Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
No School- Tuesday, November 8th
In this Edition
NEW featureed items will be in BOLD
- Happening This Week- calendar of events and announcements
- Mustang News-Episode 10
- Art In Action- Each week we will feature student Art
- Athletics-Cap 10K OHMS Team,
- Counselor Corner-AHS Visits, How to Contact Your Counselor, Grading Period Dates
- Fine Arts News-Congratulations Band
- Student Council News- Food Drive
- Nurse Update- Narcan on Campus
- PTA News--Bond- Voting November 8,Virtual Academy Coaching
- From AISD--Dance Across Austin
HAPPENING THIS WEEK
Save the Date--8th grade
Yearbook Baby Pictures-8th Grade: if you're in 8th grade remember to send in your baby pictures for the yearbook! You can email them to gerard.castillo@austinisd.org
Monday,11/7 A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4
8th Grade take PSAT
SPECIAL BELL SCHEDULE FOR TESTING-- Note Lunch Changes
America at War Field Trip
Theatre at UIL One Act Play
4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, Science Club
Tuesday, 11/8-
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Wednesday, 11/9--B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8
All City Guitar
4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, History Club, GSA Club
4:00-5:00 Cheer Practice OHMS
4:00-5:00 8th grade girls BB practice
4:00 Boys Soccer Practice
Thursday, 11/10-B Day-5,6,7, ACES, 8
7:30 FCA in Big Gym
Girls Outside Field Trip to McKinney Falls
ACES: AHS Pals, Con Mi Mardre
4:00 Boys Soccer Practice
4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, Math Club
4:00-5:30 UIL Theater Rehearsals Cafe
6:00-- Girls Basketball vs Gorzycki 7th @ OHMS 8th@Gorzycki
6:45-8:15 Cheer Practice WAYA
Friday, 11/11 A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4
AISD Future Ready- Wear a College Shirt
UIL Theatre at PAC
Satursday, 11/12
9:00 Boys Soccer vs Gorzycki @ GMS
TMEA Band Auditions
AISD Vocal Solo and Ensemble
ATHLETICS
Captial 10K Mustang Team
Hey Everyone,
Please join the O. Henry team and run the Cap10K with us! Click the link below to register. You can find our team under "O. Henry Middle School." School teams are comprised of staff members and students. I know some of our cross country runners plan to run with us. Please extend the invite to any students you think may be interested in joining the team. The price is currently $35 and it will increase on 12/5. Let me know if you have any questions!
Arbor Day at O. Henry
Counselor Corner
8th Grade Students and Parents: It is almost MAROON AND WHITE NIGHT TIME!
8th Grade Students and Parents:
It is almost MAROON AND WHITE NIGHT TIME!
Plan to attend the highly engaging Maroon and White Showcase Night at Austin High on Thursday, December 1st! This one-of-a kind event will allow future Maroons to explore all of the amazing programs that Austin High has to offer. Tour the Culinary Arts Kitchen, our Film Studio, or learn more about the exciting opportunities in sports and clubs. Visit with teachers and students about our Academies and learn about their signature experiences. The event will begin at 6:00pm in the Austin High Performing Arts Center, with a special performance featuring the many award-winning programs that Austin High has to offer. Families will then have time to visit with teachers and students representing all aspects of Austin High academics, electives, sports, and clubs. Mark your calendars for this exciting night! The event will be ending at 7:30pm.
Austin Community College Partnership
Austin Community College is partnering with Verizon and the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) to offer a free hands-on STEM learning event for middle school students. The event will take place on November 5th at our ACC Highland Campus.
ACC hosts a summer camp through our Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers program every summer. This year we are hosting a one-day workshop that will allow students to experience a day of camp. Students who attend the event will be given first access to information on signing up for the 2023 free summer camp.
Save the Date - Pre-Med Summit at UT
The University of Texas' American Medical Student Association, a pre-medical student organization at UT Austin, is planning to hold the second annual Pre-Med Summit on Saturday February 18, 2023. Please save this date in your calendar! This event is primarily for students interested in going to medical school, but it is open to most any student interested in the biomedical field. As we plan, I will be sending updates with more detailed information, so keep an eye out for them!
Need to Reach Your Counselor
You can email at ohenry.counselors@austinisd.org
Grading Periods and Progress Reports
Progress 1-- Closes 9/2
Progress 2- Closes 9/23-- student eligibilty check
1st Nine Weeks- closes 10/7-- student eligibilty check on 10/13, lost or gained 10/20
Progress 3- closes 11/4--student eligibilty chek on 11/4, lost or gained 11/11
Progress 4- closes 12/2-student eligibilty chek on 12/2, lost or gained 12/9
2nd Nine Weeks-closes 12/20, lost or gained 1/17
Fine Arts News
Congratulations Band
O. Henry placed 11 band members in the TMEA 2022-23 All-District band. Congratulations to the following students:
Clarinet - *Miles Puthoff , *Ethan Stern , Diego Rios
Alto Saxophone - Len Hanson
Trumpet - *Will Rhoden, Brooks Ascheri, John Wilson, and Marshall Claire
Trombone - *Will Achtermann
Tuba - *Justice Holley
Percussion - Josie Ditmar
* = Advancing to Regionals
Kudos and best of luck to those advancing to the second round this Saturday!
From the Casis Parade
Nurse and Health Update
Austin ISD school nurses are getting opioid overdose treatment Narcan as part of a fentanyl prevention and emergency response plan that includes a partnership with Austin ISD police, emergency management and local health authorities.
Why it matters: These steps, part of the district’s “Fake & Fatal” awareness campaign, comes in response to fentanyl overdoses in neighboring school districts and rising national numbers of fentanyl-related fatalities.
Situational awareness: With Halloween around the corner, the “Fake & Fatal” website offers community resources, fact sheets and tips for talking about the drug and its many forms, including brightly-colored Fentapills that take on a similar appearance to candy.
By the numbers: Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl accounted for 67% of the 107,375 deaths attributed to drug overdoses and drug poisonings for the 12-month period ending Jan. 2022, according to the Centers for Disease and Control.
Student Council Food Drive
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ohenryms?newPage=True
Student Council is raising money for the Central Texas Food Bank this fall. We are challenging each ACES class to raise $25. You can also donate online.
Raising Meals for Families During the Holidays
Help O. Henry Middle School raise money to support Central Texas Food Bank Inc
PTA News
PTA News Updates
Election Day is November 8th!
For more information about the 2022 bond in general you may visit www.austinisd.org/bond.
The Virtual Academic Coaching program supporting O. Henry students is back! This program provides parent/community member volunteer-led, free, VIRTUAL ACADEMIC COACHING for students!
Students nominated by their family will receive free, after-school or weekend one-on-one virtual support to reach their academic goals. Academic coaching support includes managing schedules, planning and prioritizing school work, turning in missing assignments, coaching on executive functioning skills and more!
This program is supported by O. Henry parents and community members for O. Henry students and we need more volunteers to support more students! Interested in volunteering one hour per week from home or interested in nominating your student for the program? Learn more here:
https://ohenrypta.org/new-virtual-academic-coaching/
Interested in learning more? Please read our FAQ!
Interested in volunteering? Please complete this volunteer form!
Interested in nominating your student? Please complete this student nomination form!
OTHER AISD SCHOOL NEWS
Dance Across Austin
Through a district and city-wide effort called Dance Across Austin, free and reduced-price dance classes are available for all school-age students in November and December. Please spread the word!
Lannaya Drum & Dance: Intro to West African Dance Basics (Nov. 3 - Dec. 15) — This class is open to beginners of all ages. It focuses on dance movement and vocabulary. Parents are encouraged to attend with their kids.
When: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 3 - Dec. 15. No class Nov. 24.
Where: Carver Museum & Cultural Center, 1165 Angelina St.
Registration: The series of six classes is $30 ($5 per class). Scholarships are available. Please register and pay for the series via Eventbrite before classes begin.
B*TRU Arts: Boombox Hero (Nov. 9 - Dec. 21) — This class for all school-aged children focuses on the fundamentals of Hip Hop dance and philosophy.
When: 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 9 - Dec. 21. No class Nov. 23.
Where: South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Rd.
Registration: The series of six classes is $30 ($5 per class). Scholarships are available. Please register and pay for the series via Eventbrite before classes begin.
Blue Lapis Light: Aerial Silks (Nov. 14 - Dec. 19) — This class focuses on silks technique, strength, and communication through movement. Best for teens (secondary students).
When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays, Nov. 14 - Dec. 19. No class Nov. 21.
Where: South Austin Recreation Center, 1100 Cumberland Rd.
Registration: The series of five classes is free and has limited capacity. Registration via Eventbrite is required to reserve a spot.
Questions? For more information about the classes, including scholarships, contact Lydia Nelson (lydia.nelson@austinisd.org) or MINDPOP Program Associate Julia Vunderink (julia.vunderink@mindpop.org).