Hornet Herald

Great evening fantastic families,

Only five weeks remaining in what has been an amazing school year. Our students and staff have shown perseverance, grit, and resilience in the face of adversity. We are now focused on closing this school year out in the most positive way, preparing for the summer and the 2022-2023 school year. This past week we had an amazing Spring Fling, met with our master scheduling committee to begin structuring what next year will look like academically and finalized our budget & completed the signing sheet with the CAC (Campus Advisory Council). We also scheduled a walk with AISD operations & the AISD CTE (Careers in Technical Education) Department to discuss possibilities for room 108 and completed another biweekly climate and culture survey as a staff. At our Principal's Coffee this past week we discussed reigniting programs on our campus to support students and families. Michael Griffith of Break Through Central Texas joined us to talk about his program which mentors students from the middle school years through college. We also discussed establishing and communicating rules for the Spring Fling, the 4/15 Climate and Culture Staff Survey, and participation in Magnet Courses at Kealing Middle School.

Apparently, there has been some miscommunication about magnet courses at Kealing. Here are the facts:

- Magnet courses and advanced electives are available to all students

- Students are carefully evaluated prior to magnet course placement. This includes academic history review and in some cases placement exam results.

- Students are not able to circumvent the magnet process by simply transferring to Kealing and taking the magnet courses. All transfers are carefully selected, and space is limited on our campus, so this is a much more complicated process than it would seem.

To close out our year we are refining our disciplinary and safety systems on campus to assure we are providing the safest and most optimal learning environment for our scholars and staff. This includes more frequent hallway and restroom sweeps from campus security, and more structured student leave & outside expectations. Thank you for choosing Kealing Middle School and Austin ISD, feel free to reach out to me directly for any reason at all: jerald.wilson@austinisd.org

This Past Week

• Biweekly Climate Survey Results

• Principals Coffee

This Upcoming Week

• 4/29 Biweekly Campus Survey
• More campus improvement conversations with Special Education Teacher's Assistants, classified staff and Teachers

Hornet Parents,

We all know how wonderful the Kealing Middle School Teachers are, so let's show them during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2nd - May 6th! There are two ways to get involved:

Stock the Fridge & Teacher Breakrooms
All families are invited to help the PTA stock the fridge and teacher breakrooms to start the week. Drop your non-perishable donations off at the main office on or before Monday, May 2nd. If your items are perishable, please drop off the morning of Monday, May 2nd before 10am. ***IMPORTANT: Please label any homemade items for dietary restrictions (ie. nuts, gluten free, dairy, etc).*** Specific items requested are detailed in the sign ups.

Sign up here:
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61f870c0091a1ea10125b9e0/signups/62603fb7421af25b4ae029a8

Gift Card Giveaway
All families are invited to donate $25 gift cards to be given out to all of the KMS teachers on Friday, May 6th. Please donate $25 gift cards from Amazon, Target, HEB, etc. Drop your donations at the main office before Wednesday, May 4th (labeled Teacher Appreciation - PTA), or email to vpta@kealingpta.org.

Sign up here:
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61f870c0091a1ea10125b9e0/signups/62603fac421af25b4ae0297e

To access the sign ups, please register on Konstella and set your notification preferences + privacy settings here if you still need to: https://www.konstella.com/cd/VLKV1

Questions before signing up? Contact Sarah Tower at vpta@kealingpta.org

Thank you for your support!
Hello Kealing Community!

The Kealing PTA is proudly hosting a get-together for the parents, guardians, teachers, and staff of our Kealing scholars.

While Kealing students interact daily, building friendships and modeling a 'One Kealing' mindset, we adults have had preciously few opportunities for this over the last few years. With the COVID Risk-Level in Austin being 'Low', we feel now is the moment to meet up, talk, laugh, and have a generally good time!

Details -
Event: Kealing PTA Spring Swarm (Adults Only)
When: Thursday, May 19th, 2022 from 6pm - 9pm
Where: The Flaming Pit, @ 1518 East 12th Street
What: Music by Scott Strickland, food, drinks, yard games, conversation, and fun!

This is a FREE event for our parents, guardians, teachers, and staff - sorry, no students allowed at this shin-dig. The PTA is paying for the venue, band, and food -- drinks are to be brought by all attending [BOYB].

All adults within our Kealing Community are welcome to attend, including parents and guardians of outgoing 8th graders and incoming 6th graders.

Please respond to this short survey (one per household) so that we can gauge the number of folks who will attend:
https://forms.gle/X1JM3Q6EEXn3d4Tt5

Final notes --

There are tons of things happening as the school year draws to a close. No date was perfect, but May 19 presented the fewest scheduling conflicts. If you can't come early, please come later!

Also, Scott Strickland and his band are great!! His album release show is happening at the Paramount on April 30th (more on that here: https://tickets.austintheatre.org/7626) and check out the tunes on Spotify.

Thanks!
The Kealing PTA

Before School

All staff, students, and visitors are encouraged to self screen for COVID 19 symptoms before entering into a campus or other Austin ISD Facilities each day

Arrival

- We will maintain outdoor markers to social distance

Transition

- we will encourage moving halls where students are encourage to not stop while transitioning to classes

- Hornet Passes are available for students with anxiety about being in large groups

Classrooms

- We are seating/desks at least 3 feet apart when feasible

- Each classroom has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration unit

- Personal Protective Equipment will be available in each room

- Plexiglass dividers available

- Additional outdoor seating (2 outdoor classrooms & the courtyard if teachers plan to use)

Breakfast & Lunch

- Students are allowed to eat lunch both inside the cafeteria and outside in the courtyard

- Dividers are available if a student prefers to use at lunch (we are taking down the plexiglass dividers)

- The courtyard comfortably seats 4 classes, which is from 25% - 100% of the lunch capacity for each lunch period.

Dismissal

- we will have staggered dismissal where scholars will be dismissed by areas of the building to reduce traffic.

Changes

- Masks are optional

- assigned seating for lunches is a discontinued practice

- We are no longer using the staggered transitions

- no more assigned seating during lunches

- we no longer use the accordian plexiglass dividers (student may use a divider if the student prefers)

After School Professionals Week

Monday -April 25th - B Day (5th - 8th Periods)

Tuesday - April 26th -A Day (1st - 4th Periods)

Wednesday - April 27th- B Day (5th - 8th Periods)

Administrative Professionals Day

COVID Vaccine Clinic in the Hornet Cafeteria

Track & Field Zone Championships, Burger Stadium @ 6p

Thursday - April 28th - A Day (1st - 4th Periods)

Track & Field Zone Championships, Burger Stadium @ 6p

Friday - April 29th- B Day (5th - 8th Periods)

Saturday April 30th

Kealing April Service Day, 8:30a - 1p

5/3 - National Teacher Day & Principal's Coffee

5/4 - Algebra I EOC & National School Nurse Day

5/5 - PTA Meeting, Science 8th Grade STAAR & 8th Grade Algebra I EOC

5/6 - 8th Grade Social Studies STAAR

Online Enroll Returning Students for the 2022-2023 School year through the Portal https://portal.austinisd.org

Hey Hornets, If you are interested in playing sports in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade, you will need a completed AISD Athletic Physical Packet. AISD is offering free physical exams in mid-May. If you are interested in getting a free physical, see Coach Gardner for the packet and waiver form. Forms for free physicals must be returned by Friday April 28.

We all know how wonderful the Kealing Middle School Teachers are, so let's show them during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2nd - May 6th! There are two ways to get involved:

Stock the Fridge & Teacher Breakrooms
All families are invited to help the PTA stock the fridge and teacher breakrooms to start the week. Drop your non-perishable donations off at the main office on or before Monday, May 2nd. If your items are perishable, please drop off the morning of Monday, May 2nd before 10am. ***IMPORTANT: Please label any homemade items for dietary restrictions (ie. nuts, gluten free, dairy, etc).*** Specific items requested are detailed in the sign ups.

Sign up here:
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61f870c0091a1ea10125b9e0/signups/62603fb7421af25b4ae029a8

Gift Card Giveaway
All families are invited to donate $25 gift cards to be given out to all of the KMS teachers on Friday, May 6th. Please donate $25 gift cards from Amazon, Target, HEB, etc. Drop your donations at the main office before Wednesday, May 4th (labeled Teacher Appreciation - PTA), or email to vpta@kealingpta.org.

Sign up here:
https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61f870c0091a1ea10125b9e0/signups/62603fac421af25b4ae0297e

To access the sign ups, please register on Konstella and set your notification preferences + privacy settings here if you still need to: https://www.konstella.com/cd/VLKV1

Questions before signing up? Contact Sarah Tower at vpta@kealingpta.org

Thank you for your support!

The yearbook team has spent all year working on the perfect book to sum up this exciting year. Don't miss your chance to buy one for your student at just $42! Sales end on the 27th of April. To order, go to jostens.com, scroll down to "yearbook", and click on "order your yearbook". Search for Kealing MS and customize your order! You can also find these instructions along with a direct QR code on your student's advisory Blend page.

The 8th grade celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, May 24 on campus during the school day. It's a fun-filled day for Kealing's graduating 8th graders complete with special t-shirts, yearbook signing, snacks and lunch, outdoor games, rock wall climbing, an inflatable obstacle course, and more!

This is a student event but parents will be needed to help make it happen. PTA will be looking for volunteers on and around the day of the event to help contribute snacks, set up, clean up, and chaperone. Watch for those sign-ups later in April.

One immediate need is to secure and finalize plans for lunch at the party. If you're connected with a local restaurant or caterer that could help provide a yummy spread, please contact Jen Loving (jen.loving@gmail.com).

Thank you!

Date - May 25th

Time - 6p

Location - Eastside Memorial Early College High School

If you would like to assist contact Keri Jaworski (keri.jaworski@austinisd.org)

Please help our Algebra 2 class raise money for our end of year project! We are making a dynamic art installation in the school and need some funding! This art installation will be an exciting addition to our school and will demonstrate the creativity and individuality of the Kealing students. All donations are appreciated and every dollar counts!

Link to the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/kealing-algebra-2-end-of-year-project-funding?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

Hello community! Thank you so much for showing up for Kealing time and time again! Be it your time, your talent, or your treasure--we appreciate you! Supplies are running low again and many of y'all know we basically do not have a supply budget as we previously had. Additionally, we are working hard to welcome refugee students to our campus. Their teachers providing resources to engage them and make them feel supported, so we have included several books and language acquisition resources to the Amazon wish list. I cannot express how much we appreciate you all. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/B7BQHNMLAOP?ref_=wl_share

Thank you for all your generous contributions to our campus! We appreciate you and all the many ways you show up for our Kealing Community. We have started a Community Donates spreadsheet in order to repurpose household items to our campus. There are two ways to contribute--1. Drop off the requested item to the front office labeled with the requesting teacher's name. 2. If you have item(s) to offer that might have a second life on our campus, please add a description to the spreadsheet. Teachers can then go in and claim the item. HERE is a link to the spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IOK7cMk99UZtIQcClIWNQ8Wgc3_nBQ0tBrj7amKXLro/edit?usp=sharing

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