Stephen F. Austin Middle School

This weekend, some of our talented Austin Middle School Bruins will be part of the cast and crew of Disney's The Lion King Musical!

We invite our Bruin family and community to come out and show their support as our students share their hard work, dedication, and talent in this incredible production. Please see flyer for complete details.

What an incredible Week 2 of Enrichment Camp!

Our Bruins dove into all things beach-related this week, exploring fascinating topics such as sharks, crabs, marine life, the vital role beaches play in global ecosystems, and the importance of conservation efforts to protect our oceans for future generations.

To cap off this exciting week of learning and fun, we invite all of our campers to join us tomorrow for Water Slide Day—the perfect way to celebrate an unforgettable Beach Week!

We can't wait to make one more splash with our Bruins before we sail into week 3 of summer adventures!

FIRE SAFETY FUN WITH OUR BRUINS!

What an unforgettable activity at Austin Middle School! Our Bruins had the incredible opportunity to learn firsthand about fire safety from our amazing local firefighters. Students gained valuable knowledge about staying safe in emergency situations, explored fire fighting equipment up close, and even got to try on some of the gear used by our everyday heroes.

One of the highlights of the day was when a few lucky Bruins got the chance to spray water from a real fire hose—a once-in-a-lifetime experience they won't soon forget!

After a day filled with learning, our students enjoyed a delicious treat by making s'mores. Our firefighters stayed on hand to ensure everyone remained safe while creating their tasty masterpieces, making the experience both fun and educational.

A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated firefighters for investing their time, sharing their expertise, and creating lasting memories for our students. We are grateful for all you do to keep our community safe!

Our enrichment camp scientists had a blast creating Alka-Seltzer lava lamps today! Students explored how chemical reactions produce gas, causing colorful bubbles to rise and fall through liquids of different densities. This hands-on investigation connected to 8th Grade Science TEKS by examining the properties of matter, chemical changes, and energy transformations through observation and experimentation. Learning science one bubble at a time!

From History to Hands-On Survival Skills!

Earlier this week, our students read about the legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass and his incredible wilderness survival skills. Today, they put that inspiration into practice by crafting their very own paracord survival bracelets!
Through this hands-on project, students learned how to utilize these versatile bracelets during future camping trips or outdoor explorations. If they ever find themselves in a pinch, they now know that a paracord can be used for:
⛺ Securing emergency shelters
🩹 Making makeshift splints or tourniquets
🐿️ Setting small-game snares
🥾 Replacing broken shoelaces
🎣 Deploying the inner strands as emergency fishing line

Check out our future outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen hard at work building their gear.

"The Grizzly Crawl", our Bruins are exploring the mind boggling true story of Hugh Glass surviving a grizzly bear attack. Students did an amazing job identifying key elements of non-fiction, expanding their vocabulary, and practicing core comprehension skills. Check out our Bruins putting that knowledge into action during Enrichment Camp! Students channelled their inner park rangers to create Bear Safety Pamphlets.

Check out our Bruins working collaboratively after reading Stranded on Devil's Tooth, during Enrichment Camp. In groups, they identified and explained dangers faced by the characters using text evidence. Students shared three camping-related words and one worry they might have about camping. Through discussion and teamwork, they explored the essential question: How do challenges in nature shape the choices we make and the tools we need to stay safe? Great critical thinking and collaboration!

S’mores, Safety & Smiles!

Our Austin Middle School Enrichment Camp students are in for a special treat!

The San Juan Fire Department will be joining us for a fun and educational morning of S’mores & Fire Safety on Wednesday, June 10 at 9:00 a.m. right here at Austin Middle School!

Students will have the opportunity to:
✨ Roast delicious s’mores
✨ Learn important fire safety tips
✨ Meet real-life firefighters
✨ Explore firefighting equipment and gear

This exciting experience combines hands-on learning with unforgettable memories, helping our Bruins stay informed, safe, and engaged while having fun!