Letter from Principal Nelson
Smallville-
The week has come to an end, and what a week it was!
It has been STAAR week here in the hallowed halls of Smallville, USA, and we are thankful to all of our students who participated. Specifically, our 8th-grade students took four different tests in four days (called a STAAR BINGO in the biz). We appreciate their and all of our students’ hard work and dedication throughout the week.
If your student missed any of these exams and is an on-campus learner, fear not; we are offering retakes next week. The Math retest will be on May 25th, Reading will be on May 26th, Science (8th-grade only)will be on the 27th, and Social Studies (8th) will be on May 28th. Students will screened during Covid check-in and if they have not taken the STAAR, will be pulled to Cafeteria to take it.
Whether your student is learning online, or here on campus, the school year is quickly drawing to a close. There will only be eight school days left in the academic year at the time of this correspondence, and then it’s a well-deserved and necessary summer break. The last eight days of school should be about celebrations and honoring relationships created during this most unprecedented time. Our students and staff not only survived this pandemic, but they also thrived. They grew in ways we couldn’t have wished for and learned new tools to help with their education and self-reliance. Tools we will still use next year and for many years to come. Throughout all the bad we experienced, there also was an awful lot of good.
Our task is to teach our students not to dwell in the bad and to celebrate the good. No, not forget the bad; we must all learn from the past and remember the experience as it better prepares us for future hardships, just not dwell in it and let it taint the future. Teach your student how there is good in every situation, and it is our job to discover it and relish it.
It’s just sometimes the good is hard to find. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. We have to dig. Dig into the circumstances and ourselves. Dig deep and mine the good. It’s more precious than gold.
Have a great weekend Smallville, we love you!
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Clint Small Middle School
(512) 841-6705
Leaving the district this summer?
We also will need you to turn in your Chromebook and charger, and any hotspots, instruments and library books you may have.
There will be someone in the office until June 9th, 2021 to drop your items off to come anytime between 8am and 4pm.
Continuing on with AISD?
8th Grade - Promotion Pick up Event
Drive through for last names beginning with:
A-C 10:00 - 10:15
D-G 10:15 - 10:30
H-L 10:30 - 10:45
M-P 10:45 - 11:00
Q-S 11:00 - 11:15
T-Z 11:15 - 11:30
Yearbook Update!
Friday is the day that we will start giving out the yearbooks! If you have not ordered one, it is not too late. For On Campus students, you can pick up your yearbook during lunch. Remote Learnings can swing by the front office any day the following week from 8 - 4 to pickup their yearbook. You can still pre-order, or bring $40 cash or check to buy one.
https://www.balfour.com/texas/austin/clint-small-middle-school/yearbook-packages
Band Camp
For students continuing in our band program for 7th & 8th grade. Please visit the website for the August Band Camp information.
Carpool
Austin High Basketball Camp
When: June 28 – July 1
Where: Small Middle School gym
Who:
- Boys and Girls entering 3rd – 5th grades 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
- Boys and Girls entering 6th – 9th grades 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Cost: $100 per camper
The Austin High Basketball Camp will focus on teaching the fundamentals of basketball and will provide campers the opportunity to improve and have fun with the game. Each camper will receive individual as well as group instruction from professional coaches. Coach Brad Ingram, head boys basketball coach at Austin High, will be the Camp Director. All equipment will be provided. Students will need to bring their own water bottle.
Sign up online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfI2AXbNcpoAvgQIcS-SKnkh2owOX_TIYkmqaDhCyvcUj2png/viewform link and pay at https://austinisd.schoolcashonline.com/ (search for Austin High Basketball Camp)
PARENTS CAMPAIGN TO RAVE!
Parents, are you looking for a way to give back to teachers and staff at Small Middle School?
We (A handful of Small Parents) have found a free and very effective way to show some love and thought we would share it with you all.
RAVE: Recognizing All Valuable Employees
Let's send some sparkly gratitude to our faculty & staff this holiday season with an AISD RAVE submission!
- Does your student have a favorite teacher?
- Has someone at Small (or any other AISD School) gone above and beyond for you and your family?
- Do you want to support teachers and let everyone (Teacher, Principal, AISD District) know about it?
All of our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond this semester. The best free, easy, sparkly way to show our gratitude is via the RAVE form on the AISD website (link below.) It only takes a couple of minutes to complete!
This form is received by AISD administration. RAVE submissions mean a lot to teachers and staff. It's equivalent to a virtual hug! And, there's never been a better time to remind the Superintendent how indispensable they all are.
Please submit a RAVE for any teacher or staff member (current or from school years past.)
Maybe send one or two a day! You do need the first and last name of the employee you wish to RAVE about. Those can be sourced on Small's Staff Directory :
https://www.austinisd.org/schools/small/directory
Flooding AISD administration with positive feedback will make an important and lasting impact. Let's make this holiday season sparkle a little extra with RAVES!
https://www.austinisd.org/hr/customer-service/rave
Thank you,
Small Parents
Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
