The Spear
January 17-21 | Austin Middle School
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- 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.
- Early Dismissal Days end at 11:15 am.
- Bring your supplies, GISD Chromebook, Earbuds/Headphones, and a clear or mesh backpack.
- Snack Bar Open- https://www2.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
- If your child would like to wear a mask during the school day, please provide one.
January 17-21 @ AUSTIN
Monday, January 17
- NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, January 18
- A+ 7:30-8:05 am
Wednesday, January 19
- 7th & 8th Grade Science Fair (Virtual Event) submissions due by 9 AM. See link below for more information.
Thursday, January 20
- A+ 7:30-8:05 am
Friday, January 21
End of the 3-weeks
Spirit Dress Day
Weekend
Relax & Enjoy
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.
- If your child would like to wear a mask during school, please provide one.
Students must have their ID badges around their necks before entering the building. If students forget their ID, they can get a temporary one at the front office. The charge is $1 per day. Students that do not have the money will be charged. Students that need a new badge can purchase one for $5.
**All Device forms must be completed through Skyward before a device can be checked out to a student.
DRESS CODE
Students MUST be in dress code each day.
- Dress Code
- Remember Hoodies/Sweaters/Sweatshirts worn inside the building MUST BE Grade-level COLOR
COVID
Please remember to report all COVID cases and exposures to the GISD website. Here are a few reminders
- We encourage you NOT to send your child to school if they have a pending COVID test results
- If your child is experiencing two or more COVID symptoms, we encourage you to have them tested
- Students in quarantine have all assignments on Canvas
- If a student is exposed/ close contact and is UNVACCINATED, they must quarantine for 10 days, or they may return to school on the 7th day with a negative test dated after the 5th day
- All positive cases are quarantined for 10 days
If you have any questions, feel free to contact the front office or the central administration building.
Has Your Child Been Absent?
The note should contain the following items:
- Student’s printed first and last name and GISD identification number
- Date of absence
- Reason for absence
Absentee notes must be received by the attendance clerk no later than three (3) days after the student’s return to school.
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
- 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
Athletics
Austin Art Students Perform Well at Houston Rodeo Competition
Planning to Volunteer this year??
Please turn in completed forms to Mrs. Zavala in the front office of AMS. Thank you.
Teen Health Offers Vaccines
Medical
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are available at all Teen Health Center Medical clinics. In order to receive their vaccinations, minors ages 5- 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 or at www.teenhealthcenter.org. Call (409) 761-3530 to schedule an appointment at the Teen Health medical clinic of your choice.
Mental Health
Teen Health Center Offers Mental Health Therapy!
Galveston youth ages 0-21 are welcome. Mental Health therapy is provided via a secure telehealth platform and in person. If you feel your mental health is not where it should be, you can contact one of our Teen Health Center Mental Health Clinics!
To make a mental health therapy appointment, call: (409) 761-3530, ext. 7
SEL at AMS!
Social Awareness
Appreciating Diversity
Respecting diversity involves understanding and valuing the perspectives from all backgrounds. Students have different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, religions, and all of these differences between people leads to diversity in a community.
1. Be a role model. Embrace diversity by remaining open to new ideas. Model by listening, accepting, and welcoming people and ideas which are different from your own. Be mindful to avoid stereotypical remarks and speak out against slurs that target people/groups.
2. Encourage empathy. Whether it’s a sibling they are fighting with, a friend who might be acting strangely, or a character on a TV show, ask them to consider the other person’s point of view.
3. Improve acceptance through exposure. Getting to know people different from oneself reduces prejudice and increases understanding. Invite friends from different backgrounds to experience the joy of your traditions and customs. Ask them to share theirs.
4. Introduce diversity. Suggest reading books by authors from different backgrounds. Perhaps they might like an author from a different county or an author who has a disability. Strike up discussions about how cultures or religions are both alike and different from your own.
5. Challenge the idea of “normal”. All of us are born unique, so there is no one way to be “normal''. Studies show that ignoring differences can actually worsen discrimination, so it’s good to also point out what we have in common with someone who seems very different from us.
6. Share stories. Encourage storytelling and share personal experiences. How life was different for their grandparents or how an uncle experienced discrimination for a disability can be eye-opening.
7. Give facts. Provide accurate information to reject harmful myths and stereotypes. They will hear lots of stereotypes at school. Confront these misconceptions with truth.
https://middleearthnj.org/2020/01/20/7-ways-to-help-teens-appreciate-differences/
Amy Argubright
Email: AmyArgubright@gisd.org
Principal's Corner
PEACE RALLY
Upcoming at Austin Middle School:
Students will be choosing courses soon. I will be working with other counselors to make sure it is a smooth transition. As soon as I have more information about when course selection is due I will let everyone know.
The Austin Peace Rally Committee has been chosen and we will begin meeting to make some decisions about how the students want the Peace Rally to be. More information about the Austin Peace Rally will be coming soon.
Email: ErikaPuccetti@gisd.org
Lonestar Leadership Academy
Lone Star Leadership Academies are Sunday-Friday overnight camps offered throughout the summer for outstanding 4th-8th graders. Campers have the opportunity to explore significant sites in Texas’ three largest metropolitan areas with other outstanding students… all before 9th grade!
During the camps, young leaders travel to Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin/San Antonio, or Houston/Galveston for a week of fun, learning, leadership development, and visits to significant Texas sites. In addition to improving their leadership abilities, participants gain self-confidence and independence and develop new friendships with other high-achieving students from across the state.
Visit THIS LINK to learn more.
Advanced Academic Specialist
Austin Middle School