Great evening fantastic families,

Welcome to the final week of 2021! This has been the fastest semester of my career and I hope our scholars have enjoyed the experience my staff and I have created for them. In the midst of the pandemic, we were able to do all of the things we are accustomed to with the proper safety guidelines. We had concerts, walking trips, field trips, competed in athletics, invited speakers, intramurals, completed service days and even had a pep rally. These are only a couple of the things we were able to accomplish this semester. This week we look forward to fine arts winter concerts and basketball playoff games for our girls basketball teams (more details below). We also have fun festive days scheduled for this final week, please assure your scholar is aware. We will also have our December CAC meeting where we will discuss more about the calendar and schedule plans for next year. We will communicate more about this hot topic once Austin ISD finalizes its plans. I will also attend a Principal's Round table this week to learn and determine what it means for individual campuses. Thank you for the opportunity to lead such a great school community and all of the support given along the way. #BEGREATmentality #ProgressNotPerfection

Hornet Families,

- Do you want to get gifts for teachers for the holidays? We have the perfect way to do that! The Young Scientists program and the PTA are hosting a holiday appreciation luncheon for all Kealing staff on Dec 10. In order to send the staff home with a holiday gift/show of appreciation, we are looking for volunteers to gift $20 or $25 gift cards and people to bring desserts of all kinds. We want every staff member to be able to take home a delicious treat and a gift card. Desserts can be homemade or store bought. If you'd like to help, sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e4aadac29abfd0-holiday1

-Beth Reyburn, PTA President

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.

Social Goal

- TBA (we are still working on this but planning to look at the types of counseling visits our students are requesting)

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

Classrooms

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

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

- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each room

- Plexiglass dividers available

- Additional outdoor seating

-Volunteer lunch monitors

Breakfast & Lunch

- Assigned seating

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

- Plexiglass accordian dividers.

Dismissal

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

Monday - December 13th - B Day

Winter and/or holiday colors (blue, white, red, green, etc.)

Girls Playoff basketball :

- 7th Grade - 6p vs Gorzyski @ Gorzyski Middle School

- 8th Grade - 7p vs Murchison @ Bailey Middle School

Tuesday - December 14th - A Day

Winter and/or holiday Bling and accessories (Hats, socks, scarves, bling, etc.)

Guitar Winter Concert @ 6p in KMS Auditorium

Wednesday - December 15th - B Day

Winter and/or holiday pajamas (get cozy and comfy!)

COVID vaccine clinic, 4p - 8p in the Cafeteria

Band Winter Performance at the AISD PAC (1500 Barbara Jordan Blvd, Austin, TX 78723) @ 6p

Thursday - December 16th - A Day

Winter and/or holiday sweaters

CAC Meeting 3:15p - 4:15p

Music Production Concert 7p - 8p in the KMS Auditorium

Friday - December 17th - B Day

Festive or Flannel or Festive Flannel Friday

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)

With many AISD students living in food insecure households, access to healthy food may be challenging when the district is closed. Families can use the community resources below to find free meals in their area while AISD offices and schools are closed for the winter break:

• Central Texas Food Bank - Find Food Now

• United Way for Greater Austin - ConnectATX

• Texas Health and Human Services - Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to speak to a live operator.

The last day Food Service will distribute meal packs for virtual learners is Dec. 8. On this day, families will receive eight meal packs, to provide food through Dec. 17.

Are you a 7th or 8th grader interested in trying out for the Kealing Girls' Soccer Team? If yes, please fill out THIS form and join us for an information meeting on Tuesday, December 14th in Room 225 at 3:10pm. The meeting will last approximately 30 minutes. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Fernandez at kiersten.fernandez@austinisd.org or Mrs. Jones at shannon.jones@austinisd.org.

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

Greetings Nature Lovers!

This week we have a selection of job openings, volunteer opportunities, and upcoming summits/conferences to share. Read to the end for some fun family tips on having a more eco-friendly holiday season!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Connect | Adapt | Share - Programs Conference: educational and enrichment session proposals are now open for the 2021 Programs Conference. Running from Dec 13-15, the Programs Conference is an opportunity to learn best practices within and outside the City of Austin's Department of Centralized Programs.

INSPIRATION

How to Have a Green Holiday Season: from our friends at the Office of Sustainability, learn how you and yours can have a more ecologically friendly holiday experience.

Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

Julia Hill (she/her)

Program Coordinator – Cities Connecting Children to Nature

City of Austin | Parks & Recreation Department | Park Planning Division

+1 512-974-9466 | julia.hill@austintexas.gov

http://www.austintexas.gov/CCCN

Thank you, community, for your ongoing support via the Amazon Wishlist. Students are using the supplies for organization, collaboration, and creativity! Teachers continue to update the list as needs arise. "Thank you, community, for your ongoing support via the Amazon Wishlist. Students are using the supplies for organization, collaboration, and creativity! Teachers continue to update the list as needs arise. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/B7BQHNMLAOP/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist

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Webpage - https://kealing.austinschools.org/