Letter From Principal Bedford

Hello Smallville!

I hope your week was as great as ours here on campus! It was a busy one, but we had a lot of fun. Pep rallies, football games, band performances at Maroon Night, volleyball games, and dress-up days filled the week! Thank you to all of our students, parents, and staff members who make weeks like this successful. Our Cougars enjoyed themselves, and their positivity radiated throughout the hallways.

The time has come! Our annual Fall Festival is tomorrow, and we can’t wait to see everyone. It’s been all hands on deck to make sure we are all set up! Thank you to all our volunteers and sponsors for helping us make this event a success. I’m excited to select pumpkins for my front porch and participate in fun carnival games and activities! Bring your family and friends, it's going to be a blast!

Whether you’re joining us at the Fall Festival or simply enjoying some well-earned rest, I hope your weekend is filled with joy and positivity.

Have an amazing weekend!

Stay Present,
Bedford

Dear Smallville Families,

You’re invited to Fall Fest this Saturday, October 4th, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm here at Small Middle School! Bring the whole family out for a day of fall fun while supporting our students, clubs, and departments.

Here’s what’s in store:

🎵 Pumpkin Patch with DJ from 512 Tooth Family Dentistry – Pick your pumpkins to kick off fall.
🎯 Carnival-Style Games – Classic fun for all ages.
🐄 Meet Our New Cows – Enter the drawing to help name them!
🚜 Hay Ride – A seasonal favorite.
🎨 Arts & Crafts – Creative activities for kids.
🍧 Kona Ice & Tom’s Coffee Trucks – Treats and drinks to keep you going.
🎈 Inflatables Galore – A giant corn maze & haunted house obstacle course!

✨ Skip the Lines! Pre-Purchase your tickets and pumpkin coupons online ahead of time and simply pick them up at Will Call when you arrive. Quick, easy, and no waiting! Or buy on site, we will accept cash and cards.

All proceeds go directly to supporting the departments and clubs that make our school so special.

Don’t forget—Fall Fest is also the perfect chance to grab your pumpkins for decorating, carving, and all your fall activities!

A huge thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible. Be sure to stop by, show your support, and have some fun to boot!

Lonestar Soccer Club

Jersey Mikes

Southern Steer Burcher Oak Hill

Kristen Lucas Doula + Sleep Consultants

Donn's BBQ

512 Tooth Family Dentistry

Love & Cookies

Chuy's

HealthyQuest

Texas Party Rental

American Legion Post 4443

For questions email jennifer.rich@austinisd.org , hope to see you all there!

Advanced Placement Family Night

D&D Volunteers Needed

"Dungerons and Dragons Club is growing large. We are in need of 1-2 adults to volunteer to run games for newer players. If you are interested in helping our young adventurers, email Cameron.Russell@austinisd.org. Mr. Russell will provide details and help set up your clearance for our campus."

Girls Basketball tryouts are coming up!

7th grade tryouts will be Tuesday 10/14 at 6:45am.

8th grade tryouts will be Tuesday 10/14 and Wednesday 10/15 after school until 5:30

All physicals should be uploaded to Rank One, and all forms filled out, prior to tryouts. If your student has already participated in volleyball or cross country, your physical has already been received.

Soccer Tryouts

The boys' soccer season starts on Oct 21st. Tryouts will be held Oct 21-24, and we anticipate to have the squad finalized by Monday, Oct 27th. A completed physical is necessary to try out. New for this year is that the physical form needs to be uploaded by the parent to the Rank One portal -

Please contact coaches Ben Chiovaro or Tony Johansson for questions.

A Message from our Counselor's

Helping Your Teen Tune In: What Parents Can Do to Be Heard
Teens often resist authority not because they don’t care, but because they want to feel heard, respected, and understood. Here are some ways that can help your teens listen more openly:

Listen First, Talk Second: actively listen without interrupting. Teens are more likely to listen when they feel their voice matters. Suggest using phrases like: “I hear you,” or “Tell me more about that.”

Use Calm, Clear Communication: Avoid yelling, sarcasm, or guilt-tripping. Recommend using “I” statements instead of “You” accusations. Example: ““I noticed you’ve been staying up really late. I’m worried it might be affecting your energy during the day.” instead of “Why are you up too late?”

Validate Their Feelings: Even if parents disagree, they should acknowledge their teen’s emotions.Validation doesn’t mean approval—it means empathy. This builds trust and lowers defensiveness.

Set Boundaries with Respect: Teens need structure, but they also crave autonomy. Suggest collaborative rule-setting: “Let’s agree on a curfew that works for both of us.” This gives teens a sense of ownership and responsibility.

Pick the Right Moment: Timing matters. Don’t start serious conversations when emotions are high. Recommend waiting until both sides are calm and open.

Model the Behavior They Want: Teens learn more from what parents do than what they say. Encourage parents to show emotional regulation, honesty, and respect in their own actions.

Understand Their World: Suggest parents take interest in their teen’s music, social media, or hobbies. This shows genuine curiosity and helps bridge generational gaps.

Art Dept Fundraiser

Cougar Community! Please consider contributing a donation to the Clint Small Middle School Snap! Raise crowdfunding campaign. Access to funds is made infinitely easier through this platform. Snap! Raise continues to be an essential tool as we navigate into times where having access to meaningful materials for significant art experiences becomes more and more challenged by access to funding. This campaign benefits the 600 or so students who are currently enrolled in 18 art classes shared by art teachers Andrea Levine, Janelle Mendoza, and Fred Tabares. All amounts great or Small are appreciated and can be contributed at the following link: https://raise.snap.app/donate/small-middle-school-art-2025 Thank you all for your support, and- Go Cougars!

PTA News

Fall Fest Volunteers

We are still needing volunteers to help with Fall Fest tomorrow! We can't do it without you- our volunteers are the heartbeat of our organization.

Please look at the SIGN UP and help with a shift where you are able.

Cougar Cage Trainers Needed! -image attached

We have quite a few days coming up that only have a volunteer without experience signed up and we would love to get all these new volunteers trained and helping in the cage!

Even if you can only volunteer during sixth grade lunch (11:15- 12:00), that would be a great way to still show new volunteers the whole process and get them trained.

If you are already signed up with a buddy but would be willing to add another slot for a trainee, please let our Volunteer Coordinator Lauren know and she can add space for another person: renhagg@gmail.com.

The dates we are looking for help are: 10/9, 10/14, 10/17

Connect with the PTA

Our PTA Facebook, Instagram and Linktree pages are a great way to stay up to date and make sure you never miss volunteer opportunities, event details, meeting info and more! Be sure to like us on your social platforms so you see everything we're sharing that's PTA related.

https://www.facebook.com/smallmspta

https://www.instagram.com/smallmspta

https://linktr.ee/smallmspta

Join the PTA!

Become a member of our amazing CSMS PTA today!

Cougars Traveling the World

Educational Travel Programs at Small

At Clint Small Middle School, we are proud to have multiple teachers who sponsor Educational Travel Programs each year. These programs are structured group trips for students, organized in partnership with professional travel providers. The providers take care of the big details—like flights, hotels, meals, guides, and safety—while our teachers lead the learning side of the experience.

What is an Educational Travel Program?
An Educational Travel Program is more than just a trip. It’s an opportunity for students to step outside the classroom and experience history, culture, and language firsthand. Whether exploring another U.S. city or traveling abroad, students gain independence, confidence, and a deeper understanding of the world.

Why might families be interested?

Students experience hands-on learning tied to classroom topics.
Travel builds maturity, problem-solving, and independence.
Professional travel companies provide safety, structure, and support 24/7.
Payment plans and group arrangements make these experiences more accessible than traveling on your own.

👉 With multiple teachers sponsoring programs, families can choose from a variety of destinations and opportunities that best fit their student’s interests.

Here is a list of upcoming opportunities

Trips in 2026

Trips in 2027