AHS BULLDOGS COMMUNITY NEWS
3434 Pheasant Creek Dr, Sugar Land, TX 77498
WELCOME TO AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL
HOME OF THE BULLDOGS!
Week of November 7
Welcome to Austin High School's Community Newsletter where we share all of the important information, amazing activities, and events occuring on our campus with our BULLDOG Family and community! To our new Freshman Bulldogs and to our returning Sophmores, Juniors and graduating Seniors.... WE WELCOME YOU to the DAWGHOUSE! We are excited about the 2022-2023 school year!
2022-2023 ADMINISTRATORS
Rachel Cortez - Campus Principal
Kyle Lovetinsky - Associate Principal
Assistant Principals
Adaun Ojukwu (A-D)
Meraj Khan (LEE-Q)
Anthony Yim (E-LE)
George Long (R-Z)
2022-2023 COUNSELORS
Monica Navarro (Lead) (A-B)
Amanda Wade (C-Hi)
Julie Masters-Garcia (Ho-Me)
Denzel Billy (Mi-R)
Kaley Dean (S-Z)
AHS SOCIAL WORKER - ANA R. SIDDIQUE
COUNSELOR CORNER
CREDIT BY EXAM (CBE)
Are you interested in taking a Credit by Exam? Please visit the FBISD website for more information. https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/296
Accountability, Assessment & Compliance / Credit by Exam - Fort Bend ISD
Kindergarten Score Requirements: Students must score a minimum of 80% on mathematics and the reading/language arts exams for advancement to first grade Grades 1-5 Score Requirements: Students must score a minimum of 80% on each subject area of criterion-referenced tests that cover the essential knowledge and skills in reading/language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science for the ...
Registration begins October 24, 2022.
JUNIOR CONFERENCES WITH COUNSELORS
Greetings Class of 2024 Parents!
In preparation of senior year, counselors will begin holding junior conferences after the Thanksgiving break to discuss graduation plans, endorsements, and post-secondary plans. As we gear up for course selection in the Spring, we will also begin reviewing possible course options for next school year to ensure alignment with remaining graduation requirements.
GRADUATING SENIOR INFORMATION
Senior Portraits
December 8 - 9:30 - 3:00 - for seniors wishing to purchase a senior picture packet
December 9 - 8:30 - 3:00 - senior photos for yearbook only
We will share more information soon regarding setting up an appointment.
CADY School Pictures Available NOW!
Your School Pictures are now available to view and order through CADY!
If you bought a picture package before or on picture day, your package will be mailed directly to your home. You can expect to receive that in the next 7 days.
If you did not purchase a package on or prior to underclass picture day, you can log in at http://cady.com/orderphotos to view and order your 2022-2023 school pictures today!
Club photo day is Dec. 7. Clubs must have t-shirt in order to be photographed.
Senior photo day on campus is Dec. 8 for those that have not taken their photo yet. Sign up for your time on the CADY website.
Dec. 8 – 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Roadshow for Seniors buying photo packages
Dec. 9 – 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Senior photos for “yearbook only”
GET YOUR YEARBOOK AD NOW!
“Deadline to order your personal or business ad in the yearbook is coming! Order your ad today! Click on the link to get started.”
CCR CORNER
ABSENCES AND SEMESTER EXEMPTIONS
Absences and Semester Exam Exemptions
Page 36 and 37 of the Student Parent Handbook lists State Attendance Exemptions as the following:
- Enrollment in and attending off-campus dual credit program
- Fulltime enrollment in Texas Virtual School Network courses
- Extracurricular or co-curricular activity that is approved by our school board
- Participation in a class provided by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired or the Texas School for the Deaf
- Misses school for the purpose of observing District-approved religious holy days
- In grades 6-12 and playing Taps at a Texas military honors funeral for a deceased veteran
- Attending a mandated, required court appearance
- In the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services
- Serving as a student early voting clerk
- Appearing at a governmental office to complete U.S. citizenship paperwork
- Participating in the student’s own or parent’s or guardian’s U. S. naturalization oath ceremony
- Met with and attended a documented medical appointment for the student or the student’s child
- Absences resulting from a serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes a student’s attendance infeasible, with certification by a physician.
- Visited an accredited institution of higher education during the student’s junior or senior high school, up to two days
- Visited with a parent/stepparent/legal guardian who is an active-duty member of the uniformed services 36
- A student 17 years of age or older is pursuing enlistment in a branch of the U.S. armed services or Texas National Guard, provided the absence does not exceed four days and the student provides verification to the District of these activities
- Participating in an off-campus work-based learning opportunity
- Misses school for the purpose of visiting a driver’s license office to obtain a driver’s license or learner permit. The student must be enrolled in high school and 15 years of age or older. The student may not be excused for more than one day of school during the period the student is enrolled in high school for each purpose (obtaining a driver’s license and obtaining a learner license).
Any of the above-listed absences, if the family provides official documentation, will not count against a student's exemption status. We must have the official documentation in the attendance office by December 1, 2022. Please email attendanceahs@fortbendisd.com if you have any questions.
STUDENT RECOGNITION
STAFF RECOGNITION
TEACHER OF THE MONTH-OCTOBER
Hi – I am Melody Leach, the teacher of the month for October 2023.
What led me to becoming a teacher? I have several family members who are teachers and administrators. I was asked to be a guest speaker for a high school business class and really enjoyed the experience. I have been a teacher at Austin High School since 2009. My previous career in finance enables me to bring a real world perspective to the subjects I teach.
My favorite class to teach is: Statistics.
My favorite thing about being a teacher: the students 😊
ParaProfessional of the Month- October
GRADUATING SENIORS-CLASS OF 2023
Senior Employment Opportunities
SENIOR INFORMATION
Senior year is moving fast! I have quite a bit of information for you.
Senior shirts/Hoodies: If you ordered one from ProGrad and did not pick it up, it will be in room A3 until Friday morning. If you miss that time, please pick it up at lunch on Friday. ProGrad did order 30 extra shirts which will be available for $20 each on Friday at lunches. Cash only.
Senior Yearbook photos: If you have not already taken your picture for the yearbook with CADY, they will be on campus December 8th. There is no charge for the yearbook only photo. Sign up coming soon.
Senior Quotes: Senior Quotes for yearbook are due November 14th. See QR codes in senior classes. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3hu55s6acy7GMhUyzdeMKiwlC0BeqET_LFr64fp2IWavrnw/viewform
Senior trip: If you want to go on the senior trip, the first two buses are full. We are now taking payments for the third bus. Go to the Class of 2023 on Revtrak. If you already put down a deposit for the trip, be sure to get that paid off by January 31st. https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/hs/AHS/ahs-class-of-2023/#/list Contact Julie.richoux@fortbendisd.com if you need a balance update.
Senior package: If you have already signed up for the senior package (prom ticket, yearbook, and senior trip), please be sure to get that paid off by January 31st. https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/hs/AHS/ahs-class-of-2023/#/list Contact Julie.richoux@fortbendisd.com if you need a balance update.
Prom tickets: If you want to purchase a prom ticket, but not the senior package, individual tickets and guest tickets will go on sale in January for $100 each. Non AHS Guests must be UNDER 21 and will need to fill out a form to attend the prom. Prices will go up after January 31st. Ticket sales end April 30th.
I will send more information as it becomes available.
SENIOR PACKAGES
Senior Package = Yearbook + Prom + Senior Trip = $325 . Make payments (balance due in January) or pay in full. https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/hs/AHS/ahs-class-of-2023/#/v/ahs-senior-package-2023
2. If you want to secure your spot on the senior trip, you must pay $25 by September 15th. We will be going to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in May 2023. This is a school trip. If you are paying for the senior package, this is already included. https://fortbendisd.revtrak.net/FBISD-Schools-1082/hs/AHS/ahs-class-of-2023/#/v/ahs-senior-trip-only
3. If you are not interested in the package, individual prom tickets will go on sale in January.
2022-2023 YEARBOOK SALES
The time has come to purchase your Yearbooks! Yearbooks will be on sale for $65 for the next two weeks. This is a limited time offer as the price will increase to $85 on October 1st, so get yours now!
AHS CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
BOYS SOCCER COMMUNITY PROJECT
Did you know that your gently worn sneakers could help AHS Boys Soccer?
Well, they can and here’s how…Our teams are participating in a shoe drive where there is nothing to buy or sell; All we need is your support and your gently worn, used, or new sneakers! The drive will take place November 7-11, and students can place sneakers tied together in one of the drop off boxes around campus.
Here’s how you can help:
Start in your and your family’s closets and gather as many pair of sneakers that you no longer want; maybe you’ve out-grown them, they’re out of style, or out of season. If you and your household have 20 pairs, great! If not, don’t worry. You can ask your neighbors, friends, co-workers, and anyone in your social networks to help out. Every pair counts!
The sneakers that we all collect will help raise money to support our program AND will help our environment by keeping sneakers out of landfills.
Can we count on you?
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
PARENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
SOCIAL MEDIA CHECKLIST
Social Media Parents Checklist
This Safer Schools Together document provides specific suggested practices to assist parents in establishing and maintaining healthy social media habits and practices with their children at home.
https://locker.txssc.txstate.edu/6605488455e53fc500eeed949652c46e/Social-Media-Parents-Checklist.pdf
Raising Digitally Responsible Youth: A Texas Parent Guide
This interactive document, developed by the collaborative efforts of Safer Schools Together and the Texas School Safety Center, provides an overview of popular social media platforms and games for parents to assist with teaching children responsible digital practices.
Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election.
FBISD has called a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election.
Early voting begins October 24. Election day is November 8
Go to fortbendisd.com/vatre for more information.
SPECIAL EDUCATION UPDATES AND INFORMATION
MONTHLY PARENT MEETIING INFORMATION
NOVEMBER PARENT MEETING
Hello SEPAC Parents,
Hope you are all doing well. We look forward to seeing you at our November monthly Bulldog parent meeting on Monday,November 28, 2022 at 6 pm. The Zoom link for the meeting is:
Please use the link below to join the meeting:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86761046100?pwd=Y0x6eG8ydnB0UnM1b1hDaVNKZU1zQT09
Meeting ID: 867 6104 6100
Passcode: qr9r5U
As a reminder, since we are in the virtual platform for our SEPAC meetings, please use your full name when joining meetings so attendance can be recorded. Additionally, please do not share the meeting link with anyone as this meeting is only intended for Austin high campus SEPAC parents.
Thank you for your commitment to SEPAC and we look forward to seeing you all the last week of November.
Safety and Security in schools.
Greetings Bulldog families,
Fort Bend ISD sponsors a Special Olympics team, Fort Bend Falcons. for our students. Parents are encouraged to get more information about special Olympics and consider having your student participate. Please click on the link below to read more about special Olympics in FBISD.
https://www.fortbendisd.com/Page/667 Special Education / Special Olympics - Fort Bend ISD Announcements Special Olympics Volleyball. Wheeler Field House. 16325 Lexington Blvd. Sugar Land, TX 77479. Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30 pm, beginning September 21 st . ALL ATHLETES MUST HAVE A PHYSICAL IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE...NO EXCEPTIONS.
Safety and Security in schools: Emergency Procedures for Students with Disabilities
During your student's ARD meeting, feel free to discuss the following information pertaining to safety:
-campus plan for all students
-campus plan specific to your student's needs
-campus drills
-any other safety concerns that need to be addressed within the ARD meeting
22-23 PRIMARY SEPAC PARENT REPRESENTATIVE
22-23 ALTERNATE SEPAC PARENT REPRESENTATIVE
Greetings Bulldog families,
I am excited to represent Austin High as an alternate for SEPAC. I am a speech-language pathologist by trade and I have a passion for advocating for students. I am originally from Louisiana and we moved here from Virginia in 2015. I am excited about the direction FBISD is going to support our students and I look forward to collaborating with our parents and the district.
Thanks,
LaTristaca Doucet Stephens
Grants for Special Education Students
Families of qualifying students will receive online accounts to purchase goods or services that help their student access public school and/or health related services at home or where care is provided.
SSES+ accounts begin with a $5,000 grant. Families are able to request additional funds for more expensive items through TEA. This form is only available through the SSES+ award email.
There is currently enough funding for all students who are identified as medically fragile. This funding is separate and apart from the current SSES program.
https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/sses_updates_7-28-22.pdf
CLINIC CORNER
AHS ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES
ONGOING ANNOUNCEMENTS & FLYERS
TARDIES
Please also remember that students should be in their classrooms prior to 7:30, please remember that traffic is heaviest from 7:15-7:30. We recommend that students arrive by 7:15, to allow ample time to be in their classroom by 7:30.
Please see below for our tardy progression of discipline. Thank you.
STUDENT PARKING PERMITS
Hello Senior and Junior Students.
As we return for the 2022-23 School Year, Senior Students will have the opportunity to purchase Preferred Parking for $75; all other student parking(Senior/Junior) will cost $50.
To purchase parking all seniors and juniors must have:
Completed the online application
A Valid Texas Driver's License
Valid Insurance showing the student's name as an insured driver
No outstanding fines on the AHS Fine List
Must be on record as a Junior/Senior by August 2022
Please follow this link in Red to the application:
Students who have purchased their parking permits for the 2022-23 school year can come and pick them up on August 8 and August 9, 2022 in office 108 between 1:00 PM and 3:30 PM.
Juniors can pick up their parking permits when school starts in office 108 during lunch only and before August 12.
To pick your permit up you must bring:
A copy of the parking permit rules signed by a parent.
A photocopy of your receipt.
STUDENT DROP-OFF
Dear AHS Parents,
Welcome back to another Exciting Year at Austin High School, Home of The Bulldogs!!
We would like to share some information with you regarding Morning Student Drop-Off.
The best time to drop your student off at AHS with little to no traffic is usually between 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM. After 7:15 AM the traffic flow becomes heavy and students risk being late to 1st period.
Areas for Drop-Off: Front Circle and Student Parking Lot Area (Northside of the Building)
Please Do Not Attempt To Drop Your Student Off on The Bus Ramp Side of the Building, That is Not Allowed, this area is for School Vehicles and School Personnel Only!
Please Drive Safe and Have A Great Bulldog Day!!
2022-2023 AHS Clubs and Organizations
CCR INFORMATION
The Austin PlayHouse Presents......
About US
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/ahs
Location: 3434 Pheasant Creek Drive, Sugar Land, TX, USA
Phone: 281-634-2000
Twitter: @AHSBulldogs
FBISD IS HIRING NOW!
Fort Bend ISD is HIRING! (use graphic below in my signature line)
When: Saturday, November 5 Hiring Event
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Fort Settlement Middle School
Learn more and register today: www.fortbendisd.com/touchdown