What's happening at Small Middle School
Week of January 28, 2019 – February 1, 2019
Upcoming Events
- Jan. 25 – Girls Soccer Game vs O’Henry
- Jan. 28 – AHS Q&A for Parents 4:00 to 6:00 pm
- Jan. 29 – Elective Showcase
- Jan. 31 – Boys Basketball vs O’Henry
- Jan. 31 – Avid Family Night
- Feb. 8 – Valentines Dance
See all upcoming calendar events here
Cougar Nation-
With a 4 day week, and 2 of the days room-bound for testing, your kids are anxious and eager to run around like loons this weekend. My advice? Let ‘em. Kids need to be out and about as much as possible and regrettably, we weren’t able to adequately provide them that this week due to an abridged schedule and frosty weather. Have them grab some valuable Vitamin D and we’ll make our best effort to provide more opportunities for some as well; weather permitting of course.
Lots to report on, so here we go:
MOY makeups: If your student missed either of the benchmarks this week (math and/or reading) we will be pulling them first thing in the morning on Monday and Tuesday for make-ups. We will only be able to allow them about 90 minutes to complete them, but we’ll use what data they provide us to help guide our instruction. Again, these are no-stress tests that can only help our students.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremony: Thanks to AISD and about 1 billion phone calls, texts, emails, work orders and telegrams, we now have fully functioning bleachers in our gym so 8th grade promotion is a go! We are excited to be able to host our kids and their loved ones before we rush them off to high school and beyond. The date is set for May 24th, the last day of school, and we’ll get more details out to you as they become available. If you care to help with the planning, set up, and other shenanigans, give us an email.
7th Grade Girls Basketball City Champs: Last semester our 7th grade girls basketball team did a fantastic job representing our school, and their families, by winning the City Championship! This group of girls dominated the season in every aspect and treated their fans with displays of excellent sportsmanship, hustle, and teamwork on a weekly basis. The best part about this group isn’t how well they perform on the court, but rather how they perform in the classroom and in our halls. They are prime examples to our entire student population of what it takes to be successful in the court and in their classes; effort, energy, and positive behavior. We want to thank Coaches Chris Moore and Paul Friesenhahn for guiding them to the coveted banner which will adorn our gym walls.
Lastly, during Thursday night’s boys basketball game (7th grade boys defeated Bedichek in 2), one of our former students greeted Q and I at the door. He vigorously shook my hand and with his eyes welled up with tears of joy stated that he missed Small. He told us that he loved it here and it was the best 3 years of his life and that he wishes he could come back. Later on, I spoke with mom to make sure all was well in high school and to see how 9th grade was treating him. She told me he’s doing fantastic; making A’s across the board and on the football and track team. She said he mostly misses how he felt when he was here; confident, loved, and that he could do anything.
Truer words were never spoken.
Enjoy your weekend!
Matthew Nelson
Principal
Small Middle School
(512) 841-6505
@smallprincipal www.smallmiddleschool.org
A Message From Nurse Becky:
It is flu season! We have seen an increase with students positive for the flu in the last two weeks. Please remember to wash your hands and cover up your cough. Go to a doctor if you have a fever, generalized weakness, chills, headache and a cough which are all symptoms of the flu. If you are sick please take time to rest at home and return to school when you are fever free or you are cleared to return by the doctor.
Have you done your Parent survey yet?
If not, please click the letter below it will take you to the correct location to fill it out.
Thank you!
Germany
Sustainable Living in Germany & Switzerland Trip - June 2020
Travel to Germany and Switzerland to learn how they are leaders in Sustainable Living.
Informational Meeting Tuesday February 19th 6pm in Mrs. Dietz’s room (202)
To learn more about this international STEM trip opportunity, click the link here! https://rsvp.eftours.com/truudgy
parent meeting regarding this trip.
Switzerland
Social Emotional Learning
Our lesson this week is the continuation of the lesson we began last week titled Building a Culture of Respect. The lesson defines harassment, as well as the implications and consequences of harassment. It also stresses the importance of respecting each other’s bodies, personal space, and boundaries. Should you not want your child to participate in this lesson, please be sure to sign the opt out letter and have your child submit it to his/her/their PRIDE teacher.
Mindfulness Moments
Monday: Are there things I did or said last week that possibly did not contribute to the good of my school community? What can I do for the greater good of my Small Middle School community?
Wednesday: If you were highly influential and could make change in the world, what would that change be? Why?
Thursday: Tell me something good. Encourage students to share one good thing that has happened today or earlier this week.
Friday: What can I do to be more positive?
Download the opt out letter here
Have a fabulous weekend.
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This dance is a reward for hitting our Fun Run Goal!
The Dance is free, but concessions are not -
any money raised will go to student Council.
AUSTIN HIGH WRITING DAYS
If your student is NOT in the Austin High School attendance zone and is applying to an academy they will need to attend one ESSAY WRITING day.
Applicants will complete a timed in-house essay during one of our three available option times:
- Austin High Library: Saturday, January 26, 2019 from 9:30-11:00 AM
- O.Henry Middle School: Thursday, January 24, 2019 from 1:15-2:45 PM
- Small Middle School: (Date change) Thursday, January 31, 2019 from 1:30-3:00 PM
Akins High School
For those of you going to Akins, Here is a look at their choice sheets.
2018-2019 NJHS Important Dates
- March 8, 2019
Information meeting during PRIDE in front of the Counselor’s Office - March 11, 2019
Pick up applications from the Counselor’s Office - March 15, 2019
Last day to pick up an application from the Counselor’s Office - April 18, 2019
Final day to turn in applications (no exceptions) - Week of May 6, 2019
Letters go out to students who are accepted into NJHS - May 21st
Induction into NJHS 6pm in the cafeteria
NJHS Candidate Community Service Hour log
Candidates should record a minimum of 10 hours between March 11th – April 14th.
New Policy for 2019-20 Transfer Requests
Austin ISD will begin accepting requests for school transfers for the 2019–20 school year on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Requests may be submitted or mailed to the Office of Student Services (Room A200), Carruth Administration Center, 1111 W. Sixth St. during regular business hours, 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Applications for priority transfers and non-priority transfers will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019.
There have been several policy/regulation changes made this fall, including the following:
Tracking transfers now include students who attended the highest two grades at a school but moved out of the attendance area prior to the submission deadline for priority transfers (last day of January). They will be able to apply for a tracking transfer to the middle or high school their school tracks to. Policy still states, however, that priority transfers, including tracking, will not be accepted to frozen schools. FDB Local.
Tracking transfers do not apply to transfers to a school to attend an application based program, including a magnet program. FDB Local.
If a student attending a magnet or application program leaves the program, they can apply for a transfer to the comprehensive program (if it is not their school based on address), but it will be processed on a first come, first served basis with other requests. FDB Local.
Special consideration will be given to students who have attended a school based on address for at least two consecutive years, move into another AISD attendance area, but wish to remain at that school. Student Services will highlight these students for the Associate Superintendents to consider (if space is not already available) with or without an appeal. FDB Local.
The fall deadline for transfers will be three weeks prior to the first day of school instead of August 10. FDB Regulation.
A list of the FROZEN schools will be announced by Dr. Cruz at the December 17th Board Meeting. Please visit the district website, https://www.austinisd.org/transfer for more information on the 2019-20 transfer application and process.
Yearbook
