NWEA Testing

Over the next week, Kindergarten through 5^th grade students will be engaged in the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment. We give students the NWEA MAP Assessments each year to determine your child's instructional level and to measure academic growth over the school year in the areas of Math and Reading. As in previous years, your child will take these assessments on a computer.

Covid-19 Vaccines for Ages 5 and Up

COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 5 to 11 years old are now available. Learn more about opportunities to get your child vaccinated through the Washtenaw County Health Department, your pediatrician or pharmacy. 

 

Space remains at two more vaccine clinics for AAPS students, including the booster shot for students 12-15 years old, as approved by the CDC this week. Registration is required as we are allotted a specific number of vaccines by MDHHS, whose contractor administers the vaccine.

  

Vaccine Dates all at Pioneer High School from 4 - 6:30 PM

·       Tuesday, January 25

·       Tuesday, February 1

January 26 – VIRTUAL SCHOOL DAY

Dear Mitchell Families,

Please know that Wednesday, January 26 is now a virtual school day. The daily schedule will remain the same and kids will access their virtual classroom via the zoom link found on their Schoology page. This process for this is the exact same as it was last week when we were virtual.

Thank you,
Matt

COVID Testing Sites & Information

Testing is available from local health care providers, pharmacies, and urgent care. If you have a health care provider, contact them about testing or see the information below. Please check about costs before going to any testing site. At certain locations, some types of tests are free or covered by insurance, while others have an out-of-pocket cost. Click on THIS LINK for testing site information.

Early Release Day – Wednesday, January 26

All AAPS elementary students will be released at 1:18 PM on Wednesday, January 26. All teachers will participate in professional development in the afternoon. Please plan to pick your child up on this day at 1:18 PM. Lunch will be served as normal. Buses routes will run as normal on this day and will depart Mitchell by 1:30 PM. 

Winter Break Camps & Winter After-School Classes

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer winter break camps and winter after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Registration is now OPEN! For more information, click on each link below or visit www.aarecedonline.com. For the health and safety of all participants, the AAPS Covid-19 Protocols will be followed.

 

Many scholarships are still available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 and ask whether the class or camp you're interested in has any remaining spots reserved for scholarship recipients (even if the class or camp appears to be full). Chances are that it does!

 

Winter Break Camps

Morning Drop Off

We are noticing parents dropping off children too early. Please remember there is no adult supervision and children may not be dropped off until 8:40am. If you have any questions, please call us at school.

 

Thank you for your help with this safety measure. 

Lost & Found – Update

The lost and found photo link has been reorganized and updated. From the link below, click on "albums" for easy sorting. To claim lost items, screenshot the item and contact Liz at e.thomas9812@gmail.com with the picture, your child's name, and the teacher's name. With this system, we've been having great success reuniting items with their owners. If you prefer, there's also an unofficial school community Facebook group- you can locate Liz Allison Thomas and message her directly. 

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/194122866@N03/albums/with/72157720159601365

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 5:00 AM. The district will brief media outlets & post on the AAPS website immediately after the decision. Checking in to 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. You may review school closing protocol by clicking HERE. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is partnering with the Michigan Dept of Health and Human Services to offer COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics to AAPS students ages 5-18 years old and their family members. The clinics will be administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. 

 

These school-based vaccination clinics are just one of many ways for students to receive the vaccine. The Washtenaw County Health Department, pediatricians/doctors' offices and local pharmacies also have vaccines available for students.

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 3:48. It is not okay for students to be left unattended at school. Please plan to arrive in the school pick-up line by 3:48. We will do our very best to move the line of cars through the pick-up line as quickly and safely as possible. Thank you for your help. 

Quarantine Learning Support

Live Quarantine Learning Support is available to families to support continuity of learning for elementary and secondary students during short term quarantine or extended illness. Students may elect to join daily, grade level or content-specific live video conferencing hosted by AAPS Learning Facilitators. More information can be found by CLICKING HERE.

 

This is support is entirely optional for students. Mitchell teachers will place assignments on their Schoology pages for students to access while in quarantine. 

No School – Thanksgiving Week & Report Cards

With the announcement of no school during Thanksgiving week, we are needing to adjust the date that report cards will be sent home. Please know that report cards will be sent home electronically on Tuesday, November 30. Additionally, please know that SISS progress reports will be sent home hardcopy on Tuesday, November 30 as well. 

 

If you have questions now, I'm happy to help. 

 

Thank you,

Matt

Thanksgiving Break

The Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed from Monday, November 22 through Friday, November 26. School will reopen on Monday, November 29. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving break! 

Early Parent Pick-Ups

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

I'm noticing more early parent pick-ups. Of course, if this is for an appointment or something similar it makes sense. Please let the teachers and office staff know in advance.

If you're doing this to beat the traffic or match your pick-up time to older siblings at Scarlett, please stop – it's not okay.

When we receive many late calls for early pick-ups it becomes unmanageable and interrupts our end of day procedures. I'm happy to work alongside you in this regard to ensure safe procedures for all kids at the end of the day.

If you have questions, please call Matt at school. I can be reached at 997-1216. 

Thanksgiving Break

All Ann Arbor Public Schools will be closed from Wednesday, November 24 through Friday, November 26. School will reopen on Monday, November 29. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving break! 

Report Cards – November 23

Student report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, November 23. 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. 

COVID Testing Sites & Information

Testing is available from local health care providers, pharmacies, and urgent care. If you have a health care provider, contact them about testing or see the information below. Please check about costs before going to any testing site. At certain locations, some types of tests are free or covered by insurance, while others have an out-of-pocket cost. Click on THIS LINK for testing site information.

Mitchell Parking Lot

Dear Parents,

As you drop off your children in the morning, please do not park in a way that blocks other cars in or limits entrance/exit to the front lot parking area. I've had some situations where someone needed to leave but couldn't because cars were illegally parked.

Lastly, if you're dropping off in the morning please stay in the drop off line – I need the parking spaces in the lot for staff who are coming into the building.

Thank you for your help!

A2 Virtual Village

Over the past trimester, I've had conversations with some families that expressed interest in exploring online instruction that is offered through the A2 Virtual Village.  While we'd love to keep your child here at Mitchell, families have an opportunity to adjust their enrollment selection for the second trimester. As you consider your options, please note that enrollment in online programs is based on available space.

 

More information about the online programs is available on the A2 Virtual Village website.  You are welcome to email any questions that you may have to a2velementary@a2schools.org.

Click HERE to express your interest in enrolling your child in an online class by Wednesday, November 17, 2021.

 

On the other hand, families who'd like to return to in-person learning can do that as well! Please complete the Request to Return to Home School form by Wednesday, November 17, 2021.  You can also take a few minutes to review the Elementary Program Transition FAQs.