Principal's Message: Bedford's Blog August 2022

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8/28/2022

Maroon Family,

We have completed another amazing week at Austin High. Check out the Athletic Highlights below to stay abreast of the most recent Maroon points of pride. As we begin to prepare for Monday I wanted to share a few friendly reminders.

  • Next week we will complete our ID distribution process. I have included important information regarding this process below.
  • Remember that September 5th is a student and staff holiday and our campus will be closed.
  • Please add Back to School Night to your calendar, to be held on September 6th at 5:30pm.

Please review the information below and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Melvin Bedford, “Loyal Forever”

ATHLETIC HIGHLIGHTS

Volleyball started off the season with a 3rd place finish in the Jason Lander's Tournament, then went up to Allen Texas for the Texas Open tournament. We won our first home match vs San Marcos, but lost in our district opener vs Lake Travis. We are on the road this next week playing Weiss, Bowie and Anderson. Our next home match is vs Johnson Tuesday, September 6th.

Our Austin High Football team played their season opener last Thursday against Stony Point High school. Our Maroons performed with class and continue to represent Austin High well. Next week, we take on Round Rock Westwood at Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex at 7:00pm. We are very proud of our Maroon Band, Red Jackets, and Austin High Cheer squad for their performance last Thursday, as well. Students have put in a lot of hard work preparing for the season and we salute them on their performances.

Our Varsity cross-country team had their first meet on Saturday. Congratulations to the boys' varsity team for earning 2nd place with runners Luke Batiansila, Ben Hamilton, Ulysses Boulton, Luke Bone, Ben Wilson, and Kenny Sabisch. The JV boys came in 3rd, with Lucas Suarez finishing 3rd place overall! The varsity and JV girls teams had strong finishes - Maggie Stewart, Ivy Baker, Lilly Graushaupt, Margaret Worsham, and Ella Powell rep'ing our varsity team with Roshni Dhruva, Kyra Moore, Caroline Shaw right up there gearing for Varsity. With a solid start to our season, our eyes and training are focused on making it to State! We are so proud of our cross-country runners; way to represent Austin High this weekend!

STUDENT ID EXPECTATIONS AT AHS

Wearing a badge is a standard workplace expectation and one of several key practices that contributes to a safe and orderly campus. Students, staff and visitors are required to wear an official ID badge at all times and in plain view while on campus. Badges are also necessary to sign in & out of campus, purchase cafeteria items, borrow library books, receive technology support, use hall passes, and for other classroom or campus procedures. 

Rationale: In order to maintain a safe and secure environment, all staff and students are required to wear an ID.

  • IDs are provided by the school.
    • Any student who did not receive an ID should visit the 2nd floor Administrative Office to receive a Student ID.
    • If you are a junior or senior student with an off period this semester go to the 1st fl Assistant Principal Office. Mrs. Quick is distributing student IDs with an OFF-PERIOD label.
  • Students will wear their ID when on campus.
    • To properly wear an ID, it must be visible from the front of the body and worn between the shoulders and waist.
    • Students can choose any lanyard they want or use a clip.
  • Students are required to wear their ID to enter the building.
    • If the ID is left at home, the student must enter the building from the west side of campus to be checked in and given a wristband.
    • If the ID is lost, the student must enter the building from the west side of campus to be checked in and given a wristband. Then go to the 2nd floor office to get a new one made for $5.
  • Teachers and staff will be checking IDs.
    • If a student is found without an ID, they will be sent to the 1st floor office for a wristband.

STAFFING UPDATE

STAFFING UPDATE

  • Debate Coach/ Social Studies - In progress 
  • Sped Science Inclusion - AISD District support provided
  • Sped Science Social Studies - In progress
  • English - A recommendation has been completed and an official hire will be made when final paperwork is completed.
  • Math - Filled
  • Latin - Filled

HELPFUL INFORMATION

2021-2022 Accountability Rating
I am pleased to inform you Austin High was rated an overall “A” performance for the 2021-2022 school year by TEA. We also earned 3 academic distinction designations: ELA/Reading, Comparative Academic Growth, and Postsecondary Readiness.

Location Changes:
Austin High has made a few changes since last school year. The Main Entrance is now located on the west side of campus. The Main Office, Attendance Office, and Health Room have been relocated directly in front of the new west side Main Entrance (Room 148). Please call the main line at 512-414-2505 if you have any questions or concerns.

First Floor Main Office

  • Visitors Check-in & Check-out
  • Student Attendance Sign-in & Sign-out
  • VOE Request & Pick-up
  • Visit with Nurse & medications
  • Pick up student

Second Floor Administrative Office

  • Principal's Office
  • Bookkeeper's Office
  • Registrar's Office
  • Attendance Specialist Office

Visitor Protocols: 
We ask that ALL visitors park and enter on the WEST SIDE of the building. All exterior doors will remain locked at all times. Visitors may request entrance to the school by pushing the button on the call box located by the exterior door farthest to the left at the west side Main Entrance. Upon entering the building, all visitors need to check in to the new Main Office to receive a visitor label via the Raptor system before moving further into the building. ALL VISITOR LABELS MUST BE WORN AND VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE VISIT TO OUR CAMPUS.

Visitor Parking: 
Visitors should park on the west side of campus. The east side of campus, including the parking lots and the circle drive, is designated for staff, buses, and students with parking permits. 

Parent Drop-off/Pick-up:
Please assist us in improving our campus traffic flow by following the drop-off/pick-up procedures.
Morning drop off: Designated on the WEST SIDE of campus only. 
Afternoon pick up: Parents are encouraged to pick up on the WEST SIDE of campus. 

West side drop off/pick up instructions:

  • Enter the staff parking lot and merge left into designated drop off/pick up lanes.
  • Always pull forward while waiting.
  • DO NOT stop in the center lane. The center lane is designated for continuous flow.
  • Always stop for pedestrians crossing the crosswalk

GREAT START TO A NEW SCHOOL YEAR

8/20/2022

Dear Maroons,
It has been an amazing first week of school at Austin High. Our students, faculty, and staff are excited to be back on campus and have been eagerly engaged in community-building alongside academic endeavors.
Our Athletic programs are up and running, with both Volleyball and Football seasons off to a great start. Our Maroon Band, Orchestra, Choir, Theatre, Cheerleaders, Red Jackets, and Ballet Folklorico are also ready for the beginning of the year. We take pride in being Maroons and this year will prove to be one of the best. 

Melvin Bedford, “Loyal Forever”

2021-2022 ACCOUNTABILITY RATING

I am pleased to inform you Austin High was rated an overall “A” performance for the 2021-2022 school year by TEA. We also earned 3 academic distinction designations: ELA/Reading, Comparative Academic Growth, and Postsecondary Readiness.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Location Changes:
Austin High has made a few changes since last school year. The Main Entrance is now located on the west side of campus. The Main Office, Attendance Office, and Health Room have been relocated directly in front of the new west side Main Entrance (Room 148). Please call the main line at 512-414-2505 if you have any questions or concerns.

First Floor Main Office

  • Visitors Check-in & Check-out
  • Student Attendance Sign-in & Sign-out
  • VOE Request & Pick-up
  • Visit with Nurse & medications
  • Pick up student

Second Floor Administrative Office

  • Principal's Office
  • Bookkeeper's Office
  • Registrar's Office
  • Attendance Specialist Office

Visitor Protocols: 
We ask that ALL visitors park and enter on the WEST SIDE of the building. All exterior doors will remain locked at all times. Visitors may request entrance to the school by pushing the button on the call box located by the exterior door farthest to the left at the west side Main Entrance. Upon entering the building, all visitors need to check in to the new Main Office to receive a visitor label via the Raptor system before moving further into the building. ALL VISITOR LABELS MUST BE WORN AND VISIBLE THROUGHOUT THE VISIT TO OUR CAMPUS.

Visitor Parking: 
Visitors should park on the west side of campus. The east side of campus, including the parking lots and the circle drive, is designated for staff, buses, and students with parking permits. 

Parent Drop-off/Pick-up:
Please assist us in improving our campus traffic flow by following the drop-off/pick-up procedures.
Morning drop off: Designated on the WEST SIDE of campus only. 
Afternoon pick up: Parents are encouraged to pick up on the WEST SIDE of campus. 

West side drop off/pick up instructions:

  • Enter the staff parking lot and merge left into designated drop off/pick up lanes.
  • Always pull forward while waiting.
  • DO NOT stop in the center lane. The center lane is designated for continuous flow.
  • Always stop for pedestrians crossing the crosswalk


Bus Finder:
To find your student's bus stop, please use our bus stop finder utility. 
Enter your student's home address and find the closest AISD bus stop.

Student ID's
Wearing a badge is a standard workplace expectation and one of several key practices that contributes to a safe and orderly campus. Students, staff and visitors are required to wear an official ID badge at all times and in plain view while on campus. Badges are also necessary to sign in & out of campus, purchase cafeteria items, borrow library books, receive technology support, use hall passes, and for other classroom or campus procedures. If your child did not receive their ID please have them check in with Ms. Garcia in the administrative office located on the 2nd floor.

Student Schedules
Students can look up their class schedule in the AISD Student Portal in Frontline SIS or by downloading the ERP & SIS app.
https://www.austinisd.org/technology/student-portal

STAFFING UPDATE

  • Debate Coach/ Social Studies - In progress 
  • Sped Science Inclusion - AISD District support provided for 3 weeks 
  • Sped Science Social Studies - In progress
  • English - A candidate will be recommended on Monday. 
  • Math - A candidate will be recommended on Monday.
  • Latin - Filled

WELCOME BACK

8/15/2022

Welcome back to the 2022-23 school year. As always, it is an exciting time to be a Maroon. Our faculty and staff have worked diligently this summer to prepare for the opening of school and our PTSA is hard at work building partnerships with the school and the community. With a continued focus on student engagement and a commitment to 21st century teaching and learning, Austin High will continue to uphold a strong reputation as one of the top high schools in the nation. 

 

VISION AND MISSION

Vision
Austin High School will be a supportive, inclusive, diverse, environment that inspires students to be lifelong learners and confident graduates.
Mission
We embrace an academy model, diversity of our students and faculty, and Social Emotional Learning, in order to educate the whole child and produce productive members of society. The Austin High School faculty, staff, parents, and community will work together to ensure each student the opportunity to develop academic, social, and workplace skills. 

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

  • Freshmen will be dropped off at the west entrance of the building (Designated Morning Main Drop Off) and need to report to the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Administrators and Link Crew will be available to greet them. Link Crew will be hosting them in the PAC, and then their teacher will pick them up and take them to class. Buses will drop off on the East side of campus (Designated Bus Drop Off).
  • Seniors - Celebrating the AHS Graduating Class of 2023 with our traditional first day of school activities. Seniors may participate in the first day of school morning activities starting at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 8:50 a.m. in the senior parking.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Parent Drop Off/Pick up Information

  • Morning drop off: Designated on the West side of campus only. 
  • Afternoon pick up: Parents are encouraged to pick up on the West side of campus. 
  • West side drop off/pick up instructions:
    • Enter the staff parking lot and merge left into designated drop off/pick up lanes.
    • Always pull forward while waiting.
    • Do not stop in the center lane. The center lane is designated for continuous flow.
    • Always stop for pedestrians crossing the crosswalk

Student IDs
ID’s Information: Wearing a badge is a standard workplace expectation and of several key practices that contributes to a safe and orderly campus. Students, staff and visitors are required to wear an official ID badge at all times and in plainview while on campus. Badges are also necessary to sign in & out of campus, purchase cafeteria items, borrow library books, receive technology support. Use hall passes and for other classroom or campus procedures.

  • Seniors will get ID’s on Tuesday
  • Juniors will get their ID on Wednesday
  • Sophomores will get their ID on Thursday
  • Freshman will get their ID on Friday

Student's Schedule:
Students can look up their class schedule in the AISD Student Portal in Frontline SIS or by downloading the ERP & SIS app.
Bus Stop Finder:
You can find out your student bus # and route by clicking on this link. 

1ST DAY BELL SCHEDULE

  • 7:30-8:50 Senior Breakfast (Tennis court parking lot) Freshman report to PAC
  • 1st Block: 9:05-11:35 (advisory lesson in the last 25 mins) 
  • 2nd Block: 11:40-1:00 
  • Lunch: 1:00-1:45 
  • 3rd Block: 1:50-3:05 
  • 4th Block: 3:10-4:35 

Regular BELL SCHEDULE 

OUR COUNSELORS

CELL PHONE POLICY

Austin High is a phone free learning phone that can distract from learning, interfere with community building and interpersonal connection, and contribute to online conflict. Students will be required to place their cell phones in a cell caddy in their classrooms. Parents please refrain from calling and texting your student during the school day. In the event of an emergency please contact our main office @ 512-414-2505 and we will get the message to your student. 

CAFETERIA

https://www.schoolcafe.com/austinisd

  • We will start the year off with line #2 closed. Some of you know it as “La Cocina” but we will do our best to get it up running. 
  • Line # 1 is a grab and go or grill line. We will serve hamburgers, chicken tenders, chickenburger's, pizza, some type of potatoe, and different types of fresh fruit.
  • Line # 3 or Fiesta Line will be open so you can create your own fiesta bowl with fresh topping and will offer the fresh fruit.

Meal Prices

  • Breakfast - Paid (All Levels): $1.50
  • Breakfast - Reduced-Price (All Levels): $0.30
  • Breakfast - Adult/Guest: $2.75
  • Lunch - Middle & High School - Paid: $3.25
  • Lunch - Reduced-Price (All Levels): $0.40 
  • Lunch - Adult/Guest: $4.50 

Questions about meal applications? Please call Food Service at 512-414-0251or send an email to FoodServiceBusinessSupport@austinisd.org. 

STUDENT PARKING

Parking on the Austin High Campus is by permit only. Students must NOT park in any visitor parking spaces or in any “reserved/ numbered parking spaces”, as these are assigned to a school staff member.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding student parking please contact Ms. Linda Garcia @ 512-414-7200.
Student Parking Permit Application

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