About the PTA

TWO programs, ONE school, ONE parent organization

Our PTA is committed to serving ALL Kealing students, meeting the needs of ALL Kealing Parents, and supporting ALL Kealing faculty and staff.

My FAMILY + PTA =

A place where every child feels safe and supported

A place where all families feel welcome

A place where parents feel informed

A place to build relationships

A place to volunteer

A place where you can make a difference at our school and across the state

Texas PTA Mission

To make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

PTA is the largest child advocacy organization in the US. Please help us grow our membership to greater than 500,000 Texans. This will help Texas PTA have a voice that will in turn put pressure on the legislators to fix the funding formula that is so negatively affecting Austin ISD schools. To help ensure Texas PTA has a strong advocacy voice, please join the PTA.

Why Support Kealing PTA?

Your PTA dues and donations supports Kealing Middle School in a multitude of ways:

• Field Trips

• Parent/Student Programs

• After-School Activities

• Additional Classroom Materials

• Grounds/Facilities Improvements

• Dances

• Teacher appreciation events

• Funding for teachers

• Spirit Wear sales

• Eighth Grade Celebration

• Campus Beautification

• Legislative Informational Visits

• Recycling

• Box Tops collection

• Reflections

• Directory

• Kealing Men

• Website

• and much more!

Notable PTA Additions:

• Music Technology Software and Teaching Materials

• Outdoor Classroom

• Choir Bleachers

• Hornet Mascot Uniform

• Scoring Table

Other Reasons to Join Kealing PTA:

• #1 reason to join PTA: Support your child by helping your school.

• Get Connected: Know what’s happening at Kealing.

• Discover Great Resources: PTA offers a variety of programs designed for parents and students.

• Tap into a Network: Meet other parents and teachers, build rapport, discuss issues that are on your mind, and share ideas, concerns, and experiences.

• Speak Up: Effectively suggest change at your child’s school--and beyond. Your Kealing PTA membership automatically includes membership to the Texas and National PTAs, amplifying your voice and ability to advocate for children in Texas and across the United States.

• Watch Yourself Grow: Put your skills and hobbies to use for your child and all children in our community. Participate in Reflections, the national art program.

• Witness Improvement: Be part of the solution, help make positive changes, play an important role in fundraising to provide building improvements, curriculum-based programs, and social events.

• Be a Role Model: Show how important education is to your child.

• Enjoy Substantial Benefits: Take advantage of leadership training, e-newsletters, membership discounts and offers from benefit providers and sponsors (e.g. Schlitterbahn, Texas Rangers, Six Flags, Orlando, Great Wolf Lodge, various hotels and car rentals, Dell, Costco, 1-800-flowers, and more!).

PTA PROGRAMS

The Kealing PTA is proud to lead and support a diverse array of programs throughout the school year, including the following:

Principal Coffees and Parent Education

Join fellow Kealing PTA parents in the library once a month for coffee with Principal Coburn and other Kealing staff. This is a great time to learn about updates on what is happening around the campus. In conjunction with the coffees, Kealing staff, in partnership with the PTA, put on a series of educational workshops for parents.

Dates and topics for Principal Coffees will be communicated via the Kealing Hornet Herald.

Secret Pal Program

The Kealing PTA Secret Pal Program was created to help our hard working teachers & staff feel a bit more appreciated throughout the year. The guidelines are general, but suggestions are to provide snacks, treats, small gifts, supplies or support to show our appreciation. Please visit the Teacher Appreciation page for more information.

Academic Support Program

Thanks to the generous donations of parents and local businesses, this year the Kealing PTA has allocated $ in its budget for academic support funding to teachers and staff to help fund curriculum needs, new technology, staff development, and a host of other academic-related expenses. The aim of this funding is to support quality and innovative teaching, experiential learning, the arts, physical education, technology, and extracurricular activities.

PTA Reflections Program

Reflections is a national program meant to foster creativity and the arts. Students may submit entries in one of 6 categories - dance choreography, photography, film production, visual arts (painting, drawing, etc.), literature, or musical composition. Entries will be judged at the school level and a percentage of those will move to the council level. From there entries may go on to the state and national levels. For more information go to PTA Reflections page or contact the Reflections Chair. In order for a student to advance to state, someone in his/her household must be a current member of the PTA.

Program details and entry deadlines will be communicated via the Kealing Hornet Herald.

MLK Service Project and Peace Through Pie Picnic

We are looking forward to teaming up with Huston-Tillitson University, Blackshear Bridge, and the Austin Area Heritage Council again this year for the Spread the Service MLK Day of Service. Last year's event featured free t-shirts, a free pizza lunch and peace through pie social sponsored by Dominoes and HEB, neighborhood clean up and Kealing grounds work, presentation of the Neighborhood Stories Project, artwork by Kealing students, and singing by Greater Mount Zion Baptist.

Thanksgiving Community Celebration

The Kealing Thanksgiving Community Celebration is an annual ritual that brings together Kealing Families and Community Members to share a meal together in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Environmental Programs

The Kealing PTA's environmental activities include grounds work days, a courtyard beautification project, helping maintain the urban gardens with the gardening class, collecting ink jet cartridges for recycling, helping with school recycling and commercial composting efforts, and looking at water and energy usage on campus. We earned COA Bright Green Futures grants towards our water collection tank and outdoor sink. In 2016-17 we built a deck outside and in 2018-2019 we repainted the sidewalk art and school railing, installed new doors on our shed, painted 6 staff bathrooms and planted 6 shade trees and are maintain a weekly watering program for the next 3 years.

School Appreciation Weeks

The Kealing PTA provides a token of appreciation to the following groups throughout the school year. If they hear thanks from Kealing kids and parents, that makes their week even more special. A note or an act of kindness can be the best gift of appreciation.

Schedule of appreciation weeks will be communicated via the Kealing Hornet Herald.