Hornet Herald

Happy Sunday fantastic family members,

I'd like to begin this week's message by giving a huge thanks and congratulations to Mrs. Angie Bealko for being our volunteer of the year! She has done community walks with me and is always present for our service day events. She has even coordinated with a Kealing Alum and Eagle Scout to create another outdoor learning space at our school. She is truly deserving of this award and its been a pleasure working with her. Congratulations to our new elected PTA officers as well. We hope to have more information for the next Hornet Herald. This past week we had a chance to celebrate Earth day, Pride Week, and our administrative office staff. This upcoming week we look forward to students completing their AISD surveys during advisory, we will have a special Rockestra performance during the lunch period & maybe a brass band performance for lunch in the coming weeks, and a track meet at Nelson Stadium.

Thank you all for answering the call and bringing students back to campus. This past week we were consistently over 200, our highest on campus total was 230 this past week. We are continuing our safety protocols on campus and have made one slight change that seems to be quite impactful. During our staggered release, we now let the Sixth graders transition first then the Seventh and Eighth graders. Its a practice we may keep post pandemic. We are still in the finalizing stages of our BTO and now hiring for new positions on our campus and anticipated vacancies. Our goal is to be fully staffed prior to leaving for the Summer so our teachers can attend any necessary trainings to keep the rigor and flexibility of our robust master schedule and elective offerings in tact when we return in the Fall. We are also still creating our summer calendar for all students. We will be sure to post in the newsletter and online once our calendar is complete. Thank you all for choosing Austin ISD and Kealing Middle School we truly appreciate you. #BEGREATmentality.

Facebook -https://www.facebook.com/KealingMS/

Hornet Herald - http://www.kealingmiddleschool.org/parents/hornet-herald

Twitter - @KTXHornets

Webpage - www.Kealingmiddleschool.org

• We are just awaiting CAC signatures
• A recap/overview of the 2021-2022 BTO(Basic Table of Organization) will be sent to CAC members
• Members will be given the option to approve / decline the proposed BTO
• Then will finalize with AISD
• Our hope is to have this process completed by Wednesday 4/28/2021

Families of students who are currently enrolled in Algebra I and indicated their student would participate in the Algebra I EOC, will receive an email by the end of day, Monday, April 26, 2021 from Mr. Estes. This email will include your student's test date, testing room, safety protocols and additional testing information. Please read over this information with your student so they are aware of what to expect during testing.

If you do not receive this email and you indicated in our STAAR Survey your student would participate in the Algebra I EOC, please contact Mr. Estes at timothy.estes@austinisd.org.

Thank you to all of our families who completed the Kealing Middle School STAAR survey (Spanish Version).

May STAAR Administration will consist of:

• 6th grade Math & Reading (May 11 & 12)
• 7th grade Math & Reading (May 11 & 12)
• 8th grade Science, Social Studies, Math & Reading (May 6, 7, 11 & 12)
• Make-up Testing (May 13 & 14)

Students and families who indicated they were participating in STAAR will receive additional information next Sunday, May 2, 2021via email.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Estes (timothy.estes@austinisd.org) or Mrs. Romero (christina.romero@austinisd.org).

Monday - April 26th B Day

Community conversations with AISD

Tuesday -April 27th - A Day

Tennis Match at Austin High @ 6pm

Wednesday -April 28th - B Day

KMS Track meet at Nelson Field @ 6pm

Thursday - April 29- A Day

KMS Track meet at Nelson Field @ 6pm

Ultimate Frisbee Practice @ 3p - 4:30p ,

- Contact Coach Kepner (colleen.kepner@austinisd.org), Coach Natenberg (michael.natenberg@austinisd.org) or Coach Crouch (cara.crouch@austinisd.org) with questions.

Friday - April 30th - B Day

KMS Rockestra Lunch Performance!

Saturday - May 1st

Please Complete Online Enrollment for the 2021-2022 School Year!

Complete enrollment here:

Austin ISD Student Enrollment

The Kealing Ultimate Club will be hosting 4 in person practices this spring. We will throw, run drills, and scrimmage. Come learn to play or hone your skills!

Who: All interested Kealing students! All grades, all programs, all genders welcome.
When: Thursdays -- April 29th, May 6th, May 13th, and May 20th
3:00 - 4:30 pm (no late buses; players must arrange their own drop-off and pick-up)
Where: Kealing Football Field
Must Bring - Mask, full water bottle, appropriate clothes and shoes to run!
Must Do - Fill out this Google Form https://forms.gle/CtC76D3ajcQykPBj6

Contact Coach Kepner (colleen.kepner@austinisd.org), Coach Natenberg (michael.natenberg@austinisd.org) or Coach Crouch (cara.crouch@austinisd.org) with questions.

The Kealing Bike Club is supported by the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative (www.ghisallo.org), a non-profit cycling organization that focuses on providing access to cycling for all ages and abilities.

Wheelie Good Snack Packs is Ghisallo Cycling Initiative's healthy treats, social interaction, and community engagement program for kids in East Austin. They are focusing on 78702 neighborhoods (including, but not limited to, Oak Springs, Rosewood, Holly), and may have the opportunity to expand depending on capacity and demand.

Starting in mid-March, Ghisallo staff have been delivering over 160 free Wheelie Good Snack Packs each week by bicycle. In May, they would like to double, and possibly triple the number of kids receiving weekly snacks and that is where you come in!

The packs are a paper lunch bag with food like apples, carrots, string cheese, and granola bars. They will be delivered every Tuesday in May (5/4, 5/11, 5/18, and 5/25) between 11am-1pm during May Bike Month! Ghisallo couriers will provide contactless delivery of the snack packs.

If you would like to be added to the delivery set for May, please fill out the form below by April 28, 2021.

https://forms.gle/SmZDNTroka2xx1QH6

Rosendin is the title sponsor and I am co-chair of this camp to introduce girls to the construction industry through hands on instruction and having female instructors. We have 25 spots. All campers will receive meals (breakfast, lunch, and snacks), their own personal protective equipment, and when they graduate they’ll receive their own set of Milwaukee Tools including tool bag (see image attached). Parents or legal guardians will have to drop off and pick up campers from the Carpenter’s Training Center in Austin off I-35. The camp will take place July 19-23, 2021. This camp is open to all middle school girls.

For Questions :

D 512.278.8497 | M 512.595.2389

jolsna@therosendinfoundation.org

www.therosendinfoundation.org

These virtual camps are designed as an opportunity for students to deepen their algebra readiness skills in preparation to take Accelerated Math 7 or Algebra I in the 2021 - 2022 school year.

• Dates: Wednesday, July 14th - Thursday, July 29th (No Fridays)

• Time: 10:00 -12:00 pm

• Platform: Zoom & BLEND

Students will participate in synchronous learning via Zoom from 10:00 am - 11:00 am each day with a teacher. In addition to synchronous learning, students will complete Blend modules to support their continued learning from 11:00 - 12:00 pm. Summer Bridge teachers will stay connected during this asynchronous time to answer questions. It is important that students make a commitment to attend all 10 days and complete all Blend modules to maximize the benefits of participating.

Space is limited to 100 students for Algebra Readiness and 50 students for 7th grade Accelerated. Please share registration flyers with students and families who would most benefit from this opportunity.

Please contact Danielle Perico at danielle.perico@austinisd.org or Tarrah Thompson at tarrah.thompson@austinisd.org for additional information.

Transition with Kindness is a service project where students write letters to the people who are moving into the long-term housing and hotels in Austin. The letters should be welcome messages written with kindness in mind. These messages should include how you are proud and excited for them to get their room and express how much the community cares about them. By writing these letters, you will help me accomplish my goal of getting 150 letters to the people who will be in these long-term housing units. The letters can be written digitally on a Google Document and sent to the form linked below. The deadline to submit letters is May 14th! If you have any questions feel free to email Peyton Phan at peyton.phan0c@stu.austinisd.org.

Submit Letters here

Kealing's 2019-2020 yearbook, the WE are HORNETS edition, was honored by the National Scholastic Press Association this year with the Pacemaker award, a prize considered by many to be the top award for student publications nationwide.

Our yearbook was one of a handful of middle schools in the country to earn the Pacemaker this year.

These recognitions are important in the world of student journalism. Please take a moment to recognize the following students who contributed to last year's award winning book:

2019-20 Yearbook Staff: Lily Tisdale, Sophia Porter, Clara Kreeger, Citlaly Navarro, Peyton Phan, Emily Alpuche, Amalia Coleman, Allison Bergh, Adele Tversky, Mayumi Cardenas

Purpose: Credit recovery for all students

Dates: 6/14 - 6/30

Hours: 9:00a - 1:00p

Educational Delivery: Hybrid( Face to face & Virtual)

Location: Blackshear Elementary School (We are having our HVAC Systems repaired at KMS )

Transportation will be provided

The calendar for Summer Enrichment Programs for all students is still being developed, more information is coming. So far we have:

6th Grade Summer reading - June and 1st week of August

Summer Band - Date: TBD

Orchestra Camp - 8/2/2021 - 8/6/2021

6th Grade Orientation - Dates TBD

7th grade orientation - Dates TBD

Pre Algebra Camp- 7/5 - 7/30

STARBASE Camp - 6/28 - 8/2

Young Scientists Reading Camp - 7/5 - 7/30

Junior Achievement work-ready and entrepreneurship programs are being implemented in Kealing's AVID classes though the end of this spring semester. We need ten virtual volunteers to mentor the students through these programs. The commitment is one-hour a week for about six weeks per program. JA will give you everything you need. Please feel free to email emily@jacentex.org and check out the JA website at https://www.jacentex.org/ja-volunteer

We are excited to announce that our third 2-sided flyer with mental health resources/strategies

will be distributed to parents/families during Austin ISD food distributions next week. We plan

to create a new Mental Wellness flyer/Smore every two weeks. These

resources are part of a collaboration between Child Study Systems, Social and Emotional

Learning, Health Services, Family and Community Engagement, and Austin ISD Communications.

1st Edition

2nd Edition

3rd Edition

Join Bike and School Day on May 5. AISD’s transportation and sustainability teams have partnered with Ghisallo Cycling Initiative for students to learn about biking, engage in physical activity and celebrate sustainable transportation in Austin.

Students can participate by using the Bicycle Skills Challenge at Home program, a guided lesson plan for students to learn and practice bicycle safety and riding skills. The program is a modified version of the advanced bike rodeo clinic that the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative provides through AISD physical education programs. The dual-language, 30-minute program in English and Spanish can support both synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

SIgn up for the KMS Bike & School Program here!

Benefits

• Schools will be selected by receive free bikes and helmets to raffle to participating students.

• Students learn bike safety and riding skills so they can safely bike to and from school, for fun and recreation, or to get wherever they want to go.

• The fun, interactive lessons are aligned with TEKS and can help youth engage in physical activity and improve their health!

How to participate

• Contact cycleacademy@ghisallo.org to confirm participation and receive the materials. Ghisallo Cycling Initiative team members will drop off bikes and helmets to selected schools.

• Ensure the students complete the knowledge quiz through BLEND or preferred learning platform or collect answers in the classroom.

Questions? Contact cycleacademy@ghisallo.org.

AISD to Continue Free Meals through the 2020-21 School Year

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently announced an extension of current school meal programs through the 2020-21 school year. Through the federally-funded program, all Austin ISD students will receive free school meals through June 3, the last day of school.

For students participating in remote, off-campus learning, free 7 day meal packs will be available each Thursday at more than 40 curbside locations throughout Austin. While Austin ISD plans to continue curbside service as long as needed, meal sites are subject to change as more students transition to on-campus learning.

Curbside meal sites and more information can be found here

Austin ISD is committed to putting health and safety protocols in place that will prevent the occurrence and/or spread of COVID-19. However, we must be prepared to quickly and effectively respond to and communicate a lab-confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 at a school or other Austin ISD facility.

The Austin ISD COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated by noon each Tuesday, starting the week of Sept. 21. All lab-confirmed positive cases on campuses will be communicated directly to the campus community. Individuals who may have been exposed will be contacted directly and provided information on the next steps, including a quarantine timeline if needed.