Pony Express

In This Issue:

• Principal's Update
• Happening This Week at O. Henry
• O. Henry Times
• Hoofbeat-- OHMS Student News
• Mustang News- Episode 13
• Counselor Corner-Austin HS Academy News
• School Tours- current and prospective families
• Save the Date- 2024-2025 Course Fair
• Athletic and PE News-Clean Out your PE Locker
• Fine Art News-Theatre-Freaky Friday Auditions
• 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
  

Dear Mustang Families,

As we approach the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to extend warm wishes to you and your loved ones on behalf of the entire O. Henry Middle School community.

It has been an incredible journey so far this school year, filled with growth, learning, and memorable moments. As we pause to celebrate the holidays, let us reflect on the achievements and successes of our students and the supportive community that surrounds them.

The holidays are a time for family, friends, and gratitude. May this festive season bring you joy, laughter, and cherished moments with your loved ones. Take this opportunity to create lasting memories, relax, and rejuvenate, preparing for the exciting adventures that lie ahead in the coming year.

We are grateful for the partnership we share with each and every one of you. Your support, dedication, and involvement make O. Henry Middle School a vibrant and thriving community. Together, we have created an environment where our students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

As we look forward to the new year, let us continue to work collaboratively to nurture the growth and development of our students. Your involvement and commitment make a significant impact, and we are excited about the possibilities that the future holds for our school community.

May the holiday season fill your homes with love, peace, and happiness. Enjoy the well-deserved break, and we look forward to reconnecting in the new year.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Warm regards,

Marlo Malott

Monday, December 18-C Day

9:00 Wild Thing Zoofari Cafe

10:45-7:00 A Tuba Christmas AISD PAC

6:00 City Championship GBB OHMS vs Gorzycki Burger Cntr

Tuesday, December 19 - C Day

6:00 Boys Soccer Game at

Wednesday, December 20- C Day

Staff vs Student Volleyball Games

• 1st period- 7th grade
• 5th period-6th grade
• 8th period-8th grade

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

Attention all PE, Pre-Athletics, and Athletics students, please take home all your clothes to be washed over the break. If you are in PE for the semester only, you will empty your locker and take your lock home.

Students will not dress out next week. Please have lockers cleared out by Monday, Dec 18th.

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

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.

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!

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

Thank you to Anne Henderson and Sara Trantham for hosting Breakfast Bites last week for O.Henry staff. And so grateful to all of our PTA members for their support this year. Happy Holidays!

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