Pony Express

In This Issue:

• Principal's Update
• Happening This Week at O. Henry
• Hoofbeat-- OHMS Student News
• Mustang News- Episode 12
• Counselor Corner-Austin HS Academy News
• School Tours- current and prospective families
• Save the Date- 2024-2025 Course Fair
• Athletic and PE News-Congrats Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer Tryouts
• Fine Art News-Art in Action, Band Concert, Choir Concerts, Guitar Concert
• PTA Updates- Mustang Cares Save the Date Principal Coffee,OHMS PTA in good standing, Thank You Notes Randall's Good Neighboor Program,
• Other Campus and AISD News: Absence Reporting, Bell Schedule, AISD Calendar, Transportation, AISD Health Services
  

12/10/23

Mustang Families,

Teaching Tolerance has grappled with the question of “How do we live together peacefully while still honoring our differences?” since their founding in 1991. Families and our community are able to join our 6th graders on Wednesday, December 13th starting at 1:40 for the viewing of the National Geographic Education IMAX film, JERUSALEM. Following the meeting students participate in an interactive, student-centered panel discussion from members of faith communities in the film.

While the winter holiday season is quickly approaching, please check out ways in which you can participate in showing support to our Student Fine Arts performer and our Student Athletes. Check out our What’s Happening section for reminders and upcoming events.

A Special Thanks to our PTA Members for helping with our tours and Principal Coffee’s. Do you have ideas on how to Welcome our current and prospective families and students? Please share your ideas as we love to expand our relevant and meaningful communication.

While Mustangs are taking care of final projects and exams for the first semester, our Student Council is sponsoring Student Spirit Days. Student Spirit Days are upon us these next two weeks--Wear your favorite cold weather and holiday gear this Friday, and PJ Day for our last day before the break. Be sure to check out The Hoofbeat our school online magazine and this week’s Mustang News for more student information and highlights.

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

☮❤️&🐴's,

Marlo Malott

Monday, December 11-A Day

7:00- Cheer Practice, 7GBB

Finals in Algebra, Geometry, and Spanish 1

11:40- AHS Pals

4:00 HW Club, Jazz Club

Tuesday, December 12 - B Day

• 7:00 6th Girls Wts. and Conditioning Club, 7GBB
• Finals in Algebra, Geometry, and Spanish 1
  
• 8th Grade Book Club at A Lunch
• 4:00 PM - HW Club, Soccer Practice, Girls BB Practice
• 6:00 Winter Band Concert

Wednesday, December 13- A Day

• 7th Grade Book Club at B Lunch
• Finals in Algebra, Geometry, and Spanish 1
• 1:20-- 6th Grade Assembly-- Jerusalem Movie and Guest Panel
• 4:00-- HW Club, Workout Club, Boys Soccer

Thursday, December 14- B Day

• 7:30 FCA Huddle
• Finals in Algebra, Geometry, and Spanish 1
• 6th grade Book Club at C lunch
• 4:00 HW Club, DND Club, Boys Soccer
• 6:00 Choir and Guitar Winter Concert
• 6:00 7th GR Girls BB Playoff game at Small MS

Friday, December 15- C Day

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

Saturday, December 16

• 9:00 Boys Soccer at OHMS vs Kealing

Next Week's Schedule is CCC.

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

The 7th Grade Girls Basketball Teams were undefeated this school year. The OHMS Girls will head to playoffs this week versus Small MS at 6:00 on Thursday.

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

Thank you for singing in the holiday spirit at HEB this weekend!

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.

We need your help to support several families in our Mustang community this holiday season. Mustangs Care addresses specific staff, student and family needs as they arise, and we've been made aware of student families who need extra financial support this month. If you can make a donation to help these families in need, please email Jessica Hershey THIS WEEK at jesshershey@gmail.com to make a donation. Every donation helps!

Parent/Caregiver Coffee with Principal Malott - January 11, 8:30 am, O.Henry Cafeteria

Many thanks to the PTA members who managed and hosted the Teachers' Appreciation Luncheon. So grateful to Acia Moody, Margaret Rigby, Kristie Buscaglio and Crystal Cotti!

O.Henry PTA recently learned that it has achieved Good Standing status from the Texas PTA Association for good financial, governance and leadership. What a way to end 2023 and we could not do it without all of our O.Henry PTA members. Go Mustangs!

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