Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL UPDATE
Dear Mustang Families and Caregivers,
🌟 Celebrating the People Who Make O. Henry Shine
🎉 Assistant Principal Appreciation Week
This week, we are thrilled to celebrate Assistant Principal Appreciation Week and give a giant Mustang thank you to Paul Kleiman and Camie Fillpot. Their leadership, kindness, and dedication are essential to the success of our school. From coaching teachers and guiding students to coordinating safety and supporting families, our APs do it all—often behind the scenes, but always with heart. We’re so lucky to have them on the team!
📚 Librarian Appreciation Week – Thank You, Robbie Horvath!
A huge round of applause for our librarian, Robbie Horvath, during Librarian Appreciation Week! Robbie does so much more than manage books—she builds a welcoming space for students, sparks curiosity, leads research and literacy efforts, and creates engaging opportunities that turn reading into a true adventure. We are grateful for the vibrant, student-centered library she brings to life every day!
🔧 Spotlight on Project Specialist Casi Cook
We also want to take a moment to appreciate the incredible work of our Project Specialist, Casi Cook. Whether it's organizing events, supporting instruction, troubleshooting systems, or bringing creative ideas to life, Casi is a behind-the-scenes force who helps keep O. Henry moving forward. Thank you, Casi, for all you do!
🎨 VASE – Visual Arts Students Shine
Congratulations to our talented Mustangs who recently competed in VASE (Visual Arts Scholastic Event)! These students proudly represented O. Henry and demonstrated their creativity, technical skill, and passion for the arts. Participating in VASE is a huge honor and an opportunity to showcase the depth of talent we have in our community. We are so proud of their achievements!
🌍 April is Arab American Heritage Month
April marks Arab American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich culture, heritage, and contributions of Arab Americans throughout history. From literature and science to music and public service, Arab American voices continue to shape our society in meaningful ways. We invite our community to learn more and celebrate this important part of our national story throughout the month.
Let’s keep lifting each other up, celebrating our shared successes, and making O. Henry a place where everyone feels seen, supported, and inspired. Go Mustangs!
Let’s make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!
☮️, ❤️, and 🐴’s,
Marlo Malott
HAPPENING THIS WEEK
This week: CCCAC
Monday, April 7--C Day
Assistant Principal and Librarian Appreciation Week
Tuesday, April 8 --C Day
4:00 Track Practice, Theater Rehearsal
Wednesday, April 9--C Day**
4:00 Track Practice, Theater Rehearsal
4:30-6:30 Band and Orchestra Instrument Selection
4:30 O. Henry CAT Team #4
Thursday, April 10--A Day**
English Language Arts and Reading STAAR Test
from 8:30-12:30
Testing in AM classes, PM classes after lunches
7:00 Girls Strength Club
6:00 Track OHMS/Lively/ Gorzycki at GMS
Friday, April 11--C Day
Starr ELAR Make-Up test
Choir at UIL
Important STAAR Information
ELAR Test on Thursday, April 10th
This This Thursday, April 10th, students are scheduled to take the Reading Language Arts segment of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR.)
We ask parents to please not schedule doctor’s visits or other movable appointments on April 10th and April 24th, and 8th graders additionally to reserve April 16 and April 17 so that everyone has an opportunity to display their knowledge. Additionally, students may not be checked out before 11:30 AM, in order to prevent disruption to the testing environment.
Before this date, please sit down with your child and ask them to show you that they have a working Chromebook and a working charger. If they have lost their charger, a replacement USB-C charger can be purchased online.
We appreciate your continued support as our students work to display some of the knowledge they have gained over the course of this year.
ART IN ACTION
Art Students at Junior VASE
Congratulations to the following students for participating in Jr. VASE - a UIL visual art competition:
Cora M.
Maya S.
Emily
Ginger L.
Morgan L.
Jessica A.G.
Kiara A.
Madeline G.
Charlotte G.
Madelyn H.
Adysen P.
Tori R.
PTA News
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
2025-26 PTA Officer Vote Notice
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: Jenny Butterworth
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.
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
BAND AND ORCHESTRA NEWS
Band & Orchestra Instrument Selection Sessions for New Students
Band & Orchestra Instrument Selection Sessions for New Students
It’s time for 2025-26 Orchestra and Band Instrument Selection! If your child is interested in learning to play a string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instrument, we would like to invite them to join our award-winning O.Henry Fine Arts program. No previous music training is necessary. Band and Orchestra is open to all incoming and returning O.Henry students. In most cases, instruments can be provided by the school. Students who attend one of our instrument selection sessions will get to try out instruments under the supervision of a music teacher. Our goal is to help students choose an instrument that they will thrive on and enjoy playing.
Instrument Selection Dates
Orchestra: Tuesday, April 8 (4:30-6:30 PM) at O.Henry MS
Band: Wednesday, April 9 (4:30 - 6:30 PM) at O.Henry MS
Band & Orchestra: Thursday, April 10 (4:30 - 6:30 PM) at O.Henry MS
Please use the links below to sign up for a 15-minute time slot on one of our instrument selection days.
Band Instrument Selection Sign-up
Orchestra Instrument Selection Sign-up
In addition, we will also be holding an instrument session at Oak Hill Elementary on Thursday, April 3rd from 4:30 - 6:30 PM. The event at Oak Hill Elementary is a come and go as you please session. There is no sign up for April 3. If you are unable to attend any of the sessions listed above and would like to schedule an appointment on a different date, please contact the directors.
For questions about Band please contact Mr. Pinkney at sedric.pinkney@austinisd.org
For questions about Orchestra please contact Ms. Uy at sarah.l.uy@austinisd.org
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
