January 25, 2010
Newcomer information sessions
We’ll be starting something new this semester to provide incoming families more information about Mills. Once a month, beginning in February, we will have a Newcomer Information Session, followed by a tour of the school. We’ll provide information about our philosophy and programs, as well as policies, procedures, etc. The sessions will be open to anyone who is interested in learning more about Mills before their children enroll. The dates currently scheduled are:
Friday, February 19 at 9:00 am
Friday, March 26 at 8:00 am (this will also be a Principal’s Coffee)
Thursday, April 15 at 9:00 am
Friday, May 14 at 9:00 am
Boundary information
If you have been following the boundary blog on the PTA website, you know that the boundary task force will be recommending a plan to the AISD Board of Trustees that will move Mills students from Vintage Place and Circle C North to Kiker Elementary. This has been a very difficult process, and I have been extremely proud of the way the Mills community has handled it. We hate to think about losing any of our families, but unfortunately, we don’t have any other options to accommodate our enrollment.
Once the school board has approved a plan, the parents of incoming 5th grade students who are in the areas being moved will receive a letter asking whether they want their child to go to Kiker or stay at Mills for their 5th grade year. Enrolled siblings of those 5th graders will also be allowed to transfer to Mills.
After we know how many students will actually be going to Kiker, we will know how many classrooms we will have at each grade level and how many staff members we will lose. It’s also very difficult and emotional to think about losing teachers, but we hope they will be able to make a positive move to a new campus.
Mills will continue to be frozen to transfers. Please understand that I do not recommend or approve transfer requests. Appeals are handled through the Associate Superintendent for Area 3 Elementary Schools, and while she may contact me for information about space at a certain grade level or special circumstances, I do not make any recommendations about whether a transfer request should be approved.
If you are in the areas that will be moving, we will be coordinating with Kiker to provide transition activities. More information will be available after the final boundary map has been approved by the school board.
Magazine Sale
Our spring magazine sale will begin the first week in February. This is a school fundraiser, not a PTA fundraiser, and we choose to do a magazine sale because it promotes literacy and allows you to purchase something of value that you probably are already purchasing. The funds raised this year will support a dyslexia specialist position, which is not provided by Austin ISD. There will be some changes in how the sale is handled this year – there will not be a large assembly for students, and there will not be individual prizes based on the number of magazines sold. We’ll have more information next week, so be on the lookout for it.
2010 AISD Parent Survey
The Parent Survey, the annual way for the district to receive valuable feedback from parents, is going home Tuesday. I would like to encourage every family to complete this survey because it has an impact on what we do and we need to know what you think and how you feel. The results of this survey are distributed not only to us, but to district administrators and the Board of Trustees. Our campus report will be publicly available on the AISD website.
Please return your completed survey to the front office where there is a box labeled for this purpose. You m
ay also mail them directly to the Department of Program Evaluation, Austin Independent School District, CAC, 1111 6th Street, D-350, Austin 78703, return the survey to your child's teacher in a sealed envelope, or complete the survey online at www.austinisd.org
All surveys are anonymous and we make every effort to keep your responses confidential. The campus deadline is March 10 and the final due date downtown is March 12.
January 18, 2010
Parent Classroom Volunteer Training
Please join us for Parent Classroom Volunteer training on either January 22**, January 27 or February 3. This training will allow you to cover a class for a teacher for a short amount of time, and work with small groups of students or individual students without the teacher having to be present. We will go over some basic Mills policies, as well as what to do in an emergency and some simple tips for classroom management. etc. Trainings will be from 8:00 to 9:00 am (**the 1/22 session will be held at 9:30am following the Principal's Breakfast), and the location will be announced next week. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me at
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Principal’s Coffee
Just a reminder that there will be a Principal’s Coffee this Friday, January 22, in the Mills library. Please join me anytime between 8:00 and 9:30 am.
Sensational Science Fair
Congratulations to all the wonderful young scientists who participated in the Mills Science Fair last week. The projects were outstanding - a complete list of winners is available here. First place winners will compete at the Austin Energy regional science fair on February 27.
Champion Speller
5th grade student Addison Bayer (and daughter of Mills teacher Pam Bayer) won the 3rd Annual Mills Spelling Bee by spelling “toucan”, and will advance to the regional competition in February. We commend all 30 4th & 5th graders who qualified and participated in the bee.
January 11, 2010
More Recognition for Mills
The National Center for Educational Achievement (NCEA) has recognized Mills as part of its 2009 Just for the Kids campaign for Higher Performing Schools in Texas. NCEA used two measures for this recognition: growth and college and career readiness (CCR). Schools recognized for growth achieved better improvement rates for their students compared with other schools with similar demographics. Schools recognized for CCR are the top five percent of schools in the state, based on percentage of students scoring at or above NCEA’s College and Career Readiness targets. Mills was recognized for growth in 3rd grade reading; CCR in 3rd grade reading and math; and CCR in 4th and 5th grade reading. We are extremely proud of our students’ achievements and the tremendous effort put forth by teachers and staff, as well as the critical support of our parents. For more information about this honor, go to www.just4kids.org.
An Eventful Week
We have two big events this week – the science fair and the 4th & 5th grade spelling bee. The science fair judging will be Thursday, January 14 throughout the day, and you will be able to see the final projects in the library from 4:30-6:00. We’ll also be having our 3rd annual spelling bee for 4th and 5th graders at 8:00 Thursday morning – feel free to join us and watch this fun competition.
Principal’s Coffee
I hope you can join us for the Principal’s Coffee on Friday, January 22 in the Mills library. I really enjoy the opportunity to just sit down with parents and have an informal discussion about things that are on your mind or you want more information about. It is very casual, and we start at 8:00, but you’re welcome to come and go as fits your schedule.
Student Holidays
We have several student holidays in January and February. Monday, January 18 is a schoolwide holiday for Martin Luther King Day, and Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15 are student holidays. Friday is a professional development day for teachers and Monday is our spring parent conference day.
More National Board Certification News
We congratulate Deb Hurst, whose National Board Certification was recently renewed. Deb was the first teacher at Mills to become a National Board Certified teacher, and we are very proud that we now have a total of 11 teachers at Mills who hold this highest teaching credential – Deb Hurst (K), Lisa Leigh(K), Adrienne Pollard(K), Stacey Necak(K), Delia Romero(PPCD), Alexia Haywood (Pre-K), Cheryl Wootton (Pre-K), Debbie Tannert (Music), Tami Seal, (1st) Marla Gilliland (1st) and Inez Gibbs (3rd).
January 4, 2010
National Board Certified Teachers
We are very proud to announce that Adrienne Pollard and Inez Gibbs have received National Board Certification. Adrienne is a kindergarten teacher who has been at Mills several years, and Inez is a third grade teacher who transferred to Mills this year from Dawson Elementary. We also congratulate Suzanna Ammenheuser, a former Mills teacher who is now at Casis Elementary, and also became a National Board Certified teacher. Achieving National Board Certification is an extremely rigorous process and these teachers are to be commended for this prestigious honor.
Mills Recognized for Student Achievement
Mills was recognized Monday, December 14 at the Austin ISD Board of Trustees meeting for being an exemplary campus, as well as receiving Gold Performance Acknowledgements from the state for our commended performance on TAKS in Reading, Math, Writing and Science. To receive a gold performance award, at least 25% of students must score at the commended level on each of the TAKS assessments. Our commended performance in all areas was well above 25%, and increased from last year, so our students, staff and families should all be very proud of this accomplishment.
Parent Volunteer Training
AISD has implemented a new policy requiring that parent volunteers who work with students away from the supervision of a teacher receive training. To insure that parents are familiar with the school's policies and procedures, we will be holding parent volunteer training sessions in January for all interested parents. This training will be required for any parent who covers a teacher's class for a short period of time or works with any students outside the classroom. This does not apply to Roaring Readers volunteers, who have already been trained. The dates and times will be announced next week, and we will try to offer sessions at different times to meet your needs. If you have any questions or suggestions about the training, please feel free to contact me at
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GT Parent Information Meeting
We will have an information meeting for parents about the gifted and talented program at Mills on Tuesday, January 12 at 6:00 pm in the Mills library. We will discuss the process for identifying gifted students and how they are served at Mills, and answer questions. Please join us if you would like to know more about these services.
December 14, 2009
Community Encouraged to Take On-Line Survey on AISD Budget
The Austin School District has launched an online survey to gain additional community input on the School District budget. The survey follows two Community Conversations that resulted in more than 300 people participating in exercises designed to give them a sense of the difficult decisions the Board of Trustees faces next year in developing the 2010-2011 school year budget.
“The District is facing a budget shortfall of $15 million for FY 2010-11, just to cover normal operating expenses,” said Chief Financial Officer Nicole Conley-Abram. “This deficit grows even larger when additional budget increases are considered for new instructional programming tied to the District's Strategic Plan and potential employee raises. The District is now contemplating various budget reduction proposals to assist in closing this budget gap. Therefore, the District would like to obtain your input and feedback to the proposals that are currently being considered.”
The seven-question AISD budget survey can be found on-line at: www.austinisd.org/inside/budget/survey.phtml. I encourage you to complete the survey – it contains very specific items, for both possible cuts as well as added programs.
Boundary Information
Please check the Mills PTA website for the latest information regarding the boundary task force. They will meet twice this week – on December 15 and 17 to create a map that will be put forth for public comment on January 5. It is likely that there will be changes to the current map, and you need to stay informed to be able to have input into the process.
The community meeting where the public will be able to provide input will be
Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 6:00 p.m., in the Clayton Elementary School Cafeteria at 7525 La Crosse Ave., 841-9200.
As we get ready to enjoy our winter holiday break, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful Mills community for their support this year. It’s been an emotional time as we face the challenges of our size and trying to find ways to provide relief through re-drawing boundaries, and the economy continues to affect us all. But at Mills, we always pull together to meet our challenges and the true spirit of cooperation and collaboration comes through as we all work to achieve our common goal of doing what’s best for kids. We have much to be grateful for and we want everyone to know how much we appreciate the many contributions of our parents, volunteers and community partners.
A couple of calendar notes - Thursday, December 17 will be the last day of classes for students, and school will resume on Tuesday, January 5. Also students and staff will both be off on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King’s birthday.
We hope you and your families enjoy the winter break and have safe and happy holidays. We’ll see you in January.
December 7, 2009
For the 2009-2010 School Year
Well, we had a little bit of snow Friday, and it was fun seeing all the kids outside - they were so excited about the brief flurry. We even had kids trying to make snow angels on the ground and concrete – only in Austin!
2010-2011 AISD Calendar
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees has adopted the calendar for the 2010-2011 school year. The calendar is very similar to this year’s calendar, with school starting on Monday, August 23 and ending on Wednesday, June 1. You can access it at their website: http://www.austinisd.org/newsmedia/releases/?more=1926&lang=
Principal’s Coffee
I’m sorry we weren’t able to schedule a Principal’s Coffee in November or December, but we’ll start again on January 22. So plan to join us for some good conversation and the opportunity to ask questions about what’s on your mind.
Mills Calendar
We’d like to thank Shelley McNamara for taking on the calendar of monthly events at Mills. We hope it will be useful for you to have this information available every month, and we appreciate Shelley putting it together for us.
Animal Policy
The Campus Advisory Council has approved a new policy regarding animals on campus. Effective January 5, 2010, animals will not be allowed on school grounds or in the buildings. This is in alignment with Austin ISD policy EMG Local which states:
“No animals except those used in the instructional program or those used by persons as trained service animals shall be allowed in District facilities.”
We have tried to accommodate parents bringing dogs to school during arrival and dismissal, but we have found it to be a potentially dangerous practice, and they will no longer be allowed on school grounds. We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this policy.
November 29, 2009
Well, I have to admit that most of my Thanksgiving holidays don’t begin with kissing a frog, but I was happy to do it to show our appreciation for the very generous donations that the Mills families made to the No Hassle Fundraiser. I hope you were able to be with family and friends as you celebrated Thanksgiving this year – my sister from California and her family, as well as my brother from Dallas were here, which was very special because we haven’t all celebrated Thanksgiving together in over 15 years.
Regardless of one’s religious s religious or spiritual beliefs, this is a time of year when most of us look for additional ways to help those whortunate, and as usual, this year there is no shortage of those needing assistance. The Mills community has already been incredibly generous with our coin drives, supporting the Vasquez family, the bone marrow drive, Coats for Kids, and the Barnes & Noble Book Fair. But there will be some additional opportunities in the next few weeks to make a difference. We have two former Mills students fighting cancer – Thomas Molina is in San Antonio getting ready for a transplant, and Liam Jessin is in Dell’s Children’s Hospital. In honor of these children, as well as other Mills students such as Rhada Patel, Maddie Drga and Jack Fishbaugh who have battled cancer, Brownie Troop 807 will be conducting a coin drive this week to benefit CureSearch which raises awareness and funds research for childhood cancer. . Finally, another way you can support Mills that won’t cost a penny, is to come to Holidays Around the World this Saturday – we are so fortunate to have so many different cultures represented at Mills, and this is a unique opportunity to learn about different countries, cultures and beliefs. CAC Meeting The Campus Advisory Council will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, December 2, instead of Thursday. The time has also been changed to 5:30. We will have staff members from Austin ISD to present the proposed boundary map and answer questions. We are still actively seeking input on possible options and whether we can gain more relief, so this is an opportunity for parents to participate in this process.
November 22, 2009
Some Clarification
In last week’s Tuesday folder, we sent a flyer for parents to order a Mills Teachers Cookbook. Because there was no explanation of the reason for the fundraiser or how the funds would be used, I thought I’d clarify it. The staff has a hospitality committee that is responsible for our faculty parties, as well as things like cards or plants when there is a death, retirement gifts, etc. Every year, professional staff contribute $20.00 each and classified staff contribute $15.00. However, we still have to collect additional fees when we do our end-of-the-year party on a boat on Town Lake, and the fund is always entirely depleted. So the committee asked about doing something to establish a “cushion” in the fund that might also allow us to provide all staff some extra social benefits, and Look Who’s Cookin’ at Mills was conceived. We felt this would be a fun item that parents and students might enjoy having. While the proceeds benefit staff members only, and not students, I feel the activities that it supports are very important to the culture of the school and being able to show staff that they are valued and appreciated. Teachers spend an incredible amount of their own money for classroom materials, and we try to provide some activities for them at no cost.
I apologize for this information not being included in the flyer that went out, and if this is something that you choose not to support, we certainly understand. Any future flyers will state clearly what the funds are being used for. If you have any other questions or concerns about this fundraiser, please feel free to contact me directly rather than other staff.
Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long
We hope you’ll join us for our annual Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long at 1:45 Tuesday. The highlight is sure to be the frog kissing, but there will be lots of great songs and goodwill for all. It’s one of our favorite traditions, and we look forward to seeing you.
Holiday Reminders
All staff and students will have a Thanksgiving holiday, from Wednesday, November 25 through Sunday, November 29, and school will resume on Monday, November 30. There will be no Tuesday folders this week since students won’t return to school until Monday.
Traffic Concern
We are having an increasing number of parents in the morning who are stopping on Davis Lane next to parked cars and letting students out in the street. This is extremely dangerous, especially with the glare from the sun making it difficult to see. We rarely have enough staff to post someone in that area in the mornings, so I am relying on your using good judgment to refrain from this unacceptable practice.
November 9, 2009
Veterans Day
We hope you will be able to join us for our Veterans Day program this Wednesday, November 11 at 1:45 in the cafeteria. We will have a wonderful selection of choral readings and patriotic songs to honor our country’s veterans. Please invite any veterans, friends and family to attend this special Mills tradition.
New staff members
We were allocated an additional special education position after the year started, and we’re very happy to welcome Haley Woolwine as our newest special education teacher. She is working on her masters in special education, and comes to us from Clayton Elementary, where she was a teaching assistant. We also added Mills parent Andy Boutot to our special education team as a teaching assistant earlier this fall, and we’re very pleased to have him with us.
I also neglected to formally welcome Lisa Fahlquist to the Mills family earlier this year – this Mills parent is working with us as an assistant in the library, and Ms. Higgs is thrilled to have the extra help.
Mills Poets
We recently started something new during our Morning Message on Fridays. We asked students to submit poems about school, and we read a few of them every Friday. We have been amazed at what some of our student writers have produced, so if you’re here on a Friday morning, stick around to hear some great poetry. Poems will be returned to students at the end of the semester.
Something to Think About . . .
“School iin%3t a place for important people who do not need to learn and unimportant people who do. Instead, school is a place where students discover, and adults rediscover, the joys, the difficulties, and the satisfactions of learning.”
Roland S. Barth, founder
Harvard Principal Center
<.
November 2, 2009
Will I find my prince?
Well, we didn’t quite meet the $20,000 mark, but since we surpassed last year’s total, I will go ahead and kiss a real, live frog. Right now we’re planning to incorporate it into our Thanksgiving program on Tuesday, November 24, so come for the sing-along and stay for the excitement.
Student Holiday
Remember that Monday, November 9 is a student holiday and there will be no school – we will be doing professional development with our staff.
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let’s keep everyone safe. I’d also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don’t have those additional vehicles.
Student Council
Fifth grade students recently elected the following student council representatives from each classroom. These students attended a training for student council members on Friday, October 30, sponsored by the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association. We’re very proud of these student leaders and look forward to their participation in school events throughout the year.
Fowler: Alex Baker and Addy Bayer Irwin: Madeleine Reinhardt and Will Fisher Masch: Nathan Cootes and Danielle Baca Mefford: Robbie McGovern-Wilson and Katherine Budeg Meunier: Wade Smith and Madi Pogue Renfro: Kristen Loewe and Lawrence Young
September 28
Special Area Staff
We’re happy to announce that we have been allocated additional special area staff due to our increased enrollment this year. We have been paired with Patton Elementary, so one teacher – either art, music or PE – will be here a full day. Beginning Thursday,
October 1, the teachers who traveled from Langford Elementary will no longer be at Mills, and the new teachers from Patton will be:
PE – Teresa Tillman-Ruiz
Art – Stacy Colston
Music – Arthur Martinez
Your child’s teacher will let you know if your child will be going to a different special area teacher.
Boundary Issues/CAC
We had a great turnout at the boundary information meeting last week. If you haven’t filled out a survey to provide input about what is important to you as we begin the process of looking at possible solutions to our over-crowding, please do so as soon as possible. We’ll be reviewing the survey results at the Campus Advisory Council meeting on Thursday, October 1. Surveys are available in the front office.
Who We Are
I thought you might be interested in knowing more about the 1080 students who make up Mills Elementary. We continue to be quite diverse, with students who speak over 30 different languages. We have a bi-lingual pre-kindergarten class, and several ESL (English as a Second Language) classrooms at every grade level. Looking at our demographics, we are approximately 18 % Hispanic, 15 % Asian, 3% African American and 63% Anglo. We are thrilled to have students from so many backgrounds and cultures who can share their experiences with us.
August 17
Summer News - August, 2009
I hope you have all enjoyed your summer and make the most of these last few weeks. I was very lucky to be able to attend a leadership institute at the Principal’s Center at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. It was a tremendous experience, and I look forward to bringing back what I learned.
You may have seen that a new portable is in place, and they are also completing the renovation of the PE portable, which will be home to our 2 pre-kindergarten classes. Here’s what else has been going on this summer - see you soon!
Building/Room Changes - We have made just a few changes this year. Ms. Gibbs’ and Ms. Bayer’s 3rd grade classrooms will be downstairs where the pre-K rooms were; Pre-K will move to the renovated portable. Ms. Sayers will move down the hall and Ms. Masch will take over her room. We have also made some changes in the office area. My “office” will now be the conference room, and the conference room will be Ms. Hulet’s office. Dr. Tereshinski will move to Christena’s old office. And her office will go back to being a copier room.
Important Dates
- Aug. 10 Registration for new students
- Aug.2>Aug. 18 Class listings posted – 1:00 pm
- style="font-family: Architect; font-size: 10pt;">Aug. 21 Open House 4:00-6:00 pm
Reminder - While we post classes the week before school starts, we ask that you be respectful of teachers and not contact them before Open House. They are extremely busy getting everything ready for the first day of school, but will be happy to meet with you anytime after school starts.
Open House - Our annual Open House will be Friday, August 21, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. This event gives students an opportunity to meet their teacher and see their classroom befor opportunity to meet their teacher and see their classroom befor opportunity to meet their teacher and see their classroom beforpre-packaged school supplies from the PTA, they will be available to be picked up at that time.
Flag Raising - All students in 1st through 5th grades will gather at the flagpole at 9am on the first day of school for our annual flag raising. This special tradition marks the official start of our new school year, and we welcome your participation.
Staffing Update
Kindergarten - The kindergarten team lost Stephanie Mitten at the end of the year when she moved to Dallas, but they are very excited about welcoming Cheryl Poulos, who is transferring from the pre-K departmC who is transferring from the pre-K department. She has many yeon and is thrilled to be coming to Mills.
1st grade - We are very fortunate to have Tami Seal from Boone Elementary joining our 1st grade team. She has extensive teaching experience, both in the regular classroom and in special education. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher. She is replacing Kristen Masch, who is moving to 5th grade.
2nd grade - We’re very happy that Heather Smith from Hart Elementary will be the 9th member of the 2nd grade team. She comes to us with several years of experience and will make a great addition to Mills.
3rd Grade - We will be welcoming two new third grade teachers this year. Inez Gibbs, an experienced 3rd grade teacher, is transferring from Dawson Elementary, and Pam Bayer, a Mills parent who substituted frequently last year, will also join the third grade team. We are very excited to have both these professionals as part of our staff.
4th Grade - Kristen McPike is our newest 4th grade teacher. A Mills parent, she has several years of experience, most recently at Barton Creek Elementary in the Eanes school district. Rachel Mainwaring, who supported the 4th grade teachers last year, will have her own classroom this year, so we are very happy to have them both.
5th Grade - We added a 5th grade class this year, and Kristenoving into this spot. She did a ill be moving into this spot. Sh2Fsup> grade last year, but the majority of her experience is at 5th grade, and we’re delighted that she’s joining this team.
Front Office - Our front office will look a little different this year, but we’ll also have a familiar face again. We are very sad to announce that Christena Parks is leaving after 10 years. She has been much more than a secretary and it’s hard to think of Mills without her. Tanya Hulet, is a Mills parent who has filled in for Christena, substituteda, substituted in classrooms and volunteered in the office, and we are delighted that she will be takiimportant role.
Maria Bradley has transferred to Gozrycki Middle School. But Julie Scoggin, who worked in the front office for several years is coming back to Mills, and we’re very happy to have her with us again. We will also be welcoming Mills parent Wendy Wilbanks, as a part time office staff member.
For the 2008-2009 School Year
May 26 2009
TAKS Results - Way to Go!
We received the rest of our TAKS results last week, and we were very pleased. These are preliminary results, and the accountability rating will not be officially announced until August 1. We are also waiting for results from the second administration of the 5th grade math TAKS test. We were especially excited about our 5th grade science scores, though - 98% of the students passed, which is an increase of 5% over last year!!
I'm very proud of our students and staff for their outstanding efforts - it takes a lot of commitment and hard work from everyone to sustain the level of excellence that we have achieved at Mills.
TAKS Passing Rates
|
|
Reading |
Math |
Writing |
Science |
|
3rd |
97% |
97% |
|
|
|
4th |
97% |
97% |
98% |
|
|
5th |
99% |
94% (after 1st administration/sup> administration) |
%Fp> |
98% |
Voable>
%lunteer Appreciation Breakfast
Pry to acknowledge our wonderful volunteers. We will be also e Roaring Reading program.
May 18 2009
Keep those supplies!
Please don't throw away spiral notebooks, binders, pencils, markers, etc. that are not completely used. We will be setting up collection boxes for students to donate these items. They are also able to use backpacks shoes, clothing, and sports equipment. We have done this the last few years, and it has been very successful. Collection boxes will be available soon.
End of Year Activities
We'll be having our Track and Field Days this week - Early childhood and Pre-K are on Monday, May 18; Kinder and 1st grade are on Tuesday, May 19; 2nd & 3rd grade are on Wednesday, May 20; and 4th and 5th grade are on Friday, May 22. And remember that Monday, May 25 is the Memorial Day holiday, and there will be no school. The last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 3, and there are several special events planned.
The 5th grade graduation will be at a different time this year, beginning at 11:30. We will have the end-of-year slide shows at 8:15 and 9:00, and the lowering of the flag will take place around 2:25. Please feel free to join us se feel free to join us for the slide show and lowering of the flag - they are very spec/p>
Last Principal's Coffee
The last principal's coffee of the year will be this Friday, May 22 at 8:00 in the Mills library - I hope you can join us.
May 11 2009
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
If you volunteer at Mills in ANY capacity, whether it's stuffing Tuesday folders, coaching with Roaring Readers, helping in the library, assisting in the classroom, or working with PTA - we want to express our thanks for your service. Please join us on Wednesday. join us on Wednesday, May 27 at 8:30 in the Mills Library. We'll be r of the Year, as well as several parents who have made significant contributions this year. Please come help us thank all the parents who provide the support we need to be the wonderful school that we are. Invitations will be coming home as well, but I wanted you to be sure and mark your calendars.
More Staffing News
We are happy to announce the addition of 3 more new teachers to Mills next year. Joining us at 3rd grade will be Inez Gibbs, who is transferring from Dawson Elementary and Pam Bayer, a Mills parent who has taught previously and substituted extensively for us this year. They will both be outstanding additions to the 3rd grade team. The fourth grade team will be welcoming another Mills parent, Kristen McPike, who most recently taught at Barton Creek Elementary in the Eanes district. We are very excited about all three of these outstanding educators joining the Mills family.
4th grade musical
Ms. Tannert and the 4th grade choir will present Mystery in Moonlight for family and friends on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00. For those of you who have seen one of Ms. Tannert's productions, you know how wonderful they are, and we invite everyone to join us for this special event.
Retirement Party for Deborah Husak
Everyone is cordially invited to join us
to celebrate the illustrious teaching career of
Deborah Husak as she retires from Austin ISD
May 15th at 3:00 PM in the
Mills Elementary library.
May 4 2009
Staffing Update
We are very happy to announce two new additions to the Mills staff for next year. We will be welcoming 2 experienced Austin ISD teachers to our primary teams. Tami Seal, a National Board Certified teacher, will be transferring from Boone Elementary to teach 1st grade, and Heather Smith will be coming from Hart Elementary to teach 2nd grade. We know they will both be tremendous assets to Mills and we look forward to having them on board.
However we are very sorry to announce that third grade teacher Mimi Halferty has decided to take on the challenge of middle school, and will be leaving Mills to teach 6th grade science at Goryzicki Middle School. We are glad she has the opportunity to focus on science, but we’ll certainly miss her. So we will have two new teachers at third grade and one at fourth. We have begun interviewing and hope to complete hiring by next week.
April 27
5th grade Math TAKS
5th grade students will be receiving their Math TAKS results this week. Our students and staff are to be commended for their hard work- overall, we did very well, with 94% of all students passing. Since there is a promotion requirement tied to the 5th grade math test, those students who didn't pass are receiving extra support and will take a re-test on May 19.
Safety Reminders
Please be aware that the doors at the ends of the building that leads into the downstairs hallways are not authorized entrances. ALL parents and students should enter through the main entrance to access the downstairs hallway with pre-K, 2nd, and 3rd grade classrooms. I am especially concerned about this door by the stairwell being used as an entrance - it would be very easy for someone to slip into the building unnoticed. Please do not use this door as an entrance and do not open the door for other parents.
If your children walk or bike down Davis Lane and come across the hill, please remind them that teachers may be turning into the parking area and to be very careful as they come down the hill. They should also always walk their bikes or scooters down the hill.
Another staffing change
It is with extremely mixed feelings that we announce the retirement of 4th grade teacher Deborah Husak. While she has decided it is time to retire from teaching, she is looking forward to a new beginning in her life and pursuing other opportunities. Ms. Husak has been at Mills since it opened and will be sorely missed, but we are happy that she is able end a very successful career and begin a new chapter in her life.
This means we will have an opening in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. We will begin interviewing next week, and will keep you apprised of new hires.
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP
Tuesday, May 5
8:30-10:00 am
Mills Elementary School (Cafeteria)
6201 Davis Lane
Bring original and a copy of your child's:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- 2 Copies of Immunization Records
- Parent's Driver's License
- Proof of Residence (Current Utility Bill, Lease or Home Contract)
April 20
Principal’s Coffee
I’d like to invite everyone to the Principal’s Coffee this Friday, April 24, from 8:00 – 9:30 in the Mills Library. This is a very informal discussion of issues relating to Mills – we have addressed a wide variety of topics this year. If you’ve never attended, I hope you’ll stop by. I really enjoy having an opportunity to visit with parents informally and find out what’s on your mind.
TAKS Testing next week
Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades will all be taking TAKS test next week. On Tuesday, April 28, students in 3rd and 4th grades will take the math test; on Wednesday, April 29, 4th grade students will take the reading test; and on Thursday, April 30, 5th graders will take the science test. We should receive the results this week from the 5th grade math test that was given April 7. I know the testing is stressful for our students (and staff), but we encourage them to view it as an opportunity to demonstrate their learning and show what they know.
Parent Input Forms
There are forms for parent input to class placement for next year in the front office and available for download here. We appreciate your input and hope the form has provided a better way for you to communicate with us. If you’ve turned yours in, but haven’t received an acknowledgement by e-mail, don’t worry, I’m a little behind, but will get caught up with everyone this week.
Staff Changes
It’s that time of year when we start thinking about staffing changes and hiring new staff. We are very sorry to announce that Suzanna Ammenheuser will be transferring to Casis Elementary School next year. Suzanna began her teaching career at Mills 10 years ago, and we will certainly miss her leadership and expertise. But we understand that sometimes we all need change, and this is an opportunity for her to teach in another excellent school, so we wish her all the best.
We will be adding a fifth grade class next year, for a total of 6, and 1st grade teacher Kristen Masch will be filling that position. Kristen came to us last year after taking a couple of years off from teaching, and has extensive experience at 5th grade, so will will make a great addition to the 5th grade team.
We’ll keep you apprised of other changes as they happen.
April 13
New Check-in procedures
We have an enhancement to our check-in system - you can now sign yourself in and print a visitor or volunteer badge, and also sign yourself out. It's very easy and the front office staff will be happy to assist you. Also, please remember that if you are going to have lunch with your child or even drop lunch off in the cafeteria, you still need to sign in. Since this is always a busy time in the office, please allow yourself a little extra time to sign in.
Spring Dates
Spring is always a really busy time at Mills, so I thought I'd list the major dates to be aware of through the end of the year.
April 18 Spring Festival
April 20 PTA Meeting - election of officers
April 28-30 TAKS Administration - 3rd & 4th grade Math ; 4th grade reading; 5th grade Science
April 4-8 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 14 4th grade choir musical
May 15 5th grade goes to MO Ranch
May 18 PTA Meeting
May 25 Memorial Day Holiday for students & staff
May 29 Student Talent Shows (by grade level)
June 3 Last Day of School/5th Grade Graduation
Track & Field Days Schedule
May 18 - EC & PK
May 19 - Kinder & 1st
May 20 - 2nd & 3rd
May 22 - 4th & 5th
April 6th
Responding to Recent Incidents
We continue to be concerned about the recent incidents where students have been approached by strangers. In addition to increasing our security measures on campus, our counselors, Linda Whatley and Merlyn Rodenberg have been visiting classrooms to discuss what students should do if approached. We are also sending a flyer on “Stranger Danger” home with students in this week’s Tuesday folder. This is published by the Austin Police Department and contains excellent information. We encourage you to read and discuss it with your children. We are also working with Austin ISD Police to set up a parent information night and hope to have more information about that in the next couple of days. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or either of the counselors.
March 30 2009
Mills Students in AISD Art Show
We are very proud of the following Mills students whose artwork will be displayed in the 2009 Austin ISD Student Art Show:
K -- Hannah Bierwag
1st -- Gillian Griffis, Fadi Elasad
2nd -- Annastasia Ortiz, Nicole Ramirez, Diane Shan, Samantha Seamon, Ann Minton, Rafe Brown, Payton Pagan, Belle Marley, Nicole Garcia
3rd -- Natalie Guerra, Emily Carroll, Jude Donahue, Gabriella Pulsifer, Skyler Bendt
4th -- Alexandra McLennan, Addison Bayer, Alexander Baker, Catie Smith, Momoko Tokuda, Stefanie Necak, Marcela Palomo, Alexi Curtis
5th -- Judy Shan, Hannah Willard, Abby Darrow, Maddison Crab
March 23 2009
Welcome Back
I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing spring break. The kids certainly looked refreshed this morning and seemed happy to be back. As we start our final nine weeks, we will start planning for next year as we find out about staffing changes and have more information from Kindergarten Roundup in May. In April, we will be providing a form for you to provide input regarding your child's placement for next year. It will be available online and in the front office.
NO Principal's Coffee in March
The Principal's Coffee on March 27 will have to be re-scheduled, due to a conflict with a District meeting. Please check the website and the next Mills Messenger for a new date.
CAC Vacancies
We are still accepting applications to serve on the Campus Advisory Council. This is a great way to be involved that doesn't require a big time commitment. CAC discusses and provides input on instructional and curriculum issues, campus improvement, budget, and staff development, among other things. The meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00. Applications are available in the front office or on the AISD website (www.austinisd.org) and are due by this Friday, March 27. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
Initial TAKS Results are in
We received our results for the 3rd and 5th grade Reading TAKS which was administered on March 3, and our students did very well. 97% (with 82% commended) of 3rd grade students and 98% (with 60% commended) of 5th grade students passed the first administration. Our staff and students are to be congratulated for their hard work and this outstanding achievement. Because of the promotion requirement tied to passing TAKS at 3rd & 5th grades, the students who didn't meet the passing standard will receive additional intervention and take the test again in late April.
March 16 2009
Superintendent Finalist Visits Mills
On Friday afternoon, we were very pleased to have a visit from Dr. Meria Carstarphen, the sole finalist for the Austin ISD Superintendent. She visited classrooms, interacting extensively with students, and met several parents and teachers during dismissal. She was very warm and gracious and we enjoyed being able to show Mills off. Board member Robert Schneider, Board president Mark Williams and district administrators Claudia Tousek and Ariel Cloud accompanied her. There will be an article in the Oak Hill Gazette next week, and the Board is expected to formally appoint her as Superintendent on March 23, after a state required 21 day waiting period.
Spring Break
As I'm sure you know, Spring Break for AISD will be Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, and school will resume on Monday, March 23. I'm looking forward to just taking it easy, and I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing break.
Science Day
All of us at Mills are looking forward to this Friday, not just because it's the last day before spring break, but because it's Science Day. Students will have an opportunity to visit four different sessions in the morning, and we will have a special Spanish program in the afternoon. We invite you to join us for the Spanish program to see the wonderful things that your children are learning.
March 3 2009
Campus Advisory Council
Just a reminder to submit your application if you’re interested in serving on CAC. Applications are available in the office or online at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/cac/, and are due by March 29. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
If you have a 5th grader going to Small Middle School, they are accepting applications for their CAC through March 6. The new southwest middle school is also still accepting CAC applications.
Mills Students Winners at Austin Energy Science Festival
Congratulations to the following Mills students who placed at the Austin Energy Science Festival: 1st graders Fadi Elasad, Braxton Hedgcoth, Isaiah Karas, and David Sun; 2nd graders Ethan Dougherty, Stephen Gross, Belle Marley, Seyi Odufuye, Alyssa Poole, Simoon Saiyed, and Ashwin Tyagi; 3rd graders Sarah Baber, Abhi Dhir, and Avila Dye; 4th graders Emma Drake and Marcela Palomo; and 5th graders Sean McDonald and Courtney Simonetti. Sean McDonald and Courtney Simonetti also received the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge Award. We are very proud of their excellent work and accomplishments.
Feb 22, 2009
Mills Teacher of the Year
First Grade teacher Marla Gilliland has been named the Mills Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2009. This is Marla's 4th year at Mills, after teaching for 3 years at Odom Elementary. She also attained National Board Certification this year, so we are exceptionally proud of her accomplishments. She will be honored by the campus and at a district ceremony in May. We also want to congratulate the two other finalists, 3rd grade teacher Suzanna Ammenheuser and 5th grade teacher Kathy Renfro.
Principal's Coffee
This month's Principal's Coffee will be held Friday, February 27 from 8:00 to 9:30. I hope you'll be able to join us for this opportunity to talk about Mills in an informal setting. I always enjoy hearing what's on your mind. Feel free to come and go - we'll be in the library, beginning at 8:00.
TAKS
Our first round of TAKS testing begins Tuesday, March 3, with 4th grade writing and 3rd and 5th grade reading. The reading tests are given early because there is a promotion requirement tied to reading at 3rd and 5th grades. Any students who don't pass the first time will have an opportunity to take it again in late April. We will also do make-up testing for students who were absent for the reading tests on Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 and 5.
CAC Openings
We have several parent openings on our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) for the 2009-2010 school year, and I'd like to encourage you to apply. It doesn't require a huge time commitment (2 hours once a month plus a couple of hours of committee work during the year) - but gives you an opportunity to be a part of the process as decisions are made about the instructional programs and policies that affect your children. The CAC meets on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00, in the Mills library. If you have any questions about the role and responsibility of CAC members, there is information available on the AISD website (http://www.austinisd.org/inside/cac/) or you can contact me at
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. Applications are available in the front office or on the website and are due by March 29. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
More Information on Parking
We sent a notice home a few weeks ago about not parking in the front circle drive, which is a fire lane. Well, we have now been notified by the AISD police that beginning
March 1, they will start ticketing cars parked in this fire lane. So be aware that if you park in the front drive at any time, for any reason, you are at risk of being ticketed.
Feb 2/16/2009
Can you pass the TAKS?
Come to the PTA meeting on Monday, February 23 and find out. We will be providing information about the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) that students in third through 5th grade are required to take every year. We will have examples of all the tests that are administered at each grade level and by participating, you will have the chance to win a homework pass for your child. Come see if you’re “as smart as” a fifth grader.
Magazine Sale
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the magazine sale. We’ll be wrapping it up this week and really appreciate your support of professional development and technology at Mills.
Middle School Principals at Mills
Amy Taylor, principal of Clint Small Middle School and Vicki Bauerle, principal of the new southwest middle school will be at Mills on Thursday, February 19 to meet with 5th grade parents and answer questions about their schools and the transition from 5th grade to middle school. All 5th grade parents are invited to join us at 8:00 Thursday morning in the library.
Feb 2/10/2009
Registration Change for 2009-2010
If you have moved out of the Mills attendance area and would like to request a transfer for next year, forms are available in the front office. District policy states that if a student moves in the middle of a school year, they may remain at their current campus through the end of that school year, but must request a transfer for the following year. Mills will continue to be frozen to transfers, but depending on the circumstances and space available at particular grade levels, we may be able to approve a very limited number of requests. We anticipate a beginning enrollment of approximately 1070 in the August of 2009, so when the registration forms are distributed later this spring, we will be asking everyone to provide proof of residence, such as an electric bill, lease or contract to purchase. For more information regarding transfers, please go to the AISD website. http://www.austinisd.org/academics/parentsinfo/transfer/
If you need to update your address with the front office, please Maria Bradley in the front office at
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with any changes.
Traffic Issues
Well, I haven’t said much about traffic lately, but I think there are a couple of things we need to reinforce. First of all, please do not stop on Davis next to parked cars to let students out. Not only is it dangerous, it is illegal and blocks traffic. We have had several instances where someone was nearly hit because of this situation. I realize time is an issue for everyone, but it’s certainly not worth a child being hurt. Please take the time to park or go through the either the front drive or bus lane. This also applies to parents crossing Davis in the middle of the street through oncoming traffic. Another concern is parents letting students out on the street on both Lantana and La Siesta Bend, and with the amount of traffic on both streets, this can be dangerous as well.
And as always, please use the crosswalks at either end of the front drive. Every day I see someone crossing the front drive with children, walking in between cars as they are moving through the line. The vast majority of our parents are very cognizant of our safety rules and support our efforts to get over 1050 students in and out of school safely every day. But for those of you who just aren’t paying attention or blatantly ignoring our requests to act responsibly and safely, please consider the possible consequences of your actions.
Reminder of Student Holidays
Just a reminder that students will have a holiday on Friday, February 13 for Professional Development for staff and on Monday, February 16 for Parent Conference Day.
Feb 2/2009
Middle School Boundaries
As you probably know by now, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees has voted on the boundaries for the new middle school, and Mills will be divided between the new school and Small Middle School. I don't have a list of the streets within each of those attendance areas yet, but there is a boundary map in our front entry with street names on it. I want everyone to know that we will be working very closely with the principals of both middle schools to insure a good transition. I know many of you are very disappointed that all of Mills will not be going to the new school, but as we speak with students, we will be emphasizing the advantages of both schools. While those students attending the new school (hopefully they will name it soon!) will get to be part of creating something new, those who stay at Small will be part of an already outstanding middle school with a rich history of Mills students. As we schedule meetings and activities with both middle schools and their principals, we'll let you know.
This weeks' folder
There are two very important pieces of information coming home in Tuesday folders this week. You will be receiving the school report card from the Texas Education Agency, which reports our assessment information from last spring. It's pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions at all, please let me know. The other thing is the ordering information for the magazine sale. We will have a brief assembly with students Tuesday afternoon to let them know about the sale. While we are trying to keep it low pressure, there will be some prizes available, and on Tuesday afternoon after school, students will be able to see the Games2U truck, which is one things offered as a prize. We hope you will support the sale, with all funds raised going toward professional development for the staff and classroom technology.
Jan 26 2009
Boundary Issues
In addition to the ongoing discussions regarding the middle school boundaries, there have been lots of questions regarding the possible re-drawing of elementary school boundaries to provide Mills with some relief for our overcrowding. If boundaries are re-drawn, it would be part of the process of determining the boundaries for the new elementary school in the Meridian subdivision that will be opening the fall of 2010. While none of our students would attend Meridian, it’s possible that the boundary task force would look at options for providing relief for Mills at the same time. While we all feel that some relief would be welcome, it’s also a very difficult and emotional situation when you have to think about some of our Mills families going to another school. I want the Mills community to know that we plan to be pro-active in looking at ways that we could obtain some relief in a way that does not disrupt current students and families. At the February meeting, I will ask the Campus Advisory Council to form a sub-committee to begin looking at this issue. I also want to assure the community that we are not interested in a one year “quick fix”, but want a well thought out, long term solution.
Next year, one of our pre-kindergarten classes that is made up of Kiker and Clayton students will likely be moved to Kiker Elementary, but there are no plans for any other changes next year. In terms of space, we will need to convert the PE portable to classrooms and probably add one more portable. But we will have classroom space for all our students next year. I appreciate everyone’s (staff, students and parents) resourcefulness and flexibility this year as we have dealt with the unexpected growth and the challenges it has caused. With a projected enrollment next year of at least 1070, we will certainly still have challenges, but we will deal with them in a positive, pro-active way that will be in the best interests of our students.
Magazine Sale
Our spring magazine sale will begin February 4, and students will bring information home on February 3. This is a school fundraiser, not a PTA fundraiser, and we choose to do a magazine sale because it promotes literacy and allows you to purchase something of value that you probably are already purchasing. The funds raised will support technology for the classrooms, as well as professional development for our staff. We’ll have more information next week, so be on the lookout for it.
Jan 6th 2009
Parent Connection
Mills parents will soon be able to view their child’s grades and attendance records on-line, thanks to Parent Connection, a new service that will be activated at all AISD campuses by January 16.
From any computer with Internet access, parents will be able to view assignments, current grades, and attendance of students in grades 3-12. Parents of students in kindergarten through grade 2 will be able to view attendance records and report cards. Parents will also be able to request a notification by email if their child’s attendance or grades drop to a specific threshold.
Letters will be mailed to Mills parents on January 16 informing them of how to access the service, along with a personal identification number — a PIN — that will enable them to view their child’s records. In addition, we will be providing information about this new system at the next general PTA meetingon Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30pm.
Principal’s Coffee
I hope you can join us for the Principal’s Coffee on Friday, January 23 in the Mills library. I really enjoy the opportunity to just sit down with parents and have an informal discussion about things that are on your mind or you want more information about. It is very casual, and we start at 8:00, but you’re welcome to come and go as fits your schedule.
Student Holidays
We have several student holidays in January and February. Monday, January 19 is a schoolwide holiday for Martin Luther King Day, and Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 14 are student holidays. Friday is a professional development day for teachers and Monday s our spring parent conference day.
November 17, 2008
New Fence Installed
We’re happy to report that the back area of the school, by the teacher parking lot and kindergarten playground is now enclosed. We have always considered it a safety concern that this area was open and accessible to anyone during the day, and are grateful that the district has installed a fence to enclose it. There will be 3 gates in the fence, and it will not be locked on the weekends so that neighborhood families have access to the playground and track.
Thanksgiving Holiday
Students and staff will be out of school for the Thanksgiving Holiday on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1. Because of this extended time off, we will not send Tuesday folders home on November 25.
Thanksgiving Sing-a-long
One of our favorite traditions at Mills is our Thanksgiving Sing-along. This annual event will be held Tuesday, November 25 at 1:45 in the cafeteria. Parents are always welcome, just be aware that seating is somewhat limited when we bring all 1040 students into the cafeteria and gym. It lasts about 30 minutes, and is a great way to start the Thanksgiving holiday.
Principal’s Coffee
There will be a Principal’s Coffee this Friday, November 21, from 8:00 to 9:30 am in the library. Feel free to come and go when it is convenient for you. I enjoy having the opportunity to spend an extended time visiting with parents in an informal setting, so I hope you’ll join me.
November 10, 2008
Calendar Draft A
The Mills CAC has voted unanimously to recommend that the district adopt Draft A of the calendar for the 2009-2010 school year. This calendar is very similar to this year's calendar, with the semester ending at the winter break and student holidays on the Friday before winter break and the Monday after the break. We'll let you know which calendar the Board of Trustees adopts.
November Principal's Coffee
The November Principal's coffee will be held Friday, November 21, from 8:00 - 9:30 in the Mills library. We hope you can join us for the opportunity to visit with parents informally.
Safety Procedures
In light of the incident last week that required us to secure the campus, I thought I would give you some additional information about some of our safety procedures at Mills. We have a staff crisis committee that periodically reviews our procedures and makes recommendations for revisions to our emergency plan. In the past we have held "Red Bear" drills, which would address a situation in which an intruder was in the building and we needed students to be out of sight in the classroom. However, we have realized that the situation that occurred Tuesday was a more likely scenario than an actual intruder, and we need to have procedures for both events. In addition, we have been advised that we should not use codes when evacuating or securing the building. It is important that everyone in the building know exactly what is happening and what to do, so we will no longer refer to "Red Bear" drills, and will add a drill to simply secure the campus. Other drills include monthly fire drills and tornado drills that occur once in the fall and once in the spring.
Parking
I know that parking can be difficult at peak times, but I'd like to ask your cooperation in not parking in assigned spaces. It is not uncommon for a staff member to leave during the day and return, and it's important that their parking spaces be available. It can also be a safety issue, as it was one day when the nurse came to take care of an emergency and her space was taken, with no others available, so it delayed her in getting into the building.
Traffic
Those of you who have been at Mills for awhile know that traffic has been an issue here since day one. But this year, there is a marked increase in the number of cars and pedestrians at arrival and dismissal. So it is especially important that we stay aware of and try to prevent dangerous practices. Please, please pay attention to your speed - there are 20 mph speed zones on Davis and Lantana that are routinely ignored. It has also been brought to my attention that cars routinely block the crosswalk at the exit of the front circle drive onto Davis, so please be aware of where you are stopping, so that pedestrians can cross safely.
November 3 2008
Leftover Halloween Candy?
If you would like to bring any leftover Halloween candy to the school this week, we will make arrangements to have it donated to a food bank.
Please note the Veteran's Day Program has been changed to the morning of November 11. We will begin at 8:45 and have a wonderful selection of choral readings and patriotic songs to honor our country's veterans. Please invite any veterans, friends and family toeterans, friends and family to attend thisspan>
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
Austin ISD Calendar for 2009-2010
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at
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.
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results
Mills held a mock presidential election on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
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.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
New Special Area Staff
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
%lunteer Appreciation Breakfast
Pry to acknowledge our wonderful volunteers. We will be also e Roaring Reading program.
May 18 2009
Keep those supplies!
Please don't throw away spiral notebooks, binders, pencils, markers, etc. that are not completely used. We will be setting up collection boxes for students to donate these items. They are also able to use backpacks shoes, clothing, and sports equipment. We have done this the last few years, and it has been very successful. Collection boxes will be available soon.
End of Year Activities
We'll be having our Track and Field Days this week - Early childhood and Pre-K are on Monday, May 18; Kinder and 1st grade are on Tuesday, May 19; 2nd & 3rd grade are on Wednesday, May 20; and 4th and 5th grade are on Friday, May 22. And remember that Monday, May 25 is the Memorial Day holiday, and there will be no school. The last day of school for students will be Wednesday, June 3, and there are several special events planned.
The 5th grade graduation will be at a different time this year, beginning at 11:30. We will have the end-of-year slide shows at 8:15 and 9:00, and the lowering of the flag will take place around 2:25. Please feel free to join us se feel free to join us for the slide show and lowering of the flag - they are very spec/p>
Last Principal's Coffee
The last principal's coffee of the year will be this Friday, May 22 at 8:00 in the Mills library - I hope you can join us.
May 11 2009
Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast
If you volunteer at Mills in ANY capacity, whether it's stuffing Tuesday folders, coaching with Roaring Readers, helping in the library, assisting in the classroom, or working with PTA - we want to express our thanks for your service. Please join us on Wednesday. join us on Wednesday, May 27 at 8:30 in the Mills Library. We'll be r of the Year, as well as several parents who have made significant contributions this year. Please come help us thank all the parents who provide the support we need to be the wonderful school that we are. Invitations will be coming home as well, but I wanted you to be sure and mark your calendars.
More Staffing News
We are happy to announce the addition of 3 more new teachers to Mills next year. Joining us at 3rd grade will be Inez Gibbs, who is transferring from Dawson Elementary and Pam Bayer, a Mills parent who has taught previously and substituted extensively for us this year. They will both be outstanding additions to the 3rd grade team. The fourth grade team will be welcoming another Mills parent, Kristen McPike, who most recently taught at Barton Creek Elementary in the Eanes district. We are very excited about all three of these outstanding educators joining the Mills family.
4th grade musical
Ms. Tannert and the 4th grade choir will present Mystery in Moonlight for family and friends on Thursday, May 14 at 7:00. For those of you who have seen one of Ms. Tannert's productions, you know how wonderful they are, and we invite everyone to join us for this special event.
Retirement Party for Deborah Husak
Everyone is cordially invited to join us
to celebrate the illustrious teaching career of
Deborah Husak as she retires from Austin ISD
May 15th at 3:00 PM in the
Mills Elementary library.
May 4 2009
Staffing Update
We are very happy to announce two new additions to the Mills staff for next year. We will be welcoming 2 experienced Austin ISD teachers to our primary teams. Tami Seal, a National Board Certified teacher, will be transferring from Boone Elementary to teach 1st grade, and Heather Smith will be coming from Hart Elementary to teach 2nd grade. We know they will both be tremendous assets to Mills and we look forward to having them on board.
However we are very sorry to announce that third grade teacher Mimi Halferty has decided to take on the challenge of middle school, and will be leaving Mills to teach 6th grade science at Goryzicki Middle School. We are glad she has the opportunity to focus on science, but we’ll certainly miss her. So we will have two new teachers at third grade and one at fourth. We have begun interviewing and hope to complete hiring by next week.
April 27
5th grade Math TAKS
5th grade students will be receiving their Math TAKS results this week. Our students and staff are to be commended for their hard work- overall, we did very well, with 94% of all students passing. Since there is a promotion requirement tied to the 5th grade math test, those students who didn't pass are receiving extra support and will take a re-test on May 19.
Safety Reminders
Please be aware that the doors at the ends of the building that leads into the downstairs hallways are not authorized entrances. ALL parents and students should enter through the main entrance to access the downstairs hallway with pre-K, 2nd, and 3rd grade classrooms. I am especially concerned about this door by the stairwell being used as an entrance - it would be very easy for someone to slip into the building unnoticed. Please do not use this door as an entrance and do not open the door for other parents.
If your children walk or bike down Davis Lane and come across the hill, please remind them that teachers may be turning into the parking area and to be very careful as they come down the hill. They should also always walk their bikes or scooters down the hill.
Another staffing change
It is with extremely mixed feelings that we announce the retirement of 4th grade teacher Deborah Husak. While she has decided it is time to retire from teaching, she is looking forward to a new beginning in her life and pursuing other opportunities. Ms. Husak has been at Mills since it opened and will be sorely missed, but we are happy that she is able end a very successful career and begin a new chapter in her life.
This means we will have an opening in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. We will begin interviewing next week, and will keep you apprised of new hires.
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP
Tuesday, May 5
8:30-10:00 am
Mills Elementary School (Cafeteria)
6201 Davis Lane
Bring original and a copy of your child's:
- Birth Certificate
- Social Security Card
- 2 Copies of Immunization Records
- Parent's Driver's License
- Proof of Residence (Current Utility Bill, Lease or Home Contract)
April 20
Principal’s Coffee
I’d like to invite everyone to the Principal’s Coffee this Friday, April 24, from 8:00 – 9:30 in the Mills Library. This is a very informal discussion of issues relating to Mills – we have addressed a wide variety of topics this year. If you’ve never attended, I hope you’ll stop by. I really enjoy having an opportunity to visit with parents informally and find out what’s on your mind.
TAKS Testing next week
Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades will all be taking TAKS test next week. On Tuesday, April 28, students in 3rd and 4th grades will take the math test; on Wednesday, April 29, 4th grade students will take the reading test; and on Thursday, April 30, 5th graders will take the science test. We should receive the results this week from the 5th grade math test that was given April 7. I know the testing is stressful for our students (and staff), but we encourage them to view it as an opportunity to demonstrate their learning and show what they know.
Parent Input Forms
There are forms for parent input to class placement for next year in the front office and available for download here. We appreciate your input and hope the form has provided a better way for you to communicate with us. If you’ve turned yours in, but haven’t received an acknowledgement by e-mail, don’t worry, I’m a little behind, but will get caught up with everyone this week.
Staff Changes
It’s that time of year when we start thinking about staffing changes and hiring new staff. We are very sorry to announce that Suzanna Ammenheuser will be transferring to Casis Elementary School next year. Suzanna began her teaching career at Mills 10 years ago, and we will certainly miss her leadership and expertise. But we understand that sometimes we all need change, and this is an opportunity for her to teach in another excellent school, so we wish her all the best.
We will be adding a fifth grade class next year, for a total of 6, and 1st grade teacher Kristen Masch will be filling that position. Kristen came to us last year after taking a couple of years off from teaching, and has extensive experience at 5th grade, so will will make a great addition to the 5th grade team.
We’ll keep you apprised of other changes as they happen.
April 13
New Check-in procedures
We have an enhancement to our check-in system - you can now sign yourself in and print a visitor or volunteer badge, and also sign yourself out. It's very easy and the front office staff will be happy to assist you. Also, please remember that if you are going to have lunch with your child or even drop lunch off in the cafeteria, you still need to sign in. Since this is always a busy time in the office, please allow yourself a little extra time to sign in.
Spring Dates
Spring is always a really busy time at Mills, so I thought I'd list the major dates to be aware of through the end of the year.
April 18 Spring Festival
April 20 PTA Meeting - election of officers
April 28-30 TAKS Administration - 3rd & 4th grade Math ; 4th grade reading; 5th grade Science
April 4-8 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week
May 14 4th grade choir musical
May 15 5th grade goes to MO Ranch
May 18 PTA Meeting
May 25 Memorial Day Holiday for students & staff
May 29 Student Talent Shows (by grade level)
June 3 Last Day of School/5th Grade Graduation
Track & Field Days Schedule
May 18 - EC & PK
May 19 - Kinder & 1st
May 20 - 2nd & 3rd
May 22 - 4th & 5th
April 6th
Responding to Recent Incidents
We continue to be concerned about the recent incidents where students have been approached by strangers. In addition to increasing our security measures on campus, our counselors, Linda Whatley and Merlyn Rodenberg have been visiting classrooms to discuss what students should do if approached. We are also sending a flyer on “Stranger Danger” home with students in this week’s Tuesday folder. This is published by the Austin Police Department and contains excellent information. We encourage you to read and discuss it with your children. We are also working with Austin ISD Police to set up a parent information night and hope to have more information about that in the next couple of days. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or either of the counselors.
March 30 2009
Mills Students in AISD Art Show
We are very proud of the following Mills students whose artwork will be displayed in the 2009 Austin ISD Student Art Show:
K -- Hannah Bierwag
1st -- Gillian Griffis, Fadi Elasad
2nd -- Annastasia Ortiz, Nicole Ramirez, Diane Shan, Samantha Seamon, Ann Minton, Rafe Brown, Payton Pagan, Belle Marley, Nicole Garcia
3rd -- Natalie Guerra, Emily Carroll, Jude Donahue, Gabriella Pulsifer, Skyler Bendt
4th -- Alexandra McLennan, Addison Bayer, Alexander Baker, Catie Smith, Momoko Tokuda, Stefanie Necak, Marcela Palomo, Alexi Curtis
5th -- Judy Shan, Hannah Willard, Abby Darrow, Maddison Crab
March 23 2009
Welcome Back
I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing spring break. The kids certainly looked refreshed this morning and seemed happy to be back. As we start our final nine weeks, we will start planning for next year as we find out about staffing changes and have more information from Kindergarten Roundup in May. In April, we will be providing a form for you to provide input regarding your child's placement for next year. It will be available online and in the front office.
NO Principal's Coffee in March
The Principal's Coffee on March 27 will have to be re-scheduled, due to a conflict with a District meeting. Please check the website and the next Mills Messenger for a new date.
CAC Vacancies
We are still accepting applications to serve on the Campus Advisory Council. This is a great way to be involved that doesn't require a big time commitment. CAC discusses and provides input on instructional and curriculum issues, campus improvement, budget, and staff development, among other things. The meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00. Applications are available in the front office or on the AISD website (www.austinisd.org) and are due by this Friday, March 27. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
Initial TAKS Results are in
We received our results for the 3rd and 5th grade Reading TAKS which was administered on March 3, and our students did very well. 97% (with 82% commended) of 3rd grade students and 98% (with 60% commended) of 5th grade students passed the first administration. Our staff and students are to be congratulated for their hard work and this outstanding achievement. Because of the promotion requirement tied to passing TAKS at 3rd & 5th grades, the students who didn't meet the passing standard will receive additional intervention and take the test again in late April.
March 16 2009
Superintendent Finalist Visits Mills
On Friday afternoon, we were very pleased to have a visit from Dr. Meria Carstarphen, the sole finalist for the Austin ISD Superintendent. She visited classrooms, interacting extensively with students, and met several parents and teachers during dismissal. She was very warm and gracious and we enjoyed being able to show Mills off. Board member Robert Schneider, Board president Mark Williams and district administrators Claudia Tousek and Ariel Cloud accompanied her. There will be an article in the Oak Hill Gazette next week, and the Board is expected to formally appoint her as Superintendent on March 23, after a state required 21 day waiting period.
Spring Break
As I'm sure you know, Spring Break for AISD will be Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 20, and school will resume on Monday, March 23. I'm looking forward to just taking it easy, and I hope everyone has a fun, relaxing break.
Science Day
All of us at Mills are looking forward to this Friday, not just because it's the last day before spring break, but because it's Science Day. Students will have an opportunity to visit four different sessions in the morning, and we will have a special Spanish program in the afternoon. We invite you to join us for the Spanish program to see the wonderful things that your children are learning.
March 3 2009
Campus Advisory Council
Just a reminder to submit your application if you’re interested in serving on CAC. Applications are available in the office or online at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/cac/, and are due by March 29. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
If you have a 5th grader going to Small Middle School, they are accepting applications for their CAC through March 6. The new southwest middle school is also still accepting CAC applications.
Mills Students Winners at Austin Energy Science Festival
Congratulations to the following Mills students who placed at the Austin Energy Science Festival: 1st graders Fadi Elasad, Braxton Hedgcoth, Isaiah Karas, and David Sun; 2nd graders Ethan Dougherty, Stephen Gross, Belle Marley, Seyi Odufuye, Alyssa Poole, Simoon Saiyed, and Ashwin Tyagi; 3rd graders Sarah Baber, Abhi Dhir, and Avila Dye; 4th graders Emma Drake and Marcela Palomo; and 5th graders Sean McDonald and Courtney Simonetti. Sean McDonald and Courtney Simonetti also received the Discovery Young Scientist Challenge Award. We are very proud of their excellent work and accomplishments.
Feb 22, 2009
Mills Teacher of the Year
First Grade teacher Marla Gilliland has been named the Mills Elementary Teacher of the Year for 2009. This is Marla's 4th year at Mills, after teaching for 3 years at Odom Elementary. She also attained National Board Certification this year, so we are exceptionally proud of her accomplishments. She will be honored by the campus and at a district ceremony in May. We also want to congratulate the two other finalists, 3rd grade teacher Suzanna Ammenheuser and 5th grade teacher Kathy Renfro.
Principal's Coffee
This month's Principal's Coffee will be held Friday, February 27 from 8:00 to 9:30. I hope you'll be able to join us for this opportunity to talk about Mills in an informal setting. I always enjoy hearing what's on your mind. Feel free to come and go - we'll be in the library, beginning at 8:00.
TAKS
Our first round of TAKS testing begins Tuesday, March 3, with 4th grade writing and 3rd and 5th grade reading. The reading tests are given early because there is a promotion requirement tied to reading at 3rd and 5th grades. Any students who don't pass the first time will have an opportunity to take it again in late April. We will also do make-up testing for students who were absent for the reading tests on Wednesday and Thursday, March 4 and 5.
CAC Openings
We have several parent openings on our Campus Advisory Council (CAC) for the 2009-2010 school year, and I'd like to encourage you to apply. It doesn't require a huge time commitment (2 hours once a month plus a couple of hours of committee work during the year) - but gives you an opportunity to be a part of the process as decisions are made about the instructional programs and policies that affect your children. The CAC meets on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:00 to 5:00, in the Mills library. If you have any questions about the role and responsibility of CAC members, there is information available on the AISD website (http://www.austinisd.org/inside/cac/) or you can contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
. Applications are available in the front office or on the website and are due by March 29. New members will be selected at the April CAC meeting, and the two year term will officially begin with the May meeting.
More Information on Parking
We sent a notice home a few weeks ago about not parking in the front circle drive, which is a fire lane. Well, we have now been notified by the AISD police that beginning
March 1, they will start ticketing cars parked in this fire lane. So be aware that if you park in the front drive at any time, for any reason, you are at risk of being ticketed.
Feb 2/16/2009
Can you pass the TAKS?
Come to the PTA meeting on Monday, February 23 and find out. We will be providing information about the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) that students in third through 5th grade are required to take every year. We will have examples of all the tests that are administered at each grade level and by participating, you will have the chance to win a homework pass for your child. Come see if you’re “as smart as” a fifth grader.
Magazine Sale
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the magazine sale. We’ll be wrapping it up this week and really appreciate your support of professional development and technology at Mills.
Middle School Principals at Mills
Amy Taylor, principal of Clint Small Middle School and Vicki Bauerle, principal of the new southwest middle school will be at Mills on Thursday, February 19 to meet with 5th grade parents and answer questions about their schools and the transition from 5th grade to middle school. All 5th grade parents are invited to join us at 8:00 Thursday morning in the library.
Feb 2/10/2009
Registration Change for 2009-2010
If you have moved out of the Mills attendance area and would like to request a transfer for next year, forms are available in the front office. District policy states that if a student moves in the middle of a school year, they may remain at their current campus through the end of that school year, but must request a transfer for the following year. Mills will continue to be frozen to transfers, but depending on the circumstances and space available at particular grade levels, we may be able to approve a very limited number of requests. We anticipate a beginning enrollment of approximately 1070 in the August of 2009, so when the registration forms are distributed later this spring, we will be asking everyone to provide proof of residence, such as an electric bill, lease or contract to purchase. For more information regarding transfers, please go to the AISD website. http://www.austinisd.org/academics/parentsinfo/transfer/
If you need to update your address with the front office, please Maria Bradley in the front office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with any changes.
Traffic Issues
Well, I haven’t said much about traffic lately, but I think there are a couple of things we need to reinforce. First of all, please do not stop on Davis next to parked cars to let students out. Not only is it dangerous, it is illegal and blocks traffic. We have had several instances where someone was nearly hit because of this situation. I realize time is an issue for everyone, but it’s certainly not worth a child being hurt. Please take the time to park or go through the either the front drive or bus lane. This also applies to parents crossing Davis in the middle of the street through oncoming traffic. Another concern is parents letting students out on the street on both Lantana and La Siesta Bend, and with the amount of traffic on both streets, this can be dangerous as well.
And as always, please use the crosswalks at either end of the front drive. Every day I see someone crossing the front drive with children, walking in between cars as they are moving through the line. The vast majority of our parents are very cognizant of our safety rules and support our efforts to get over 1050 students in and out of school safely every day. But for those of you who just aren’t paying attention or blatantly ignoring our requests to act responsibly and safely, please consider the possible consequences of your actions.
Reminder of Student Holidays
Just a reminder that students will have a holiday on Friday, February 13 for Professional Development for staff and on Monday, February 16 for Parent Conference Day.
Feb 2/2009
Middle School Boundaries
As you probably know by now, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees has voted on the boundaries for the new middle school, and Mills will be divided between the new school and Small Middle School. I don't have a list of the streets within each of those attendance areas yet, but there is a boundary map in our front entry with street names on it. I want everyone to know that we will be working very closely with the principals of both middle schools to insure a good transition. I know many of you are very disappointed that all of Mills will not be going to the new school, but as we speak with students, we will be emphasizing the advantages of both schools. While those students attending the new school (hopefully they will name it soon!) will get to be part of creating something new, those who stay at Small will be part of an already outstanding middle school with a rich history of Mills students. As we schedule meetings and activities with both middle schools and their principals, we'll let you know.
This weeks' folder
There are two very important pieces of information coming home in Tuesday folders this week. You will be receiving the school report card from the Texas Education Agency, which reports our assessment information from last spring. It's pretty self-explanatory, but if you have any questions at all, please let me know. The other thing is the ordering information for the magazine sale. We will have a brief assembly with students Tuesday afternoon to let them know about the sale. While we are trying to keep it low pressure, there will be some prizes available, and on Tuesday afternoon after school, students will be able to see the Games2U truck, which is one things offered as a prize. We hope you will support the sale, with all funds raised going toward professional development for the staff and classroom technology.
Jan 26 2009
Boundary Issues
In addition to the ongoing discussions regarding the middle school boundaries, there have been lots of questions regarding the possible re-drawing of elementary school boundaries to provide Mills with some relief for our overcrowding. If boundaries are re-drawn, it would be part of the process of determining the boundaries for the new elementary school in the Meridian subdivision that will be opening the fall of 2010. While none of our students would attend Meridian, it’s possible that the boundary task force would look at options for providing relief for Mills at the same time. While we all feel that some relief would be welcome, it’s also a very difficult and emotional situation when you have to think about some of our Mills families going to another school. I want the Mills community to know that we plan to be pro-active in looking at ways that we could obtain some relief in a way that does not disrupt current students and families. At the February meeting, I will ask the Campus Advisory Council to form a sub-committee to begin looking at this issue. I also want to assure the community that we are not interested in a one year “quick fix”, but want a well thought out, long term solution.
Next year, one of our pre-kindergarten classes that is made up of Kiker and Clayton students will likely be moved to Kiker Elementary, but there are no plans for any other changes next year. In terms of space, we will need to convert the PE portable to classrooms and probably add one more portable. But we will have classroom space for all our students next year. I appreciate everyone’s (staff, students and parents) resourcefulness and flexibility this year as we have dealt with the unexpected growth and the challenges it has caused. With a projected enrollment next year of at least 1070, we will certainly still have challenges, but we will deal with them in a positive, pro-active way that will be in the best interests of our students.
Magazine Sale
Our spring magazine sale will begin February 4, and students will bring information home on February 3. This is a school fundraiser, not a PTA fundraiser, and we choose to do a magazine sale because it promotes literacy and allows you to purchase something of value that you probably are already purchasing. The funds raised will support technology for the classrooms, as well as professional development for our staff. We’ll have more information next week, so be on the lookout for it.
Jan 6th 2009
Parent Connection
Mills parents will soon be able to view their child’s grades and attendance records on-line, thanks to Parent Connection, a new service that will be activated at all AISD campuses by January 16.
From any computer with Internet access, parents will be able to view assignments, current grades, and attendance of students in grades 3-12. Parents of students in kindergarten through grade 2 will be able to view attendance records and report cards. Parents will also be able to request a notification by email if their child’s attendance or grades drop to a specific threshold.
Letters will be mailed to Mills parents on January 16 informing them of how to access the service, along with a personal identification number — a PIN — that will enable them to view their child’s records. In addition, we will be providing information about this new system at the next general PTA meetingon Wednesday, January 28 at 6:30pm.
Principal’s Coffee
I hope you can join us for the Principal’s Coffee on Friday, January 23 in the Mills library. I really enjoy the opportunity to just sit down with parents and have an informal discussion about things that are on your mind or you want more information about. It is very casual, and we start at 8:00, but you’re welcome to come and go as fits your schedule.
Student Holidays
We have several student holidays in January and February. Monday, January 19 is a schoolwide holiday for Martin Luther King Day, and Friday, February 13 and Monday, February 14 are student holidays. Friday is a professional development day for teachers and Monday s our spring parent conference day.
November 17, 2008
New Fence Installed
We’re happy to report that the back area of the school, by the teacher parking lot and kindergarten playground is now enclosed. We have always considered it a safety concern that this area was open and accessible to anyone during the day, and are grateful that the district has installed a fence to enclose it. There will be 3 gates in the fence, and it will not be locked on the weekends so that neighborhood families have access to the playground and track.
Thanksgiving Holiday
Students and staff will be out of school for the Thanksgiving Holiday on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week. Classes will resume on Monday, December 1. Because of this extended time off, we will not send Tuesday folders home on November 25.
Thanksgiving Sing-a-long
One of our favorite traditions at Mills is our Thanksgiving Sing-along. This annual event will be held Tuesday, November 25 at 1:45 in the cafeteria. Parents are always welcome, just be aware that seating is somewhat limited when we bring all 1040 students into the cafeteria and gym. It lasts about 30 minutes, and is a great way to start the Thanksgiving holiday.
Principal’s Coffee
There will be a Principal’s Coffee this Friday, November 21, from 8:00 to 9:30 am in the library. Feel free to come and go when it is convenient for you. I enjoy having the opportunity to spend an extended time visiting with parents in an informal setting, so I hope you’ll join me.
November 10, 2008
Calendar Draft A
The Mills CAC has voted unanimously to recommend that the district adopt Draft A of the calendar for the 2009-2010 school year. This calendar is very similar to this year's calendar, with the semester ending at the winter break and student holidays on the Friday before winter break and the Monday after the break. We'll let you know which calendar the Board of Trustees adopts.
November Principal's Coffee
The November Principal's coffee will be held Friday, November 21, from 8:00 - 9:30 in the Mills library. We hope you can join us for the opportunity to visit with parents informally.
Safety Procedures
In light of the incident last week that required us to secure the campus, I thought I would give you some additional information about some of our safety procedures at Mills. We have a staff crisis committee that periodically reviews our procedures and makes recommendations for revisions to our emergency plan. In the past we have held "Red Bear" drills, which would address a situation in which an intruder was in the building and we needed students to be out of sight in the classroom. However, we have realized that the situation that occurred Tuesday was a more likely scenario than an actual intruder, and we need to have procedures for both events. In addition, we have been advised that we should not use codes when evacuating or securing the building. It is important that everyone in the building know exactly what is happening and what to do, so we will no longer refer to "Red Bear" drills, and will add a drill to simply secure the campus. Other drills include monthly fire drills and tornado drills that occur once in the fall and once in the spring.
Parking
I know that parking can be difficult at peak times, but I'd like to ask your cooperation in not parking in assigned spaces. It is not uncommon for a staff member to leave during the day and return, and it's important that their parking spaces be available. It can also be a safety issue, as it was one day when the nurse came to take care of an emergency and her space was taken, with no others available, so it delayed her in getting into the building.
Traffic
Those of you who have been at Mills for awhile know that traffic has been an issue here since day one. But this year, there is a marked increase in the number of cars and pedestrians at arrival and dismissal. So it is especially important that we stay aware of and try to prevent dangerous practices. Please, please pay attention to your speed - there are 20 mph speed zones on Davis and Lantana that are routinely ignored. It has also been brought to my attention that cars routinely block the crosswalk at the exit of the front circle drive onto Davis, so please be aware of where you are stopping, so that pedestrians can cross safely.
November 3 2008
Leftover Halloween Candy?
If you would like to bring any leftover Halloween candy to the school this week, we will make arrangements to have it donated to a food bank.
Please note the Veteran's Day Program has been changed to the morning of November 11. We will begin at 8:45 and have a wonderful selection of choral readings and patriotic songs to honor our country's veterans. Please invite any veterans, friends and family toeterans, friends and family to attend thisspan>
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
Austin ISD Calendar for 2009-2010
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results
Mills held a mock presidential election on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
New Special Area Staff
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
Please note the Veteran's Day Program has been changed to the morning of November 11. We will begin at 8:45 and have a wonderful selection of choral readings and patriotic songs to honor our country's veterans. Please invite any veterans, friends and family toeterans, friends and family to attend thisspan>
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
Austin ISD Calendar for 2009-2010
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results
Mills held a mock presidential election on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
| Months |
2008-2009 |
|
October/November |
Self-Discipline |
|
December/January |
%3 padding-top: 0in;">
Fairness
|
|
February/March |
Integrity |
|
April/May |
Trustworthiness |
For more information, please visit the AISD website http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sss/ce/
September 22, 2008 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Change in 4th grade plans
We had previously announced that we would be creating a new fourth grade class, however we felt that creating a new class and having it in the PE portable without bathrooms or plumbing was not the optimal situation for students. To compensate for the larger classes, we are using the additional 4th grade position to support all the 4th grade teachers in their classrooms.
Rachel Mainwaring will be joining the 4th grade team, and will work very closely with them to provide additional support to all students, for both enrichment and intervention. We envision an arrangement where she works with students in small groups and individually, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
I commend our fourth grade teachers for being willing to continue with larger classes and do what is best for their students. While this arrangement is certainly better for the students who would have gone to a new class, it will require a great deal of work and collaboration on the part of the teachers.
Ms. Mainwaring comes to us from Pennsylvania, where she spent two years working in a 4th grade classroom, both as an assistant and a student teacher. She has a Masters degree in Education, as well as a background in architecture, and we are very excited to have her join the Mills family. She will be housed in half the PE portable until we get the new classroom portable.
Traffic Reminders
If you are new to Mills, you may not be aware of the two crosswalks at either end of the front circle drive. Parents and students should always cross there, and not walk across the main circle drive. The amount of traffic is even higher this year, and it can be difficult for drivers to see people crossing. So PLEASE use the crosswalks at all times. Saving a few minutes isn’t worth someone getting hurt.
Also, a reminder that there is no right turn out of the bus lane onto Lantana in the mornings. There seem to be a lot more cars disregarding this restriction. Turning left really helps reduce the number of cars at the main crosswalk, so please help us out and take the long way around.
Two more quick things – remember that the speed limit is 20 miles per hour in the school zones on Davis and Lantana, and please use your blinkers when turning from Lantana into the main circle drive. It really helps me out!
September 15, 2008
Principal's Coffee changed
The first Principal's Coffee will be this Friday, September 19, rather than on the 26th. Please join me in the library between 8:00 and 9:30 for an informal discussion of issues affecting Mills and your children.
Portable Update
The conversion of the PE portable to classrooms is currently on hold. The district is trying very hard to find an additional portable for us that can be used for classrooms, and I hope to know more about the possibility of getting one next week.
Mills and Its Money
We thought it would be helpful to provide parents with some information about how Mills receives funds and how they are used. To put things in context, our enrollment is about 1035 students - we have 5.5 administrative and professional staff members, which includes the counselors, librarian and reading specialist; 49 regular classroom teachers (Pre-K-5); 6 special area teachers; 7 special education teachers; 10 special education teaching assistants; 8 MASCOT and childcare staff; 4 office staff; 5.5 custodians; and 5 cafeteria staff, totaling over 100 employees at Mills. Our main source of funding is Austin ISD, which allocates funds based on the number of students in each school, as well as the number of students who are considered economically disadvantaged. We also receive money for professional development based on the number of professional staff we have, and an allocation for cafeteria monitors.
A couple of notes: when teachers are absent due to sickness or take a personal day, their substitute is paid for from their sick and personal leave with the district. But whenever a teacher attends a workshop or is given school leave, the school pays for the substitute. We also pay for our copiers in the office and any equipment or computers we need, either for classrooms or the office. Our funds are budgeted with a focus on instruction and making sure that all students benefit.
This year, our budget is approximately $99,000 of which $37,500 is allocated to instructional supplies and materials; $18,000 for copier rental; $7,500 to staff development expenses; $13,000 for substitute teachers; $10,000 for stipends for after school tutoring and extra duty; $5,000 for the library; $2,000 for administrative and counseling supplies and professional development; $6,000 for lunch monitors. If money is not spent during the current budget year, it rolls over to the next year.
We also have money from various sources such as the vending machines, student pictures, and any additional fundraising done by the school. These funds total approximately $15,000 annually and go toward "extras", such as staff appreciation items, refreshments, additional staff development; additional instructional materials and equipment.
The Spanish program is designed to be self-supporting, as are the MASCOT and teacher daycare programs. Last year there was fundraiser dedicated to raising some additional funds for materials and supplies for the Spanish program.
We also request an enrichment fee each year to pay for extras such as t-shirts and field trips. The Mills PTA pays for scholarships for those students who are unable to pay the enrichment fee.
It's also important to understand that fundraising done by the PTA and the school are separate. PTA works closely with us to establish goals and to make sure the funds they use toward helping the school benefit as many students and teachers as possible. As soon as PTA determines its fall fundraiser, I will provide you with a breakdown of all the fees that are collected throughout the year, as well as our proposed fundraising activities and how those funds will be used.
September 8, 2008
In last week's Messsenger, I neglected to welcome the newest member of our staff, Kristen Masch, who is teaching first grade. Kristen is a very experienced teacher, whom many of our teachers knew from Patton Elementary. She had taken a couple of years off from teaching, but was ready to come back, and we are thrilled to have her at Mills. She did an incredible job of setting up a classroom in just a few days, and we were very fortunate to have someone with her experience and reputation to be able to step in at such a late date.
We will be adding a fourth grade class sometime in the next two weeks, due to increased enrollment at that grade level. We are doing it as quickly as we can, but we are waiting for the district to level classes' district wide and let us know whether a teacher will be transferred from another campus or we will hire someone. It's always difficult to create a new class, but with several classes over the state cap of 22 students, we don't have much choice. We will do everything we can to insure a smooth transition for the students who go into the new class.
To have a space for the new class, we will be converting the PE portable into classrooms. The district will add restrooms and a divider, as well as things like bookshelves and chalkboards. It's hard to lose that space, but we won't be able to get another portable since that one can be used for classrooms.
Chess Club sponsor needed
We are looking for volunteers to sponsor the chess club. This has been a very popular after school activity for several years, with 2nd grade teacher Ron Toran volunteering his time to sponsor the club. However, he is unable to continue as sponsor, so we're hoping there are some parents out there who play chess and would enjoy working with our students. Please email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you're interested.
August 27, 2008
Our first week back at school was great – it was wonderful to see everyone and how excited they were to be back. Our main challenge continues to be the size of the school. Our enrollment Friday was 1029, which is an increase of about 75 students from last year. Please be patient with our space and traffic issues, and we’ll keep you updated about any changes..
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
Back to School Nights
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
We look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. Parents of students in Pre-K/Early childhood through 2nd grade will meet with teachers on Tuesday, September 9, and on Wednesday, September 10, we will host parents of students in grades 3 through 5. This is an opportunity for teachers to share information about their classrooms and for you to learn more about your child’s teacher and what to expect during the coming year. Back to School Night is from 6:30 – 7:30 each night, and we request that you not bring your children. This night is designed to be to provide information to parents, and we are not able to supervise students during this time. Also, please be aware that this is not an Open House, teachers begin their presentations at 6:30.
Principal’s Coffees
Our first Principal’s Coffee will be on Friday, September 26. I started these meetings a few years ago to provide a time for me to visit with parents and discuss issues and topics of interest to them. The topics for discussion will be open, and I look forward to having an opportunity to visit with you informally. We will meet in the library at 8:00 am, but you are free to come and go as your schedule allows. The following are the dates for the coffees for the rest of the year:
October 24 February 27 May 22
November 21 March 27
January 30 April 24
Traffic, of course . . .
I can really see an increase this year in the number of cars and pedestrians during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. You received a sheet in your handbook with information regarding our procedures, but I wanted to emphasize a couple of things.
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
For more information, please visit the AISD website http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sss/ce/
September 22, 2008 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Change in 4th grade plans
We had previously announced that we would be creating a new fourth grade class, however we felt that creating a new class and having it in the PE portable without bathrooms or plumbing was not the optimal situation for students. To compensate for the larger classes, we are using the additional 4th grade position to support all the 4th grade teachers in their classrooms.
Rachel Mainwaring will be joining the 4th grade team, and will work very closely with them to provide additional support to all students, for both enrichment and intervention. We envision an arrangement where she works with students in small groups and individually, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
I commend our fourth grade teachers for being willing to continue with larger classes and do what is best for their students. While this arrangement is certainly better for the students who would have gone to a new class, it will require a great deal of work and collaboration on the part of the teachers.
Ms. Mainwaring comes to us from Pennsylvania, where she spent two years working in a 4th grade classroom, both as an assistant and a student teacher. She has a Masters degree in Education, as well as a background in architecture, and we are very excited to have her join the Mills family. She will be housed in half the PE portable until we get the new classroom portable.
Traffic Reminders
If you are new to Mills, you may not be aware of the two crosswalks at either end of the front circle drive. Parents and students should always cross there, and not walk across the main circle drive. The amount of traffic is even higher this year, and it can be difficult for drivers to see people crossing. So PLEASE use the crosswalks at all times. Saving a few minutes isn’t worth someone getting hurt.
Also, a reminder that there is no right turn out of the bus lane onto Lantana in the mornings. There seem to be a lot more cars disregarding this restriction. Turning left really helps reduce the number of cars at the main crosswalk, so please help us out and take the long way around.
Two more quick things – remember that the speed limit is 20 miles per hour in the school zones on Davis and Lantana, and please use your blinkers when turning from Lantana into the main circle drive. It really helps me out!
September 15, 2008
Principal's Coffee changed
The first Principal's Coffee will be this Friday, September 19, rather than on the 26th. Please join me in the library between 8:00 and 9:30 for an informal discussion of issues affecting Mills and your children.
Portable Update
The conversion of the PE portable to classrooms is currently on hold. The district is trying very hard to find an additional portable for us that can be used for classrooms, and I hope to know more about the possibility of getting one next week.
Mills and Its Money
We thought it would be helpful to provide parents with some information about how Mills receives funds and how they are used. To put things in context, our enrollment is about 1035 students - we have 5.5 administrative and professional staff members, which includes the counselors, librarian and reading specialist; 49 regular classroom teachers (Pre-K-5); 6 special area teachers; 7 special education teachers; 10 special education teaching assistants; 8 MASCOT and childcare staff; 4 office staff; 5.5 custodians; and 5 cafeteria staff, totaling over 100 employees at Mills. Our main source of funding is Austin ISD, which allocates funds based on the number of students in each school, as well as the number of students who are considered economically disadvantaged. We also receive money for professional development based on the number of professional staff we have, and an allocation for cafeteria monitors.
A couple of notes: when teachers are absent due to sickness or take a personal day, their substitute is paid for from their sick and personal leave with the district. But whenever a teacher attends a workshop or is given school leave, the school pays for the substitute. We also pay for our copiers in the office and any equipment or computers we need, either for classrooms or the office. Our funds are budgeted with a focus on instruction and making sure that all students benefit.
This year, our budget is approximately $99,000 of which $37,500 is allocated to instructional supplies and materials; $18,000 for copier rental; $7,500 to staff development expenses; $13,000 for substitute teachers; $10,000 for stipends for after school tutoring and extra duty; $5,000 for the library; $2,000 for administrative and counseling supplies and professional development; $6,000 for lunch monitors. If money is not spent during the current budget year, it rolls over to the next year.
We also have money from various sources such as the vending machines, student pictures, and any additional fundraising done by the school. These funds total approximately $15,000 annually and go toward "extras", such as staff appreciation items, refreshments, additional staff development; additional instructional materials and equipment.
The Spanish program is designed to be self-supporting, as are the MASCOT and teacher daycare programs. Last year there was fundraiser dedicated to raising some additional funds for materials and supplies for the Spanish program.
We also request an enrichment fee each year to pay for extras such as t-shirts and field trips. The Mills PTA pays for scholarships for those students who are unable to pay the enrichment fee.
It's also important to understand that fundraising done by the PTA and the school are separate. PTA works closely with us to establish goals and to make sure the funds they use toward helping the school benefit as many students and teachers as possible. As soon as PTA determines its fall fundraiser, I will provide you with a breakdown of all the fees that are collected throughout the year, as well as our proposed fundraising activities and how those funds will be used.
September 8, 2008
In last week's Messsenger, I neglected to welcome the newest member of our staff, Kristen Masch, who is teaching first grade. Kristen is a very experienced teacher, whom many of our teachers knew from Patton Elementary. She had taken a couple of years off from teaching, but was ready to come back, and we are thrilled to have her at Mills. She did an incredible job of setting up a classroom in just a few days, and we were very fortunate to have someone with her experience and reputation to be able to step in at such a late date.
We will be adding a fourth grade class sometime in the next two weeks, due to increased enrollment at that grade level. We are doing it as quickly as we can, but we are waiting for the district to level classes' district wide and let us know whether a teacher will be transferred from another campus or we will hire someone. It's always difficult to create a new class, but with several classes over the state cap of 22 students, we don't have much choice. We will do everything we can to insure a smooth transition for the students who go into the new class.
To have a space for the new class, we will be converting the PE portable into classrooms. The district will add restrooms and a divider, as well as things like bookshelves and chalkboards. It's hard to lose that space, but we won't be able to get another portable since that one can be used for classrooms.
Chess Club sponsor needed
We are looking for volunteers to sponsor the chess club. This has been a very popular after school activity for several years, with 2nd grade teacher Ron Toran volunteering his time to sponsor the club. However, he is unable to continue as sponsor, so we're hoping there are some parents out there who play chess and would enjoy working with our students. Please email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you're interested.
August 27, 2008
Our first week back at school was great – it was wonderful to see everyone and how excited they were to be back. Our main challenge continues to be the size of the school. Our enrollment Friday was 1029, which is an increase of about 75 students from last year. Please be patient with our space and traffic issues, and we’ll keep you updated about any changes..
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
Back to School Nights
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
We look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. Parents of students in Pre-K/Early childhood through 2nd grade will meet with teachers on Tuesday, September 9, and on Wednesday, September 10, we will host parents of students in grades 3 through 5. This is an opportunity for teachers to share information about their classrooms and for you to learn more about your child’s teacher and what to expect during the coming year. Back to School Night is from 6:30 – 7:30 each night, and we request that you not bring your children. This night is designed to be to provide information to parents, and we are not able to supervise students during this time. Also, please be aware that this is not an Open House, teachers begin their presentations at 6:30.
Principal’s Coffees
Our first Principal’s Coffee will be on Friday, September 26. I started these meetings a few years ago to provide a time for me to visit with parents and discuss issues and topics of interest to them. The topics for discussion will be open, and I look forward to having an opportunity to visit with you informally. We will meet in the library at 8:00 am, but you are free to come and go as your schedule allows. The following are the dates for the coffees for the rest of the year:
October 24 February 27 May 22
November 21 March 27
January 30 April 24
Traffic, of course . . .
I can really see an increase this year in the number of cars and pedestrians during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. You received a sheet in your handbook with information regarding our procedures, but I wanted to emphasize a couple of things.
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
For more information, please visit the AISD website http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sss/ce/
September 22, 2008 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Change in 4th grade plans
We had previously announced that we would be creating a new fourth grade class, however we felt that creating a new class and having it in the PE portable without bathrooms or plumbing was not the optimal situation for students. To compensate for the larger classes, we are using the additional 4th grade position to support all the 4th grade teachers in their classrooms.
Rachel Mainwaring will be joining the 4th grade team, and will work very closely with them to provide additional support to all students, for both enrichment and intervention. We envision an arrangement where she works with students in small groups and individually, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
I commend our fourth grade teachers for being willing to continue with larger classes and do what is best for their students. While this arrangement is certainly better for the students who would have gone to a new class, it will require a great deal of work and collaboration on the part of the teachers.
Ms. Mainwaring comes to us from Pennsylvania, where she spent two years working in a 4th grade classroom, both as an assistant and a student teacher. She has a Masters degree in Education, as well as a background in architecture, and we are very excited to have her join the Mills family. She will be housed in half the PE portable until we get the new classroom portable.
Traffic Reminders
If you are new to Mills, you may not be aware of the two crosswalks at either end of the front circle drive. Parents and students should always cross there, and not walk across the main circle drive. The amount of traffic is even higher this year, and it can be difficult for drivers to see people crossing. So PLEASE use the crosswalks at all times. Saving a few minutes isn’t worth someone getting hurt.
Also, a reminder that there is no right turn out of the bus lane onto Lantana in the mornings. There seem to be a lot more cars disregarding this restriction. Turning left really helps reduce the number of cars at the main crosswalk, so please help us out and take the long way around.
Two more quick things – remember that the speed limit is 20 miles per hour in the school zones on Davis and Lantana, and please use your blinkers when turning from Lantana into the main circle drive. It really helps me out!
September 15, 2008
Principal's Coffee changed
The first Principal's Coffee will be this Friday, September 19, rather than on the 26th. Please join me in the library between 8:00 and 9:30 for an informal discussion of issues affecting Mills and your children.
Portable Update
The conversion of the PE portable to classrooms is currently on hold. The district is trying very hard to find an additional portable for us that can be used for classrooms, and I hope to know more about the possibility of getting one next week.
Mills and Its Money
We thought it would be helpful to provide parents with some information about how Mills receives funds and how they are used. To put things in context, our enrollment is about 1035 students - we have 5.5 administrative and professional staff members, which includes the counselors, librarian and reading specialist; 49 regular classroom teachers (Pre-K-5); 6 special area teachers; 7 special education teachers; 10 special education teaching assistants; 8 MASCOT and childcare staff; 4 office staff; 5.5 custodians; and 5 cafeteria staff, totaling over 100 employees at Mills. Our main source of funding is Austin ISD, which allocates funds based on the number of students in each school, as well as the number of students who are considered economically disadvantaged. We also receive money for professional development based on the number of professional staff we have, and an allocation for cafeteria monitors.
A couple of notes: when teachers are absent due to sickness or take a personal day, their substitute is paid for from their sick and personal leave with the district. But whenever a teacher attends a workshop or is given school leave, the school pays for the substitute. We also pay for our copiers in the office and any equipment or computers we need, either for classrooms or the office. Our funds are budgeted with a focus on instruction and making sure that all students benefit.
This year, our budget is approximately $99,000 of which $37,500 is allocated to instructional supplies and materials; $18,000 for copier rental; $7,500 to staff development expenses; $13,000 for substitute teachers; $10,000 for stipends for after school tutoring and extra duty; $5,000 for the library; $2,000 for administrative and counseling supplies and professional development; $6,000 for lunch monitors. If money is not spent during the current budget year, it rolls over to the next year.
We also have money from various sources such as the vending machines, student pictures, and any additional fundraising done by the school. These funds total approximately $15,000 annually and go toward "extras", such as staff appreciation items, refreshments, additional staff development; additional instructional materials and equipment.
The Spanish program is designed to be self-supporting, as are the MASCOT and teacher daycare programs. Last year there was fundraiser dedicated to raising some additional funds for materials and supplies for the Spanish program.
We also request an enrichment fee each year to pay for extras such as t-shirts and field trips. The Mills PTA pays for scholarships for those students who are unable to pay the enrichment fee.
It's also important to understand that fundraising done by the PTA and the school are separate. PTA works closely with us to establish goals and to make sure the funds they use toward helping the school benefit as many students and teachers as possible. As soon as PTA determines its fall fundraiser, I will provide you with a breakdown of all the fees that are collected throughout the year, as well as our proposed fundraising activities and how those funds will be used.
September 8, 2008
In last week's Messsenger, I neglected to welcome the newest member of our staff, Kristen Masch, who is teaching first grade. Kristen is a very experienced teacher, whom many of our teachers knew from Patton Elementary. She had taken a couple of years off from teaching, but was ready to come back, and we are thrilled to have her at Mills. She did an incredible job of setting up a classroom in just a few days, and we were very fortunate to have someone with her experience and reputation to be able to step in at such a late date.
We will be adding a fourth grade class sometime in the next two weeks, due to increased enrollment at that grade level. We are doing it as quickly as we can, but we are waiting for the district to level classes' district wide and let us know whether a teacher will be transferred from another campus or we will hire someone. It's always difficult to create a new class, but with several classes over the state cap of 22 students, we don't have much choice. We will do everything we can to insure a smooth transition for the students who go into the new class.
To have a space for the new class, we will be converting the PE portable into classrooms. The district will add restrooms and a divider, as well as things like bookshelves and chalkboards. It's hard to lose that space, but we won't be able to get another portable since that one can be used for classrooms.
Chess Club sponsor needed
We are looking for volunteers to sponsor the chess club. This has been a very popular after school activity for several years, with 2nd grade teacher Ron Toran volunteering his time to sponsor the club. However, he is unable to continue as sponsor, so we're hoping there are some parents out there who play chess and would enjoy working with our students. Please email me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you're interested.
August 27, 2008
Our first week back at school was great – it was wonderful to see everyone and how excited they were to be back. Our main challenge continues to be the size of the school. Our enrollment Friday was 1029, which is an increase of about 75 students from last year. Please be patient with our space and traffic issues, and we’ll keep you updated about any changes..
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
Back to School Nights
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4We look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. Parents of students in Pre-K/Early childhood through 2nd grade will meet with teachers on Tuesday, September 9, and on Wednesday, September 10, we will host parents of students in grades 3 through 5. This is an opportunity for teachers to share information about their classrooms and for you to learn more about your child’s teacher and what to expect during the coming year. Back to School Night is from 6:30 – 7:30 each night, and we request that you not bring your children. This night is designed to be to provide information to parents, and we are not able to supervise students during this time. Also, please be aware that this is not an Open House, teachers begin their presentations at 6:30.
Principal’s Coffees
Our first Principal’s Coffee will be on Friday, September 26. I started these meetings a few years ago to provide a time for me to visit with parents and discuss issues and topics of interest to them. The topics for discussion will be open, and I look forward to having an opportunity to visit with you informally. We will meet in the library at 8:00 am, but you are free to come and go as your schedule allows. The following are the dates for the coffees for the rest of the year:
October 24 February 27 May 22
November 21 March 27
January 30 April 24
Traffic, of course . . .
I can really see an increase this year in the number of cars and pedestrians during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. You received a sheet in your handbook with information regarding our procedures, but I wanted to emphasize a couple of things.
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
Austin ISD Calendar for 2009-2010
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results%rong>Mock Election Results?tion on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
New Special Area Staff
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
Traffic Concerns
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
Austin ISD Calendar for 2009-2010
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results%rong>Mock Election Results?tion on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
New Special Area Staff
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
With daylight savings time ending, the sun will be a factor during morning arrival - it is very difficult to see because of the position of the sun and the glare. It is especially dangerous to cross the main driveway with cars coming because they may not be able to see you. Please use the crosswalks at all times and let's keep everyone safe. I'd also like to remind you that we ask that you not turn right onto Lantana from the bus circle in the mornings. It really helps the traffic flow if we don't have those additional vehicles.
The Campus Advisory Council will be making a recommendation regarding the AISD calendar for next year at their November meeting. There are 2 drafts, one which has the fall semester ending at the winter break, and one with the semester ending after the break in January. The beginning and ending dates are very similar to this year's calendar. If you would like to express a preference, please feel free to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
October 27, 2008
Mock Election Results%rong>Mock Election Results?tion on Friday, Octber 24, and a total of 955 students, staff and parents cast their ballot. The winner was Barack Obama with 587 votes. John McCain garnered 368 votes. When we have the results of the Austin ISD and National mock elections, we'll let you know our results compared.
Red Ribbon Week
Beginning today, Mills will be observing Red Ribbon Week, with a focus on celebrating a healthy lifestyle. Students will wear the red ribbon to show their commitment living healthfully. Friday is Halloween, but at Mills it's Crazy Hat Day (because humor is an important part of a healthy lifestyle), so help your children find a crazy chapeau to wear.
CAC Meeting
The Mills Campus Advisory Council will be meeting on Thursday, November 6 in the library. We will be discussing the Austin ISD calendar foe next year.All CAC meetings are open to the public and there is a time scheduled at every meeting for comments from the Mills community.
November Events
There are a couple of special events in November we'd like you to know about. Monday, November 10 is a student holiday, and a professional development day for staff. Then on Tuesday, November 11, we will have our annual Veteran's Day program. Students will be doing some readings and we will sing patriotic songs. We invite you, as well any veterans in your family, to attend. The program begins at 1:45 in the cafeteria.
Of course, November also brings Thanksgiving, which means the Mills Thanksgiving Sing-a-Long. We hope you'll join us in the cafeteria on Tuesday, November 25 for this fun event. It's really something to see all 1000 plus students together, along with parents and staff, and a great way to celebrate our Mills family.
October 20, 2008
Safety Check
Remember to bring your drivers license when you check in for the first time this week – we’ll be using our new sign-in system – Safety Check. This is an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, we will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will be signed into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. We will also be using this system to track volunteer hours and student tardies.
Principal’s Coffee
The Principal’s Coffee for October will be this Friday, October 24, from 8:00 to 9:30, in the Mills library. The format is very informal - “come when you can and leave when you need to”. The purpose is to provide a casual environment in which we can discuss issues about Mills and I can answer your questions. I really enjoy having the opportunity to visit with parents in an informal way, and I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Mock National Election
Mills, students, staff and parents will be participating in a national mock presidential election this week. Voting will take place on Friday, October 24 during students’ lunches. All voters must complete a voter registration card to be able to cast a ballot, and 4th and 5th grade students will be our elections workers at the polls. We are excited about giving students an opportunity to experience the feel of a national election and relate to the actual election on November 4. The results of the Mills election will be combined with the results from Austin ISD and reported nationally. If you would like to participate as a parent, voter registration cards will be available later this week in the front office.
Math and Science Night coming
Be on the lookout for information about our Math and Science Night on Thursday, October 30, from 6:00 to 7:30. This year we decided to integrate science into our traditional Family Math Night, and we’ll have several science and math activities for all grade levels. We’ll also have information about our new math resource, enVision Texas, and information about and examples of science fair projects. Because of the nature of some of the science activities and the displays, we won’t be serving pizza at this event.
October 13, 2008
Share your Knowledge of Chess
Do you play chess and have one afternoon a week (or a month) you can volunteer to sponsor a chess club at Mills? Mr. Toran is no longer able to sponsor the chess club, and currently are not able to offer this after school activity. So we're looking for a parent or other volunteer to help us out - we have all the materials you need - we just need you! If you're interested, please e-mail me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
Safety Check
Please look for some additional information in today's Tuesday folder on Safety Check, the new check-in system we'll be using. Beginning Monday, October 20, you will need to have your drivers license with you the first time you check in so it can be scanned.
Amazing Race and Family Fun Night
We hope you can join us this Saturday for both the Amazing Race and Family Fun Night. Both events have become new traditions at Mills that we look forward to. I'll be racing with Andrea Guardiola, who won the Kid Bid from the Silent Auction. Hope to see you there!
October 6th 2008
Safety Check is Coming
Beginning October 20, Mills will begin using SafetyCheck, an electronic sign-in system that will screen all visitors for sexual offenses. The first time you use the system, you will scan your drivers license, and a visitor badge with your name and photograph will be printed. Every time you visit, you will sign into this system and receive the printed badge, rather than signing into a book. Our front office staff will be trained in the next two weeks, and we will update you as more information becomes available. We are looking forward to using this enhanced security feature.
A Successful Safari!
The bookfair was a huge success, and we could not have done it without the incredible volunteer help we received from parents. We also really appreciate Ms. Higgs and all the hard work she has done to provide this opportunity for students and parents.
Reminders
Remember that Monday, October 13 will be a student holiday and teachers will be conducting Parent Teacher conferences.
The CAC meeting has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 at 3:00 in the Mills library. AISD and boundary task force representatives will be presenting information about the boundaries for the new middle school scheduled to open next fall.
Cell Phone Tower
It has come to my attention that there is information circulating that a cell phone tower is being installed at Mills. What is true is that we have been approached by T-Mobile about the possibility of a tower at the very far edge of the playground. However, please be assured that we have not received a proposal, and any proposal made by T-Mobile would have to go through the Campus Advisory Council and the school district before any approval would be given. Also, if there are any concerns, either for safety or aesthetic reasons, we would not give approval for the project. Any speculation at this time is premature, since I don’t have any information at all about the tower and its impact.
I will keep everyone informed if this progresses to a stage where it is being considered.
September 29, 2008
Morning Routine
Most of you are familiar with our morning activities, when we pledge allegiance to the flags of the United States and Texas, and have a positive morning message, as well as a state-mandated moment of silence. This is an important time for us and an uplifting way for us to begin our day. So we ask that if you are in the building, that you participate with us by saying the pledges, listening to the message and observing the moment of silence, and not visiting or talking. We begin at about 7:50, and it takes about 5 minutes. If you bring your child in during this time, please stop in the hallway and participate with your child, and wait to go to class until we are finished. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in making this part of our day a good experience for everyone.
CAC Meeting re-scheduled
The CAC meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 2, has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, October 15. District representatives will be presenting information about the work that the boundary task force has been doing on drawing the boundaries for the new middle school. They will be gathering input from CAC members, and will also host a public meeting at a later date to gather additional input from all parents. We'll keep you posted on the date and time of that meeting when it's scheduled.
As a result of our increased enrollment, we were allocated additional special area staff, who will be here half a day in the afternoons. We are very happy to welcome the following teachers, who also teach at Cowan and Clayton Elementaries.
Candace Cotten-PE, Kathy Lind-Music, Angie Wilson-Art
Character Traits
We try to integrate the AISD character traits into our morning message. In August and September, we focused on responsibility. These are the traits for the remainder of the school year
| Months |
2008-2009 |
|
October/November |
Self-Discipline |
|
December/January |
Fairness
|
|
February/March |
Integrity |
|
April/May |
Trustworthiness |
For more information, please visit the AISD website http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sss/ce/
September 22, 2008 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Change in 4th grade plans
We had previously announced that we would be creating a new fourth grade class, however we felt that creating a new class and having it in the PE portable without bathrooms or plumbing was not the optimal situation for students. To compensate for the larger classes, we are using the additional 4th grade position to support all the 4th grade teachers in their classrooms.
Rachel Mainwaring will be joining the 4th grade team, and will work very closely with them to provide additional support to all students, for both enrichment and intervention. We envision an arrangement where she works with students in small groups and individually, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
I commend our fourth grade teachers for being willing to continue with larger classes and do what is best for their students. While this arrangement is certainly better for the students who would have gone to a new class, it will require a great deal of work and collaboration on the part of the teachers.
Ms. Mainwaring comes to us from Pennsylvania, where she spent two years working in a 4th grade classroom, both as an assistant and a student teacher. She has a Masters degree in Education, as well as a background in architecture, and we are very excited to have her join the Mills family. She will be housed in half the PE portable until we get the new classroom portable.
Traffic Reminders
If you are new to Mills, you may not be aware of the two crosswalks at either end of the front circle drive. Parents and students should always cross there, and not walk across the main circle drive. The amount of traffic is even higher this year, and it can be difficult for drivers to see people crossing. So PLEASE use the crosswalks at all times. Saving a few minutes isn’t worth someone getting hurt.
Also, a reminder that there is no right turn out of the bus lane onto Lantana in the mornings. There seem to be a lot more cars disregarding this restriction. Turning left really helps reduce the number of cars at the main crosswalk, so please help us out and take the long way around.
Two more quick things – remember that the speed limit is 20 miles per hour in the school zones on Davis and Lantana, and please use your blinkers when turning from Lantana into the main circle drive. It really helps me out!
September 15, 2008
Principal's Coffee changed
The first Principal's Coffee will be this Friday, September 19, rather than on the 26th. Please join me in the library between 8:00 and 9:30 for an informal discussion of issues affecting Mills and your children.
Portable Update
The conversion of the PE portable to classrooms is currently on hold. The district is trying very hard to find an additional portable for us that can be used for classrooms, and I hope to know more about the possibility of getting one next week.
Mills and Its Money
We thought it would be helpful to provide parents with some information about how Mills receives funds and how they are used. To put things in context, our enrollment is about 1035 students - we have 5.5 administrative and professional staff members, which includes the counselors, librarian and reading specialist; 49 regular classroom teachers (Pre-K-5); 6 special area teachers; 7 special education teachers; 10 special education teaching assistants; 8 MASCOT and childcare staff; 4 office staff; 5.5 custodians; and 5 cafeteria staff, totaling over 100 employees at Mills. Our main source of funding is Austin ISD, which allocates funds based on the number of students in each school, as well as the number of students who are considered economically disadvantaged. We also receive money for professional development based on the number of professional staff we have, and an allocation for cafeteria monitors.
A couple of notes: when teachers are absent due to sickness or take a personal day, their substitute is paid for from their sick and personal leave with the district. But whenever a teacher attends a workshop or is given school leave, the school pays for the substitute. We also pay for our copiers in the office and any equipment or computers we need, either for classrooms or the office. Our funds are budgeted with a focus on instruction and making sure that all students benefit.
This year, our budget is approximately $99,000 of which $37,500 is allocated to instructional supplies and materials; $18,000 for copier rental; $7,500 to staff development expenses; $13,000 for substitute teachers; $10,000 for stipends for after school tutoring and extra duty; $5,000 for the library; $2,000 for administrative and counseling supplies and professional development; $6,000 for lunch monitors. If money is not spent during the current budget year, it rolls over to the next year.
We also have money from various sources such as the vending machines, student pictures, and any additional fundraising done by the school. These funds total approximately $15,000 annually and go toward "extras", such as staff appreciation items, refreshments, additional staff development; additional instructional materials and equipment.
The Spanish program is designed to be self-supporting, as are the MASCOT and teacher daycare programs. Last year there was fundraiser dedicated to raising some additional funds for materials and supplies for the Spanish program.
We also request an enrichment fee each year to pay for extras such as t-shirts and field trips. The Mills PTA pays for scholarships for those students who are unable to pay the enrichment fee.
It's also important to understand that fundraising done by the PTA and the school are separate. PTA works closely with us to establish goals and to make sure the funds they use toward helping the school benefit as many students and teachers as possible. As soon as PTA determines its fall fundraiser, I will provide you with a breakdown of all the fees that are collected throughout the year, as well as our proposed fundraising activities and how those funds will be used.
September 8, 2008
In last week's Messsenger, I neglected to welcome the newest member of our staff, Kristen Masch, who is teaching first grade. Kristen is a very experienced teacher, whom many of our teachers knew from Patton Elementary. She had taken a couple of years off from teaching, but was ready to come back, and we are thrilled to have her at Mills. She did an incredible job of setting up a classroom in just a few days, and we were very fortunate to have someone with her experience and reputation to be able to step in at such a late date.
We will be adding a fourth grade class sometime in the next two weeks, due to increased enrollment at that grade level. We are doing it as quickly as we can, but we are waiting for the district to level classes' district wide and let us know whether a teacher will be transferred from another campus or we will hire someone. It's always difficult to create a new class, but with several classes over the state cap of 22 students, we don't have much choice. We will do everything we can to insure a smooth transition for the students who go into the new class.
To have a space for the new class, we will be converting the PE portable into classrooms. The district will add restrooms and a divider, as well as things like bookshelves and chalkboards. It's hard to lose that space, but we won't be able to get another portable since that one can be used for classrooms.
Chess Club sponsor needed
We are looking for volunteers to sponsor the chess club. This has been a very popular after school activity for several years, with 2nd grade teacher Ron Toran volunteering his time to sponsor the club. However, he is unable to continue as sponsor, so we're hoping there are some parents out there who play chess and would enjoy working with our students. Please email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you're interested.
August 27, 2008
Our first week back at school was great – it was wonderful to see everyone and how excited they were to be back. Our main challenge continues to be the size of the school. Our enrollment Friday was 1029, which is an increase of about 75 students from last year. Please be patient with our space and traffic issues, and we’ll keep you updated about any changes..
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
Back to School Nights
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
We look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. Parents of students in Pre-K/Early childhood through 2nd grade will meet with teachers on Tuesday, September 9, and on Wednesday, September 10, we will host parents of students in grades 3 through 5. This is an opportunity for teachers to share information about their classrooms and for you to learn more about your child’s teacher and what to expect during the coming year. Back to School Night is from 6:30 – 7:30 each night, and we request that you not bring your children. This night is designed to be to provide information to parents, and we are not able to supervise students during this time. Also, please be aware that this is not an Open House, teachers begin their presentations at 6:30.
Principal’s Coffees
Our first Principal’s Coffee will be on Friday, September 26. I started these meetings a few years ago to provide a time for me to visit with parents and discuss issues and topics of interest to them. The topics for discussion will be open, and I look forward to having an opportunity to visit with you informally. We will meet in the library at 8:00 am, but you are free to come and go as your schedule allows. The following are the dates for the coffees for the rest of the year:
October 24 February 27 May 22
November 21 March 27
January 30 April 24
Traffic, of course . . .
I can really see an increase this year in the number of cars and pedestrians during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. You received a sheet in your handbook with information regarding our procedures, but I wanted to emphasize a couple of things.
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
For more information, please visit the AISD website http://www.austinisd.org/academics/sss/ce/
September 22, 2008 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
Change in 4th grade plans
We had previously announced that we would be creating a new fourth grade class, however we felt that creating a new class and having it in the PE portable without bathrooms or plumbing was not the optimal situation for students. To compensate for the larger classes, we are using the additional 4th grade position to support all the 4th grade teachers in their classrooms.
Rachel Mainwaring will be joining the 4th grade team, and will work very closely with them to provide additional support to all students, for both enrichment and intervention. We envision an arrangement where she works with students in small groups and individually, both inside and outside the classroom setting.
I commend our fourth grade teachers for being willing to continue with larger classes and do what is best for their students. While this arrangement is certainly better for the students who would have gone to a new class, it will require a great deal of work and collaboration on the part of the teachers.
Ms. Mainwaring comes to us from Pennsylvania, where she spent two years working in a 4th grade classroom, both as an assistant and a student teacher. She has a Masters degree in Education, as well as a background in architecture, and we are very excited to have her join the Mills family. She will be housed in half the PE portable until we get the new classroom portable.
Traffic Reminders
If you are new to Mills, you may not be aware of the two crosswalks at either end of the front circle drive. Parents and students should always cross there, and not walk across the main circle drive. The amount of traffic is even higher this year, and it can be difficult for drivers to see people crossing. So PLEASE use the crosswalks at all times. Saving a few minutes isn’t worth someone getting hurt.
Also, a reminder that there is no right turn out of the bus lane onto Lantana in the mornings. There seem to be a lot more cars disregarding this restriction. Turning left really helps reduce the number of cars at the main crosswalk, so please help us out and take the long way around.
Two more quick things – remember that the speed limit is 20 miles per hour in the school zones on Davis and Lantana, and please use your blinkers when turning from Lantana into the main circle drive. It really helps me out!
September 15, 2008
Principal's Coffee changed
The first Principal's Coffee will be this Friday, September 19, rather than on the 26th. Please join me in the library between 8:00 and 9:30 for an informal discussion of issues affecting Mills and your children.
Portable Update
The conversion of the PE portable to classrooms is currently on hold. The district is trying very hard to find an additional portable for us that can be used for classrooms, and I hope to know more about the possibility of getting one next week.
Mills and Its Money
We thought it would be helpful to provide parents with some information about how Mills receives funds and how they are used. To put things in context, our enrollment is about 1035 students - we have 5.5 administrative and professional staff members, which includes the counselors, librarian and reading specialist; 49 regular classroom teachers (Pre-K-5); 6 special area teachers; 7 special education teachers; 10 special education teaching assistants; 8 MASCOT and childcare staff; 4 office staff; 5.5 custodians; and 5 cafeteria staff, totaling over 100 employees at Mills. Our main source of funding is Austin ISD, which allocates funds based on the number of students in each school, as well as the number of students who are considered economically disadvantaged. We also receive money for professional development based on the number of professional staff we have, and an allocation for cafeteria monitors.
A couple of notes: when teachers are absent due to sickness or take a personal day, their substitute is paid for from their sick and personal leave with the district. But whenever a teacher attends a workshop or is given school leave, the school pays for the substitute. We also pay for our copiers in the office and any equipment or computers we need, either for classrooms or the office. Our funds are budgeted with a focus on instruction and making sure that all students benefit.
This year, our budget is approximately $99,000 of which $37,500 is allocated to instructional supplies and materials; $18,000 for copier rental; $7,500 to staff development expenses; $13,000 for substitute teachers; $10,000 for stipends for after school tutoring and extra duty; $5,000 for the library; $2,000 for administrative and counseling supplies and professional development; $6,000 for lunch monitors. If money is not spent during the current budget year, it rolls over to the next year.
We also have money from various sources such as the vending machines, student pictures, and any additional fundraising done by the school. These funds total approximately $15,000 annually and go toward "extras", such as staff appreciation items, refreshments, additional staff development; additional instructional materials and equipment.
The Spanish program is designed to be self-supporting, as are the MASCOT and teacher daycare programs. Last year there was fundraiser dedicated to raising some additional funds for materials and supplies for the Spanish program.
We also request an enrichment fee each year to pay for extras such as t-shirts and field trips. The Mills PTA pays for scholarships for those students who are unable to pay the enrichment fee.
It's also important to understand that fundraising done by the PTA and the school are separate. PTA works closely with us to establish goals and to make sure the funds they use toward helping the school benefit as many students and teachers as possible. As soon as PTA determines its fall fundraiser, I will provide you with a breakdown of all the fees that are collected throughout the year, as well as our proposed fundraising activities and how those funds will be used.
September 8, 2008
In last week's Messsenger, I neglected to welcome the newest member of our staff, Kristen Masch, who is teaching first grade. Kristen is a very experienced teacher, whom many of our teachers knew from Patton Elementary. She had taken a couple of years off from teaching, but was ready to come back, and we are thrilled to have her at Mills. She did an incredible job of setting up a classroom in just a few days, and we were very fortunate to have someone with her experience and reputation to be able to step in at such a late date.
We will be adding a fourth grade class sometime in the next two weeks, due to increased enrollment at that grade level. We are doing it as quickly as we can, but we are waiting for the district to level classes' district wide and let us know whether a teacher will be transferred from another campus or we will hire someone. It's always difficult to create a new class, but with several classes over the state cap of 22 students, we don't have much choice. We will do everything we can to insure a smooth transition for the students who go into the new class.
To have a space for the new class, we will be converting the PE portable into classrooms. The district will add restrooms and a divider, as well as things like bookshelves and chalkboards. It's hard to lose that space, but we won't be able to get another portable since that one can be used for classrooms.
Chess Club sponsor needed
We are looking for volunteers to sponsor the chess club. This has been a very popular after school activity for several years, with 2nd grade teacher Ron Toran volunteering his time to sponsor the club. However, he is unable to continue as sponsor, so we're hoping there are some parents out there who play chess and would enjoy working with our students. Please email me at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
if you're interested.
August 27, 2008
Our first week back at school was great – it was wonderful to see everyone and how excited they were to be back. Our main challenge continues to be the size of the school. Our enrollment Friday was 1029, which is an increase of about 75 students from last year. Please be patient with our space and traffic issues, and we’ll keep you updated about any changes..
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
Back to School Nights
Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4
We look forward to seeing all of you at Back to School Night next week. Parents of students in Pre-K/Early childhood through 2nd grade will meet with teachers on Tuesday, September 9, and on Wednesday, September 10, we will host parents of students in grades 3 through 5. This is an opportunity for teachers to share information about their classrooms and for you to learn more about your child’s teacher and what to expect during the coming year. Back to School Night is from 6:30 – 7:30 each night, and we request that you not bring your children. This night is designed to be to provide information to parents, and we are not able to supervise students during this time. Also, please be aware that this is not an Open House, teachers begin their presentations at 6:30.
Principal’s Coffees
Our first Principal’s Coffee will be on Friday, September 26. I started these meetings a few years ago to provide a time for me to visit with parents and discuss issues and topics of interest to them. The topics for discussion will be open, and I look forward to having an opportunity to visit with you informally. We will meet in the library at 8:00 am, but you are free to come and go as your schedule allows. The following are the dates for the coffees for the rest of the year:
October 24 February 27 May 22
November 21 March 27
January 30 April 24
Traffic, of course . . .
I can really see an increase this year in the number of cars and pedestrians during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal times. You received a sheet in your handbook with information regarding our procedures, but I wanted to emphasize a couple of things.
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
If this is your first year at Mills, either as a kindergarten parent or someone who has moved to the area, I want to extend a special welcome to you. We are very proud of our students, our staff, our parents and our community and we encourage you to become involved. One of our strengths is the tremendous parental involvement and support we have at Mills, and there will be many opportunities over the school year for you to be an active participant in your child’s education.
We look forward to getting to know you and your children. Here are some other items of note this week -
I direct traffic at the entrance of the main circle drive off Lantana. With the large number of students and parents walking to school, it’s imperative that we have students in our crosswalks to allow people to cross. My job is to guide the traffic flow so that I know cars are stopped before we allow anyone in the crosswalk. I know it may seem like you spend a long time in line waiting, but we are managing over 1000 students coming to school, and we only have one bus – so that’s a LOT of walkers and bike riders.
It’s very important that you use the crosswalks and not cross in the middle of the street. It takes a little longer to walk down Davis to the crosswalk, but with the amount of traffic we experience, it is very dangerous to cross in the middle of the street.
We all want the best for all our students, and that includes keeping them safe, so we appreciate your cooperation.
