). Our students have been working extremely hard and would love to see you cheering us on in the audience! Parents are also encouraged to follow the band into the sight-reading room after our concert stage performance.
PTA NEWS
OTHER AISD SCHOOL NEWS
Model UN Program
For more information on what Model UN is, please visit our website:
MiddleMUN
First of all, we will be hosting a half-day Model UN conference for middle school students called MiddleMUN. This is a great opportunity for kids interested in Model UN; it is beginner level and very fun! It is on April 8th from 9:00AM-2:30PM at Austin High School.
If your school does not have a Model UN program or club, that is all the more reason to get kids interested! We offer individual registration if a student would like to register. I also have attached a flyer for MiddleMUN- would it be possible for you to hang that up at school? Let me know if that is something you can do or if there is anything I can do to help.
For more information, please visit our website. You can find our MiddleMUN page under the “More” tab.
https://sites.google.com/stu.austinisd.org/freshmun2023/more/middlemun
Or email us questions at austinhighschool.modelun@gmail.com
Junior AUSMUN
We also will be hosting a summer camp at Austin High for middle school students called Junior AUSMUN! Registration for this event will be done by individual families instead of through a school, but the program wants to spread the word. Would you be able to have flyers or a summary advertising it around O. Henry or in your school's newsletter? I have attached them below. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Please visit our website for more information or email us questions at austinhighschool.modelun@gmail.com
Junior AUSMUN website: https://sites.google.com/stu.austinisd.org/juniorausmun2023/home
You are more than welcome to email my personal email (avmare6@gmail.com) for questions regarding flyers and advertisement, but please email our program’s official email (austinhighschool.modelun@gmail.com) if you would like to register for MiddleMUN or ask about our Model UN program. We hope to see you and your students at our middle school events!