Accomplishments

FUNDRAISING	Raising over $100,000 of extra funds to support our school each academic year
	Hosting the annual fall Round Up carnival, our main PTA fundraiser and OHMS community building event
	Providing staff members with a stipend to cover supplies and curriculum needed for their classrooms
	Fulfilling staff Wish List requests in the fall for the current school year
	Hosting a spring golf tournament and after-party, building connections between staff and parents
	Creating school spirit wear to foster school pride
	Funding special requests on an as needed basis throughout the school year
SUPPORT	Providing numerous volunteer opportunities to help parents get involved and support their student’s middle school experience
	Coordinating with OHMS administration and staff to welcome families at the beginning of the school year through Middle School 101, Derby Day, and Back to School Night
	Hosting 4 PTA meetings along with wellness speakers throughout the school year
	Leading efforts to maintain and improve our buildings and grounds
	Supporting staff morale with monthly luncheons and breakfast treats
	Providing office and library volunteers daily, saving the school thousands of dollars each year in salaries
	Providing volunteers for the Mustang Mall so students can purchase spirit wear and school supplies at lunch
	Planning multiple cultural and academic enrichment events each school year
	Coordinating with the OHMS administration to recognize honor roll students each six weeks
	Hosting prospective parent events to welcome new families to OHMS
	Planning 8th grade activities to celebrate their final year at OHMS
COMMUNICATION	Maintaining the PTA website, marquee, and school directory along with contributing to the weekly Pony Express to support communications between the school and parents
	Facilitating partnerships and communication with the Austin High vertical team

TESTIMONIALS

“Sometimes middle school parents feel like their kids don’t want them up at school or there are not many opportunities to get involved like in elementary school. The O. Henry PTA provides a variety of ways to support our school and stay involved in your child’s education. Stay involved even if your child rolls their eyes at you for being there … you are sending a powerful message that their school is important!”

7th Grade Parent

“I love having PTA parent volunteers in our front office, screening visitors, fielding phone calls and being a part of our office family.”

Tim TierneyOHMS Attendance Specialist

“I love the OHMS PTA because they are friendly, welcoming and supportive of our kids in all ways.”

6th Grade Parent

“Due to the amazing support of our PTA, we are able to serve our students in so many ways. They support us in our Annual College and Career Fair, our counseling initiatives to help motivate our students to do their best in class, and help us support the Whole Child.”

Amy TurnerOHMS Counselor

“My kids love getting to see performances at school by amazing artists such as Blue Lapis Light aerial dancers and Outspoken Bean, an award-winning slam poet. It means a lot to me that the OHMS PTA supports the arts in our students’ educational experience.”

8th Grade Parent

“Because so many parents donate via the PTA to the library, we are able to buy more copies of the books your students want to read! We need to capture the reading excitement when it happens … when parents, teachers, and students buy books at our author visits, we are able to keep bringing the rock star writers to O. Henry via BookPeople. THANK YOU!”

Sara StevensonOHMS Librarian

“The PTA gave us money for new classroom computers in our history classrooms. These new laptops were the breath of fresh air that we needed to fully invest in technological innovation in our classrooms. As the district pushes new uses for technology, these new laptops helped our students take the needed steps in that direction!”

Michael Shackelford8th Grade U.S. History

“We are SO grateful for the PTA. In photojournalism and yearbook, we strive for a 1:1 student to technology ratio and the PTA has helped us get closer to that. With the help of the PTA, we now have four Mac laptops, which give students experience using technology that photographers use in the real world. We now also have enough cameras in the classroom for every student to get hands on experience.”

Francesca SimoniteYearbook and Photojournalism Teacher

“When my older daughter started sixth grade at O. Henry, I couldn’t believe how active the PTA was! There are so many opportunities to get involved in this special community. I have volunteered during lunch at the Mustang Mall, been involved in the Coffee Angels program, helped teachers with afternoon tutorials, served on the Round Up Committee, and helped support the many sports teams on which my daughter played.

I encourage all families to get involved! You’ll not only make lasting friends, but also you’ll help fulfill the teachers’ wish lists and amazing field trip opportunities that enrich every student’s three years at O. Henry.”

8th Grade Parent

“The You Are Loved mural would not be possible without the support of the PTA. Everyone is welcome at O. Henry no matter where you come from, your skin color, who you love, your gender, your religion, or your resident status. Students, faculty and community members helped design, create tiles, mosaic and grout this mural that was dedicated to Karen Aidman for her service to the O.Henry community.”

Wanda MontemayorOHMS Counselor

“As the O.Henry Cheerleading program has grown to be a nationally competitive squad, the PTA has been instrumental in that growth! Last year, they bought us a complete floor of tumbling mats to help our cheerleaders stay safe while learning new and more difficult stunts and skills. This year, they bought us new pom poms to help us look sharp and professional at our national-level competitions!”

Michael ShackelfordCheerleading Coach

O. Henry Middle School PTA
2610 West 10th Street
Austin, TX 78703 USA
512-414-3229
ohenrypta@ohenrypta.org