Smallville-

Before you spend nine heartwarming days with your pre-teen or teenager, who is showing no signs of Spring Fever might I add, we’d like to let you know about a special event that will be taking place here in Smallville upon their return. That is if you let them return. You may be enjoying your time with these hormonal adolescents so much you decide to keep them with you even longer. That is entirely understandable, but we still need them back here on campus to enjoy these most wondrous times of the year with them as well. Ahh…..Spring is most certainly in the air… on the ground… in the halls…and the classrooms….we are dripping Spring out of every pore. The break could not come at a better time.

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD), Tuesday, March 21st, is a global awareness day that the United Nations have officially observed since 2012. We here at Small will follow suit and celebrate by asking all of our students to wear the craziest, most-mismatched, unique socks they can on this day to show our appreciation and support for the Downs community. Our goal is to help raise awareness and to celebrate the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome. After announcements during PRIDE on Tuesday, we will ask all students and staff wearing their socks to meet out by the flagpoles in the Plaza to take a picture to commemorate the occasion. Liz Plachta, proud Smallville parent and Executive Director of Ruby’s Rainbow, will be there with treats and answer any questions about students rocking that extra chromosome.

For more information, check out this video we made with three of our proud Downs Ambassadors to let you know about the day and how we can all celebrate it together.

Even with a week of ICE and losing all the rehearsal time they did it! These bands played much harder music than is required of them and deserve a big Congratulations for their high level of musicianship.

• Symphonic Band Division 1 in Sightreading. Division 2 on Stage.
• Symphonic Winds Division 1 on Stage and in Sightreading.
• Wind Ensemble Division 1 on Stage and in Sightreading.

Choice Sheets: It is time to turn in your choice sheet for next year. Please go to our Counseling Choice Sheet Page. There you can learn more about what we offer, print a choice sheet and fill it out. Please turn it in asap to our front office. If you have any questions about the choice sheet, contact our counselors cynthia.diaz@austinisd.org, zahra.asadi@austinisd.org, zahra.asadi@austinisd.org

Registration:

Don't forget to register your student every year. Please visit https://small.austinschools.org/parents/registration to register your child(ren) for the 23-24 school year. You will be able to access step-by-step instructions to newly register your student or to confirm your family’s current information. Please remember that registering your child is essential for appropriate funding and staffing at our school. Feel free to contact our Family Support Line at 512-414-9187 or parenttechsupport@austinisd.org if you encounter any technical issues.

Note: Don’t worry if it says your home school and not Small. Go ahead and complete the registration, once the Transfers are completely processed, It will change to Small.

Band Instrument Selection: If your student plans to join our amazing band this year, please go to https://clintsmallmsband.weebly.com/beginning-band.html to sign up for a band instrument selection date.

Transition Events: We are offering some summer transition events to make sure your student is very comfortable coming to Small next year. Save the date...

• Cougar Camp: (Kids only) July 31st & August 1, 2023 This is a 2 day, 1/2 day camp
• Scavenger Hunt: (Parents and Kids) August 3rd, 2023 11 - 1 PM
• Parent Camp: (zoom) August 3rd, 6 to 7:30 pm - Sign-ups TBD

Communication Tools: You can get lots of information in the following places.

• This newsletter ;) - If you want to get it in your in box every week, Click here
• Our Website - Keep an eye on the Calendar and take a look at our FAQ for incoming families. It needs a little updating, but there is a lot of good info there.
• Parents of Small Facebook - Join here, Ask questions and get answers from other families from Small.

Before/After School:

• Carpool - If you would like to find others in your neighborhood that go to Small, sign up for carpool
• Cougar Club - If you would like to have your student supervised after school, Join Cougar Club here.

Our yearbook is a full color celebration of everything that makes Small special; it's a great fun way to preserve all your student's fond memories of Small. The price is now $40. Get your yearbook today!

Click here for the easy link: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/productBrowse/2369067/Small-Middle-School/2023-Yearbook/2022092615150740089/CATALOG_SHOP/

If you have any yearbook questions, please email Mr. Shoptaw at thomas.shoptaw@austinisd.org.