Pony Express

NEW featureed items will be in BOLD

• 23-24 Course Fair this Wednesday-- See flyer below
• School Calendar for Week of December 5-11
• Quick News
• Fall Testing, Final Exams and Project Calendar
• Counselor Corner-Donations Needed, How to Contact Your Counselor, Grading Period Dates
• Mustang News-Episode 13
• Art In Action- Each week we will feature student Art
• Athletics-8th grade Volleyball Questionnaire
• Fine Arts News- Congratulations to All Regional Band, Congrats Dance-- Check out the Video from the Dance Spectacular, Winter Concerts, Congratulations Orchestra
• PTA News--Ribbon Cutting for NEW Weight Room
  

• From AISD--Dance Across Austin

Monday,12/5 A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4

MAPS testing in Algebra

4:00 Campus Tour

4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, Science Club

Tuesday, 12/6 B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8

MAPS testing in Algebra

4:00 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for our NEW Weight Room

Mustangs and their families are invited to join us afterschool as we host the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of our new weight room. Through a generous donation and grant funding sponsored by Tarrytown Pharmacy, our Mustangs will be able to work out using state of the art equipment.

Wednesday, 12/7--B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8

4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, History Club, GSA Club

4:00-5:00 Cheer Practice OHMS

4:00-5:00 8th grade girls BB practice

4:00 Boys Soccer Practice

7:00 Orchestra Winter Concert at AHS

*5:30-7:00-- 23-24 Course Fair---In the Large Gym

Thursday, 12/8 B Day-5,6,7, ACES, 8

8:30-9:30 Campus Tour

4:00 Campus Tour

4:00 Boys Soccer Practice

4:00-5:30 Twilight Grade Recovery, Homework Club, Math Club

6:45-8:15 Cheer Practice WAYA

6:00/7:00 Girls Basketball vs. Kealing-- 7th @ OHMS, 8th @ Kealing

Friday, 12/9-C Day periods 1-8

STUDENT COUNSEL SPIRIT DAY-- Holiday Sweaters: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Short Cycle Assessment begins

6:00 Winter Band Concert in Large Gym

Saturday, 12/10

9:00 Boys Soccer vs Murchison at MMS

SAVE THE DATE-

Austin High School Academy Survey

ALL students interested in going to Austin High School (zoned students, transfers, or applicants) should plan to fill out the Academy Preference Survey. It will open on Friday, December 2nd. Links will be available on the Counselor Blend page and on the Austin High website.

Counselor Blend Page/High School Central (must be logged into the portal):

https://aisdblend.instructure.com/courses/227758/pages/high-school-central

Austin High Application Website: https://austin.austinschools.org/academy-admissions

Human Sexuality and Responsibility (HSR) Permission Form

During the two weeks prior to Winter break the Science department will be presenting the district Human Sexuality and Responsibility curriculum to our students.

We have sent letters home that need to be returned and emails with google forms for you to fill out that need a response. Please check your email or Childs backpack for the letter from your students science teacher.

This year you will have to “Opt In” for your child to receive the information. If you would rather not have your child receive the information, then you will need to let us know you are Opting them out so we can plan for alternative lessons.

If you would like to view the curriculum before deciding, you can see it here: https://www.austinisd.org/pe-health/health-education/hsr

Which ever you decide, we will need the information as soon as we get back from Thanksgiving break.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s Science teacher.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Four Year Planning for 8th graders

Counselors will be hosting two sessions for eighth graders to come hear about high school requirements and learn about four year plans. This can be helpful for choosing high school classes in January. Students will receive an email on Monday to sign up or the link is also included here: https://forms.gle/gkGTwwNB19e2i6o99

Austin High School Academy Preference Survey

All students planning to attend Austin High School, whether zoned or applying, must complete the Academy Preference Survey by Jan. 13, 2023. Students will have an opportunity to do so in ACES but you can also fill out the link here. If filled out multiple times, AHS will take the most recent submission. https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSfSZdbcafXi37ZGHfhnFRsVS4okMNeLyUjn1eIZQmme4shdbA/viewform

November/December Classroom Presentations

Counselors visited the math classrooms throughout November and December to talk to students about what it means when your brain "flips its lid" and strategies to help calm, energize, or focus your brain. Read more about "flipping your lid" and some of the strategies on the Counselor Blend Page (must be logged on to the portal to access) https://aisdblend.instructure.com/courses/227758/pages/flipping-your-lid?module_item_id=39616262

Save the Date - Choice Sheet Presentations

January 10th & 11th - current sixth graders will fill out their choice sheet in ELA. These are the first two days back from break!

January 12th & 13th - current seventh graders will fill out their choice sheets in TX History.

The counselors are looking for any donations of healthy snacks for students and gently used clothing. Clothing needed: boys and girls athletics shorts, tshirts, sweatpants/joggers - all adults sizes needed. We are so grateful for your help!

Need to Reach Your Counselor

You can email at ohenry.counselors@austinisd.org

Grading Periods and Progress Reports

Progress 1-- Closes 9/2

Progress 2- Closes 9/23-- student eligibilty check

1st Nine Weeks- closes 10/7-- student eligibilty check on 10/13, lost or gained 10/20

Progress 3- closes 11/4--student eligibilty chek on 11/4, lost or gained 11/11

Progress 4- closes 12/2-student eligibilty chek on 12/2, lost or gained 12/9

2nd Nine Weeks-closes 12/20, lost or gained 1/17

AHS incoming athlete volleyball questionnaire for 8th graders -

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSctqZbnfwcnwp7fXqcGz-T_dJVa5g2mK9s5AZJcYbYrWwglCg/viewform

Our 7th and 8th grade girls basketball team was invited to watch the UT women’s practice at the Moody Center today. What an awesome experience for our girls to see basketball in action at such a high level. Go Mustangs! Go Longhorns!

Congratulations to Will Achtermann, Justice Holley, Miles Puthoff, Will Rhoden, and Ethan Stern for their outstanding concert performances on Saturday with the TMEA All-Region Band.

Congratulations to James Maloney for representing our school in the Middle School Region Orchestra. James made 7th chair out of all of the basses in Austin ISD and the other 23 surrounding school districts.

Have you heard that O. Henry has a new amazing weight room? Come for the ribbon cutting on Tuesday, December 6th at 4:00 pm to tour the new weight room and thank the donors that made it happen!

There will be refreshments and cookies. You may enter through the gym doors off of Exposition Boulevard.

Hey Everyone,

Please join the O. Henry team and run the Cap10K with us! Click the link below to register. You can find our team under "O. Henry Middle School." School teams are comprised of staff members and students. I know some of our cross country runners plan to run with us. Please extend the invite to any students you think may be interested in joining the team. The price is currently $35 and it will increase on 12/5. Let me know if you have any questions!

https://www.cap10k.com/register-now/