Jessica Suarez - Parent Support Specialist
Lori Castro - Book Keeper (Expected start date 4/18/2022)
Principal's Message to Hornet Families for the week of 4/4/2022
Great evening fantastic families,
Can you believe Spring break was a full 2 weeks ago? It’s crazy how fast time flies in the Spring. Although things are moving quickly, we want to be intentional about creating the best learning experience for our scholars. We have many upcoming events for all students but especially our 8th graders who will never be middle school again. This Friday our algebra II club has a movie night fundraiser that starts at 6p and will be showing the classic movie Shrek. Then we have our Spring Fling April 22nd. This past week had an opportunity to engage our teachers in staff development collaboratively designed by the campus administration, Instructional coaches, and Austin ISD Cultural Proficiency and Inclusion Department. We want to create the most optimal learning environment for our scholars so we have administrators, teachers, and student leaders attending sessions which will strengthen our campus and make it a safe environment for all.
I am also still working through the action plan to improve our campus' climate and culture. The April 1st professional development session was coordinated by our amazing campus instructional coaches, which was one of the actions of the plan (create opportunities for instructional coaches to drive professional learning). On Friday, I also sent our biweekly climate and culture survey, we will close submissions Monday afternoon at 4p. I was also able to retrieve our final exit surveys from teachers who are no longer at Kealing Middle School. I will discuss the results and next steps at the upcoming principal's coffee. This upcoming week we have Tennis, Track, and a COVID Vaccine Clinic amongst other events. It’s a busy time but we are thankful to have the opportunity to participate in all these activities this year. Thank you for choosing Kealing Middle School and Austin ISD, feel free to reach out to me directly for any reason at all: jerald.wilson@austinisd.org
Action Plan Status Updates
This Past Week
This past week our ELA 7 teacher and Parent Support Specialists started this week. We officially hired for our Campus Book Keeper. She is scheduled to start April 18th. Campus vacancy status can be viewed here: KMS Vacancies.
We distributed our second round of Kealing Awards to teachers and staff, pictures will be added to next week's newsletter. There are some who received awards late who will be in this week's newsletter.
Exit surveys were submitted from all teachers who have been responsive to communication. We have 70% of them completed.
4/1 Bi weekly Campus Climate Survey was sent to staff on Friday. We are closing the survey Monday afternoon.
4/1 Collaborative Campus staff development and service day
This Upcoming Week
- Principal's Coffee April 5th @ 8a - 9a in the Kealing Library.
- Conduct more stop and chats with teachers and staff (Special Education Teacher's Assistants are this week's target) members
PTA Corner!
Hornet Parents,
It seems every year that after Spring Break, things just start moving at breakneck speed. This year is no different. These last eight weeks are going to fly by. A few dates to note in the next week or so:
PTA membership meeting - Thursday, April 7 at 8 am on zoom. Link here
Coffee cart for teacher - Tuesday, April 5
Movie night - Friday, April 8 in the Kealing Theater
Spring Fling dance - April 22. We will need donations and chaperones.
At the bottom of the Herald, there is a link to a google sheet with requests from teachers for items you might have around your house. Please look at that link and see if you might be able to donate something.
Thank you!
KMS Safety Protocols as of 4/3/2021
Before School
All staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to self screen for COVID 19 symptoms before entering into a campus or other Austin ISD Facilities each day
Arrival
- We will maintain outdoor markers to social distance
Transition
- we will encourage moving halls where students are encourage to not stop while transitioning to classes
- Hornet Passes are available for students with anxiety about being in large groups
Classrooms
- We are seating/desks at least 3 feet apart when feasible
- Each classroom has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration unit
- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each room
- Plexiglass dividers available
- Additional outdoor seating (2 outdoor classrooms & the courtyard if teachers plan to use)
Breakfast & Lunch
- Students are allowed to eat lunch both inside the cafeteria and outside in the courtyard
- Dividers are available if a student prefers to use at lunch (we are taking down the plexiglass dividers)
- The courtyard comfortably seats 4 classes, which is from 25% - 100% of the lunch capacity for each lunch period.
Dismissal
- we will have staggered dismissal where scholars will be dismissed by areas of the building to reduce traffic.
Changes
- Masks are optional
- assigned seating for lunches is a discontinued practice
- We are no longer using the staggered transitions
- no more assigned seating during lunches
- we no longer use the accordian plexiglass dividers (student may use a divider if the student prefers)
Upcoming Dates
Monday -April 4th - B Day (5th - 8th Periods)
Tuesday - April 5th - A Day (1st - 4th Periods)
Principal's Coffee : 8am - 9a in the KMS Library
Wednesday - April 6th- B Day (5th - 8th Periods)
COVID 19 Vaccine Clinic in the Kealing Cafeteria, 4p - 8p
Tennis match @ McCallum High School @ 6p
Thursday - April 7th - A Day (1st - 4th Periods)
PTA Meeting 8a - 9aTrack & Field Meet @ Small Middle @ 6p
Track and Field Meet at Bedicheck Middle School @6p
Friday - April 8- B Day (5th - 8th Periods)
Algebra II Fundraiser Movie Night: Shrek! @6pm in the KMS Theater
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Ms .Tasneem leads a lesson on absorption and emissions | Mrs. Jones assists with an activity for the reform lesson. | Mr. Slapak leads a lesson using a spectroscope. |
Ms .Tasneem leads a lesson on absorption and emissions
Mrs. Jones assists with an activity for the reform lesson.
Mr. Slapak leads a lesson using a spectroscope.
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Speak up Session 1 - for staff who missed it 2/21 This session gives our teachers the tools to address situations that impact the inclusiveness of the learning environment. | Speak up Part 2 We focused on scenarios and applying the skills learned in session 1 | We danced! Cupid shuffle to end a fun session |
Speak up Session 1 - for staff who missed it 2/21
Speak up Part 2
We danced!
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Community Walk We had a group that went to visit students on our 60-70% attendance list and visited the housing complexes in the Kealing community where many of our scholars live! | Encouraging letters to students We had a group of teachers who chose to stay inside and write encouraging letters to students who may need a pick me up to end the school year on a strong note. | Gardening and grounds clean up We also had a group of teachers who chose be at one with nature by cleaning around our campus and working in the Kealing Gardens. |
Community Walk
Encouraging letters to students
Gardening and grounds clean up
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Anna Walker - Accelerated Math 6 Successful administration of math placement exams! | Gretchen Weerakoon - Special Education Resource Math Creating awesome learning environment for students! | Gwnedolyn Kinsman - Accelerated Math 6 Successful administration of math placement exams! |
Anna Walker - Accelerated Math 6
Gretchen Weerakoon - Special Education Resource Math
Gwnedolyn Kinsman - Accelerated Math 6
Kealing 8th Grade Graduation - 5/25/2022
Time - 6p
Location - Eastside Memorial Early College High School
If you would like to assist contact Keri Jaworski (keri.jaworski@austinisd.org)
Kealing Spring Fling Dance | Friday, April 22nd
Parents and Teachers, in order to ensure fun is had by all, we would appreciate your presence as a chaperone, helping set up, selling tickets at the door, working the concessions or hanging out on the dance floor. We also are looking for donations for concessions, boxes of chips or popcorn, candy bars, sodas and water. For each donation box or case, we can offer a free entry into the dance.
Please see the Sign Up genius linked. If you have any questions, please contact Jenna Martin, Student Council sponsor at jenna.martin@austinisd.org. We really look forward to hosting this event and appreciate your support.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F48AEAE2CA1F58-kealing
Kealing Algebra 2 Fundraiser
Link to the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kealing-algebra-2-end-of-year-project-funding?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
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