Hornet Herald

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful weekend! My family had to divide and conquer this time around. I got to be a proud band dad as my daughter participated in the Band of America competition in Round Rock, while my wife traveled to Oklahoma to cheer on our son during his football game.

Last week, our students continued taking the MAP assessment. Although the testing window was initially scheduled to close on Friday, the district has extended it until the end of the day on Tuesday, September 24th. If your student hasn’t yet completed both the Math and Reading assessments, please encourage them to connect with their teachers. This Beginning of Year data is crucial for tracking their growth throughout the year.

On another exciting note, our Stinger Store opened last week, and the energy from the students was incredible! They’ve been patiently saving their Hornet Tokens and were eager to spend them.

This week, we have some wonderful opportunities for you to engage with our school community:

• Monday, September 23rd at 8:30 AM: We’re hosting our first Kealing Connects Family Orientation meeting. If you’re available, we’d love for you to join us to get set up as a campus volunteer.
• Wednesday, September 25th at 6:30 PM: Join us for our first EF Tour Informational Meeting. Come learn about the exciting travel abroad opportunities we have for your students!
  
• Friday, September 27th at 7:45 AM: Join us for our first Principal's Coffee. This will be a great opportunity to engage in conversation with me and Ms. Aleman, our Parent Support Specialist.

We look forward to seeing you at these events and continuing to support your student’s success!

Mr. Estes

• September 23 - Football vs. Marshall (7th grade only)
• September 23 - Kealing Connects Parent Orientation
• September 25 - EF Tours Informational Night
• September 26 - Volleyball vs. Small
• September 27 - Principal's Coffee
• September 27 - PokeWorks Spirit Night
• September 30 - Football vs. Bailey
• October 2 - Volleyball vs. Murchison
• October 3 & 4 - No School
• October 5 - Orchestra Regional Auditions
• October 8 - Football vs. Murchison
• October 8 - Orchestra Concert
• October 9 - PSAT (8 grade only)
• October 9 - Band Concert
• October 10 - Volleyball vs TBD
• October 15 - 18 - Homecoming Week
• October 16 - Football vs. O.Henry
• October 17 - MacCallum Visits Kealing (8th grade only)

Each week, we will recognize our fellow Hornets who exemplify our campus-wide values and who have been MEETING and EXCEEDING our campus-wide expectations. We are ALL working hard each day to show each other and our school community kindness, respect, loyalty and safety. Here are this week's salutes.

From Ms. Luna: Penelope Anton showed excellence in her Percy Jackson project! She successfully used an ELA skill “How to quote an Author” in her Monster project. Way to go using skills across class subjects!

From Ms. Lorenz: Benjamin Jaimes has been doing awesome in US history this year. He has been dedicated to doing his work thoroughly and is respectful to both his teachers and peers in class.

From Ms. Morgan: Bea Tynes is a very conscientious student who always does her best. She also has kind words for everyone to make them feel special.

From Ms. Morgan: Rida Verma is so smart, hard-working, and kind. Her enthusiasm for school and positive attitude are beyond admirable.

Congratulations to this week's Stinger Salute recipients!

I had the pleasure of catching up with some of our students again this week to hear about their standout moments. Here’s what they had to share:

"It is hard to pick just one highlight because I like all of my classes. They are all fun this year" - Belinda Moore - 8th Grade Student

"I love my Harry Potter, ELA, and Student Council classes but hanging out with my friends is the best." Sophia Suarez - 7th Grade Student

"I think my highlight has been football this week. I like all of the coaches and being with my teammates" Henry Flesher - 8th Grade Student

Over the past few weeks, there have been several school threats reported in the area and across the nation, many of which turned out to be "pranks" circulated on social media. While these may seem like jokes to some, they are taken very seriously.

Please take a moment to talk with your student about the consequences of making threats toward a school, even if they are playing. All threats are thoroughly investigated by campus and district leadership, the AISD Police Department, and local law enforcement agencies.

We want to assure you that we have not received any threats as a campus. Should a threat be made, it is AISD policy to communicate quickly with families to keep everyone informed.

On Friday, Austin ISD Leadership, along with other local leaders, held a press conference to address the seriousness of these incidents. You can watch the full press conference.

If you haven't already done so, please complete this year's Income Verification Form (IVF) through Enroll Austin. If your family is new to the district, you should have already completed the form. Our returning families will need to finish your annual registration forms. This information will determine if Kealing is eligible for additional funding for the 2025-26 school year. All Economic Income Verification Forms must be submitted on or before October 25, 2024.

The Gifted and Talented Nomination window has opened and will be open until Monday, October 7, 2024.

• Does your child ask questions about the world around them?

• Does your child create new things with the learnings that they have inquired about?

• Does your child tend to have a great interest in adult social topics and tends to provide you with their opinions?

Then you should nominate your child for the Gifted and Talented Program. You have until Monday, October 7th to nominate your child and complete the Parent/Caregiver GT Observation Form, CLICK HERE to access the form.

1. Please complete the form then after submitting the form there will be a Thank you at the top of your screen;

2. Please scroll down to complete the Parent/Caregiver GT Observation smartsheet. It will take less than 10 minutes to complete both parts;

If you are uncertain if your child is identified as Gifted and Talented in the next few weeks Ms. Williams will be sending out a welcome letter to let you know that your child will continue to receive advanced academic services at Kealing Middle School. If your child was identified as Gifted and Talented in elementary school then that will continue in middle and high school so there is no need to nominate your child again.

Please see this informational LINK for the district guided Virtual Information Session that will take place on September 24 at 6:00 PM or September 25 at 12:00 PM.

For more information or questions regarding the Gifted and Talented program at Kealing Middle School please contact RoLanda Hood Williams at rolanda.williams@austinisd.org.

The Stinger Store officially opened on Friday. Students were excited to cash in their Hornet Tokens and to see a few new items on the menu. Our Hornets have been doing an excellent job at displaying Kindness, Respect, Loyalty, and Safety this year, with some students counting out more than 40 Hornet Tokens. Mr. Estes is worried about how many catered lunches he may need to provide this year.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Stinger Store, sign up here or email Assistant Principal Mantequilla Green (mantequilla.green@austinisd.org). Come join us in the excitement!

The first Kealing Connects Orientation will take place on Monday, September 23rd at 8:30 am. We hope to see you all there.

Kealing Connects is a community engagement initiative, created by teachers, administrators, and the PTA to provide positive support for Kealing students. The goal is to continue to promote a culture of respect and increase well-being on campus. We are seeking volunteers to care, connect and have a consistent and positive presence on campus.

After we gather interest, we will match your availability and coordinate shifts. Volunteers are also required to complete a background check through voly.org and attend a one-hour orientation session with Kealing staff (offered monthly).

Please fill out THIS SURVEY so we can take the next steps to prepare you for your time at school.

If you are a returning volunteer, please let us know your availability for this year! You WILL NOT need to attend the orientation again. You WILL need to register and complete a background check through Voly.

Interested in learning more about international travel opportunities for your student? Join us for our EF Tours Travel Night on Wednesday, September 25th from 6:30-7:30pm. We have tours going to Italy & Germany and the Galapagos Islands in 2025, and tours to Japan and Greece in 2026. You must RSVP to attend this event using the links below!

RSVP for Italy & Germany: https://bit.ly/3ASl2M4

RSVP for Greece (and to learn about reserving one of the final spots for our 2025 Galapagos trip): https://bit.ly/4eebmKj

RSVP for Japan: https://bit.ly/4elw1fH

Attention STEM lovers! STARBASE 2.0 - an after school STEM program for 6th graders - is coming to Kealing, September 17th, 2024! In STARBASE, students will learn how to build and launch rockets, study the brain, drive rovers, and fly drones - just to name a few things!

Come join us every Tuesday, from 3:00-4:30pm, in room 113!

📚 Love classic literature? Enjoy a good cup of tea or cocoa?

Be a part of the Tea & Ink Society! We dive into a new literary classic each month, meeting weekly to discuss different sections of the book and share our thoughts.

🍵 What to expect:

One classic book per month
Weekly discussions to explore and analyze different parts of the book
A cozy atmosphere with tea, cocoa, and friends
A welcoming space to share ideas and engage with timeless stories

📅 Meetings:
Every Thursday after school until 4:00 PM

📍 Location:
212 (Ms. Payan's Classroom)

🗓️ First Meeting:
October 3rd

Bring your love for books and an open mind! Everyone is welcome.
For more information, see Ms. Payan.

The MathCounts Contest is an annual nationwide middle school competition. The goal of the MathCounts Club is to expand and sharpen your mathematical abilities and problem solving skills. It also helps to prepare for the upcoming School and Travis Chapter MathCounts contest in December and February respectively.

Meets every Thursday in the fall semester from 3pm - 4pm in room 201.

On October 30th Ms. Hill will be hosting the Annual Mathworks Math Contest (MMC) at Kealing, after school from 3:15pm - 5:15pm. The MMC is a free and challenging math contest. It consists of 15 high-level problems. Students interesting in participating must complete this form.

https://forms.gle/P6vwqPK7h3CygamC7 by October 15th.

It was another strong performance by our Cross Country team and Run Club at the McNeil/Hoka Invitational.

The team was lead by top Kealing runners Cadence Virostko, finished 5th overall, and Charissa Higgs who finished 12th.

Great job again to all of our Cross Country and Run Club athletes.

We are so proud of our Hornet volleyball teams and the effort they put forth against Lively! Our 7A team may have faced a tough loss, but their teamwork and determination on the court were absolutely commendable. 7B, 8B, and 8A teams pushed through intense, nail-biting matches that all went to three sets—what an incredible fight!

This week, we look forward to taking down Small Middle School. Our 7th grades teams will be home while 8th grade teams will travel to Small.

As always, it takes a village to host successful home games. Your support means the world to our players, so if you’re able, please sign up to help with our upcoming events.

Together, we make these moments possible for our athletes!

The first games of the season for Kealing football were exciting. Our 7th grade team shut out Lamar Middle School 38-0. The 8th grade team fell to Lamar in a defensive game 12-0. We are proud of both teams.

This week our 7th grade team will be in action against Marshall Middle School at House Park. The game begins at 6pm.

Orange Shirt Day, also known as National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, recognizes the impacts of residential schools on Indigenous children, lifeways, and cultures. Orange Shirt Day is a day of mourning for Indigenous people in the U.S. and in Canada.

Orange Shirt Day is observed on September 30. Established in 2013 as a Canadian observance, Orange Shirt Day was started by Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, who left her home on the Dog Creek reserve in Canada in 1973 to attend boarding school. When she got to school, she was stripped and her clothing, including her favorite orange shirt given to her by her grandmother, was taken away.

Orange Shirt Day is a call to action. Participate in Orange Shirt Day by wearing orange on September 30th.

Two weeks ago, our 7th grade ELA classes had the pleasure of hosting local author Ms. Angela Shelf Medearis. She extended the students' learning by leading a Poetry Writing workshop that built upon their current ELA lessons. After the workshop, students had the opportunity to submit their poems to Ms. Medearis for review. Those who participated were eligible to earn certificates and gift cards as recognition for their work.

Enjoy a delicious Hawaiian meal and support Kealing at the same time.

Join us at Pokeworks (Anderson Lane location only) on Friday, Sept. 27th between 11am - 9pm.

Let them know you're dining in support of Kealing when you order. With every order, Pokeworks will donate 25% back to Kealing.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to recognize, honor and celebrate Hispanic Americans’ contributions to our history and culture. At Austin ISD, we’re taking time to embrace the vibrant and rich Hispanic culture. This year’s theme is Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.

Here is a list of upcoming events/series:

• Sept 27, 11:30 am - Room 440: Enriching the Language: Sayings and Proverbs in Spanish/Dichos y Refranes en Español: Enriqueciendo el Lenguaje.
• Oct. 4, 11:30 am - Board Room: Celebración de las Danzas Folklóricas Hispanas/Celebration of Hispanic Folk Dances.
• Oct. 11, 11:30 am - 7th Floor: Viva Style: Exhibición de Atuendos y Colores Tradicionales/Viva Style: Traditional Attire and Colors Showcase.
• Saturday Oct. 12: ¡Únete a la Fiesta! Join the Fiesta Talent Show Award Ceremony & Community Event, 11 a.m., Austin ISD Performing Arts Center, 1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd.

It is time to JOIN THE FIESTA!

We invite all students and staff to participate in the 2024 Join the Fiesta! Talent Show. Submissions are due by September 30. We have nearly $4,000 in prizes to distribute amongst the winners. The awards ceremony will take place at the Performing Arts Center on October 12.

Interested in performing. Here's the submission form.

Hello! My name is Sydney Jones and I am a senior at LASA High School. I attended Kealing from 2018-2021. Kealing was an essential part of my learning experience so I want to share this project. I am youth ambassadors for the World Literacy Foundation, a global nonprofit with a mission to lift youth literacy rates. I believe in the power of reducing poverty through literacy and the importance of education. Without fundamental skills such as reading and writing, people around the world are placed at a disadvantage. Currently, 750 million people worldwide are illiterate, and 258 million children are out of school. These individuals face economic, social, and health impacts that frame their quality of life. With the proper access to books and education, there are new doors opened to brighter futures with limitless opportunities. Our goal is to raise awareness to these issues at the communal level. Any money donated will go directly to the World Literacy Foundation to support their outreach programs. Donate to help us achieve our goal!

For more information, visit our website HERE

To donate, click HERE

Virtual: October 10-31, 2024

Austin ISD’s 10th annual dyslexia conference brings together researchers, parents, dyslexia therapists, teachers, related service providers, advocates, and other professionals to build understanding and application of improved support and services for students with dyslexia. This year’s conference will be virtual, on demand, and as always free for educators, families, and professionals starting Wednesday, October 10.

Keynote Speaker

Shauna Cotte, Keys to Literacy Vice President

• Keys to Literacy, The Key Vocabulary Routine, incorporates a combination of direct and indirect instructional practices that have been identified consistently in the research as most effective for growing student vocabulary in any subject area.