Pony Express
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER OF O. HENRY MIDDLE SCHOOL
School Holiday- Monday, February 20th
In this Edition
NEW featureed items will be in BOLD
- School Calendar for the week
- Counselor Corner-NEW- Kindess Week
- Information Session-Spring Break 2024 Trip to London and Paris
- Mustang News
- Art in Action
- Athletics-C Team Basketball Updates, NEW-Track and Field, Golf, Cap 10K Team, Save the Date-Summer Camp, AHS High School Cheer Tryouts
- Fine Arts News- NEW DATE-Band News-Band-O-Rama
- PTA News- Nomination Committee
- From AISD--Events and News-- Hoop Generation Basketball
School Calendar for Week of February 13th
Monday, 2/13 A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4
Carnation Sales at Lunch
4:00 HW Club in the library
5:15 C Team Boys Basketball Game
Tuesday, 2/14 B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8
9:00 Akins High School Choice Sheets
Carnation Delivery
Wednesday, 2/15--A Day1,2,3,ACES, 4
4:00 HW Club in the library
4:00 Cheer Practice
4:00 Orchestra UIL Rehearsals
Thursday, 2/16 B Day---5,6,7, ACES, 8
1:45 Eastside Memorial HS Choice Sheets
4:00 Orchestra UIL Rehearsals
4:00 HW Club in the library
6:00 Boys Basketball vs. Murchison-- 7th @ Anderson HS, 8th @ OHMS
6:45 Cheer at WAYA
Friday, 2/17 C Day 1-8 and no ACES
Early Release Day-- Students are out at 2:30
5:30 Band-O-Rama
Saturday, 2/18
9:00 Girls Soccer vs. Murchison at OHMS
Monday, 2/20 No School- President's Day Holiday
Next week will be a BABA week
COUNSELOR CORNER
Kindness Week
This week is Kindness Week. There can never be too much kindness. So this week we are challenging you to 5 kindness tasks.
Monday's theme is Kind Words and we are challenging everyone to go the whole day without rumors, negativity, or un kind words.
Tuesday's theme is Kind Actions and we are challenging everyone to do something nice for some else.
Wednesday's theme is is Be Kind to Yourself and we are challenging students to do something kind to take care of their mental well being. Students can come make a stress ball with the counselors by picking up a ticket at lunch. Spots are limited!
Thursday's theme is Be Kind to Your Community and we are challenging everyone to take care of our O. Henry community by cleaning up trash and making sure our school looks nice.
Friday's theme is Random Acts of Kindness and we are challenging everyone to do something to spread kindness and helpfulness.
Information Meeting- Spring 2024 Trip to London and Paris
Your student is invited to join us on an upcoming educational travel experience to London and Paris in Spring 2024!
Come hear all the details, including the itinerary, activities, academic opportunities, the cost of the trip and EF’s risk-free enrollment period at our informational meeting on February 16th, 2023 at 6:30 PM. The meeting will take place at O. Henry Middle School Library.
Please click here to register for the meeting ASAP to save your seat: https://bit.ly/3XyShui. There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!
Art in Action
ATHLETICS
C Team Basketball Updates
Family members are encouraged to attend, but are reminded to not enter the gym until 5:30.
C Team games are CLOSED to unaccompanied students.
Reminder: 7C Boys practice M, 2/13 @ 7am in the SMALL Gym, and F, 2/17 @7am in the BIG Gym.
Track and Field
Golf
We’re excited to announce that we will be launching ourO. Henry Golf Season this week. Having a structured Middle School season with weekly practices and tournaments will greatly help in our students' development and their readiness to compete on the High School level. The O. Henry team will be primarily coached by Coach Wolfe (O. Henry) and Coach Norris (Austin High).
The team will be open to all 6th-8th grade students both Boys and Girls. We highly encourage students to play multiple sports so if students have occasional conflicts with soccer/basketball/track etc. We completely understand. Please spread the word to other O. Henry students and their families; Coach Wolfe will be making announcements at school and through the parent newsletter.
We have listed the dates of our practices and scheduled tournaments below, so that you can add them to your calendar.
Coach Wolfe will set up a link to pay golf club dues. It is $75 and it'll cover all the cost of golf balls, facility space, and practice tee times for the year. Please fill out the following google form so that we can include you in our communication and make sure that we add your student to the practice schedule:
Cap10K Team
Attention Students!
Please join the O. Henry team and run the Cap10K with us on April 16, 2023! If you are interested in running or walking the 6.2-mile race, register on the following link. To be on the O. Henry team be sure to choose "School Team Member" and "O. Henry Middle School" when you register.
Our team will be comprised of current staff and students. Email jenny.parker@austinisd.org if you have any questions.
O.Henry Summer Sports Camp (Volleyball/Basketball)
O.Henry Summer Sports Camp (Volleyball/Basketball)
Who: Girls entering 5th-8th grade
When: June 5th-8th
Where: O.Henry Gym
Please sign up using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkbrjmlaCsa44EmKDRb8cRx0YQCjHuESTQqCsCUyC5kMWGrQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
Thanks,
Coach Cohen, Coach Gaffney, and Coach Kobs
Austin High School Cheer Tryouts
Must attend the meeting - Parents and Students at Austin High School at 6:00 PM on Thursday Feb 2. in order to tryout.
Students and Parents must attend meeting to be eligible to tryout.
Email the Austin High School Cheer coach Jocelyn Satterwhite for more information.
FINE ARTS NEWS
Band News
NEW DATE Friday, Feb. 17th Band O Rama at Austin HS (5:30 – 8:00 PM)
All 7th/8th grade Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble members will participate in Band O Rama this Friday at Austin High School. Austin High band section leaders will tutor O. Henry band students during sectionals. Austin High band directors will also be on hand to listen in and give constructive feedback. Although this is not a performance, we have a unique opportunity to rehearse on the PAC stage and sharpen our concert music.
Students should arrive at Austin HS at 5:15 PM with their instrument, music, and a pencil. Percussion students also need to bring their stick bag with all mallets and sticks. Symphonic Band will meet on the AHS PAC stage. Wind Ensemble students should report to the AHS band hall. Since this is not a public performance, regular school clothes will be fine. A one-way bus is available for students who need transportation from O. Henry to Austin High. The Austin High band will provide pizza and drinks immediately after rehearsal. Students should be picked up from Austin High at 8:00 PM.
PTA NEWS
Nomination Committee
OTHER AISD SCHOOL NEWS
Hoop Generation Basketball!
Who we are:
Hoop Generation, is a full on service youth basketball organization that empowers unique player development and guiding mentorship through select teams, skills training, team bonding, outreach activities, and camps that help players maximize their on and off court potential by providing the latest skill development information, teaching points and concepts through intense, innovative drills for ALL skill levels.
I wanted to share with you a few things we have coming up that can help your Basketball Players during their off season:
Our Location:
- Central Austin - West Austin Youth Association - 1314 exposition blvd, austin, texas 78703
Upcoming Events
- Competitive and Willing to Learn Players:
- Boys & Girls Select Team Tryouts - All Skill Levels placed properly between academy, select, regional, and national level teams
- Skills Academy - Training for all Skill Levels
- Beginner Players Interested in Learning while having Fun:
- We're Hiring for Coaches, Trainers, and Camp Staff - More Info
Fee Information
- We are dedicated to providing youth basketball activities to everyone regardless of the financial situation they come from. Payments are accepted in flexible forms; Full payment, Payment plan, RReduced fees applications, and Player scholarships. We have successfully given out over $200,000 in player scholarships in our existence. This can be applicable to any deserving athlete(s), boy and girl at your campus towards our select teams, camps, and training academies.