Magnet school asks for donations

GALVESTON — Wanted: microscopes, laptop computers, models of the solar system and loads of other school supplies to stock Galveston public school district’s first science, engineering, math and technology magnet middle school.

Lacking outside funding, Austin Middle School is in need of the community’s help to boost the specialized school’s budget.

Principal Cathy Van Ness has released a school “wish list” in hopes that islanders will fork over resources to build the new program that will offer methods of instruction uncommon to some public schools, including more hands-on lessons and technology in classrooms.

Van Ness’ list of more than three dozen items includes fine arts supplies, science equipment instructional technology and athletic equipment.

Annette Scott, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said the school needs extra help bolstering its fine arts program.

“We don’t want fine arts to be just your typical program,” she said. “We need the community to help us shape the vision for fine arts here at Austin Middle School.”

School officials are also searching for donations of college paraphernalia to display on the walls in an attempt to boost students’ interest in attending college, or an artist to capture the theme of the campus on school walls.

District officials plan to continue to apply for grants for more advanced resources, but in the meantime, they are reaching out for cash donations to fund some of the specialized after-school and extracurricular activities.

Van Ness would like to establish 25 robotics teams at $800 per team, which includes competition fees, transportation and robotics kits. She would also like to launch a school broadcasting station, where students could record their own news broadcasts, at a price tag of $19,000.

Other cash donations would help pay for training for staff and faculty members in robotics, mathematics and technology, and for teacher lunches during summer training.

Those interested in giving to Austin Middle School can reach Van Ness at 409-795-2418 or at cathy_vanness(at)gisd.org. Checks must be addressed to Galveston Independent School District, attention: Elsie Schiro, 3904 Ave. T, Galveston, Texas 77550. Write Austin Middle School in the memo.

“Anything or any resource or any person that can help us — please don’t be shy,” Scott said.

+++

Austin likely to be filled next year

All spots at Austin Middle School will likely be filled next year as district officials have interviewed more than 400 students out of 610 total applicants.

Students who received admittance letters must accept or decline by March 28. The district will fill remaining spots with students from the waiting list.

“We got lots of good feedback, and the kids were very comfortable (in the interview),” said Principal Cathy Van Ness.

Magnet committee member Beth Tragus said it was easy to tell which students were interested in math, science, engineering and technology and which ones were applying to the school solely at their parents’ urgings.

This week, teachers and members of the magnet committee picked a motto for the school: “Empowering the Mind, Energizing the Future” out of a pool of more than 50 slogans.

+++ Wish list • 25 PCs/monitors • Two large pull-down projection screens • Mounted LCD projector • Laptop computers • 100 graphing calculators • Five camcorders • CD/DVD burner • Microscopes • Triple-beam balances • Time devices • Sound recorders • Circuit materials • Solar system models • Erosion tables • Hand lenses • Graduated cylinders • Measuring tapes • Batteries • Kiln • Dance floor • Mirrors for wall • Barre • Stage lighting • 15 keyboards • 15 guitars • Drums • 25 soccer balls • Yoga mats • Baseball equipment • Tennis racquets • Lab coats