Athlos Leadership Academy Wells Branch Leadership Academy

The Howl Of The Wolf Pack

Re Enrollment: It’s time to re-enroll for the 2016-2017 school year.

[Date]

Parent Newsletter January 11,2016

Time: 6:00 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.

Where: Athlos Gym

Join us for an evening of fun and fitness. Wear athletic shoes and attire and be ready to move! Join our Sports Performance Coaches for a night of athletic conditioning and see what a regular day in gym class looks like!

Wednesday, January 27th

Family Fitness Night

Re enrollment for current students will be January 15th -31st. Enrollment information, letters and forms will be sent home with all students on Friday, January 15th. All students will need to complete an on-line application and return the 2016-2017 enrollment form to Gala Myer @ WBLA or your child’s homeroom/advisory teacher @ Athlos by Friday, January 29th to secure a spot for the upcoming school year. The online application can be accessed at www.athlosaustin.org.

Exciting changes for the 2016-

2017 school year: WBLA is working

to become a Leader In Me School and

Athlos will be adding Pre AP classes using

the Springboard program. For more

information, please visit

springboardprogram.collegeboard.org.

Inclement Weather Protocol: If we should experience inclement weather, we will always follow the decisions made by Round Rock ISD. If they decide to delay or cancel classes, we will too. Please use your discretion and watch the news!

2

Tuesday, Jan. 12th MS Girls @ 5:30 HS Boys @ 6:30

Friday, Jan. 15th MS Girls @ 5:30 MS Boys @ 6:30

Tuesday, Jan. 19th HS Boys @ 5: 30

Announcements for Athlos Campus:

January at a glance:

1

Sports Schedule Upcoming home basketball games:

Friday, Jan. 15th End of the nine weeks. Re-enrollment begins.

Monday, Jan. 18th

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. staff/student holiday. School is closed

Tuesday, Jan. 19th

Principals’ Coffee: 9:00 a.m. @ Athlos Cafeteria Come out and chat face to face with the principals.

Friday, Jan. 22nd Report cards and important T.E.A. documents go home.

Wednesday, Jan. 27th

Family Fitness Night! Wear athletic shoes. 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 29th January student of the month recognition: 7:50 a.m.- WBLA gym.

Monday, Feb. 1st

Driveline starts! Athlos Awards Assemblies 2nd grade 1:30 - cafeteria 3rd grade 2:30 -cafeteria 6th grade 10:45-11:15 - gym 7th grade 1:45-2:35 - gym 8th - 10th grade 2:40-3:30 - gym

Tuesday, Feb. 2nd Athlos Awards Assemblies 4th grade 1:30 - cafeteria 5th grade 2:30 – cafeteria

Wednesday, Feb. 3rd

WBLA Awards Assemblies Pre K @ 9:00-cafeteria Kinder @ 8:15-classrooms 1st Grade @ 2:00 p.m.-gym

Athlos Semester Exam Schedule Tues. Jan 12th 1st period exam Wed. Jan. 13th 2nd/3rd period exams Thurs. Jan. 14th 4th/5th period exams Fri. Jan. 15th 6th/7th period exams Driveline Update: we plan to launch Driveline on February 1st! We need donations for Art:

• yarn (any color) • magazines • 5 lb. or 10lb. bags of flour

2

Track and field: coming late in January, 6th-10th graders will be able to participate in track and field. It will be a brief but exciting season of sprint and long distance events. Soccer: in early February, we will be holding soccer tryouts. The minimum age is 6th grade. YMCA- anyone who signed up for a youth soccer, basketball, or volleyball team will be contacted this week by a YMCA staff member. You should receive your practice schedule.

Coaches Corner:

WBLA Reminders: Remember to send a change of clothes with your child.

3

WBLA Principal’s Message

Happy New Year- 2016 is going to be a fantastic year! We are excited to announce that Wells Branch Leadership Academy will be taking the necessary steps to become a “Leader in Me” school. What does that mean? Most of you are aware that we are teaching our students to be great leaders via the 7 Habits. As a Leader in Me school, we will expand our scope to include opportunities to identify leadership roles for students that can be exhibited in classrooms, our school, and in our community. The Leader in Me school is Franklin Covey’s whole school transformation process. It teaches 21st century leadership and life skills to students and creates a culture of student empowerment based on the idea that every child can be a leader.

Hello Athlos Families, I am Bill Ihlenfeldt and I will be serving as the Principal of Athlos Leadership Academy. My experience began as an elementary school teacher some 24 years ago in Austin, Texas. Since then I have had the pleasure of teaching grades 4, 5, 6 and 7. I have held instructional leadership positions during the last 9 years which include Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, Academic Dean, and Principal. Athlos Leadership Academy is a place rich in culture, diversity, and opportunity. I look forward to leading Athlos to its full potential, as that special place,where students can excel in mind, body, and character.

Athlos Principal’s Message

Latina Griffin, LMSW WBLA Counselor Leadership Habit #4 Think Win-Win

There is no quest ion that children need disc ipl ine and i t's not easy to know how to effectively correct behavior. Here a re three ideas to t ry when the situation ca lls fo r i t that can leave both parent and chi ld fee l ing l ike "winners": 1) Excuse yoursel f and your chi ld from the presence of others- this includes s ibl ings, fr iends and sometimes even another parent. This way neither party in the confl ic t has to worry about what others are thinking and the focus can be on the present si tuation. 2) Refer f i rs t to the chi ld's last t r iumphs- "You have started your homework for the last three days without be ing asked." The chi ld understands that we recognize the ir strengths, not just shortcomings. 3) Give the chi ld permiss ion to be angry- "Wow, you seem pretty mad. I 'm g lad that you can talk to me about it ." Chi ld ren are more l ike ly regain control i f they feel heard and understood. Acknowledging the emotion for what it is can take the force out of an escalat ing .power play interact ion.

I am exci ted to be the Ath los/WBLA nurse.Our school has grown so fast that we need nursing care beyond the screenings and immunizations required by the s ta te. My focus wi ll be on f irst aid, i l lness prevention, medica tion management, and support for those s tudents with chronic condit ions. My goal is to maximize the amount of t ime our s tudents spend in class, feeling hea lthy, comfortable and learning. I became an RN in 1986 and a School Nurse in 2010 after working many years in Hospice and Post Partum. School nursing f its me best because helping children learn and grow is what this phase of my li fe i s al l about. My family inc ludes my wonderful husband of 31 years , daughter 12, son 8, 2 dogs, 3 cats ,1 bunny,1 hamster,1 crab,1 f ish and a couple of f rogs we’ve been babys itt ing since Christmas. Together we love sc ience, pets , swimming, and my kids do Tae Kwon Do.

Spr ing Semester is quickly approaching and you are go ing to be inundated with the test ing season very soon. Whether i t is F ina l Exams, STAAR or a weekly test you could be faced with anxiety . Here are some ways to help: 1.Study and prepare! Tell yourself:

• “I can do it !” • “ I know this material!”

2. Remind yoursel f that you are smart. Picture yourself being successful: • C lose your eyes. • Breathe softly. • Picture yourself passing the test. • Smile. 3. Many t imes we experience shal low breathing when in an anxiety-filled situat ion. In fact, shallow, short breaths can indicate someone is overwhelmed by anxiety. Practic ing controlled breathing is a simple yet strong way in which to deal with all kinds of anxiety: • Sit comfortably. • Breathe in through your nose-count to 4. • Breathe out for a count of four. • Repeat.

Tannia Benefield, M.A. Athlos Counselor Don’t let anxiety stop you!