Happy New Year! I hope that this message finds you well, refreshed, and ready for the exciting opportunities that 2025 will bring. As we begin the new year, it is a wonderful time to reflect on our achievements and set new goals. I am proud of the hard work, growth, and dedication displayed by our students and staff during the past months. We have accomplished much, and there is still so much more to look forward to. In January, we will continue to foster a nurturing environment where everyone can reach their full potential. We are committed to providing an inspiring and inclusive learning experience for all. This new year offers a chance to strengthen our school community, explore new opportunities, and celebrate successes together. I encourage everyone to remain focused and motivated as we continue to push toward excellence.

Please remember to stay connected and involved in the life of our school. Together, we can make 2025 a year of growth, success, and positive change.

• 1st Semester Recognition Day - Due to upcoming multipurpose building construction outside, we will be modifying our usual Walk of Fame ceremony and instead be holding an Honors Assembly. This change ensures that we can continue to celebrate our students' achievements in a safe and comfortable environment. The second-quarter Honors Assembly will take place on Friday, January 17th. More details will be shared soon, and we look forward to celebrating the hard work and accomplishments of our students!

• Schoolwide Clubs -We are thrilled to announce that starting this January, our school will launch a new and engaging series of club activities for students, running through May. These clubs will meet every three weeks, providing an exciting and consistent way for students to explore their interests and develop new skills.

  Club Sign-Ups and Schedule
  Each student had the opportunity to choose three club options from a variety of exciting activities. Based on their preferences, students will be assigned to one of these options as their official club. This gives them the chance to participate in a club that excites them and aligns with their interests.

  • K-2 Grade Students will meet with their clubs before lunch.
  • 3-5 Grade Students will meet with their clubs after lunch.

  These clubs are designed to be both fun and educational, with an emphasis on character development. We are proud to incorporate our MBA Treehouse mottos into each club experience, helping students grow in key areas such as:

  • Responsibility
  • Respect
  • Service
  • Leadership
  • Courage
  • Perseverance

  Through these values, students will not only gain valuable skills but also deepen their understanding of what it means to be a positive, engaged member of our school community.

  We are excited about these new adventures and look forward to watching our students grow as they take part in these clubs. Thank you for your continued support as we work to enrich your child’s educational experience.

• Uniform Policy: Just a reminder that all outwear must be solid red, navy, or white (MBA Logos allowed only)

We appreciate the thoughtfulness of State Representative Chris Pringle. He visited our school just before the break to present us a check to be used to better our school and benefit our students. Thank you Mr. Pringle!

• January 6th - 3rd Quarter Begins
• January 14th - Class Pictures
• January 17th - 1st Semester Recognition Day
• January 20th - MLK Day - No School
• February 3rd - Virtual Day - No On Campus Learning for Students
• February 25th - Spring Pictures

We are excited to welcome Mr. Marshall Kearing (Coach K) to our staff as our PE Paraprofessional. We are excited to have you as part of our Mary B. family!

If your child is in need of cold weather gear (sweatshirts,/jackets/long sleeve shirts), make sure to visit the PTA store to place an order. Just click the MBA PTA pic to order.

It is with great pleasure that Mary B. Austin Elementary School announces Art from the Heart 2025! Mary B. Austin is located in the Spring Hill area of Mobile, AL and has approximately 500 students. At Austin, we are committed to providing the best education possible for all of our students. We are an innovative school that integrates foundational skills in the core subjects with 21st century skills such as communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity to fully prepare our students for their future. As part of our dynamic education, our administration, teachers, and parents feel strongly about the importance of arts education. The Mobile County School System generously provides weekly art instruction for 3rd-5th graders during the first semester of the school year. However, we feel it is vital for all students at Mary B. Austin to receive weekly art instruction during the entire school year. We are proud to say that since its inception, Art from the Heart has successfully raised the money to ensure every child in each grade can develop his or her artistic abilities and experience firsthand how fun the arts can be! As you can see, we feel very passionate about the arts at Mary B. Austin. As one of our students expressed, "Art class allows us to use our imagination and brings more color into the classroom."

Mary B. Austin Elementary’s PTA will host its 17th annual:

ART FROM THE HEART Tuesday February 11, 2025 - 6:00-8:00 p.m. Byrne Hall at Spring Hill College, 4307 Old Shell Road, Mobile, AL 36608

Live auction event featuring student artwork, music, food, and fun!

Our goal this year is to raise $40,000 so that we can continue to encourage creativity among our students. Listed below are our current sponsorship opportunities.

$3,500 - Presenting (Headline Sponsor)

$2,000 - Platinum

$1,000 - Gold

$500 - Silver

$250 - Bronze

$100 - Friend

Thank you! We hope you will consider being a sponsor and help support this worthy cause.

Please complete the online sponsorship form by clicking the link below or by scanning the QR code pictured.

https://forms.gle/wvz437AwucVYyGKQ6

$3,500 Presenting Company name and logo on all marketing materials; opportunity to speak briefly at event prior to live auction; company name featured and tagged in sponsored/shareable social media posts promoting the event; company name and logo featured in Lagniappe ad following the event; company name and logo featured on prominent event signage; 10 entry tickets.

$2,000 Platinum Company featured and tagged in sponsored/shareable social media posts promoting the event; company/individual name featured in Lagniappe ad following the event; company name and logo featured on prominent event signage; 8 entry tickets

$1,000 Gold Company/individual name listed in Lagniappe ad following the event; company/individual name listed on prominent event signage; 4 entry tickets

$500 Silver Company/individual name listed in Lagniappe ad following the event; company/individual name listed on prominent event signage; 3 entry tickets

$250 Bronze Company/individual name listed in Lagniappe ad following the event; company/individual name listed on prominent event signage; 2 entry tickets

$100 Friend Company/individual name listed on prominent event signage

Do you have budding filmmaker at home or a kid who just likes to make videos? MCPSS has the perfect opportunity for them with the 2025 MCPSS Film Festival! The purpose of the MCPSS Film Festival is to encourage student creativity, communication, and collaboration by providing an engaging platform and community recognition. It is a project of the MCPSS Department of Instructional Technology.

Our school has always had great representation at the festival and would love for your child to participate. Click here for more info. You can also contact Mrs. Gronowski at mgronowski@mcpss.com to find out more!

Happy New Year, Mary B. Austin families! January is the perfect time to focus on goal setting, a critical skill for success in school and life. Setting goals helps students develop focus, perseverance, and self-confidence as they work toward achieving their dreams.

This month, I’ll be teaching goal-setting lessons in all grade levels, helping students identify meaningful goals and create steps to achieve them.

Here are some tips to support goal setting at home:

• Talk about goals: Ask your child what they hope to accomplish this year, whether academic, personal, or extracurricular. Share goals you have set for yourself and progress you are making toward those goals.
• Make goals specific and manageable: Help your child break big goals into smaller, actionable steps.
• Celebrate progress: Recognize their effort and growth along the way.

Let’s work together to help our students start the new year with purpose and determination!

Wishing our Austin Innovator families all the best in 2025!

Stephanie Bradford

School Counselor

The school counseling program at Mary B. Austin is centered on meeting the needs of ALL students in the areas of academic achievement, social and emotional development, and career exploration. Our comprehensive program is specifically designed to ensure Austin Innovators build the knowledge and skills they need to thrive as kind, caring, and successful individuals equipped for bright futures. Contact Stephanie Bradford, School Counselor, at 251-221-1015 or sbradford@mcpss.com.

MCPSS is now conducting a soft roll-out of our new student information portal called MyPowerHub. Follow these steps to access your child's grades, attendance, assignments and more at https://mcpss.guardian.powerschool.com. If you try these steps and still cannot log on, contact the front office to make sure your information is set up correctly. If they cannot help you, they will give you information on how to contact our IT help desk.

Email: rterry@mcpss.com
Website: marybaustinelementary.com
Location: 150 Provident Lane, Mobile, AL, USA
Phone: 251-221-1015
Twitter: @MaryBAustin