Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Happy Friday, Mustangs!
We had another wonderful, jam-packed week at O. Henry Middle School! A highlight of the week was our Honor Roll assemblies. Thank you to all of the families who came out to celebrate and support our students—we loved having you on campus.
During the assemblies, we shared an important message with our students: their success is a direct result of the choices and habits they build each day. Whether it’s arriving to class on time, completing assignments, or attending tutorials, these daily commitments add up to meaningful accomplishments.
We are so proud of our Mustangs and were thrilled to celebrate their achievements for the third nine-week grading period.
Teacher Appreciation Week
Next week, May 4-May 8th is Teacher Appreciation Week. Please send your child's teacher a note of appreciation and thanks. We also have some extra-special treats and goodies planned for them next week. We are so appreciative of our O. Henry teachers and want them to know how much we appreciate them and how important they are to the O. Henry community.
Recognize our amazing staff each month by submitting a RAVE!
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.
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
2026 AHS Summer Speed & Strength Camp: For 7th - 9th Grade Athletes
The Austin High summer strength and conditioning program will run June 8th through July 30th. Camp will be Monday-Thursday weekly with the exception of Thursday, June 18th, for our Future Maroons Football Camp, and the week of July 4th. Camp will be $250.00 and the link for registration and payment is below. Choose Maroons Summer Speed & Strength Camp and choose the appropriate group from the drop down menu. See attached flyer as well.
https://austin.myschoolcentral.com/(S(hjv0g24vypafwnrz4bxsmfjc))/Index.aspx
*If the link does not show up correctly click the Start Again button and you should be redirected to the correct page."
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.
