Mrs. Beachum's Newsletter
May 21, 2018
Greetings, Mountain Lion Families!
I hope your summer is off to a great start! It is very quiet here in the office. I'm the only office staff on duty during the summer and I spend a good bit of my time in training and meetings so the office is not always manned. If you need help, you can call or email me. If you call the main number, 512-841-2400, I will check messages when I'm on campus and get back with you. That may take a couple of days. You can also email me at lalla.beachum@austinisd.org. I check my emails daily so I can get back to you faster.
I will be on vacation from 6/22 - 7/9.
The office will be open for regular hours on July 23rd. Class placement emails will be sent around August 9th to the email where you are receiving this newsletter.
Construction has begun on our two new rooms on the west side of the building. The site has been prepared and is ready for foundation to be framed and poured over the next week.
Remember school will begin at 7:40 a.m. year. Students will be released each day at 3:00 p.m. In addition to the holidays on the published AISD calendar, Mills' students will have four additional holidays: September 24th, January 3rd and 4th, and February 15th.
Wishing you a safe and relaxing summer,
Lalla Beachum
Library Summer Hours
Come join your friends at the Mills' Library on Wednesday mornings for stories and crafts. You can load up on books to read on your road trips! The library is open from 9:30 - 12;30 on the following Wednesday mornings:
June 27
July 11
July 18
July 25
Pondering
Life moves a little slower for me during the summer and I have more time to read and ponder. I'd like to recommend one of the books I've read - Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World by Devorah Heitner. She gives a realistic look at the role of technology in the lives of young people along with suggestions for helping them navigate safely. The main theme of the book is that technology is a tool and children/young adults need to be taught the skills to manage it. Handing a child a connected device puts them in touch with every other person on the internet. In the same way we teach children not to open the door to strangers, we need to teach the same skills for digital doors.
I want you to be aware of one site I see students using - musical.ly. My concerns center around 4th and 5th graders opening themselves up to criticism from strangers. Here is a link to information about the site: COMMON SENSE MEDIA Note this site is designed for 13 years and up.
Notice of class placement for next year.
You will receive your child's class placement for next year by email to this email address. We will try to get the emails out by August 9th, maybe sooner depending on the availability of the registration system.