Pony Express

• Principal's Update
• Happening This Week at O. Henry
• Enrollment for 24-25 School Year
• Counselor Corner-, 245-25 Choice Sheets, Austin HS Academy News, Crockett Choice Fair, UT Stem Program, OHMS Spring Break 2025 Costa Rica Trip
• Athletic and PE News-Thank you to Canes, 7thh Gr Girls Recognition, Winter Weather
• Fine Art News-Art in Action, Band Celebrations
• O. Henry Times
• Hoofbeat-- OHMS Student News
• Mustang News- Episode 16
• PTA Updates- Mustang Spirit Wear, Randall's Rewards
• Other Campus and AISD News: Absence Reporting, Bell Schedule, AISD Calendar, Transportation, AISD Health Services
  

1/28/04

Mustang Families,

The counseling team has been hard at work making sure that our Mustangs are aware of all the amazing courses they can take next year. This week we will be collecting course sheets from 6th and 7th graders and 8th graders will begin working with the high school counselors. As a reminder, if you have any questions about choice sheets please contact our counseling team.

• A-L-- Rachel Price

• M-Z-- Ivy Claflin

Due to the rise in campus enrollment, it is crucial that your students dedicate sufficient time to choose their desired courses. Our goal is to ensure students are placed in their preferred classes, and it's important to note that we'll have limitations on course change requests once schedules are finalized in August.

This week our Math and English Teacher will be reviewing and showing our students how to find their academic growth from the MAP assessments.

As students navigate their academic journey, remember that interim assessments are more than just tests; they are valuable checkpoints on the path to success. As we gear up for STAAR Interim Assessment during the first week of February, students can learn to embrace these opportunities to gauge their understanding of content, identify strengths, and pinpoint areas for improvement.

Interim assessments provide a roadmap for academic growth, helping our students know how to stay on course toward goals. Teachers will also use this data to design in class extensions and interventions as well as specialized tutoring.

SAVE THE DATES--Families-- We will be checking Chromebooks this week and appreciate the reminder for your student to bring fully charged devices to school each day

February 5: ELA

February 6: Math

February 7 and 8: Science and Social Studies

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

☮❤️&🐴's,

Marlo Malott

Monday, January 29--C Day

5th period- AHS PALS

4:00- HW Club, Twilight Credit Recovery, Orchestra UIL practice

Tuesday, January 30- C Day

AHS Choice Sheets in Science

5th Period- Leader in Me Tuesday

4:00-HW Club, A Team Soccer, GBB, 7-CTeam, Theater

6:30-7:15--Costa Rica Information Session- Spring Break 2025

Wednesday, January 31 - A Day

College Shirt Day

B Lunch-7th Grade Book Club

4:00-HW Club, A Team Soccer, GBB, Theater

Thursday, February 1 - B Day

7:00 FCA Huddle

C Lunch- 6th Grade Book Club

4:00-HW Club, Soccer, DND, 7/8-C Team, Theater

6:00/7:30 Boys BB OHMS vs Lively 7th @OHMS; 8th @Lively

Friday, February 2- C Day

4:00 Orchestra Rehearsal

5:15 Band-o-Rama at AHS

Saturday, February 3

9:00 Girls Soccer vs. Lively @OHMS

All families should enroll in school for next year.

Why is matters?

School budgets are based on enrollments. For O. Henry this impacts the number of courses we can offer and the number of teachers and staff members we can hire.

For students applying to high schools, an application may be necessary, This is due on February 6th.

Dear 6th and 7th Grade Parents,

Counselors will be going to the Science classes January 16th and 19th for choice sheet presentations. We will be in the 6th grade Science classes Tuesday, January 16th and 7th grade Science classes Friday, January 19th. The choice sheets will be due to the science teachers on Monday January 29th. Please check out our Transition Smore below with all the choice sheet information.

The Austin High School Counselors will also be coming to O. Henry January 30th in your Science classes to go over the 9th Grade Choice Sheet Information . The High School Counselors on this day will be having you enter in your courses in the scheduling system as well. If you are not zoned for Austin High School, you can still fill out the paper choice sheet they provide, but you may not be able to enter the courses in the scheduling system.

___________________________________________________________

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

Join us Tuesday, January 30th to find out more about Costa Rica 2025

Virtual Meeting 1/30/24 from 6:30-7:15

_____________________________

We are excited to announce our educational trip to Costa Rica with parents and students next spring break! Our tour will allow students to connect more deeply with a foreign culture and history and will showcase a glimpse of so much of what this unique country has to offer. We’ll explore the Caribbean Sea down the coast of Costa Rica, keep our eyes out for monkeys and sloths in the jungle, and see stunning underwater life as we snorkel the crystal blue waters.

This trip will fill up quickly, so please join our informational meeting where we’ll discuss:

● Where and when we’re going
● What we’ll see and do
● Travel logistics
● How your child can earn academic credit
● Flexible payment options that keep the tour affordable

We’ll also share details about how to sign up (space is limited!) and answer any questions you might have.

Meeting Details & Registration (must register to receive meeting Zoom link): https://bit.ly/49Sy1dR

Thank you fot Cane's for sponsoring meals for our Athletics programs.

Mustang 7th Grade Girls Basketball Team were acknowledge at the half-time Varsity Basketball Game on Friday for their undefeated season. Special Thanks for Coach Richardson for the support of our future AHS players for also coming to our games and practices.

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

Art projects by Mustangs.

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All O.Henry 7th/ 8th grade Symphonic and Honor Band students will participate in this special event at Austin High. Austin High directors will serve as guest clinicians, while Austin High band section leaders will tutor our students during sectionals. This is a great opportunity for us to improve our skills while rehearsing UIL music.

The Austin High band parents will be providing pizza and drinks immediately after rehearsal. Students should arrive by 5:15 PM. There will be a one-way bus available for students who need transportation from O. Henry to Austin High.

All students should be picked up from Austin High by 8:00 PM. Although this is not an actual performance, parents are always welcome to join us.

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 the time of year when we begin thinking about leadership for the upcoming school year! The PTA is recruiting a nominating committee, which has the special responsibility of helping find the most qualified candidates for O. Henry's PTA leadership roles. With just a few meetings and a big impact, this is a great way to support the school! We are looking for interested parents and caregivers who would be willing to help between February and April of this year. If this sounds like you, please contact Rachel Elder at rachelreit@gmail.com

Thank you to Staff Appreciation Co-Chairs Kristie Buscaglio, Crystal Cotti, Acia Moody and Margaret Rigby for providing teachers and staff with dinner before the Course Fair this week.

Thank you to Anne Henderson and Sara Trantham for providing Breakfast Bites for staff in January.

Thank you to Heather Chesney and Ann Marie Gonin for assisting with the 6th Grade Recognition Assembly this past week.

And Lissa Anderson for selling O. Henry Mustang spiritwear at the Course Fair. Go Mustangs!

Let's show our spirit in 2024. Mustang Spirit wear for students and all ages can be purchased here: https://ohenrypta.org/market/spirit-wear/

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

Start the new year by signing up for Randall's Rewards to support O.Henry. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Setup a Randalls for U account through the Randalls app or at www.randalls.com

2. Email good.neighbor@randalls.com with the following:

Please link my phone number to O. Henry Middle School PTA Charity #713 (First Name, Last Name and full phone number.)

3. Start shopping! Randalls will donate 1% of all sales linked to our Good Neighbor number!

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

Spring 2024 Club Basketball Tryouts!

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, our mission is dedicated to provide players with on and off the court development, exposure, and life building characteristics through the game of basketball.

• Tryouts Registration Link: https://www.hoopgeneration.org/spring-2024-tryouts
  
• Reduced Fees Application for Underprivileged Students: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5cb6d8b89d414962d009ecd7/t/656ea6c38f22c247cd7a6be2/1701750467868/HG+reduced+fee+program+application+-+2.pdf