Pillow Family Newsletter
August-September 2019
WELCOME TO DORINDA PILLOW ELEMENTARY!
Dear Pillow Families,
We are super excited to see our new and returning Pillow Panthers! There are many things to celebrate this school year. For example, our teachers, teaching assistants, and support staff worked really hard last year to adjust teaching practices to better meet the needs of our students. As a result, our overall TEA Accountability Rating increased from a 63 in 2018 to a 79 in 2019!
Of course, there's more to Pillow than testing, and we're proud of the initiatives and programs we'll be offering this school year, such as Academy 4 for our 4th graders, continued Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Creative Learning Initiative (CLI) strategies, and continued Foreign Language Experience lessons for our 1st through 5th graders as part of the Anderson High School vertical team, to name a few.
In addition, we'll continue to engage our families and community through Families as Partners, our PTA, Parent Coffees, and Campus Advisory Council for instance. There are also many opportunities to volunteer such as helping our PTA with events such as the Pillow 50th Anniversary Celebration, Aquapalooza in September, and Spring Fling.
We are grateful to continue our partnership with volunteers from the North Shoal Creek Neighborhood who work in the Community Garden with our 2nd graders, support some of our parents with ESL, and volunteer with student reading programs.
Yes, Pillow is a special place to be and we're happy that you're here! We hope to continue serving you and your family as we look forward to an amazing school year!
Respectfully,
Yvette Cardenas
Pillow Principal
Please Welcome our Newest Pillow Team Members!
- Melissa Martinez - Assistant Principal
- Leigh Weyand - Pillow School Counselor
- Lauren Jarvis - 5th Grade Teacher
- Mary T. Williams - 4th Grade Teacher
- Jeffrey Rumminger - Teacher Assistant
- Delia Gonzalez - Custodian
First Week of School Highlights
Pillow PTA
Thank you, Smoothie King!
All are welcome!
So excited to see our Pillow Panthers!!!
#AISDgamechangers
Great 1st Day of School!
Welcome to Pillow!
Lots to celebrate after the 1st week of school!
#PillowProud
Special Edition 50th Anniversary Tees
#PillowGotTalent
Best Way to End an Awesome 1st Week of School!
PAW-some!!!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Campus Advisory Council Meeting
3:15 p.m. in the Pillow Library
PTA 50th Anniversary Meeting
3:15 p.m. in the Pillow Library
Student & Teacher Holiday - Labor Day
We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, September 3rd at 7:25 a.m. for Morning Assembly!
Monday, Sep 2, 2019, 07:00 AM
Pillow Elementary School
Student & Teacher Holiday - September 2
NO SCHOOL - Labor Day Holiday
50th Anniversary Campus Picture
Parent Coffee
8:00 a.m. at Pillow
Join Yvette Cardenas, Pillow Principal, Melissa Martinez, Assistant Principal, and Raul Vallejo, Parent Support Specialist to learn about upcoming Pillow events and to participate in conversation circles!
Grandparents' Day Lunch
During regularly scheduled student lunch times
Pillow PTA Meeting
3:15 p.m. in the Pillow Library
Aquapalooza
ALL FAMILIES ARE WELCOME!
Saturday, Sep 7, 2019, 11:00 AM
Pillow Elementary School
Academy 4 (4th Graders)
Vision & Hearing Screening
Thursday, September 19
Back to School Night
Come visit community tables for information about after-school programs, etc.
Thursday, Sep 19, 2019, 05:30 PM
Pillow Elementary School
Student Holiday - September 23
Professional Learning Day for Teachers & Staff Members.
We look forward to seeing you again on Tuesday, September 24th at 7:25 a.m. for Morning Assembly!
Monday, Sep 23, 2019, 07:00 AM
Pillow Elementary School
Dorinda Pillow 50th Anniversary Celebration!
Friday, Sep 27, 2019, 07:45 AM
Pillow Elementary School
Fall Picture Day
All Day
TO VOLUNTEER, PLEASE CONTACT:
Shannon Casati, PTA President
AND
Raul Vallejo, Parent Support Specialist
SCHOOL & OFFICE HOURS
School Hours:
PreK 3 morning session
7:30 a.m. - Arrival
11:06 a.m. - Dismissal
PreK 3 afternoon session
11:51 a.m. - Arrival
2:57 p.m. - Dismissal
PreK 4
Doors open at 7:05 a.m. (Library)
7:30 a.m. - Students in Classrooms
7:35 a.m. - First Bell - Students in Classrooms
7:45 a.m. - Tardy Bell
2:00 p.m. - Dismissal
Kinder - 5th Grade
Doors open at 7:05 a.m. (Cafeteria)
7:25 a.m. - Morning Assembly
7:35 a.m. - First Bell - Students in Classrooms
7:45 a.m. - Tardy Bell
3:00 p.m. - Dismissal
Front Office Hours:
7:05 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING PILLOW!
CONTACT US
Front Office Team:
Anna Cerda-Hysaw, Registrar/PEIMS/Attendance
Claudia Chaplin, Administrative Assistant/Finance
Support Team:
Leigh Weyand, Counselor
Raul Vallejo, Parent Support Specialist (PSS)
Denise Anderson, Reading Specialist (CALT)
L.V. Finnegan, Librarian
DORINDA PILLOW ELEMENTARY
Pillow_Elementary
Website: pillowelementary.weebly.com
Location: 3025 Crosscreek Drive, Austin, TX, USA
Phone: (512)414-2350
Twitter: @PillowPanthers