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Pony Express

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pony ExpressWEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Principal Update

Mustang Families,

Now that we are officially into September I wanted to share another round of helpful information with our students and families of things happening this week.

  • Counselors Visiting Classrooms This Week: We are excited to share that our middle school counselors will be visiting classrooms over this coming week to share valuable resources and conduct a needs assessment. These visits are an important opportunity for students to learn about the support services available, from academic guidance to social-emotional resources.

    • During these sessions, counselors will provide tools and information to help students navigate middle school challenges, and they'll ask for feedback to better understand the needs of each student. This will allow us to tailor our services to best support everyone in their academic and personal growth.

    • Building a positive relationship with the school counselor is crucial for every student. School counselors are here to listen, guide, and assist in overcoming any challenges that may arise. By establishing a connection, students will feel more comfortable seeking help when needed, which fosters a sense of belonging and contributes to their overall well-being.

    • We encourage students to take advantage of these visits, ask questions, and engage with their counselors, creating a supportive environment where everyone can thrive!

      • Reach out to Rachel Price (Last Name A-L) or Ivy Claflin (Last Name M-Z) if you have any questions or concerns.

  • Progress Reports are issued every 3 weeks. These serve as a communication tool between teachers, students, and parents/guardians. Their purpose is to provide an overview of academic performance and progress in various subjects. They are more informal that report cards but they can help students know how they are doing before the 9-week reporting period is over.

    • It is a snapshot in time which helps everyone identify areas for improvement or celebrations.

    • They can help support and encourage responsibility. Middle school is a key time for developing self-discipline and accountability, and progress reports help reinforce that. Students can attend tutorials if they need more assistance staying organized, previewing materials or support in an area not yet mastered.

    • Check out the teacher's tutorial schedule and BLEND pages for more information.

  • Upcoming NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing in Math and ELAR: These assessments are designed to measure your child's academic growth in reading, math, and language over time. Unlike traditional tests, the MAP test adjusts its difficulty based on your child's answers, providing a personalized assessment experience.

    • The purpose of this test is not to assign grades but to identify areas where your child excels and where they may need additional support. The results will help teachers tailor instruction to meet the individual needs of each student.

    • We encourage you to ensure your child is well-rested and prepared on the day of testing. Please remind them that this is just one way we track progress, and it’s an opportunity to celebrate their growth.

    • Students will use an AISD school computer during the assessments for monitoring, use of testing accommodations, and calculators.

    • Following the assessments, teachers will share reports with students and families. Families can also access their individual student scores on the Portal.


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

☮️,❤️,and 🐴’s,

Marlo Malott

Happening This Week

School Calendar

Monday, 9/9 C Day

  • Counselors visiting 8th Grade US History for Needs Assessment
  • MAP Testing in ELA and Math Classes
  • Progress Report #1 Closes today


Tuesday, 9/10 C Day

  • Counselors visiting 6th Grade World Cultures for Needs Assessment
  • MAP Testing in ELA and Math Classes
  • Football versus Small Middle School at House Park
    • 7A at 6:00
    • 8A at 7:30


Wednesday,9/11 A Day

  • MAP Testing in ELA and Math Classes
  • 4:00 VB C Team-- Red vs. White in Large Gym
  • Football versus Small
  • 6:00 7th B at Small, 8th B at OHMS


Thursday, 9/12 B Day

  • 7:30 a.m. FCA Leadership Meeting in Big Gym
  • MAP Testing in ELA and Math Classes
  • Volleyball versus Kealing -- 7th at OHMS, 8th at Kealing
    • 6:00 B Team, 7:00 A Team


Friday, 9/13 C Day

  • Counselors visiting 7th Grade Tx. History for Needs Assessment
  • Cross Country at HCISD Invitational



SAVE THE DATE: School Pictures on 9/19-9/20

FCA Club

FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) is almost ready to start! We are currently looking for 6th through 8th grade students who are interested in being leaders for our huddle meetings.


If your student is interested, we are having a leadership meeting this Thursday morning at 7:30am in the big gym.


We are also looking for parents who may be interested in sponsoring/bringing a small breakfast (typically donuts or breakfast tacos) for our Huddle meetings every other Thursday. If interested, please email Ryan.Richter@austinisd.org



Ryan Richter

Athletic Coordinator/Physical Educator

O. Henry Middle School

SAVE THE DATE- ROUND UP 2024

Meet Our Mustangs

In this section

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

Athletics News

Cross Country

Congratulations to the O. Henry cross country team for competing at the St. Andrews Invitational last Friday. The boys team placed 4th overall.


Sully Hoge placed 17th, Peter Hadlock placed 12th, and Jude Wilson placed 2nd and set a new school record of 10:59. Way to go Mustangs!

C Team Volleyball Updates

The 7th and 8th C volleyball team practices will be RED on Wed at 7:15 and WHITE on Thurs at 7:15. If they are unsure which team they are playing on they can attend either practice.


The first scrimmage RED vs WHITE is scheduled for 9/11 at 4 pm. There is also a scrimmage 9/18 RED/WHITE vs St. Andrews at 4:30 @ O. Henry.

More information to come.

Volleyball -7th and 8th

Football-7th Gr

Football-8th Gr

PTA News

Join the O. Henry PTA!

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!

Calling All Volunteers

NEW-Volunteer Sign Up- NEW Background Check Called "VOLY"

AISD is asking all volunteers to get a background check and have hours logged for reporting purposes. Luckily, they have provided a new software program called "VOLY" that is easy and simple to use.


If you plan on volunteering at O. Henry in any aspect this year (Mustang Mall, Clubs, Round Up, Front Office. ), please register to volunteer with Voly at https://austinisd.voly.org. Volunteer opportunities will be posted in our newsletters soon.

VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!

3 GREAT ways you can help:


  1. Volunteer in the front office! It's easy and a great way to get to know the staff - especially for new 6th grade parents. SIGN UP HERE TO VOLUNTEER IN THE OFFICE


We are looking for volunteers to help our wonderful front office staff during the school day. Basic duties include checking students and visitors in/out, assisting the staff with light tasks as needed, and answering the phone. It's a great opportunity to learn more about OHMS for new and returning parents! Contact Brooke Salman (brookesalman@gmail.com) for more information, or sign up here. Recurring and single shifts are available.


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

THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers!

We appreciate Adrienne Williams, Samara Hull, Tara Heavner, Brooke Salman, Lee Kinser, Becky Hatcher and Jennifer Pac for signing up to help out in the office this week!

Mustang Round Up!

Join us at O. Henry on Friday, Sept. 27, 2023 from 3:30-6:30 PM for a fun-filled evening for the entire family. We need sponsors and donors!! Round Up is our primary PTA fundraiser, so if you own a local business or would like to donate, act now! Banner recognition deadline is September 20, but any amount from $5 to $5000 is appreciated and needed! CLICK HERE TO GET WRISTBANDS, TICKETS AND TO SIGN UP TO SPONSOR OR DONATE!

THANK YOU to our generous sponsors as of Thursday, September 5th:

Stallion
HORIZON BANK
Kelly Legal Group
Lindsey and Will Majors
Rigby Slack Laurence Pepper + Commerford
The Harper Family
The Person Family
The Schlegel Family
The Shirk Family

Appaloosa
Anna and Ben Smith
Cameron and Anne Campbell
Heritage Tree Care
Jennifer and Jimmy Murchison
Kelley and Joe Newberry
Kindred Realty Group
The Edmonds Family
The Hadlock Family
The Maloney Family
The Matetich Family
The Skloss Family


Clydesdale
The Barksdale Family
The DiRe Family
The Jester Family
The Krieg Family


Quarterhorse
Martha and Matt Mangum
Mary Emma Partain - COMPASS
Meredith and Alan Marks
The Hargis Family
The Hartmann Family
The Lanham Family

Upcoming Important August PTA Dates:

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

October 3-4 - STUDENT HOLIDAY

October 10 - PTA Coffee

REPEAT INFORMATION

2024-2025 Bell Schedule

Attendance Office News

Attendance Office News

  • 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.

Attendance Office News

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

AISD App-- New Way to Communicate

What is Changing? How to Stay Updated.

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!

GT Nomination Window Now Open

GT Nominations

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.

Transportation and Traffic

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.

Community Information

AYF Clubs for Middle School Students

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

Marlo Malott
Marlo is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters