Cougar News
The Weekly Newsletter of Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
May 22nd - May 26th
Letter from Principal Nelson
Howdy Cougars!
We’ve been addressing reflection in our PRIDE Advisory classes and announcements this month in order to teach our students to use what they have learned from the past to help guide their future. We want our students to be able to look at an event, an experience, or even a project they were working on, and to carefully analyze what worked, and what didn’t work in order to replicate their successes or to achieve a more favorable outcome. Reflection is not limited to academics, for we also want our students to use this tool to help them navigate the choppy waters referred to as Middle School Drama. Remembering how h/she felt when somebody said something rude or insensitive to them should ensure they don’t repeat the same action with one of their classmates. Likewise, looking back and recalling how much better they felt when speaking to a trusted adult on campus about a problem, should hopefully encourage the student to invite others to do the same.
Once summer officially appears and the weekends in the 70’s are a distant memory, I invite you to sit down with your student to reflect back on the 2016-2017 school year. Make a list of all the ways they improved (this should be a long one) and then create another list of things they would like to improve upon for next year. Asking a student to improve upon something isn’t admitting failure or being critical, it’s simply trying to ensure h/she is equally competent in all facets of school. Then, once you identify the areas of performance not up to par with the rest, make a plan as to how y’all can level the playing field prior to August. If you’re looking for a starting point for an area of improvement, might I suggest organization. I’ve yet to encounter many students, adults, or any human being actually, who believe this is a skill that doesn’t need to be improved upon.
“Learning without reflection is a waste. Reflection without learning is dangerous.” Confucius
Have a great week! I hope everybody is geared up for a four day weekend with an eighty-two day weekend to follow.
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Small Middle School
(512) 841-6705
@smallprincipal www.smallmiddleschool.org
Yearbook Info!!!
(this ad was produced by 8th grader Nick Mosrie)
Kiss the Pig!!!
30 teachers have agreed to be in the Kiss the Pig Raffle.
How to play?
- Come to Carnival
- Enter as many tickets as you want into the teacher's bottle.
- Tickets will be counted and the teacher with the most tickets will kiss the pig! We will film the kiss after the carnival and share it with the campus to be shared with students.
Support the Math department:
- 30 Empty 2 litter Soda bottles needed. Please send them into the office by Wednesday 5/24
8th grade Promotion Ceremony Information
- When – Thursday, June 1st @ 10am
- Where – Clint Small Gymnasium
- Who can come to the ceremony – Parents and family members are invited to the ceremony
- REMEMBER – Parking is LIMITED! Please consider carpooling and/or limiting the number of guests.
- Siblings who attend Small should be checked out of class in the front office before attending the ceremony – 6th and 7th graders cannot attend the ceremony without a pass.
- What do I do before the ceremony? – All students will report to PRIDE at the beginning of the day. 8th graders will then report to an assigned ALPHA room. 6th/7th graders will be on an alternate schedule.
- When you report to your assigned holding room, you will be given reminders of the instructions for the ceremony. We will begin lining up in alphabetical order at 9:30. When lining up in the hallway, you need to stay quiet and attentive in case your assigned teacher needs to give you instructions. You will follow your assigned teacher up the stairs to the gym at 9:58. During the ceremony, remember to be quiet, polite audience members and to enjoy your last day as a CSMS Cougar.
- What do I do after? – After the ceremony, 8th grade students may leave campus with their parent/guardian. Those students who are not able to leave will finish out the day with their teachers.
- What do I wear? – 8th grade students need to come to school dressed and ready for the ceremony. There will not be holding areas for belongings, so minimizing what you bring to school that day is important. Students should come dressed nicely as you will be walking across the stage to get your certificate. YES, YOU MUST BE IN DRESS CODE! NO BACKPACKS/BAGS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE CEREMONY.
- STUDENTS AND FACULTY ATTENDING CEREMONY –
- Dress, skirt/blouse, or slacks/blouse – Dress to impress!!
- All clothes should be free of rips.
- Dresses and skirts must meet length requirement (below the fingertips)
- No bare shoulders are allowed – if a dress has thin straps or no straps, a sweater/cardigan/cover must be worn.
- Shoes should be comfortable and easy to walk in – you will be standing for a while and walking up stairs!
- Slacks or nice jeans.
- Collared shirts are preferred – a polo or button down dress shirt.
- PARENT FAQ
- Can I bring flowers/balloons/gifts for my student? You may bring small gifts, but NO BALLONS as they violate AISD policy.
- Where do I enter the school? The exterior stair case by the gym. Elevators are available through the main office for those with a physical need. SIGN OUT SHEETS FOR TAKING YOUR CHILD HOME AFTER THE CEREMONY WILL BE UPSTAIRS OUTSIDE THE MAIN GYM DOORS.
- Can I take younger siblings (other CSMS students) home after the ceremony as well? Yes, but you must sign them out as well.
- When can we get a seat for the ceremony? Doors to gym will open at 9:20. Parents will not be allowed in the gym before that time.
2017 Carnival Wristbands On-Sale Now!!!
Our Second annual Community Carnival is set for Thursday, May 25th 3:45 - 7:00 pm. Rain or Shine!!!!
(Kids are out of School that Friday and Monday of that weekend)
Not only is this a big end of year party for our students, it is a great way to support our school. All proceeds go directly back to the CSMS departments, clubs and organizations that participate. For example, last year, the Math department got over $800 to spend as they saw fit for this years classes.
How Parents\Guardians can help:
- Send your students to the Carnival! Save the date and make a plan for them to attend. Most of our income will come from wristband\ticket sales.
Purchase Tickets Here - Plan to Volunteer - We need lots of adults on hand to supervise and work the booths - All Volunteers will get a Free Large One Topping Pizza Coupon from Double Dave's of Arbor Trails! Sign up to Volunteer here!!!!
- Donate an In-kind item - We will be giving raffle tickets away as prizes for the kids to win big ticket items. We also plan to have a silent Auction. If you have something you would like to donate, contact us!
- Be a Vendor - Have a booth at the Carnival. The more fun things we have for the kids to do, the smaller the lines.
- Sponsor - We need to underwrite this event as much as possible. Consider donating some cash to sponsor a booth or inflatable, we have different sponsorship options available.
- Donate or help us find Coupons - The kids will win coupons to local businesses. This is a win, win to build a relationship between the School and community.
- Spread the word - Tell your friends and neighbors. We want this to be a community event. We would especially like to invite our incoming 6th grade class to come on out and have some fun at their new school.
Questions, Comments and/or Suggestions? Contact Jennifer.newell@austinisd.org
Thanks you for your support for our end of year extravaganza!!!
HUGE SHOUT OUT TO OUR CARNIVAL SPONSORS
Lewis Family Medical
Austex Sprinklers
Double Dave's
Summer Camps at Small MS
Click the links below for more details.
Austin High School Volunteer Opportunities
As the 2016-2017 school year winds down, we are busy getting ready for the 2017-2018 school year, and we need your help. Can you volunteer a few hours a month, a few times a month or even every week? This is a great way to get to know the inner workings of Austin High and it helps bridge the budget gap created by Austin High's under-enrollment that prevents the hiring of additional employees. I invite you to join our volunteer team in working in the Austin High School Office at one (or both) volunteer positions
Attendance Office Volunteer
Work alongside our fantastic attendance clerk Patty Ballin to sign students in and out, fill out tardy passes, and help with filing. The Attendance Office is always busy and these volunteers are of the utmost importance, in high demand and much appreciated by staff and faculty.
Volunteering in the Attendance Office at Austin High is a great way to get to know your child's school better, gain insight into how it runs, and get to the know the faculty and staff who work with and mentor our children daily.
Phone Duty Volunteer - in the Main Office
Work in the main office answering and directing phone calls. This is a new opportunity for the 2017-2018 school year.
Volunteer Shifts
The shift times are either 8:30am -11:15am, 11:15am-2pm or 2pm-4:20pm. Volunteer monthly, weekly, whatever works with your schedule! We also need back up volunteers to fill in when someone can’t make their shift. Weekly (usually on Sunday afternoons), I send out an email reminding everyone of their upcoming shift as well as listing the shifts that need substitutes for the upcoming week.
Volunteer Training
If you are interested in helping, we have a 30-minute training during any of the shifts training alongside a previous volunteer (marked on the schedule with an asterisk). After that you are ready to go! If you ever have any questions, Patty Ballin and Linda Garcia will be there to help you out.
Sign Up!
If you would like to volunteer with attendance, please, check out our schedule of available slots with this link:
If you would like to help with answering phones, please, check out this link:
If you find a spot you’d like (or more than one) email to let me know and I will sign you up!
Thank you for your consideration,
2017-2018 Registration
Online registration for school year 2017-18 begins March 1st.
All current\new to AISD students need to register for the upcoming school year.
Please click here for step by step instructions.
Any questions? Call Diane Ewing 512-841-6710
Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
Email: jennifer.newell@austinisd.org
Website: http://www.smallmiddleschool.org/
Location: 4801 Monterey Oaks Boulevard, Austin, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 841-6700