Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Happy Friday, Mustangs!
This week was truly jam-packed with great moments at O. Henry.
We kicked things off last Saturday with our Keep O. Henry Beautiful Gardening Event, for Earth Week. A big thank you to our NJHS students, families, staff, and community members who came out to support. Together, we planted Inland Sea Oats, Lantana, and Yucca, spread fresh mulch, and cleared away dead plants and invasive species. The campus is looking fantastic. We’re excited to continue this tradition with both a fall and spring event each year to keep our campus beautiful.
This week also marked the completion of our final STAAR assessment, Math, on Thursday. Our students showed strong focus and perseverance throughout the testing season. While STAAR is just one moment in time, we are incredibly proud of the daily learning happening in classrooms and the consistent effort our students demonstrate all year long. We will continue focusing on student learning, growth, and enrichment as we close out the school year.
As Austin ISD continues important budget planning conversations, we encourage families to share their feedback on programs they value and want to see protected. The link to provide feedback is here. Your voice matters. In addition, the district is hosting several opportunities to learn more and engage in the process:
Saturday, April 25 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (Virtual)
Tuesday, April 28 | 6:00–7:00 PM (In Person at Austin High School)
Saturday, May 9 | 11:00 AM–12:00 PM (Virtual)
Please also refer to the district calendar for upcoming bi-weekly Board Work Sessions.
Recently, we’ve noticed an increase in students bringing “Needos” and other sensory toys and fidgets to school. While these items can be fun and even helpful for relaxation at home, they have become a significant distraction during class. Students are often tempted to play with them during lessons, which can distract both themselves and others. In addition, these toys can sometimes break or leak, creating messes that interrupt learning and require time to clean up. We kindly ask that Needos and other toys be kept at home.
Librarian Appreciation Week
April is ‘School Library Month’ and this week is ‘AISD School Librarian Appreciation Week’ and ‘National Library Week’. These times are set aside to appreciate the work of the School Librarian. We are very grateful for our school librarian, Robbie Horvath. She loves our Mustangs, and helps them develop a deep love of reading.Robbie brings energy, creativity, and care to everything she does. She works tirelessly to ensure that every Mustang feels seen and supported, while also fostering a genuine love of reading in our students. Whether she is recommending a new favorite book, helping a student with research, or creating engaging library experiences, Robbie makes a lasting impact on our campus every single day. Please join us in thanking Robbie for her dedication and for the many ways she enriches the O. Henry community. We are lucky to have her in our Mustang family.
Application and Service Hours Deadline: May 6
The first deadline for NJHS is May 6 - students need to have submitted service hours as well as submit the Google Form application. Please read the PDF below or follow this live link in order to see all the details for the upcoming school year. Current members are required to reapply for membership each year and maintain all membership requirements.
Sponsors and Contact Information
michael.jurkovic@austinisd.org and kevin.gaffney@austinisd.org
Students, please email the sponsors directly in order to be added to the BLEND course for updates if you missed last week's meeting.
Roland
Maya
Tori
Juliet
Isa
Madelyn
The O. Henry PTA is sponsoring the O. Henry Alumni Scholarship for graduating Austin HS Seniors. Please see the button above or this link below in order to view the scholarship application. Winning applicants will be notified in May.
If you have any questions regarding the scholarship that are not answered from the flyer or at the link, you can reach out to our PTA contact at ann.b.cardenas@gmail.com
8th Grade Families: Please bookmark our dedicated HS Advancement Newsletter! It will continue to be updated with relevant information throughout the spring.
Transfers:
General enrollment and general transfers such as to Austin HS opens on Feb 16th. Applications for admissions-based and magnet programs opened on January 12th.
Calling all rising 3rd–8th grade Future Maroons! Join Austin High football coaches and players for a fun, non-contact camp focused on building fundamentals, confidence, and a love for the game. Open to all skill levels, the camp will be held June 18–19 from 9:00 AM–12:00 PM on the Austin High turf field.
Registration Link:
https://ahsfootballboosterclub.org/youthcamp
Car, Bus, Bike, and Walking Transportation
Bus Transportation: Students who take AISD buses will be picked up and dropped off on Wayside Dr on the east side of the property. The map to the side shows our bus lane. Families use the Where's the Bus through the AISD Portal or the phone app to track bus arrival times. Students pick up and drop off in the same place on Wayside Drive. Link to AISD's Bus Transportation Department homepage with contact information. Families seeking a "bus pass" to ride a route that they are not zoned to cannot be placed on routes for the first two weeks of school until space for zoned riders is confirmed. More information is available 7:45 am to 4:45 pm Monday though Friday at 512-414-0238.
Car Riders, Walkers, and Map: We understand that car dropoff can be a stressful time for families, especially at the beginning of the year for unfamiliar drivers and passengers. The map to the side shows the main drop off areas as well as the bus lane. While we do not close the street to eastbound traffic, having cars travel westbound on 10th Street is the safest option so that students do not have to cross in front of traffic or risk opening doors into traffic.
Staying on Campus Once Dropped Off: A reminder to all students, whether walkers, car riders, or bus riders, that once your mode of transportation has brought you to campus, you may not leave the campus to visit HEB, 7/11, or other locations. Students may not leave the property without being checked out by their guardian.
