Mitchell PTO International Night! - Noche internacional de Mitchell PTO(Organización de parientes y maestros)

WE NEED YOU! CONTRIBUTE ARTIFACTS OR FOOD FROM YOUR COUNTRY/CULTURE – International Night is March 16th from 6-8pm and since diversity is our strength at Mitchell School,  we invite families to take part by creating a display poster (poster provided by PTO) with pictures and information, we also welcome samples of food from your culture.  The students love to look at art, textiles/cloth, carvings, instruments, money, stamps, books, children's games, flags, pictures, etc.. from your country or culture so let us know if you can bring some. You can also share finger food "specialties" from your country and wear traditional clothing. If your family, or someone you know, does professional performances, please contact the Region Champion below: 

Africa-Yodit: yodit.mesfin@gmail.com

Asia-Kitty: Klg_12@hotmail.com

Middle East-  Fayiza: fayiza48108@yahoo.com

Latin America/Caribbean-Amanda: H2AmandaL@gmail.com

Europe: Sarah:spesav@gmail.com

 

¡SE  NECESITAMOS!  Contribuir artefactos o comida de su país/cultura – 

La noche internacional será el 16 de marzo de 6-8pm.  La diversidad de la Escuela de Mitchell es nuestra fuerza, entonces invitamos a todas las familias para participar con nosotros.  Se puede crear un cartel de exposición con fotografías, dibujos y información de su país/cultura (cartel estará proveído por el PTO).  Los estudiantes les encantan ver arte, tela, esculturas, instrumentos, dinero, sellos, libros, juegos, banderas, dibujos, etc. de su país o cultura.  Entonces si se puede traerlos díganos por favor.  También se puede compartir muestras de comida de su cultura como comiditas o tapas de su país.  En adición, se puede llevar ropa tradicional.  Si su familia, o alguien que se conoce, hace presentaciones profesionales por favor comunicarse con el campeón regional aquí:

África – Yodit: yodit.mesfin@gmail.com

Asia – Kitty: Kig_12@hotmail.com

Medio Este  – Fayiza: fayiza48108@yahoo.com

Latinoamérica/Caribe – Amanda: H2AmandaL@gmail.com

Europa – Sarah: spesav@gmail.com

Early Release Day – Wednesday, February 28

All AAPS elementary students will be released at 1:29 PM on Wednesday, February 28. Please plan to pick your child up on this day at 1:29 PM. Lunch will be served here at school, buses will continue to run on this day and will depart Mitchell by 1:40 PM. Buses will run the regular routes. 

Mitchell Student Council – Pajama Day!

The Mitchell student council has declared Friday, February 23 as an all school pajama day! J Students are encouraged and welcome to wear their pajamas to school. Students will still go outside for recess so please remember the snow pants, jackets, mittens, etc. 

Kindergarten Round-Up – February 20 at 6:00 PM

Families interested in enrolling for Kindergarten or Young 5's at Mitchell, an International Baccalaureate World School, for the fall of 2018 are invited to Kindergarten Round Up on Tuesday, February 20 at 6:00 PM in the multi-purpose room at Mitchell School.

 

This presentation will include information and experiences that help families know and understand:

•        The 5 Pillars of IB in Ann Arbor

•        The Primary Years Programme at Mitchell Elementary School including Kindergarten and Young 5s opportunities

•        The value of an internationally focused curriculum

Also during this time: 

•        Meet the Mitchell School teachers, principals and staff

•        See the Kindergarten and Young 5's classrooms

•        Time to enroll 

•        Questions and answers 

 

Nota : Habrá traducción al español

NAAPID at Night

Monday, February 12th from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Eastern Michigan University Student Center, 900 Oakwood St., Ypsilanti, MI.  Enjoy: Light refreshments, Exhibits, College Information, Student Performances, Speakers and Awards. Free and open to the public. More information can be found on the NAAPID at Night Flyer. 

African American History Month and NAAPID

Dear Mitchell Families and Community Members,

In connection to Mitchell School's celebration of National African American History Month and our work as an International Baccalaureate World School, we proudly announce the second annual IB unit of study for all students at Mitchell: WE MARCH.

The unit focuses on social justice, equality and the role of marching in the African American Civil Rights movement. The unit integrates books, music and the visual arts as a way for students to inquire, think, discuss and reflect on:

• Civil rights leaders
• Fairness
• Community
• Our individual and collective rights
• Action - taking action in order to make the world a more peaceful place, and studying how people make their voice heard in the form of marching 

Two central ideas students will be/are studying:

·       Societies use the arts to promote their values and to advocate for social change.

·       People show their beliefs and values through the arts they create.

Parents/Guardians Invited to Mitchell - Monday, February 12!   All parents/guardians are invited to come to school on Monday, February 12 as a part of National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID).  We will be highlighting some of the work from the new unit during this time. Here is the schedule of events: All day - Parents/Guardians invited to school to visit your child's classroom All day - Visit the Community Center for refreshments for parents from your teachers All day - Social justice art displays around the school All day - The Great Lakes African American Quilters Network will be displaying quilts (stories) in connection to the African American Civil Rights Movement. Additionally, third graders will be learning from GLAAQN and will be creating a quilt square for a Mitchell School quilt. 9:30 AM – PK-2nd Gd. Assembly - Songs and sharing the current all-school music unit of study 10:30 AM – 3rd-5th Gd. Assembly – Songs and sharing the current all-school music unit of study Follow up discussions/activities following assembly. Many classrooms will be connecting to their recent reading of the book, The Youngest Marcher; the true story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this picture book that proves you're never too young to make a difference.

Continuing the Conversation!

Whether or not you are able to come to school on Monday, February 12 for the assembly and NAAPID, here are some questions to ask and discuss at home that are connections to the new unit:

·       What difficult issues and obstacles were people singing about in the songs from the Civil Rights Movement?

·       What are things that are challenges for you that you would sing about?

·       When something is hard for you, how do you keep going and not let anything "turn you 'round?"

·       Why do groups of people fight for social justice?

·       What are some examples of rights people promote?

·       What messages can be conveyed through art?

·       What can you look for in a work of art that tells you what it is about?

·       What inspires people to create art/music with a message?

·       What sort of action can art/music inspire people to make?

We are really excited to share this unit with you!

Mitchell Expansion Update

As you know, Mitchell School is now a fully authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and continues to offer high quality teaching and learning opportunities to children and families from Preschool through 5th grade. Given the interest in our high quality programming, we expect to continue our growth as a school.

 

To accommodate this growth, I want to share two upcoming additions to Mitchell School:

1. Additional modular classroom space like the recent new air-conditioned modular installed at Mitchell.

2. A new wing to the building that would extend to the west and create space for 9 more classrooms.

Both of these are important to create space for all of the PreK - 5th grade programming options we have available at Mitchell.

 

Over the coming months I will be working with Mitchell staff to better define the plans. Our first focus will be for the additional modular space.  If you'd like more information soon, I invite you to the PTO meeting on Tuesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm when I will share a more detailed update. I will also post that information on the website and in the eNotes in case you cannot make the meeting. 

 

If you have questions, I'd be happy to talk with you. 

Mid-Winter Break

The Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed from Friday, February 16 through Monday, February 19 for mid-winter break. School will resume on Tuesday, February 20.