Pony Express

In This Issue:

• Principal's Update
• Happening This Week at O. Henry
• Mustang News
• School Tours- current and prospective families
• Save the Date- 2024-2025 Course Fair
• Counselor Corner-Austin HS Academy News
• Athletic and PE News- Girls Soccer News, 7th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts, 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tryouts
• Fine Art News-Art in Action, Congrtulations Band, Band Concert, Choir Concerts, Congratulations Dance, Guitar Concert, Orchestra Concert
• PTA Updates- Randall's Good Neighboor Program, Thank You Notes
• Other Campus and AISD News: Absence Reporting, Bell Schedule, AISD Calendar, Transportation, AISD Health Services
  

Good Week to Everyone!

As we approach the final three weeks of the semester our Mustangs are gearing up for Final Exams in High School Credit classes and finishing MAP testing and final projects for the semester.

It is also a month of celebrations and showcases. This week begins Hanukkah and many of our families and Mustangs will begin their holiday celebrations this week. We also will be celebrating the Winter Concert Season with Orchestra this Wednesday, Choir at HEB this Saturday, Band on December 12th, and Choir and Guitar on December 14. We hope you save time to swing by to hear holiday music from across the world and help us showcase our Mustang Performers.

Looking for Help in 6th Grade

6th Grade World Cultures JERUSALEM Film & Discussion

We are in need of faith leaders to serve as panel members. OHMS community members are welcome to attend.

CLICK HERE for Jerusalem details.

Our Mustangs will finish out the semester with the launch of our Leader In Me focus on developing strong and capable future leaders. Be ready to start having conversations with your Mustang about the 7 Habits. Look for a separate parent newsletter on how to get connected.

Make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!

☮❤️&🐴's,

Marlo Malott

Monday, December 4-C Day

7:00- Cheer Practice, 7GBB

11:40- AHS Pals

4:00 HW Club, Jazz Club

Tuesday, December 5 - C Day

• 7:00 6th Girls Wts. and Conditioning Club, 7GBB
• 8th Grade Book Club at A Lunch
• 4:00 PM - HW Club, Soccer Practice, Girls BB Practice

Wednesday, December 6- A Day

• 7th Grade Book Club at B Lunch
  
• 3:50- 8th grade Boys Basketball Tryouts
• 4:00-- HW Club, Workout Club, Boys Soccer
• 6:30 Orchestra Winter Concert at AHS

Thursday, December 7- B Day

• 7:30 FCA Huddle
• 6th grade Book Club at C lunch
• 4:00 HW Club, DND Club, Boys Soccer
• 6:00/7:30 Girls Basketball vs Kealing. 7th@OHMS, 8th@KMS

Friday, December 8- C Day

• 7:00 7th grade Boys Basketball Tryouts

• No HW Club after school on Fridays
• 4:00 Girls Soccer Tryount

Saturday, December 9

• Saturday School-attendance and grade recovery
• 9:00 OHMS Choir at HEB Lake Austin

Please put the below information in the counselor corner regarding Austin HS Information. Please keep it there, students have until February 6th to fill out the academy preference survey.

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

Girls A and B Soccer 2024

Coach Gray A Team scott.gray@austinisd.org

Coach Hibbard B Team leslie.hibbard@austinisd.org

If your 7th or 8th grade girl is interested in playing soccer this Spring, please fill out the following survey -HERE

Soccer Tryout Information

-You must have a completed AISD physical in order to try out for Soccer. The entire physical packet must be completed, with signatures, in order to be valid. The physical must be turned in by the first day of tryouts.

-Tryouts will be 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm on December 8th, 11th and 15th.

-Please wear cleats and shin-guards to every practice.

Regular Practice Schedule

• Tuesday, 4:00 - 5:15
• Wednesday, 4:00 - 5:15
• Thursday- 4:00 - 5:15
• Saturday - 9:00am A Team Game - 10:30am B Team Game

Our Game schedule will be added shortly. If your child participates in club soccer or another sport and has game/practice conflicts, please reach out to me. We can work out a plan to make sure they can still participate!

Sincerely,

Coach Gray and Coach Hibbard

For PONY EXPRESS and CAMPUS BULLETIN w/o 12/4/23

7TH GRADE BOYS' BASKETBALL TRYOUTS CONTINUED

Early morning tryouts will continue ONLY for the remaining 30 players.

W(12/6); TH(12/7); F(12/8).

All sessions start @ 7am in the Big Gym.

There will be one more cut by the end of the week.

Players must:

• have a CURRENT AISD physical (dated after April 15th, 2023).

• complete all Rank One UIL Online Forms

• be dressed and on the court @ 7am.

• dress in athletic wear (basketball shoes recommended).

• bring school clothes, towel, and toiletries.

8th Grade Boys Basketball

2023-24

Tryouts:

First Session:

Wednesday, November 29th - Friday, December 1st

3:50 - 5:00pm

First Cut made after Thursday, November 30th.

Second Session:

Wednesday, December 6th & Thursday, December 7th

3:50 - 5:00pm

Final Cut posted on Friday, December 8th.

Congratulations to Maeve Lanham for earning a spot in the prestigious Texas Music Educators Association All-Region Band. Maeve went through a rigorous two-week audition process competing against the top band students in Austin ISD, Hays CISD, Dripping Springs ISD, and Bastrop ISD. On Saturday, she represented O.Henry at the All-Region Band Concert at the Austin ISD PAC.

Save the Date for our Winter Concert

Dance Team Performance Spectacular!

The Mustang Dance Company performed on November 28 at "Dance Spectacular", a showcase of middle school dance team talent held at the AISD Performing Arts Center. The team danced to "The Wurlitzer Prize" by Waylon Jennings with a combination of 2-Step and Modern choreography. O.Henry Dance Team leads were Lily Darnell and Emily Maloney, and the dance was choreographed by dance teacher and director, Sarah Tavarez. So much talent was on display from all over our district - it was truly spectacular!

Orchestra Concert This Week

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.

It’s that time of year again, time to show our community that O.Henry students care! Student Council is challenging each ACES to raise $23 to donate to Central Texas Food Bank. Teachers are accepting donations, and families can donate online too. We raised nearly $800 last year, and we’d love to raise more in 2023. We will accept donations until December 8th. Thank you.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/amber-bass-patterson-1699275238835?checkoutMode=Headless

*Randall's Good Neighbor Program gives 1% back to O.Henry!

As we enter the holidays, please take a moment to link your Randall's Rewards card to help earn money for O.Henry. It is as simple as emailing good.neighbor@randalls.com and requesting a link between your phone number to O.Henry Middle School #713. See attached flyer for more details - every trip to Randall's adds up!

Mustangs-

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.

CLICK HERE for the AISD Guidelines

2023-2024 General School Supply List

Attendance Laws and Regulations

Chromebook Distribution Questions

Enrichment/ACES Supplies We Are Looking For!

Foodservice Information: Breakfast and Lunch Menus, Meal Drop Off Guidelines

Safety Planning - Temperature and Weather Health Guidelines

Teacher Wishlist Items

Have a question or concern for the district, or aren't sure who to ask? Submit a Let's Talk at the button above.

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.

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