Principal's Message to Hornet Families for the week of August 15th, 2021
We are excited to welcome your scholars back to a G.R.E.A.T learning experience. We want to assure you that safety is our number one priority, so we have listed some of our COVID Safety Protocols below. This list of actions is not exhaustive. We are still learning about the virus and following the leadership of Austin ISD, which at times may lead to pivots & changes throughout the course of the school year. For that, we ask for understanding and flexibility. We also care about your scholar's mental well being and social -emotional state, so we have listed our interventions below as well. As a proactive measure against trauma our scholars may have endured these last two years, our amazing counselors have also created a space on campus specifically for group sessions and wellness. A few of our campus initiatives and goals for the upcoming year are also listed below. As we journey into the unknown of School Year 2021-2022, we are looking to use the tools we gained last year in conjunction with proven best practices from years before to create a G.R.E.A.T learning experience for each and every hornet in our building. This includes both students & staff, our theme for the year is "P.N.P - Progress Not Perfection". Everyone learns, everyone grows, we all make progress.
#BEGREATmentality.
2021-2022 Initiatives and Goals
1.) Daily Formative Assessment
2.) Literacy in Every Classroom
3.) Standards Aligned Instruction
4.) Progress Monitoring
Academic Goal
Utilizing an array of assessments (MAP- Measure of Academic Progress, SCA - AISD Short Course Assessment, and STAAR - State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), the percentage of each demographic/special group of students performing at the meets level in Math & English will increase by at least 5% - 10% from August 17th, 2021 to May 27th,2022.
Social Goal
- TBA (we are still working on this but planning to look at the types of counseling visits our students are requesting)
KMS Safety Protocols as of 8/15/2021
All Day
Mask wearing is mandatory
Before School
All staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to self screen for COVID 19 symptoms before entering into a campus or other Austin ISD Facilities each day
Arrival
- We will maintain outdoor markers to social distance
Transition
- we will encourage moving halls where students are encourage to not stop while transitioning to classes
- We are still discussing staggered transitions
Classrooms
- We are space seating/desks at least 3 feet apart when feasible
- Each classroom will have a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration unit
- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each room
Breakfast & Lunch
- students are allowed to eat lunch both inside the cafeteria and outside in the courtyard
Dismissal
- we will have staggered dismissal where scholars will be dismissed by areas of the building to reduce traffic.
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Support for student
Social Emotional Learning and Cultural Proficiency and Inclusion is built into the academic curriculum and include the 3 Signature SEL Practices:
A Welcoming Ritual (or greeting)
Engagement Strategies and / or Brain Breaks
Optimistic Closing
Professional School Counseling - creating safe, supportive, inclusive learning environments
The following services are available:
“Check-ins”: Every AISD student (in-person and virtual) will have access to a professional school counselor
Counseling and SEL-Aligned Lessons and Resources: Common topics include Coping Skills, Welcoming and Belonging, Tools for Academic Success, and Blended Learning support for scheduling/structure
Upcoming Dates
Monday - August 16th
Tuesday - August 17th - A Day
Periods for this day: 1st = A1, 2nd = A2, 3rd = A3, and 4th = A4
First day of football meeting and practice
Wednesday - August 18th - B Day
Periods for this day: 5th = B5, 6th = B6, 7th = B7, and 8th = B8
Volleyball tryouts
Thursday - August 19th- A Day
Volleyball tryouts
Friday - August 20th - B Day
Volleyball tryouts
Saturday - August 21st
Kealing Middle School August Service Day, 9a - 10:30a, sign up here
2021-2022 Bus Information
Families whose students are eligible for transportation will receive their bus information by
email or letter on Aug 3rd. The district’s “Bus Stop Finder"; will be live on Aug 3rd. Families
whose students have special needs will receive their information in person from their bus
teams starting the second week of August.
AISD’s transportation team offers families the “WheresTheBus” app, which provides timely
information about the location of their student’s bus, including when it will arrive at their stop.
The free app is available on any device with internet access (smartphone, tablet, personal
computer, iPad)—and takes less than five minutes to install. Instructions are available at
Follow Us on Social Media
Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/KealingMS/
Hornet Herald - http://www.kealingmiddleschool.org/parents/hornet-herald
Twitter - @KTXHornets
Webpage - https://kealing.austinschools.org/
Join us for our 1st Kealing Gardens & Grounds Service Day of 2021-22!
Saturday August 21st
9:00 am to 10:30 am
No experience? No problem!
Love pulling weeds to work off stress? You're our hero!
Just looking to make some new friends or learn about the grounds? Perfect!
Whatever your age, interest or energy level, we have something for you!! Last year we planted 14 fruit trees, established a monarch waystation, filled in granite pathways and more!
We even have yarn stringing projects to occupy younger siblings as well as many other fine motor skills that are great for small fingers... so bring them along!
7th grade science teacher and gardening lead Catherine Bergman will start us off with a tour of the gardens and explain some of the projects we will be doing this year.
Our monthly service days are the 3rd Saturday of the month (time of day varies by temperature), so please join us whenever you can.
We will follow all Austin ISD COVID safety protocols. Please bring a water bottle, as well as work gloves and any tools you have (labelled with your name!) so we can avoid transmission risk. We have gloves and tools for those who don't have any to bring from home.
Please sign up here so we make sure we prepare enough supplies:
https://signup.com/go/rbYFFTB
Kealing Football Begins this Week!
We will start on Aug 17 (1st day of school) with a player meeting and 1st practice.
All players must have a completed AISD Physical Packet (On AISD website under Athletics) and Forms on RankOne Sport (https://www.rankonesport.com/content/Parent/Parent) before they can participate in practice.
The first week of practice will be no contact with no pads.
Players will need the following materials: t-shirt, shorts, running shoes or cleats, mask (must be worn when not participating in strenuous exercise) and a large water bottle (we will have water to refill water bottles)
Please have your child attend the meeting after school on the 17th even if they cannot practice that day.
If you have any questions please contact Coach Gardner - justin.gardner@austinisd.org or (512) 414-2706
KMS Volleyball Information!
Important dates: Wed 8/18 - Fri 8/20 Tryouts 3-4:50pm
7th grade will be in the small gym, 8th grade large gym.
Student will need to come dressed to workout, bring their own water bottle and have all UIL forms filled out and completed physical.
Rank ONE UIL forms: https://austinisd.rankonesport.com/New/NewInstructionsPage.aspx
Physical form: https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/athletics/docs/2021-22%20Physical%20Form%20English.pdf
We are very excited to get the season underway!
Please reach out to Coach Brynie jaime.brynie@austinisd.org for any 8th grade questions and Coach Jackson for 7th grade. jamaica.jackson@austinisd.org
Generally, we have practice Mon-Wed 3- 4:50 and games on Thurs. Our first game is Aug 26th.
No practice on Fridays, except for 8/20 of tryouts.
Hope this information find you well and helps answer any questions you might have.
