Cougar News
The Weekly Newsletter of Clint Small, Jr. Middle School
Newsletter for February 13th - February 17th
Letter from Principal Nelson
Howdy Cougars!
For any relationship, communication is the key. Whether it’s a patient communicating to a doctor, a 3rd base coach signaling to a runner, or in our case, a school communicating with its’ community, channels of communication and the instances of such need to be examined regularly in order for the relationship to flourish. The basics of communication (sender, message, receiver) are simplistic when sandwiched between a set of parentheses, but not so in reality. Intention, perception, lack of understanding, and even frustration sometimes cloud the message, leading to different interpretations. Meaning, often what was heard was not what was meant and so on. We know you can’t rely on all information to be relayed to you by your student, yet oftentimes it seems as if that is the only method we are utilizing. True, your student is going to the best channel for which we communicate, but h/she by no means should be the only one.
We are working on improving our communication channels with you. We want to you to have as much information as possible so you can be informed and at ease. Our teachers are pledging to return your calls and emails within 48 hours and to keep their gradebooks updated for you and your students. Our campus goal is one grade per week and for our teachers to share a communique with you at least once every two weeks. They know when you have answers, you tend to ask less questions of them, which in turn allows them to dedicate more time to planning engaging lessons and activities for our students.
Thanks for reading and thanks for allowing us to work with your student. We are lucky that we are surrounded by a group of kids and community members that support us and appreciate the fact we are all about student achievement.
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Small Middle School
(512) 841-6505
@smallprincipal www.smallmiddleschool.org
NJHS
Ms. Castaneda will be meeting with current 7th graders who are interested in becoming a National Junior Honor Society meeting. Students need to check in with their PRIDE teachers on February 17th then make their way down to the cafeteria. We will begin promptly at 1:45. Parents are welcome to attend.
Bowie Counselors at Small
CSMS Cap10K Team
Green Project
Mr. Brooks 7th grade Nature Tech classes are starting an upcycling project. We will be building benches for outside seating using different types of used plastics. We are trying to collect 16 oz plastic bottles and stuff them full of soft plastics (wrappers, saran wrap, chip bags, etc.) We will be filling the used bottles with soft plastic items to make a solid green building material that will be strong and very long lasting at a very low cost.
If you are interested in setting aside these items for our project, please let us know and we can come by your class to collect.
We very much appreciate your donations!
Here are some pictures of what some similar projects look like using the same method of upcycling design.
Austin Independent School District
February 10, 2017
Dear Austin ISD Community,
At Austin ISD, we are committed to the emotional and physical safety and well-being of all our students, families, teachers and staff. We know our schools are safe, welcoming spaces and we value our diversity. Please know that every day, we strive to ensure we are creating positive learning environments for all of our students. Below are some of the resources available to support our Austin ISD community:
1. Support for Refugee Students
The AISD Refugee Support Office in the Department of School, Family, and Community Education serves as a language and resource hub for refugee and asylee students and their families currently enrolled or seeking to be enrolled in Austin ISD schools. Services also include translation/interpretation for families; school registration support; social and emotional support; and staff and community training. https://www.austinisd.org/immigrant-services
For support or more information, please contact coordinator Maria Arabbo at 512-414- 0545 or at maria.arabbo@austinisd.org.
2. Support for Immigrant Students
The AISD International Welcome Center, operated by the English Language Learners Team, provides information and support about our schools to students new to the United States. Services include student interviews/screening; school registration support; English proficiency testing; and parent/student orientation. https://www.austinisd.org/academics/ell/iwc
For support or more information, contact the IWC at 512-414-6426.
3. Academic Support for Immigrant Students, Including Refugees and Asylees, Who are English Language Learners (ELLs)
For consultation regarding academic support for enrolled immigrant students who are ELLs, please contact Claudia Santamaria, Assistant Director for Elementary Dual Language, at 512-414-6997; or Dr. Aida Alanis, Assistant Director for Secondary English Language Learners, at 512-414-4611. https://www.austinisd.org/academics/ell
4. Austin ISD Employee Assistance Programs
5. Parent Support Specialists on campus https://www.austinisd.org/parentsupport/parentsupportspecialists
6. Communities in Schools resources https://www.austinisd.org/schools/learningsupportservices/cis
Sincerely,
Paul Cruz, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Distrito Escolar Independiente de Austin
10 de febrero del 2017
Estimada comunidad del Austin ISD:
En el Austin ISD, estamos comprometidos con el bienestar físico, emocional y la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes, sus familias y el personal. Sabemos que nuestras escuelas son lugares seguros y acogedores donde se valora la diversidad. Por favor sepan que cada día hacemos un esfuerzo para garantizar ambientes positivos de aprendizaje para todos nuestros estudiantes.
Para apoyar a nuestra comunidad del AISD, a continuación hay algunos recursos disponibles:
1. Apoyo para estudiantes refugiados
La Oficina de Apoyo para Estudiantes Refugiados del Departamento de Educación Escolar, Familiar y Comunitaria sirve como un centro de idioma y recursos principal para los estudiantes refugiados o asilados y sus familias que actualmente están matriculados o están en proceso de ser matriculados en las escuelas del Austin ISD. Los servicios también incluyen traducción e interpretación para las familias; ayuda con la matriculación en la escuela; apoyo social y emocional así como capacitación para el personal y la comunidad. https://www.austinisd.org/immigrant-services
Para recibir estos servicios o para más información, se pueden comunicar con la coordinadora Maria Arabbo a la dirección maria.arabbo@austinisd.org o al 512-414-0545.
2. Apoyo para estudiantes inmigrantes
El Centro Internacional de Bienvenida (IWC en inglés) del AISD, operado por el equipo para Aprendices del Inglés, proporciona información y ayuda para los estudiantes recién llegados a los Estados Unidos. Los servicios incluyen entrevistas y diagnósticos estudiantiles; ayuda con la matriculación en la escuela; pruebas de aptitud del inglés; y orientación para los padres y para los estudiantes.
Para recibir estos servicios o para más información se pueden comunicar con el IWC al 512-414- 6426. https://www.austinisd.org/academics/ell/iwc 2
3. Apoyo académico para estudiantes inmigrantes, incluyendo a los refugiados y asilados que son Estudiantes Aprendices del Inglés (ELL)
Para consultas pertinentes a apoyo académico para estudiantes inmigrantes que son ELL, favor de comunicarse con Claudia Santamaria, Directora Auxiliar de Lenguaje Dual en Educación Primaria al 512-414-6997, o con la Dra. Aida Alanis, Directora Auxiliar para Aprendices del Idioma Inglés en Educación Secundaria, al 512-414-4611. https://www.austinisd.org/academics/ell
4. Programa de Ayuda para Empleados del Austin ISD https://www.austinisd.org/eap
5. Especialistas de Apoyo para Padres en las escuelas https://www.austinisd.org/parentsupport/parentsupportspecialists
6. Recursos de Comunidad en las Escuelas https://www.austinisd.org/schools/learningsupportservices/cis
Atentamente,
Paul Cruz, Ph.D.
Superintendente
Supply Drive extended to Monday
Volunteer Corner
February Volunteer: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090949acaf29a2fd0-csms2
Message from the PTA
The following openings are the one we will have for the 2017-2018 school year: Vice-President Position, Treasurer Position, Cougar Cage Chairperson, and, Spring Carnival Chairperson.
Also, The PTA is looking for a CPA to head up our audit committee this spring. It will only require a couple of hours of your time. If you are interested, please contact Alyson Spier, alysonspier@icloud.com or 512-965-4251.
Please contact Alyson Spier, alysonspier@icloud.com or 512-965-4251, at your earliest convenience for more information.
Be a Career Day Presenter
https://docs.google.com/a/austinisd.org/forms/d/1dg2g_xiSqAcquSP4nfviQeN3lLq9oNbMQr2FEXtg4Mc/prefill
Cheerleading, Pep Squad and Mascot Survey
Austin HS Choice Sheets
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