Howdy Cougars!

Congratulations to you as parents and guardians, our fantastic staff, and especially to our phenomenal students for making this first week of Small a banner success! So many happy faces, smiles, and good vibes abound that it almost makes us wonder why we even have summer in the first place...almost.

This week has been all about building relationships and going over the classroom and school-wide procedures and expectations. We front-load the year with our systems and routines, knowing that it will pay big dividends in the future. When we’re all on the same page, we can create quite a book. We’re fortunate our students are so receptive to this and understand the method to our madness. Students know we can all accomplish great things when we first learn to respect and work together in the community.

Drop Off: To help clear up any confusion in regards to what the morning routine is here at Small, are a few reminders:

• All 8th-grade students are to meet in the cafeteria in the morning after 7:45. At 8:00, dismiss them to their first class of the day.

• All 6th and 7th-grade students are to meet in the Big Gym after 7:45. We then dismiss them to their first class of the day at 8:00.

• All students who wish to eat AISD breakfast will eat in the cafeteria before heading off to their designated area.

• All Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. will head directly to their first class of the day until we officially begin at 8:20.

Pick Up: This year, we have over 1,200 students and ten busses, meaning we have considerably more commuters than last year. We have a good plan in place; we just need to make sure to follow it. You can help by pulling up to the front of the line when picking your student up. We will teach them to walk towards the front of the line to meet you. By doing this and adhering to the traffic arrows, we should be fine. The release schedule is as follows:

• 3rd Floor Classes released at 3:42

• 2nd Floor Classes released at 3:46

• 1st Floor Classes released at 3:50

Cafeteria and Outdoor Seating: We want to thank all of you and our students for your patience these first few days as we fortify our outdoor seating. Regrettably, we did not have outdoor dining on Wednesday due to weather concerns but have since re-opened the dining areas and included 20 more picnic tables. Thanks to Living Tree, AISD’s fundraising platform, and the generosity of our community, we have over $6,000 to spend on even more tables and umbrellas. Two of our awesome APs, Mr. Sammon and Mr. Poehl, have been picking up and setting up tables from various hardware stores these last two days and look forward to getting even more next week. The goal is for 100% of our students to have an available seat outdoors if they so desire. We want kids to dine outside and are working hard to make sure they can do so comfortably and somewhat in the shade.

Week one. Done.

Matthew Nelson

Principal

Clint Small Middle School

(512) 841-6705

www.smallmiddleschool.org

matthew.m.nelson@austinisd.org

Check out the outdoor seating fundraiser: https://give.livingtree.com/c/outdoor-seating-campaign

Method #1) Send your student in with a note. First thing in the morning, They should come to the main office with a note from home stating what time they will be picked up. We will exchange that note for a pass to leave class at that time. When the time comes, the student shows their teacher and then comes to the main office. They are there ready for pick up and you make your appointment on time.

Method #2) What I like to call... Order a kid. let's say you just found out about an appointment, or forgot to send a note... No problem just go to the main page of our website www.smallmiddleschool.org and scroll to the bottom. Under the helpful links section, click "Student Early Pickup Request". Our front office staff will monitor that all day and send a note to the student to come down at the time requested.

If method one or two are not used, prepare to wait up to 30 minutes for us to find your student and get them to the office.

You will notice we are doing something new with both!

2021-2022 A/B Calendar - 8/12/21 Rev.

2021-2022 Daily Bell Schedule - 8/1/21 Rev.