HORNET HERALD August 24, 2025

Principal's Message

Hello Hornet Families,

What an incredible first week of school we've had! It has been such a joy to welcome our Hornets back into the building and hear about their summer experiences. The energy and excitement our students bring each day remind us just how special our school community is.

I have to say, this year's first day was much more enjoyable than last year's. If you are new to Kealing, we experienced a building fire the night before the first day of school last year. I joked with the staff about spending the night here last Monday evening with a fire extinguisher, just in case! Thankfully, this year it has all been smooth sailing.

I want to take a moment and shout out to all of our families. Students have and that's in no small part thanks to you. Your efforts in preparing your students for the new school year and ensuring they arrive on time each day make a huge difference. Thank you!

I’d also like to extend a warm invitation to join us for Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 27th.

  • Gym Foyer Doors will open at 5:15 PM

  • Welcome will begin at 5:30 PM in the gym

  • Classroom visits start at 6:00 PM

Please bring a copy of your student’s schedule to help you navigate the evening and find the correct classrooms.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our students, staff, and families who wished me a Happy Birthday last week. I typically like to keep my birthday a secret, but I truly appreciate all of the love I received. Check out this video that our amazing Orchestra program sent me as a gift.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday evening and continuing a fantastic start to the school year together

Estes

Kealing Staff Photo

UPCOMING EVENTS:

  • August 26 - First Cross Country Practice

  • August 27 - Back to School Night

  • August 28 - Volleyball vs. Bailey

  • August 29 - College Colors Day

  • September 1 - No School/Labor Day

  • September 4 - Volleyball vs. O.Henry

  • September 9 - Football vs. Lively

  • September 11 - PTA Meeting

  • September 11 - Volleyball vs. Marshall

  • September 15 - Football vs. Lamar

  • September 18 - Volleyball vs. Sadler Means

  • September 18 - CAC Meeting

Welcome Officer Rodriguez

My name is Officer Orlando Rodriguez, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new School Resource Officer (SRO) at Kealing. I’ve been a police officer for 16 years, with the last 10 years proudly serving as an SRO in Austin ISD. Building strong, positive relationships with students is one of the most rewarding parts of my role, and yes, students tend to discover pretty quickly that I usually have candy!

My primary responsibility is to ensure our campus remains a safe and secure environment for all students, staff, and families, a duty I take very seriously. You’ll often see me walking the halls, checking in on classrooms, and being a visible presence around the building throughout the day. I’ll also be attending many after-school events to support our students and stay connected with our school community.

I look forward to getting to know you and working together to keep our campus safe.

Officer Rodriguez and a student

Kealing Clubs & Organizations

VOLLEYBALL

A big shoutout to all the students who tried out for our volleyball teams this season! We had an incredible turnout, and the level of talent and effort made the coaches' decisions tougher than ever. Congratulations to our new Hornet team players. We’re excited to see your hard work and teamwork in action this season.

8th grade volleyball is hosting our first home game next Thursday, August 2nd, against Bailey Middle School. We need some helpers/volunteers to run the clock, scorebook, and sell tickets. Please have a look and sign up HERE if you can help out for any of the games this season. 

Go Hornets!

FOOTBALL

We kicked off our first week of football practice with great energy, teamwork, and determination! There’s still time to join the team. If you’re interested but missed last week’s practices, stop by and see Coach Gardner for more information.

All students must have a completed AISD physical packet, workout clothes and shoes, and a water bottle.

Email Coach Gardner (justin.gardner@austinisd.org) if you have any questions.

Kealing Cross Country Wants YOU!!!

We kicked off the 2025-26 Cross Country season with a great informational meeting. We have a great group of students interested in participating this year, and we're excited to build off the success we had last year.

Our first practice will take place on Tuesday, August 26th, after school. If you were unable to attend the information meeting, you can still participate. Please be sure your student has a sports physical on file.

Registration Form: https://forms.gle/6PwzTydBDaXTS9xE6

Students lined up at the race starting line

Safety Drills

At Kealing, student safety is a top priority. Throughout the school year, we will be conducting routine safety drills, including evacuation, lockdown, and severe weather drills. These are important opportunities for students and staff to practice how to respond in case of an emergency.

We will conduct our first drill this week. Please take a moment to talk with your child about the importance of taking these drills seriously and following all instructions from their teachers and staff. Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe and prepared.

types of safety drill flyer

Technology Device Policy

No Cell Phone in School Zone Sign

We want to remind you of the recent Texas legislation (House Bill 1481), which prohibits students from using personal devices on district premises during school hours.

Austin ISD and the School Board approved the district's policy at last week's Board Meeting. You can find out more about the policy here.

Please talk to your students about keeping their devices put away from 7:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Devices that are prohibited include, but are not limited to:

  • Cell Phones

  • Smart Watches

  • Tablets

  • Gaming Devices

  • Bluetooth Headphones or Earphones

Please avoid calling or texting your child during school hours; if needed, contact the main office, 512-414-3214.

Cell phone away for the day flyer
cell phone away for the day in spanish flyer

Chromebooks at Kealing

Last year, we transitioned to using class sets of Chromebooks rather than assigning individual devices to students. This change had a noticeable positive impact. Students were more engaged in lessons and there was an increase in meaningful student-to-student interactions during class time. Based on this success, we will continue with this model for the 2025-2026 school year.

With class sets, Chromebooks stay in classrooms for instructional use. This not only helps reduce the risk of devices being lost or damaged, but also limits non-instructional use like gaming or video streaming, while promoting collaboration and social interaction among students.

Students with an IEP or 504 plan that includes the need for an individual Chromebook can request one through the front office or case manager.

Thank you for your continued support as we build on last year’s success!

An open chromebook

Parent/Guardian Consent Forms

During the 89th Texas Legislative Session, Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) was passed, which requires school districts to obtain written parental consent before providing certain services or allowing student participation in specific school-sponsored activities.

Beginning September 1, 2025, our district must have your consent in the following areas:

  1. Mental Health-Related Services
    The district must notify parents of staff services related to school counseling and give parents the opportunity to opt out before those services are provided to their child.  [Mental Health Services Consent Form:     English  Spanish]

  2. Physical Health-Related Services
    Certain school-based health services, such as non-emergency medical screenings or treatments, now require your written permission.
    [    Physical Health Services Consent Form]

  3. Participation in school-sponsored Student Clubs
    If your child wishes to participate in school or district-sponsored clubs or organizations, parental approval is required.
    [    Student Club Participation Consent Form]

These forms will require you to enter your student's Local ID number. The easiest way to find this information is to ask your student for their Chromebook login or lunch number, or by logging into your Parent Self-Serve Portal.

A separate form must be completed for each child under the parent’s or guardian’s care in the household.

Please review and complete each applicable consent form by September 1, 2025 . Without signed consent, your child will not be able to receive these services or participate in any clubs.

Thank you for your prompt attention and for partnering with us to meet these new state requirements.

Kealing Clubs & Organizations

Kealing has something for everyone! Students can now start exploring the list of clubs and organizations being offered this school year. From Dungeons & Dragons to Tabletop Games, Chess Club, and even Pickleball. There’s a club for every interest!

Please note: it’s still early in the year, and more clubs will be added soon. Encourage your student to check out the list and get involved! More information will be shared during Advisory in the coming weeks.

Mr. Estes with Chess Club winners

2025-26 A/B Schedule

Two students working on a computer

Mark Your Calendars: The new school year will kick off on Tuesday, August 19, and it will be a B Day. Please make sure your students are prepared to attend their B Day classes on the first day of school.

Similar to last year, every Monday and Wednesday are "A" days and every Tuesday and Thursday are "B" days. Fridays will rotate.

You can access the A/B Schedule here.

Eating a balanced Breakfast & Lunch

Eating healthy is crucial for students for several reasons that impact their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Here’s a few reasons why students should prioritize healthy eating:

1. Supports Physical Growth and Development

2. Enhances Cognitive Function and Academic Performance

3. Promotes Emotional Well-Being

4. Builds Healthy Habits for Life

Austin ISD Food Services provides healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch options for our students. Please see the attachments below for more information about AISD options.

Nutrition & Food Services | Austin ISD

SchoolCafé - AUSTIN ISD (schoolcafe.com)

We want to ensure all our students have access to nutritious meals during the school day. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to apply for our free and reduced lunch program. It’s quick, confidential, and can provide significant benefits for your family.

To sign up, please visit School Cafe, create an account and complete the Free and Reduced Lunch program form, or contact our Main Office for assistance. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support your child's health and learning.

School lunch on a green tray

Back to School Night 2025

Back to school night flyer with a hornet and school supplies displayed

We invite all of our families to our Back to School Night on Wednesday, August 27 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your student's teachers and hear about the fun, engaging, and academically enriching activities your students will participate in this school year.

Student Dropoff & Pickup Information

To help keep all students safe during drop-off and pick-up, please remember the following:

  • The lane closest to the school is reserved for buses only. Please do not stop or block this lane to drop off or pick up your child.

  • Pennsylvania Ave is a one-way street. Please follow all traffic signs and patterns.

  • Parent pick-up is at the back of the school on Salina St. Students have been instructed to go there after school if they are being picked up. If you plan to pick up your student from a different location, please communicate that clearly with them in advance.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe and organized!

map of parent drop off and pick up

SchoolPool

To help families save time and money and help schools reduce traffic congestion and the long drop-off/pick-up experience, we’re continuing our partnership with Movability’s SchoolPool powered by Go Together. This secure, online transportation platform is accessible only to approved school community families.

Movability’s SchoolPool powered by Go Together, where you can:

  • Meet other parents and caregivers interested in carpooling your children to and from school and extracurricular activities—even biking or walking together! 

  • Request and offer a ride 

  • If you live close to school but want to switch off chaperone duties with another parent in the area, organize biking and walking matches.

  • Set up short-term trips for an event or trips for a season, or for the entire school year.

  • Web and Mobile Apps with language translation.

Registration - All families will be registered to use SchoolPool. You will receive a Welcome email  with the link to start the background screening process.  Once the background screening has been completed and approved, you will receive a Welcome email from Go Together notifying them that they now have full access to start searching for families and creating trips. This entire process can take up to 2 business days.

Background Screening - Any parents and other caregivers who are interested in participating in the SchoolPool to offer or seek ride support must first complete a background screening. This is a similar process to what you’d need to complete to volunteer at our school. Once the background screening has been completed and approved, you will receive a Welcome email from Go Together notifying them that they now have full access to start searching for families and creating trips. This entire process can take up to 5 business days.

Scan the attached QR code to express interests in SchoolPool.

QR Code to express interest

Join Kealing's Amazing PTA

As the new school year approaches, we invite all families to join the Kealing Middle School PTA! Whether your child is starting their first year or continuing their journey, being part of the PTA is a wonderful way to support our students, teachers, and school community. Together, we can make a positive impact on our children's education and experiences. Sign up today and help us make this school year the best one yet!

Click here to join!

Join the PTA with a hornet hovering

Community Information

Take Care of Texas Flyer