• We had enough campus flexibility to avoid placing any of our teachers in the AISD priority pool
• Fewer staff members than last year (We will have 67 teachers on campus)
  
• 2 additional special education teachers
• campus based dyslexia teacher (officially added to the BTO this past week!)
• 1 additional counselor
• Funding .5 of an English instructional coach position from Title I funds
• Funding the other .5 of the English Instructional coach position from local funds
• Funding 100% & 85% (The other 15% will be paid from local funds. This was previously at 90%, we had to decrease the amount to secure our 1% of title I funds for parent engagement) additional teachers from title I funds to maintain Mathematics & Reading double block for struggling learners (This will help close the achievement gaps on our campus)
• Funding Summit K12 Language Acquisition and TELPAS Prep Program to support growing population of Emerging Bilingual Students in our school.
• Funding 85% of AVID teaching position from College Career Military Readiness Funds & the other 15% from local funds. (This adds another teacher to our campus' total teacher bank)
• Funding Communities in Schools and the Campus Parent Support Specialist from Local Funds (These services help our students and families by supporting in areas that are not academically related)

130/168 Testers

- 28 testers were online

- we used 16 rooms & 18 teachers

Great job of planning by Mr. Estes, Mrs. Patel, and Mrs. Romero

Smooth testing environment

235 students in the school, The most this semester

Thank you to all of our families who completed the Kealing Middle School STAAR survey (Spanish Version). There is still time for those who have yet to complete the survey. Please submit your family's decision by Friday, April 16 to assist Kealing Staff with planning for administration.

A few items to remember:

• All students must wear a face mask covering their nose, mouth and chin while in the building
• All STAAR assessments must be administered in person according to TEA requirements.
• Algebra I EOC will be administer online and in person on campus. We have additional devices for students who were not assigned a district device
• All other assessments will be administered by paper on-campus.
• Successfully passing STAAR for 8th grade students to be promoted to high school has been suspended for the 2020-21 school year
• Breakfast and Lunch is provided
• Students may return home at the conclusion of testing (approximately 12:30) to finish the day remote.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Estes (timothy.estes@austinisd.org) or Mrs. Romero (christina.romero@austinisd.org).

Monday - April 12th B Day

Tuesday -April 13th - A Day

Wednesday -April 14th - B Day

KMS Track meet at Burger Field or Nelson Stadium @ 6p

Thursday - April 15th- A Day

KMS Track meet at Burger Field or Nelson Stadium @ 6p

KMS Tennis @ Gorzycki Middle School @ 6pm

Friday - April 16th - B Day

Saturday - April 17th

Please join us on Thursday, April 22 at 7pm

We will be electing the new Kealing PTA Executive Board for 2021-22.

You may nominate yourself or nominate someone else.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Questions? Email President@kealingpta.org

Join by Clicking This link : Kealing PTA Meeting Link

Purpose: Credit recovery

Dates: 6/14 - 6/30

Hours: 9:00a - 1:00p

Educational Delivery: Hybrid( Face to face & Virtual)

Location: Blackshear Elementary School (We are having our HVAC Systems repaired at KMS)

Transportation will be provided

The calendar for Summer Enrichment Programs is still being developed, more information is coming. So far we have:

6th Grade Summer reading - June and 1st week of August

Summer Band - Date: TBD

Orchestra Camp - 8/2/2021 - 8/6/2021

6th Grade Orientation - Dates TBD

7th grade orientation - Dates TBD

Pre Algebra Camp- 7/5 - 7/30

STARBASE Camp - 6/28 - 8/2

Young Scientists Reading Camp - 7/5 - 7/30

As Austin Public Health eases restrictions to Stage 3, and we have more of our community

vaccinated, we are given more flexibility, while still being safe, to carry out *non-UIL events.

To provide caregivers with an opportunity to view their student's activities, we are allowing

Athletics and Visual & Performing Arts events in a healthy and safe environment, as follows:

● All audience members will be masked and socially distanced.

● Audience members will be allowed up to 25% of venue capacity.

● Audience members will be screened and temperature checked before entry.

● The support staff will be available to help enforce physical distancing requirements and

mask usage.

*AISD follows UIL recommendations for music and theatre; only student performers are allowed

(no audiences).

These guidelines are subject to change based on public health and safety conditions.

Our 4th Kealing Gardening and Grounds help day is coming up in just 9 days! As always, we will follow full covid-safety protocols.

Please sign up for Saturday April 17th for the 10 am to 11:30 am shift or the Noon to 1:30 pm shift via this link: https://signup.com/go/XJuJRWj

We will be "beautifying" the monarch butterfly garden with some art that would be wonderful for all students, including neurodivergent friends and younger siblings. We will also be pruning and clearing out some of the front of the school to give a warm welcome to our students that are starting to come back for class and exams. And of course we will be turning compost, mulching, pulling weeds, watering and getting dirty! Come join us!!

This summer you can start a real business through the Mini Makers Camp here in Austin! The program will be held virtually July 10-31 and will help you start a real business and make real money. The program, run by Boss Club Foundation, has helped over 1,000 students start businesses in Texas and is now coming to Austin in 2021 in partnership with Naturally Austin. You can choose from five different business kits that come with everything needed to start a predefined business and sell to 10-15 customers, or choose a video course that will help you come up with your own business idea. The first two weeks revolve around starting your business using the program materials and making real sales, and the last week is focused on the video pitch competition where your business pitch will go in front of a real judging panel for cash and other incredible prizes. Approximately 200 scholarships are still available to join the program for FREE, and registration is only open for the month of April. Register at BossClubFoundation.org/austin today!

Students interested in applying for a PE waiver must complete an application with AISD Off-Campus Physical Education department. The deadline for the Fall semester is May 14th. Parents and student may download required paperwork at: https://www.austinisd.org/pe-health/pe/ocpe

Calling all incoming LASA freshmen! Do you love playing team sports? Are you looking to connect with other LASA girls in your grade and above? Considering joining the LASA Girls Lacrosse team! There is no experience necessary for our team, and we have so much fun! Look for more information your freshman year regarding practice times, and season information. We hope to see you on the practice and playing field!
Email skylermj5@gmail.com if you have any questions or if you're interested in receiving direct information regarding next season.

Apply Now for the Free Minds Class of 2021-22!

If you’ve been thinking about returning to school, Free Minds is calling your name! A program of Foundation Communities’ College Hub, Free Minds offers a free two-semester college course in the humanities for adults looking to start a new chapter.

Free Minds offers a supportive environment for adult students. Classes will be two evenings a week between August and May. Tuition, books, childcare, and support services are provided at no cost to students. Faculty from UT and ACC lead students through classes in literature, philosophy, history, art, and writing. Students who complete the course earn six credit hours from ACC.

If you’re ready to make a fresh start in the classroom, please consider applying.

You are eligible if you:
1. Are at least 18 years old
2. Have a high school diploma or GED
3. Don’t have a college degree and haven’t been enrolled in a degree program in the past two years
4. Have demonstrated financial need
5. Possess the ability to read challenging books in English
6. Are ready to commit to attending class regularly and complete all assignments

Prospective students can apply online by July 9, 2021 by visiting FreeMindsAustin.org. For any questions, please email freeminds@foundcom.org or call 512-610-7961.

Practice Schedule and Meet Schedule are still tentative as of today, we will update once we get confirmation from the district.

Even in the before times, there are no tryouts. Just come out to practice 🙃

Physical Form- https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/athletics/2020%20Physical%20Form%20English.pdf

Covid waiver- https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/openforlearning/docs/Athletics-COVID-Waiver-8-2020-Rev.pdf

We have created a blend tile for participating athletes and families and your emails will be added by the end of the week. If you have other questions please feel free to contact Coach Gardner.

Let’s get ready to meet, defeat, repeat 💪🏽 Go Hornets!

Join Bike and School Day on May 5. AISD’s transportation and sustainability teams have partnered with Ghisallo Cycling Initiative for students to learn about biking, engage in physical activity and celebrate sustainable transportation in Austin.

Students can participate by using the Bicycle Skills Challenge at Home program, a guided lesson plan for students to learn and practice bicycle safety and riding skills. The program is a modified version of the advanced bike rodeo clinic that the Ghisallo Cycling Initiative provides through AISD physical education programs. The dual-language, 30-minute program in English and Spanish can support both synchronous and asynchronous instruction.

SIgn up for the KMS Bike & School Program here!

Benefits

• Schools will be selected by receive free bikes and helmets to raffle to participating students.

• Students learn bike safety and riding skills so they can safely bike to and from school, for fun and recreation, or to get wherever they want to go.

• The fun, interactive lessons are aligned with TEKS and can help youth engage in physical activity and improve their health!

How to participate

• Contact cycleacademy@ghisallo.org to confirm participation and receive the materials. Ghisallo Cycling Initiative team members will drop off bikes and helmets to selected schools.

• Ensure the students complete the knowledge quiz through BLEND or preferred learning platform or collect answers in the classroom.

Questions? Contact cycleacademy@ghisallo.org.

AISD to Continue Free Meals through the 2020-21 School Year

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) recently announced an extension of current school meal programs through the 2020-21 school year. Through the federally-funded program, all Austin ISD students will receive free school meals through June 3, the last day of school.

For students participating in remote, off-campus learning, free 7 day meal packs will be available each Thursday at more than 40 curbside locations throughout Austin. While Austin ISD plans to continue curbside service as long as needed, meal sites are subject to change as more students transition to on-campus learning.

Curbside meal sites and more information can be found here

Austin ISD is committed to putting health and safety protocols in place that will prevent the occurrence and/or spread of COVID-19. However, we must be prepared to quickly and effectively respond to and communicate a lab-confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 at a school or other Austin ISD facility.

The Austin ISD COVID-19 Dashboard will be updated by noon each Tuesday, starting the week of Sept. 21. All lab-confirmed positive cases on campuses will be communicated directly to the campus community. Individuals who may have been exposed will be contacted directly and provided information on the next steps, including a quarantine timeline if needed.