Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal's Update - Week of October 26th to 30th
O. Henry Families,
We had an exciting week at O. Henry Middle School. Our girls basketball season officially kicked off, and our boys soccer tryouts were a huge success. Thank you to all our student-athletes for bringing so much energy and dedication and to our families and coaches for supporting their efforts.
Additionally, our 6th graders had an unforgettable field trip to the Circuit of the Americas for the Grand Prixview yesterday. They got to experience high-speed car racing up close and heard renowned Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, which was a huge surprise.
Come out tomorrow to support our talented orchestra students as they perform in the annual Monster Concert at Austin High School at 2:00 PM. It will be a fantastic show.
Both of our Mustang Football A Teams have reached the District Championships. Come out to House Park to cheer them on as they bring home the title. 7th Grade A Team kicks off at 6:00 pm, 8th Grade A Team at 7:30 PM Let’s fill the stands on Tuesday for our Mustangs!
Next week is "Love Your Brain" Week, focusing on caring for your mind, body, and overall well-being. There will be themed dress up days all week, as well as daily announcements about healthy living and choices. Students are invited to dress up in costumes on Friday. To ensure a safe and productive school environment, please review the following guidelines with your student:
No masks covering the face.
No look-alike weapons or prop accessories.
No inflatable costumes (due to space restrictions in our hallways and classrooms).
Make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang.
Giddy Up!
Camie Fillpot
Principal, O. Henry Middle School
Save the Dates:
Mark your calendars for the upcoming dates for O. Henry Middle School.
- Mustang Orchestra Performs at Austin High Monster Concert, October 24
- Football Championship Game, Tuesday, October 27 at House Park:
- 7A vs. Murchison, 6:00 pm
- 8A vs. Small, 7:30 pm
- Girl's Basketball, Thursday, October 29:
- 7A vs Marshall at O. Henry, 6:00 pm
- 7B vs Gorzycki C (Top Players), 7:00 pm
- C Team vs Gorzycki C Team in Small Gym, 6:00 pm
- 8th grade at Marshall, 6:00 pm
- No School for Students or Staff, November 2
- No School for Students, Staff Development, November 3
- 6th and 7th grade honor roll assemblies, Wednesday, November 4, 10-10:30 am
- 8th grade honor roll assembly, Thursday, November 5, 10:00-10:30 am
- Winter Band Concert and Art Showcase, December 7
- Winter Orchestra Concert, December 9
6th Grade Field Trip to COTA for Grand Prixview
In Pursuit of Excellence Award Recipients
This week, we celebrated our students through the In Pursuit of Excellence Awards, recognizing Mustangs who exemplify Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, and Integrity. Students were recognized by teachers, O. Henry staff, counselors and administrators.
We are incredibly proud of these students and grateful for the partnership we share with our families in supporting their growth and the positive impact they make on our campus each day.
Love Your Brain Week: October 26-30
October 26–30th is "Love Your Brain" Week. This year’s theme centers on caring for your mind, body, and overall well-being. Loving your brain means making healthy choices, looking out for your peers, and nourishing a positive mindset. Tune in all week as we celebrate healthy living and mindful choices with the following dress-up days:
Monday, October 26: School Spirit — Show your brain some love by showing love for our school community.
Tuesday, October 27: Favorite Hat — Put a cap on bad habits and keep your mind sharp.
Wednesday, October 28: Favorite Team Jersey or Shirt — Team up for a healthy mind and body.
Thursday, October 29: Wacky Hair Day — Let your creativity go wild and celebrate your unique brain.
Friday, October 30: Costume Day — Dress up as something that makes you happy (no face masks, please).
O. Henry Clubs
O. Henry Clubs Have Started!
Please see the O. Henry Clubs and Sports available for the 2026-2027 School Year. If your student is interested in starting a club that aligns with their interests, please reach out to Assistant Principal, Paul Kleiman, paul.kleiman@austinisd.org for more information.
Click here to learn about start days and times for O. Henry Clubs.
NEW! 7th and 8th Grade Weightlifting Club - Signup Form
Coach Hilliard was a competitive powerlifter in college and would like to pass on the love of the sport and the opportunity for general physical fitness onto our students.
NEW BOYS Weightlifting Club - 7th&8th ONLY: https://forms.gle/KS43AxBWUrCQuTv38'
An AISD physical is required to participate.
Library Homework Club
Homework Club is a place for students to get adult supervision while completing assignments and waiting for parent rides Monday-Thursday from 4 PM to 5 PM.
Reading, individual study halls, and student work groups are all options for students. We hope your students will come to Homework Club if they need it!
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Interested in being a part of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)this year? Meeting times are listed below. You can also find the flyer for the "Fields of Faith" in the Community Events section below.
Please contact Ryan Richter Ryan.richter@austinisd.org if you have any questions.
Counseling Corner
O. Henry Counseling Webpage
Please check out the O. Henry Counselor Webpage for counseling resources.
https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/ohmscounseling/meet-your-counselors?pli=1&authuser=0
Parents reached out that they forgot to save the QR codes for the teacher wishlists on Wednesday night. Here are the links to some of the teacher wishlists. We will add more in the coming weeks.
Thanks for supporting educational excellence in O. Henry classrooms.
Attendance Information and Credit Recovery
We will be sent home attendance updates to families this past week for students whose attendance has fallen below 90%. Please note that, under Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines, students must maintain at least 90% attendance to receive credit for their courses, both high school credit courses and middle school courses. Students who fall below this threshold may not be granted credit unless they complete credit recovery hours. Keep in mind that even excused absences can count against the 90% attendance calculation.
To recover attendance hours, students may participate in the following options:
Saturday School – 5 hours of credit recovery per Saturday session
Homework Club – 1 hour of credit recovery for each day attended (Monday–Thursday in the library)
Teacher Tutorials – 1 hour of credit recovery for each hour of attendance
Students can pick up a Credit Recovery Form in the front office to log their make-up hours. Once completed, forms should be submitted to Assistant Principals Paul Kleiman (paul.klieman@austinisd.org) or Jessica Dillenberger (jessica.dillenberger@austinisd.org).
ATHLETICS
Cross Country - End of Season Meet Results
AISD Cross Country District Meet
Congratulations to the O. Henry cross country team! Runners competed in the AISD district meet on Wednesday. A special congratulations goes out to our top three runners, who placed in the top 15 and received a medal. Walter Rein placed 13th in the boys' division. Annie Rein placed 6th and Drew Doyle placed 14th in the girls' division. Thank you for a great season, Mustangs!
Boys' Soccer Tryouts - October 20, 21, 26
Coaches:
Tryout Schedule:
Tryouts will be held after school on October 20, 21, and 26. Please click here to fill out the interest form. Students need to have a current AISD Physical filled out.
Practice Schedule: To Be Announced
NEW! A Team Football City Championships
Tuesday, October 28th
- 6:00 PM, 7th Grade A Team Championship vs. Murchison @ House Park
- 7:30 PM, 8th Grade A Team Championship @ House Park
7th Grade Girls Basketball Info
Coach Crystal Gaffney (A team) crystal.gaffney@austinisd.org
Coach Kristine Kobs (B team) kristine.kobs@austinisd.org
7th Grade Girls Basketball Game Schedule
7th Grade Girls Basketball Practice Schedule
Practice Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 7:15 am - 1st period athletics
Thursday - practice only during 1st period, Game Day
Friday - practice only during 1st period
**Team Mom: Lisa Yoch - lisa@lisayoch.com
NEW! 7 and 8 C Team Girls Basketball Info - Practice and Game October 29
Attention 7 and 8 C team basketball:
We will have practice AND a game Thursday Oct 29nd.
Practice will be at 7 am in the small gym. The game will be at 6 pm in the small gym vs Gorzycki C team at O. Henry MS. There are no bleachers for spectators, standing room only. We are in need of a parent who can help referee the game.
You need to come to practice to play in the game.
C Team - Coach Ethan Pappas - ethan.pappas@austinisd.org
8th Grade Girls Basketball Info - Coaches, Game Schedule, Practice Times
Coach Kevin Gaffney (A team) kevin.gaffney@austinisd.org
Coach Tori Hinojosa (B team) victoria.hinojosa@austinisd.org
Practice Schedule:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 8th period athletics - 5pm
Thursday - practice only during 8th period, Game Day
Friday - practice only during 8th period
**Team Mom: Amanda Bowman
O. Henry Mustang Club
The Mustang Club supports all athletics at O. Henry Middle School by providing funds for coach stipends, new equipment, and equipment maintenance, as well as promoting school spirit and organizing volunteers. AISD does not provide funding for all of O. Henry’s athletic needs, and we appreciate the support of parents and the community to help fund the financial gap and maintain our high level of athletic offerings to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
FINE ARTS + PERFORMING ARTS
Monster Concert and Festival - October 24, 2026
- Bring the whole family and enjoy the free concerts and performances from 6 area schools, including O. Henry Middle School, and Austin High’s award-winning orchestras.
OHMS PTA Updates
Shop for holiday cards and support OHMS PTA!
Our PTA has partnered with the stationary company, Minted, this holiday season. You can get 20% off holiday cards, stationary, and gifts and Minted donates 10% to our PTA. This is a great way to shop and support our school. Click here to shop and use our code FUNDRAISEOHENRY at checkout.
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK THE PTA E-BULLETIN BOARD
We’ve gathered flyers and information about a variety of events, activities, programs, camps, and more all in one place. Take a peek to see what’s happening and check back regularly for new additions! Click here to view!
The new fall bulletin boards look amazing. Thank you, Sarah Hawthorne Cain!
Thank you to everyone who signed up to treat a teacher or staff member as a secret pal! We know they will appreciate the extra love.
Thank you to Melanie Dow, our ACPTA rep, for your due diligence in guiding us through the ACPTA resolution.
…and thank you to everyone who volunteered in the office, at Mustang Mall, or anywhere at O.Henry! We appreciate you!
Maroon & White Night
Perspective Austin High students and families!
The Austin High School Maroon and White Showcase Night is on Wednesday, November 18, from 6-7:30 p.m. You can learn about all of the AHS programming, including the academy model, athletics, fine arts, career and technology, electives and clubs.
Ongoing ways to help PTA:
🐴Join the PTA Link to Join
🐴Volunteer in Mustang Mall Sign up here
🐴Lost and Found Sign up to help reunite students and their possessions here!
🐴Join the Membership Directory link to sign up for Directory Spot
🐴Stay connected! PTA Website | Instagram: @ohmspta | E-bulletin board
Librarian's Corner - ACES Reading Challenges and STIR
We are so excited that our students are making use of the library and picking up books to read at home, between classes, and during our weekly ACES STIR time. Each ACES class will have a semester-long competition to read the most books, so ask your student what they are reading!
Ms. Horvath and her library team will continue to publicize one-off and continuing events throughout the school year for interested students, and students are welcome to visit the library every morning starting at 8 AM.
Mustangs Travel to Spain, Spring Break 2027 –
Spain Presentation Link - Canva - resharing of the September 17th presentation.
Contact Ms. Bass-Patterson directly via email, amber.bass-patterson@austinisd.org , with any questions. Please note this is a non-school sponsored or district affiliated trip.
Repeated Logistical Info - Attendance, Bell Schedules, Transportation, and More!
Texas Public schools are funded by attendance and correct coding for absences.
If your student is absent for illness or any other issue,
we request that you please use the AISD absence reporting link: austinisd.org/you-count
or the school email ohenry@austinisd.org.
No need to pick up the phone and call the office - you can click the picture above to go directly to our form!
Official daily attendance time will remain the same as last year at 9:45 AM.
However, attendance is taken at every period. The district will notify you of absences through their system. If you do not receive these notifications update your information with our registrar.
Early Checkout Cut off time is 3:30pm.
Walking, Biking, Busing, and Driving to O. Henry
- Westbound dropoff/pickup is fastest and safest for students
- For pickups during the day, feel free to park on 10th Street, otherwise keep clear
- Be mindful of bikers and walkers during peak times
- Bike racks located by front entrance
Reminder: No Late Activity Bus for O. Henry Middle School.
Due to budget reductions for Austin Independent School District, there are no late activity buses for the 2026-2027 school year.
Bike Safety Reminders
With so many students riding bikes to school, and in light of recent local bicycle-related accidents, we wanted to share these safety reminders. Please take a moment to review essential bike safety practices with your student: wearing a correctly fitted and buckled helmet on every ride, staying alert to surrounding traffic, obeying all traffic laws and signals, riding in the direction of traffic and walking their bike on school grounds.
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our students safe on their way to and from school.
School Supply Info
Community Events and Information
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED: OCTOBERAMA 2026!
We're rolling out the red carpet for Octoberama, our annual fall
festival, on Saturday, October 24th at 11AM. This year's theme is all
about movie magic – so get ready for your big Hollywood debut, right
here in Austin!
YOUR ALL-ACCESS PASS STARTS AT OCTOBERAMA.COM
Get a first look at this year's food, games, live entertainment, and our
incredible Silent Auction, which goes live the week of the event and
takes place completely online. Anyone can participate!
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION...
Mathews Elementary School's premier fundraiser, Octoberama is a free
community event featuring food, games, live music, and movie-star
glamour. Grab some concessions, mingle with Mathews celebrities, and bid
on big ticket silent auction items while the kids win prizes at glitzy
game booths. Every dollar raised goes directly toward producing Mathews'
award-winning story.
We hope you'll join us for this blockbuster celebration. Your support
makes every Mathews student shine!
Follow Us on Social Media!
School Accounts
Facebook: facebook.com/ohenryms
Instagram: @ohenryms
X/Twitter: @ohenryms
Clubs and Organizations
Band on Instagram: @ohms_mustangband
Library on Instagram: @ohenryreads
Yearbook on Instagram:@o.henryyearbook
Who Do I Contact?
Assistant Principals
Paul Kleiman, Assistant Principal, Last Names A-L
Jessica Dillenberger, Assistant Principal Last Names, M-Z
jessica.dillenberger@austinisd.org
Counselors
Vikki Harisis, Last Names A-L
Ivy Claflin, Lead Counselor, Last Names M-Z
Attendance
Brenda Gill, Attendance Specialist
504 Coordinator and Project Specialist
Casi Cook
Special Education Department Head
Kristin Smith
Librarian
Robbie Horvath