Mighty Mustangs - Math - Starts Tomorrow!

Mighty Mustangs Math begins on Tuesday, October 1.

Students who ride the bus home will leave school at 5:15 PM. 

Students who walk or get picked up will be dismissed at 5:15 PM.  Parents who are picking up:  please be prompt :-)  Thank you!

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4th/5th After School Opportunity: Michigan Makers

Dear Mitchell Teachers and 4th/5th Parents,
I've recently met with a group from the UM School of Information and been offered a fabulous opportunity for our 4th/5th grade classes to work with a small group of UM students in the Michigan Makers project during an after school class that could potentially happen at Mitchell on Mondays this year.
Michigan Makers is a program where students Plan, Build, Learn, Share and Innovate while they are building and/or making something.  Part of the plan for this year is for students to participate in some of the following "maker" projects:  game design, squishy circuits, app design challenge, arduino microprocessors, webmixing, and more (heck, I don't even know what all of those projects are, but they sound fantastic)!!!
I would LOVE to see Mitchell be able to participate in this program.  The biggest hurdle in front of us:  This program needs an adult sponsor.  It runs from 3:45 - 5:15 on Mondays, and it would be at Mitchell School.  If you are willing to help, please let Mr. Karr know ASAP so we can see if this project can be a part of Mitchell School this year.
Sincerely,
Kevin

Obstacle Dash Program begins on Thursday, October 3

As a reminder, the Rec and Ed Obstacle Dash program begins at Mitchell on Thursday, October 3. 

Parents can sign up for this program with Rec and Ed at http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/reced.home/catalog__registration_form

In addition, families who would qualify for assistance and would like their child to attend can contact Mr. Karr for scholarship information. 

Picture Day @ Mitchell - October 1

Tomorrow (October 1) is picture day at Mitchell.

Families can pay for photos one of two ways:

1.  Use the envelope that was sent home via backpack mail last week.

OR

2.  Families who wish to pay for photos using a credit card can do so at http://www.lifetouch.com

The Mitchell School picture day ID is:  LM553866Y0

Sinking Fund Millage - Vote on November 5

AAPS is asking voters to vote on November 5 on the continuation of the Sinking Fund. A Sinking Fund allows district to fund repairs, construction and remodeling for the schools to free up shrinking operating funds for direct use for the main mission of the district – educating our students.

Two community meetings are planned to learn more about the current Sinking Fund and school facility priorities for future repair and capital projects.

• October 2, 6:30-8pm at the Pioneer Annex
• October 25, 12-1:30pm at the Downtown District Library, 4^th floor – Brown Bag Forum

For more information including a FAQ please visit this link!

 http://news.a2schools.org/category/sinking-fund-millage-2013/

After School Classes @ Mitchell: Little Guitars and Obstacle Dash

Dear Mitchell Families,

There are two new after school programs being offered at Mitchell this fall through Rec and Ed.  The titles of the programs are Little Guitars and Obstacle Dash.  Both programs are fee based.  Please CLICK HERE for more information.

For families who are interested in a scholarship please look at the Rec and Ed website for more information or feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kevin 

4th/5th Grade Opportunity: Mindset Program

Dear Mitchell Fourth and Fifth Grade Parents,

Please read the linked information about Mindset, an exciting opportunity for our fourth and fifth graders at Mitchell.  Mindset is hosted by the a UM honor society and has highly valued by Allen and Pittsfield School families over the last three years.  I'm excited the opportunity to participate in this Saturday program has been extended to all Mitchell fourth and fifth grade families for the fall of 2013.

If your child is interested in participating in Mindset this fall, they should return the linked permission slip form by Friday, October 4.

If you have questions, please call or email me.

Sincerely,

Kevin

PHOTO: The Mitchell Playground at Sunrise - Beautiful!

Superintendent Swift’s Listen and Learn - Thursday, 9/26 @ 6:30 PM

Superintendent Swift's Listen and Learn: 

We Are Ann Arbor

School and Community Forums

Join the Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent, Dr. Jeanice Swift,

on her school tour – visiting, listening and learning about our neighborhood schools!

 Mitchell Elementary School

Thursday, September 26 – 6:30 p.m.

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Swift, will visit each school in the district to meet, listen and learn from school staff and school families. These visits will conclude in December just before winter break. Periodically throughout these fall visits, Dr. Swift will share some initial impressions. A final report, Listen and Learn: We Are Ann Arbor, will be presented to the Board of Education and the community in January, 2014.

At each of the schools, Dr. Swift will first meet with staff at the end of the school day then meet with parents, guardians, and community members in the evening. She will ask her guests to consider four questions as she gains knowledge about the school district, individual schools and the community AAPS serves. Guests will be asked in small groups to discuss:

• What is going well in the district and what are we proud of?
• What areas need our attention?
• What do we dream of and hope to achieve for our children and AAPS over the next 10 – 15 years?
• What are the top priorities you would like to see Dr. Swift address?

Please join Dr. Swift at Mitchell on September 26 at 6:30 p.m.! If you can't make your school night, please feel free to attend any of the more than 30 scheduled evenings.

Collect Those Fun Run Pledges

A message from our PTO:
We hope your children are busy collecting pledges for the Fun Run. Remember, the more they bring in, the less fundraising we have to do the rest of the year!

Fun Run Kick Off - Teachers Being Active

Today at Mitchell School we introduced the PTOs upcoming Fun Run fundraiser which will occur on October 18.

We shared that teachers are active and that being active is a good idea.  As we did this students got to see pictures of many of our teachers favorite activities.  You can check it out in the video file below.

Also, information about the Fun Run fundraiser went home today in your child's backpack.  Please look it over.  We hope you will donate and support the Mitchell PTO.  If you and your children decide to ask other people for donations (neighbors, relatives, etc.), Mr. Karr has told them they must ask parents/guardians before they can ask anyone.

If you have questions, please contact Mr. Karr or the Mitchell School PTO (ptomitchell@gmail.com).

PTO Updates - 9-19-13

Good afternoon Mitchell Families and Friends,

As you know we have several events coming up and are in need of volunteers

If you are able to volunteer, please follow the links below and sign up for an available slot. If you are not available for the full shift, please note that. All volunteers welcome!!

Scholastic Book Fair:  Book Fair Volunteer - Oct 2-4

Movie Night - Movie Night - Oct 4 - Volunteer

Fun Run - We will likely not have outside volunteers available, so as many parents as want to volunteer are GREATLY appreciated: Fun Run - Friday, Oct 18 - Volunteer

If you have any questions about this, please email ptomitchell@gmail.com

Thank you,

Mitchell PTO

Mitchell School, Coolest School On Earth: Fourth Grade Promotional Videos - Part 4

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

Dr. Swift To Visit Mitchell - 9/26 - Families Invited

I am happy to announce that Dr. Jeanice Swift, the new Ann Arbor Schools superintendent, has requested to meet the Mitchell School Community on September 26 at 6:30 PM.

We hope all parents will consider coming to meet her.

Dr. Swift habla Inglés y Español!

Curriculum Night Tonight - 6 PM

Curriculum Night

Curriculum night begins at 6 PM tonight in classrooms.

There are several places to visit tonight

Area 1:  Visit your child's classroom at 6 PM or 7:10 PM

Area 2:  Come to our community meeting in the multi-purpose room at 6:40 PM

Area 3:  Visit the special areas: Art – Mrs. Flores, Ms. Erickson Media Center – Mrs. Reader (absent tonight) Music – Mr. Tolly Physical Education – Mrs. Lindemann

Area 4:  Visit support area teachers: Ocupational Therapist – Mrs. Yee Speech – Mrs. Roberts Resource room – Mrs. Bolaños Teacher Consultant – Mrs. Nelson Social Worker – Mr. Schwab

Area 5:  Say hello to Mr. Karr!

REMINDERS:

Sign up for a parent – teacher conference while you are here!

Upcoming Mitchell PTO Events

9/17 PTO Meeting

9/20 Fun Run Assembly – Pledge packets go home today

9/25 Applebee's Dine to Donate

Don't forget to turn in Directory Information Flyer

10/2 – 10/4 Scholastic Book Fair – Room 16

10/4 Spiritwear Orders Due

10/4 Movie Night – Epic – Doors open at 6

10/11 Fun Run pledge forms should be returned to school

10/15 PTO Meeting

10/18 Fun Run – Collection envelopes will be sent home at the end of the day

10/23 Box Tops Deadline

10/25 Fall Fest

11/1 All Fun Run pledges should be turned in today

11/8 Fun Run raffle winners announced

11/12 PTO Meeting

12/6 Movie Night – Doors open at 6

12/17 PTO Meeting

Curriculum Night - 9/10 @ 6 PM

We are looking forward to meeting with all Mitchell School families for Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 10 at 6 PM to talk about the school year and what is taught at school.

We want every family at Mitchell to come that night. See you then!

Parent - Teacher Conference Dates

Parents and teachers meet each year to share information about children. To help with planning, the followings dates are reserved for all-school parent-teacher conferences:

Wednesday, October 16
Monday, October 21
Thursday, October 24

We want to meet with all parents. Parents will sign up for conferences during Curriculum Night on Tuesday, September 10 at 6 PM. See you then!

MS-TLC Teachers Featured On AnnArbor.com

Check it out at:
http://annarbor.com/news/ted-talks-ann-arbor-teachers-share-insights-with-their-peers/

'Twas the night before school...

...can't wait to see everyone in the morning!