Creative Action has partnered with Hill for interactive performance residencies in the classroom like Courage in Action (5th grade) and Turn the World Around (3rd grade) and has named us a Brave School. This gives Hill families the opportunity to participate in Brave School events.

Creative Action will be hosting a free parent workshop at Ridgetop Elementary from 5:30 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, November 28th. The goal of this workshop is to provide opportunities for parents to learn about effective Creative Action strategies and to reflect and learn from each other. You will brainstorm and strengthen your toolkit for responding to the tricky moments when we struggle with gaining cooperation from our children.

If you need to bring your children, Creative Action will provide childcare, and pizza will be provided for all. If you plan to bring your child(ren), be sure to RSVP for child ticket(s) as well as your adult ticket. You must RSVP to attend at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/north-location-parent-workshop-november-28-tickets-49097816892.

Please remember to always lock your car, take your keys, hide your valuables and NEVER leave your vehicle running unattended!

As the holiday season approaches, thieves will be on the lookout for vulnerable cars.

A Brentwood Special Educational teacher Shelly Hollander is presenting a special Mindful class for children at the Mediation Bar starting December 1st.

The class will help children discover their own “Super Powers” when it comes to battling different emotions.

The class is a 6-week course where children will identify and learn all about how their body responds to different emotions, how to combat those “yucky” emotions and how a healthy mindset can help them achieve success!

The class will use a variety of “magic superhero tools” that children can access whenever they need help. This will be a fun filled interactive class where children will be guided through various types of meditation, yoga, and mantras as well as performing hands on activities for self-expression and creativity. Dress up is encouraged!

Classes start December 1st

9:00 am-9:45 am 5-7 year old

10:00-10:45 8-10 year old

Sign up at https://www.meditationbar.com/

Our staff and students will conduct our first required lockdown drill of the school year on Monday, 11/12. A real lockdown is announced if there is a threat or hazard inside or around the school building. For the drill, an announcement will be made by campus administration to ensure students know this is only practice. The drill focuses on “locks, lights, out of sight” so students know what to do in the event of an emergency situation. Teachers will lock doors, turn out the lights, and have students sit along the walls and away from windows. Our staff has been trained, and we prioritize a sense of calm as we practice. This will be one of two lockdown drills this year as we are required to practice once a semester, similar to years past. We prioritize student safety at Hill and appreciate your help in preparing your student(s) for this crucial process.

The design phase for Hill Elementary is scheduled to begin in early 2019.  A Campus Architectural Team has been formed and the CAT kick-off meeting was on Wednesday, November 7th.  The modernized school is scheduled to open in August 2021.

For the most up-to-date information on the Hill ES modernization project, including project events and key dates, please visit www.austinisd2017bond.org/hill-es.

We recently selected the members of the Hill Campus Architectural Team (CAT).

This team will work with the AISD Construction Management Department, designers and program managers to set a design schedule and create a campus modernization plan for Hill School.  This team will be actively involved in gathering input from all stakeholder groups during this process.

The members of the Hill CAT are:

Principal                         Beth Newton

Instructional Staff         Katherine Laxton

Instructional Staff         Alexa Denny

Instructional Staff         Celeste Pustka

Administrative Staff      Vana Rosenblatt

Parent                              Melanie Waters

Parent                              Alex Winslow

Parent (CAC member)   Mike Trevino

Community                     Coco Cochran

Last Wednesday, we had our first official CAT training and we are scheduled to have another one on December 10.

The campus architectural firm is slated to be approved by the AISD School Board on December 17.

Beginning in January, the CAT will meet with the architectural team twice a month in developing a modernization plan for Hill School.  We will keep staff posted during this process.

Feel free to reach out to members of the CAT at anytime if you have questions or comments about this process.

Thank you to the CAT for committing their time to this very important process for Hill School!

This February, Hill Elementary students in grades 2-5 will have the opportunity to participate in a University Interscholastic League (UIL) Meet with other students from across the Austin Independent School District.  Interested students were given a UIL registration form  earlier this week.  The office has more registration forms if your child did not receive one.

On February 9, 2019, students will participate in the North AISD UIL Academic Meet at Pillow Elementary School.  On this day, students will compete in their selected events, have a pizza lunch, and participate in a free 45- minute Mad Science presentation.  This will be a fun day for all! We are looking for parent volunteers to help.  Please let Mrs. Newton know if you’re interested in volunteering on this day in February.

An informational meeting will be held with parents on Tuesday, November 13 at 7:45 a.m. in the Library.  We will be happy to answer any questions that you might have about this event at that time.

Registration forms are due to Beth Newton by Friday, November 16!

5th grade is working on a philanthropy project this November to donate both non-perishable foods and gently used or new coats to the Central Texas Food Bank and Coats for Kids. Why Coats?  When families have to choose between heat and food, they buy food.

5th grade wants to encourage every family to bring:

• • 4 non-perishable food items (such as cans or boxed foods, but NO glass containers)
  • 1 child to teen size coat (new or gently used).  Sweaters and hoodies are not considered coats for this collection.

Class goals:  4 food items x the # of homeroom students; 1 coat x the number of homeroom students.

Donation Due Date:  November 16th

The Kindergarten classes will be having their winter Carnival on Thursday, December 13th from 1:45pm – 2:30pm.  Many parent volunteers are needed for this event.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact your homeroom parents.

Please note that this event is for kindergarten students and parent volunteers only.

The Lost and Found will be moved to the front entrance of the school for a few days this week to help you locate your family’s lost items. Please pick up all your items by Thursday. On Friday, families who can use the unclaimed items are free to take what they need. On Friday afternoon at 3:15 pm, the Lost and Found will be cleared out and donated. Items added to the Lost and Found in the past week will be withheld from donation and returned to the Lost and Found after Thanksgiving.

Join us on Wednesday, November 14th!  Murchison MS is hosting a Hot Topics for Parents – Helping our Kids Manage Stress and Anxiety with Lauren Gaspar.  This presentation is open to our community and vertical team!  Murchison counselors will be in the cafeteria from 5:30-6pm to answer your questions and give background as to what takes place at Murchison.

Lauren Gaspar with Good Mourning Counseling Center is presenting from 6-7pm in the Murchison cafeteria.  Light refreshments will be served.