Hornet Herald

It’s hard to believe we’ve already arrived in October! I hope this message finds you well as we continue moving through a busy and exciting fall semester.

We’re thrilled to keep celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with events and activities that honor the rich history and culture of Hispanic and Latinx communities. Additionally, we’re gearing up for Homecoming Week, which promises to be a fun and festive time for all our students and staff!

October also marks the start of our PTA’s No Hassle Fundraising Campaign. Be on the lookout for impact statements from our students and staff, along with more information on how you can participate. Your donations go a long way in supporting our programs and enhancing the experience for all students.

Last Friday, we held our first Principal’s Coffee of the year, and I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the families who joined us in person and virtually. We had wonderful conversations, shared resources, and exchanged ideas, all aimed at improving the experiences of our school community.

I want to give a big shout-out to our students for their hard work in completing MAP testing over the past few weeks. We’re proud of the strong scores we’ve seen so far! We will be sharing scores with students soon and helping them set goals for the Middle of Year and End of Year assessments. Great job, everyone!

Lastly, a reminder about the upcoming schedule. School is in session Monday through Wednesday this week. On Thursday, our staff will participate in a Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS) Professional Development Day to ensure staff have skills and strategies to ensure all students receive the support they need to succeed. On Friday, school will be closed in observance of Rosh Hashanah.

Thank you for your continued support, and I look forward to another great month ahead!

Mr. Estes

• 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 (8th grade only)
• October 9 - Band Concert
• October 10 - Volleyball vs TBD
• October 14 - No School
• 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. Jones: Denzel Hardeman has shown perseverance and dedication to his learning in U.S. History this fall. His hard work and willingness to participate is only outdone by his kindness towards others. Denzel, our class is better because you are in it!

From Ms. Garcia: Antonio Richardson is dedicated to arriving on time every time and putting forth positive and focused efforts. Way to go Antonio!

From Ms. Morgan: Keylin Castillo-Ramirez has shown great persistence and dedication in Food for Thought by correcting mistakes and making her work even better.

From Ms. Morgan: Solomon Kirchner's enthusiasm in Food for Thought took him to a Turkish restaurant in Austin. The owner was so impressed with Solomon’s research and knowledge about Turkish food and culture, he offered him a free meal for Solomon and a friend!

From Ms. Tasneem: KUDOS to Belinda Moore for demonstrating the value of respect in science! Belinda consistently shines by showing up on time, completing her work with dedication, and serving as a positive role model for her peers. Her respectful attitude toward her classmates and her commitment to learning make her standout in class. Keep up the great work, Belinda—you are truly setting the bar high!

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:

"I've enjoyed every day of school this week but I really liked working on my memoir in Ms. Saldana's ELA class." Kylie Copeland - 6th Grade Student

"The highlight of my week was getting my science grade up to a B. Elhamullah Zadran

- 8th Grade Student

"I have enjoyed getting to know new people this week. I've also had a lot of fun in Ms. Bazan's World Culturees class learning about different cultures and stereotypes" Samarth Anchoori - 6th Grade Student

"My highlight has been planning out Homecoming Week in Student Council. I am really excited for Twin Day." Mi'Elle Porter - 8th Grade Student

A reminder that students will not attend classes on October 4, 2024 for the observance of Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is blowing the shofar (ram’s horn) on both mornings of the holiday. This normally takes place in the synagogue as part of the day’s services. Families enjoy traditional food such as round challah bread, apples dipped in honey, and other foods that symbolize hopes for a sweet year. It is also customary to light candles, attend synagogue, and have meals with family and friends.

If you would like to learn more about this important holiday, please review these resources:

• This video from the Jewish Educator Project reviews key aspects of the holiday.

• This printable book from The Little Compass contains activities and games to teach young children about the holiday.

As we approach the October 25, 2024 deadline for the submission of Income Verification Forms (IVF), we encourage all families to complete the Parent Survey (English, Spanish). Results from the IVF could result in additional funding for our campus. All Economic Income Verification Forms/Parent Survey must be submitted on or before October 25, 2024.

Your student will take the PSAT 8/9 October 9, 2024. This coming week students will be provided with the PSAT 8/9 Student Guide link and a few hard copies will be available in their science classes. Also happening this week, 8th grade students will complete the Readiness Check in their science classes.

The Readiness check will consist of the following:

• Sign-into Bluebook, the system that College Board uses

• Run a quick device check

• Complete exam setup

• Try out a test preview questions

On the night of October 8th please make sure students are well rested and have a healthy breakfast so they will be ready for the PSAT 8/9 the next day.

For those who applied for accommodations most of them have been approved. I will reach out to families via email and speak with students to let them know what to expect on the day of the exam.

Thank you for being a part of your child’s educational success as they begin their journey into setting their personal goals for high school through taking the PSAT 8/9. If you have any questions or concerns then please let me know, rolanda.williams@austinisd.org.

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.

Rainbow Connection Club started last week, and we were so excited to welcome students to our club. As a reminder, Rainbow Connection is for ALL students and is meant to create community and safety for LBGTQIA+ spectrum and allies.

During club time we mostly play games and give students a chance to make friends, but we also brainstorm ideas to make the entire school safer and joyful for all students. For example, we have had a pride parade during AISD Pride Week for the last 2 years. Additionally, last year we worked with NJHS to decorate the entire school for AISD Pride Week.

If you think your student would enjoy the club, please let them know about it. We meet every Wednesday in Ms. Harkin's room, 221, from 3-3:45. If your student attends and you would like to donate snacks for our club time, or if you would like to donate snacks even if your student doesn't attend, please drop the snacks at the main office labeled for Ms. Harkins/Rainbow Connection.

It was a great weekend for Kealing's Cross Country & Run Club teams at the Georgetown/East View Invitational.

Our Boys team finished 3rd overall and 6th grade run club member Rye Anderson finished 5th followed by fellow 6th grader Nathan Hildrum in 8th.

The Girl's team top Kealing runner was Cadence Virostko who won and was followed by Charissa Higgs in 5th, Zoey Johnston in 10th and 6th grader Lydia Higgs finished 11th overall. The girls team won the MS division.

Congratulations to all of our runners.

We are so proud of our Hornet volleyball teams and the effort they put forth against Small! Our 7B team came out victorious. 7A, 8B, and 8A teams pushed through some fun and intense matches but ended up falling to Small. We are proud of the hard work and determination they displayed!

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

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!

Our 7th grade football team battled it out with Marshall Middle School this past week but ended up losing 29 - 26.

This week both teams will be in action against Bailey Middle School at Burger Stadium. The games begin 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.

A reminder that students will not attend classes on October 14, 2024 for the observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. If you would like to learn more about this observance, please review these resources:

Five Ideas for Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This Smithsonian magazine article explains the importance of Indigenous People’s Day and provides thoughtful suggestions for how to celebrate this holiday.

This New York Times article provides the history of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and speaks to current issues facing indigenous people.

This NPR story explains what Indigenous Peoples’ Day means to Native Americans.

We will be holding our October CAC Meeting on 10/17 at 4 pm over Google Meet. Superintendent Matias Segura is our invited guest. He will be speaking about topics related to our school facilities, the upcoming election, and budget. If you would like to submit another topic or have a specific question that you would like to see addressed, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/Z1LqQZNuunWRppVL9.

We are having our fall dance the week of homecoming this year. It will be on October 18th from 6-8! In order for this to be an amazing night for all students we need some help and support from you!

1. Donations for concessions to make the night extra special for the students. We have a wish list here that will directly deliver these snacks to Kealing where student council students will sort them.
2. Help chaperone the dance. There is a sign up link here!
   
3. If anyone has a red carpet they have used in the past for any party or event we would be so grateful to you if we could borrow it as it will be the star of the decorations.

Thank you for supporting such core memories for our students!

Sophie battled in three, 4 minute, Jiu Jitsu matches to place 2nd at the 2024 Winter regional championships. We are proud of her dedication in learning a new martial art and having the courage to step on the mats!

Congratulations Sophie!!!!

We've updated our website with the new designs and link to the order form. Please
note that the "NEW 2024-2025 Items" are still in a "preorder" phase for $0. You'll be
contacted once we have the definitive pricing and asked to officially order and pay. We
also have existing stock items that are for sale and distribution immediately. We'll let
you know as soon as the new items are available to officially purchase! Thank you for
your patience! Any questions, please email spiritwear@kealingpta.org

Our No-Hassle Fundraiser officially kicks off on Tuesday, October 1st and will run the entire month of October.

Generous contributions from our Kealing families supplement our school budget and provide much-needed funds for teachers, programs, and classrooms. It’s no secret that our state education funding is inadequate to support our district’s current needs. Many of our teachers spend their own funds to provide enriching activities as well as basic equipment for our students. Our PTA strives to provide funding to meet their needs so our teachers and administrators have the resources to ensure our students succeed. Please help us with that effort by donating to our HORNET NO HASSLE!

You can find out more information by visiting PTA's NO HASSLE website.

Start the holiday spirit of giving early and sign up for the Secret PALS Program. Click on the sign-up link to adopt a staff member, drop off gifts/treats at the front office on the specified dates in November/February/April, and show our Kealing staff some much needed love and appreciation this school year!

Thank you for your support!

Leah Hall

secretpals@kealingpta.org

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.

The Salvation Army Austin Area Command provides Christmas Assistance to more than 7,000 children through the Angel Tree Program. Parents/Guardians apply for your child to become an "angel" and get adopted by the community. Angel Tree - Austin Area Command (salvationarmyaustin.org)

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.