Middle School Parent Resources

We want to thank the families, children, teachers, administrators, support staff and everyone who made the first grading period a success. In this second edition of the Middle School Parent Resources Smore, you will find information on how to access the Parent Cloud. Through the Parent Cloud parents will be able to access Parent Self Serve, where important student information on grades, attendance, and student schedules can be found. We are happy to announce that the Parent Self Serve now has an app, please see detail below. Through the Parent Cloud parents will also be able to sign up to receive various forms of communication via School Messenger. In this second edition, we've also included important updates from our Food Services department.

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via Let's Talk or by directly contacting your campus.

Go to my.austinisd.org to access the Parent Cloud. If you do not have a Parent Cloud Account, you can register for one online. The Parent Cloud serves as the primary resource for all of the services provided online to our parents. This site gives parents direct access into their child's classroom information, registration to your child's campus, district-wide information and links to other often used services.

Parent Self-Serve is the portal that allows parents to view their child's schedule, attendance, and grades. In addition, parents can email teachers and set notification alerts if they want to receive emails when their child has been marked absent or has a missing assignment. Go to Parent Self Serve for more information.

How Do I Access Parent Self-Serve?

Online:

1. Parents must first log into the ParentCloud (my.austinisd.org)*:

• TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (English)
• TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (Spanish)
• TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (Vietnamese)
• TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (Arabic)
• TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (Burmese)
  *NOTE: If you do not have a Parent Cloud account, please see "How to Create a Parent Cloud Account" instructions above.

2. Select the Parent Self-Serve tile in the Default row, and log in with the same credentials used to access the Parent Cloud. TEAMS Parent Self-Serve (English)

Mobile App:

The Parent Self-Serve is available in a mobile version on mobile devices:

• Parent Self-Serve Mobile
• Parent Self-Serve Mobile Spanish
• Parent Self-Serve Mobile Vietnamese
• Parent Self-Serve Mobile Arabic
• Parent Self-Serve Mobile Burmese

SchoolMessenger is the district's communication tool. Parents can set their preferred modes of district communication in the Cloud. Read more about SchoolMessenger >

Parents/Guardians can choose how to receive messages from Austin ISD that are sent by the District or Campus via SchoolMessenger and also from the teacher's gradebooks via Parent Self Serve. Below are instructions in PDF format that will guide you on how to set the types of messages you would like to receive:

• Instructions in English
• Instructions in Spanish
• Instructions in Arabic
• Instructions in Burmese
• Instructions in Vietnamese

BLEND allows parents to support student learning by providing a view of assignments, due dates, communication with instructors and more. BLEND is built upon the Canvas Learning Management System and offers a secure point of access for blended learning. To learn more, visit the BLEND Parent Tour.

Beginning the week of October 5, Austin ISD will transition from daily to WEEKLY free curbside meal service. This change is in response to community feedback, providing a more efficient and convenient meal pick-up option for families.

Each Thursday, starting October 8, curbside meal sites will provide free 7 day meal packs at more than 40 locations throughout Austin. These locations are listed below.

Families are advised to stay in their cars and not enter buildings during meal pick up. Families who come by walking/biking/transit will still be able to receive food outside the campuses.

AISD will continue to provide free, local Farm Fresh Boxes from The Common Market Texas through December 17 at specific AISD curbside meal sites.

The boxes feature locally grown produce, such as peppers, melons, squash, carrots and other seasonal staples. The Common Market Texas, a mission-driven distributor of sustainable, local farm foods prepare and deliver the produce boxes to AISD.

“We are thrilled to partner in this new way with Austin ISD,” said Margaret Smith, Director at The Common Market Texas. “At The Common Market, we fully recognize the role high-quality, local food can play in nutrition and overall good health. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are leaning on our mission to serve, and we are proud to be a part of the solution during this challenging time.”

Produce boxes are available at no cost to families with children under the age of 19. Children may accept the boxes, or they will be provided to the adults accompanying children or with documentation of the children they are picking meals up for.

The free produce box distribution program is made possible through funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

“COVID-19 has resulted in food insecurity well beyond what we’ve experienced in the past,” shared Aliya Hussaini MD, MSc, Portfolio Director of Health at the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. “Austin ISD has made a remarkable pivot, in a time of great uncertainty and need, to serve as a front line healthy food access point for children and families in our community. The Common Market is working nationally to ensure that families receive high-quality, nutritious food while also supporting farmers to distribute their product and support their employees’ livelihoods. This partnership will ensure more healthy food reaches the children and families who need it most.”

Distribution will take place as follows:

• Thursday, October 15
  • 7-9 a.m.: Padron Elementary
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Burnet Middle School, Dobie Middle School, Guerrero Thompson Elementary, McBee Elementary
  • 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Anderson High School
• Thursday, October 22
  • 7-9 a.m.: Gus Garcia Young Men’s Leadership Academy
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Hart Elementary, Lamar Middle School, McCallum High School, Pickle Elementary, T.A. Brown Elementary
• Thursday, October 29
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Blanton Elementary, Campbell Elementary, LBJ Early College High School, Oak Springs Elementary
  • 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Pecan Springs Elementary
• Thursday, November 5
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Galindo Elementary, Linder Elementary, Lively Middle School, Travis Early College High School
  • 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Dawson Elementary
• Thursday, November 12
  • 7-9 a.m.: Blackshear Elementary
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Allison Elementary, Govalle Elementary, Martin Middle School, Metz Elementary
  • 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Eastside Memorial Early College High School
• Thursday, November 19
  • 7-9 a.m.: Oak Hill Elementary
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Kocurek Elementary, Odom Elementary, Patton Elementary, Sunset Valley Elementary
• Thursday, December 3
  • 7-9 a.m.: Crockett Early College High School
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Casey Elementary, Houston Elementary, Kiker Elementary
  • 3:30-5:30 p.m.: Covington Middle School
• Thursday, December 10
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Blazier Elementary, Langford Elementary, Pleasant Hill Elementary, Rodriguez Elementary, Uphaus Early Childhood Center
• Thursday, December 17
  • 7-9 a.m.: Widen Elementary
  • 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m.: Akins Early College High School, Paredes Middle School, Perez Elementary, St. Elmo Elementary

Produce boxes are available until they run out.

Website: https://www.austinisd.org/letstalk
Phone: (512)-414-9187
Twitter: @AustinISD