Pony Express

Winter Band Concert on Monday, December 9th - 6:30 PM

Please join us at the O. Henry Winter Band Concert on Monday, December 9th at 6:30 PM in the gym. Our band students have been preparing some fun holiday music and are looking forward to sharing it with the O. Henry community.

Beginning band students should arrive in the gym at 5:45 PM. All 7th/8th grade Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble members need to arrive in all black formal uniform by 6:00 PM.

All groups will be finished by 7:30 PM. You can access the concert program HERE. To save paper, printed programs will not be available at the concert. We look forward to seeing everyone Monday evening!

WHO: All orchestra students will be performing.

WHAT: Winter Orchestra Concert between O. Henry, Mathews, and Austin High

WHEN: Wednesday, December 11th - 6:00 PM Performance start time. STUDENTS MUST ARRIVE BY 5:00 PM TO TUNE AND WARM UP.

WHERE: Austin High School - Gymnasium. I believe we will have the Choir room to unpack and warm up in!

DRESS CODE: Please wear FORMAL CONCERT BLACK for this concert. (This means to wear full black - solid black shirt, formal black pants / long skirt (skirt length must be longer than knee length when sitting), black socks, black dress shoes.) This is NOT casual dress code like our previous Dia De Los Muertos / String Fest performances so far. We must also blend in with the shadows for this concert - read ahead!

Attached is a poster for the event - share with family and friends and encourage them to attend!

Please come watch to support our wonderful young musicians, and to hear some awesome music!

Our winter concert is a very cool and special opportunity for all of our orchestras to hear each other perform and watch the high school orchestra play. It's a very inspiring concert since our students can hear the high schoolers and see what they can become :)

Our setting is also quite unique - we turn off the lights, put special stand and bow lights on, and enjoy a sparkly and fun performance!

All concerts are mandatory for students and are counted for a major grade.

Please let me know if you have any questions about our winter concert.

As always, please refer to our year-long performance and social dates page to look ahead for future performances. Please click here for our orchestra calendar.

Happy practicing!
Ms. Uy

Rock your outfit with Holiday Socks 🧦
7:15 -- Jazz Band

9:00-10:00 Elementary schools visit OHMS-- OHMS student performances

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

6:30 Winter Band Concert

6–7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 Join via Zoom-- AISD Budget Talks

Tuesday, 12/10-C Day

Wear All White or dress like a snowman ⛄

5th Period- End of the Year Reminders

9:00 CTE Career Fair with Ms. Mann and Mr. Moise Class

Wednesday, 12/11-A day

Wear your favorite Plaid or Flannel Shirt

MAP Testing In ELAR and Algebra

1:45-2:15 ACES- Door Decorating and Gym Competitions

6:00 Orchestra Winter Concert at Austin High Large Gym

6:00/7:00-- 8th Grade Girls Basketball Game @Lamar

Thursday, 12/12- B Day
Wear your Festive or "Ugly" Sweater 👕

7:30 Student FCA in Big Gym

MAP Testing In ELAR and Algebra

1:45-2:15 ACES-Door Decorating and Gym Competitions

6:00/7:00-- 7th Grade Girls Basketball Game vs Lamar @OHMS

Friday, 12/13- C Day

Wear Red and White or dress like a candy cane.

MAP Testing Make Up

CTE projects Due

7:00 Hollidaze Aerial Showcase hosted at OHMS

Saturday,12/7

8:00-1:00 Run off Elections in OHMS Cafe

9:00/10:30 OHMS Boys Soccer vs Lively at OHMS

11 a.m.–noon, Saturday, Dec. 14 Join via Zoom-- AISD Budget Talks

7:00 p.m Saturday, 1:00 Sunday Hollidaze Aerial Showcase hosted at OHMS

Don't forget to subscribe and follow for more episodes.

• Please note, this week is only for boys who made the first cut.

  
  

  For PONY EXPRESS / WEEKLY BULLETIN / WEBSITE / CAMPUS CALENDAR

  7TH GRADE BOYS' BASKETBALL TRYOUTS CONTINUED

  (ONLY FOR THE BOYS WHO MADE THE 1ST CUT)

  Week of December 9-13, 2024

  M,12/9 & TU,12/10 @ 8:15am sharp (regular 1st period)

  W,12/11 & F,12/13 @ 7am sharp (PLEASE NOTE EARLY START!). Doors @ 6:45am.

  NOTHING on Thursday.

  Interested players must:

  • have a CURRENT AISD physical (dated after April 15th, 2024).
  • complete all Rank One UIL Online Forms
  • attend all tryout sessions.
  • be dressed and on the court @ scheduled start time
  • dress in athletic wear (basketball shoes recommended).
  • bring school clothes, towel, and toiletries.

  
  

  
  

Mustang Families, we are planning to host a grief and loss group for O. Henry students beginning on Friday, December 6th. If you would like your student to be part of this group, or would like more information, please email ivy.claflin@austinisd.org (OHMS counselor).

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

Parent involvement is what makes a school GREAT!

We have NEW office volunteer opportunities on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons between 1:30 and 3:30!! The staff would love any amount of time you are able to help out! SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE OFFICE or email Brooke

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:

• Austin ISD now directly manages all volunteers through the Voly platform, including running background checks.

School-Based Volunteer
School-based volunteers help address campus needs throughout the school year. From field trip chaperones to volunteering to organize a school-wide event, numerous opportunities exist to help Austin ISD schools achieve their goals.

Interested in volunteering at an Austin ISD campus? Visit our volunteer management platform to get started with your background check.

Austin ISD invites families, staff and community members to a virtual conversation about the district’s plan to reduce the $92 million deficit over the next three years. Find out how we’re considering reducing costs and share your input on the proposed plan.

District leaders are committed to creating a sustainable budget plan while also being cautiously optimistic about the possibility of additional funding coming out of the next legislative session.

• With a three-year cascading budget plan, the hardest cuts would be pushed to future years for possible implementation.

Conversations will be in English and Spanish.

• 6–7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 Join via Zoom

• 11 a.m.–noon, Saturday, Dec. 14 Join via Zoom

Salute is Austin ISD’s annual celebration to recognize some of the district’s outstanding team members for their continued dedication to student excellence and achievement in our schools.

Nominations for 2025 Salute Awards are now open!

District staff, families, and the community are invited to submit a nomination for a campus staff member they believe represents the very best of Austin ISD.

The Salute Awards recognizes campus-based staff members in TEN categories. The winners will be celebrated at our Salute Awards ceremony, where we will also honor Teachers of Promise and Teachers of the Year.

Nominations will close January 15 at 5pm.

All Austin ISD staff, students, family, and community members are invited to nominate Austin ISD staff members in the following categories:

• Campus Clerical/Office Support Staff of the Year
• Teaching Assistant of the Year
• Custodial/Facilities Maintenance Staff of the Year
• Transportation Staff of the Year
• Food Service/Warehouse Staff of the Year
• Campus Safety and Security Staff of the Year
• Librarian of the Year
• Counselor of the Year
• Assistant Principal of the Year (Includes Academy Directors & Academic Deans)
• Principal of the Year

Click here to submit your nominations!

Check out last year's Salute Winners and Finalists below!

Salute | Austin ISD

We are excited to share the details of our upcoming Family Empower Hour sessions which provide valuable information and support to our students' families. The Family Empower Hour schedule is also available on the external AISD Special Education website. Families can also access recordings from previous offerings, as well.