Hello Smallville! 

I hope you had an enjoyable week! I’m excited about all the upcoming events and the opportunity to continue building on our successes. September 15th marked the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. To kick off our celebration, we are thrilled about our upcoming Noche Latina Dance, taking place next Friday. We can’t wait to see our Cougars at the dance connecting, celebrating, and having fun!

Next week, we will also be honoring our incredible Teacher Assistants during Teacher Assistant Appreciation Week. Our TAs work tirelessly to support our students, often behind the scenes, ensuring our classrooms run smoothly. We encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize their hard work, whether that’s through a simple thank you, a note of appreciation, or just a kind word. 

It’s more important than ever to prioritize mental and emotional health. Encouraging our Cougars, and ourselves, to take moments of pause, practice self-care, and stay present in the small joys can help us maintain a sense of balance. Whether it’s spending time together as a family, enjoying a peaceful moment outdoors, or simply focusing on what we can control, staying connected to the good around us can provide much needed comfort and resilience.

Let’s continue to support one another and enjoy our daily successes! Friendly reminder that students do not have school on Monday and Tuesday. 

Have an amazing weekend!

Stay Present,
Bedford

If this took you by surprise, bookmark any these calendar resources

• AISD Calendar

• Small A/B Calendar

• Small Parent Website Calendar

Below you will find a copy of our 2022-23 School Report Card, along with some helpful definitions to help make sense of the report.

This report is put together by the Texas Education Agency, and the state requires us to send it to every parent or guardian of a student in a Texas public school. It has a lot of information to help you see how our school is doing. 

Reminder this fundraiser is a no refund event

🍎 Apply Now for Free or Reduced-Price Meals

Families, we encourage you to complete a meal application for the 2024–25 school year if your student attends one of the eligible schools.

✅ Only one application is needed per household
✅ A new application must be submitted every school year
✅ Eligibility is based on household size and income—please list all household members for accuracy

Important: Students can continue receiving last year’s benefits only until October 1, 2024 (or until a new application is processed).

How to Apply:

• 💻 Online (fastest & preferred): Create an account and apply at www.SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD

• 📩 Email: Download and complete an English or Spanish application, then send to foodservicebusinesssupport@austinisd.org

• 📝 Paper Applications: Available in your school’s front office

For more information, please call 512-414-0251.

Completing an application ensures every student has access to healthy meals and also helps bring valuable resources to our campus.

Online: Create an account and apply at www.SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD. 

• Paper Application: Available from the school office.  Fully complete, sign, and return to the school. 

• PDF: English or Spanish. Complete and email to foodservicebusinesssupport@austinisd.org.

Please remember the following when completing a meal application: 

• Complete only ONE application per family/household.

• Be sure to include ALL members of your household.

• An adult signature is required. 

• Please include the last four digits of your social security number.  If you do not have a social security number, please check the box stating, “Check if no SSN”. 

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As we move through the school year, many students benefit from extra support in building strong study habits. Study skills are more than just homework routines—they include time management, organization, note-taking, test preparation, and self-advocacy. These skills help students feel more confident and capable in the classroom.

Here are a few ways you can support your child at home:

• Create a consistent study schedule that includes short breaks and time for review.

• Help organize materials—binders, folders, and digital files—so your child can easily find what they need.

• Encourage active learning strategies like summarizing notes, teaching concepts to someone else, or using flashcards.

• Promote self-advocacy by encouraging your child to ask questions and seek help when needed.

• Support balance by making time for rest, movement, and social connection.
  

Our counseling team is here to help! If your child is struggling with study habits or academic confidence, we’re happy to meet with them and offer personalized strategies.

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time dedicated to breaking stigma, spreading hope, and connecting people to life-saving resources. It’s not just about raising awareness—it’s about fostering real conversations and building a culture of compassion and support. For guidance on how to support your child around the topic of suicide, this link offers helpful insights and resources.

🍂🎃 We Need Your Help to Make Fall Fest Amazing! 🎃🍂

As many of you know, the current district budget deficit has affected our school in a lot of small (but important!) ways. Things the district used to cover are no longer funded—so if we want to keep them, we have to raise the money ourselves.

That’s where Fall Fest comes in! 💛

This fundraiser directly supports every department that participates—Math, Science, Language Arts, Life Skills, Art, Library, Green, and more. The more successful the event, the more money goes right back into classrooms and programs that support your kids. 🙌

✨ How you can help:

• 🎃 Join us Oct. 4 | 10–2 → Buy pumpkins, play games, enjoy food & fun! Tell your friends this is a community event. Presales OPEN NOW, buy your Pumpkins and Tickets TODAY!

• 💪 Volunteer → Help run booths, games, or activities. Sign-up Here

• 🛒 Shop our Amazon Wishlist → Donate prizes & supplies to keep our costs low. https://a.co/5YBeYaP

• 🌟 Be a Big Sponsor → Cover the cost of pumpkins, an inflatable, or other big-ticket items to make the event a success. https://clint-small-fall-fest-saturday-oct-4th-10-am-2-pm-c.cheddarup.com

Every bit of support—big or small—makes a huge difference. Together, we can make this the best Fall Fest yet and give our kids the resources they deserve.

👉 Want to sponsor or learn more? Click the links above, or Email us at president@clintsmallmspta.org.

Let’s do this, Small families! 💚

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!

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!

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

• Costa Rica - Spring Break 2026

• Spain - Summer 2026

• Japan - Summer 2026

• Italy & Greece - Summer 2026

Trips in 2027

• SOUTH KOREA Summer 2027

• PORTUGAL Spring Break 2027

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