A letter from Principal Newton

Dear Hill Families,

Thank you for a smooth first nine weeks of school, filled with many academic and social/emotional learning opportunities.  Our students are now beginning their second nine weeks of school, as we continue to support them in their academic studies.  Our focus for SEL this month is compassion, showing care and concern for others.  We will model strategies for showing compassion with students in the classroom and at Morning Assembly.

We have recently hired a Math Specialist, Emily George, who will work with 3^rd-5^th graders needing math support at Hill.   Ms. George comes to Hill from Cook Elementary in AISD, where she was a classroom teacher for several years.  She also has experience as a math and reading interventionist in Round Rock ISD.  We are so pleased to have Ms. George join our team at Hill!

It is with great sadness I share with families that Hill Childcare Worker and lunch monitor, Roya Jamshidi has resigned from AISD.  We appreciate her service to the students and staff of Hill School.  We are currently in the process of filling this position.

I also would like to let you know of a transition in staff in our Health Room.  As you may know, AISD and Seton Healthcare recently committed to staffing large elementary school health rooms with full time RN coverage.  Dianna Pierson will begin as our full-time RN at Hill on Monday, November 6.  She comes to us with several years of nursing experience in Houston ISD.  We welcome Ms. Pierson to Hill School!  We also want to appreciate our RNs Donna Cardone and Glenda Simmons, as well as SHA Rachel Durrett for their service to Hill School, and wish them well in their future positions!

We had a wonderful Professional Development Day on October 23, where staff participated in teacher led learning sessions on everything from math and literacy instruction to mindfulness and classroom management.  We are looking forward to our professional development days on January 2 and 3, where we will participate in Creative Learning Initiative learning, as well as an Anderson Vertical Team professional development day.  January 2 and 3 will be student holidays, with students returning to class on January 4.

Have a great week and we will see you in the halls!!

BN