Friday, October 25, 2019

2019 Bond Proposal

The 2019 Bond Proposal includes upgrades designed to enhance safety and security for students, staff, and the community. Learn more about these proposed changes here

  

Learn all about the proposal from our new Informational Video, during the Ann Arbor Public Schools Facebook Live event on Wednesday, October 30th at noon, and at the Westerman Preschool and Family Center on Friday, November 1st at 8:30 AM. More information including a video of the presentation and a schedule of additional meetings is available at a2schools.org/2019 bond.

Colder Weather

As a friendly reminder, please send your children to school with the appropriate clothing to be outside for recess. It's important for kids to be outside playing together and getting some exercise. Please send them with a coat, hat, gloves, etc. and we will be sure to have them wear it. 

Camp Storer – 5thGrade Trip – THANK YOU!

Thank you so much to the Mitchell PTO and families who supported the 5thgrade trip to Camp Storer last week. It was certainly a wonderful experience for our kids and the memories will last a lifetime! 

Halloween Candy

Halloween is coming up next week. If you could please help…Halloween candy is not allowed at school. When children bring their candy to school it becomes a distraction to learning. Please keep the candy at home. Thank you for your help

November 5 – Election Day

Tuesday, November is an election day in Ann Arbor. There will be no school on this day for all Ann Arbor Public Schools students. School will resume on Wednesday, November 6. Please vote! 

MindSET STEM Outreach Events

The University of Michigan Tau Beta Pi chapter welcomes all 4th and 5th grade students interested in STEM to participate in this semester's MindSET outreach events. MindSET is an education initiative put on by a number of TBP chapters around the country, and is aimed at engaging K-12 students in science and mathematics through hands-on, design-based learning activities and mentoring from current engineering students. This semester, we will be hosting three modules on Sunday, October 27th, Sunday November 3rd, and Sunday November 10th from 2 to 5 PM. Register online

Friday, October 18, 2019

2019 AAPS Bond Proposal

One of the goals of the 2019 Bond Proposal is to create resilient schools prepared to adapt to climate change. Find out how the 2019 Bond is designed to chart a course towards carbon neutrality here

 

Did you know state law requires bond funds to be spent on capital projects and infrastructure, in fact the law makes it illegal for local districts to raise funds for operations, including teacher salaries and benefits. At the same time AAPS received $313 less in per pupil funding in the 2018-19 school year compared to the 2008-09 year. This proposal is designed so general fund dollars won't be diverted for facility repairs.

 

Come learn more about the proposal at 2019 Bond Information Superintendent Community Meetings. They take place Tuesday, October 22nd at the Ann Arbor District Library Westgate Branch at 2 PM; Thursday, October 24th at the downtown library at 7 PM; a Facebook Live event on Wednesday, October 30th at noon; and at the Westerman Preschool and Family Center on Friday, November 1st at 8:30 AM. More information including a video of the presentation and a schedule of additional meetings is available at a2schools.org/2019 bond.

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Hispanic Heritage Month

Dear Families,

In Spanish class, our current unit of inquiry focuses on Hispanic Heritage Month.  Each grade is learning about a different Spanish speaking country:

PreK / Y5 – Bolivia

K – El Salvador

1 – Puerto Rico

2 – México

3 – Argentina

4 – Honduras

5 – Spain

In art, library, music, and physical education classes students are participating in activities that connect to these countries.  If you are interested in making connections at home as well, the following are some ways you can do that:

1.  Check out this website to see what our students are learning in class: https://sites.google.com/view/espanol-con-senora-gryak 

2.  Students can bring in an artifact or picture to school from a Spanish speaking country to share with their classmates.  We will also hang these up in the front display case. We will label each artifact/picture and return them to you during the first week of November.  

3. If someone in your family is originally from a Spanish speaking country and you would like to come in and share with your child's class about your country and culture, or share about your experience here in the United States as a Hispanic American we would love to learn from you!  


Finally, on Friday, October 25th we will have two school assemblies to celebrate all we have been learning during Hispanic Heritage Month.  We are so fortunate to have Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Itzel, a Mexican group that will come exclusively to Mitchell from Detroit to share their dances and music with us.  You are warmly invited to attend this celebration.  


Please feel free to email me at gryakr@aaps.k12.mi.usif you have any questions or would like to come in to present something to your child's class.  


Sincerely, 

Rachel Gryak

Spanish Teacher

gryakr@aaps.k12.mi.us


Queridas familias,

En la clase de español estamos enfocando nuestra unidad de estudios en el mes de herencia hispana.  Cada grado está aprendiendo sobre un país hispanohablante diferente:

PreK / Y5 – Bolivia

K – El Salvador

1 – Puerto Rico

2 – México

3 – Argentina

4 – Honduras

5 – España


En las clases de arte, biblioteca, música, y de educación física, los estudiantes están preparando actividades conectadas a esos países. 

Sí ustedes están también interesados en hacer conexiones desde casa, seguidamente les enseñamos las diferentes maneras de hacerlo:

1. Pueden visitar la siguiente pagina web para ver todo lo que nuestros estudiantes están aprendiendo en clase:

https://sites.google.com/view/espanol-con-senora-gryak

2.  Sus estudiantes pueden traer a la escuela un artefacto o fotografía de un país hispanohablante para compartirlo con sus compañeros.  Los artefactos serán después expuestos en la vitrina de la entrada. Colocaremos una etiqueta de identificación en cada artefacto/fotografía y todos ellos serán devueltos a sus dueños durante la primera semana de noviembre.  

3.  Nos es imprescindible, como siempre, la ayuda de ustedes que son familiares de alumnos originales de países hispanohablantes, y a quienes les gustaría compartir con la clase de su hijo/a costumbres maravillosas sobre su país, o su experienca personal como hispanoamericano en los Estados Unidos.


Finalmente les informamos que el viernes, día 25 de octubre tendremos dos asambleas para celebrar todo lo que hemos aprendido durante el mes de herencia hispana.  Nos sentimos muy afortunados ya que tendremos con nosotros al Ballet Folklorico Moyocoyani Itzel.  Ellos son un grupo Mexicano que vendrá en exclusiva a Mitchell desde Detroit para deleitarnos con sus bailes y música nativa.  Con mucho cariño les invitamos a que se unan a nosotros en esta celebración. 


Por favor no duden en contactarme a gryakr@aaps.k12.mi.us  si tienen alguna pregunta, o si les gustaría venir para hacer una presentación en la clase de su hijo/a.


sinceramente, 

Rachel Gryak

Maestra de español

gryakr@aaps.k12.mi.us

Thursday, October 10, 2019

Fun Run – Thank You!

Thank you to all the parents and PTO members who helped to run a successful and enjoyable Fun Run for the Mitchell students. We all had a great time running together and enjoying the day! 

Handicap Parking at Mitchell – Important!

Dear Mitchell Families,

In the past few weeks we've had people park in the handicap spaces (without a handicap authorized permit) and/or block access to the handicap parking spaces. These spaces need to be accessible to those who truly need them. Please do not park in the handicap space without the appropriate permit or block access to these spaces. If you have questions, please call me at school.

Thank you,

Matt

Thursday, October 3, 2019

2019 AAPS Bond Proposal

On November 5th, voters in the AAPS district will be asked to consider a bond proposal to upgrade school facilities and sites, enhance existing building security and provide upgraded and sustainable learning environments throughout our district. An informational presentation will be given on Tuesday, October 15 at the Mitchell PTO meeting. More information including a video of the presentation and a schedule of additional meetings is available at a2schools.org/2019 bond.

Mitchell PTO Meeting – All Are Welcome!

The Mitchell PTO will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, October 15 at 6:00 PM at school. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend! 

Camp Storer

During the week of October 14, Mitchell fifth grade students will have the opportunity to attend a three-day, two-night camp event at Camp Storer. This is an annual trip taken by our fifth-grade students each year and is designed to build, among other things, community, friendship and teamwork skills. It is always a highly anticipated event and the kids have a great time. I'd like to say thank you to the fifth-grade teachers who commit to this event and to the Mitchell PTO for supporting this trip! 

Parking at Mitchell

There are some parking spots available in front of Mitchell School.  Additional parking is available in the Scarlett parking lot behind Mitchell School. Please DO NOT park in the front circle drive - ever. Parked cars create a traffic flow problem that can cause unsafe situations. 

 

If you need to enter the building, please park in a parking space in one of our lots. At the end of the day, cars will line up on Lorraine as an entrance line into Mitchell and should not be parked on Lorraine.If you'd like to park, you can park in the Scarlett lot in the back or in the front Mitchell lot. Thank you for your help!