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Hornet Herald - August 19, 2018

posted Aug 19, 2018, 4:12 PM by KMS Hornets

Hello Kealing Families,

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! Our highly skilled and devoted staff worked hard last week to plan and prepare for our students. The office staff has been registering new families, ordering materials, updating files, and supporting teachers. Thanks to our custodians, the campus sparkles and shines. The counselors invested significant time and effort in building schedules for the 1260+ students who will be walking our halls. The effort and joy from our teachers in learning together, planning together, and creating welcoming classrooms has been remarkable. I know that this year will be one for the books as we strengthen our environment of high expectations, safety, and inclusivity.

Student Handbook

There have been a few updates to the Kealing Parent and Student Handbook so please take some time to review this with your child. It can be found here on the Kealing Website.

Staff Directory

This week, all teachers will nail down their office hours for the year. This information will be posted on the Kealing Website through a staff directory update this week. Be on the lookout for this starting on Monday, August 27.

Elective Changes

I am sure some of your families are already having conversation about the opportunity for 7th and 8th grade students to be teaching assistants as well as the possibilities that come with the elective change process. Here are the elective change guidelines:

·         Eligible courses are those that were not in the top 10 on a student’s choice sheet.

·         Elective availability will be posted in the building and online Wednesday.

·         Students may request a lateral move. For example, an elective scheduled during B6 may only be traded for another scheduled during B6.

·         A parent or guardian signature is required on the change form.

To help our students and teachers settle in to their schedules, we will make the teaching assistant forms available Monday, August 20 and elective change forms available Wednesday, August 22. They must be returned by the end of the day Friday, August 24 to be considered.  

Safety Procedures

We will continue to conduct safety drills this year and this week we will begin to train our students so they know what to expect in case of an emergency. I encourage you to discuss these procedures with your children at home to help reiterate the importance of these protocols.

Also, there has been a district-wide update to the system that we use to check guests on campus. Please bring your identification for your first visit to campus this year, even if you have been in the past. Plan for extra time for the first PTA and KMAG meetings as well since there will be new procedures in place.

Thank you to all of you for your help in preparing your students for the new school year. We value your commitment to ensuring that Kealing remains a great place for all students to learn. I look forward to greeting students and families again tomorrow. It is a privilege to serve as your principal. Together, I know we will make this school year one of growth and achievement for all Kealing Hornets.

 

Warm Regards,

Kenisha Coburn

Principal

Kealing Middle School

UPCOMING EVENTS

Check the website calendar for the most up to date information.

  • August 20 - First Day of School, 7:30a
  • August 21 - PTA Parent Social, 7:30-8:30a, KMS Outdoor Classroom
  • August 23 - PTA Meeting & Principal Coffee, 7:30, Library
  • August 30 - KMAG Mtg - Meet & Greet, 7:30a, Library
  • August 30, 31 - Homework Hiatus
  • September 3 - No School/Labor Day
  • September 4 - Back to School Night, 6-8p
  • Sept 12 & 13 - School Photos
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
ACT Running, Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects, LUXE Property Group | eXp Realty, 

Scholar
$250-499
The Tile Guy
Human Financial
CAMPUS NEWS
Kealing Football 2018
Player info meeting August 20 (first day of school) 3-4:45
First practice is August 21 3-4:45
  • We will practice from 3-4:45 Monday - Friday, except for game days.
  • Players are ready to begin practice when they turn in a completed AISD Athletic Physical Packet. (The packet can be found on the AISD Athletics website, or paper copies can be picked up in the school office or coaches office) 
  • Each player will need to bring a t-shirt, athletics shorts, and a pair of football cleats or shoes they can run in.
  • 7th grade students must have an up to date shot record on file with the school before they can play.
  • All players must complete 4 non contact conditioning practices before they are cleared for full contact practices.
  • All players must complete 7 contact practices in pads before they are cleared to participate in games. (A total of 11 practices must be completed before game participation per UIL)
  • The school will provide a helmet, mouth piece, shoulder pads, and football pants/pads and jerseys for practices and games.
  • If your child wears braces, they will to get a mouth piece that is approved by their orthodontist. 
We will have a parent meeting the 2nd week of school. (We will announce the date and time when school starts) 
If you have any questions about Kealing Football, please contact Coach Gardner at (512) 414-2706
Missing a Fine Arts class?
Are you missing a Fine Arts class that you were expecting to see on your class schedule? Maybe you are just interested in pursuing one of the most rewarding electives on campus. Come speak to a band, orchestra, choir, theater, or art teacher about joining one of our amazing programs. Any and all are welcome! No experience required!!
School Pictures 
Save the Date
Mark you calendars. 

School pictures will be taken on Wednesday 9/12 and Thursday 9/13 in the library during core science classes. Order information will be distributed through advisory. 
Purchase your Kealing Yearbook Now!
Yearbooks are on sale now for $35. It's the lowest price of the year. Orders can be placed on campus or online at www.jostens.com. Orders placed on campus can only be accepted though September 7th. Preordering a yearbook is the only way to guarantee that you will get one when they arrive in May. Go to www.kealingyearbook.com for more information. 
Share Summer Photos - WIN STUFF!
The Yearbook staff would like to include photos from Kealing students' summer adventures. Photos should be of students (and families is okay) from summer travels, camps, sports or school activities. Email photos to OR use our handy photo submission form to submit directly to us. 

All students who submit a photo will be entered in a weekly prize drawing for gift cards from Starbucks, Target, Juiceland, Monkey's Nest Coffee and Thundercloud Subs. You will get one entry for EACH photo you submit. So submit a lot, and submit frequently.

More information on the types of photos we're looking for can be found here. 
PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS
Join PTA
We invite  you to join the PTA for the 2018-19 school year.   This is a very important year as it is a legislative one . PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in the US.  Please help us grow our membership to greater than 500,000 Texans. This will help Texas PTA have a voice that will in turn put pressure on the legislators to fix the funding formula that is so negatively affecting Austin ISD schools. www.kealingpta.org. 
Tues., Aug. 21nd, 7:30-8:30am. Parent Social, Outdoor Classroom
Come sip coffee and mix and mingle with other Kealing parents on the school grounds as we welcome in the new school year.  The KMS outdoor classroom is at back of school
Kealing PTA Membership Meeting and Principal Coffee, Th., Aug 23, 7:30am, Kealing Library
Come meet your PTA board, learn about PTA’s exciting programs for their year, and find out about ways to get involved in the PTA.   We will be voting on our bylaws and standing rules. Principal Coburn will also gives updates on what’s new at Kealing this year. Kealing Library.

KMAG ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to KMAG!
If you your student is part of the Kealing Magnet Program, you are automatically part of KMAG - Kealing Magnet Advisory Group. We are 501 3(c) non-profit group dedicated to supporting the magnet education supplied to our students at Kealing. While we are a separate group from PTA, we strive to work together to support our school's needs. Be sure to join our wonderful PTA also! For more information about KMAG, please visit our website at Kealingmag.org. We hold meetings, usually once a month on a Thursday at 7:30am. Our meetings are geared towards Magnet education and support. Here are our meeting dates for 2018-19:
  • 8/30
  • 9/13
  • 10/18
  • 11/8
  • 12/6
  • 1/17
  • 2/21
  • 4/11
  • *5/1 (Note, this is a Wednesday)
SAVE THE DATE: MEET & GREET AT KMAG MEETING 8/30, 7:30am
Check Out Our New KMAG Facebook Group
Calling all current Kealing Magnet parents — please join our KMAG Facebook Group () and say hi! KMAG is here to facilitate another way to connect with parents. Join the conversation! Please note, to join the group, you must be a current Kealing Magnet Family and/or a graduated Kealing Magnet Family and you must answer 3 questions before accepted.


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