Hello Kealing Families,
8th grade parents, the year is coming to a close and your 8th grader will be moving on to high school soon. They will be wrapping up their middle school years with a fun celebration so I hope you have marked your calendars for May 25, 2018, which is when the 8th grade Shady Springs Party will take place. Permission slips will be coming home soon and the $25 payments can be made in a variety of ways. School Cash Online is the easiest way to pay for us so please take advantage of this system if you're able to!
Campus Advisory Council applications are available now and due on May 8, 2018. The CAC is a valuable source for planning, problem-solving, and feedback, so parent representation is critical. We have open positions for parents for the upcoming school year so please consider joining if you are looking for a way to serve and can spare an hour or two each month. Meetings generally take place at 4:00 pm on a week day.
You may have heard that we will be losing Ms. Carter after this school year. Here is a message from her:
Hello, Kealing Family—
Many of you already know that I will not be a Kealing Middle School next year. For me it is truly bittersweet and has been difficult. Last week, I was approved by the Eanes ISD school board to serve as the West Ridge Middle School Principal starting next year. I have been learning and growing for years to prepare me to lead a school, and now the time has come.
As many of you know, my career as an educator started at Kealing where I spent my first two years of teaching. When I had the opportunity to return to KMS as the Magnet Director, it was truly like coming home. KMS always has and always will be near and dear to my heart.
Over the last few years I have often listened as people praised Kealing. My response was always, “I am lucky to get to work here. This place is incredible because of the people – of all ages. Our teachers are phenomenal, our students are amazing, and our parents and community are second to none.” Each time I have said this, I have meant it with every bit of me. I have learned so much with you and from you. There are no words that could possibly express the depth of my thankfulness.
Don’t worry. I will be working hard to take good care of KMS for the remainder of this year. I have promised a master schedule as my parting gift. Mrs. Coburn will be working with representatives from all perspectives throughout the hiring process for the next Magnet Director.
There is no place I would rather have spent the last four and a half years. Our kids WILL be our leaders for positive change – I am confident. Thank you all for making me a better person.
I love you all.
Dianne Carter
Ms. Carter has given her heart to Kealing for a long time and we will miss all that she brings to our school community. We'll be squeezing all that we can out of her in the next month and wishing her well as she prepares for this well-deserved next step. I am glad to have active parent organization leadership to assist us in the process of hiring the next Magnet Director and we'll begin working towards this soon.
It's almost May. I feel like we just finished February and somehow the countdown to summer is beginning. We still have plenty of work to do and our students will learn more over the next few weeks. Let's all try to keep them in the game until the finish. Have a great week!
Regards,
Kenisha Coburn
UPCOMING EVENTS Check the website calendar for the most up to date information.
KEALING BUSINESS SUPPORTERS PROGRAM Click here to find out more about the Kealing Business Supporters Program! THANK YOU TO OUR BUSINESS SPONSORS 2017-18 Honor Roll $500-999 Scholar $250-499 The Tile Guy Human Financial HOW TO VOLUNTEER All individuals interested in volunteering at Kealing Middle School must register as a Kealing school-based volunteer and complete a background check through Austin Partners In Education. For more information, contact Dee Gonzales or 512-414-6700. | CAMPUS NEWS Campus Advisory Council - Applications Available If you are looking for a way to serve the school community and are able to meet once per month at 4:00 pm, consider applying to join our Campus Advisory Council. The mission of CAC is to promote excellence in education for all students through broad-based representation. CACs provide valuable input to principals, who ultimately have decision-making responsibility for their campuses. This is a critical body for our campus and we are looking to add to our representation next year. Applications are due by May 8, 2018 and can be returned to the main office or by email to shauntay.black@austinisd.org. ALL 8th Grade Shady Springs Party Are you ready for the most fun day your 8th Grader will have as a Kealing Hornet? On May 25th ALL 8th graders will spend the day off-campus at the Shady Springs Party Barn! The day will be filled with sports, swimming, hanging out and generally starting their journey to their Culmination Ceremony in style. Be on the lookout for permissions slips this week. The cost is $25 per student and there are multiple payment options though we encourage you to pay through School Cash Online. We need 20 chaperones (who are background-cleared) to help make the fun happen safely! Teachers will be alongside you in your stationed areas, also enjoying a day outside their classrooms. This Sign-Up will fill up faster than any you've ever seen - join in NOW! 8th Grade Magnet Field Trip Chaperones Needed! 8th grade students have field trips to The Blanton Museum of Art and points of interest on the UT Campus on May 9th and 10th. We need chaperones to make these successful, please visit the Sign-Up Genius to join in the fun!Going to Science Olympiad Nationals! Kealing made it to the national Science Olympiad tournament to be held at Colorado State University on May 19-20. We placed 2nd out of 30 teams statewide at Texas A&M competition last weekend. A few notable accomplishments:
Please congratulate following students for their achievement: Team members - Alex, Amanda, Anya, Christine, Edward, Nayan, Neha, Paridhi, Pranathi, Richa, Shruti, Sidhart, Simona, Tushar, William; Alternates - Adith, Ansh, Ari, Arjun, Bryceton and Diya Save The Date: 20% Time Showcase Please join us on Wednesday May 2nd from 4-6pm at Kealing as 8th grade magnet English students showcase the work they've been doing during 20% Time, our independent project initiative. They will be sharing through demonstrations, TED talks, performances, a gallery, and a marketplace. Students, families, and community members are welcome! | PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS Upcoming PTA Meetings
PTA - Special Meeting We will hold a meeting this Thursday, May 3rd at 7:30am in the library to discuss/elect new officers for the 2018-2019 PTA board. Anyone that is interested in welcome to attend.PTA News Teacher Appreciation Week is May 7-11th! Help us celebrate the end of STAAR week with a lunch for our teachers! Please visit this link and sign-up! KMAG ANNOUNCEMENTS Upcoming KMAG Meetings
KMAG 2018-2019 KMAG is looking for many positions for next year. Each position is a small time commitment and we would love your help. If you are interested in helping, please email board@kealingmag.org 2. Committee Chair: Oversee all the KMAG committees and serve as a conduit of information between the individual committees, the Magnet staff/Admin and the KMAG Board. Easy to do via email! Small time-effort and great task for a working parent ! 3. Videographer: Videos the monthly KMAG meetings. KMAG has the video camera and tripod. Please know that our future KMAG meetings will not be recorded without this position being filled. OPPORTUNITIES ON OTHER CAMPUSES It's Time for AHS Speech and Debate Showcase! High schoolers wearing suits and presenting in front of judges? What's it all about? Students nationwide are developing strong speech and debate skills that can serve them for a lifetime. Come enjoy the fun while you learn more and have a few laughs with the current award-winning Anderson High School Speech and Debate team’s annual Spring Showcase. Who: Anderson High Speech and Debate Team What: Showcase of multiple Speech and Debating Skills When: Saturday May 5th, 7pm AND Sunday May 6th, 3pm Where: Anderson High School Theater, 8403 Mesa Drive, Austin TX 78759 Tickets: $10 for adults. $5 for students. Buy tickets from a current team member or at the door. More info: |