Hello Hornet Families,
For the first time in over 20 years, an Austin ISD Orchestra was named Honor Orchestra by the Texas Music Educators Association. The big performance was on Friday, February 10 in the Lila Cockrell Theater in the San Antonio Convention Center and the Kealing Symphony Orchestra left it all on stage. The show was stellar and moved the large audience to deliver a long and boisterous standing ovation. Congratulations to Mr. Jarrott, Ms. Berecek, and all of the students in the Symphony Orchestra.
I'm not sure what happened to the last few months but they seem to have disappeared and we are already planning for next year. Next up.......choice sheets! Kealing 6th and 7th grade students will be completing choice sheets at the end of the month. To learn more about the elective offerings, students will be watching videos from each department during Advisory. The videos are located on the website along with the new course book. Parent, you're welcome to watch the videos too; they'll make you wish you were a student at Kealing. Counselors will be meeting with all 6th and 7th grade students to help students complete choice sheets. I encourage all students to spend some time reviewing the videos and course book again to develop ideas before it's time to submit course selections. I encourage families to have conversations about course selections while ultimately letting the students choose. This is their time to explore and possibly develop new interests. We'll make sure that their ready for high school regardless of their elective choices!
Also, this Saturday we are inviting families who live in the Kealing attendance zone to Explore Kealing!. This is an opportunity to visit core teachers and electives while also participating in question and answer sessions about the Academy Program. If Kealing is your home school, encourage your neighbors to stop by.
Regards,
Kenisha Coburn
Principal
IN THIS EDITION
Check the website calendar for the most up to date information. February 16 Boys Basketball vs. Mendez Girls Soccer vs. Mendez February 17 Valentine's Dance Sponsored by Cheer (6:00-8:00 pm) Tickets $3 in Advance, $5 at the Door February 18 Explore Kealing! (10:00 am - noon) February 20 Staff Development - No School For Students February 22 Boys B Team Basketball vs. Covington (7th Home) KBTV NEWS Kealing Broadcast Television is a student developed news program that airs every Tuesday through Advisory. Take a look at the videos to keep up with what's newsworthy at Kealing. Check out the broadcasts. They will post weekly in the Student Life section of the Kealing website. Thanks to our growing list of Kealing PTA Business Supporters! PRINCIPAL’S LIST ($1000-1999) Texas Art Portraits HONOR ROLL ($500-999) Austin Boxing Babes Charm School Vintage GasPedal Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects Mueller Olive Garden Snarf’s Sandwiches SCHOLAR ($250-499) Code Studio Coco Paloma Desserts FOLIO Communications Group Human Financial Slavonk & Hortus Terraria Click here to find out more about the Kealing Business Supporters Program! | Choice Sheets Are Coming! Coding Workshop 2/16 or 2/21 2.45 - 4.15pm Room 235 Kealing Middle School is partnering with CodeWizardsHQ to offer a coding workshop to interested students. During this 90-minute session, students learn to code in HTML/CSS and use it to build a fun web comic. No prior coding experience is needed. Limited seats - registration is limited to only 24 students per session and on a first come basis. To find out more details and to register, go to - http://www.codewizardshq.com/codingworkshop/ Model UN Staffing Change Mr. Williams will be on leave for the remainder of the school year. John Hutka is an experienced assistant principal and will be joining us in Mr. Williams' absence. Mr. Hutka's information will be posted online after his Tuesday start. You may contact him with questions and concerns regarding 8th grade students. 8th Grade Parents - Mark Your Calendars!
HIGH SCHOOL CHOICE SHEETS/4 YEAR PLANS Every 8th grader is required, by the district, to complete a choice sheet/four year plan/endorsement selection with their zoned high school. Each school will send counselors who will explain and assist students in completing their choice sheet/four year plan online. The students will also complete a hard copy version which they are required to get signed by a parent/guardian and return to Ms. Lopez, the 8th grade counselor. Please try to ensure that your student is present to meet with their zoned school. Schools who are already scheduled are listed below. If a student is accepted into a specialized program at a high school, like LASA, they will complete the four year plan at a date determined by the program; but they are still encouraged to complete the zoned school’s four year plan. If your school is not scheduled yet, there will be communication sent out when their date is confirmed.
HIGH SCHOOL EVENING EXPOS Anderson – February 1st @ 5:30-7:30pm McCallum- February 28th@ 6:30-9:30pm Please visit the Kealing Guidance Website at kmsguidance.weebly.com for continued updates.
Gifted and Talented Nomination The window for GT parent and teacher nominations is now open. AISD screens students for the GT program using a multi-criteria approach to selection. GT identification is based upon data collected from academic tests, parent and teacher observation surveys, student surveys, and student portfolio work samples. If you would like to nominate your child for GT screening, please complete the parent nomination form and return it to the Program Office by February 10. Nomination forms can be found outside the Main Office. For digital nomination forms or additional information, please contact Lyra Swinney via email at lyra.swinney@austinisd.org or by phone at (512) 841-7746. | PTA ANNOUNCEMENTS Kealing Center Stage Kealing Center Stage is looking for sponsors to help make this event a great success! Kealing Center Stage is the major annual fundraising event to support Kealing Middle School and its teachers – and a fun filled night of food, live music, and silent and live auctions. This year’s event will take place at Spiderhouse Ballroom on April 8th from 6:30-10 PM. 3 Reasons to become a sponsor of Kealing Center Stage TODAY:
Your Kealing Center Stage Team March for Education
Spirit Wear Sales Spirit Wear Sales! PTA will be selling spirit wear to students on Thursday, February 2 and Friday, February 3, in the cafeteria during all lunches. PTA will accept cash or check. You can check out the new styles and also order and pay online at www.kealingpta.org/store. Zip Hoodies $25 T-shirts $15 Baseball shirts $20 Kealing stickers/magnets $3 Kealing Center Stage Mark your calendars for the evening of April 8th for Kealing Center Stage, the Kealing PTA’s largest fundraiser of the year. Kealing Center Stage is a fun-packed evening for parents, teachers, and staff, with food, live music, a silent auction, and more. Planning is under way now for this big event, and tickets will go on sale in February. This event depends on the generous support of parents, local businesses, and friends of the school. There are several ways you can help support this important event today:
Shadow Wranglers Needed
Shadowing starts next week and we still need a few more volunteers. Please consider helping out if you can. Slots are about 45 minutes long and your help is greatly needed. Thank you to those who have already signed up. In case you haven't, here's the information again.. From 1/30/17 - 2/28/17 prospective Kealing students will shadow current students to learn about the magnet program. Parents are needed in the mornings from 6:55 - 7:45 and afternoons from 2:15 - 3:00 to help greet, check in and check out shadowing students. You can sign up once or several times to do this quick and easy, but important job.
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