Mills Elementary School
August 17, 2026
Dear Mills Families,
We are thrilled to welcome your children for the first day of school tomorrow! To our returning Mountain Lions: thank you for helping guide and support our new classmates. To our new families: welcome to the pride. We can’t wait for you to experience the magic of Mills!
Important First Day Logistics
Arrival Time: Doors open at 7:30 AM tomorrow, August 18. (Note: Starting on Aug 19, regular doors will open at 7:15 AM.)
Drop-Off: Simply drop your child off at the entrance doors—our staff will take it from there and guide them safely to their classrooms! There are multiple places to drop off in the morning. Please see the map here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1fY28X9BUHBzZv0bbjDmupI1Q38Rzcy0nA3LKXhX4LMc/edit?usp=sharing
- PK & Kindergarten Families: Tears & Cheers! Our PTA invites all PK and Kindergarten parents and guardians to the library immediately following morning announcements on Aug 18 for our "Tears & Cheers" gathering. Come connect with other parents and celebrate this big milestone with us!
August is the Character Strong Kindness Kickoff!
Our district and campus use the Character Strong curriculum to support students' social-emotional well-being and academic growth. This August, we are launching the school year with our "Kindness Kickoff!" Each month, your child’s teacher will share a Character Strong Family Newsletter to keep you connected to what we're learning.
Want to learn more? Visit characterstrong.com/familystrong.
Enjoy your final day of summer break. We'll see you bright and early tomorrow!
Respectfully,
Angela Frageman
Principal
Mills Elementary School
Dates to Remember
- Aug 18 FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! Doors open at 7:30am; PK & Kinder families Tears & Cheers 7:40am in the library.
- August Character Strong: Kindness Kickoff!
- Aug 18 Gifted & Talented Nomination Window Opens (closes 10/16)
- Aug 21 PTA General Meeting 8am-9:30am & PTA Volunteer Fair
- Aug 24 PTA Spirit Night, Torchy's Tacos 5pm-8pm
- Aug 28 Principal Coffee, Library 7:45am-8:45am, Mills 101: From Operations, to Safety, and Academics
- September Character Strong Word of the Month: RESPECT
- September is National Hispanic Heritage Month
- Sept 2 Principal Coffee, 3:20pm Library, The Chicken Coop & Outdoor Learning
- Sept 3 Back to School Night for Adults PK-2 4:30-5:30/ 3rd-5th 5:30-6:30
- Sept 7 Labor Day No School
- Sept 11 Principal Coffee, Library 7:45am-8:45am, Gifted & Talented Program Information for Families
- Sept 14 Campus Advisory Council (CAC) Meeting- 3:30pm for CAC members
- Sept 21 Student Holiday/Staff PLED Day/Yom Kippur
- Sept 22 Teaching Assistants Appreciation Week
- Sept 28 Custodian Appreciation Week
We are so PROUD!
Mills Elementary has once again demonstrated excellence by earning a TEA "A" rating! Most notably, we maintained all 6 Academic Distinction Designations, placing us among just two elementary schools in AISD to achieve this extraordinary milestone. Congratulations to our dedicated students, staff, and families!
AISD Gifted & Talented Nomination Info
The GT referral window opens on August 18th and closes on October 16th. Please join Nic Ryan, one of our assistant principals and GT administrator, on September 11th at 7:40am for our parent coffee in the library to learn about all things GT, including the referral process, testing, and programming.
New to Mills? Read Important Info Here
Presentation for New Incoming Families: New to Mills Presentation.
Arrival& Dismissal Spots on Campus: Campus Map
Front Office Team Contacts:
Enrollment/Attendance/Doctors/Medical Notes: Courtney Cartlidge | courtney.cartlidge@austinisd.org
After-School Clubs & Volunteering: Ara Doffing | ara.doffing@austinisd.org
Health Room / School Nurse/Medication : Shannon Mickelson | shannon.mickelson@austinisd.org
Donations to Mills, Fundraising, Finance: Daniela Kuhn | daniela.kuhn@austinisd.org
Campus Handbook
Questions regarding our campus handbook? Please reach out to the Mills Administration Team.
2026-2027 AISD School Calendar
Mills PTA Corner
Learn more about our amazing PTA here! MillsPTA.org
Join the Mills PTA today! Joining the PTA doesn't require any time commitment, but your membership directly funds classroom resources, fun school events, and staff appreciation throughout the year. Head to JoinPTA.org to sign up today!
Join Us for the Aug 21 First PTA Meeting & Volunteer Fair!
Kick off the school year with us! Come learn about upcoming programs and connect with other parents. Our Volunteer Fair is like a quick "shop around" event— you can browse different PTA committees, discover what catches your interest, and find the perfect fit for your schedule! Plus, enjoy delicious complimentary coffee and pastries generously provided by Rise Coffee and Bakery!
After School Club Offerings
U.S News & World Report- Top Texas Schools
It's always a GREAT day to be a Mountain Lion and we're extremely proud to be recognized as one of the top schools in the state by US News & World Report: https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/best-elementary-middle-schools-list/