Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Dear Mustang Families,
As we move into October, there is so much to celebrate and look forward to at O. Henry. Our students continue to show their Mustang Pride through hard work, kindness, and community spirit. Each week, I am reminded how fortunate we are to be part of a community that values learning, relationships, and the growth of every child.
This coming Monday, October 20, will be a student holiday as teachers host Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our staff will spend the day connecting with families to discuss student progress, learning goals, and strategies for continued growth. Teachers are prioritizing conferences for students with identified academic needs, but if you would like to meet with a teacher, please reach out to them directly by email. If we’re unable to schedule your conference on Monday, we will gladly find another time to connect, whether in person, by phone, or through Google Meet.
Even though there are no classes on Monday, we are hosting our Book Fair, The Halloween-themed Scare Fair, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the library. Stop by to browse, buy some books, and support the Mustang Library. The Scare Fair will also be open Tuesday-Friday of next week, and students will visit the book fair with their classes during the week.
O. Henry sent home Winter MAP test reports for Math and Reading a couple of weeks ago through the math classes. If you did not receive your student’s report, please email Cassidy Serio at cassidy.serio@austinisd.org, and we will be happy to assist and get you another copy. We encourage you to review grades and assessment information together with your student and celebrate their progress as we set goals for the second nine weeks.
We will be sending attendance updates to families in the coming days 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 Principal Paul Kleiman at paul.kleiman@austinisd.org or in person. Our next Saturday School session will be held on Saturday, October 25th.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our O. Henry Mustangs each day.
With Mustang Pride,
Camie Fillpot
Interim Principal
O. Henry Middle School
Car, Bus, Bike, and Walking Transportation
Bus Transportation: Students who take AISD buses will be picked up and dropped off on Wayside Dr on the east side of the property. The map to the side shows our bus lane. Families use the Where's the Bus through the AISD Portal or the phone app to track bus arrival times. Students pick up and drop off in the same place on Wayside Drive. Link to AISD's Bus Transportation Department homepage with contact information. Families seeking a "bus pass" to ride a route that they are not zoned to cannot be placed on routes for the first two weeks of school until space for zoned riders is confirmed. More information is available 7:45 am to 4:45 pm Monday though Friday at 512-414-0238.
Car Riders, Walkers, and Map: We understand that car dropoff can be a stressful time for families, especially at the beginning of the year for unfamiliar drivers and passengers. The map to the side shows the main drop off areas as well as the bus lane. While we do not close the street to eastbound traffic, having cars travel westbound on 10th Street is the safest option so that students do not have to cross in front of traffic or risk opening doors into traffic.
Staying on Campus Once Dropped Off: A reminder to all students, whether walkers, car riders, or bus riders, that once your mode of transportation has brought you to campus, you may not leave the campus to visit HEB, 7/11, or other locations. Students may not leave the property without being checked out by their guardian.
