Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal Update
Dear O. Henry Students, Families, and Caretakers,
As we step into another exciting chapter of the school year, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Your engagement is the cornerstone of our collective success.
Key Highlights & Upcoming Events
- Thanksgiving Food Drive : Join us in spreading holiday cheer by contributing to the Student Council Food Drive through the Central Texas Food Bank
- SAVE THE DATE--Winter Concert (Date and Time): Our orchestra and band students have been working hard to put on a fantastic performance. Be sure to mark your calendars!
Band- December 9th at O. Henry Middle School
Orchestra- December 11 at Austin High School
- 8th Grade Presentations- Please review the What’s Happening Section and Counseling Corner for upcoming dates for high school presentations and 4 year plans.
School Policy Reminders
- Attendance Matters: Consistent attendance is key to academic success. Please ensure your child arrives on time and attends school daily.
- Dress Code: A gentle reminder to review our dress code policy to ensure students are in compliance. Thank you for your cooperation. As a reminder, no blankets may be used for coats or sweatshirts.
Tips for Supporting Your Student at Home
- Establish a regular homework routine and a quiet space for studying.
- Encourage balanced screen time to promote both relaxation and productivity.
- Connect with your child about their day and celebrate their efforts and achievements.
We look forward to continuing to build a supportive and thriving community together.
Let’s make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!
☮️, ❤️, and 🐴’s,
Marlo Malott
Happening This Week
5th period STIR time- always have a book with you
8th Grade English Classes- Austin High School Academy Presentations in Library
4:00 Jazz Band
Tuesday, 11/12
8th Grade Science Classes-4 Year Planning Lesson with Counselors
6th Grade Field Trip to Austin Nature Center- Mr. Gray and Mr. Moise
Wednesday,11/13--A day
Support AVID- Dress in college, career, or military t-shirt
8:45 Evacuation Drill
1:45-2:15 ACES
Thursday, 11/14- B Day
7:30 Student FCA in Big Gym
All Day- AISD String Fest
1:45-2:15 ACES
6:00/7:00 OHMS Girls Basketball Kealing- 7th @Kealing, 8th @OHMS
Friday, 11/8-- C Day
9:30 LASA High School in Library
NPA and Ag Field Trip to Zilker Botanical Gardens-Mr. Gray and Mr. Moise
Saturday, 11/9
9:00/10:30 OHMS Boys Soccer vs Murchison @ MMS
Student Council---OHMS Fall Food Drive
Student Council News
It's time for the annual OHMS Fall food Drive! Every year, Student Council asks Mustangs to help our local community by raising money for the Central Texas Food Bank. Each ACES is challenged to raise $20 at school, and we also have our own fundraising page. All money raised goes to local families during the holiday season. Let's show them how much our Mustangs care!
We are starting this week and running our initiative through December 6th.
Help us show how much O. Henry cares!
Hunger affects people from all walks of life. Working families, retired seniors on fixed incomes, grandparents with custody of grandchildren, the chronically ill and the disabled all turn to the Food Bank for help in emergencies or as part of their regular meal planning.
Nearly 437,000 people in the 21 counties we serve faced hunger last year. Inflation and higher costs of living have driven a sustained increase in the demand for our services.
With hunger impacting 1 in 7 Central Texans and higher rates in some groups we all know someone who is going through this or who has gone through this.
The amazing thing is that even though hunger is a large and complex issue, our community is also large, and full of understanding and generosity. It takes our entire community coming together to ensure all our neighbors have food on the table.
A donation of $10 covers the groceries provided to a neighbor facing hunger at a Food Bank distribution. Every little bit counts.
NJHS and Coats for Kids
Help us share the warmth this year and donate a coat to Coats for Kids!
O. Henry MS has joined The Junior League of Austin’s Coats for Kids Coat Drive Competition! Help NJHS keep Central Texas children warm by dropping off a new or gently used coat in the collection bin in the front office between Nov. 12 and Nov 22!
Did you know there are multiple ways to donate to our Coats for Kids Coat Drive?
Until Nov 22nd, you can drop off a coat in the front office collection bin,
purchase a coat from the Coats for Kids Gift Registry,
donate online by visiting https://www.jlaustin.org/coats/donate-coats-for-kids/ and clicking “DONATE.” Every $20 buys a new coat.
Thank you for help NJHS and Coats for Kids
8th Annual Thanksgiving SUR-Pies
The 8th Annual SUR-PIES Thanks For Giving- Pie Day The tradition continues. Let’s give thanks to everyone who works for AISD and supports our school and students. Every day, I am deeply grateful for their dedication and commitment to making O. Henry Middle School a great place to learn and grow.
Please give thanks to the legion of O. Henry teachers, counselors, assistant principals, office staff, custodians, and cafeteria staff by donating a pie or any kind of baked goods! These treats can be home-made or store-bought.
Please drop these pies off by Friday, November 22nd before 11:30 pm. We can start taking PIES on Thursday, November 21st in the front office.
If there are extra donations, we will be donating to the local Fire Department Station.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Marlo Malott @ marlo.malott@austinisd.org
Google Form to Sign Up linked here and the bar above: https://forms.gle/isfVD7QQrFEdEPM46
MOPAC Expansion and Impact Meeting
MoPac and Your Future - Input is Needed
There's a proposal to expand MoPac south of downtown, and your voice is needed at a meeting on November 12! This would be a major project that would impact every family who uses MoPac to get to or from school and work. That includes families who have or will someday have students at Austin High.
The proposal has been developed by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, and the project would stretch from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane.
The details about impacts to traffic near Austin High and access between MoPac and the campus are especially important for our community to understand and weigh in on. Your input can help ensure all aspects are considered, including potential impacts on travel time, traffic, and safety - including the safety of new high school drivers.
There are a few ways to learn more and make your voice heard:
Attend a meeting at Austin High on November 12 to talk with the MoPac South team about details about the plans and to share your input. It's an open house that runs from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and it's open to the community.
Attend a virtual open house online, where you can see the materials online beginning at 5:00 on November 12.
Share your comments about the project no later than December 29. You can comment at the meeting, by email, by mail or online. An online comment form will be available beginning Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, until Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (No link is available yet.) You can also email MoPacSouth@ctrma.org or send a letter to Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, c/o MoPac South Environmental Study, 3300 N I-H 35, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78705
Learn about the project's history, follow developments, and sign up for updates at https://www.mopacsouth.com/
Counseling Corner
Fine Arts News
Art In Action
Band News
Congratulation's to Sabine Fernandez for earning a spot in the TMEA All-Region Band! After completing a rigorous two-week audition process, she is now one of the top band students in Central Texas. Sabine will represent O. Henry at the Region Band Concert on December 7th the Austin ISD Performing Arts Center
Mustangs are going to NYC and Washington DC!
Informational meeting November 19, 6:00 OHMS library
ELA teacher Amber Bass Patterson will lead a group of O. Henry MS students on an EF Tours trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City the first week of June 2026. On this once-in-a-lifetime adventure, students will feel the pulse of the American spirit during this journey to two of the nation’s most influential cities. From the White House and the U.S. Capitol to Times Square and the Statue of Liberty, discover how these two great cities have helped shape our past, present, and future. This will be a truly impactful trip for your students where they will create lifetime memories!
Get up-to-date meeting details and RSVP to attend the informational meeting at: https://bit.ly/4huCfMn
Information covered: itinerary, activities, dates, academic opportunities, cost, and EF’s risk-free enrollment period. Space on this tour is limited, and families at the meeting will have the ability to enroll first at a discounted rate.
We would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Questions? contact Amber Bass-Patterson amber.bass-patterson@austinisd.org
Meet Our Mustangs
In this section
Meet our Mustangs- You will have a chance each week to meet two members of our Mustang Family.
Yearbook Sales
O. Henry Middle School Yearbook Sale!
Don't miss out on capturing the memories of the school year—our yearbook is on sale now for just $40, the lowest price of the year! These keepsakes are incredibly popular and tend to sell out every year, so act fast to ensure you get your copy. Order yours today at jostens.com and relive all the special moments of this unforgettable year!
PTA News
Help us beat our goal - JOIN THE O.HENRY PTA TODAY!!
Your membership in the PTA helps support the many valuable programs and activities that occur throughout the year at OHMS. Don't forget to get your spouse or partner to sign up too! Only $12! CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE PTA TODAY!
Upcoming Important August PTA Dates:
November 5 - STUDENT HOLIDAY
November 7 - Fall Portrait Retake Day
VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!
We have NEW office volunteer opportunities on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 1:30 and 3:30!! The staff would love any amount of time you are able to help out! Sign up here (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/169qAwer84PYioA6nvlRNRfXBXWDQNovBg_ZkovLEMwY/htmlview#) or email Brooke Salman (brookesalman@gmail.com ) with any questions.
PTA THANK YOUs!
Many thanks to Valerie Pardo-Jules, Martha Dyess, Gillian Barksdale, Brooke Salman, Becky Hatcher, Jennifer Pac and Dawn Grace for helping out in the office last week!!
Upcoming Important PTA Dates:
November 25-29 - NO SCHOOL - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
REPEAT INFORMATION
Attendance Reminders/Updates
**90% rule what does it mean?**
**90% rule what does it mean?**
If a student drops below 90% in a course, an "NC" is entered instead of a grade. The grade may be passing – but the student did not attend at least 90% of the time. Please contact your student’s Assistant Principal to see what corrective steps must be taken.
Notices are going out to families this week whose students are dropping below 90% attendance and we will be required to attend "Attendance Matters" workshop: