End of Day Procedures - IMPORTANT

Dear Mitchell Community,

I'm updating you about end of day procedures at Mitchell. 

If you need to pick up your child early, please go to the school office and make your request to pick up early.  Please be sure to have your identification.  If someone else is picking up your child at the end of the day, they must be listed on the "green student emergency card." 

A person may not pick up a child from school if their name is not listed that child's emergency card.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact me directly.  I am happy to talk with you and explain the necessity of following this direction.

Sincerely,
Kevin

Dia De La Familia - at Ann Arbor District Library - Sunday, 10/5 @ 2:30 PM

Dear Friends, Colleagues, and Community Partners:

 

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Ann Arbor District Library are pleased to invite you to Dia de la Familia Latina 2014. Please help us spread the word! All are welcome to enjoy the food, music, and history of Latin America. This year, our features countries are Chile  and Mexico. The event is free and will include children's games, community resources, health information, cultural presentations, and entertainment. *Free parking is available in the public lot next to the library.* Details are below. We hope to see you there!

 

 

 Dia De LA Familia Event Details:

 

Date: Sunday, October 5th, 2014

Time: 2:30 - 5 pm

Place: Ann Arbor District Library (downtown location)

343 South Fifth Avenue,  Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Parking: is free on streets and parking lot next to the library.

 

For more information: Call 734.327.8301

Picture Day

All children will have their picture taken. Information has been sent home regarding the purchase of school pictures. You can also order online HERE with code LM554866Y0. 

Parent Teacher Conferences

The dates for fall parent-teacher conferences are October 15, October 20, and October 23. Teachers are working hard to schedule parent-teacher conferences. If you have not already scheduled a conference, please call your child's teacher to schedule now. 

PTO Book Fair

Mitchell School will host a Scholastic book fair October 1^st – 3^rd. Children will preview the book fair and have an opportunity to buy books as well. More information and volunteer opportunities can be found HERE. 

Spirit Fridays

One tradition here at Mitchell School is Spirit Friday! Each Friday we encourage your child to wear his or her favorite team colors or just favorite colors to school! 

Join Mitchell Elementary's First Academic Games Team!

Academic Games (AG) is a different and fun way to learn math, history, and critical thinking! Ann Arbor has had strong AG teams at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for years, and now AG is coming to Mitchell. For more information, click here. Practices are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30-8:30 PM at Mitchell Elementary in Room 7, starting Monday, September 15, 2014. Questions? Contact Vivian Lin at vhl@umich.edu or 734-834-4367.

Mitchell School Achievement Increases Recognized - No Longer Focus School!

Dear Mitchell School Parents, Guardians and Staff,

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released Scorecards and Top-to-Bottom rankings of the state's public schools based on the results of 2013-14 standardized tests. The State of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to determine whether a school is meeting Michigan School Proficiency Targets and where it ranks in the "Top to Bottom" list of schools based on their performance.

As a result of their ranking, schools may receive the designation of Reward, Focus or Priority school. Reward and Priority labels deal with schools ranked in the top or bottom 5 percent of all schools in the state. Reward schools are in the top 5% of the top-to-bottom ranking. Priority schools are in the bottom 5% of the top-to-bottom ranking.  

However, the Focus label compares the school to itself. Essentially the highest performing students are compared to the lowest performing students within a single school building to determine an inner-school achievement gap. A Focus school label does not necessarily imply low achievement for a school as a whole.

We are extremely pleased to share that Mitchell School is no longer considered a Focus School by the Michigan Department of Education due to the hard work and achievement of students, faculty and administration as measure by the 2013-14 MEAP assessment.

We couldn't be more proud!  

This accomplishment is the direct result of sustained attention on achievement, high expectations, thoughtful school improvement planning and excellent classroom instruction. The many benefits gained from the Mitchell/ Scarlett School Partnership with the University of Michigan School contributed to this excellence, as well.  

Parents, thank you for your tremendous partnership in the achievement success of your child. 

Congratulations, Mitchell School!!!

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, Superintendent, and

Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley, Assistant Superintendent for K-12 Instruction 

Cc/Kevin Karr, Principal

Matt Hilton, Interim Principal

International Baccalaureate

As you know we are in the initial phase of our work toward becoming an International Baccalaureate school here at Mitchell and in the Ann Arbor Public Schools at Scarlett and Huron. If you're interested, an advisory group is forming to support the work of becoming an IB school. We are seeking Mitchell School parents who are interested in helping to support this important work. More information can be found by calling the school or by clicking HERE.

Spirit Fridays

One tradition here at Mitchell School is Spirit Friday! Each Friday we encourage your child to wear his or her favorite team colors to school. Even if it is something other than…Go Blue!  J

Fall 2014 Parent Teacher Conferences

The dates for fall parent-teacher conferences are October 15, October 20, and October 23. If you were unable to attend curriculum night, please call your child's teacher to schedule a parent-teacher conference. It's an important moment for teachers and parents to communicate around academic, social, and emotional growth. 

The Excellence of Mitchell School

Thank you to everyone who came to curriculum night this past week.  It was wonderful to see so many families.

After reflecting on my "State of the School" presentation, I wanted to take a moment to share my succinct thoughts on the Excellence of Mitchell School.  

The excellence of the educational experience at Mitchell lies in the growth that occurs for students while attending Mitchell.  We know - for several valid reasons - that not all students achieve on the MEAP test at Mitchell.  However, it is also true that the work teachers and families do together have been shown to be effective at helping students grow academically (and socially).  This growth trend is true for all students at Mitchell - those who are achieving "below" grade level targets as well as those who are "above."

So, in a nutshell, while Mitchell does not look as strong as some other schools relative to MEAP scores, it is also true that other schools do not look as strong as Mitchell relative to the growth that occurs for students during a given school year.

Mitchell PTO Meeting - Tuesday, September 16 @ 6 PM

What to check out the PTO? - Join us for our first meeting on Tuesday, September 16th, 2014 - We will meet in the Media Center at 6PM. Come find out what we have planned and how you might be able to help!

Movie Night - Friday, September 12 @ 6 PM - Family Event - Students Come With Parents :-)

Join us Friday, Sept. 12, for a great community event- our first Movie Night of the year! We will try to enjoy the movie outside(weather and light permitting), otherwise it will be in the cafeteria - Doors open at 6pm, and the movie will start at 6:30. There will be concessions for sale. Be sure to bring your blankets and pillows. You can also bring a lawn chair if you don't want to sit on the floor with the kids.

School Beautification Help - Thank You!

The Mitchell PTO and the Mitchell School staff would like to thank the following families that gave up part of their Labor Day to help pull weeds, spread mulch, trim, haul stuff, and make Mitchell Elementary gardens beautiful:

The Payne family- Christine, Craig, Katelyn, Kevin and Cameron

The Engholm family – Jason(provided the tools), Tara, Claire and Maya

Sharon and Anna Tuinukuafe

Laura and Eli Weber and their son Brandon

Jessica and Patrick Murphy and their sons Finn and Conor

Ellen Patnaude and Dani Leach, and their children, Sam, Joe and Chloe

Lunch Payments

Dear Parents,

You have two options when paying for hot lunch here at school. You may pay by credit or debit card online at www.mypaymentsplus.com or you can send cash or a check to school with your student. Please make checks payable to Ann Arbor Public Schools Food Service. If you have additional questions please contact the Ann Arbor Schools Food Service at (734) 994-2265.

Academic Games Beginning for 4th/5th grade - Mondays/Wednesdays 7:30 PM - Begining 9/15

Join Mitchell Elementary’s First Academic Games Team!

WHAT is Academic Games (AG)? Academic Games is a fun way to learn through playing games in several different subject areas. Students use math, language, etc. creatively to outsmart their opponents.

We have practices in the evenings twice per week from September to May, and will compete against other schools in our region at tournaments once per month on Saturday mornings from September through February. For students who qualify, there is a State tournament in early March.

Students will need to demonstrate emotional maturity and attend at least 3 regional tournaments to qualify for the State tournament.

The games we will play this year are Equations, Propaganda (recognizing techniques of persuasion), and Presidents (American history).

Depending on time and student interest, we may also learn On-Sets (set theory), On-Words (points are earned by building Scrabble-like networks of words), Linguishtik (grammar), and/or WFF ’n Proof (logic).

WHO is eligible to join? All 4th and 5th graders! Parents are also welcome (and encouraged) to attend practices and help out.

WHEN are the practices? Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 PM SHARP to 8:30 PM. The first practice is on Monday, September 15, 2014. We will NOT meet during school holidays or on evenings of major school functions (such as Curriculum Night).

WHERE are the practices? Mitchell Elementary ROOM 7.

WHAT do we bring to practice? At the first practice, students will receive a 3-ring binder with 5 tabbed dividers—that binder should be brought to all practices. Paper and pencils will be provided.

Donations of reams of 3-hole punched white multipurpose paper, 3-hole punched lined paper, and pencils are appreciated throughout the year.

Please DON’T bring spiral notebooks, some students find it irresistible to rip off the bits along the edges of the paper, leaving a mess. Drinks and snacks (not messy please!) are OK.

WHY join Academic Games?

• AG is a fun and effective way to learn math, history, and critical thinking!
• Ann Arbor Public Schools has strong AG teams through 12^th grade, so AG is an extracurricular activity that students can build on through high school. Currently, there are teams at Ann Arbor Open/Angell, King, Tappan, and Clague; and the high schoolers from all the different high schools are on the Ann Arbor High School team. A Scarlett team is in the works, as is a Greenhills team!
• Going to the tournaments helps students become accustomed to handling the pressure of competition, and develops sportsmanship and teamwork.

HOW MUCH does it cost? Practices and Saturday tournaments are free. The State tournament will be approximately $350 (need-based scholarships are available—we want every student who qualifies to be able to go if they wish).

HOW do we sign up? Come to the first practice and fill out a registration form!

For more information, contact Vivian Lin, vhl@umich.edu, 734-741-1984 (home), 734-834-4367 (cell).