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The Maroon Update
In This Issue

- PTSA amendments vote at next meeting
- AISD Environmental Stewardship Committee
- Message from trustee Lynn Boswell
- Yearbook Info
- Link Crew & PALS
- AHS Student Wellness Counselors Info
- Senior Info: Bryker Woods alumni senior photo
- Accolades
- Extracurricular News: KAHS, episode #2
- Spring computer science classes
- College & Career Center: College Admissions
- A guide to AHS Communication
- Summer programs & employment
Upcoming Events/Important Dates

2/22: Reflections Showcase][=-09, will be rescheduled
2/22: 2/22-2/23: No school
2/23: Coffee with Principal, cancelled 
2/24-2/25:Virtual synchronous learning only
2/26: Asynchronous remote learning
2/28: Yearbook price increase
3/5: Asynchronous Day, remote learning
3/5: AP registration deadline
3/10: Link Crew & PALS application deadline
3/12: Last day for AISD parent survey
3/23: Coffee with Principal, 10am on zoom
         Wellness Programming @AHS
3/30: PTSA general meeting & speaker
4/2: CAC Applications due
Handy Links
 


 
Principal's Monthly Report
PTSA Announcements
PTSA General Meeting, Tuesday, March 30
Vote on amendments to PTSA By-Laws and Standing Rules

The Stephen F. Austin High School PTSA will be voting on the following amendments to our By-Laws and Standing Rules at the next General Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at 6:00pm via Zoom.  
Current By-Laws can be viewed using this link and the proposed amendments are as follows:
  1. Art. VI, Sec. 2:  The officers of this Local PTA shall be a president, 11 (changing from 10) vice president(s), a secretary, a treasurer, a parliamentarian, and the campus Principal (or designee). 
  2. Art. VI, Sec. 5:  The Seventh Vice President... duties include inclusion
  3. Art. VI, Sec. 5:  The Eighth Vice President... duties include classical studies academy
  4. Art. VI, Sec. 5:  The Ninth Vice President... duties include global studies academy
  5. Art. VI, Sec. 5:  The Tenth Vice President... duties include design and technology academy
  6. Art. VI, Sec. 5:  The Eleventh Vice President... duties include science and innovation academy
  7. Art IX, Sec. 1:  Regular meetings of the membership shall be held in the months of September, November, January, March and (adding May), time and date to be established by executive board. 
  8. Art IX, Sec. 1:  The membership meeting held in May (changed from March) shall be the election meeting. 
  9. Art IX, Sec. 1:  The annual membership meeting in May (changed from March) shall be for the purpose of receiving reports of officers and chairs and for any other necessary business. 
The proposed amended Standing Rules are linked here for your full review.  

If you have any questions or comments about these amendments, please email Elizabeth Kalbacher.  
The AISD Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee is seeking student members. It's a great way for students who care about the environment to make an impact, learn skills by being part of a well-run committee, share student perspective on a wide range of issues - AND to do it all virtually.

The ESAC is one of many advisory bodies, most focused on specific issues within AISD. Here's a bit from the ESAC website that describes their role:

The ESAC seeks to influence AISD curriculum, instruction, and student learning; integrate sustainability guidelines into the design, construction, and operation of AISD facilities; build awareness and engagement on environmental sustainability topics; and pursue public-private partnerships and other funding mechanisms. The purview of the ESAC may include, but is not limited to, the following resource areas:

  • Energy conservation and renewable energy
  • Water conservation and quality
  • Sustainable transportation
  • Outdoor air quality and climate change
  • Indoor air quality and environmental health
  • Environmentally responsible purchasing
  • Waste minimization, recycling, and composting
  • Sustainable food and outdoor spaces
Members include teachers and other AISD employees, AISD parents and caregivers, and community members. There is a great deal of environmental expertise in the group. Meetings are monthly via Zoom, and they are held in the evenings. So it's a great chance for students to engage from home in a way that is meaningful.

Interested students can apply at https://www.austinisd.org/advisory-bodies
A MESSAGE FROM AISD TRUSTEE LYNN BOSWELL
 
As your AISD Trustee for District 5, I want to know what’s important to you and your family – so I can share information that matters to you, and so I can look to our community as a resource. Trustees need to know who is interested in serving on AISD advisory bodies, who wants to share perspectives about important policy decisions, and who has personal or professional experience that can help us understand issues of interest to families, educators and our community. I am excited about the rich resources of expertise and engagement here — one of the many great things about living in Austin. I invite you to fill out this quick form to share a bit about who you are and what matters to you as we get to know each other. Thank you!
 
Lynn Boswell, AISD Trustee, District 5
 
Preorder Austin High's 125th edition yearbook now on Balfour's website for $70 (price will increase after February 28). Click here to purchase a yearbook

Link Crew and PALS are both amazing programs for juniors and seniors who want to help support other students. See below for information about both. 

Applications due March 10th! 
 

 Link Crew

  • Link leaders' primary goal at Austin High is to help 8th graders transition to high school. Link Leaders run and facilitate Maroon Roundup (orientation) and are each placed in a freshmen advisory with other Link Leaders to mentor 9th grade students.
  • Link Leaders run other events for freshmen such as Winter Wonderbrains, and go to freshmen events together like 9th grade football games.
  • Link Leaders also help with school wide events, and help host school tours, back to school night, and help with new students. 
  • The Link Crew class is not mandatory but encouraged to try at least one of your two years in the program. The class focuses on leadership skills, interpersonal skills, fun, and community building!
  • In the Link Crew class, Link Leaders work with special needs students at Austin High with weekly visits and planned events.
  • Reach out to jordan.attra@austinisd.org for more information!

To apply to Link Crew, please fill out this link (Link Crew Application).Within the link, you will be asked to upload a one-minute video using youtube, vimeo, or a file upload. Please see the application for more details. 

  

PALS

  • PALS mentor elementary school and middle school students and high school students with special needs
  • Each PAL works with 2 mentees for the length of the school year
  • In class, we focus on growth, learning, community building, and fun!!
  • PALS must take the class in order to be in the program because that's when we spend time with our littles. 
  • Reach out to kat.kelley@austinisd.org for information 

Application Information

Students can apply to both programs and should if they are interested! However, only rarely are students invited to be involved in both. This helps ensure that more students have leadership opportunities at our school, and that students can focus and give their all to their helping role. 
AHS Student Wellness Counselor
If you are concerned about your child's mental health, or need connection to resources in the community, you can reach out the Austin High School Wellness Counselor at sherri.patton-grubb@austinisd.org, or call 512-414-7220.  You can also look for resources on the Student Wellness webpage at https://www.austinhighmaroons.org/student-wellness.html.  You can find contact information for your Academy Counselor here:   https://www.austinhighmaroons.org/counselors.html.

Information that you share with the Wellness Counselor and/or your child's Academy Counselor is confidential.  Counselors must break confidentiality only if someone reports being harmed, or being a danger to themselves or others.  Parents are in charge of what information is shared with teachers.
 
Counseling Groups
Parenting Groups
Online Child Safety Webinars for Adults
 

An important article about teen depression, how to identify and respond:
https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-depressed-teenager/
 

An excellent article about how to support our kids now.  Spring semester is often a time of increased pressure, and statistically it is the time of year when we see the most mental health crises in the US.  It is very important for us to be meeting our children where they are emotionally, and letting them know that it is okay to not be okay.

Expect Respect: Dating violence '
 

Rent and Utility Bill Help
We are planning a group picture/yearbook tribute ad for all students who attended BW elementary. More details worked out next week & photo will be taken on BW playground by late February. Parents please email LMRENDER@rocketmail.com or text Lisa at 512-284-2430 to be included on the distribution list for details.   
Senior Website (click here)
Dear Austin High Seniors, Families, and Staff,

We recognize this year has been difficult and challenging for our senior class of 2021. Feel free to use this letter during the college admissions process. We sincerely hope this helps ease restrictions or guidelines for many of our seniors who have struggled as a result of the pandemic. Our intentions are good and we will continue to provide services as best we can to meet the needs of our students. We thank you for your patience and determination during this pandemic.

Sincerely,
Amy Taylor, Austin High School Principal
Tara Miller, Lead College Career Counselor
Accolades
Three movies from Austin High are advancing to the 2nd round of UIL Film.  Best of luck in the Semi-Finals. Go Maroons!!

Narrative
Runnin'  
Written and directed by Erick Banks
Produced by Julian Jessin
Cinematography by Alex Pither
Edited by Akira Fink

Sincerely
Written and directed by Violet Stewart
Produced by Julian Jessin
Cinematography by Johnny Eathorne
Edited by Alex Pither

Documentary
Plant Powered
Produced, directed, cinematography, edited by Violet Stewart
AHS Swim Team
 
Thirteen Maroon swimmers represented Austin High at the regional meet February 5th and 6th. They raced hard, and in every single race came back and swam considerably faster than in districts. The boys broke the 200 free relay school record and the girls narrowly missed that same relay record by less than a second. Best of all, only one member of the regional squad graduates this year, and the majority of the crew were 9th and 10th graders, so their best is yet to come. We can look for more team records to fall in the coming years, and we're not far away from being a team that is consistently on the podiums at these championship meets. Congratulations, swimmers, on a great season!
Extracurricular News
KAHS News - Episode #2
 
KAHS News covers what's happening in the community during the pandemic. They look into how movie theaters, small businesses, Austin Animal Center and musicians are coping with so many changes.
Austin High water polo is about to begin it’s 3rd season. 
It is a currently a club sport, but it will be UIL sanctioned in the Fall of 2022 (pushed back a year).

We're proud to be one of the few high schools in Austin to have both Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys Water Polo teams.  Our season usually starts in late February and ends with State Finals in May.  Our practices have been at UT in the evenings so they do not interfere with off-season morning swim practice.  

Water polo is a team sport played in the water with four quarters in which the two teams attempt to score goals by throwing the ball into the opposing team's goal. 

There's so much fun to be had!  No experience required, just some ability to swim.  We can teach the rest!  If you are interested in playing this Spring on the AHS Water Polo team and want more information, please contact Christine Sloat  6txsloat@gmail.com .  It is a great way for athletes to stay in shape in their off season!
College & Career Center News

VIDEO College Admissions & Covid w/ Tara Miller, Akil Bello, & Miguel Wasielewski 
Places to start: College website, Austin High College & Career Center website, Your Personal Naviance

The best place to seek help is to start with the college & career center website for up to date information and advisor contact info. You can also Join virtual visits online in your Naviance, sign up for virtual college fairs, check college websites for college specific opportunities too. Reach out to the Austin High School College & Career Center advisors via email for questions & meeting requests. The more focused your college search is, the less stressful it will be. College Admission professionals love to talk to students, you can reach them via email or video conference on their websites.

RESOURCES & LINKS

BOOKS

  1. The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us by Paul Tough
  2. The Truth about College Admission: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark
  3. Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream by Sara Goldrick-Rab
  4. New - The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your... by Ron Lieber 
  5. Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo
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INSTRUCTIONS:
  • Email your news, updates, pictures, etc. to AnnounceAHS@gmail.com
  • in SUBJECT line & BODY of email, note where you would like your information to be seen
  • See the explanations above for the appropriate spot for your info. to be posted/distributed 
Summer Employment & Programs
Each summer Applied Research Laboratories, a component of The University of Texas at Austin, sponsors a Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program for high school graduates who will be attending a 4-year college or university in the next fall semester, and who have applied to UT Austin.  Preference is given to students attending UT Austin, and whose intended majors are electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering, physics, mathematics, and computer science.

This program, which began in 1982, involves summer employment at Applied Research Laboratories in northwest Austin and provides a "hands-on" introduction to research and development.  This is a competitive, 9-week summer program for graduating seniors, offering a salary of $17.20 an hour.  This prestigious group of students also write reports that are published and widely distributed at the end of their summer term.  Please check our web site for additional information regarding the program:

https://www.arlut.utexas.edu/se.shtml

The application deadline is March 12th, 2021.  Applications are available online now.