Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
No School- Friday, April 18th
PRINCIPAL UPDATE
Dear Mustang Families and Caregivers,
As we step further into April, we want to take a moment to honor the importance of awareness, inclusion, and appreciation—both in what we celebrate and how we support one another.
April is Arab American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the rich culture, contributions, and resilience of Arab Americans across our history and present day. Sharing stories, learning from diverse perspectives, and uplifting voices from all communities deepens our understanding and strengthens our school culture.
We also recognize April as National Autism Awareness Month—and at O. Henry, we take this a step further: we are committed to awareness, action, acceptance, and appreciation. As an inclusive campus, we value every student’s strengths and needs, and work together to build an environment where everyone is seen, supported, and celebrated.
Highlights from this week’s Pony Express—don’t miss:
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STAAR Testing Update: We’re proud of our students for their focus and effort on the ELAR STAAR. Up next—8th Grade Science and Social Studies this week, with Schoolwide Math on Wednesday, April 24. Let’s keep up the strong momentum!
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Parent Information Sessions:
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Mustang Dance Team Parent Meeting – Learn more about joining this exciting program!
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Autism Parent Learning Series – Supporting all students through collaboration and resources.
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Early College High School Info Night – Explore future pathways and opportunities.
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PTA Spring Events:
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Mark your calendars for the 3rd Annual Cornhole & Social on May 2—a fun evening for all!
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Don’t miss our PTA General Meeting with special guest speaker Dawn Wible, presenting “Tech Less, Talk More”—a timely conversation on helping teens thrive phone-free.
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Check out the PTA section of this week’s newsletter for volunteer needs, upcoming events, and how you can get involved.
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Enroll Austin Annual Registration: Completing your annual registration is crucial—it ensures your student has access to schedules, transportation, and class placement. If you haven’t done it yet, please make this a top priority!
Finally, as summer draws near, don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of our Pony Express each week for Community Resources. You’ll find camps, enrichment opportunities, and helpful links to support your family’s summer planning.
Thank you for being a vital part of the O. Henry Mustang community!
Let’s make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!
☮️, ❤️, and 🐴’s,
Marlo Malott
HAPPENING THIS WEEK
This Week- 8th Grade STAAR Social Studies and Science State Assessments
Monday, April 14 C Day
5:00 NEW Mustang Dance Company Parent Meeting in Library
Tuesday, April 15 --C Day
4:00 Track Practice, Theater Rehearsal
4:00 CAC Meeting with TEA Audit
Wednesday, April 16-A Day
8:30-11:30 8th Grade STAAR Social Studies
4:00 Track Practice, Theater Rehearsal
4:30-6:30 Band and Orchestra Instrument Selection
Thursday, April 17 --B Day
8:30-11:30 8th Grade STAAR Science
7:00 Girls Strength Club
6:30 Latino Academic Achievement Awards at PAC
Friday, April 18
Student Holiday, Staff Professional Learning Day
Parent Learning Series
3-Part Autism Learning Series with VELA
Date
Monday, April 14, 2025 - 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm
3-Part Autism Learning Series with VELA
It can feel so confusing and isolating. Join VELA - an organization that empowers parents of children with disabilities to become their child's greatest advocates through hands-on courses, support and community building - and other families, for this 3-part interactive virtual series to learn how to become your child's greatest advocate. Join to gain knowledge, strategies, and resources.
English Sessions:
Monday, 12-1:30 p.m. Dates: April 7 | April 14 | April 21
Spanish Sessions:
Wednesday, 12-1:30 p.m. Dates: April 9 | April 16 | April 23
Register here: http://bit.ly/AULearningSeries2025
Save the Date- Thursday, April 24th- Quebec Trip Information Session
We are pleased to announce that Mr. Coffey, our French teacher, will be leading a trip to Quebec, Canada in Summer 2026! We're excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for the parent info session on Thursday, April 24th at 6PM in the OHMS library: https://rsvp.efexploreamerica.com/gw9hvwr
World travel is a fantastic way for students to build confidence and, for French students, use their language skills among native speakers! At the parent meeting, we’ll talk about what we’ll see and do on our trip, everything that’s included, how we’re keeping this safe and affordable, and how to enroll. See you there!
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Thank you,
Nick Coffey
French Teacher | O. Henry Middle School
512.414.3229 ext. 73877
PTA News
Do You Have a Senior in High School This Year?
O. Henry Scholarships for Graduating AISD Seniors!
Do you know a senior in high school who has fond memories of their years at O. Henry Middle School? In recognition of the outstanding students that O. Henry produces, the O. Henry PTA offers two college scholarships for graduating AISD seniors who attended O. Henry Middle School for at least two years.
The one-year scholarships are paid directly to the college that the two awardees will attend. Details on how to apply for the two $500 O. Henry PTA Scholarships can be found HERE. Applications are due by May 9, 2024.
Questions? Please contact Ann Cardenas at ann.b.cardenas@gmail.com. Thanks, and good luck!!
3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament + Mixer
Mark your calendar for the 3rd Annual Cornhole Tournament + Mixer at Zilker Sunshine Camp in Zilker Park. This adults-only event is Friday, May 2nd from 4:30-7:30pm, and it's a great way to see friends and meet up with other OHMS parents, caregivers and staff!
This event is our spring fundraiser. Every dollar raised goes directly to support ALL students and staff, funding our students' learning environment and experience. Plus this event is always fun! We'll have food and drinks and fun prizes for winners!
You can buy tickets to attend, register a team to play cornhole, buy a ticket for a teacher or sponsor the event online.
Click here to become a sponsor, register to play or purchase tickets for yourself or for a teacher!
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Questions? Email Co-chairs Greta Goldsby or Meredith Marks
SAVE THE DATE- General PTA Meeting- May 6th
2025-26 PTA Officer Vote Notice
The O. Henry PTA Nominating Committee submitted the following slate for the 2025-2026 PTA Executive Board. This slate of officers has been shared with the current PTA Executive Board and will be voted on at the general PTA meeting on May 6.
2024-2025 SLATE OF PTA OFFICERS
President: Jessica Hershey
First Vice President/President-Elect: Allison Jackson
Second Vice President/VP Fundraising/Ways and Means: Sara Trantham
Third Vice President/VP Support/Services: Molly Jones
Fourth Vice President/VP Communications: Pam Roberts
Secretary: Holly Lanham
Treasurer: Andrew Birge
Treasurer-Elect: Hunter Norris
OFFICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Office staff could especially use help on Tuesday, April 8th, in the afternoon. SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE OFFICE! or email brookesalman@gmail.com.
PTA THANKS YOU!!!
A very special thank you to Glenn Chase for all the many things he does to keep our PTA website up and running!!
Upcoming PTA Dates:
April 18 - Student Holiday
April 22 - Mustang Council (CAC) Meeting 4pm
May 2 - Parent Mixer and Cornhole Tournament 4:30 - 7:30
May 6 - General PTA Meeting
MUSTANG NEWS
COUNSELING CORNER
Early College Programs Info Session
Date
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 12:00 pm
The Austin ISD Early College Programs team will host two 45-minute virtual sessions in English and Spanish, one at 12 p.m. and another at 6 p.m., for everyone who is interested in learning about Early College High School (ECHS) & Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) Programs, where students can:
✅ Take college courses starting in 9th grade
✅ Earn an Associate Degree or Career Certification
✅ Save thousands in college tuition
✅ Gain real-world experience in high-demand career pathways
Click here to join at 12 p.m. on April 15, 2025!
Have questions? Contact us at echs.ptech@austinisd.org or 512-886-6434.
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Date
Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - 6:00 pm
The Austin ISD Early College Programs team will host two 45-minute virtual sessions in English and Spanish, one at 12 p.m. and another at 6 p.m., for everyone who is interested in learning about Early College High School (ECHS) & Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) Programs, where students can:
✅ Take college courses starting in 9th grade
✅ Earn an Associate Degree or Career Certification
✅ Save thousands in college tuition
✅ Gain real-world experience in high-demand career pathways
Click here to join the info session at 6 p.m. on April 15, 2025!
Have questions? Contact us at echs.ptech@austinisd.org or 512-886-6434.
Heading to Austin High- ASI Spring Mingle
See flyer
MEET THE MUSTANG
Each week we will feature a member of our faculty and staff. Thank you for being a part of our Mustang Family!
Enroll Austin School Year 25-26
Annual Registration
Dear Parent or Guardian,
We hope your child has had a fantastic year so far at O. Henry! We appreciate your partnership this year and are thrilled to begin preparing for the upcoming year.
We wanted to announce that our annual registration process is now open. To ensure your child is all set for next year, you will need to register your child using the AISD Portal by mid-May.
Registering online will only take a few minutes and ensures your child has a smooth transition into the following year. This process allows us to make sure all of your information is up to date.
If you have any questions about the registration process, please call 512-414-7328 or our front office at 512-414-3229.
Lizbeth Rodriguez-Loza
Registrar/ PEIMS Clerk
Community Information
