Hornet Herald

As we count down the final days before the school year kicks off, we are excited to welcome your students back to school! With just one week to go, our anticipation is growing every day, and we can’t wait to see all the familiar faces and meet the new ones.

The summer provides educators a time to reflect, rest, and refresh and that is exactly what our Kealing staff accomplished. Over the past week, our teachers and staff have shared wonderful updates from their summer adventures. Everything from vacations and new additions to their families to engagements and new homes. It’s been a joy hearing about all the personal milestones and accomplishments our team has celebrated.

Now that summer has come to an end, our focus has shifted to creating an exceptional experience for your students. We’ve been hard at work planning and preparing, ensuring that both classroom and extracurricular activities are engaging and enriching. We’re committed to making this year one of growth, learning, fun, and opportunities to SHINE for all our students.🌞

We also want to share with you an important update regarding our cell phone policy. This year, we will be strictly enforcing a new rule: students must keep their cell phones in their backpacks or in a designated spot in their teacher's classroom during school hours.

We know that cell phones can be a big distraction, and our aim with this policy is to help students stay focused and fully engaged in their learning. We believe this will support both their academic achievements and social development. Please speak with your child about the cell phone policy that can be found below.

By now, you should have received your student’s schedule for the upcoming spring semester. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can easily view it through the Parent Portal later this week. Should you need any assistance or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your grade level counselor.

I can't wait to welcome our students back in just a few days. Enjoy the remaining days of summer, and get ready for an exciting and productive school year!

Mr. Estes

• August 14 & 15 - On Campus Registration (11:00am - 7:00pm)
• August 16 - On Campus Registration (9:00am - 3:00pm)
• August 20 - First Day of School (B Day)
• August 20 - First Football Practice
• August 21 - 23 - Volleyball Tryouts
• August 22 - Cross Country Meeting
• August 28 - Back to School Night
• August 29 - Volleyball vs. Gorzycki
• September 2 - NO SCHOOL
• September 3 - 20 - MAP Testing Window (More Info to Come)
• September 5 - Volleyball vs. Lamar
• September 10 - Football vs. Gorzycki
• September 12 - Volleyball vs. O. Henry
• September 16 - Football vs. Lamar
• September 19 - Volleyball vs. Lively
• September 23 - Football vs. Marshall (7th grade only)
• September 26 - Volleyball vs. Small
• September 30 - Football vs. Bailey

My name is Daniel Sweet, and I am honored to join Kealing as the new Sixth Grade Assistant Principal. I bring a diverse background in education, having served as a general education teacher in elementary schools, a special education resource teacher, an instructional coach, and an elementary assistant principal. I am originally from Chicago; I pursued my undergraduate studies at George Washington University and earned my graduate degrees from UCLA and USC. My family and I relocated back to Austin six years ago, and I am happily married with a soon-to-be six-year-old daughter. In my free time, I love traveling, hiking, listening to music, learning, trying new restaurants, spending quality time with my family, and cheering on my favorite sports teams—I'm a devoted supporter of the Chicago Sports Teams and Real Madrid. I am thrilled to be a part of the Kealing Middle School community and look forward to contributing to the success of our students and school.

When your schedule becomes viewable in Frontline, you may see some confusing names in the course descriptions. Cross reference those here to see what the familiar Kealing name is.

This document lists all the courses we were able to offer this school year. Please note that Athletics isn't being offered for most sports, but that will not prevent your student from trying out for the teams. Another adjustment is that students who requested Intro to Coding on their choice sheets may have been placed in Principles of Information Technology, Discovery 6, or College and Career Exploration 7, all of which have a coding component.

The bell schedule for the 2024-25 school year has slightly shifted. Our school day still begins at 7:30 a.m. (students should be in their classes by this time) but will end at 3:00 p.m. Take a moment to adjust your schedules accordingly to ensure a smooth start to the school year. Please note that our doors will not open until 7:00am.

The FIRST DAY (FIRST DAY ONLY) of school, students will report to their Advisory class. You can access both schedules below.

Mark Your Calendars: The new school year will kick off on Tuesday, August 20, and it will be a B Day. Please make sure your students are prepared for their B Day classes on the first day of school.

Similar to last year, every Monday and Wednesday are "A" days and every Tuesday and Thursday are "B" days. Fridays will rotate.

We want to remind you of our cell phone policy to ensure a focused and productive school environment. Please be aware of the following guidelines:

• No Cell Phones on Campus: Students are not permitted to use cell phones from 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM.
• Cell Phone Storage: Cell phones should be stored away in your student's backpack or designated area of the classroom during school hours.
• Smart Watches: These should not be used like cell phones during the school day.
• Communication: Please avoid calling or texting your child during school hours; if needed, contact the main office.

Consequences for Violations:

• First Offense: The phone will be taken to the office and can be picked up at the end of the school day.
• Second Offense: The phone will be confiscated and a meeting with the student and parent/guardian may be required.
• Subsequent Offenses: Continued violations will result in a $15 fee and the phone must be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we work together to create a positive learning environment for all our students.

As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we want to ensure that students have all the necessary supplies for their classes. During the first week of school, teachers will provide students with a detailed list of supplies needed for their specific classes.

To help students start the school year smoothly, we encourage them to bring only a notebook and writing utensils on the first day of school. This will allow them to take notes and be prepared to jot down the required supplies for each class.

Do you have questions regarding your student's bus? Visit Austin ISD's Bus Finder Utility page to find out if your student is eligible for transportation, pickup and drop off times, and which bus they will ride. More information can be found by clicking here.

Contact AISD Transportation, 512-414-0238, if you have any questions.

We want to see our Hornet's smile. Share your back-to-school joy with us by sharing your students first day of school photos. We will post them on our social media platforms as we celebrate our students return to campus. Photos will also be shared with our Yearbook sponsor.

Add your student's back-to-school photo here.

As we approach the start of the new school year, we wanted to send a friendly reminder for students to complete their summer assignments. These assignments were designed to keep their minds active and ensure they're prepared for the upcoming academic year.

Here are a few tips to help your student stay on track:

1. Create a Schedule: Set aside specific times each day or week dedicated to working on summer assignments.
2. Set Goals: Break the assignments into smaller, manageable tasks and set goals to complete them.
3. Stay Organized: Keep all materials and notes in one place to avoid last-minute stress.

Enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you in the new school year!

Eating healthy is crucial for students for several reasons that impact their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here’s a few reasons why students should prioritize healthy eating:

1. Supports Physical Growth and Development

2. Enhances Cognitive Function and Academic Performance

3. Promotes Emotional Well-Being

4. Builds Healthy Habits for Life

Austin ISD Food Services provides healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch options for our students. Please see the attachments below for more information about AISD options.

Nutrition & Food Services | Austin ISD

SchoolCafé - AUSTIN ISD (schoolcafe.com)

We want to ensure all our students have access to nutritious meals during the school day. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to apply for our free and reduced lunch program. It’s quick, confidential, and can provide significant benefits for your family.

To sign up, please visit School Cafe or contact our Main Office for assistance. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support your child's health and learning.

Attention all 7th and 8th grade girls!

Volleyball Tryouts will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday next week afterschool from 3pm-5pm. All interested students will need a physical on file in order to participate. You can find that information HERE Please make arrangements to stay for all three tryout dates.

Contact Ms. Tasneem, tania.tasneem@austinisd.org if you have any questions.

Football practice will begin on Tuesday, Aug 20. If your child is planning on playing football at Kealing (or is interested) please join our team group on the SportsYou app. Our team code is KKQXV2MS

If your child is new to Kealing or you have not been getting information about Kealing football, contact Coach Gardner at justin.gardner@austinisd.org

Each player will need the following to participate:

Completed AISD Athletics physical packet (Including online forms on RankOne)
T-shirt, shorts, running shoes, and cleats

Water jug
Combination Lock

Students interested in participating in Cross Country (7th & 8th grade students) or Run Club (6th grade students) should plan on attending an informational meeting on Thursday, August 22nd at 3:00pm. Practice will follow the informational meeting and will end at 4:30 pm. Participating students must have a sports physical for the 2024-25 school year on file.

Contact Coach Speed, brant.speed@austinisd.org, if you have any questions.

If you have any questions, contact Ms. Williams at rolanda.williams@austinisd.org

We invite all of our families to our Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 28 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your student's teachers and hear about the fun, engaging, and academically enriching activities your students will participate in this school year.

No registration is required.

As the new school year approaches, we invite all families to join the Kealing Middle School PTA! Whether your child is starting their first year or continuing their journey, being part of the PTA is a wonderful way to support our students, teachers, and school community. Together, we can make a positive impact on our children's education and experiences. Sign up today and help us make this school year the best one yet!