A Letter from Ms. Bedford

Hello, Smallville!

Hope you had an amazing week! I want to send a huge shout-out to our amazing front office team. Ms. Reding, Ms. Del Favaro, Ms. Sanchez, Ms. Susaita, Ms. Dougherty, Ms. Ramirez, and Ms. Newell are the heartbeats of our campus. Whether they’re greeting families, answering questions, managing attendance, or jumping in wherever help is needed, they do it all with kindness, professionalism, and a smile. They are incredibly responsive, positive, and go above and beyond every single day to keep Smallville running smoothly. We are so lucky to have them!

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, there is still so much to look forward to! Splash Fest is right around the corner, and we’re gearing up for one of our most fun-filled traditions. This event is always a favorite among students and staff alike, and we can’t wait to celebrate the end of a great year with a little water, sun, and Smallville spirit.

Spring also means field trip season is in full swing! Our students are getting the chance to explore, learn, and connect with new experiences beyond the classroom. Be sure to check in with your students’ teachers for any permission slips or important reminders related to their upcoming trips.

Mentioning field trips, I want to thank our librarian, Ms. Sylvia, for moving forward with applying for an amazing opportunity for our campus. Our entire 6th-grade class has been awarded a very special opportunity to attend a presentation by authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft! These two acclaimed writers will be speaking about their new book J vs. K, and our students will get to hear directly from them about their creative process and the power of storytelling. We are so grateful for this unique moment to inspire and engage our Cougar readers.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Our students thrive because they are part of a community that believes in them, uplifts them, and celebrates their successes every step of the way.

Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Stay present, Cougars,
Bedford

Student SplashFest Annimation

New Splashfest Sponsor

We want to send a huge shout out to our new Sponsor for SplashFest. Thank you Bala Smiles Orthodontists!

SplashFest Raffle

WOW! Our Splashfest raffle is really coming alive. Here is a list of all the amazing things our parents have donated for our kids to win! The kids will play games like:

Basket toss (Nurse's Team)
Spin It To Win It (504 Team)
Pie in the Face (ELA Team)
Cup race (ELA Team)
Knock the Tower Down (Cheer)
Human Slot Machine (Texas History Team)
Beat the Dealer (Math Team)
Ring Toss (Science)
Guess the teacher Baby picture (History)
Chicken Poop Bingo (Green Team)

You can also get free Raffle tickets in the online bundles to increase your chances to win!

Other Booths

You might not win raffle tickets, but you can have fun at other booths at SplashFest, Booths like...

Spin Art (Scores Team)
Astrological forecasting (Dual Language Team)
Temporary Tattoos (ESL Team)
Karaoke (Theater)
Face Painting (Counseling Team)
Color Hair Spray (Science)
Hair Tinsel (NJHS)
Bracelet Making (Bracelet Making)
Ugly Portrait drawing (Art Team)

Food

We have lots of food options as well. Some of them they need Cash for the rest they will need Concession tickets. Buy the tickets with the wristbands at https://my.cheddarup.com/c/splashfest-2024-wristbands-tickets-copy/items.

Kona Icc (cash only)
DonutNV Donut Truck (Hot Donuts, Cold Lemonade (cash only)
Tacos and Mexican Corn Cups (Concession Tickets) - Dual Language Team
Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Pickles (Concession Tickets) - Ms Ana and Security team
Snacks and Drinks (Concession Tickets - PTA
Cupcakes and sweets (concession Tickets) - Life Skills Team
Cookies from Love and Cookies

Inflatables and Activities

Sponsored by Bala Smiles :) If you are not busy playing the games or doing the activities you can play on all the interactive inflatables and slides...

Wet spiderman Obsticle — Spiderman Water Obstacle

Volunteers

We are still looking for volunteers to help run booths, supervise inflatables, setup, clean up and just be around for all the fun. If you can help out, sign up here:

Sign up to Volunteer at the event or during lunches next week
- Splashfest Ticket Sales Sign Up
- Splashfest Event Sign Up

Get your Wristbands, Tickets and Waterproof Pouches

Here are more Splashfest details

Students purchase wristbands, which provide unlimited access to games, booths, and inflatables. Tickets are for food concessions. Raffle tickets are to win prizes. Students may want to bring cash on the day to buy additional tickets and purchase food from some food vendors. Save money with bundles!

We also have waterproof cell phone pouches for sale for $5!

Get Wristbands On-Line and/or During lunches

Starting this week, we will be selling wristbands, tickets and pouches during all 3 lunches all 5 days. Students can also get in line to pick-up their online orders. I suggest the kids pick up earlier in the week - by Friday will be crazy. The lines get very long by the end of the week purchase and pick up early!

Wristbands and Tickets ON-SALE NOW!
Bundle and Save On-Line Only

Or you can just buy what you need ala carte:

$20 - Wristbands - Unlimited games, booths, inflatables, and activities
$1 - Concession Tickets - Needed for carnival concession food and drinks
$5 - (3) Raffle Tickets - You can purchase raffle tickets - or win them by playing games and doing activities
$5 - Water Proof Phone Pouch - Big enough to hold cell phone, tickets, and extra money
Donation - Donations go towards gifting wristbands to students who can't afford them. (If you need financial help buying your wristband, please fill out a form in the counseling office to request a scholarship)

FAQ:

Who can come to Splash Fest? Anyone! All 6th, 7th & 8th graders are welcome. We also encourage incoming 5th graders and other supervised siblings to come.
How do we get our wristbands? Students pick up wristbands and other purchases during lunch the week of the festival - or at the festival ticket table
What do the kids wear? Many, but not all activities are wet. Kids may wear their bathing suits, but we ask them to wear a t-shirt and shorts. Many students wear clothes they don't mind getting wet. Bring a towel and sunscreen - and water shoes are recommended for foot safety
Where do they put their backpacks? Students leave their backpacks in the 8th grade hallway after school
What about cell phones? The best thing is to keep phones in their backpacks. If they want their phones with them, we have waterproof cell phone pouches for sale for $5.00. They're great for keeping phones safe and big enough to hold tickets and extra money
What if it rains? Splashfest is a rain or shine event. The only way we would cancel or postpone if the forecast looks dangerous or too cold.
What time do I pick up my student? Splashfest will be over at 6:30 pm.
How can I support Splash Fest?
- VOLUNTEER!!! We need a lot of adult supervision, sign up to volunteer today! We also need volunteers the week before to help distribute and sell wristbands.
  - Splashfest Ticket Sales Sign Up
  - Splashfest Event Sign Up
- Donate a Raffle Item: We would love to have a lot of different prizes for the kids to win. Please go to our Amazon Wishlist to donate something for the kids to win
- Sponsor: The less it costs for us to put on this event, the more funds for the school departments and clubs that participate. See our sponsor page to learn more about how you or your small business can help.

No Refunds - This event is Rain or Shine!

Last Beauty and the Beast Performance

Our Musical Beauty and the Beast has been postponed until Tuesday May 6th. Come on down and be our guest!

Athletic Parent meeting

Join us this Thursday, May 8th, at 6pm in the gym. For our 2025-2026 Parent Meeting -We will be going over physicals and athletic class/team expectations.

Track Results

7th grade girls 3rd place in Zone

1st place 4x100 time of 53.85: Mila Ruiz, Sofie Rocha, Jane Cox, Charlie Butterworth

3rd place 100m dash 13.86- Charlie Butterworth

5th place 100m dash 14.22- Mila Ruiz

2nd place 4x200 time of 1:57.06: Sara Shah, Sofie Rocha, Jane Cox, Charlie Butterworth

2nd place 300 H 56.28- Edie Shumaker

3rd place 4x400 4:45.13- Sara Shah, Sofie Rocha, Charlotte Robinson, Indica Morton

2nd place high jump 4-4 Abigail Freeman

4th place Discus 58-7 Indica Morton

8th grade girls 1st place in ZONE

1st place in all 3 RELAYS!

4x100 51.95, new school record: Cara Sustaita, Natalia Rocha, Ella Gray, Grace Stafford

4x200 1:52.27, a new school record: Cara Sustaita, Lulu Welch-Steerterlin, Ella Gray, Grace Stafford

4x400 4:22.73: Lulu Welch-Steerterlin, Natalia Rocha, Ella Gray, Grace Stafford

1st place 100H 17.87 Merwa Ali

1st place 100m Dash 13.24 Cara Sustaita

4th place 100m Dash 13.90 Natalia Rocha

1st place 300H, new school record: 49.94 Merwa Ali

2nd place 200m Dash: 29.49 Ella Strolle

3rd place 200m Dash: 29.71 Merwa Ali

1st in High Jump, tied the school record: 4-8 Grace Stafford

3rd in High Jump: 4-4 Izzy Murillo

5th in Long Jump: 13-10 Olivia Youngblood

4th in High Jump: 4-4 Cara Sustaita

1st in Shot Put 30-0 Caylee Chenoweth

2nd in Shot Put 28-7.50 Charlotte Jansen

2nd in Discus: 69-6 Olivia Youngblood

4th in Discus: 67-9 Charlotte Jansen

Attention Current 6th Graders

Parents of 6th graders,

This is a reminder to make sure you start early to get an appointment at your doctor’s office for immunizations for the 7th grade school year (SY ’25-’26). The vaccines you will need are T-dap and meningococcal. These are required by Texas State law for students to be up to date with their immunizations coming into 7th grade. Once your student has received these vaccines, please submit the immunization record either via email or paper copy to the school nurse at Small Middle school. Thank you!

Immunization Requirements Quick Reference: 2025-2026 School Year Seventh Grade

3 doses of DPT, DTaP, DT, Td, Tdap with one dose given on/after the 4th birthday.
1 dose of Tdap is required within the last 5 years. (Td acceptable if pertussis is contraindicated)
3 doses of Polio with one on/after 4th birthday
2 doses of MMR with first dose on/after the 1st birthday
2 doses of Hepatitis A
3 doses of Hepatitis B*
2 doses of Varicella on/after 1st birthday (if the child has NOT had chickenpox)
1 dose of Meningococcal (MCV4 or MenACWY) on / after the 11th birthday**

You also have the right to be exempt from vaccines with the proof of an affidavit to be turned in every 2 years to the school nurse.

Vaccination records can be turned in at the front office or emailed or faxed to the school nurse.

Erin Clifford, BSN, RN (she/her)
School Nurse
Small Middle School
phone: (512) 414-1543
Fax: (512) 841-6745
erin.clifford@austinisd.org

Award winning PTA news

May Events

We have two events happening on May 13 to wrap up the year!

5:30pm Final PTA Meeting- let's celebrate the end of a great year!

6:00pm Family Education Talk- Managing Difficult Feelings: Practical Insights from Inside Out presented by Dr. Mandy Menzer. Both caregivers and kids are invited to attend this event, or as Dr. Menzer said, "Anyone Riley's age or older." There will be free pizza provided for everyone in attendance!

Thank you, NXP!

Each year NXP, a local semiconductor manufacturer, provides community impact grants to support organizations aligned to their core focus areas. CSMS PTA was the recipient of one of these grants with a focus on STEM in education. We are grateful for their generous donation that will allow us to purchase equipment and resources to support student needs! Thanks, NXP!

🎉 Exciting News: Yearbooks Are Now On Sale!

Don’t miss your chance to secure your very own yearbook—pre-purchase yours today! You have two easy options:

Buy Online: $40!
Cash or Check: Have your student bring payment to Mr. Shoptaw in room 300.

Our yearbooks are super popular and always sell out! Don’t wait until May to get yours—avoid disappointment and pre-order now! Remember, we only print enough for those who pre-purchase, plus a few extras, which means getting one later is nearly impossible.

Make memories last—grab your yearbook today! 📚✨

Smallville Travel Section

ENROLLMENT is NOW OPEN! Enroll with $95 to reserve your spot!

**Enroll by Sept. 22nd for $200 off.

*Repeat travelers, as usual, add an extra $100 off.

🇬🇷🇮🇹 GREECE & ITALY WEBSITE & ENROLLMENT: https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2817051TA

🇯🇵 JAPAN WEBSITE & ENROLLMENT: https://www.eftours.com/tour-website/2805919DV

Affordable bi-weekly or monthly plans.
Want to save up and pay in lump sums as you go? You can choose to do that too.
Free personal fundraising page for your student!
Earn $1,000 EF scholarship!

These two itineraries were picked with a lot of thought put into them. Students (and adults!) will get to see so many iconic places on tour, including a great number of World Heritage Sites. The hands-on experiences chosen are great as well, the landmarks we'll visit, and the sights you'll see are all world-class: From the Island of Capri "faraglione" to the Acropolis, to swimming on Heraklion beaches in Crete, to stepping on Kyoto's most amazing temple - a national treasure itself, to visiting technology museums in Tokyo and Japanese gardens in Osaka, walking in the steps of Gladiators in the Colosseum and Roman Forum, or learning about how Pompeii got buried in ashes with Mount Vesuvius in the background, or stepping into Delphi and learning about oracles in Greece, it's going to be amazing!

Reach out any time with any and all questions, or to schedule a chat!

Mariel Early

mariel.early@austinisd.org

512-841-6700 Ext. 70774 / Conference: 2:30-4:00 pm