The Spear
September 6-10 | Austin Middle School
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September 6-10 @ AUSTIN
Monday, September 6
- HOLIDAY: NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, September 7
- 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.
- Dress Code in Effect.
- Bring your supplies, GISD Chromebook, Earbuds/Headphones, and a clear or mesh backpack.
- Snack Bar Open- https://www2.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
- After school program begins
Wednesday, September 8
- Cheer practice
- PTO meeting in Austin Library @5:15 pm
Thursday, September 9
- SCHOOL PICTURE DAY!! (free dress)
Friday, September 10
- SPIRIT DAY! Students may wear jeans (no holes/rips in jeans) with Austin Spirit shirt or Austin colors.
Weekend
COMING UP IN SEPTEMBER:
- September 14-15th: MAP Testing
- September 22nd: Out to Eat for Education
- September 29th: Meet the Teacher Night at Austin from 5:00-6:30 pm
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.
**All Device forms must be completed through Skyward before a device can be checked out to a student.
Picture Day Information
All students will take a photograph for the yearbook, regardless of purchase. Appropriate free dress will be allowed on this day. We are encouraging purchases to be made online by following the steps below. If you are unable to complete an online order, you may submit the order form and payment to the front office.
- Go to www.strawbridge.net
- Click on the red "Order Pictures and Yearbooks" button at the top right
- Enter the code: FM362220
- Is should read "Stephen F. Austin Middle – Fall Pictures 9-9-2021"
- Follow the prompts to make your selections and place the order online.
Athletics
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
- Writing: Dr. Cappiello
- PLTW: Mr. Burke
- 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
- Ms. Wallace
- Ms. Robare
- Ms. Boxley
- Mr. Bari
Athletics
INTRODUCING OUR AUSTEM AMS FACULTY
Mr. Jordan Williams, 8th Grade Social Studies
I am originally from Austin, Texas and a proud Longhorn! I graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in African and African Diaspora Studies. Galveston has become my second home and nothing beats those morning drives along the Seawall.
BA in African and African Diaspora Studies, Minor in Curriculum and Instruction, Certified in Social Studies (8-12), Core Subjects (4-8), Technology Applications (EC-12), and ESL (EC-12)
Ms. Rebecca Terrell, 6th Grade Social Studies
Welcome to the 6th Grade Social Studies Class - World Cultures. I am excited to be your teacher this year. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology. I have traveled the world and I love meeting people from different countries and experiencing different cultures. In my spare time, I like to visit state and national parks where I enjoy hiking and birding.
4-8 Social Studies Composite
Ms. K.C. Marks, Robotics/ Computer Science Teacher
I'm so excited to be teaching and coaching Robotics at Austin Middle School. I have been a VEX IQ coach since 2016. I love to volunteer at events in our region and see the kids develop skills in robotics as well as leadership and engineering.
MFA Brandeis University, BFA University of Evansville
Teen Health Offers Vaccines
Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are in stock at all Teen Health Center Medical clinics.
In order to receive their vaccinations, minors (ages 12- 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.
Call (409) 761-3530 to schedule an appointment at the Teen Health clinic of your choice.
Austin's PTO
If anyone is still wanting to purchase Austin shirts or sweatshirts the online orders will be open from August 30th- September 13th and the last order for the year will be placed on September 14th. The website is austinmspto.square.site Thanks!
Our first PTO meeting will be at 5:15 on September 8th in the Austin library.
Samantha Gonzales
Austin PTO President
We all know living on an island how devastating hurricanes can be. Let’s help NJHS show our neighbors some love while they recover! NJHS will taking donations through Friday afternoon for those affected by Hurricane Ida. Donation boxes will be set up in the front foyer of Austin. Please see the attached flyer for the items needed. If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Ross or Angela Taras.
Website: https://austinmspto.square.site/
SEL at AMS!
Self Awareness
Self-awareness is the first competency of Social-emotional learning. It’s defined as: “Self Awareness is the ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. This includes recognizing one’s strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose.” https://casel.org/wh
Self-Awareness Components:
Identifying Emotions
Accurate Self-Perception
Recognize Strengths
Self-Confidence
Self-Efficacy
Check out this video!
Tools & Strategies to Identify Emotions:
A feelings wheel or mood meter to help name feelings
Daily journaling
Practice using “I” statements (ex) “I feel__________ when ________happens.”
Connecting to characters through literature, pictures, and creative play
Drawing and artistic expression
Try asking open-ended questions (ex) “Tell me about a time when you were_______...”
Talk it Out!-- When kids practice recognizing and naming emotions it helps increase their emotional vocabulary and become aware of how they cope with life’s challenges. Talking to kids about how they feel validates their feelings and improves their self-esteem and communication skills.
COMING NEXT WEEK: ACCURATE SELF PERCEPTIONS
Principal's Corner
Growth Mindset
September’s Social Emotional Learning Tip
How can our families practice a growth mindset at home?
Help your student know that it is ok not to get everything right. To fail at something is just the “first attempt in learning.” Thomas Edison’s response to failure was he “found 2,000 ways to not make a lightbulb [and] only needed one way to make it work.” If you embrace failure, it will encourage individuals to have grit and resilience. These are essential skills for personal, social, emotional, and academic success. Encourage your students to take risks and emphasize the importance of effort.
Advanced Academics
We recommend our 7th & 8th grade high achieving students consider taking the ACT after they turn 13. Students who take the ACT qualify for more scholarships, stand out on college applications, and uncover career path insights.
Taking the ACT several times during high school can provide an advantage, most re-testers increase their score! Plus, when you retake the test, ACT will use the best subject scores from all your student's attempts to create a superscore!
Help your child seize their potential. Register today and then use official ACT test prep to get ready!
Elizabeth Brown
Advanced Academic Specialist
Austin Middle School
Austin STEM Magnet Middle School
Principal
Kathy Aaron
Assistant Principal
Erika Puccetti
Counselor
Email: stephaniemendoza@gisd.org
Website: https://austin.gisd.org/
Location: 1514 Ave N 1/2, Galveston, TX, USA
Phone: 409-761-3500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinmiddleschoolgisd/