Cougar News

Clint Small Middle School
Weekly Newsletter

Week of 10/04/26

Parent Info Center

Hello Smallville,

We had a fantastic week across campus. Our Cougars have been engaged, working hard, and bringing wonderful energy to the classrooms each day.

Looking ahead, Conference Day is coming up on October 12th. Partnering with you is key to your Cougar’'s success, so please keep an eye out for an email from your Cougar’s teachers with details on how to schedule your time.

We are also gearing up for one of our favorite events of the year which is our big Fall Fest! Mark your calendars for October 17th! Events like Fall Fest are vital to our campus, as the funds raised directly support our student initiatives, academic programs, and special campus projects throughout the year. Thank you in advance for your enthusiasm and support in making this event a success! 

I also want to pause and extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our unbelievable custodial team in honor of Custodial Appreciation Week. They work behind the scenes every single day to keep our school clean, safe, and welcoming for our students and staff. Next time you see them on campus, please join us in thanking them for all they do!

Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and enthusiasm. I hope you all have a restful weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone back bright and early on Monday!

Have a great weekend! 

Stay Present,
Bedford

 

Sm(F)all Fest 2026

Fall is officially here, and so is our favorite autumn tradition!

Get ready for Small Middle School’s annual Sm(f)all Fest! Join us for a day packed with games, delicious food, inflatables, local vendors, and fun for the whole family.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, October 17th

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: Small MS Track & Field

Pre-Order & Save with Sm(f)all Bundles!

Why wait in line when you can skip ahead and save money? This year, we’re offering special discounted Pumpkin & Ticket Bundles exclusively for online pre-orders.

How it works:

Order Online Now: Lock in your discounted bundle price before the event.

Fast Pick-Up: Grab your tickets and Pumpkin Coupons at the pre-order booth when you arrive.

Pick Your Pumpkin: Head over to our pumpkin patch during the fest to hand-pick your favorite pumpkin from the bundle!

👉 CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR BUNDLES TODAY

Bring your friends, family, and autumn spirit—we can't wait to see everyone on the field for a fantastic Sm(f)all Fest!

 
 

Represent Small at Austin High Maroon Night

AHS Future Maroon Night is Thursday 10/8 at House Park (no school 10/9!) and we are so excited to have our future Maroons run through the tunnel and cheer on the football team as they take on Dripping Springs! It is always an exciting night, celebrating with our Future Maroons! 

A few details to know before you go:

- Free parking is available in the ACC Rio Grande Parking Garage. 

- All adults must have a ticket for entry. You can purchase them here. 

- First 100 kids are free!

- House Park has a clear bag policy. 

- Students can check in at the table outside of House Park to get their sticker for entry. 

- Once students run through the tunnel, they can cheer on the team as they run out and then will be released to meet parents and watch the game. 

Looking forward to seeing you out there!

 

Recycling Bins Needed!

Small is short recycling bins for many of our classrooms and other areas.  Thank you so much to those of you that have send some to us. We can still use some more. Please help us out by donating 18 gallon, rectangular bins like the one in the flyer.  These can be ordered online and shipped directly to the school, or dropped off at the front office.  Thank you so much for your help!  Ms. Vauk and the PALS

 

Save the Date: Sm(F)all Fest is Coming!

We are planning our first big event of the year and would love your support! Sm(F)all Fest directly funds our teachers' activity accounts, giving them extra resources to enrich their classrooms and support our students.

How You Can Help

Sponsor or Refer a Sponsor: Partner with us or connect us with local businesses interested in supporting our school.

Volunteer: Lend a hand before, during, or after the event. Sign up toVolunteer Here

Donate Items - New things added: Pick a few supplies off our Amazon wish list and have them shipped directly to the school.New items added by the teachers this week to help support their booths. 

Every donation and sponsorship directly reduces our event expenses, ensuring more money goes straight into our teachers' classroom accounts.

Join Us on October 17th! Mark your calendars for October 17th, spread the word, bring the family, and pick up some beautiful pumpkins just in time for the Halloween season.

Questions? Email - Jennifer.Rich@austinisd.org - Thank you so much for your support!

 

Don’t Let May Bring Year-End FOMO!

Yearbook sales for the 2026–2027 school year are officially open—and every single year, we sell out completely!

Nothing hurts more in May than seeing classmates flipping through memories while your student goes home empty-handed. While books won't be distributed until the final two weeks of school, our order deadline closes much earlier, and extra copies will not be available for purchase at the end of the year.

Lock in your child’s copy today so they don't miss out on capturing this year's top moments, photos, and signatures!

👉 Order Your 2026–2027 Yearbook Here

 

Attention 8th Grade Families: Celebrate Your Graduating Student!

It’s hard to believe, but your student is officially in their final year at Small Middle School! You can commemorate their remarkable journey and celebrate all their hard work with a personal 8th Grade Recognition Ad in this year’s yearbook.

Send them off to high school with a special shoutout, favorite photos, and a heartfelt message they’ll cherish forever.

  • Submission Deadline: Create and order your ad by February 11, 2027.
  • How to Order: Scan the QR code in the graphic below or head straight to jostensadservice.com/student to pick your layout and payment options.

Space in the yearbook is limited, so don't wait to lock in your student's spot!

 

Cougar Athlete Information

Girls Basketball Try Outs

8th Grade Try-outs:

  • October 15th After school until 5:15 pm

7th Grade Try-outs

  • October 15th & 16th Before School 6:45 am - 8:00 am

Coming to the game?

New this year, you must purchase tickets online. We will NOT take cash at the door. If your student is coming to the game, please prepurchase thier tickets ahead of time. 

Click here or use the QR code below to pre-purchase your tickets. 

 

A few messages from our AMAZING PTA

WE HIT 400+ MEMBERS! 

Our 400+ member goal has officially been met—and we’re not stopping there!

PTA membership helps support our students, teachers, and the programs that make CSMS special. Every member makes a difference.

So… how high can we go? 

Join the Cougar community today! Scan the QR code or visit our website to become a member. https://sites.google.com/view/csms-pta/join

 

PTA MERCH SALES

THE COUGAR CAGE IS A HAPPENING! 

Those keyboard clickers are flying off the shelf, and the kiddos are OBSESSED. If your kid has suddenly asked for cash at lunch, now you know why.

Want to help keep the Cougar Cage stocked and casually appear in your middle schooler’s lunch period like you totally belong there?  

Volunteer at the Cougar Cage:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044DA5A92CA0F5C34-64948583-cougar#/

Want to help us keep the shelves stocked with things students love? Check out our Amazon Wishlist! You guessed it, we need more 4-button clickers and anything that’s cool!

Shop our Wishlist:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3P00T28AAQ0WS?ref_=wl_share

Every donation helps us keep the Cougar Cage fun! 

THE NO HASSLE FUNDRAISER IS HERE! 

WE’RE AT $2,680! Our No Hassle Fundraiser is off to a great start, and we’re so grateful for our Smallville community! Our goal is $10,000, and there’s still plenty of time to help us get there. No selling, baking, or collecting orders—just donate if you’re able!

Every dollar helps support classroom needs, technology, campus improvements, staff appreciation, field trips, library support, and more. If you’re able, we suggest a $50 donation, but any amount makes a difference. Thank you for supporting Clint Small!

Donate today and help us reach our goal! https://my.cheddarup.com/c/clint-small-middle-school-no-hassle-fundraiser-2026-2027/items 

 

HOODIE PRESALE PICKUP STARTS 9/30

The hoodies arrived this week!  If you ordered one of the styles that has arrived, your hoodie is ready for pickup at the Cougar Cage during lunch! Design 2 hoodies are on the way and expected to arrive NEXT WEEK. We’ll have those orders ready for pickup as soon as they arrive! All orders are pre-labeled with your student’s name and grade to make pickup quick and easy.

Questions? Email communications@clintsmallmspta.org.

Please note: The front office cannot hold PTA hoodie orders. For questions or assistance, please contact the PTA—we’ve got you! 

 
 

PTA AdvocacyMessages

 

🍁 FALL FEST IS COMING! GET INVOLVED! 🍁

We’re officially kicking off the planning for our first big event of the year... Fall Fest! Save the date for Oct. 17th 10AM - 2 PM. We need YOU to help make it an unforgettable community event!

Whether you own a local business, love connecting with people, or just want to lend a hand, there are plenty of ways to jump in right now:

  • Sponsor the Event: Is your business able to help cover event expenses? We have several sponsorship packages available to showcase your brand! Become a Sponsor here!Become a Sponsor here!
  • Become a Sponsor Recruiter: Know a business that would be a great fit? Help us reach out and connect with potential sponsors. Send them this link: https://2026-small-fall-fest-sponsors-copy.cheddarup.com
  • Host a Vendor Booth: Do you run a local business, shop, or service that would love to set up a booth and connect directly with festival attendees?
  • Join the Planning Committee: Have great ideas and love event organizing? We’d love your voice at the table!

Ready to help? Email Jennifer Rich jennifer.rich@austinisd.org today to get connected or to receive an invite to our next virtual planning committee meeting!

Let’s build something amazing together!

 

Cougars around the world

GLOBAL COUGARS FLY 2027

E N R O L L M E N T  I S  O P E N !

Dear Families,

Ready to see the world with us? Enrollment is NOW OPEN for three incredible Global Cougars Fly 2027 adventures!

EGYPT & THE NILE CRUISE — SPRING BREAK 2027

Pyramids of Giza | Sphinx | King Tut | Nile Cruise
Valley of the Kings | Luxor | Karnak | Grand Egyptian Museum

ENROLL:
https://acis.com/tripsite-trip-overview/?key=MjAyN3wyNzg4


JAPAN — SUMMER 2027

TECHNOLOGY | INNOVATION | CULTURE
Tokyo | Robotics | Bullet Train | Japanese Culture | Mt. Fuji

ENROLL:
https://www.eftours.com/2969590SJ


THE ALPS & MEDITERRANEAN — SUMMER 2027

SWITZERLAND | ITALY | FRANCE | SPAIN
Swiss Alps | Alpine Lakes | Cinque Terre | Monaco | Provence | Barcelona

ENROLL:
https://www.eftours.com/3024072NV


200+ TRAVELERS. FOUR CONTINENTS. AND COUNTING.

Global Cougars Fly is Small Middle School’s long-standing international travel program. More than 200 students and family members have traveled with us across Europe, Asia, Australia and South America.

WHO CAN TRAVEL?
Incoming, current and graduating Small MS students are welcome — and family members can travel with us, too!

SPOTS ARE LIMITED. Current enrollment discounts have deadlines, so don’t wait too long to claim your adventure!

EGYPT. JAPAN. THE SWISS ALPS & MEDITERRANEAN.Where will 2027 take YOU?

Mrs. Early

mariel.early@austinisd.org
Small Middle School
Global Cougars Fly International Travel Program

Other Travel Opportunities

Family

Clint Small Middle School

Home of the Cougars and the Green Tech Academy!

Email: jennifer.rich@austinisd.org
Website: https://small.austinschools.org/
Location: 4801 Monterey Oaks Boulevard, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: 512-841-6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057069836221