Science Fair Information - Check backpacks on 1/8/2013

Science Fair Information Comes Home – January 8, 2013

Please look for science fair sign-up information in your child’s backpack today!  

Pick Your Science Fair Project Night @ Mitchell – January 15, 2013 – 5:30-6:30 PM

Families meet to Mitchell tonight to get help and information about science fair projects.

Pick Your Science Fair Project Night @ Arbor Meadows – January 24, 2013 – 5:30-6:30 PM

Families meet tonight at the Arbor Meadows Clubhouse to get help and information about science fair projects.

Science Fair project registration forms are due to school on January 25, 2013.

PHOTO: Camp Donation - Thank You Bethel AME!

The fifth graders of Mitchell School wish to thank Bethel AME Church for their generous donation to the fifth grade camp fund. The donation will cover the cost of sending four students to camp this year.

Thank you Bethel AME, Reates Curry, Rhonda Salazar, and Dr. Reverend Joseph N. Cousins!

PHOTO: UM Bassist Visits Mitchell

Charlie Reischl, a University of Michigan bassist, visited Mitchell School today to share his music with Mr. Tolly's class and answer questions about music and his instrument.  It was awesome!

We should have told him it was also Pajama Day!

PHOTO: Pajama Day Fun #3

PHOTO: Pajama Day Fun #2

PHOTO: Pajama Day Fun #1

Music Room Update - MLK Celebration on January 18, 2013 @ 9:30 AM

Dear Mitchell Families,

Our work in the music room has recently been focused on preparing for our celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The students have learned songs about Dr. King and the stories behind them. The songs include Lift Every Voice and Sing, Shine/Is a Light, and We Shall Overcome. As part of our preparations, the students have been studying the life and works of William Grant Still, known as the "Dean of African-American Composers."

To really make this day come alive for our students and the entire Mitchell community, we have two very special guests joining us for our event: Celeste Headlee, host of several NPR programs and former co-host of PRI's The Takeaway, and Grammy Award-winning conductor and violinist John McLaughlin Williams. Both Celeste and John will bring their performances and stories of William Grant Still as an African-American composer living during our country's challenging times. In addition to their participation in the school-wide performance, they will both be spending time with our students in the music classroom, for more personal interaction. Please see below my signature for more biographical information on each of our guests.

Please join us on Friday, January 18 at 9:30 AM here at Mitchell for this celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's.

Sincerely,

Dan TollyMusic Educator
Mitchell Elementary
Ann Arbor Public Schools

Pajama Day Is Friday!

Students are invited to wear their pajamas to school on Friday this week!

Pajama Day has been planned by the Mitchell School Student Council and their sponsor, Mr. Bell.

Community High School Announces 2013 Parent/Student Orientations

Five parent and student orientation sessions have been announced for families interested in applying 

for Community High School's freshmen slots for the 2013-1014 school year. The sessions, beginning 
January 8, 2013, will be held at the school located at 401 North Division Street. 

• Tuesday, January 8, 2013,  7:00-8:30 PM         
  

• Sunday, January 13,  2013, 2:00-3:30 PM                 
  

• Thursday, January 31, 2013,  7:00-8:30 PM  
  

•  Monday, February 4, 2013, 7:00-8:30 PM
  

• Thursday, February 7, 2013, 7:00-8:30 PM                 
  

The application deadline is *4:00 PM*  *Friday, February 8, 2013, at the CHS Main Office. 

Application packets will be available January 7, 2013 at all Ann Arbor
Public Middle Schools, the Balas Administration Building, 2555 South State
Street, and Community High School, 401 N. Division Street. Applications may
also be downloaded from the website at:

*http://www.a2community.org*

To be eligible for one of 114 open freshman slots, applicants must be current 8th graders,
meet the AAPS residency requirements at the time of application, attend an orientation meeting
with a parent/guardian, and submit a completed application to the CHS Main Office. by 4:00 PM 
Friday, February 8, 2013.  

Managing Your Distress in the Aftermath of a Shooting

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/mass-shooting.aspx

You may be struggling to understand how a shooting could occur and why such a terrible thing would happen.  There may never be satisfactory answers to these questions.
We do know, though, that it is typical for people to experience a variety of emotions following such a traumatic event. These feelings can include shock, sorrow, numbness, fear, anger, disillusionment, grief and others. You may find that you have trouble sleeping, concentrating, eating or remembering even simple tasks. This is common and should pass after a while. Over time, the caring support of family and friends can help to lessen the emotional impact and ultimately make the changes brought about by the tragedy more manageable. You may feel that the world is a more dangerous place today than you did yesterday. It will take some time to recover your sense of equilibrium.
Meanwhile, you may wonder how to go on living your daily life. You can strengthen your resilience—the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity—in the days and weeks ahead.
Here are some tips:
Talk about it — Ask for support from people who care about you and who will listen to your concerns. Receiving support and care can be comforting and reassuring. It often helps to speak with others who have shared your experience so you do not feel so different or alone.
Strive for balance — When a tragedy occurs, it's easy to become overwhelmed and have a negative or pessimistic outlook. Balance that viewpoint by reminding yourself of people and events which are meaningful and comforting, even encouraging. Striving for balance empowers you and allows for a healthier perspective on yourself and the world around you.
Turn it off and take a break — You may want to keep informed, but try to limit the amount of news you take in whether it's from the internet, television, newspapers or magazines. While getting the news informs you, being overexposed to it can actually increase your stress. The images can be very powerful in reawakening your feeling of distress. Also, schedule some breaks to distract yourself from thinking about the incident and focus instead on something you enjoy. Try to do something that will lift your spirits.
Honor your feelings — Remember that it is common to have a range of emotions after a traumatic incident. You may experience intense stress similar to the effects of a physical injury. For example, you may feel exhausted, sore, or off balance.
Take care of yourself — Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals, get plenty of rest, and build physical activity into your day. Avoid alcohol and drugs because they can suppress your feelings rather than help you to manage and lessen your distress. In addition, alcohol and drugs may intensify your emotional or physical pain. Establish or reestablish routines such as eating meals at regular times and following an exercise program. If you are having trouble sleeping, try some relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.
Help others or do something productive — Locate resources in your community on ways that you can help people who have been affected by this incident, or have other needs. Helping someone else often has the benefit of making you feel better, too.
If you have recently lost friends or family in this or other tragedies — Remember that grief is a long process. Give yourself time to experience your feelings and to recover. For some, this might involve staying at home; for others it may mean getting back to your daily routine. Dealing with the shock and trauma of such an event will take time. It is typical to expect many ups and downs, including "survivor guilt"— feeling bad that you escaped the tragedy while others did not.
For many people, using the tips and strategies mentioned above may be sufficient to get through the current crisis. At times, however an individual can get stuck or have difficulty managing intense reactions. A licensed mental health professional such as a psychologist can assist you in developing an appropriate strategy for moving forward. It is important to get professional help if you feel like you are unable to function or perform basic activities of daily living.
Recovering from such a tragic event may seem difficult to imagine. Persevere and trust in your ability to get through the challenging days ahead. Taking the steps in this guide can help you cope at this very difficult time.
This tip sheet was made possible with help from the following APA members: Dewey Cornell, PhD, Richard A. Heaps, PhD, Jana Martin, PhD, H. Katherine O'Neill, PhD, Karen Settle, PhD, Peter Sheras, PhD, Phyllis Koch-Sheras, PhD, and members of Division 17.

In Regard To Events In Connecticut

Dear AAPS Families,

The tragic event today in Connecticut has brought up some questions regarding the safety plans for our schools.

Please let me assure you that this district is very well prepared for a wide variety of emergencies. Each school has a safety plan in place. This plan includes a heightened awareness from the main office staff and by our school staff. School doors, are in general, locked during the school day except for the front doors. Teachers and staff members have classroom safety plans with instructions in each classroom that are reviewed each year. There are staff members trained in crisis response and CPR in each building. Many staff members have also participated in staged training exercises in response to potential school emergencies.

AAPS works closely with the Ann Arbor Police Department. Police have reviewed and contributed to the district safety plans and participate with us in the training exercises.

While today's events are just now unfolding, we need to assure AAPS families that we continue to assess our safety plans as we will again after this tragedy.

Please feel free to contact your school principal or me if you have any further questions.

These types of events are just impossible to explain. Our condolences are with the families at Sandy Hook Elementary School and the whole Newtown, Connecticut community.

Please have a peaceful weekend,

Liz Margolis

Director of Communications

Music Room News - from Mr. Tolly

Dear Mitchell Families, 

We've had an exciting start to the school year. We started the year by studying Arturo Sandoval, the great Cuban trumpet player. We made connections through Sandoval's life to Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo, BeBop, Swing, and other performers and forms of American music.

In this fall semester, the Mitchell music room has had many guests. From the University of Michigan School of Music, Dr. Carlos Rodriguez (Professor of Music Education) has been in to observe the work we're doing. In addition, three pre-student teachers and their graduate teaching assistant have been joining us every Thursday morning, getting a chance to practice their craft under my supervision and guidance. I work directly with the group outside of teaching time to ensure that any lessons they prepare and present are in accordance with my curriculum standards and tie in directly with the content of our curriculum. We've also had 13 student observers in from the University of Michigan School of Music Education. 

As you may know from Mr. Karr, Mitchell has had several important guests this fall, including AAPS Superintendent Dr. Patricia Green and world-renowned educational expert Dr. James Comer. We were honored to have them observe your students engaged in our music curriculum during their visits. We have also been happy to have other Mitchell guests visit our classroom, including Dr. Cathy Reischl of the UM - Mitchell Partnership, and Chuck Hatt, Literacy and Social Studies Coordinator for the Ann Arbor Public Schools district.

 

It has been wonderful to work musically with your children. I've been impressed with how quickly they've adapted to a new approach in the music classroom. Please know that you are always welcome to visit and observe the rhythm, melodic, movement, and song activities we experience daily in the music room. Just be sure to sign in at the office on your way into the building.

Thank you, 

Dan Tolly

Music Education

Mitchell Elementary
Ann Arbor Public Schools

PHOTO: Kindergarten Art Project

Kindergarteners have been learning about warm and cool colors. They painted paper in warm colors and made suns to put on their cool color backgrounds, made with oil pastels.

Ms. Furey is the Kindergarten art teacher this year and guided our students so wonderfully on this project. 

Report Card Questions and Answers

Q1:  How do I know what my child is expected to know and be able to do at their grade level?

A1:  Each family will receive (or you may have already) a grade level outcome sheet from your child's teacher during conferences.  These outcome sheets are written by the Ann Arbor Public Schools and reflect Michigan's state educational standards.  You can find out more about Michigan's content expectations by talking to yoru child's teacher or by going to the Michigan Department of Edcuations website (http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530_30334_51042-232021--,00.html).

 

Q2:  Why doesn't my child get letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) on her report cards in Ann Arbor?

A2:  Letter grades are a form of grading many parents are familiar with as part of their own educational experience.  Grades as a form of grading are often subjective and do not necessarily reflect what a child knows or what they need to focus on next.  Using the concepts reflected in the outcome sheets, more of a "standard" can be applied to teaching and learning for students. With the outcome sheets, Northside and the Ann Arbor Public Schools have established clear targets that reflect what the State of Michigan believes children should know and learn at a particular grade level. 

When you look at your child's report card, you'll see reading and writing growth is measured in terms of continuous progress, which you might hear your child's teacher call "the continuum."  This continuum shows which outcomes a child is currently achieving, which outcomes they have already achieved, and which outcomes they'll be focusing on next in their learning.  Sometimes an outcome on the continuum is achieved quickly and other times mastery requires additional practice and time.  This is marked for each student by teachers and reported to parents on the dates previously mentioned.  Using this assessment information, teachers are better able to meet the individual needs of students wherever they fall along the continuum of skillfulness.

 

Q3:  How do teachers determine a child's reading level?

A3:  Periodically each student in class participates in a "running record" with their teacher.  During a running record, the teacher listens to a child read and asks the child questions about the reading.  Afterward, the information gathered during the running record can be analyzed to determine a child's current level of performance.  It also gives information about what a child needs to work on to become a more proficient reader.

 

Q4:  I noticed my second grader (for example) is not yet achieving some of the outcomes for second grade.  Should I be concerned?

A4:  The outcomes represent end of the year targets, so at this point in the year it is not always concerning.  If you are concerned or have a question, please contact your child's teacher.

 

Q5:  Is it OK to ask my child's teacher questions about their report card?

A5:  Yes.  Your child's teacher welcomes your questions.  Please call, email or ask for an appointment with your child's teacher.

 

 

Mitchell School Featured In Article

Sometimes, a few small changes can make a big difference.

That's what Mitchell Elementary and Scarlett Middle schools are showing as they implement new school-wide approaches that improve teacher instruction, student behavior and social skills.

CLICK HERE for more.

Science Olympiad - Forms Due

As you may know, Mitchell School is participating in the Science Olympiad this year!

We are very excited to be a part of this event as I understand it has been quite some time since our school participated. 

 

Please encourage students and parents to participate and remind them to return the forms to school by Friday, December 7.

The earlier we submit the forms to WESO, the better our chances that the events student select are available.

 

If you have any questions, please don't hesistate to contact me.

 

Thank you, as always, for all that you do on behalf of Mitchell students.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Sarah McCallum

Vice President

Mitchell PTO

mccallumsarah@yahoo.com

PHOTO: Learning Letters - Upper And Lower Case

Working together in Kindergarten to learn letters. We want all students to know all letters as early as possible in the Kindergarten year.

PHOTO: Some of the Mitchell Staff at Leo's to support the Mitchell PTO!

It was a fun night out! Thanks for organizing it, PTO!

PHOTO: First Graders Working With UM Interns / Párvulos de trabajo con los internos de la UM

As part of our partnership with the U-M School of Education and the Mitchell School Improvement Plan (Español), our Kindergarten and first grade students are working on writing with a purpose.  We know that writers (kids and adults) enjoy writing more when they write for authentic ways.  

The picture above shows an activity where Mitchell students are sharing some of their recent writing and UM interns are giving feedback.  Thanks to UM professor Debi Khasnabis for helping to set up the activity shown in the picture above.

Como parte de nuestra colaboración con la Facultad de Educación de la UM y la Escuela Mitchell Plan de Mejoramiento (Español), nuestra Kindergarten y primer grado están trabajando en la escritura con un propósito. Sabemos que los escritores (niños y adultos) más gusta escribir cuando escriben formas auténticas.

La imagen de arriba muestra una actividad donde los estudiantes Mitchell están compartiendo algunos de sus escritos recientes y pasantes de la UM están dando retroalimentación. Gracias a UM Khasnabis Debi profesor para ayudar a establecer la actividad que muestra la imagen de arriba.

Free Thanksgiving Dinner / Gratis Thanksgiving Dinner

A free Thanksgiving dinner is being offered for families who register with the Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church, 1800 Packard Road (across from Ypsilanti High School's athletic fields).
Dinner will be served from 4:30 pm until 6:30 pm on Wednesday, November 21.
Feel free to call and register by calling 482-2055. You will tell them your name and the number of family members who will attend the dinner.

Un libre cena de Thanksgiving se está ofreciendo a las familias que se registren en el Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church, 1800 Packard Road (al otro lado de los campos deportivos Ypsilanti High School).
La cena se sirve desde las 4:30 pm hasta las 6:30 pm del miércoles 21 de noviembre.
No dude en llamar e inscribirse llamando al 482-2055. Usted les dirá su nombre y el número de miembros de la familia que asistirá a la cena.

Mitchell School Election for President of the United States

The Mitchell School presidential voting is now closed. 

Results:
86% of Mitchell Students voted for Barack Obama
14% of Mitchell Students voted for Mitt Romney

Students Go Outside Each Day / Los estudiantes van afuera cada día

As a reminder, students go outside each day at school for recess unless it is raining or the wind chill or actuall temperature is ≤ 0 °F.  Please help your child to remember their coat, hat, and gloves each day.

Como recordatorio, los estudiantes van afuera cada día en la escuela durante el recreo a menos que esté lloviendo o el factor del viento o la temperatura actuall es ≤ 0 ° F. Por favor ayude a su hijo a recordar su abrigo, sombrero y guantes cada día.

PHOTO: Indoor Noon Hour At Mitchell

On days where it is too cold (<0 degrees) or there is inclement weather, students stay inside for lunch recess. Today was a day when we stayed in. Here is what it looked like.

Mitchell School Part of Grant Received by Rec & Ed / Mitchell Parte Facultad de subvención recibido por Rec & Ed

By Tara Cavanaugh
Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Community Education and Recreation Department is the grateful recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health.
The grant is awarded as part of MCDH’s Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Before and After School and Summer Pilot Program.
Rec&Ed will use the grant to provide after-school sports programs, to create scholarships and programming for a summer school camp, and much more.
Overall, more than 600 at-risk AAPS students in grades K-5 will benefit from the multi-week programs, said Rec&Ed Director Jenna Bacolor.
“These are pilot funds to try new programs and offer programming to kids who don’t normally get it,” Bacolor said. “We’ll see what works and we hope that it will lead to best practices that we can use in other areas of the district as well.”
Rec&Ed identified four schools that could most benefit from the pilot funds: Bryant, Pattengill, Mitchell and Pittsfield elementary, which are Title I schools.
Rec&Ed will offer a mixture of after-school offerings at the schools, including basketball program in the winter, soccer in the spring, and a new spring program that Bacolor said was somewhat similar to the Warrior Dash event for adults. Children will work together to get through an obstacle course, learning teamwork and leadership in the process.
“This program is more of a cooperative program, not a competitive program,” Bacolor said. “We’re doing that deliberately.”
Rec&Ed will utilize partnerships to help implement the grant. One-on-One sports will help supply the basketball, soccer and the new obstacle course program. Chartwells will supply the healthy snacks for the sports activities. The University of Michigan School of Social Work will supply consultation and training for the new program.
“They offer a really positive approach to youth sports that includes addressing child development, team-building, conflict resolution and diversity training,” Bacolor said. “We think that will be wonderful to include.”
The MCDH grant will also be used to transform the after-school camp for the Summer Learning Institute.
The Summer Learning Institute is offered at Ann Arbor Open every summer. The four-week program provides elementary students a half-day of summer school. Rec&Ed has long offered an afternoon camp for the SLI students.
With the grant, the camp will be transformed into a CATCH program, Bacolor said. CATCH stands for Coordinated Action Toward Child Health, and it offers physically active games and healthy eating instruction. The CATCH After School program is a nationally recognized best practice program.
“We think it’s going to be a great offering,” Bacolor said. “Since these are pilot funds, we’re going to see what parts of this are really successful and perhaps incorporate them into future summer camps.”
The MCDH grant will allow Rec&Ed to provide full scholarships for 35 children, Bacolor added.
In addition to the SLI camp and the after-school sports, the grant will supply Mitchell Elementary with a new bike rack, nutrition and health training for staff who work with students, and gift certificates to SLI students with perfect attendance.
The grant also requires the AAPS Wellness Committee to review and strengthen the language of its existing wellness policy and physical education policy, and to submit an application for HealthierUS schools, a voluntary certification of the US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.
Although Rec&Ed requested $96,000 from MCDH for the grant, it was awarded a full $100,000. “That was a complete shock,” Bacolor said. Rec &Ed was one of 67 applications for the grant, and MDCH only awarded 10.
Completing the grant was a “great team effort,” she added. She worked with Donna Dishman, Sheri Judkins and Vickie Malcom at Rec&Ed. “They took a leap of faith with me, that putting in the hours would lead to something good, and it really paid off!”

Por Tara Cavanaugh
Educación Ann Arbor de las Escuelas Públicas de la Comunidad y el Departamento de Recreación es el receptor agradecido de una donación de US $ 100.000 del Departamento de Salud Comunitaria de Michigan.
La subvención se concede en el marco de la Actividad Física MCDH y la alimentación saludable Antes y Después de la Escuela y el Programa Piloto de Verano.
Rec & Ed utilizará la subvención para ofrecer programas después de clases deportivas, crear becas y programas para un campamento de verano de la escuela, y mucho más.
En total, más de 600 estudiantes en riesgo AAPS en los grados K-5 se beneficiarán de los programas de varias semanas, dijo el director Ed Rec & Jenna Bacolor.
"Se trata de fondos piloto para probar nuevos programas y ofrecer programación para niños que normalmente no lo entiendo", dijo Bacolor. "Vamos a ver lo que funciona y esperamos que conduzca a mejores prácticas que podemos utilizar en otras zonas del distrito."
Rec & Ed identificaron cuatro escuelas que más podrían beneficiarse de los fondos piloto: Bryant, Pattengill, Mitchell y elemental Pittsfield, que son escuelas de Título I.
Rec & Ed ofrecerá una mezcla de después de la escuela ofrendas en las escuelas, incluyendo el programa de baloncesto en el invierno, el fútbol en la primavera, y un programa de nueva primavera que Bacolor dijo fue algo similar al evento Warrior Dash para adultos. Los niños trabajarán juntos para conseguir a través de una carrera de obstáculos, aprender el trabajo en equipo y el liderazgo en el proceso.
"Este programa es más de un programa de cooperación, no un programa competitivo", dijo Bacolor. "Estamos haciendo esto a propósito."
Rec & Ed utilizará asociaciones para ayudar a implementar la subvención. One-on-One deportes le ayudará a suministrar el baloncesto, el fútbol y el programa del curso nuevo obstáculo. Chartwells suministrará los refrigerios saludables para las actividades deportivas. La Universidad de Michigan Escuela de Trabajo Social suministrará asesoramiento y capacitación para el nuevo programa.
"Ofrecen un enfoque muy positivo para el deporte juvenil que incluye abordar el desarrollo infantil, trabajo en equipo, resolución de conflictos y capacitación en la diversidad", dijo Bacolor. "Creemos que va a ser maravilloso para incluir".
La subvención MCDH también se utilizará para transformar el campo después de la escuela para el Aprendizaje de Verano Instituto.
The Summer Learning Institute se ofrece en Ann Arbor Abrir todos los veranos. El programa de cuatro semanas de duración ofrece a los estudiantes de primaria de medio día de escuela de verano. Rec & Ed ha ofrecido durante mucho tiempo un campo de tarde para los estudiantes de SLI.
Con la subvención, el campamento se transformó en un programa CATCH, Bacolor dijo. CAPTURA puestos de Acción Coordinada Hacia la salud infantil, y ofrece juegos físicamente activos e instrucción alimentación saludable. El programa después de escuela CATCH es un programa reconocido a nivel nacional mejor práctica.
"Creemos que va a ser una gran oferta", dijo Bacolor. "Como se trata de fondos piloto, vamos a ver qué partes de este son un verdadero éxito y tal vez incorporarlos en los campamentos de verano en el futuro."
La subvención permitirá MCDH Rec & Ed para proporcionar becas completas para 35 niños, Bacolor añadido.
Además del campo de SLI y los deportes después de la escuela, la subvención suministrará Mitchell Elementary con una bicicleta nueva formación rack, nutrición y salud para el personal que trabaja con los estudiantes, y certificados de regalo para los estudiantes SLI con asistencia perfecta.
La subvención también se pide al Comité AAPS bienestar de revisar y fortalecer el idioma de su política de bienestar existente y la política de educación física, y que presente una solicitud para las escuelas HealthierUS, una certificación voluntaria del Departamento de Agricultura de EE.UU. Servicio de Alimentos y Nutrición.
Aunque Rec & Ed pidió 96.000 dólares de MCDH para la concesión, se le otorgó un total de $ 100.000. "Fue una sorpresa total", dijo Bacolor. Rec & Ed era una de las 67 solicitudes de concesión y MDCH sólo concedió 10.
Finalización de la subvención era un "gran esfuerzo de equipo", agregó. Ella trabajó con Donna Dishman, Judkins Sheri y Malcom Vickie en Rec & Ed. "Se dio un salto de fe en mí, que poner en las horas conduciría a algo bueno, y realmente valió la pena!"

PHOTO: Image Of A Third Grade Writing Lesson

Today's lesson in third grade students developing a broader vocabulary to replace overused words in their writing. They were finding words to use instead of "good."

PHOTO: Mitchell After School Chess Club

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for PTO Field Trip Fundraising at Mitchell School

November 18-24 at the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop, 2280 S. Industrial Hwy.

From Sunday...  to Saturday..., we have an opportunity to earn a percentage of $1000 through this promotional fundraising activity.  All shop proceeds benefit Ann Arbor Public Schools every week.

Here’s how it works.  For every $5 spent each week, shoppers earn a token.  Cast your tokens November 18 – 24 in support of our school group!  Spread the word to friends and family and let’s SHOW OUR SUPPORT for our school!

Mitchell School Notes - 10/19/12

Calendar / Calendario

Monday, October 22, 2012

4:00 – 7:00 All-School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

3:45 – 5:00 – Chess Club / club de Ajedrez

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

6 PM – Title 1 Parent Night

Thursday, October 25, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

3:45 – 5:00 – Strings Class with Mr. Tolly

4:00 – 7:00 All-School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 26, 2012

6:00 – 8:00 Mitchell School Fall Fest / Mitchell Festival de Otoño

There is a small fee to come, but Mr. Karr has a free coupon if you ask him for it. / Hay una pequeña cuota para entrar, pero el señor Karr tiene un cupón gratuito si se le pregunta por ello.

Fall Festival is a family event / Festival de Otoño es un evento familiar.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

3:45 – 5:00 – Chess Club / club de Ajedrez

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Halloween – We recognize that many of our families celebrate Halloween today, but we ask that students do not wear or bring costumes to school. / Reconocemos que muchas de nuestras familias celebran Halloween hoy en día, pero le pedimos que los estudiantes no usan trajes o traer a la escuela hoy.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

3:45 – 5:00 – Strings Class with Mr. Tolly

REMINDER:  There is no school for students on Tuesday, November 6.

What every parent wants to know about school library books! / Lo que todo padre quiere saber acerca de los libros de la biblioteca escolar!

How long can my child keep a book? I don't see a date due stamp, so how do I know when a book is due?

Books are checked out for one week and are due the next week when the child's class comes to the library.  Each class has a regularly scheduled library period once a week.  Here is this year's library check out schedule.

Mon.        Hamilton       

Wed.        Hatt, Koutoulas, Sanmiguel, Bell, Thompson, Rothman

Fri.        Padgen, Faison, Krigbaum, Spiess, McCready, Deshpande

       

Can my child renew a book they aren't finished with?

Yes, they just need to let us know. We don't renew books that were merely forgotten.

How can I help my child remember to return library books?

It helps to have a specific place where your family always keeps library books.  Some families always keep school library books in their children's backpacks or on a special shelf.  A note on the fridge reminding which day is library day also helps.

What if my child forgets to return a book?

If your child forgets to bring a book back, they can choose a new book to put in the "save box" until they bring the first book back.  This means that book is held for them for a week until they return the old book.

My child has an overdue book. Should I send money to pay a fine?

We do not charge overdue fines here at school.  Just send the book back, no money.

How will I know if my child has an overdue book?

We send home overdue reminder notes once a month, towards the end of the month. These are REMINDERS, meant to be helpful, not punitive.

We have lost a library book. What should we do?

This is a two stage process.  If you think a book is lost but still want to keep looking for it, we will mark the book as lost.  This means your child will be able to check another book out while you search for the original one. We will continue to look for it here at school too.  Then at the end of the semester, if the book still has not turned up, we will ask you to pay for its replacement.

The dog ate my child's book. Or we ripped a page. What should we do?

If you know that  a book is damaged beyond repair or will never be seen again, we ask that you pay for its replacement.  The school media specialist can tell you the cost. If the book needs repair, please send it back with a note and we will do the repairs. Please do not use Scotch tape to repair rips yourself.

¿Cuánto tiempo puede mi hijo llevar un libro? No veo una marca de fecha de vencimiento, así que ¿cómo puedo saber si un libro es debido?

Los libros se prestan por una semana y se deben a la semana siguiente cuando la clase el niño llega a la biblioteca. Cada clase tiene un período regular biblioteca una vez a la semana. Aquí está la biblioteca de este año, echa un vistazo a lo previsto.

Lunes Hamilton

Miércoles Hatt, Koutoulas, Sanmiguel, Bell, Thompson, Rothman

Viernes PADGen, Faison, Krigbaum, Spiess, McCready, Deshpande

       

¿Mi hijo puede renovar un libro que no han terminado con?

Sí, sólo tiene que hacérnoslo saber. Nosotros no renovar los libros que fueron olvidados simplemente.

¿Cómo puedo ayudar a mi hijo a recordar a devolver los libros de la biblioteca?

Es útil tener un lugar específico en el que su familia siempre se mantiene libros de la biblioteca. Algunas familias siempre llevar libros de la biblioteca escolar en las mochilas de sus hijos o en un estante especial. Una nota en la nevera recordar qué día es el día de la biblioteca también ayuda.

¿Qué pasa si mi hijo se olvida de devolver un libro?

Si su hijo se olvida de traer un libro de vuelta, pueden elegir un libro nuevo para poner en la "Caja Fuerte" hasta que traigan el primer libro de nuevo. Esto significa que el libro se lleva a cabo por ellos durante una semana hasta que se devuelva el libro viejo.

Mi hijo tiene un libro vencido. ¿Debo enviar dinero para pagar una multa?

No cobramos multas pendientes aquí en la escuela. Sólo tienes que enviar el libro, no hay dinero.

¿Cómo puedo saber si mi hijo tiene un libro vencido?

Enviamos notas a casa vencidos recordatorio una vez al mes, a finales de mes. Estos son recordatorios, como propósito ser útil, no punitiva.

Hemos perdido a un libro de la biblioteca. ¿Qué debemos hacer?

Este es un proceso de dos etapas. Si usted piensa que un libro se pierde, pero todavía quiere seguir buscando para ello, vamos a marcar el libro como perdido. Esto significa que el niño será capaz de revisar otro libro mientras busca el original. Vamos a seguir buscando aquí en la escuela también. Luego, al final del semestre, si el libro todavía no ha aparecido, se le pedirá que pagar por el duplicado.

El perro se comió libro de mi hijo. O nos arrancó una página. ¿Qué debemos hacer?

Si usted sabe que un libro está dañado sin posibilidad de reparación o nunca se volvió a ver, le pedimos que pagar por el duplicado. El especialista en medios de comunicación escolar le puede decir el costo. Si el libro necesita ser reparado, envíelo de vuelta con una nota y vamos a hacer las reparaciones. Por favor, no use cinta adhesiva para reparar roturas ti mismo.

The Ann Arbor Community Center is hosting a Daddy-Daughter/ Mommy-Son Dance!

Friday, October 19th - 7:15 - 9:15p.m.

625 North Main St.

This wonderful evening is the perfect opportunity to spend time with your son or daughter! The event is hosted by the Ann Arbor Community Center. Picture packages will be available for purchase - Dancing - Refreshment! All children attending will receive a small gift!

Enjoy the evening with your son or daughter! You will cherish it forever!

The event is sponsored by the Ann Arbor Community Center. Donations will be welcome!

Mitchell School Notes – from Mr. Karr - 10/12/2012

Calendar / Calendario

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

·    MEAP Math Test – Third, Fourth, Fifth Graders / Tercero, los alumnos de cuarto, quinto

6:30 – 7:30 – PTO Meeting – Come to the meeting!  Meet other parents, teachers, and Mr. Karr!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

4:00 – 7:00 All-School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Thursday, October 18, 2012

·    MEAP Writing Test Day 2 – Fourth Graders / estudiantes de cuarto grado

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

3:45 – 5:00 – Chess Club / club de Ajedrez

Thursday, October 25, 2012

3:45 – 5:00 – Mighty Mustangs Math Program

4:00 – 7:00 All-School Parent-Teacher Conferences

Friday, October 26, 2012

6:00 – 8:00 Mitchell School Fall Fest / Mitchell Festival de Otoño

There is a small fee to come, but Mr. Karr has a free coupon if you ask him for it. / Hay una pequeña cuota para entrar, pero el señor Karr tiene un cupón gratuito si se le pregunta por ello.

Fall Festival is a family event / Festival de Otoño es un evento familiar.

News and Information / Información y Noticias

Community Photo Mural Project / mural de fotos de nuestra comunidad

Dear Mitchell Families,

Susan Atkins and Stephen Gutierrez, our English Language Learner (ELL) teachers, would like to invite all Mitchell families to participate in a special activity this month. In Mexico and throughout Central America "Dia de los Muertos" is celebrated at the end of October and beginning of November. The idea behind this cultural holiday is to honor and celebrate people in our lives that are no longer with us. This year at Mitchell we will celebrate this tradition with a "Community Photo Mural."

This photo mural is a chance for us all to remember and share stories about important individuals in our family or personal histories. We are asking families to send into school one photo of someone who you would like to honor in our mural. The photo can be of the person, or of an object that reminds you of the person (for example a picture of a favorite chair, food or place). Please feel free to choose a family member, pet, or famous person who has touched your lives.

There are four ways to participate and get a family picture on our mural:

·                You can send a digital picture to Susan Atkins atatkins@aaps.k12.mi.us.

·                You can send a hard copy picture to school. Your picture will be scanned and quickly returned back to you.

·                You can borrow a camera by filling out the form below or contacting Susan Atkins (atkins@aaps.k12.mi.us or 734-997-1216 extension 25523). You will have 24 hours to take one picture at home and send the camera back to school for developing.

·                You can draw a picture or send a small item into school that will be incorporated into the mural, and then returned back to you.

ALL PHOTOS MUST BE LABELED WITH FAMILY NAME, TEACHER NAME, AND INCLUDE THE ATTACHED FORM. PLEASE FILL OUT THIS INFORMATION AND RETURN IT WITH YOUR PICTURE BY WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24^th.

We look forward to creating a mural that represents and links together all of our Mitchell staff and families. It will be ready to admire by our Fall Festival on October 26^th. Thank you for participating! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions.

Estimadas familias de Mitchell,

Susan Atkins y Stephen Gutierrez, los maestros de lenguaje inglés quieren invitar a todas las familias de Mitchell a participar en una actividad especial este mes.

En México y en otras partes de Ámerica Central "el Día de los Muertos" es una celebración al fin de octubre y al principio de noviembre. El propósito de este día feriado es honrar y celebrar la gente en nuestras vidas que han fallecidos. Este año en la escuela de Mitchell vamos a celebrar esta tradición haciendo un "mural de fotos de nuestra comunidad."

Este mural de fotos nos da la oportunidad para recordar y compartir unos cuentos y las historias personales de las personas importantes en la familia. Quisiéramos que cada familia mande a la escuela una foto de una persona que quieren honorar en nuestro mural. El foto puede ser de la persona, o de un objeto que hace recordar a esa persona (por ejemplo la foto de una silla, comida o lugar preferido). Ustedes pueden escoger una foto de un miembro de la familia o un mascota o una persona famosa que ha sido importante en sus vidas.

Hay cuatro maneras de participar y contribuir una foto de la familia para nuestro mural:

·                Pueden mandar la foto por correo electrónico a Susan Atkins

atkins@aaps.k12.mi.us.

·                Pueden mandar una foto normal a la escuela. Nosotros vamos a copiar la foto y regresarla rápidamente a Uds.

·                Pueden prestar una cámara de la escuela y llenar la siguiente hoja o ponerse en contacto con Susan Atkins(atkins@aaps.k12.mi.us o 734-997-1216: extensión 25523). Ud. podrá tener la cámara por 24 horas para sacar una foto en la casa.

·                Pueden dibujar algo o mandar una cosa pequeña para poner en el mural, que les regresamos más luego.

TODAS LAS FOTOS DEBEN TENER PUESTO EL NOMBRE DE LA FAMILIA, EL NOMBRE DEL MAESTRO, Y DEBEN INCLUIR LA HOJA SIGUIENTE. POR FAVOR LLENE TODA LA INFORMACIÓN Y REGRESERLA PARA EL 24 DE OCTUBRE.

Estamos emocionados de poder hacer este mural que representa y enlaza todo el personal escolar y las familias de Mitchell. El mural estará listo para admirar durante el festival de otoño el 26 de octubre. Gracias por participar. Si tiene una pregunta puede contactar a mí.

Susan Atkins

atkins@aaps.k12.mi.us 734-997-1216 extensión 25523

.

School Ends At 3:42 / Las clases terminan a las 3:42

As a reminder, school ends at 3:42 each day. Mr. Karr has noticed
that sometimes families are picking up each day before the school day
ends (like at 3:30 or 3:35). If at all possible, please avoid picking
up early, so that teachers can give all the needed instructions and
directions before students leave for the day.

Of course if there are medical appointments or family circumstances
that require a child to leave school early from time to time, that is
fine. We just want to avoid consistently leaving before the end of
the day. If you have questions, Mr. Karr can help.

Como recordatorio, las clases terminan a las 3:42 cada día. El señor
Karr ha dado cuenta de que a veces las familias están mejorando cada
día antes de la jornada escolar termina (como a las 3:30 o 3:35). Si
es posible, evite levantar temprano, por lo que los profesores pueden
dar todas las instrucciones necesarias y las instrucciones antes de
dejar a los estudiantes para el día.

Por supuesto, si hay citas médicas o circunstancias familiares que
requieren de un niño para salir temprano de la escuela de vez en
cuando, está bien. Sólo queremos evitar constantemente se retire antes
del final del día. Si tiene alguna pregunta, señor Karr puede ayudar.