Cougar News
Welcome Back to School!
Letter from Principal Nelson
Welcome back or Welcome to Smallville!
Some of you read the above and were delighted, while others might have even had a tear well up in your eye when you realized that it was time to send your baby bird back to h/her other nest. I promise not to tell which one you are :)
We are aptly amped for the new school year and are gearing up for students’ first day on campus on August 15th for what is guaranteed to be the most significant school year of their life! We as a staff are ready for the task at hand: taking care of kids and helping them become their best version of themselves. We specialize in managing the middle school mindset and have eons of experience working with students at this level. What level did, you ask? Whatever level your incredible bundle of joy currently is. No two students are the same, which is why we adhere to the three Rs of Middle School: Relationships, relationships, and relationships. We know that once you build a positive relationship with a student, the rest takes care of itself.
Before the first day of school, here are some helpful tips, tricks, and reminders to ensure success from arrival to pick-up.
Drop Off:
All 8th-grade students are to meet in the cafeteria after 7:45. At 8:15, we dismiss them to their first class of the day. If students wish to congregate and socialize outside, 8th graders can do so in the Front Plaza (weather permitting).
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 8:12. If 6th and 7th graders wish to socialize or exercise (basketball, ga ga ball, etc..) before school, they can do so in the Back Courtyard (weather permitting).
All students who wish to eat AISD breakfast will eat in the cafeteria before heading to their designated area.
All Students arriving after 8:12 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 more commuters than last year. We have a good plan; we need to follow it. You can help by pulling up to the front of the line. We will teach them to walk towards the front of the line to meet you and please adhere to the traffic arrows.
3rd Floor Classes released at 3:44
2nd Floor Classes released at 3:47
1st Floor Classes released at 3:50
Remember, during pick-up, be extra vigilant when driving through the line, as most students look at their phones, not the traffic.
Daily Schedule: We are unveiling a new block schedule this year which has a C-day on Monday (all classes in ascending order), followed by an A-day (1,2,3,4), and then a B-day (5,6,7,8). The weekly schedule is CABAB. Students will attend Pride each day, and the schedule will pick up with ABAB in the event of a Monday holiday. Please see the attached schedule below for reference. This new schedule may seem confusing to you, it is for us as well, but not to worry, your students will pick it up in a jiff.
First Day Schedule: On August 15th, after your student arrives at their designated waiting area, all students will head to their Pride class to get a hard copy of their schedule. If your student does not know their assigned PRIDE (advisory, homeroom, or 9th period on their schedule), we will have all students' PRIDEs listed outside the cafeteria and the bus ramps. All they need to know is their first and last name, and then they will be able to make their way to where all the fun begins. Rest assured, we will have adults on campus to help guide them along the way.
Chromebooks and Cell Phones: All students are issued an AISD Chromebook during the school year. Please make sure your student has one available before the first day. If they do not have one, we welcome you to campus before then to check one out. Remember, all STAAR tests and Short Cycle Assessments can only be accessed using the AISD-provided device, so please leave your personal one at home. Also, please remember that we are a No Cell Phone school, and students are not allowed to use their cell phones at any time on campus. This is the third year we have had this mandate, which is one of the main reasons our students are so engaged and not distracted by drama during the day. We will do our best to enforce this rule here on campus and ask for your support at home. If you have any questions or concerns in regards to this, please do not hesitate to contact me.
These are a few reminders for success here in Smallville for families and students in the first few days. The best way to prepare your student for a fantastic campaign is to tell them to be open to anything. Middle school is all about exploring, and we want our kids to have as many new experiences as humanly possible. This is the place and the time in their lives when they start discovering what kind of person they wish to be, and we are here to help them get there. We encourage kindness, compassion, and the want to excel at everything we do. We know today’s middle school student is tomorrow’s doctor, baker, teacher, voter, spouse, electrician, painter, uncle/aunt, actor, parent, and high school student. Our task is to ensure they evolve into these roles with a positive attitude and mindset. We are but guides on this trip and so thankful you have entrusted us to be so.
Enjoy your last weekend of the Summer!
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Clint Small Middle School
(512) 841-6705
2022-2023 Bell Schedule
You will notice we are doing something new with both!
Bus Information
First Day Jitters
- What do I need to bring? Be sure to bring your charged chromebook and charger, some basic supplies like some spiral notebooks and pens/pencils. A refillable water bottle, A snack, lunch (or you can eat in the cafeteria). Don't worry so much about anything else for the first few days, your teachers will tell you what you will need going forward.
- Where do I get my schedule? On the first day of school, go to the cafeteria windows or the hallway by the buses. There you will find all students names listed with their Pride Teacher name and classroom. Starting at 8 am you will go to your Pride class and they will hand you a printed version of your schedule and help you figure out what classes to go to for that day. It will be a C day so at 8:30 the bell will ring to go to your 1st period class and follow all your classes in numerical order.
- What if I get lost? This is a big fear for first time students every year. Please don't worry. We give you plenty time to figure out where you need to be and will have friendly adults in every hallway to help guide you to your next class. Just ask and we will get you where you need to be. There will be no tardies the first week or so as we let everyone get acclimated to school.
- Should I bring a lunch? Up to you. lunches are available for purchase, but until you get the layout of lunch, it might be helpful to bring one from home.
- Where do I get dropped off/picked up? If you are a bus rider, see the Bus info in this newsletter. If you are a car rider, or walker, please pull up to the front of the school for drop off or pick up. Do not drive into and drop off or pick up in any of our parking areas, but just follow the cars to the front drive.
- Can I use my cell phone? When you are on campus, you need to have your cell phone off and put away. We are a no cell phone school. If you need to contact a parent or vice versa, you can use the phones in the front office.
- I am in Band what do I need? All the first day info for band can be found at www.clintsmallband.weebly.com
Really everything you need to know can be found in the Parent Information guide
For more FAQ see below:
Note from our Nurse
Please note that there are some changes in medication administration for this school year for AISD. Beginning this school year, prescription and over-the-counter medications will require parent authorization and a written order from a practitioner licensed in the U.S./Texas for this school year with all the required elements of a medication order (dated for this school year, patient name, medication name, strength, dose, route, frequency, name and signature of provider). A separate written order (asthma action plan, diabetes order, anaphylaxis plan, or school medication order) signed by a physician will suffice as long as those plans were dated no earlier than June 1, 2022, to be valid for this school year.
Again, the main change for this school year is that a U.S./Texas licensed practitioner must sign orders for all mediations to be administered on campus including over-the-counter medications and all of the elements of a medication order must be present.
Please use the attached medication authorization forms.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at catherine.bedell@austinisd.org or call the Small Health Room at (512)841-6716.
Thank you,
Catherine Bedell, RN
New to Small?
Chromebooks
Chromebook Q & A
Q. Can my student use their own laptop?
A. Yes, but we don't recommend it. Some laptops have trouble connecting to the district wifi, your student will not be able to use personal laptops for district official testing, and the wear and tear of a student going to 8 classes a day are just a few of the reasons.
Q. My student has a district issued chromebook, but it is not working correctly, What do we do.
A. Swing by the front office for an exchange. We can check in your old not working laptop and exchange it for a new one.
Q. I will be going to Small next year, but I am not yet enrolled, can I get a chromebook?
A. Please enroll ASAP, as it does take 24 hours for the district to populate the option for chromebook.
Please don't wait until the first day of school. We know the main office will be crazy that day and we hope to get the chromebook issues out of the way before hand.
If you have questions email jennifer.newell@austinisd.org
7th & 8th Grade - Football\Volleyball Try-outs
IMPORTANT: Students must have their physicals and Rank one information completed before they can try out. - They will be sent home if this is not done.
Rank One UIL Portal
Try Outs
Both Football and Volleyball will have try-outs on the first & second day of school. If your student would like to try out, they MUST have their Physical and Rank One Information completed.
Practice
Practices for both sports begin on Thursday.
Volleyball Information
Volleyball practice and parent meeting will be determined once the teams have been announced. Information will go home with the students who make the teams.
Football Information
Equipment Distribution
Thursday, August 11, from 9:00am - 4:00pm
Friday, August 12, from 9:00am - 4:00pm
Place: Gym
Use the back staircase by the dance portable to enter the school.
We will fit helmets and hand out team shorts and t-shirts and mouth guards to get ready for the first week of practice.
Please bring a combination Lock and all Physical paperwork.
Football Parent Meeting
Saturday, August 13, 10:00am -11:00am
Place: Gym
Please use the Big Stairs by the visitor parking lot to enter the Gym.
Equipment Distribution to follow meeting from 11:00am -12:00pm. We will fit helmets and hand out team shorts and t-shirts and mouth guards to get ready for the first week of practice.
Please bring a combination Lock and all Physical paperwork.
Coach Moore
School Supplies
As you may have heard, most middle and high school students don't shop for school supplies until after the first day of school. The reason is, every class has their own needs.
This is a little frustrating for those parents that want to get a jump on the good deals that go on during summer and not wait until everything is sold out. We have created a basic sample list to get you started. If you see a good deal, go ahead and pick up some of the items below.
Click here to see the sample School Supply List
Join PTA
We have an enthusiastic new team of Parents heading up the PTA this year. We are excited to partner with these amazing volunteers. If you have any questions regarding PTA, be sure to email our president Celeste Schooley celesteschooley@gmail.com with any questions.
In the mean time show your support for Small by joining the 22-23 PTA at https://www.joinpta.org/
Did you know as a PTA member, you have access to discounts for car rentals,
hotels, theme parks and more? Check out this link for more perks
Have You Registered Online for the 2022-2023 School Year?
For all families registering new or returning students, a Parent Cloud Account must be created before you can access the online registration system.
Please visit portal.austinisd.org to create a Parent Cloud Account.
For specific questions regarding online registration, contact
- Parent Support Line at 512-414-9187 or parenttechsupport@austinisd.org
For all other registration questions, contact
- Darelene Hinojosa 512-841-6700 or Darelene.Hinojosa@austinisd.org
Parent Guide to Online Registration: English Spanish
*Registration must be completed annually.
Use the Online Registration Status Self Check to verify if online registration is complete.
Carpool
Cougar Club
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