Smallville-

We made it through the first round of STAAR exams with ease and have tweaked our systems and plans for the next round of tests in May. Much to our delight, several 7th grade students who returned to campus for the first time in order to take the test stuck around for the day. Many came back the next day as well and have been here ever since.

Again, we aren’t here to persuade or dissuade any family’s choice in regards to returning to campus; we just want to present the information as to what is taking place here in Smallville. I can tell you that no student who returns regrets being here and they all seem to be having more fun. The main difference between the Zoom and the room is the social aspect of what happens once the Zoom class is over. Kids being kids, laughing and interacting with each other. And yes, they’re even interacting and socializing while the lesson is going on. Not ideal mind you, but all part of what middle school is. In fact, one of our amazing band directors Suzie Glaser had to quiet a few kids down in class this week. After she corrected their focus, she paused for reflection because she couldn’t believe that her first redirection for disruption occurred on April 19th...a full 138 days beyond the time this normally occurs.

That’s right, school is starting to feel like school again. The above situation is all part of middle school and, though not desirable, it informs our staff and students that we’re near the tipping point or a return to normalcy.

Attendance: Taking attendance this year is a complicated, ever changing process that we have yet to master. In years past, we could simply call roll and await a response. If we didn’t hear a response, we then repeated the name, looked up, maybe even asked a few of the students if they had seen whom we called, then moved on. It was basically as simple as counting desks; if 30 are full, we are all good. If only 29 are full, we knew we had one absence and marked it accordingly.

Not as simple this year. We have “do nows,” Google Forms, BLEND quizzes, and proof of engagement, and it seems that as soon as we get the hang of how to do it, it changes on us. Nevermind the fact that a lot of times a guest teacher is involved so the processes seem even more complicated.

The point of all this is that we know our shortcomings and will work with you to make sure your student gets credit for being in class. Whether online or on campus, we will make every effort to ensure that your student is marked present and accounted for. If you have received attendance warnings you feel are in error, please let us know. Email the teacher of record for the class marked absent, as well as our attendance clerk (icela.schmitz@austinisd.org) and myself and we will make sure to clear things up. Remember, our goal is to have every student engaged, attending, and accounted for, so we will work with you and your family to make sure that is the case.

Enjoy the weekend and please remember to email any concerns, questions, or even kudos you may have.

Excelsior!

Matthew Nelson

Principal

Clint Small Middle School

(512) 841-6705

www.smallmiddleschool.org matthew.m.nelson@austinisd.org

Induction Ceremony for 2019-2020 (current 8th graders who were selected for NJHS as 7th graders last Spring) and for 2020-2021 (current 7th graders who have been recently selected) NJHS members will be held on May 20th at 7:30pm. Current NHS members from LASA will be hosting and welcoming new members and we will have a very special guest speaker! The virtual ceremony should last about half an hour (no commute time!)

Mrs. Manners, your NJHS sponsor, has the emails for the students in 7th and 8th grade as well as the adults-of-7th-graders and she will send a Zoom link to those emails closer to May 20th. If you are an adult-of-an-8th-grade NJHS member who would like to attend the virtual ceremony, please send an email to christie.manners@austinisd.org with the emails of anyone you'd like included (grandparents, bonus parents, etc). Please include the name of your NJHS member and "Zoom Link Request" in the subject line.

If students have any library books from last spring from ANY AISD campus they can be returned at Small. You can put them in the first floor book drop if you are on campus or drop them by the office if you are virtual. Your help is appreciated getting books back in our AISD libraries!

When: June 28 – July 1

Where: Small Middle School gym

Who:

• Boys and Girls entering 3rd – 5th grades 9:00 am – 12:00 noon
• Boys and Girls entering 6th – 9th grades 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Cost: $100 per camper

The Austin High Basketball Camp will focus on teaching the fundamentals of basketball and will provide campers the opportunity to improve and have fun with the game. Each camper will receive individual as well as group instruction from professional coaches. Coach Brad Ingram, head boys basketball coach at Austin High, will be the Camp Director. All equipment will be provided. Students will need to bring their own water bottle.

Sign up online at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfI2AXbNcpoAvgQIcS-SKnkh2owOX_TIYkmqaDhCyvcUj2png/viewform link and pay at https://austinisd.schoolcashonline.com/ (search for Austin High Basketball Camp)

We have three dates available for TRYOUTS

(1) Thursday, April 22

(2) Thursday, April 29

(3) Thursday, May 6

If you are interested in speaking to our CAC using our Citizen Communication time, please email our CAC chair Co-Chair Chasee chappellhudgins@mac.com for the meeting Zoom details.

Citizens Communications. For all regular and other plenary meetings of the CAC, time at the beginning of the meeting shall be set aside for citizens communications. This time is specifically for non-members to make comments to the CAC. The Co-Chairs may limit the time for citizens communications and the time given to individual speakers. The Co-Chairs shall ensure that the district’s “Citizens Communications and Visitor Guidelines” are applied. Under these guidelines, except for requests for clarification, dialogue shall not occur between speakers and members. If the CAC is interested in hearing more from a speaker, the speaker may be invited to a future meeting and placed on the agenda specifically for that purpose. Or, the CAC may call a special meeting specifically for the purpose of open dialogue with non-members (e.g., a “community conversation”), but it must be posted for discussion on a specific topic or topics.

Parents, are you looking for a way to give back to teachers and staff at Small Middle School?

We (A handful of Small Parents) have found a free and very effective way to show some love and thought we would share it with you all.

RAVE: Recognizing All Valuable Employees

Let's send some sparkly gratitude to our faculty & staff this holiday season with an AISD RAVE submission!

• Does your student have a favorite teacher?
• Has someone at Small (or any other AISD School) gone above and beyond for you and your family?
• Do you want to support teachers and let everyone (Teacher, Principal, AISD District) know about it?

All of our faculty and staff have gone above and beyond this semester. The best free, easy, sparkly way to show our gratitude is via the RAVE form on the AISD website (link below.) It only takes a couple of minutes to complete!

This form is received by AISD administration. RAVE submissions mean a lot to teachers and staff. It's equivalent to a virtual hug! And, there's never been a better time to remind the Superintendent how indispensable they all are.

Please submit a RAVE for any teacher or staff member (current or from school years past.)

Maybe send one or two a day! You do need the first and last name of the employee you wish to RAVE about. Those can be sourced on Small's Staff Directory :

https://www.austinisd.org/schools/small/directory

Flooding AISD administration with positive feedback will make an important and lasting impact. Let's make this holiday season sparkle a little extra with RAVES!

https://www.austinisd.org/hr/customer-service/rave

Thank you,

Small Parents