Austin High School

QUICK LINKS

The English I STAAR EOC is April 20. The English 2 STAAR EOC is April 22.

Link to Full Page Calendar

Principal's Report - April 16, 2021 General Update
Principal's Report - March/April Update

Want some good news? In Austin, the positivity rate is significantly lower on our campuses than it is in the community at large. It’s not us saying it. The data tells us that Austin classrooms are safe, so I wanted to send you a quick invitation:

We’d love to see your child back in class for the next six weeks.

We’re still following CDC guidelines. We’re still masking and practicing social distancing, and the children are handling it like champs. You should also know that every single teacher and staff member at this school and every other school in Austin ISD has had the vaccinations made available to them. And as long as this lasts, we’re going to keep following CDC guidelines.
We all know that when it comes to learning, the room beats the Zoom. Classroom instruction is better for teachers, better for students, and better, in many cases, for you, their parents. With six weeks left, the classroom is where your child can do the most good with the time left in the school year, and there is a spot in a classroom waiting for your child right now.
We saw how everyone struggled over the last year--teachers, students, and parents. The work you did to make virtual learning work over the last year was nothing short of heroic. And you did all that work to get to this point right now, when classrooms can safely accommodate more children for more enriching experiences.
There are six weeks left in the school year. Six weeks to finish strong. Six weeks to better prepare for next year. After the last 12 months, we can’t afford to waste the next six weeks.

And besides, we miss your child. 

SPRING SEMESTER UPDATES

SENIORS:

Graduation is scheduled for June 1 at 2:00 pm @HousePark. For seniors, semester exams will take place prior to May 25 so that averages can be calculated and credit certified for graduation.
Seniors will attend Senior Salutes by academy and a graduation practice the week of May 24-28. We will include updates on our Senior Webpage.
Mark your calendars! The Class of 2021 Booster Club is planning a car parade, scheduled for Sunday, May 23. More information coming soon to our senior page linked to our main website. This is a community event and we look forward to our entire community coming out to support the Austin HS Class of 2021!
A combination of prom and project graduation is also being planned by our Class of 2021 Booster Club. More information coming soon to our Senior Webpage.

End-Of-Course (EOC) testing dates in April:

English I will test on 4/20
English II will test on 4/22.
EOC exams are required for graduation (per TEA) and students are encouraged to take the EOC exams during the semester they are enrolled in the course. Online testing will be administered on site (at home testing is not optional for EOC). For families who elect to delay testing this spring due to COVID, students will be required to test in the summer or fall of 2021. Algebra I, US History, and Biology EOC exam dates in May will be posted soon.
We encourage students in the courses below to take the EOC exams during the enrolled semester. We recently updated our testing procedures for safety by scheduling no more than 15 students per testing room with an option to eat lunch in an open spaced, monitored, and socially distanced area. For those not reporting on site for ELA I or ELA II, a summer (p. 4) or fall (p. 1) option is available as determined by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). As a reminder, students must pass five EOC exams to meet graduation requirements. For more information, about the 4/20 and 4/22 EOC testing days, click here.

SAT EXAM ON APRIL 13, 2021

Juniors will take the SAT while 9th/10th grade students review for EOC exams. A modified bell schedule will be posted to our website with afternoon classes (B day). Seniors will use the morning for college and career readiness, including virtual college visits. Attendance links will be sent to families through SchoolMessenger (parent email) and Naviance (student email).

PTSA PARENT EDUCATION SERIES

Please join us on March 30th for our next Parent Education Series, A Discussion about Teen Substance Abuse & Preventing Addiction, at 6 pm via Zoom. Click here for more information.

WELLNESS SUPPORT

Our counseling team is available to help should your family need support during this difficult time. Click here for wellness information, including school and community resources.

PTSA ALL-IN FUNDRAISER 2021

The PTSA is still accepting donations for their All InExcellence Fundraiser. You can find out more about how to support the PTSA who provides resources for our school by clicking here.

AISD COMMUNITY EVENT WITH DR. ELIZALDE

AISD is hosting a series of virtual Conversations with the District to connect with families, staff, and school communities. These sessions will be an opportunity to meet Dr. Elizalde and her leadership team and to learn more about the AISD 2020-25 Strategic Plan and 2021-22 budget process. Sessions will be divided by vertical team or feeder high school, and two dedicated Spanish-only sessions will also be offered to all those who wish to attend. AISD Fliers: Click here for English. Click here for Spanish.

READ SPECIFIC DETAILS ABOUT RETURNING TO CAMPUS HERE.

4/20 English I (B day)
4/22 English II (B day)

5/5--US history (A-day)
5/6--Biology (B day)
5/12--Algebra I (A day)

KAHS News - Episode #2 - Feb 2020 from Austin High School Media Arts on Vimeo.

KAHS News covers what's happening in the community during the pandemic. They look into how movie theaters, small businesses, Austin Animal Center and musicians are coping with so many changes.

CLUBS & ELECTIVES

Model UN Win Awards

The Austin High Model UN team competed in the Headwaters Conference. The following delegates brought home awards for Austin High:

Aidan Acuna--Honorable Delegate
Coleman Cochran--Honorable Delegate
Arden Luthy--Honorable Delegate
Nathaniel Fagelson--Outstanding Delegate
Emile Smith--Best Delegate
James Crosnoe--Best Delegate

PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS WIN BIG

Photography students are got their shots. The camera-kind, not the COVID-19 kind! Congrats to all the students for continuing to perfect their craft in the face of a global pandemic.
Scholastic Photography Winner

Mary Abby Goss – Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention

ATPI Fall Photo Competition

Mary Abby Goss - HM Advanced Digitally Constructed Image, 2nd Place Advanced Fashion, First HM Advanced Fashion, HM Advanced Formal Studio Portrait, HM Advanced Informal Environmental Portrait, HM Advanced Nature, HM Advanced Open, HM Advanced Portfolio, First HM Advanced Sports Action, HM Advanced Still Life, HM Advanced Time Exposure
Izzy Krause - HM Advanced Travel
Rowan Dooldeniya - HM Beginner Architecture/Cityscape, HM Beginner Portfolio, HM Still Life
Isabella Boulware - First HM Still Life

PTSA Reflections Photography Winners

Claire Foucher & Emily Achtermann

TEACHERS & STAFF

ART EDUCATORS OF THE DECADE!

You read that right! The decade, not just the year. Annie and Billy Dragoo Named Art Educators of the Decade by Broadway World. Read more information about this honor: https://www.smore.com/s56zw

ACADEMICS

U.I.L. Academics

🎉Congratulations to Bella Pjecha🎉 Bella got 2nd in Biology at the District U.I.L. competition & will be advancing to Regionals at UTSA!!

FINE ARTS

Red Dragon Players

The Austin High Theatre Department advanced to the Region Contest. For those interested in our history, this is the 45th time Austin High has advanced to this level of the UIL One-Act Play Contest. We believe this is a state record and is definitely the best record in Austin ISD. The Region Contest is April 14 & 15 at Harlingen South High School.
Individual Awards Winners were as follows.

Outstanding Technician: Sadie Dragoo
Honorable Mention All-Star Cast: Katherine Holmes
All-Star Cast: Lili Coovrey & Pearl Phillips
Outstanding Performer (formerly best actor): Rand Whitfield

Congrats to Serenna McPhail and Lindsey Alexander for their State Qualifying Theatrical Designs. This is the second year in a row that Austin High Students have advanced to this competition.

Serenna qualified in Costume Design
Lindsey qualified in Set Design

ATHLETICS

SENIOR ATHLETES COMMIT TO COLLEGE

Football

Abrion Boudreaux - Trinity Valley Community College
Harrison Donovan - Washington and Lee University
Charles Wright - University of Texas

Soccer

Audrey Davis - Northwestern Oklahoma State

Softball

Jayda Lafluer - St. Edward's University
Lexie Aleman - Concordia University
Heaven Medina - New Mexico Highlands University
Karina Serna - Alvin Community College

Volleyball

DeAndra Pierce - University of Texas