Hornet Herald

Hello families,

This past week was challenging. I spent a lot of time reflecting on practices which have impacted our campus climate. Legitimate concerns were voiced related to several areas including communication and teacher morale. I take ownership for making immediate and long term improvements for our staff and students. I have scheduled an additional Principal's Coffee meeting this Thursday at 8 am to share specific concerns and feedback gathered, communicate action plans, and answer questions families may have. If you have burning questions or concerns prior to that please feel free to reach out to me directly. I will do my best to reply within 48 hours.

1/28 - Receive budget for 2022-2023 school year

1/31 - Share budget details with staff

2/3 - Share budget details with PTA

2/3 & 2/4 - 7th grade choice sheets through the Social Studies Classes (choices will influence budget decisions)

2/17 - share budget details & workshop with CAC

3/3 - Budget workshop with PTA

3/11 - Budget due to AISD

4/15 - CAC signature Sheets due

Hornet Families,

The second gift drop for secret pals will be on February 15th and 16th. This is a great way that we show some love to our teachers. If you missed sign ups for secret pals and would like to participate, send an email to secretpals@kealingpta.org.

We have been testing a new communication tool that can be used for volunteer sign ups, directory, announcements, donations and more. We will be launching the directory aspect very soon. Watch for more information through the herald, the facebook group and school messenger.

Not a Kealing PTA member, yet? Click the link below to join Kealing PTA.

https://www.kealingpta.org/

Happy Holidays!

The Kealing PTA Executive Board

Instructional Initiatives

1.) Daily Formative Assessment

2.) Literacy in Every Classroom

3.) Standards Aligned Instruction

4.) Progress Monitoring

Academic Goal

Utilizing an array of assessments (MAP- Measure of Academic Progress, SCA - AISD Short Course Assessment, and STAAR - State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), the percentage of each demographic/special group of students performing at the meets level in Math & English will increase by at least 5% - 10% from August 17th, 2021 to May 27th,2022.

All Day

Mask wearing is mandatory

Before School

All staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to self screen for COVID 19 symptoms before entering into a campus or other Austin ISD Facilities each day

Arrival

- We will maintain outdoor markers to social distance

Transition

- we will encourage moving halls where students are encourage to not stop while transitioning to classes

- staggered release

Classrooms

- We are seating/desks at least 3 feet apart when feasible

- Each classroom has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration unit

- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each room

- Plexiglass dividers available

- Additional outdoor seating (2 outdoor classrooms & the courtyard if teachers plan to use)

Breakfast & Lunch

- Assigned seating

- Students are allowed to eat lunch both inside the cafeteria and outside in the courtyard

- Plexiglass accordian dividers

-Volunteer lunch monitors

- The courtyard comfortably seats 4 classes, which is from 25% - 100% of the lunch capacity for each lunch period.

Dismissal

- we will have staggered dismissal where scholars will be dismissed by areas of the building to reduce traffic.

Monday - February 7th - A Day (1st - 4th Periods)

Admission decisions mailed out

Tuesday - February 8th - B Day (5th - 8th Periods)

PTA coffee Cart

Wednesday - February 9th- A Day (1st - 4th Periods)

Thursday - February 10th - B Day (5th - 8th Periods)

Principal's Coffee 8:00a - 9:00a, Click Here for Zoom Link

Kealing Boys Basketball vs Burnet Middle School @ 6p & 7p

Friday - February 11th - No School (AISD Holiday)

Annie Play in KMS Auditorium @ 7pm

Email laurie.pena@austinisd.org if interested in tickets.

Seating is limited due to Stage 5 restrictions and masks must be worn

Saturday - February 12th

Annie Play in KMS Auditorium @ 7pm

Email laurie.pena@austinisd.org if interested in tickets.

Seating is limited due to Stage 5 restrictions and masks must be worn

Sunday - February 13th

Annie Play in KMS Auditorium @ 2pm

Email laurie.pena@austinisd.org if interested in tickets.

Seating is limited due to Stage 5 restrictions and masks must be worn

2/16 - COVID 19 Vaccine Clinic at KMS cafeteria, 4p-8p

2/17 - CAC February Meeting

2/17 & 2/18 - Homework Hiatus

In an effort to say "thank you" to Kealing's wonderful faculty and staff, Kealing PTA organizes coffee carts at least twice a year. We will have our first coffee cart of 2022 on Tuesday, 2/8. We will need volunteers to set up the carts and take them from room to room on both floors. Fresh bakery goods have to be dropped between 7-7:30 on Tuesday. But non-perishable items and packed goods can be dropped at the front main office on Monday 2/7. Please direct your questions Sarah Tower at vpta@kealingpta.org Thank you for your support!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4AADAC29ABFD0-kealing2

Mask requirements: All students, staff, and audience members are required to wear masks at all indoor performances. Student-performers will be masked at all times, including dressing areas and while performing. Audiences will be masked at all times.

Capacity: Campuses will reduce capacity at events based on their performance venues and the anticipated size of the audience to ensure social distancing between members of different households.

Health screenings: Student performers will be verbally screened daily to confirm everyone at the rehearsal or performance feels healthy and self-report if they’re experiencing any symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, or cough. Audience members will also be expected to self-screen before entry.

Anyone who has symptoms should not attend any school event. If audience members purchased tickets and are no longer able to attend, please consider donating your tickets back to your campus program or you may also request a refund.

Throughout the month of December NJHS held a winter wear drive, and was able to collect over 200 clothing items. These items were used to create a winter closet for the Kealing Community. We were able to help so many families and community members only because of YOU! Now, we are looking to expand our service past the school community and into the greater Austin area.

- Our next student-selected service project is a COVID-19 Protection Drive in which we are asking the Kealing Community to donate PPE and other related items to unhoused Austin community members.
- We need disposable masks (preferably surgical masks, KN95s, or N95s), hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes.
- The drive will run from February 1st through the 28th.
- Drop off items at Ms. Chambers’ room (116)

Hello community! Thank you so much for showing up for Kealing time and time again! Be it your time, your talent, or your treasure--we appreciate you! Supplies are running low again and many of y'all know we basically do not have a supply budget as we previously had. Additionally, we are working hard to welcome refugee students to our campus. Their teachers providing resources to engage them and make them feel supported, so we have included several books and language acquisition resources to the Amazon wish list. I cannot express how much we appreciate you all. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/B7BQHNMLAOP?ref_=wl_share

The details: We've increased the base rate of substitute teacher pay for all levels. For example, degreed substitutes can now earn between $140 and $200 per day for filling a teacher assignment. We’ve also added compensation for supporting campuses when Austin-Travis County is in Stages 4 and 5.

• We also expanded our eligibility requirements so that people with fewer than 60 college credit hours are eligible to work in elementary or middle schools.

• Hopefully, we’ll get back to normal soon. In the meantime, if you know someone who would excel in a substitute role in AISD, point them to our website and encourage them to apply online.

Kealing prides itself on fostering a supportive & caring community, and one way it does that is through the Parent-Teacher Association. The PTA comprises families, teachers, administrators, students, and community members dedicated to enriching every student learning experience.

Your PTA membership makes Kealing a great community and unique learning environment. While our memberships number is at an impressive 486 members, we are 150 members short of the Texas PTA 3-year-high award. Let's finish this year with the largest PTA that Kealing has ever seen!!

To join the Kealing PTA hive, click the link below:
www.kealingpta.org

If you have Kealing PTA membership questions, please email Shannan Riemer, vpmembership@kealingpta.org.

Why Join PTA? Watch this video to learn more about why you should join the Kealing PTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzGtGcYdEFs

Please contact Kealing membership VP, Shannan Riemer, vpmembership@kealingpta.org, with any membership questions, comments, or concerns.

Hello Hornets Community! Yearbook recognition ads are currently available through the Josten's website (www.jostens.com > search Kealing)! Recognition Ads a great way for parents, families and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. Limited ads are available so be sure to secure your space now! Recognition and Personalized Yearbook Ads start as low as $35!

How To Order Guide (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1b6bv9eEqfKqLAyzyyYIIeYCaz3_e_xXY/view?usp=sharing)

Thank you for all your generous contributions to our campus! We appreciate you and all the many ways you show up for our Kealing Community. We have started a Community Donates spreadsheet in order to repurpose household items to our campus. There are two ways to contribute--1. Drop off the requested item to the front office labeled with the requesting teacher's name. 2. If you have item(s) to offer that might have a second life on our campus, please add a description to the spreadsheet. Teachers can then go in and claim the item. HERE is a link to the spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IOK7cMk99UZtIQcClIWNQ8Wgc3_nBQ0tBrj7amKXLro/edit?usp=sharing

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