Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal's Update - Week of October 19th-23rd
O. Henry Families,
This week was a big week at O. Henry Middle School, and we have so much to celebrate and share. First, join me in congratulating our 8th-grade volleyball team for securing the district championship for the 2026–2027 season. Wednesday's game was thrilling, and I want to extend a huge thank you to all the students and families who came out to support our Mustangs and show off our O. Henry school spirit.
If you drive by the school, please take a moment to notice the beautiful new landscaping around our marquee. These plants were generously donated by Native Sons Nursery. I also want to give a huge shout-out to parent volunteer and "plant whisperer" Chelsea Combs for her amazing work on this project, as well as for planting several other garden beds across campus. Her efforts have significantly improved the grounds at O. Henry.
Looking ahead, a quick reminder that our 6th grade field trip to Circuit of the Americas for the Prixview is scheduled for Thursday, October 22. All 6th graders will be participating in this field experience, and I am very much looking forward to the learning opportunity they are going to have that day.
Finally, now that the first quarter is complete, please make sure to check your student's report card in the Austin ISD Parent Portal. Reviewing these grades together is a wonderful way to reflect with your child on their progress and set positive goals for the next quarter.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. 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.
- 7th and 8th Grade Football Playoffs, 6/7:30 PM: House Park
- 6th Grade Field Trip, Grand Prixview at COTA, October 22
- Mustang Orchestra Performs at Austin High Monster Concert, October 24
- 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
Volleyball City Champions!
Our 8th Grade A-Team Volleyball Mustangs capped off an incredible season by taking down Gorzycki Middle School on Wednesday night at Burger Center to claim the City Championship title.
After dropping their only regular-season game to Gorzycki, the girls got the ultimate redemption, winning an electric 3-set thriller when it mattered most. Finishing the season 6-1, this team showed incredible grit, determination, and leadership every step of the way.
A huge thank you to the Mustang fans who showed up in full force to pack the stands!
The Championship Roster: Drew Boatright (#1), Paige Edmonds (#4), Amel Renvoye (#9), Farrah Uglietta (#10), Eden Reed (#11), Camila McBride (#13), Wesley Ford (#15), Tesla Shah (#16), Sadie Buie (#17), & Vianey Guzman (#23).
Classroom Spotlight - Dell Mann, Principles of Business
Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Students in Ms. Mann's Principles of Business, Marketing, and Finance are doing just that! Students work as a unit in order to identify a product or service that would be appealing to 6th-8th graders, then develop a budget, create procurement plan, draw advertisements, and execute on deliveries!
This year the students conducted market research into what students would like and picked up the trend of "Boo Bags," making decisions on what to put inside the blind bags based on student trends and interest. These bags are for sale and will be delivered - stop by her room 207 if you'd like to purchase one.
See some of the student-created advertising flyers below - and don't forget to buy a boo for your boo!
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).
6th Grade Trip - October 22nd - Turn in Permission Forms ASAP!
O. Henry students have been invited by Circuit of the Americas for a multidisciplinary field trip to tour the F1 Academy paddock and . The trip is being provided at no cost to students or to the District.
More details and permission slips went home in previous weeks. If you need assistance, please contact project specialist Casi Cook casi.cook@austinisd.org
Mustang Council
Mustang Council (Campus Advisory Council) Accepting Applications for New Members!
If you are looking for a way to get involved and impact decisions affecting the entire campus, please consider applying to join the Mustang Council! Our Mustang Council's mission is to promote excellence in education for all students through broad-based representation, by providing valuable input to our Principal, who ultimately has decision-making responsibility. This unique Council includes classroom teachers, campus professional staff, parents/guardians, local business leaders and other community members, and student representatives, and our discussions cover a wide variety of issues that impact overarching goals and day-to-day operations. Meetings will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of each month from September-April at 4pm, except the March meeting will be on March 9th. Want to learn more? Complete a standard membership application (Español).
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.
6th Grade Boys' 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.
6th Grade Boys Weightlifting Club sign up form - https://forms.gle/tXLnRRFXrjuxEANR8
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! Football Schedule Updates
Monday, October 19, 6 PM: 7th Grade B Team Away @ Gorzycki
Monday, October 19, 6 PM: 8th Grade B Team Home vs.. Gorzycki
Tuesday, October 20, 6 PM: 7th Grade A Team vs. Gorzycki at House Park
Tuesday October 20, 7:30 PM: 8th Grade A Team vs. Bailey at House Park
Click the link above in order to view detailed information re: physicals, rosters, tickets, and parent communication.
Coaches:
7th Grade Football Schedule
8th Grade Football Info
Click the link above in order to view detailed information re: physicals, rosters, tickets, and parent communication.
A-Team Coaches:
B-Team Coaches:
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
C Team Girls Basketball Info
C Team - Coach Ethan Pappas - ethan.pappas@austinisd.org
Girls C team basketball will practice Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 7AM in the gym. Our first practice is 10/20. We will work to develop your students skills to prepare them to hopefully make a team next try-out season. We ask that you drop your child off on the road along Exposition and do not enter the staff parking lot, as it causes congestion for arriving staff. Email Coach Pappas at ethan.pappas@austinisd.org with any questions.
C team will be a combination of 7th and 8th grade athletes
8th Grade Girls Basketball Info
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
Mustang families,
The Mustang Mall needs volunteers to help keep the mall open and running! Please consider signing up for a shift here.
We know everyone is busy this time of year, but we need your help to make Mustang Mall a success. The weather is getting nicer, so come enjoy some fresh air while volunteering and helping our school. Win, win!
We also need a few more families to become a PTA Secret Pal for an OHMS teacher or staff member. Please see the information below for more details. We hope you’ll join us in treating our amazing staff!
Warmly,
Allison Jackson
OHMS PTA President
Secret Pals
Grateful for an OHMS staff member? Show your gratitude by becoming a Secret Pal! PTA Secret Pals anonymously deliver four-five small gifts to the front office throughout the year (birthday, holidays, just because). We have 10 spots left to fill so please help the PTA shower our amazing staff with gifts this year.
To keep this year’s pals secret, email Whitney Fraser at whitneyannefraser@icloud.com and she will send you the sign-up link and staff preferences. Happy gifting!
Thank you to Native Son Gardens for donating plants for the flower bed near the marquee and thank you to Chelsea Combs for prepping for them to be planted. It already looks amazing!
Rebecca Hatcher for coordinating our office volunteers. Thanks!
…and thank you to everyone who volunteered in the office, at Mustang Mall, or anywhere at O.Henry! We appreciate you!
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!
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