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The Austin High School PTSA provides regular communications to inform and actively engage our families and students. Subscribe to the Maroon Update weekly email, sign up for Remind texts, and follow us on social media to stay current with AHS news and events.

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Austin High PTSA Parent Remind Codes

​Remind is a Text messaging app that allows us to send brief information and reminders quickly to parents. We are allowed a certain number of accounts so we have broken them down by grade level. Please text the following code based on your last name. (Not your student as students have their own Remind account setup) to 81010 to be automatically signed up.  
If you have a students in more than one grade level you should sign up for each grade level. 
AHS 2022/23 Parent Remind Codes
To sign up text the code below (based on your last name) to 81010
Class of '23 Last Name A-L   @2023a-l
Class of '23 Last Name M-Z  @2023m-z
Class of '24 Last Name A-L   @b79afe9
Class of '24 Last Name M-Z  @3664ga
Class of '25 Last Name A-L   @fkb2a44
Class of '25 Last Name M-Z  @6ge866
Class of '26 Last Name A-L   @89bg7d4
Class of '26 Last Name M-Z  @794f7g9
​ Remind in Español  @7bfcdg

NEWSLETTER

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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 
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Handy Links

Principal Update

Questions? email lissaganderson@gmail.com

Austin High Volunteer Opportunity

Would you like to be a part of a fantastic volunteer team?

· Help Volunteer in the Main Office- a great way to get to know the school.

· Volunteer a few hours a month, a few times a month, or even every week by helping out with Attendance: help sign students in and out, answer & direct phone calls, & light filing. We also need volunteers to work the Raptor desk and check visitors in and out of the school.

o A commitment of two hours a month is all we are asking. However, once you come and help us out, you will want to come by more often. And your help is always welcome!

  • Sign Up!:

  • Shift times: 8:30 am -10:30 am, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, 12:15 pm-2:30 pm, or 2:30 pm-4:40 pm.

    • Volunteer monthly, weekly, or whatever works with your schedule. You are welcome to sign up for any day and time that works for you.

    • If you cannot commit to a regular shift, we also need substitute volunteers when volunteers cannot make their shift(s).

    • Substitute volunteers and drop-ins are also welcome!

**Photo: Business Wire

THANK YOU to our ASI Community Partners who are creating a brighter future for students in the Academy for Science and Innovation!

Campaign funds provide scholarships for the over 25% of students in need of financial assistance to participate in the ASI curriculum-based, STEM-focused, travel, field trips, and other experiences.

If you still want to join the list of our partners, we’ll accept your donations through 1/31.

Donate Online Here

2022 ASI COMMUNITY PARTNERS

***Donations received as of December 31***

EXPERIMENT

Naranjo Ewbank Family Foundation

HYPOTHESIS

Austin PsychCare
The Cochran Family
Greg Sheff & Sarah Buttrey

RESEARCH

AISD Family
The Chuter Family
Napierkowski/Pardee Family
Toni Wakefield
The Wittenbraker Family

PURPOSE

Phil & Kathleen Buch
Adam & Julie Butler
Aaron & Kristen Day
Pete Dordal & Esther Torres
FaceValue Esthetics
Dave & Ann Gass
Lanier Studios
Autumn & Clay Little
Nancy & Tom Nesbitt
The Ravnsborgs
Alexandra & Paul Saenz
The Strake Family
The Stiles Agency

SUPPORTER

Marta Caviedes • Matt & Lisa Cowan • The Day Family
The DiRaddo • Family Carey Ibrahimbegovic • The Keenan Family
Kirsten Nottleson, Hand in Hand Workshops
The Miller Family • Michael Moody & Jeannie Wilson • Carlos Murcia
Mark & Rachel O’Leary • Angela & Jeff Peterson • RightWorks
Susan Rossi • The Scarborough Family • Juanita Valdez

The Comet Yearbook

Check out our new website for The Comet Yearbook! You will find all kinds of information, including how to purchase senior ads, a link to purchase a yearbook on our new Walsworth website, information about our yearbook staff this year and so much more. Please look through the website and refer to the Parent FAQs page for more information. If you can't find the answer to your questions, reach out to yearbook adviser Mauri Sparks. Please keep in mind that she will be traveling with yearbook to a national journalism convention in St. Louis and with AGS to DC and Maryland in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving break and will have limited access to email.

More Comet Yearbook Info

Group Photo Day

Group Photo Day is Monday, February 13! Are you involved in a club or organization at Austin High? If so, you should be pictured in the 2023 yearbook! Sign up for a time to have your group's photo taken. To sign up, you only need a sponsor or leader's name, email, the name of your club and an estimate of the number of people who will be pictured in your group photo. Choose a time on the SignUpGenius that works best for your group, and don't forget to tell all of your club members to meet at your chosen time in the PAC on Feb. 13. We'll see you there!

Group Photo Sign Up

Senior News

Senior Yard Signs

AHS General Info

School Mental Health Brochure (English)
School Mental Health Brochure (Spanish)

Preventing and Addressing Fentanyl Use

Wednesday, February 8, 2023 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to address hot topics that are on the top of educators’ minds. After sharing federal updates, the series features lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, and other places of educational instruction. It also shares a variety of useful resources.

On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join a two-part miniseries titled, The Facts About Fentanyl and Approaches to Prevention.

Part 1: Knowing the Facts About Fentanyl
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
3:00-4:30 pm EST

During the first webinar of this two-part miniseries, you will learn what fentanyl is and why it is so addictive and deadly. You will learn how students get it and in what different forms. You will hear from families impacted by the fentanyl crisis and the hopes they have for implementing more robust prevention efforts with students.

Part 2: Preventing and Addressing Fentanyl Use
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
3:00 – 4:30 pm ET

During the second webinar of this two-part miniseries, you will learn about a variety of approaches schools and communities are taking to educate students on the risks of fentanyl. You will hear from practitioners in schools and districts as well as community-based organizations working with schools to prevent and address fentanyl use.

Part 1
· Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Training Specialist, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
· Dr. Emily Einstein, Chief, Science Policy Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
· Dr. Cece Spitznas, Senior Science Policy Advisor, Office for National Drug Control Policy
· Dr. Marci Hertz, Associate Director, Program Implementation at the Division of Overdose Prevention in the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
· Cathleen Drew, Senior Prevention Program Manager, Community Outreach & Prevention Support Section, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
· Jennifer Epstein, Director, Outreach and Education, Song for Charlie, OR
· Kristen Gustafson, Family Impacted by Fentanyl Advocate and Speaker, CA
· Chris Didier, Family Impacted by Fentanyl Advocate and Speaker, CA

Part 2
· Cindy Carraway-Wilson, Training Specialist, National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
· Cathleen Drew, Senior Prevention Program Manager, Community Outreach & Prevention Support Section, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
· Jennifer Epstein, Director, Outreach and Education, Song for Charlie, OR
· Kristen Gustafson, Educator, Health/PE TOSA, Beaverton School District, OR
· Jeri Skrocki, Chief of Safety and Security, Hays Consolidate Independent School District, TX
· Dr. Smita Malhotra, Chief Medical Director, Los Angeles (LA) Unified School District, CA
· Paulina Rock, Executive Director, Office of Health Emergency Response and Support, LA Unified School District, CA
· Kari Clay, Family Impacted by Fentanyl Advocate and Speaker, AR

Additional presenters will be added including practitioners from schools and districts.

This event will reference the following resources, which we encourage you to access in advance of the webinar to inform participation:

· One Pill Can Kill, DEA
· Fentanyl Fact Sheet, DEA
· Operation Prevention, DEA

For your reference, slides, speaker bios, and resources for these presentations will be posted on their respective event webpages on the day of the event (Part 1 and Part 2). The recording and other webinar materials will be posted a day after.

Register for Part 2

AHS Extracurricular and Club News

Schedules

Varsity Boys Lacrosse Scrimmage vs Anderson HS
Tuesday 2/8 at 7pm @ Anderson HS

Austin High Activities and Clubs

Does your student want to get more involved at Austin High, meet new friends and have fun? Join one of our many clubs and activities! Information about different groups, meeting times and contact info for club sponsors can be found on our website. Get involved!

Start a new club:
Austin High Student Club Application 2022 - 2023

Ballet Folkloric News: Annual Candle Sales

It's that time again! Our annual candle sale starts tomorrow (Monday, January 22nd) and we will be taking orders until 4pm on February 3rd. These high-quality candles that burn for over 55 hours. The candles will be delivered approximately 2 weeks later--just in time for Valentine's Day. They cost $15 and will be available from any dance company member or contact our director at maura.masters@austinisd.org.

Girls Lacrosse

The Maroons girls lacrosse team opened their season with a 3-0 record against LASA, Cedar Park and Bowie. They scored 36 goals and only gave up 4 goals. They were led offensively by Keller Bartley, Caye Kalbacher, Siena Koster, Ale Kreeger and Melanie Kay Price. Charlotte Burns, Ryan Teague and our amazing goalie tandem of Olivia Carrales and Eden Kime led the defense. The team is off to College Station this weekend to play in the Aggieland tournament. Check out their Spring schedule and support the team on Instagram @ahsgirlslacrosse

Academic UIL is in Season!! Academic UIL offers scholarships up to $4000 for qualifying students! We have a meet this Saturday at Round Rock High School and another next Saturday at Hendrickson High School! See Miss Mardi, Ford Campbell, or Jake Miller for more info! Join our Remind to be included in games & sign up for meets!

Remember: $4000 in scholarships & a trip to 6 Flags! Be there and be square!

Want Donettes? Nerd Herd meets before school Tuesdays in room 256. Want Oreos? Nerd Herd meets after school Wednesdays in room 256. Want to know when and where our meets are? We keep you updated on this google doc!

Please remember that *only* our top competitors get to compete at Districts this year. We have ONE month to qualify! We want to make sure YOU have a chance to advance! For questions & concerns? Please contact Miss Mardi in room 256 or at margaret.nott@austinisd.org

AHS College and Career Center

COLLEGE VISITS: February is a busy month for college visits at Austin High! Sign up in Naviance to meet with representatives from University of Arkansas, University of Arizona (virtual), Austin Community College, University of Oregon, St. John’s College, University of Oklahoma, Texas A&M San Antonio, and University of Kentucky.

SAT AT AHS: All juniors will take the SAT at school on March 1. It’s free, and students do not need to register, but they will want to prepare! Here are two free opportunities:

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: Hey seniors! Looking for college scholarships? Check out this list of scholarship opportunities.

Questions about college visits, scholarships or career services? See Mrs. Cleaver in room 264.