New Visitor Management System

As part of the Ann Arbor Public School's commitment to student safety, every school in the district is instituting a new visitor management check-in system at the main entrance.

 

To help us keep track of who is in our schools during the school day we ask that you present your identification, either a driver's license or identification card, when you visit the school. If you don't have an identification card the Office Professional will assist you. Once you have presented your identification for the first time, you will be in the system and will no longer need to present your ID for future visits. This is true for visits to other AAPS schools as well.

 

The system creates a visitor badge for you to wear while you are visiting the school. The visitor management system also checks your identification against the national sex offender database. 

 

The benefits of a visitor management system for our schools includes:

·       Up-to-date information about who is in our schools, where they are and the time they entered - especially important during any type of drill or emergency situation.

·       Creates customized visitor badges with photos to easily identify visitors, contractors, volunteers and parents.

·       Provides instant and accurate screening off the national sex offender registry and custom alerts for custody restrictions, banned visitors, etc.

 

The entrance procedures during the day will remain the same:

·       When requesting entrance, parents and guests will stand in front of the camera and press the buzzer to signal their request. The main front door and the main rear door have a buzzer & camera system. These are the only two doors in which you can enter. Please press the buzzer and be prepared to share why you're visiting school. If the office staff does not immediately answer the buzzer, please be patient and they will be with you shortly. 

·       Guests and visitors should then go immediately to the office to sign in and wear a visitor's sticker. 

 

While the district must comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), due diligence was conducted to ensure visitor's Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is secure. Note that the cost for the selected system comes as part of the Michigan State Police School Security grant that AAPS received.

 

This new system will begin on Monday, December 9, 2019. I appreciate your patience and support with the new system. 

 

Thank you,

Matt

Thanksgiving Break

All Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed from Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29. School will reopen on Monday, December 2. I wish you all a wonderful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break! 

Report Cards – November 26

Student report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, November 26. This is an opportunity to talk with your child about their learning and celebrate growth. It's also an opportunity to set improvement goals. If you have questions, please talk with your child's teacher. 

5thGrade MSTAR Program – Parent Meeting

The 5^thgrade after school strings and band program is starting is starting in January! This program is in collaboration with the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance and offers free music lessons to our fifth-grade students by trained musicians and graduate students. 

 

We will host an informational meeting on Tuesday, December 3 at Mitchell School in the media center beginning at 6:00 PM. More information came home in back pack mail this week! 

Reminder - Handicap Parking Spaces

If you pick your child up at the end of the day, I'm asking that you do not block access to the handicap parking spaces. It's important that these spaces remain accessible for people to enter and exit without others blocking the spaces. If you have questions about this, please contact me at school. 

 

Thank you for your help! 
Matt

Crossing Guards Needed

Crossing Guards safely escort children across intersections to and from school in the morning and afternoons. Crossing Guards are City of Ann Arbor employees serving different locations throughout the Ann Arbor Public School district. Crossing Guards are paid $12 per hour/4 hours a day when school is in session.

 

To apply, click on this link: https://a2gov.applicantpro.com/jobs/1246163-72068.html. 

For questions, please contact Officer Jamie Adkins at jadkins@a2gov.org or 734-794-6940 x 49404.

CAN Art & Design Update

Please join us in congratulating the fourth-grade student artists enrolled in CAN Art & Design's Fall session! The program is currently being featured in an exhibit at the Ann Arbor City Council Chambers.  This year's curriculum, The Kids' Table, is designed to empower CAN's young people to take ownership of their relationship with food and to experience how creating, discovering, and sharing food can build community locally and globally. You can read more about the exhibit at https://www.annarborartcenter.org/community-action-network-the-kids-table/ and learn more about the program at  https://www.canwashtenaw.org/canartdesign.  CAN Art & Design's Winter session will start in January. More information and sign up forms will be shared soon! 

Inclement Weather

It's a good time to review weather protocols and prepare for the potential of school closings due to inclement weather. Remember, if your phone number is not current, or you have checked opt out of notifications; you will not receive calls from any AAPS building - including inclement weather notifications. Families must update contact information with the building secretary any time there is a change. If this information is not updated you will not receive school closing information.

 

The district will always strive to make weather-related decisions on regular school days by 5 am when possible. The district will brief media outlets & post on the AAPS website right away once a decision is made. Checking local media is a good way to stay in the 'know' regarding weather-related district closures. Also, we only notify when schools are closed, so 'no notification' means that school is open for the day. Be advised that you may review school safety information, including weather protocols at http://aaps.schoolwires.net/domain/2601

Thanksgiving Break

All Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed from Wednesday, November 27 through Friday, November 29. School will reopen on Monday, December 2. I wish you all a wonderful and enjoyable Thanksgiving break! 

Mitchell PTO Meeting – All Are Welcome!

The Mitchell PTO will be holding a meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:00 PM at school. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend! 

Third Grade IB Unit

A message from our 3rd Grade teachers and kids... Third graders are currently engaged in an action project to support the Humane Society of Huron Valley. We began our "How We Organize Ourselves" unit by visiting the Humane Society and 3rd graders are passionate about exercising their citizenship by helping the animals in our community. Our central idea is that "citizens have responsibilities" and we are completing this action project as a learning experience to help 3rd graders understand how compassion drives citizenship. We are collecting donations from the Humane Society's wish list and would love your support. There is a flyer in your student's mailbox today with a complete list of items but gently used towels, blankets, items from the HSHV amazon wishlist, and unopened pet food items are highly appreciated. The donation boxes are located outside of the 3rd grade classrooms. Thank you for supporting our students and the animals of our community!

Late After School Pick-Up

We are noticing some students are not being picked up on time from school. As a reminder, the bell rings at 3:59. It is not okay for students to be left unattended at school. Please plan to arrive in the school pick-up line by 3:59. We will do our very best to move the line of cars through the line as quickly and safely as possible. Thank you for your help. 

Ann Arbor Public Schools STEAM Expo

The Ann Arbor district-wide STEAM Expo is coming soon! The expo provides a chance for students and families to see hands-on demonstrations and examples of student work across the entire district from Young 5's through high school. 

 

When:

Tuesday, November 19th

6pm-8pm Skyline HS Commons

Mitchell will be represented by some of the 4th-grade students toy projects that were made in the energy conversions unit in PLTW.

2019 Bond Proposal

Remember that Tuesday is election day, please vote. Michigan is one of only 12 states that does not provide state funding for school infrastructure. Learn all about the financial aspects of the 2019 bond proposal here.

Watch our Informational Video and find much more information on the bond proposal at a2schools.org/2019 bond.

Mitchell School Picture Re-Take Day

Mitchell School picture re-take day is scheduled for Thursday, November 14. Information about picture re-takes will go home in backpack mail. If you have additional questions you can call the school office at 997.1216. 

Blaze Pizza PTO Fundraiser

The Mitchell PTO and I hope you're able to join us at Blaze Pizza on Tuesday, November 12. Blaze Pizza will donate 20% of the proceeds back to the Mitchell PTO! 

UM Scientist Spotlight

Visit with University of Michigan scientists and participate in engaging, hands-on activities to learn about their cutting-edge research! The next Scientist Spotlight is Sunday, November 3^rdfrom 1 to 3 PM at downtown Ann Arbor District Library.

Fall Festival

Thank you to all PTO members and parents who helped with the Fall Fest last Friday. So many smiling faces and fun times for kids and families alike! And, congratulations to the winners of the Fall Fest raffle. The teachers will be in touch with winners and families very soon – if they haven't already.