The Spear
September 13-17 | Austin Middle School
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September 13-17 @ AUSTIN
Monday, September 13
- Doors open at 7:00 am. Breakfast is available until 7:25 am. Tardy Bell at 7:30 am.
- The school day ends at 3:10 pm.
- Dress Code in Effect. Remember Hoodies/Sweaters/Sweatshirts worn inside the building MUST BE SOLID Grade-level COLOR (no emblems, logos, patterns, etc.)
- Bring your supplies, GISD Chromebook, Earbuds/Headphones, and a clear or mesh backpack.
- Snack Bar Open- https://www2.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
- Last day to order Spirit Shirts through PTO this year.
- 8th grade Volleyball Game @ Austin Gym CANCELLED due to weather
- EARLY DISMISSAL @ 12:15 pm due to weather
Tuesday, September 14
- School Cancelled due to Weather
- Free Parent Webinar: Sparking Curiosity & Delight 6:30-7:30 pm via zoom REGISTER HERE
Wednesday, September 15
- School Cancelled due to Weather
Thursday, September 16
- MAP Testing Day: Bring Fully-Charged Chromebooks!
Friday, September 17
- Constitution Day! Special Presentation by Galveston College for 7th & 8th grade @ 7:30am
- MAP Testing Day: Bring Fully-Charged Chromebooks!
- SPIRIT DAY! Students may wear jeans (no holes/rips in jeans) with Austin Spirit shirt or Austin colors.
- Last Day to register for the Oct. 23rd ACT exam The ACT is offered several times a year. See ACT Testing schedule for the year at the end of this newsletter.
Weekend
COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER:
- September 22nd: Out to Eat for Education
- September 29th: Meet the Teacher Night at Austin from 5:00-6:30 pm
IMPORTANT REMINDERS:
- Bring a Water Bottle!
- Austin will no longer accept lunch deliveries from restaurants, fast food, or delivery services. If lunch is forgotten, a parent/guardian may drop off lunch at the front office.
**All Device forms must be completed through Skyward before a device can be checked out to a student.
Athletics
Austin Middle School's Academic Week At A Glance
ATTN: Parents/Guardians
RE: Canvas Observer Account Recommended
To view the Week At Glance Links below, you may need to set up your Parent Observer Account for Canvas. Many of you did this last year and will not need to set up a new account. If you need an account, please Click Here and go to the link under CANVAS OBSERVER GUIDE - TABLE OF CONTENTS for instructions.
- Math: Mrs. Mancil
- Science: Ms. Trevino
- Social Studies: Mr. Grasso
- Writing: Ms. Gonzales
- Reading: Ms. Salinas
- Tech Apps: Ms. Lee
- ELAR/MATH Co-Teach: Ms. Murphy
- Bilingual: Ms. Jones
6th Grade
- Math: Ms. Reyes
- Science: Ms. Diaz De Leon
- Social Studies: Ms. Terrell
- Reading: Ms. Root
- Writing: Mr. Murray
- Robotics: Ms. Marks
7th Grade
- Pre-Algebra: Mr. Ungurean
- Science: Ms. Costigan
- Social Studies: Ms. Ross
- Reading: Ms. Williams
- Writing: Dr. Cappiello
- PLTW: Mr. Burke
- VEX Competition Robotics: Ms. Marks
8th Grade
- Algebra I: Ms. Cartmell
- Science: Ms. Carranza
- Social Studies: Mr. Williams
- ELAR: Mrs. Taras
- PLTW: Mr. Puccetti
Intervention
Electives
- Ms. Wallace
- Ms. Robare
- Ms. Boxley
- Mr. Bari
Athletics
INTRODUCING OUR AUSTEM AMS FACULTY
Mrs. Erin Trevino, 5th Grade Science
Welcome to 5th grade Science! I’m Erin Trevino and I’m looking forward to working with our AMS 5th graders and their families this school year. We will be doing a tremendous amount of learning through hands-on collaboration, and we may even have a bit of fun too!
BS Biology, MS Education
Ms. Camille Jones, 5th Grade Bilingual
My name is Camille Jones, I teach Fifth Grade STEM Bilingual and I am delighted to serve within our Austin Middle School learning community.
For the past several years, I served as a Bilingual Educational Diagnostician for various district teams across Texas. I clinically evaluated learners and young adults—and thoroughly enjoyed helping students, families and campus PLCs gauge each learner’s current strengths and needs.
I completed undergraduate, graduate and doctoral training at universities in the States and overseas. Licensed in New York State and in Texas, I have worked with Bilingual/ESL, Mathematics (Algebra and Algebra 2), math intervention, magnet LOTE, evaluation and specially-designed instruction. My experience teaching English as a New Language (ENL) in NYC secondary schools regularly drew upon evidence-based strategies connected to disciplinary literacy.
Cross-cultural exposure to many kinds of minds furthered my interest in clinical work in Educational Psychology. Daughter of a career Army veteran, I lived in civilian and DoDEA communities on multiple continents. As a third-culture kid and adult, I became accustomed to working within different educational cultures and languages. I grew up appreciating how to be loyal-to-mission while also identifying with places beyond those of one’s passport.
Given the cognitive and linguistic diversity found in today’s classroom, the brain is one of the greatest places to discover and to keep in “mind.” I support parent, student and team efforts to capture how each brain displays distinctive data-aligned strengths and needs and to then use these to build student capacity and to enhance student interest in STEM. I look forward to teaching, learning and teamwork in the year ahead. Best regards.
Degrees: M.A.T. Curriculum & Instruction (Bil); M.Ed. Educational Diagnostician Studies, D.E.A. and M.A. East Asian Studies-Japanese Texts; Certs: Bil/ESL EC-12; Diag EC-12; Math 4-8, Math 8-12; Spanish 6-12; GT Supp; SPED EC-12, ENL NYS Profsl, Diag (NM); Member SFASU/TSBVI VI Cohort
Mr. Christian Senseney, Boys Athletics
Welcome, my name is Christian Senseney and this is my fourth year working in GISD. I am a Ball High graduate (class of 2008). In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family and friends including my wife who is also a teacher. I also enjoy watching movies and sports.
BS Human Fitness & Performance (UHCL), 4-8 Social Studies. EC-12 Physical Education, EC-12 Health
Teen Health Offers Vaccines
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are in stock at all Teen Health Center Medical clinics.
In order to receive their vaccinations, minors (ages 12- 17) must have a Teen Health Consent Form (GISD families completed during school registration) and a Covid-19 Vaccine Consent Form signed by a parent or guardian. The Covid-19 consent may also be completed in Skyward Family Access.
Call (409) 761-3530 to schedule an appointment at the Teen Health clinic of your choice.
Austin's PTO
Our first monthly $1 Free Dress Day will be Friday, September 24th. We strongly encourage all parents to buy the "Free Dress Pass" which is on our website as well. This is $10 and pre-pays for your student to participate in all 10 $1 Dress Days throughout the school year. Once the pass is purchased their name will go onto a spreadsheet for the homeroom teachers.
Our first PTO meeting was great and we have lots of ideas for this school year so stay posted!
Samantha Gonzales
PTO President
Samantha Gonzales
Austin PTO President
Website: https://austinmspto.square.site/
SEL at AMS!
Self Awareness: “Know Thyself”
Accurate Self-Perception & Self-Concepts:
Because self-awareness is based on an awareness of the “self,” it is necessary for one’s perception of self to match reality. In order to have accurate self-awareness, it is important for students to be reflective and open to feedback in order to develop a true sense of self. A realistic understanding of themselves will allow students to better manage their behavior. [https://www.landmarkoutreach.org/strategies/sel-self-awareness/]
Check out this video!
Self-perception includes:
Understanding the relationship between one’s emotions, thoughts, values, & behaviors
Integrating personal & social identities
Identifying personal, cultural, & linguistic assets
Demonstrating honesty & integrity
Examining prejudices & biases
Developing interests & a sense of purpose [https://ggie.berkeley.edu/student-well-being/sel-for-students-self-awareness-and-self-management/]
An adolescent’s sense of self is variable and can even feel contradictory at times. For instance, they may feel and behave differently around their friends than they do with their family members. As students develop into teenagers, their sense of self shifts to highlight moral traits, strengths, and physical appearance and can change based on how their peers and others may perceive them. Like with self-perception, self-esteem also changes in young teens. Studies show that transitions to different school environments and other impactful life- changes at home can cause additional anxiety for teens during an already turbulent process of self-discovery.
Parents and teachers can help kids become aware of their self-concepts and how they affect self-esteem. By doing activities with them, such as the ones below, you can help kids learn about themselves, their beliefs, goals, and values. This self-exploration can lead to conversations that will support a more positive self-concept, leading to healthier self-esteem!
Try these activities in the classroom or at home to help create happy, positive, and well-adjusted kids!
“I'm Great Because” Sentence Starters
Email: AmyArgubright@gisd.org
Principal's Corner
Be the difference you want to see in the world!!
Our students are the future difference makers.
Principal
Austin Middle School
September is Suicide Prevention Month
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month — a time to raise awareness on this stigmatized and often taboo topic. In addition to shifting public perception, we use this month to spread hope and vital information to people affected by suicide. The goal is to ensure that individuals, friends, and families have access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.
Warning Signs
Aggressive behavior
Withdrawal from friends, family, and community
Dramatic mood swings
Impulsive or reckless behavior
If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Counselor
Austin Middle School
Advanced Academics
A+ CLASSES
A+ Class registration was open last week for students to choose the classes they are interested in for the rest of the year. Students choose their top five classes and will get to attend three out of those five - rotating each nine weeks for the 2nd-4th quarters of the school year. We are excited to continue this special program that launched in 2019, but was put on pause for last year.
A+ Classes are Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7:30 - 8:00 am. The first nine weeks' topics are based on grade level (Growth Mindset, Grit, Digital Citizenship and the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teenagers), the following three nine weeks are student choice.
Our A+ Classes will directly foster curiosity, creativity and the development of social skills in a structured and supportive environment. Students are provided multiple opportunities to explore a rich variety of topics and interests in order to develop their identity, learn about their strengths, discover and demonstrate their own competence, and plan for their future. Connecting with our community is an important element of this program. If you have skills or a community connection you would like to share, please email me!
Advanced Academic Specialist
Austin Middle School
Austin STEM Magnet Middle School
Principal
Kathy Aaron
Assistant Principal
Erika Puccetti
Counselor
Email: stephaniemendoza@gisd.org
Website: https://austin.gisd.org/
Location: 1514 Ave N 1/2, Galveston, TX, USA
Phone: 409-761-3500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinmiddleschoolgisd/