Pony Express

🎬 The Moment We've All Been Waiting For! 🎬

The final video from our CASEL Social Emotional Learning project is here! As a district leader in SEL, O. Henry is proud to showcase the incredible work happening on our campus to support students, staff, and the community. This video highlights our collective efforts and the positive impact we’re making together.

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed—you truly shine! We invite you to watch the video and celebrate this milestone with us.

💡 Weekly SEL Focus: Character Strong

At O. Henry, we are committed to fostering strong character in our students. Each week, we integrate Character Strong lessons into our advisory periods, focusing on essential social-emotional skills such as empathy, resilience, and relationship-building. These lessons help create a positive school culture where every student feels valued and supported.

📚 Academic Support & STAAR Readiness

To ensure our students are prepared for success, we are implementing key academic support strategies leading up to STAAR testing:

• ELA Support: Students are using IXL for 30 minutes each week to reinforce literacy skills.

• Math Support: Students are engaging with MyPath, a targeted intervention tool that provides personalized learning opportunities.

• 
  

These resources are used in class and during intervention periods to strengthen skills and build confidence before testing.

🎶🏀🏃‍♂️ Support Our Mustangs!

There are so many exciting ways to cheer on our Mustangs this week:

• 🎺 Band Pre-UIL Performance – Our talented band students are preparing for their Pre-UIL contest this week. Wish them luck as they showcase their hard work and dedication!

• ⛳ Spring Athletics – Information about Spring Golf and Track is now available. Students interested should check with the Athletics Department for details.

• 🏀 OHMS Spirit Night! – Let’s fill the stands and support our 8th grade basketball teams at OHMS Spirit Night! Come out, wear your Mustang gear, and bring the energy as we cheer on our athletes.

• 
  

Thank you for your continued support in making O. Henry Middle School a thriving and vibrant community! Go Mustangs! 🐴💙

Let’s make it a great week to be an O. Henry Mustang!

☮️, ❤️, and 🐴’s,

Marlo Malott

Orchestra Fundraiser Feb. 10-13- Carnation Sales

Monday, 2/10-- C Day

• 7:30 Symphonic Band Arrival for Pre UIL- See details in Fine Arts Section
• 4:00 Boys C team Basketball Practice
• 
  

Tuesday, 2/11 C DAY

• 6:30 a.m. Wind Ensemble Arrival for Pre UIL-- See details in Fine Arts Section
• 3:15 8th Period Evacuation Drill
• 5:30 School Year 2025-2026 Parent Cheer Meeting
• Future Maroon Boys Basketball Night at AHS (see Flyer in Athletics Section)

Wednesday, 2/12 A Day

Support AVID- Wear a College or Military Shirt

Thursday, 2/13 B Day

• 7:30 Student Led FCA in Big Gym
• 4:00 Boys C Team Basketball Practice
• 6:00/7:00 Boys Basketball vs Lively 7th @Lively, 8th @OHMS-- Student Spirit Night-- Wear an OHMS shirt and get in Free

Friday, 2/14 C Day

Saturday, 2/15

• 9:00/10:30 Girls Soccer vs Lively at Yellow Jacket Field

School Year 2025-2026

Has your Mustang lost something? Please direct them to check out the Lost and Found in the cafeteria for clothing, lunch boxes, water bottles.

For personal small items like earrings, rings, necklaces, and glasses, please direct your student to the office for recovery.

8th Grade

7th Grade

6th Grade

Please fill out the form below if your student athlete is interested in participating in the O. Henry Golf Club.

The club is open to any student at O. Henry regardless of skill or grade level. The season typically starts right after Spring Break and goes on until early May.

We work closely with AHS Golf and Lions to create our season schedule. More information will go out as sessions are organized.

O. Henry Golf Sign Up 2025

Welcome to the Mustang Strength Club! Strength Club will meet every Thursday morning from 7:15-8:00 in the O. Henry weight room, starting February 13th. We will be lifting weights
(bench press and squats) and doing simple movements: box jumps, jump rope, pull ups, push ups, etc. Athletes will also have access to the small gym to do various fitness activities.

Who: open to 6th grade girls who are serious about improving their strength and fitness

When: Thursday mornings, 7:15-8:00

Where: O. Henry Weight Room, drop off your athlete on Exposition, athlete will enter through gym doors

Sponsor: Coach Crystal Gaffney (7th grade vball/bball coach)

We will also have parent volunteers leading workouts. Parent volunteers are key to this club's success.

If you are interested in volunteering your time once or more a month, please reach out to Coach Gaffney.

crystal.gaffney@austinisd.org

.

Save the date!!!

O. Henry volleyball and girls basketball camp will be held June 2nd -5th, 2025

Registration will be open in February. Stay tuned!

Check our our School Year 2025-2026 Transition Newsletter.

We will keep this updated until August 2025. Linked here are copies of Course Sheets, Course videos, and more information about O. Henry.

https://secure.smore.com/n/ref0u

.

OHMS Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble Performances on Monday/Tuesday, Feb. 10 - 11

Our 7th/8th grade bands will be participating in the AISD Pre-UIL Band Festival at the AISD Performing Arts Center (1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd, 78723). Symphonic Band performs Monday morning, Feb. 10. Wind Ensemble performs Tuesday morning, Feb. 11. Both bands have very early performance times. Therefore, students who normally ride the bus to school will need an alternative mode of transportation on their performance day. The performance schedules and itineraries for both bands are listed below. All parents, caregivers, and relatives are invited to attend. We hope you can join us!

Monday, Feb. 10 - Symphonic Band Performance

7:30 AM - Students arrive at OHMS band hall in formal uniform

8:00 AM - Depart for the AISD PAC on charter bus

8:50 AM - Warm-up period begins

9:30 AM - Concert Performance on Stage

10:00 AM - Sightreading Evaluation & Judges Clinic (parents are allowed to follow us into the Sightreading Room)

11:00 AM - Arrive back at OHMS

Tuesday, Feb. 11 – Wind Ensemble Performance

6:30 AM - Students arrive at OHMS band hall in formal uniform

7:00 AM - Depart for the AISD PAC on charter bus

7:50 AM - Warm-up period begins

8:30 AM - Concert Performance on Stage

9:00 AM - Sightreading Evaluation & Judges Clinic (parents are allowed to follow us into the Sightreading Room)

10:00 AM - Arrive back at OHMS

Each week we will feature a member of our faculty and staff. Thank you for being a part of our Mustang Family!

It's the time of year when we begin thinking about leadership for the upcoming school year! The PTA is recruiting a nominating committee, which has the responsibility of helping find qualified candidates for O. Henry's PTA leadership roles.

With just a couple of meetings and a big impact, this is a great way to support the school without a big or long term time commitment.

We are looking for interested parents and caregivers who would be willing to help between February and April of this year. If you are interested in more information, please contact Laura Lee Daigle at lauraleedaigle@gmail.com. Thank you for supporting the OHMS PTA!

♥️ Heartfelt thanks to Martha Dyess, Gillian Barksdale, Valerie Pardo-Jules, Samara Hull, Tara Heavner, Lizzy Castañeda, Brooke Salman, Becky Hatcher, Jennifer Pac and Dawn Grace for volunteering in the office last week!

Volunteer at the Mustang Mall! We need volunteers to work the store during the 2 hour lunch period. The Mustang Mall now has a dedicated square credit card reader, so the kids are able to use watches, Apple Pay and cards to pay!! CLICK HERE to sign up for Mustang Mall!!

Mustang Mall

The Mustang Mall now has a dedicated square credit card reader, so the kids are able to use watches, Apple Pay and cards to pay!!

We are always looking for volunteers to work the store during the 2 hour lunch period. CLICK HERE to sign up for Mustang Mall!!

February 17 - Student Holiday

February 25 - Mustang Council (CAC) Meeting

Dear Parent or Guardian,

We hope your child has had a fantastic year so far at O. Henry! We appreciate your partnership this year and are thrilled to begin preparing for the upcoming year.

We wanted to announce that our annual registration process is now open. To ensure your child is all set for next year, you will need to register your child using the AISD Portal by mid-May.

Registering online will only take a few minutes and ensures your child has a smooth transition into the following year. This process allows us to make sure all of your information is up to date.

If you have any questions about the registration process, please call 512-414-7328 or our front office at 512-414-3229.

Lizbeth Rodriguez-Loza

Registrar/ PEIMS Clerk

**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:

Hello!

My name is Mia Ansel and I am the Undersecretary of Registration for Austin High School Model United Nations. If you are receiving this email, you have either participated in past Jr. AUSMUN Summer Camp programming, AUSMUN Fall Conference, Middle MUN, or you have caught the attention of our program as a school, group, or individual who would be a good fit for this summer experience.

On behalf of Austin High Model UN, I would like to personally invite students from your school to our fourth annual Junior AUSMUN Summer Camp for rising 7th-9th grade students, taking place this Summer from July 7-10! Junior AUSMUN Summer Camp is a four day immersive experience and preview of high school Model United Nations, designed for rising 7th through rising 9th grade students. Campers will gain critical research and writing skills, public speaking confidence, global awareness, and long-lasting friendships through participation in Junior AUSMUN Camp!

The interest form for this program has officially opened and students are encouraged to fill it out if they are at all interested! This form is not official registration; it will simply add students to our email list for further updates (and priority registration) about Junior AUSMUN Camp and provide our staff with a rough estimate of campers. Please click HERE to fill out the interest form. (https://forms.gle/wwdiTZZ3mNCZRQoF8)

If your students have not yet experienced the magic of Austin High MUN programming, we invite you to explore our Junior AUSMUN Camp website. Please visit our website for more information on who we are and the communal impact we strive to make as a program. Please share this email with them and their families!

If you or your student has already entered high school, please feel free to "unsubscribe" from our list by responding to this email. If you have any questions regarding group registration, you are also welcome to reach out and we are happy to provide more information. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions; we look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Mia Ansel

Undersecretary of Registration

REGISTRATION LINK: https://www.hoopgeneration.org/spring-2025-tryouts

HG Tryouts

PROMO CODE: SCHOOLPROMO