Greetings Cougars!

Tis’ the time of year when we all start getting ready for heading back to school, so here are a few tips and tricks to ensure your student is “Small Ready” by August 17th.

Firstly, please check out the dates for our in-person campus tours and meet n’ greets (08/04 & 8/05) as well as a Q and A Principal’s coffee on Monday the 9th. You are more than welcome to attend all of these offerings, however, do know that the information disseminated and the jokes will be the same for each.

There will be an in-person Cougar Camp on August 9th and 10th (see link for sign up) that is catered to students and will have two sessions each day. Please note that if your student is signed up for the a.m. or p.m. session, h/she is expected to attend each session at the same time.

The Parent/Guardian Transition Camp will take place on the evening of the 12th and take place on Zoom. We hope to have as many new faces there as possible as we help everybody navigate the waters of middle school. Even if this isn’t your first rodeo, we invite you to attend as there is always new information and systems we’d like to communicate with all parties prior to kicking off a new year. Please check this newsletter and the website for the sign-up link.

First Day of School Schedule: Check this newsletter and the website next week for your student’s bell schedule for the first day of school. Basically, students will all meet in PRIDE for the first 10 minutes of the day where they will receive a printed copy of their schedule before they follow their B-day rotation. That’s right, in order to create consistency we will start this school year off with B-day (2,4,6,8) classes so students can get used to every Tuesday and Thursday being even-numbered classes (B-day) and odd-numbered classes will be on Mondays and Wednesdays (A-day). Fridays, students will follow a C-day schedule and see all of their teachers (periods 1-8) for only 45 minutes a class. The only exception will be after a Monday holiday. In those instances, students will follow an BABA pattern and forego the C-day.

Student Schedules: Our student schedules are currently being built by the counselors and will be ready well in advance of the first day of school. To locate your student’s schedule, log into the parent portal and go to TEAMS….not just yet though. We will let you know when they are dropped. Regardless of whether you are logging in and looking, or having your student do so through their portal, we will make sure all student schedules are available for them in their PRIDE class first thing in the morning. To find out what PRIDE your student is on the first day of school, have them check the cafeteria or entrance near the bus ramps. There, they’ll find their PRIDE room assignment next to their last name.

You’ll see more and more of these newsletters as the first day approaches, but anytime you have any questions or concerns prior, and the answers are not located on www.smallmiddleschool.org, please feel free to call or email. Our goal is for every student who has yet to set foot on campus to have an opportunity to do so prior to August 17th. We know that this transition will be unlike any other before it and will do anything we can to make sure our students (and their families) are confident and ready to get the business of being a student again. If you cannot make any of the opportunities offered to visit the campus, let us know and we try our darnedest to accommodate you and your student.

Enjoy! See you soon!

Matthew Nelson

Principal

Clint Small Middle School

(512) 841-6705

www.smallmiddleschool.org

matthew.m.nelson@austinisd.org

Chromebook Q & A

Q. Can my student use their own laptop?

A. Yes, but we don't recommend it. Some laptops have trouble connecting to the district wifi, your student will not be able to use personal laptops for district official testing, and the wear and tear of a student going to 8 classes a day are just a few of the reasons.

Q. My student has a district issued chromebook, but it is not working correctly, What do we do.

A. Swing by the front office for an exchange. We can check in your old not working laptop and exchange it for a new one.

Q. I will be going to Small next year, but I am not yet enrolled, can I get a chromebook?

A. Please enroll ASAP, as it does take 24 hours for the district to populate the option for chromebook.

Please don't wait until the first day of school. We know the main office will be crazy that day and we hope to get the chromebook issues out of the way before hand.

If you have questions email jennifer.newell@austinisd.org

• August 4th - 12:00 - 12:30 pm Tour (On-Campus Only)
  
• August 5th - 12:00 - 12:30 pm Tour (On-Campus Only)
• August 9th - 8 am - Principal Coffee

Both of the events with Mr. Nelson (8/2 and 8/9) will be on campus AND on Zoom. To Register for any of these events, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/GzGZFWdEoDHpWb1L6

These events are in addition to our 6th & 7th grade transition events.

• Parent Camp on August 12th - Register Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRZy7locXII4kfvm8lnFutR1dEClNqpH2j_X7prALEIaoQ2A/viewform
  

You will notice we are doing something new with both!

2021-2022 A/B Calendar - 8/1/21 Rev.

2021-2022 Daily Bell Schedule - 8/1/21 Rev.

As you may have heard, most middle and high school students don't shop for school supplies until after the first day of school. The reason is, every class has their own needs.

This is a little frustrating for those parents that want to get a jump on the good deals that go on during summer and not wait until everything is sold out. We have created a basic sample list to get you started. If you see a good deal, go ahead and pick up some of the items below.

School Supply List BASIC ITEMS TO GET YOU STARTED until class specific lists are received:

• Pencil pouch
• Poly folders with pockets and brads, various colors
• Blue or black pens
• #2 pencils
• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Highlighters – six colors
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Glue/Glue sticks
• Notebook paper
• Composition books (not spirals, one per class)
• Binders, dividers
• Backpack (large enough for supplies as no lockers are assigned)
• Earbuds
• Hand sanitizer

NICE TO HAVE and may or may not be required:

• dry erase markers
• pencil sharpener
• planner
• index cards
• flash drive
• wireless mouse
• tissue
• combination lock for gym locker
• water bottle

Note: what is also different in Middle School is that you keep your extra supplies at your house and restock through the year as needed. Please do not bring all your supplies to school like you did in Elementary. Keep everything at home, stock your backpack with what you need and then re-stock as needed.