Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Happy Friday, Mustangs!
I enjoyed the rainy days and cooler temperatures this week and hope you did as well.
This week, we recognize our Assistant Principal, Paul Kleiman, for his outstanding leadership and dedication to O. Henry Middle School. We also celebrate Casi Cook, Project Specialist, for her unwavering commitment to supporting the students, teachers, and families of O. Henry. We are grateful for the positive impact they make on our Mustang community.
On Thursday, students completed the Reading STAAR. Eighth graders will take the Social Studies STAAR on Wednesday, April 15, and the Science STAAR on Thursday, April 16. Students should arrive at school with their Chromebooks fully charged and bring their chargers. Eighth graders will report directly to their testing locations to begin the day on Wednesday and Thursday. It will otherwise be a normal week of learning for all other Mustangs.
On Saturday, April 18, please join us for our first annual campus-wide Gardening and Beautification Event. Bring your gardening gloves and elbow grease to help clean up, spread mulch, and plant native flowers in the beds at the front of the campus. The event will take place from 8:30 AM–12:00 PM, and we will meet near the front doors along 10th Street.
Mustang Mixer Appreciation
Thank you to our Mustang Mixer Diamond–Bronze Sponsors:
Lisa & Stephen Yoch, TK Injury Lawyers, The Fox Family, The Rafferty Family, Allison and Trey Jackson, The Trantham Family, Anna & Ben Smith, The Birge Family, Hillary Deck, Kuper Sotheby’s International Realty, Hunter and Robert Norris, The Majors Family, The Schlegel Family, Misty and Robert McCarthy, Tarrytown Dance Studio, The Casitas at Las Tortugas, and The Hershey Family.
A special thank you to The Hartman Family and The Fraser Family for sponsoring teacher teams in the Cornhole Tournament.
The Mustang Mixer is only two weeks away and is our biggest fundraiser of the spring semester. Please help make this event a success by signing up to volunteer using the Mustang Mixer Volunteer Sign-Up link. Mustang Mixer Volunteer Sign-up
Classroom Spotlight: Photography and Native Plants and Animals - Mr. Scott Gray
The Yearbook staff has successfully submitted the 2026 yearbook and is now exploring advanced photography techniques. Students created a full photo studio to produce water droplet photography, long-exposure images, and portraits.
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.
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.
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.
