Please read this to your child/children :-)
Reminder from Mr. Karr: Don't forget to work on your Brain Freeze packet and do some reading today! I can't wait to see you in 2014!
Saturday, December 28, 2013
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Mitchell Music Program Featured In mlive.com Article About Ann Arbor Arts Programming
There are some nice videos embedded within the article showing Mitchell's music class in action!
Click the link to read/view it all!
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/arts_programming_in_ann_arbor.html#incart_river_default
Click the link to read/view it all!
http://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/index.ssf/2013/12/arts_programming_in_ann_arbor.html#incart_river_default
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Brain Freeze Packets Come Home Today
Brain Freeze packets will come home today :-)
Please look in your child's backpack today to find their Brain Freeze winter break work packet. We are sending these home encourage kids to continue their learning during the upcoming winter break. This is important because kids who continue to enjoy their reading and work on their math during break do better in school when they return!
Students who return their packets when we come back will receive something special from Mr. Karr. :-)
Please look in your child's backpack today to find their Brain Freeze winter break work packet. We are sending these home encourage kids to continue their learning during the upcoming winter break. This is important because kids who continue to enjoy their reading and work on their math during break do better in school when they return!
Students who return their packets when we come back will receive something special from Mr. Karr. :-)
Monday, December 16, 2013
PHOTOS: December Book Giveaway
Below are a few pictures showing the book giveaway set up as well as kids enjoying their new books!
Mr. Karr's December Letter To Families
Dear Mitchell Families,
As we move into the winter break, I want to share how much I enjoy being a part of the Mitchell-Scarlett community. This is a very special place where lots of learning is taking place. There isn't another place I'd rather be a principal. Thank you for your support and partnership!
Achievement Update
I am pleased by the work and learning that has occurred at Mitchell this fall. Our students and teachers have worked hard . . . and I believe that work is showing in improved achievement. One example of this is our current fifth grade class. Over the years, this class has consistently been the highest achieving group at Mitchell. We've seen this particularly in their reading scores. This November, 82% of our fifth grade cohort was reading at or above grade level which is up from 62% from where that same group was at the end of fourth grade. This is great news . . . everyone loves to see evidence of student learning.
I also want to say that the current fourth graders are right on the heels of the fifth graders in terms of reading achievement. Watch out fifth graders . . . you could be "unseated" as the current Mitchell School Reading Champions!
Another example of our growth is our current second graders. These students left first grade with 65% of students reading "on target." This fall, as second graders, this group is at 66% which doesn't seems like a great improvement. However, the group isn't going backwards, and they are in a position to improve on 66% the next time we get to take a "snapshot" of their achievement - on the January NWEA test and after that on the March report cards. I will certainly be looking for their continued growth!
To achieve growth in reading (or math or any subject area), students need to practice. This is why we say students should read for 20 minutes each night at home.
BRAIN FREEZE! - Winter Break Homework Packets
Do you remember the summer Think Stretch workbooks the PTO gave to students during the last two summers? Students who returned them received a Think Stretch medal! Think Stretch is an important tool that helps our students continue their learning in the summer.
It is also important to continue learning during the upcoming break, so students will receive a "BRAIN FREEZE" winter learning packet on December 19 to take home and do during break. They should bring it back to school (completed) the week of January 6, 2014. When they return it, I will have something special for them - it isn't a medal this time, but it is something special that no in the school has! They were made just for Mitchell students who complete BRAIN FREEZE!
Thank you to the Think Stretch Corporation for donating the Brain Freeze copies to Mitchell.
Have A Wonderful Break!
I hope the break is a time of family, friendship and relaxation for all of our Mitchell community. Please enjoy a book or two with your children during break, and practice some math facts! We are already looking forward to seeing the kids when we return in January!
Sincerely,
Kevin Karr
As we move into the winter break, I want to share how much I enjoy being a part of the Mitchell-Scarlett community. This is a very special place where lots of learning is taking place. There isn't another place I'd rather be a principal. Thank you for your support and partnership!
Achievement Update
I am pleased by the work and learning that has occurred at Mitchell this fall. Our students and teachers have worked hard . . . and I believe that work is showing in improved achievement. One example of this is our current fifth grade class. Over the years, this class has consistently been the highest achieving group at Mitchell. We've seen this particularly in their reading scores. This November, 82% of our fifth grade cohort was reading at or above grade level which is up from 62% from where that same group was at the end of fourth grade. This is great news . . . everyone loves to see evidence of student learning.
I also want to say that the current fourth graders are right on the heels of the fifth graders in terms of reading achievement. Watch out fifth graders . . . you could be "unseated" as the current Mitchell School Reading Champions!
Another example of our growth is our current second graders. These students left first grade with 65% of students reading "on target." This fall, as second graders, this group is at 66% which doesn't seems like a great improvement. However, the group isn't going backwards, and they are in a position to improve on 66% the next time we get to take a "snapshot" of their achievement - on the January NWEA test and after that on the March report cards. I will certainly be looking for their continued growth!
To achieve growth in reading (or math or any subject area), students need to practice. This is why we say students should read for 20 minutes each night at home.
BRAIN FREEZE! - Winter Break Homework Packets
Do you remember the summer Think Stretch workbooks the PTO gave to students during the last two summers? Students who returned them received a Think Stretch medal! Think Stretch is an important tool that helps our students continue their learning in the summer.
It is also important to continue learning during the upcoming break, so students will receive a "BRAIN FREEZE" winter learning packet on December 19 to take home and do during break. They should bring it back to school (completed) the week of January 6, 2014. When they return it, I will have something special for them - it isn't a medal this time, but it is something special that no in the school has! They were made just for Mitchell students who complete BRAIN FREEZE!
Thank you to the Think Stretch Corporation for donating the Brain Freeze copies to Mitchell.
Have A Wonderful Break!
I hope the break is a time of family, friendship and relaxation for all of our Mitchell community. Please enjoy a book or two with your children during break, and practice some math facts! We are already looking forward to seeing the kids when we return in January!
Sincerely,
Kevin Karr
Friday, December 13, 2013
Book Give Away + “Brain Freeze” Next Week
GREAT NEWS!
By the end
of next week each Mitchell child will:
- Have chosen two “gently used” books that they can keep, read over break, and put in their personal library at home;
- Receive a free “Brain Freeze” packet to work on over break. This is similar to Think Stretch workbook that the Mitchell PTO purchases for each student to work on in the summer.
We are
giving these tools to your kids because it is fun (and important) to read and
practice a little over break! It is good
for parents to help kids with these things also – read with them, do some Brain
Freeze wih them!
PHOTO: Sorting books for the used book giveaway next week!
Thanks to following for their help in sorting used books at Mitchell today:
- Chelsee Rowley
- Jamie Snyder
- Kate Sears
- Wendy Blackman
- Lajuanna Castle
- Bonnie Nolan
- Audra Keahl
- Carrie Nelson
- Wendy Rothman
- Anne Reader
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Friday, December 6, 2013
Ann Arbor school finds a creative way to teach kids music | Michigan Radio
A very nice feature on the Mitchell School after school music class called El Sistema:
http://michiganradio.org/post/ann-arbor-school-finds-creative-way-teach-kids-music
http://michiganradio.org/post/ann-arbor-school-finds-creative-way-teach-kids-music
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
AAPSEF gives out nearly 10K in Karen Thomas grants |
Congrats to Mrs. Atkins and Mrs. Reader who recently received grants from the Karen Thomas Funds which are given out through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.
More info by clicking the following link:
http://news.a2schools.org/aapsef-gives-out-nearly-10k-in-karen-thomas-grants/
More info by clicking the following link:
http://news.a2schools.org/aapsef-gives-out-nearly-10k-in-karen-thomas-grants/
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