Pony Express

We are excited to remind you about our upcoming Fall Carnival and Fundraiser, "Round Up!" happening this Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 PM. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to come together for an afternoon of fun, food, and games while supporting our school. We can't wait to see you there! Please dive into the newsletter to learn more about volunteering, donations, and how your Mustang can get tickets. If you need financial assistance to attend, please contact your Mustang’s counselor.

This week is also Spirit Week! Each day will have a different theme, and we encourage all students to participate and show their school pride. In addition to the themed days, we invite everyone to come out and support our Football team on Tuesday at our Homecoming Game against Paredes where our Band and Cheerleaders will also be performing. On Thursday night you can cheer in the stands for our Volleyball teams as they play their Homecoming Game against Lively. Your presence can make a big difference to our fine arts and student-athletes!

We are also excited to celebrate our Hispanic Heritage Month and students can enter the AISD Talent Show by Monday, 9/30 , where our students will showcase their amazing talents and highlight Hispanic culture. It promises to be a fantastic event, and we hope many students will submit their entries.

As we approach the 6th week of school, please remind your student to check their grades. While this is just a progress report, the 6 weeks grades (finalized on Monday, 9/30) will count towards eligibility for students participating in school sports and activities. Students needing to retake assessments or submit any missing work should attend tutorials to ensure they remain eligible.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Friday afternoon for a fun-filled event at our Round Up ! Fall Carnival. Thank you for your continued support of our school!

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

☮️, ❤️, and 🐴’s,
Marlo Malott

Monday, 9/23 C Day

• 5th period STIR time- always have a book with you

Tuesday, 9/24 C Day

• 5th 4-SEL Lesson
• 4:30 7th VB B Team Scrimmage vs. Texas School for the Deaf at OHMS
• 5:30 C Team VB White Scrimmage vs. Texas School for the Deaf at TxSD
• 6:00 (7A) and 7:30 (8A) ---Homecoming Game-- A Team Football vs Parades at House Park--
• Band and Cheer Performing
• Buy your ticket in advance (see below)

Wednesday,9/25 A Day

• 10:40 Evacuation Drill during 3rd period
• 4:30 7C Volleyball vs. Texas School for the Deaf at TxSD

Thursday, 9/26 B Day

• 6:00 and 7:00 Volleyball vs. Lively; 7th at OHMS, 8th at Lively

Friday, 9/27 C Day

• Round Up! from 3:30-6:30
• 
  

Saturday, 9/28

Cross Country at Marble Falls Invitational

Friday, September 27th

3:30-6:30 p.m.

QUICK ROUND UP LINKS

BECOME A SPONSOR

VOLUNTEER for a 1-hour shift (or two!)

VOLUNTEER to help set up in the morning or clean up after the event

Please donate drinks for Round Up now through September 26th. We need cans of Sprite, Coke, Diet Coke and Dr. Pepper and 12 or 16-ounce bottles of water in 6-packs, 12-packs or cases. Drop off donated drinks in the office and mark them “For Round Up.”

Kids will need tickets ($5 for a card with 10 tickets) or a wristband ($30 for all-access to booths & games plus the dance) to participate in the booths and games at Round Up. Food and drinks will be cash only. Tickets and wristbands will be for sale at the event and during lunch the week of Round Up.

OHMS students and their middle school friends are invited to a dance in the gym during Round Up from 4:30-6:30. The $30 Round Up wristband will cover entry into the dance. There will be an option to purchase a $5 dance only wristband at the event.

Questions? Email Joy Speer at joymarshallspeer@gmail.com

Hello families of visual art students (Art 1, Art 2, and Art 3)! In order for the O. Henry Visual Art Program to offer as many unique projects and mediums as possible to our students, the visual art department is asking for families to contribute a one-time payment of $15 to the art program. This fee will go toward supplies and materials. See the link below and click on the "Art Class Fee" to pay. Thank you!

https://ohenry.myschoolcentral.com

Congratulations to the cross country team! Extreme weather conditions did not deter our runners from competing at the McNeil Invitational in Round Rock on Saturday.

A special shout out goes to Jude Wilson, who placed 7th and Peter Hadlock who placed 8th. The boys' team placed 6th overall. Way to go Mustangs!

Purchase tickets online via the Austin ISD Athletic app or at GoFan.co. Tickets will not be sold on campus or at the event. For any questions regarding issues purchasing your ticket online, please contact GoFan customer service at gofan2.zendesk.com.

Any resident of Austin ISD 60 years of age or older is eligible for an Austin ISD Athletics Annual Senior Pass. Pass holders are admitted to all Austin ISD home athletic events (except tournaments or playoff games) for the current school year. Proof of age is required. The cost is $35, and the card is good through the end of the current school year. Passes may be purchased with cash or check at the Athletic Office at Toney Burger Athletic Center at the address and times indicated above.

All visitors at Austin ISD athletic venues are required to follow the clear bag policy.

2023-24 Ticket Prices (note each ticket will incur a $1 processing fee):

Varsity Football:

• Adults $8/Students $5

Sub-varsity Football:

• Adults $5/Students $3

Middle School Football: Adults $4/Students $2

High School Volleyball, Basketball, Baseball, Softball and Soccer: Adults $5/Students $3

8th grade meets Tuesdays during A lunch

7th grade meets Wednesdays during B lunch

6th grade meets Thursdays during C lunch

We are currently reading:

8th grade - The Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson (young adult mystery)

7th grade - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (coming-of-age multi award winner)

6th grade - La Linea by Ann Jaramillo (realistic survival/adventure)

All students are welcome! Stop by the library to learn more.

Meet our Mustangs- You will have a chance each week to meet two members of our Mustang Family.

Hungry kids have trouble focusing, so get kids to eat before they come to class. Set up the night before so it’s one less thing to do in the morning. For teens, send a snack like protein bars or cheese sticks in backpacks if they don’t feel like eating right away.

Please, ensure your cell phone number and email address are correct (and that messages aren’t going to spam). Also, confirm that everyone on the school pickup list still is accurate. Sometimes these important details get overlooked and we cannot reach you or who you would like us to notify.

THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers!

Many thanks to our new Faculty/Staff Appreciation coordinators Lynn Kasten and Laura Cross as well as our new Secret Pals coordinator Anna Smith. We appreciate Lee Kinser, Samara Hull, Tara Heavner, Brooke Salman, Becky Hatcher, Beth Goldstein, and Jennifer Pac, and Rosa Pena for helping in the office last week!

1. VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!

   Ways you can help:

   1. Volunteer in the front office! We are especially in need of help tomorrow, Monday, for the 10:15am and 11:40am shifts. SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE OFFICE

   2. Sign up to fill openings on the PTA! Fill out this VOLUNTEER FORM to let us know what areas you are interested in volunteering and we will contact you with volunteer needs!! We are most in need of a Staff Appreciation Coordinator whose responsibilities include providing a gift or small treat with PTA funds for our wonderful staff during designated appreciation days throughout the year (email Pam Roberts if interested: pamelahaleroberts@gmail.com).

THOROUGHBRED

Tarrytown Pharmacy

STALLION

Allison & Trey Jackson

Benchmark Bank

Dalton and Victor Young

Emily and Clayton Chandler

Frost Bank

Horizon Bank

Jefferson Bank

Kelly Legal Group

Lindsey and Will Majors

Natalie and Trent Kelly

Rigby Slack Lawrence Pepper + Comerford

Sara and Austin Trantham

The Fox Family

The Harper Family

The Ip Family

The Person Family

The Roberts Family

The Schlegel Family

The Shirk Family

APPALOOSA

68 Degrees

Anna and Ben Smith

Anonymous

Cameron and Anne Campbell

Cecilia Allen

Chris Wooster Creative

Elisabeth and Zach Anderson

Heritage Tree Care

Jennifer and Jimmy Murchison

Kelley and Joe Newberry

Kindred Realty Group

Laverty Family

Lucas Tire & Auto Service

Lynn and Ryan Kasten

Melanie and Jim Dow

Pac Family

SWBC Mortgage Corporation

The Alexander Family

The Duckworth Family

The Edmonds Family

The Grethel Family

The Grigsby Family

The Hadlock Family

The Hershey Family

The Kolerich Family

The Maloney Family

The Matetich Family

The Norris Family

The Reed Family

The Rein Family

The Romano Family

The Skloss Family

The Williams Family

Torchy's Tacos

Upper Crust Bakery

Whitney Bludworth

CLYDESDALE

Adolfo Valadez and Alicia Zander

Anonymous

Boebel Family

Burnett Family

Cory & Danielle Older

Dierks Family

Dunlap-Goldsby Family

Fred L McGhee, Ph.D.

Jason & Kristi English

Rousseas Family

Segrest/Teeter Families

SMILES of Austin

Tarrytown Dance

The Allens

The Barksdale Family

The Butterworth Family

The DiRe Family

The Givens Family

The Gleason-Dillon Family

The Jester Family

The Krieg Family

The Nicolas Family

The Owens Family

QUARTERHORSE

Allison Jackson – Compass Real Estate

Estilo

Food! Food!

James and Jessica Scott

Joy Victory

Kevin Haines-Realty Austin

Martha and Matt Mangum

Mary Emma Partain – COMPASS

Meredith and Alan Marks

Rhoden Family

Scout Ventures/The Harrison Family

Tarrytown Texaco

The Birge Family

The Chen Family

The Clifton Family

The Darnell Family

The Fraser Family

The Gupta Family

The Hargis Family

The Hartmann Family

The Lanham Family

The Martyak Family

The Nehme Family

The Richey Family

The Rodenberg Family

The Salman Family

The Vertuno Family

The Worrell Family

Xio Goss

PALOMINO

Assanbayev

Crumley Family

Erika & Keith McKay

Gail and Larry Runyon

Glenn Chase

Goldstein Family

Kate Kyle

Melissa Matthys

The Kuhns

The Perico Family

The Steiner Hoang Family

Your membership in the PTA helps support the many valuable programs and activities that occur throughout the year at OHMS. Help us beat our goal of 248 members and JOIN THE PTA TODAY! Membership is $12 - It's the best investment you'll make this year!

September 27 - ROUND UP CARNIVAL 3:30 - 6:30pm

October 3-4 - STUDENT HOLIDAY

October 10 - PTA Coffee 8:30am

October 14- STUDENT HOLIDAY

Reminder: The 2024 Hispanic Heritage Talent Show call for entries is open until September 30. Submit videos of yourself or your children dancing, playing music or singing, as well as photos of drawings or paintings that celebrate Hispanic culture, for more than $4,000 in prizes! The award ceremony will take place Saturday, Oct. 12.

• Need to report an absence? Please do so within 2 days. All student absences are to be emailed to ohenry@austinisd.org
• Need to check out your student early from school? Please bring your ID to the office for check out. You may call ahead (512-414-3229) for us to send a pass, however an in-person check out is still required. NOTE: No early check outs will be accepted after 3:30 p.m.

At O. Henry Middle School, we believe that regular school attendance is crucial for your child's academic success and overall development. Consistent attendance not only helps students stay on top of their coursework but also fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline that will benefit them throughout their lives. Encouraging your child to attend school every day helps them stay connected with their peers and teachers, creating a more cohesive and supportive learning environment.

We kindly ask that you review the attached attendance slide deck, which outlines both Austin ISD and Texas attendance policies and laws. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive and productive school experience for all our students at O. Henry Middle School.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1nrhCEXu_cJckkuIw3ss9tlNISB-3TlvNjQlhdioX-gE/edit?usp=sharing

How to Stay Updated:

• Current Parents and Staff: Download the new AISD app and follow O. Henry Middle School to get all updates.

• Other Community Members: If you're a step-parent, grandparent, future parent, or simply interested in O. Henry Middle School download the app and follow us to stay informed.

App Features:

• Follow Multiple Schools: Once you have the app, you can follow all the schools your children attend.

• Customize Your Feed: You can set your preferred school as the default in the app settings, so you see updates from O. Henry Middle School without being distracted by other posts.

Action Steps:

1. Download the AISD app today. Look for the AISD apple with the white background.

2. Follow O. Henry Middle School within the app.

3. Set O. Henry as your default school in settings

Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to keeping you updated through the new AISD app!

The nomination window for GT identification is now open and will remain open until October 6th. This will be the only nomination window for this school year. To learn more about GT services in AISD and to submit a referral, click here. Please note that signing the form gives permission for your child to be tested and screened for the Austin ISD Gifted and Talented Program. Questions? Reach out to: Casi Cook (casi.cook@austinisd.org)

GT Family Information Session

1. In order to streamline the GT referral process for families, the GT Referral Window opened on the first day of school. The window will close on October 7 for campuses and Advanced Academics to move forward with GT assessment and screening.

2. Advanced Academics will host 2 virtual information sessions: one on Tuesday, September 24 at 6 PM and one on Wednesday, September 25 at 12 PM via this zoom link. Information can also be found on the Advanced Academics website.

Car Riders: To keep traffic flowing, follow the arrows on the map below. Be patient, student safety is our most important priority. To keep our Mustangs safe, do not drop off in back bus lot. If pickup is altered due to bad weather, a Schoolmessenger alert will go out from the Principal.

Bus Riders: Bus riders may only ride their assigned bus. Use the Bus Finder page to check which route you are assigned. Buses leave promptly at 3:57 PM each day - information about late buses will be available in coming weeks. Buses drop off and pick up on the east side of campus. For additional questions about transportation see AISD's website here.

Walkers/Bike Riders: If walking or biking to school please be safe and use crosswalks to get across streets. Bike racks are available for student use.

Here are the clubs we offer for middle school aged students:

Strong Girls Athletic Training | Tuesdays 4:20-5:20pm | 6th-8th grade

10K Race Training Group | Tuesdays 6-7pm | 3rd-8th grade

Middle School Biking Club | Wednesdays 4:30-6pm | 6th-8th grade

Kids Run Wild Trail Running Club | Saturdays 9-10:15am | 3rd-8th grade