Season of Gratitude

Courtney • Nov 14, 2018

Fall days are upon us, and we are really in the swing of things, having just wrapped up some of our favorite Parkside events – Fall Fest and Ghosts of the Past, which included a Living Wax Museum this year! These are both wonderful (and fun!) opportunities for learning, fostering community, and creating lasting memories, all of which Parkside is dedicated to providing to every child and every family entering our gates.

Earlier in the semester, we enjoyed another beloved tradition – the Fall Campout at Pedernales Falls State Park. Current and former families come to explore, swim, eat, and sing together under the Texas sky, and this event always proves to be the most popular of the year. For some children, it’s their first time to camp or roast marshmallows or try a rope swing, and experiencing these things with school friends makes the memories even more special. Now we’re looking forward to the springtime version of this event – March 29-31, 2019. We’d love to see you there!

Parkside is once again participating in #GivingTuesday , a global day of giving that kicks off the charitable season on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. This year, we want to turn the focus of the day outward and give to our greater community. Specifically, we want to help care for the homeless population in Austin by organizing a sock drive for Socks for the Sole . We chose to collect socks because they are one of the most under-donated and most needed items for the homeless. All sizes (men, women, children) are needed, and all socks must be NEW. We will be collecting in the front office through Monday, November 26th , and the Upper Elementary students will help sort and prepare the socks for donation on Giving Tuesday, November 27th. We are so fortunate to be part of such a loving and generous community, and we invite you to join us in warming the hearts and soles of those in need.

Finally, many of you read the special message Joe and I recently shared regarding our future plans. We have since received so many notes of love and sweet memories that our hearts are full to bursting. We know what a privilege it is to do this work and to be invited into your families, and we appreciate every moment of the past 28 years. As we make this transition over the next year, we hope to see you at Simple Gifts or the campouts or any time you’re passing by our campus so we can express our thanks personally. Looking ahead, we will always be right across the creek, our door and our hearts will always be open, and you will always be welcome.