The Spear
February 28 - March 4 | Austin Middle School
Para traducir el boletín, haga clic en Translate Newsletter en el cuadro negro arriba.
- 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.
February 28-March 4 @ AUSTIN
Monday, February 28
- Jane Long Boarding House Dinner in Ms. Ross' Social Studies Classes
Tuesday, March 1
- A+ 7:30-8:05 am
- Jane Long Boarding House Desserts in Ms. Ross' Social Studies Classes
- PTO Fat Tuesday Luncheon for Austin Staff
- 2:30 pm Life Skills Mardi Gras Parade
Wednesday, March 2
- Silver Singers UIL Choir Competition
Thursday, March 3
- Last A+ for this nine weeks due to Benchmark testing next week
- Austin Emeralds UIL Choir Competition
- Auditions for UIL Choir, Theater, Band, and Art 1 are DUE TODAY. See below for details.
Friday, March 4
Spirit Dress Day
Weekend
Relax and Enjoy
Upcoming in March:
March 7-10: Benchmark Testing Week
March 9: Math Escape Night 5:00-6:00 pm
March 11: Spring Fling 1:30-3:00 pm
March 14-18: SPRING BREAK
March 21-25: International Adolescent Health Week
March 25-April 1: Scholastic Book Fair
March 30: Early Release Day at 11:15 am
March 30: PreACT for 8th grade
March 30: Night at the Wax Museum
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
2022 GRAND KIDS FESTIVAL BANNER DESIGN CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
(Grades 5-6)
1st place Anais Lopez, Austin Middle School, Galveston
2nd place Josephine Bishop, Austin Middle School, Galveston
3rd place Kaia Caravageli, Austin Middle School, Galveston
Winners of the contest will receive a Grand Kids Festival t-shirt and a set of greeting cards printed with their winning design. Greeting cards will also be available for sale at the Festival.
The Grand Kids Festival, which is FREE to the public, is set for Saturday April 30, 2022, and will be held from 10 am – 5 pm in Galveston’s historic downtown Cultural Arts District on Postoffice Street, between 20th and 23rd Streets. The winning banners will be on display throughout the Festival area.
AUDITION FOR UIL CHOIR 2022-2023
All current and new UIL students need to complete the application DUE MARCH 3, 2022.
In order to be considered as a participant in UIL Choir at Central MS next year, please submit a video recording and answer the questions in the form to the best of your ability. It's ok if you don't know all of it, just do your best!
AUDITION FOR UIL BAND 2022-2023
All current and new UIL students need to complete the application DUE MARCH 3, 2022.
In order to be considered as a participant in UIL Band at Central MS next year, please submit a video recording and answer the questions below.
AUDITION FOR UIL THEATRE 2022-2023
All current and new UIL students need to complete the application DUE MARCH 3, 2022.
In order to be considered as a participant in UIL Theatre at Central MS next year, please submit a video recording and answer the questions below to the best of your ability. It's ok if you don't know all of it, just do your best! If you are auditioning for tech Theatre; your acceptance will be determined by your "WHY" theatre answer.
APPLY FOR HIGH SCHOOL ART 1 2022-2023
Application open to current 7th grade students advancing to 8th grade for school year 2022-2023: DUE MARCH 3, 2022.
Current Art students are required to submit the application along with one drawing or painting, done within the last year, in any media no larger than 11 x 14 but not smaller than 8 x10 on paper or flat board canvas.
If you are not a current art student, you are required to submit the application along with two original works done within the last year: one pencil drawing and one work in color (paint, crayon, color pencil, marker, pastel, etc) no larger than 11x14 but not smaller than 8 x 10.
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
- 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
Planning to Volunteer this year??
Please turn in completed forms to Mrs. Zavala in the front office of AMS. Thank you.
PTO
We will be hosting a Fat Tuesday luncheon on Tuesday, March 1st. This is one of our favorite events! Be on the lookout for a dessert sign-up for this.
Our next Free Dress Day will be Friday, March 11th.
Samantha Gonzales
International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) is an annual week-long designation to raise the profile of adolescent health. This international celebration consists of dynamic participatory events to inspire adolescents and their communities to advocate for a successful transition into adulthood. More details about IAHW at Austin MS to come!
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!
Relationship Skills:
Social Engagement
“Relationships are at the heart of schooling.”—Mark Twain
Relationship skills are essential to “build and maintain meaningful connections across race, culture, age, and distance; support one another during collective grief and struggle; and collaboratively find solutions to new obstacles.” Besides looking good on a resume, social engagement reinforces empathy, cultivates new friendships, community connections, and interests.
Through civic learning, students “participate as caring and engaged community members and can analyze how issues in the world around them affect their lives, develop an understanding of how they can make a difference, and learn how to work with others to create solutions.” Volunteering helps students feel empowered as they witness how they can solve problems and positively impact others.
Promote Social Engagement:
Show the purpose.Help them understand their impact by explaining how their effort makes a difference. Watch a documentary, introduce them to people and nonprofit organizations that support causes they’re passionate about, and explain how they make a difference.
Give independence. Middle schoolers want to feel capable and independent. Show trust by allowing them autonomy by letting them make their own decisions about their volunteer work, when, and even how to get involved.
Lead by example. Teens watch and mimic the actions of the adults in their lives. Be sure you model by consistently volunteering and giving back.
Get social. Social media is part of our culture. Post pictures on social media accounts, ask them to tweet or Snapchat about their volunteering experiences, help them include old friends, and make new ones during the process.
Provide positive feedback. Give positive feedback, affirmation, and recognition. Thank them and discuss how they made a tangible difference for someone else.
Click For a List of Local Causes & Organizations!
Sources:
https://casel.org/fundamentals-of-sel/what-is-the-casel-framework/#relationship
https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/blog/2018/11/12/how-to-encourage-teenagers-to-volunteer/Amy Argubright
Email: AmyArgubright@gisd.org
Principal's Corner
Last week, we had several events for students that went amazing. All students enjoyed the experiences.
There are only two weeks until Spring Break. Please check students' Skyward for any missing assignments.
Principal
Austin Middle School
This week is Random Acts of Kindness Week!
Here are some ideas for random acts of kindness
Smile at someone just because.
Buy the person behind you a snack.
Donate toys to charity.
Make homemade dog treats and deliver them to a shelter.
Bake cookies for your neighbor.
Donate to a food bank.
Send a card in the mail just because.
Volunteer.
Donate old blankets and towels to an animal shelter.
Paint rocks and hide them for others to find.
Send a care package to deployed soldiers.
Pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant.
Let someone go in front of you in line.
Mow the lawn or rake the leaves for your neighbor.
Send someone flowers.
Help someone before they ask.
Leave a treat in the mailbox for your mail carrier.
Donate to your favorite charity.
Compliment a stranger.
Bake treats and deliver them to your local police station.
Pick up litter at the park or beach.
Call a relative just to say hello.
Email: ErikaPuccetti@gisd.org
Local Engineer, and Ball High Grad, Jaylynn Walker!
Jaylynn Walker is a production engineer for Kuraray America, Inc. She works specifically with Ethylene vinyl-alcohol copolymers (EVOH) in the EVAL™ plant.
Jaylynn is from Galveston Island, a Ball High School graduate with a BS in Biomolecular Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Presentation from HNTB Engineers, Pacee Bean & Dani Courtney!
Pacee Bean
I attended Texas A&M University where I majored in Civil Engineering. I have 8 years of experience and received my Professional Engineering license 4 years ago. Outside of work I make jewelry and the proud pet owner of a husky and a turtle.
Dani Courtney
I’m from Colorado and I earned my B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Alabama. I have 4 years of experience, and I enjoy crafting and playing intramural sports like kickball, football, and volleyball.
CONTEST OPPORTUNITY
The Galveston Noon Optimist Club is again conducting our Annual Oratorical Contest.
This year's Contest will be held on March 26, 2022, at Texas A&M University on Pelican Island. The topic for this year's Contest is "Staying Optimistic in Challenging Times."
The first-place winner will receive a $250.00 award; the second-place winner
will receive a $150.00 award; and the third-place winner will receive a $100.00 award. The top three finishers will also be awarded Olympic-style medallions. The top two finishers are eligible to compete in this area's Optimist Zone or Regional Contest, and the top two finishers at that Contest will compete at the South Texas District Contest where the first-place winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship, the second-place winner will receive a $1,500 scholarship, and the third- place winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship. The first-place District Winner will be eligible to represent the District at the Optimist International Regional Contest, where the winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship, and the Regional winner will be eligible to compete at the Optimist Oratorical World Championship, where the first-place winner will receive a $15,000 scholarship, the second-place winner will receive a $10,000 scholarship, and the third-place winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship.
All students born on or after October 2, 2002 (and not enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a post-secondary institution) are eligible to compete in the Contest.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to call Robert Bastien at 409-763-2454 x10.