Mills Elementary School

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful, relaxing, and exciting summer break! If your household is anything like mine right now, your TV has been glued to the World Cup. Maybe you even have stories of attending a match! It’s been a blast to watch! So proud of Team USA! While we are soaking up these final weeks of summer, we are also looking forward to a fantastic year ahead. Here are a few important updates as we prepare for the upcoming school year.

The summer is flying by, and the first day of school is right around the corner. I am incredibly excited to welcome all 700 of our amazing students to campus on Tuesday, August 18th! Doors open at 7:30am. In just a few weeks, the school will be buzzing with energy again as our staff returns. They will be busy prepping the campus, organizing classrooms, and setting the stage to welcome back our wonderful Mountain Lions.

Every year, we select a vision to guide our journey. This year, our school theme will be:

"One Pride, One Purpose: Together We Belong, Together We Succeed"

This theme is centered on the deeply held belief that we bring out the absolute best in one another when we work together toward a common vision and goals. Mills continues to stand out well above the pack, and this school year will be no different.

Our community is at its best when we lift each other up and stay focused on what matters most. As we head into the new year, we want to acknowledge that our district is navigating some budget cuts and challenges. However, Mills will continue to stand strong. Our priority remains delivering an exceptional experience for your children, with an emphasis on innovative academics and supportive social-emotional learning to ensure every student feels safe, valued, and challenged. We could not do it without the support of our PTA and families.

We are in this together, and we look forward to partnering with you:

• If you are a returning family: I encourage you to actively embrace our new and incoming families. Let’s show them the signature Mills spirit of inclusiveness, generosity, and kindness.

• If you are new to Mills: A massive welcome to the Mountain Lion family! We are so thrilled to have you join us, and we already know you’re going to love it here.

Enjoy these remaining weeks of sunshine and family time. Keep cheering hard if you’re watching the tournament, and get ready for an unforgettable school year!

With Mills Pride,
Angela Frageman
Principal, Mills Elementary School

For students in 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades during School Year 2025-2026:

STAAR results were released in the Texas Assessment Family Portal on June 16th. You should have received an email with your child’s state report card. Your child’s unique access code is located on the front page of their state report card.

Visit the after testing section to learn more about interpreting scores and accessing the Texas Assessment Family portal here.

Reading

• Read at least 20 minutes every day. Read with a friend, parent/caregiver, sibling!
• Visit the local library and participate in summer reading programs. https://library.austintexas.gov/
• Rising 3rd Graders, here's the summer guidance from your 3rd grade teachers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EP1OUiZCeI8UWS48DgvBTJYbjc6lLDXlMN1bIJ5FrMs/edit?usp=sharing
• Rising 5th Graders, here's the summer guidance from your 5th grade teachers: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mhqz1sG6R6dFQtOHnHnwtOG1t0SmXCSGU2vh2eQYQTc/edit?usp=sharing

Writing/Typing

• Keep a summer journal.
• Write/email postcards or letters to friends and family or keep a travel or adventure log.
• Practice Typing for 2nd-5th Graders! http://dancemattypingguide.com/

Math

• Practice math facts through games and apps. Students in 1st-2nd grades can work on Addition & Subtraction facts. 3rd-5th grade students should be working on developing fluency in Multiplication and Division facts.
• Play card games and board games that involve strategy and numbers.
• Track sports statistics, temperatures, or daily steps and create graphs.

Science & Discovery

• Plant and care for a garden.
• Conduct simple science experiments at home. https://www.childsci.org/about-us/mission-today-vision-tomorrow
• Visit museums, nature centers, or zoos. https://do512.com/p/free-museums-in-austin

:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hNIyppNSaA_8jPVc245n_zUjct_O_QUh/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=104188077472205154841&rtpof=true&sd=true

Questions regarding our campus handbook? Please reach out to the Mills Administration Team.

https://www.austinisd.org/sites/default/files/dept/ctfc/docs/2026-2027_Calendar_Revised_0.pdf

Need to load your child's lunch/breakfast account? Need to take a peek at the menu offerings?

Visit: https://www.schoolcafe.com/AustinISD

Learn more about our amazing PTA here! https://www.millspta.org/

Join our Mills PTA for the new school year starting August 1, 2026—remember, all members must renew annually as memberships do not carry over! Click here to join: www.joinpta.org/

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/