Letter to 2013-14 Fifth Grade Families (Current Fourth Grade Families)

May 31, 2013

Dear Fourth Grade Parents,

     As you may know, Fifth Grade Camp is a tradition here at Mitchell Elementary.  Each March the classes take off for an adventure-filled three days/two nights at YMCA’s Camp Storer, near Jackson, Michigan.  Activities are carefully planned and fill the time at Camp with team building, natural science classes, environmental studies and lots of fun like a Square Dance and Skit Night.  No fifth grader comes home without learning new songs, gaining confidence and bonding with their classmates. 

    Your child’s class recently visited the fifth grade classroom where they had an opportunity to watch a slideshow, get a brief introduction to the camp experience, and had the opportunity to ask questions.

    The cost per child is roughly $140.00.  In order to support your child’s camp attendance next year, the PTO will be sponsoring several fundraisers, including Little Caesar’s Pizza Kit orders and a lemonade stand at recess.  We are also working on several grants to help fund all or part of the camp tuition, and we are requesting scholarships directly from Camp Storer.

We are asking for your support in the following ways:

Contribute to the PTO’s fundraising events
Support the “Coins for Camp” campaign by helping your child create a container where friends and family can contribute their loose change.  Your child was introduced to this activity last week. (This past year several fifth graders did chores at home and in their community to help pay for their own camp tuition!).
Think about volunteering to be a Cabin Leader.  It is lots of fun, there is excellent food, and the kids will LOVE you for it!
Attend the camp information night which will be held in September.

    In September, we will reassess the cost per child and let parents know how much needs to be donated by families.  We will also share details about an optional payment plan for those who would like to pay monthly.  We will also have more information about scholarships and grants.

    Please do not hesitate to contact the fifth grade teachers, Mr. Krigbaum or Mrs. Spiess if you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Spiess
Mr. Krigbaum
Mitchell P.T.O.

May 2013 Achievement Update

Since I arrived at Mitchell almost two years ago, I have often noticed the excellence of our school: great kids who like being at school, hard working and talented teachers, families who work hard to help their children.  

I have also noticed how all of our hard work during these two years (students, teachers, and families) has helped us to show significant achievement gains.  These gains are indications of the excellence of Mitchell School, and they are reflected in the following statistics:

• From September to March of this school year, 90% of Mitchell students had made a full year or more of growth in reading based on at least one assessment (classroom benchmark, NWEA, and/or MEAP).  That’s right, in seven months the majority of students made a full year of growth in reading.  We anticipate that all students will reach this mark by the end of the year or they will have a personal learning plan in place to guide their maximum learning path.
• At the beginning of this school year, no first graders were reading more than one year above grade level expectations.  By the end of the year, 10% of students were reading more than one year above expectations.
• In our 5th grade class this year 30% of the students were reading more than a year above fifth grade expectations.  That means 30% are reading at sixth grade level or above!  
• Our school improvement reading goal this year is that 79% of our students will be reading at the grade level target at the end of this school year based on the Ann Arbor Benchmark Reading Assessment.  While I won’t know whether or not we will have accomplished this until after report cards are turned in and analyzed, I know we’re going to be close.  

I believe we are on the right track of showing the excellence of our school.   Please encourage your children to participate in our summer reading programs and to do the Think Stretch workbook provided by our PTO!

Pertussis Letter

TO:                             Parents of students, Teachers and Staff at Mitchell Elementary
FROM:                     Alice Penrose, MD, MPH, Medical Director            
DATE:                       May 30, 2013
SUBJECT:                Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Alert in Your School

A student in your school has been recently diagnosed with a case of pertussis. Pertussis is a highly contagious disease that can be severe, particularly in young children. Pertussis can spread easily among susceptible household members and in group settings such as schools, childcare centers, workplaces, and sports teams. Adolescents and adults are also at risk for infection with the disease since vaccine protection decreases over time.
Main goals of disease prevention:

• To protect vulnerable infants and children who are too young to be immunized or who have not been given vaccine

• To break the chain of disease transmission in the community

Recommended actions:

1. For people of all ages, call your health care provider if you have the following symptoms:

• Cough that comes in bursts (intermittent)
• Vomiting after coughing spells
• Cough lasting 7 days or more (with or without a “whoop”)

2. Review the immunization status of all students and staff:

• Children under 18 months of age should have received 4 doses of pertussis vaccine (DTaP, DTP).
• Children in Michigan should receive a 5^th dose of vaccine after the age of 4 years, prior to entering kindergarten.
• A pertussis containing vaccine (Tdap) is available for persons aged 7 years and older.
• No vaccine is 100% effective, and it is possible for fully immunized children to experience a modified form of pertussis.

If you have questions or concerns, please call your health care provider or contact the Health Department at (734) 544-6700.

Cuban Music Concert - Thursday, June 6 @ 2:30 - Parents Invited

Dear Mitchell Families,

On Thursday, June 6 at 2:30 PM, we will have a school-wide concert featuring Cuban music. Parents are invited to come!  

Mitchell students have been studying the music of Cuba through the story of Arturo Sandoval. This concert will be a culmination of what the students have been learning in the music classroom.  Some of the musicians in the band have played with Arturo, and the percussionist is from the Cuban All-Star Band. I think this will be a great experience for the students.

All Mitchell families are invited to join us for this concert. Please come to school on June 6 at 2:30 for the concert!

Thank you for your continued support of Mitchell's music program.

Sincerely,

Dan Tolly

Mitchell School, Coolest School On Earth: Fourth Grade Promotional Videos - Part 3

Fourth graders at Mitchell School, in collaboration with the University of Michigan School of Education, have created Mitchell School promotional videos.  These videos were created to persuade families in our community that Mitchell School is the coolest school on Earth!

The videos below premiered on February 6, 2013 at a gala community event including representatives from many groups of Ann Arbor including our fabulous students and parents, teachers, Board of Education members, professors from the UM School of Education, UM interns, as well as reporters from several Ann Arbor news agencies.

Click and enjoy the first of the videos below to find out what students mean when they say "Mitchell is the coolest school on Earth!"

PTO eNotes - 5/28

We hope you had a wonderful long weekend and are ready to finish the school year!

Here are this week's announcements:

Domino's Dough Raiser!

          Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 29 -    Order dinner and earn some $$ for Mitchell!

Elections:

We are voting on new Board Members. If you would like to join or vote, please follow this link https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12fkqD9yy-7HnzPjPsYk4bPoO8eorBuRV9_69kIHHOc4/viewform

Box Tops for Education:

       Did you know that we get $0.10 for every Box Top we turn in? Please send in your Box Tops for Education, so we can submit one last batch before the end of the year!

ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Friday, June 7, 6-8pm

Donation Request: We are asking for donations of 2-liters of pop for the ring toss, and baked goods for the cake walk. Please deliver to the school any time next week leading up to the event. Thank you for your support!

If you would like to volunteer for a shift: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akr8iwq3M2QDdE80WjVRQU5FSldvRFJmUDhaVVMyTnc#gid=0

Thank you so much,

Mitchell PTO

 

Esperamos que hayan tenido un fin de semana largo maravilloso y estamos listos para terminar el año escolar!

Estos son los anuncios de esta semana:

Dough Raiser de Domino!

           Mañana, Miércoles, Mayo 29 - cena Orden y ganar algo de $ $ para Mitchell!

Elecciones:

Vamos a votar a los nuevos miembros de la Junta. Si usted desea inscribirse o votar, por favor, siga este enlace https:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12fkqD9yy-7HnzPjPsYk4bPoO8eorBuRV9_69kIHHOc4/viewform

Box Tops for Education:

        ¿Sabía usted que tenemos $ 0.10 para giramos en cada decodificador? Por favor, envíe sus Box Tops para la Educación, para que podamos presentar una última tanda antes de fin de año!

ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Viernes, 7 de junio de 6 a 8 pm

Estamos en necesidad de los siguientes elementos:
Por favor, dejarlos en cualquier momento de la semana del evento
2 litros de Pop- para el anillo de tiro del juego
Donaciones para el Cakewalk – Hecho a mano o de tienda son bienvenidos

 

Si usted desea ser voluntario para un cambio: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akr8iwq3M2QDdE80WjVRQU5FSldvRFJmUDhaVVMyTnc # gid = 0

 

Gracias

Mitchell PTO

PTO eNotes - 5/20/13

Good afternoon,

Our last Book Fair of the year is coming up on May 23rd and 24th. It is a Buy One, Get One Free sale. This is a perfect time to stock up on books for summer reading.

We will also have the used book sale, so everyone should be able to find a great selection to keep reading all summer.

Want to volunteer? Sign up here or at the PTO Bulletin Board:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akr8iwq3M2QDdElwR2w3RXl1RlAzQnBsaVdOMVFsTkE&usp=sharing

 

Domino's Dough Raiser! Wednesday, May 29 -  Order dinner and earn some $$ for Mitchell!

ICE CREAM SOCIAL - Friday, June 7, 6-8pm

Our Ice Cream Social is only a month away! please plan on attending the last big Mitchell Community event of the year!

Ice Cream, Food, Inflatables, Games and FUN!!!!

This year, as a huge THANK YOU to the Mitchell Community, each person will receive a free dish of Ice Cream and a drink. There will be food for sale and donations are welcome. See attached flyer.

Can you help us out with a short 45 minute shift? Or enlist an older sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle (We welcome everyone!) to help out. The sign up can be found below, and will be posted on the PTO Bulletin Board across from the office.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Akr8iwq3M2QDdE80WjVRQU5FSldvRFJmUDhaVVMyTnc#gid=0

 

Thank you so much,

Mitchell PTO

A Moving Mitchell Parent Note

Dear Mitchell Parents,

Please take a moment to read the piece below from one of your fellow Mitchell parents.  I am sharing it knowing that our PTO needs several volunteers for next year for events like:  Fall Festival, Movie Nights, several fundraisers, and ICE CREAM SOCIAL (everyone's favorite)!
Do your part and sign up to help next year on the PTO:  CLICK HERE
Sincerely, Kevin

Here are my top 10 reasons why I decided to come to PTO meetings
1.  Getting together and meeting other parents of our school really makes me feel like I'm part of something great.  There is nothing more important to me than supporting my children.
2.  I have learned so much about what is going on with my children's education at these meetings.  There is so much going on!
3.  It's an hour well spent.   The group makes so many wonderful things happen for OUR children.   My children have been on fantastic field trips and have wonderful memories of many fun activities that were made possible by the work of the PTO.
4.  Important decisions are being made that affect my children and I know that my voice can only be heard if I give my opinion in the room where those decisions are being made.  The group really wants to know what parents are thinking!.
5.  Why not?!  I'm already automatically a member, we ALL are!  :)
6.  The other parents are so appreciative of any little thing I do to help, even if it's just me transferring mail from one place in the school to another.
The parents are really very nice, and they make it very comfortable for me to join in the meetings and the conversations.
7.  My children are proud of me for making the extra effort to be involved.  They see that I value the PTO and all the PTO does, and they really are happy that I care enough to help.
8.  I have learned that research shows that students with involved parents perform better in school, score better on standardized tests, have fewer behavioral problems, are less likely to use drugs and alcohol, and go to better colleges.
9.  I have seen that my opinion matters.
10.  And last, but maybe most importantly, it dawned on me that the PTO board members each have a family,  just like me.  They also need to make dinner.  They also have kids who need to get homework done.  They all have to do lists for their family that need to get done.  Just like me.  I know that any little bit that I can do for the group really helps because it takes one little bit off the shoulders of one of my friends.
Your next opportunity to see our PTO meeting firsthand is Tuesday, May 14th at 6:30 in our school library.  Get involved!
Thanks for reading,
Christine

Thank You Office Depot!

Thank you to Office Depot of Ann Arbor for their donation to Mitchell School of two cases of copy paper! During this time of ever-shrinking school budgets, this donation is timely! Please remember Office Depot when you are shopping for office supplies!

Thank You Mitchell Teachers!

During teacher appreciation week, let's be sure to never take for granted how much great teachers positively influence the lives of students they serve!

Thank You Teachers! - from the Mitchell PTO

Dear Mitchell Teachers and Staff,

The Mitchell PTO would like to take some time to thank you for all that you do for the students of Mitchell Elementary. We know the dedication and effort that you put into every day.

I, as a parent, have been called by a teacher's name more often than I can count. It makes my heart happy to know that my children have loved and cherished every one of you who has touched their lives.You have shown them how much fun learning can be, how important an education is, and what being a community means, but most of all you are providing them with the skills needed to be successful in life.

So with that in mind, we hope you understand just how much we appreciate everything you do. It's only a small thing, but the PTO will be bringing in lunch for all of you on Wednesday, May 8th. We hope you enjoy.

Much love and gratitude,

Your Mitchell PTO

Library Request - from Mrs. Reader

The Mitchell library media center is seeking donations of old sheets. They make great dust sheets for covering the bookcases over the summer and are more ecologically responsible than using paper and throwing it away when school starts up. If you have sheets to donate please drop them off in the library. 

Fifth Grade Spanish Update - from Mrs. Krauss

The 5th Grade Spanish students have been learning about the Mexican and Central American cultural practice of "regatear" (bargaining) along with the vocabulary that accompanies it.  Many students made their own products to sell including origami, handmade jewelry, beaded keychains, drawings, and paintings.  Other students chose to bring souvenirs, used books, and small trinkets from home.  On April 30, we had our mercado (market) and students bought and sold items by speaking in Spanish.  They used their bargaining skills - and pretend pesos from Mexico!  The students had a great time and now have a better understanding of how this cultural practice works.  

Staff Biographies Website Section - NEW!

As part of the second grade writing curriculum, Ms. Padgen’s class completed a non-fiction writing unit focused on writing biographies about the Mitchell Staff.   This project, led by Ms. Sala, a U-M teaching intern, gave students an opportunity to practice these skills by developing interview questions, conducting and recording interviews, and returning to the recorded interviews to gather information for writing.

We are excited to present these biographies as a part of the Mitchell School website so everyone could learn more about the great people we have at Mitchell.  This means our non-fiction writing has a real audience and student work is connected to a real-world purpose!   We hope you enjoy learning about the Mitchell staff.