Lively Middle School
Week of March 30, 2020
PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Dear Falcon Nation,
Thank you for your patience as we continue working to deliver distance learning opportunities for all of our students. In response to the Stay Home - Work Safe Order issued by the City of Austin and Travis County, AISD school buildings are closed through April 13th.
Our entire staff has been diligently working to develop enriching learning opportunities that support students emotionally and academically. We recognize that the shift to distance learning and the extended closure of the school building is challenging, stressful, and may cause anxiety.
This week and next, our wonderful Advisory teachers are calling during office hours - virtual school hours are 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. -with a goal of checking in with every student in their Social Emotional Learning (SEL) class. We know that some families may not have access to the technology needed to access distance learning materials. Therefore, when your child’s Advisory teacher contacts you to see how you are doing, you will be asked if you need access to a computer or the Internet. This communication may be different from teacher to teacher (ie. email, phone call, Remind, Seesaw, etc.) Please be aware that you may get a call from an unfamiliar number, and it may be your child’s Advisory teacher! Please reach out to us if you need anything.
We want every student to have access to computers so that your child can access the learning materials. Additionally, if you need WiFi access we will work to provide you with those resources. We will be letting the AISD Technology Department know which families need resources. AISD is preparing the distribution of Chromebooks and WiFi access to all families in need. More details on how that will occur soon. Right now we are in the stage of collecting the information. Again, feel free to be proactive and reach out to us to let us know what you need. We are here to help.
We will continue to develop Lively’s digital learning opportunities in BLEND during the week of March 30th to April 3rd. Look for the launch of Lively’s Distance Learning Opportunities from Lively teacher BLEND pages the week of April 6, 2020. Teachers are also attending professional learning and creating fun learning opportunities in BLEND for all students organized by grade level and subject area. All of our distance learning activities are customized by our teachers with activities in Spanish for our Dual Language students. Students will receive enriching learning activities for all classes including electives. For now, please continue to use the AISD Home site for learning material https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/aisd-learning-at-home.
Once we launch Lively’s Distance Learning Opportunities material via BLEND on April 6th, we will provide you with more information as to how your child can receive support. Teachers will have virtual office hours and be available to help students as they sequence through the digital material.
The following campus events have been postponed since school is closed through April 13th.
ARD and 504 meetings
Human Sexuality and Responsibility Parent Orientation March 25, 2020
CAC meeting April 1, 2020
Magnet and Dual Language Ice Cream Social - Acceptance Party - will be rescheduled
April registration on Saturday April 4, 2020
Food Distribution Locations:
Austin ISD Food Services provides curbside meals for children under the age of 19 and their parents or caregivers at 70 locations while school is closed due to COVID-19 precautions. Please see the following website for more information https://www.austinisd.org/student-health/coronavirus/meals.Lively MS Garden: We donated 33 lbs of vegetables from our school garden to the Central Texas Food Bank! Thanks to a former falcon family that reached out to AISD Police who contacted me to give permission to harvest the vegetables. I was so happy to know that the vegetables our students planted in Ms. Rauch’s World Outside and Native Plants and Animals courses did not go to waste.
Thank you for being flexible and understanding as we work through these challenging times. Please take care of yourselves and your families. Please feel free to email me with any questions or chromebook requests at Stacie.Holiday@austinisd.org
Thank you,
Stacie Holiday, Principal
COUNSELOR CORNER
We are here for you in this new journey we are taking together. While school building has closed through April 13th, we are still supporting students. We know this is hard right now, and please know that you are not alone. Grade level counselors are available by email and soon students will be able to request an online meeting with their school counselor via the Blend Course titled “Counselors’ Corner at Lively.” Please check Blend for updates.
Parents and students may contact grade level counselors via email:
- 6th grade - jennifer.lamm@austinisd.org
- 7th grade - zoe.hunter@austinisd.org
- 8th grade - michelle.garcia@austinisd.org
Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT)/Integral Care
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, Integral Care has a 24/7 Crisis Helpline at 512-472-HELP (4357). You can also Text TX to 741741 to connect to Crisis Text Line. Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 crisis support via text. Call 911 for imminent danger and ask for a wellness check.
Communities in School (CIS)
CIS will continue to support their students. They have been reaching out this week and expect to start meeting with their students (likely via Zoom) starting the week of March 30. Questions can be directed to program director Lindsey
Knowles: lknowles@ciscentraltexas.org
Council for At-Risk Youth (CARY)
Those students (and their parents) that have been working with Ms. Myah Williams should expect to see a newsletter from her this week. She plans to use the Zoom app to maintain contact with students. Groups will be given a time slot throughout the week. Any questions about CARY, please contact Ms. Myah: myah.williams@austinisd.org.
VIDA Mental Health Clinic
Our campus based therapist, Ms. Sophie Lowengart will be reaching out to her current clients via telehealth. She will be connecting with students and parents over these next weeks.
Vida Clinic is now offering teletherapy services to the entire Austin ISD community. These services will allow adults and students to access quality mental health services right from their own homes. For more info or to schedule an appointment, visit vidaclinic.org. Contact our Vida Clinic Care Team at 512-518-2209 or by email at vidacare@vidaclinic.org.
Other Mental Health Telehealth Resources
Austin Travis County Integral Care: (ATCIC) Adult & Children Telehealth Mental Health Services. When someone calls the Helpline at 512-472-4357, there are prompts in 15 languages.
Austin Grief & Loss
Offering telehealth individual and group support. Groups have a set fee of $15 per session. To contact Austin Center for Grief & Loss Therapy call 512.472.7878.
LIBRARY CORNER
MackinVIA - 224 Audiobooks and 8,495 eBooks in Lively collection!
- Log in to AISD portal
- In Search bar, type MackinVIA
- On left, choose eBooks or Audiobooks.
- eBooks - check out or view immediately
- Audiobooks - if checked out, request and you will be on waitlist
Teen Book Cloud - online books to read and check out. Find link in MackinVIA page.
Comic Plus - Graphic novels! Multi-user, so no waiting!
- Log in to AISD portal
- In Search bar, type Comic Plus
- Type Lively in to log in page
Audible - free audiobooks available while school is closed!
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
Please contact me if you need help finding a resource.
Yvonne Steckel
Lively Librarian
CALENDAR
Learning activities link
https://sites.google.com/austinisd.org/aisd-learning-at-home
April 6- Lively Distance Learning Activities available for all students.
Stacie Holiday
Email: priscilla.hernandez@austinisd.org
Website: https://lively.austinschools.org/
Location: 201 East Mary Street, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: (512) 414-3437
Twitter: @LivelyFalcons