Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER SECTIONS
This Week's Schedule: A,B, A,B, C
Next Week: No School on Monday, September 6th, then BABA
Newsletter Sections
- SAVE THE DATES--
- September 8 Virtual Back to School Night
- September 14th- Open House Events on Campus from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
- Athletics News- Football Program Sponsors, 6th Grade Tennis, Mustang Club Information, Cross Country, 8th-grade Football Link to Coaches Meeting Notes, Masking Protocols
- Progress Report Cards and Grading Dates
- PTA NEWS- Membership Welcome, School Store, Thank You's, PTA Facebook Page
- ROUND UP 2021- September 24th from 3:50-7:00-- Sponsorship and Volunteers
- VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR ROUND UP
- Virtual Academic Coaching Program
- Campus Volunteer Opportunities
ATHLETICS NEWS
FOOTBALL PROGRAM SPONSORS NEEDED:
Would you like to advertise in our weekly football programs? The cheerleaders are raising money for their regional and national competitions by selling sponsorships for each week in our football programs! For $50, your name or your business's name will be on the front of the program, and your name and/or your logo will be in the back of our program. Please contact Coach Shack at michael.shackelford@austinisd.org if you'd like to be featured in our programs. This fundraiser ends on September 2, so contact Coach Shack now if you'd like to participate this season!
FALL TENNIS FOR 6th graders
O. Henry Middle School: 6th Grade Tennis Program (Fall 2021)
First practice is on Thursday, September 8th
LINK ON THE FULL PROGRAM PDF BELOW
Be active, have fun, and connect with peers, while participating in a wide variety of fun, interactive movement, drills, games, intramural match play and take-home activities.
o Learn and practice tennis fundamentals in a fun learning environment.
o Participate in 6th grade-friendly practice sessions, modified as needed to ensure an enjoyable experience
o Experience a great introduction to Mustang Athletics ü WHO
o 6th grade boys and girls with no/limited experience/ability are encouraged to participate.
Note to Experienced Players: You are welcome to join with the understanding that our focus is on the basics/fundamentals. We do NOT play competitive matches. We do not play other schools.
o Coach Carrillo (alexandra.carrillo@austinisd.org.)
o Angelica Tagle (main office) will support parent communication (angelica.tagle@austinisd.org)
LINK ON THE FULL PROGRAM PDF BELOW
Mustang Club
The Mustang Club supports all athletics at O. Henry Middle School by providing funds for coach stipends, new equipment, and equipment maintenance, as well as promoting school spirit and organizing volunteers. AISD does not provide funding for all of O. Henry’s athletic needs, and we appreciate the support of parents and the community to help fund the financial gap and maintain our high level of athletic offerings to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
For more information please visit the website link here
Cross Country -
Join the cross country team! Open to all 6th-8th graders as a fall sport. Practices will start the first week of school, Tues/Thurs 7am-8am. Meets will be held Fridays/Saturdays from Sept- Oct. Email jenna.justice@austinisd.org with interest or questions!
For more information CLICK HERE
8th Grade Football
If you were unable to attend the Athletics Information Night please look at this 8th Grade Football Slideshow for information regarding the upcoming football season.
Please do not hesitate to contact Coach Wolfe or Coach Rueter if you have any questions!
Masking Protocols for Extracurricular Activities
Students in extracurricular activities, including athletics, won't have to wear a mask when outdoors and socially distanced or when engaged in vigorous physical activity.
- Vigorous physical activity could include marching band, indoor volleyball or football.
- This is applicable to recess at the elementary level as well.
Why it matters: Masks are an important tool to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and are required at Austin ISD. The district is looking to balance the need to protect students from COVID while also following some common-sense guidelines about when it's feasible to wear a mask.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say people don't need to wear a mask when outdoors and socially distanced.
Yes, but: For the most part, students need to wear a mask when at Austin ISD, including schools, classrooms, and facilities.
You should know: If too many athletes quarantine for a game to be played, the team that quarantined will forfeit the game. So positive COVID cases could affect a team's ability to enter the playoffs, making the use of masks when possible even more important.
Go Deeper: Sometimes students will be able to use a modified mask when indoors or not socially distanced. For example, performing arts students could wear masks specially designed with mouth openings for horns or woodwinds.
Progress Report and Report Card Dates
Progress 1: August 17-September 3
Progress 2: August 17-September 24
1st 9 weeks: August 17-October 15
Progress 3: October 18-November 5
Progress 4: October 18-December 3
2nd 9 weeks: October 18-December 17
Welcome to O. Henry PTA
WELCOME!
The OHMS PTA’s goal is to provide opportunities for parents, teachers, students, and the general community to GET CONNECTED. Our first general meeting is on Back to School Night. Stay tuned for more details!
Visit ohenrypta.org today to:
· Check out the PTA Calendar, Programs & Events, and Wish List Grants
· Donate to O. Henry’s biggest fundraiser—Round Up
· Purchase PTA Memberships and Mustang Mall Cards
· Learn about Round Up and Become a Sponsor---Every Dollar Counts!
· Link your Randall’s Card to OHMS and Use AmazonSmile
· View O. Henry Spirit Wear
· Complete a Volunteer Interest Form
Join the O. Henry PTA
Virtual Academic Coaching Program:
O. Henry PTA is excited to share information about a new program where families support families with parent/community member volunteer-led, free, VIRTUAL ACADEMIC COACHING for students!
This program will provide students nominated by their family or teacher with access to after-school or weekend one-on-one virtual support with navigating BLEND, managing schedules, turning in missing assignments and coaching on executive functioning skills and applicable assistive technologies to help them reach their academic goals.
This program is supported by O. Henry parents and community members for O. Henry students!
https://ohenrypta.org/new-virtual-academic-coaching/
Interested in learning more? Please read our FAQ!
Interested in volunteering? Please complete this volunteer form!
Interested in nominating your student? Please complete this student nomination form!
Join the O. Henry Middle School PTA Facebook Page
Join the O. Henry Middle School PTA Facebook Page to stay up-to-date on news and events.
THANK YOU!
Kerri Monroe and Jenni Shirk for having Mustang Mall up and running the first weeks of school and organizing all of the mall volunteers. Thank you to all Mustang Mall volunteers!
Volunteer Opportunities
A commitment of perhaps, two hours a month is all we are asking. However, once you come and help us out, you will really want to come by more often. And your help is welcome!
This year we can have two volunteers per shift.
Shifts are:
8:15am – 10:15am
10:15am – 12:15pm
12:15pm – 2:15pm
And 2:15pm – 3:50pm
You are welcome to sign up for any day and time that works for you.
While you can’t edit the schedule, it is located below. If you wish to volunteer, please email tim.tierney@austinisd.org
Thank you for your consideration!
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18ujluG_l4wosgk991hDSi4L0_GO2ttsdDX65Dm38JTQ/edit?usp=sharing
WANTED: ROUND-UP SPONSORS
Round-Up is the O. Henry PTA’s MAIN fundraiser and annual school carnival featuring sports booths, games, inflatables, food, raffle prizes and a middle school dance. SAVE THE DATE and mark your calendars to support OHMS at this fun family event, outside, at the O. Henry Middle School’s campus. Click HERE to learn more.
Round Up depends on sponsorships from families and community partners! Proceeds from Round-Up will be used this school year to fund supplemental department budgets, staff stipends, and supplies to help make our school safe for every student. Please visit the website today to make your donation. The deadline for sign and banner recognition is Friday, September 17th. Don’t let the levels make you think smaller donations don’t matter…whether it’s $5 or $5,000 or any amount in between, we welcome EVERY family to give ANY amount to show their support for our amazing school!
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR ROUND UP
Greetings O. Henry Families! Being back to school, in-person, is something to celebrate! And another reason to celebrate is that we have more opportunities now to build our school community and help support our school.
Please consider volunteering to help support our biggest fundraiser of the year – Round Up! We need many individuals to help with 45 minute shifts in many different areas of the event including booth support, drink distribution, dance chaperones, activities, and more. We are also in serious need of volunteers to serve as "Mustang Crew" to help with set-up and breakdown of the event. If you are interested, please click on the link below and provide us your information. In a few weeks, we will send interested volunteers an email where they can sign up for specific shifts and duties.
And if you know of groups who might be interested in volunteering, that is outside our O. Henry community, please email Amy Salinas at CACconsulting@hotmail.com . Thank you for your interest and willingness to support our school and build our community!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTjAqj4kszBTDbbwNbebD9B088lXGe5_97OWC1uGdRYUqKNQ/viewform
SHOP & SUPPORT O. HENRY!
Donating to O. Henry Middle School’s PTA is as simple as doing your normal shopping! That’s right, there are a number of stores that have wonderful contribution programs and all you have to do is designate or inform them that you would like to participate in their school contribution program.
Randalls, through their Good Neighbor Program, will contribute 1% of your grocery bill every time you use your Remarkable Card when you designate O. Henry Middle School (# 713) as your charity of choice on the Good Neighbor Program form. Please see the link below to print and turn in your Good Neighbor Program form.
Randalls’ Good Neighbor Program Form
AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organization selected by customers. Click here to start supporting O. Henry through AmazonSmile