Cougar News
The Weekly Newsletter of Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
Newsletter for December 19th & 20th
Letter from Principal Nelson
Cougars!
We hope your family has the most joyful of breaks and are excited you get to spend it with your student. Yes, we love your students immensely, and think the world of them, however, we feel at this time it would serve all best if you spent time the majority of time with them over this most magical time of year. We hope during your extended time together you see evidence of growth from your student in regards to politeness, gratitude, and independence. We have certainly seen exponential growth across the board in regards to the above traits and want to thank you for emphasizing their importance as well. The students who walked through our doors 5 months ago are not the same ones we are sending home to you for the break and that is due to the fine work y’all are doing at home and the fine work our teachers are doing every day.
Homework over the break: We cannot afford to lose any of the momentum we have created this semester over Winter Break, so here are some ideas to keep your kids engaged and learning:
- Reading for pleasure. Have your student read 20-30 minutes every day. We want them reading pieces they select in an effort to see that reading is not a chore or an assignment; it’s a lifelong skill. Have them read comic books, graphic novels, newspapers, magazines, nonfiction, fiction...anything and everything they desire.
- Book talks. After they read something, ask them about it. Have them tell you what they read and why they read it. Also (and this is the big part), share with them information about what you are reading. Let them know why you chose to read the selection, then give them a brief summary of what you learned. For super-duper-best-practice, read a book together so all can discuss it before, during, and after.
- Movies. These days students consume the majority of their media via the internet and count on YouTube clips and reality TV for entertainment. Sure, these are perfect for short-attention spans, but do little to assist in the development of valuable literary skills such as character development, plot narrative, inference or comprehension. Movies follow the same 3 act structure we teach in our Language Arts classes and allow for students to see all the elements of fiction (the hook, exposition, rising action, denouement, etc..) in a setting familiar to and entertaining to them. If you’re watching movies at home, feel free to pause at certain points and ask about what they think will happen next (“do you think Indiana Jones will find Ark of the Covenant first?”) and also pause to point out certain literary terms and elements (“remember, that snake Indy found in the plane? That was an harbinger.”). However, I only suggest asking questions and talking about the movie at home, not in the theaters. Especially not at the Alamo.
Enjoy the break! We will see everybody back at school on January 4th.
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Small Middle School
(512) 841-6505
@smallprincipal www.smallmiddleschool.org
Help Build a Bilingual Community in Austin ISD
Connect with other Parents and staff for a conversation:
- Ways to advocate and support bilingualism
- Latest research and best practices in the bilingual field
- Learn about AISD's Dual Language Programs
Monday, January 23
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Webb Middle School
601 E. St. John’s
A light meal and children’s activities will be provided
Ayuda a Construir una Comunidad Bilingüe en
Austin ISD
Conéctese con otros padres de familia y personal para una conversación:
Maneras de abogar y apoyar el bilingüismo
Las últimas investigaciones y las mejores prácticas en el campo bilingüe
Obtener información acerca de los programas de lenguaje dual de AISD
lunes, 23 de enero
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Escuela Intermedia Webb
601 E. St. Johns
Se ofrecerá comida ligera y
habrá actividades para los niños.
Join Cheryl Urow for this conversation
Cheryl provides professional development across the country for schools, districts, and other organizations supporting the education of English Language Learners. Cheryl has focused her professional work on areas related to biliteracy development, use of languages in classrooms, strategies for Spanish literacy instruction, and the Bridge between languages. Cheryl is co-author of Teaching for Biliteracy: Strengthening Bridges between Languages (Caslon Publishing, 2013) and co-founder of the Center for Teaching for Biliteracy, an on-line forum for supporting and connecting educators who teach for biliteracy: www.TeachingForBiliteracy.com
Acompáñenos en esta plática con Cheryl Urow
Cheryl se dedica a ofrecer capacitación profesional en escuelas, distritos y otras organizaciones en el país que apoyan a la educación de Aprendices del idioma inglés. Cheryl ha enfocado su labor profesional en áreas relacionadas al desarrollo de la biliteracidad, el uso de idiomas en el salón de clases, estrategias para la instrucción de la lectoescritura en español y la conexión entre idiomas. Cheryl es coautora deTeaching for Biliteracy: Strengthening Bridges between Languages (Caslon Publishing, 2013) y cofundadora deCenter l for Teaching for Biliteracy, un foro en línea para apoyar y conectar a educadores que se dedican a la enseñanza de la biliteracidad: www.TeachingForBiliteracy.com
Meet our teachers and students currently enrolled in our courses. Students will have the chance to complete their choice sheet for the 2017-2018 school year.
New After School Club
"Dungeons and dragons is a role playing game that mixes the roll of a die with the role of a character. The whole idea is that students will go on 'imaginative adventures' in an impossibly unreal land of fantasy. This is NOT a video game! It is a board game. The club is very welcoming and open to new comers."
Students can talk to Mrs. Kirk or Elijah Johnson for more information.
Erin Kirk
8th Science
Rm 110
austinisd.edmodo.com
ext. 6740
Request for Goat Gear
Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
Staying warm would be delightful,
If you know how knit or sew
Our goats would be so happy and warm, you know.
Do you have a special talent of knitting or sewing? Do you have an unused dog sweater (large or medium) you would like to donate? Let Marlo Malott, Green Tech Academic Dean know if you would be able to help keep our three goats nice and toasty this winter. Call or email at marlo.malott@austinisd.org or 512-841-6742. Thank you in advance for your support.
CSMS Did you Know...
So, if you see the sprinklers on in the rain, they are doing their job!
Attendance Policy: You can submit an Absent note on-line and learn about our Attendance Policy - Click here to learn more
Student Handbook: Lots of your questions can be answered by our student handbook. If you haven't looked at it since the beginning of the school year, Click here for a refresher
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