The Parkside Connection
A Quarterly Newsletter for the Parkside Community

Hello Parkside friends,

As a small token of our appreciation for your support, we would like to share quarterly updates on news and events and invite you to stay connected to our community. We continue to settle in to our beautiful "new" campus, and the positive difference is evident both inside and outside. The children not only have more room to play and explore, but also more opportunities to bring nature into their classrooms. Art, songs, and reports are being created daily, and this work reflects the trees, bugs, and even the critters that are all a part of our community.

We recently had our third annual school dance, and as always, it was a huge hit. Kids and parents alike took turns on the dance floor, and the Upper Elementary students led the crowd in several of the dances they've learned in their weekly dance class. We love our traditions here at Parkside, and it's always a pleasure to bring everyone together for these fun family events.

In honor of our 25th Anniversary this year, we've been incorporating "Parkside Tidbits" during Simple Gifts on Friday mornings. The classes are taking turns sharing fun facts and school history, and we're all learning something new each week. Here's the story behind one of our favorite songs, "Little Buddy":

We are once again participating in Amplify Austin for our major fundraising event, and this year’s focus is on securing Parkside's next 25 years and beyond. Funds raised will go toward our Simple Gifts Capital Campaign and help us guarantee the future dreams of our Parkside children, families, and staff. Amplify Austin runs from 6 pm Thursday to 6 pm Friday, March 2-3, and our goal is to raise $100,000, which will be matched by a beloved family in our community. All donors at the $1,000 level and above will be recognized with an inscripted tile on our new donor wall, which will also include tiles hand-painted by the children. If you are considering a gift to Parkside this quarter, we would greatly appreciate your help in reaching our goal and, ultimately, ensuring that Parkside will continue to educate and nurture Austin’s children for generations to come.

Finally, we sincerely hope you can all join us for our 25th Anniversary party on Saturday, April 22nd, from 3-7 pm, here on campus. We are looking forward to an afternoon of music, food, and community as we recall favorite Parkside memories and traditions. We will also be honoring all capital campaign donors for your continued support of the dream Joe and Claire made real in 1991. In order to make sure you receive more information about this and other events, please submit your updated contact information here, and we'll be in touch soon.

Thank you again, friends, for your generosity and your belief in us. You are a gift to our community.