Cougar News
Week of 4/9/18 - 4/13/18
Letter from Principal Nelson
Howdy Cougars!
We want to thank all of you who reached out to us this past week and emailed us ideas and questions in regards to raising funds and/or writing grants for our school. This is exactly the kind of community support we need and we welcome any and all input in regards to ways we can continue to keep Smallville Austin’s premier middle school.
It’s important we view this current situation not as “us versus them,” but rather as “us for us.” When we raise our own money for our campus, one hundred percent of that stays here with us. The legislature disappears and we are not required to send money by way of Robin Hood to other school districts. What is made or raised here stays here. We owe it to our kids and our community to find ways to generate income for our campus that does not threaten the sustainability of our programs or our culture. In the spirit of “us” I am confident that we have found the budget resources necessary to sustain our Green Tech program. As we have always done, we will continue to build on our success, working with our parents and community as partners to fill in any gaps in support for our students.
When people visit our campus, it’s our culture that sticks. Schools all across AISD have top-notch STEM offerings, and more and more are even adding Green classes (both are what’s best for kids), but what separates us from the other schools is the palpable sense of enthusiasm and pride our kids and staff have for the school and for one another. Culture trumps all and leads to better test scores, better attendance rates (we are now 3rd in AISD ahead of even the magnate schools), and happier kids. AISD knows this and supports our mission by allowing us to be creative with our programming, which in turn provides us a certain amount of autonomy.
Again, thank you for your continued support. We are at the precipice of something game changing in education regards to how we put kids’ needs first and foremost and know we will be able to continue to do so because of all y’all’s support.
Next Week’s Schedule:
Next week is going to be different for everybody, so make sure to follow the schedule in this newsletter and any communication sent your way by your student’s teachers. On Tuesday, 8th grade students will be taking the STAAR Math test while our 7th graders will be taking the STAAR Writing test. 8th grade students who are enrolled in Algebra will be off campus for a learning experience as they take an EOC (End of Course Exam) in May. 6th grade students who are enrolled in our Advanced Math Geometry Track will be taking the 8th grade STAAR on Tuesday as well. On Wednesday, all 8th grade students will be taking the STAAR Reading test while our 7th grade Advanced Math students will take the 8th grade STAAR Math Test. Also on Wednesday, in an effort to keep the building quieter, our entire 6th grade class will be off campus for their shared learning experience at the Paramount.
Lots of stuff going on and lots of moving parts. Make sure kids get a good night’s sleep each night and a healthy breakfast in the morning. Please adhere to our rules in regards to parent visitors and lunches on testing days and feel free to call with questions or concerns.
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Small Middle School
(512) 841-6505
@smallprincipal matthew.m.nelson@austinisd.org www.smallmiddleschool.org
STAAR Stuff
As we prepare for the upcoming STAAR tests, we just wanted to make you aware of a few things...
Attention all CSMS Parents:
There are several required tests to be administered in April and May that will impact students and the bell schedule. This message includes important information you will need to know about the upcoming test.
Please
- Make any necessary adjustments to appointments so that your student is present for the entire testing session.
- Don't schedule doctor or dentist appointments on these days.
- Also, students need to either have a lunch or buy lunch from the cafeteria on testing days. A sack lunch can be ordered from the cafeteria if a student is unable to bring a lunch. Please be aware that we cannot deliver lunches to test sites during testing.
- Finally, be sure your student is well rested and has a healthy breakfast so they can do their best!
Remember
- Next week, April 9th - April 13th, we will not be running Ignite due to preparation for STAAR and for testing. We will begin again on April 16th, 2018.
- We will be picking up cell phones and smart watches during testing, these items are not allowed during STATE testing. All items will be returned at the end of the testing window for that day.
Academic UIL
Is your student participating in the Academic UIL contest April 14, 2018 (Saturday) at Marble Falls Middle School?
Please print the permission form and sent it with your student to give to their coach by April 5th.
Click here for Permission Form
Parents/guardians are welcome to attend. Awards ceremony will be at approximately 2:00pm. An event like this takes volunteers, if you are willing and able to help out please email the UIL coordinator Becky.white@austinisd.org
This Friday - Glow Dance Party!!!
Quick Sponsorship Need
Do you know of a company, or organization that might help us purchase Waterproof lanyards for our upcoming SplastFest. The minimum we can buy is 500 and the total cost is about $1000.
If you know of a company out there that might want to purchase them for us, or help us out with some of the cost, maybe we can work something out. The kids will be able to use them all summer long and it would be a great way for someone to advertise and partner with our school.
If you are interested, or know someone we might ask, contact Jennifer.newell@austinisd.org
Thanks!
Small Needs YOU!
Join us for the next
Carnival Planning meeting
Thursday, April 18th at noon
Austin Pizza Garden
We have a carnival facebook planning page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/183958045742713/
Join us to brainstorm ideas, learn how you can help and share your talents!
AISD Summer Theatre Production
The Austin ISD Summer Musical AUDITIONS are HERE!
We are EXTENDING the DEADLINE to Sunday April 8th!!!
Please spread the word to your students
***AISD account must be used to access the audition Google Classroom***
Need Dancers, Singers, Actors, Musicians and Technical Students!!!
Side Note: There will be a second summer show in the Black Box, details TBA.
NEED TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:
Please consider this paid position for a great summer project.
AUDITION QUESTIONS:
Email AISDsummermusical@gmail.com
LINK:
https://www.austinisd.org/announcements/auditions-districtwide-summer-musical-open-march-12
Summer Sport Camp Registration
If you child would like to get a leg up on their sport, They can come to a week long Summer sports Camp here at Small. Click the link below to register.
- Volleyball Camp
- Football Camp
- Basketball Camp
Boys Track Results
MESSAGE FROM THE BOWIE TENNIS TEAM COACH!
Attention 8th grade Tennis Players:
Bowie Tennis team tryouts are Saturday, May 26th
you must register at: www.bowietennis.org
Respectfully,
Coach Dammann
Camp Counselors needed
Do you have an 8th grader who is ready for some responsibility this summer? Check out this opportunity for them to be a camp Counselor
South Austin Composite Mountain Bike Team
Last weekend the South Austin Composite Mountain Bike Team won FIRST PLACE for the third time in a row, competing against mountain bike teams from all over the state in Smithville, Texas.
Notable winners and riders who scored high points for for our team include:
Jackson Bobbitt, 2nd place, 6th grade boys
Beckett Sharp, 8th place, 6th grade boys
Ethan Doucette, 1st place 7th grade boys
Grant Clark, 4th place, 8th grade boys
Ryan Yellitz, 5th place, 8th grade boys
Reagan Foreman, 3rd place, 6th grade girls
Bella Ramsay, 1st place, 8th grade girls
Abby Ruth, 2nd place, 8th grade girls
Free Summer Camp
It is that time again!
Registration for school year 2018-19 is now open! Please visit your Parent Cloud click on the REGISTRATION tile and complete the registration for all current AISD students. Please visit my webpage for further instructions.
2017-2018 Yearbooks On Sale Now!
You can order your yearbook online anytime. Click here
Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
Email: jennifer.newell@austinisd.org
Website: http://www.smallmiddleschool.org/
Location: 4801 Monterey Oaks Boulevard, Austin, TX, United States
Phone: (512) 841-6700