Lining Up in the Morning - Rain / Very Cold Temperatures

Sometimes parents wonder, does my child line up outside every day in the morning?  Even when it is raining?  What happens when it is very cold?

The answer is students do not line up outside every day.  We have indoor line up procedures for days when it is raining or if it is below the district cut-off for being outside (≤ 0 °F actual temperature or windchill).  Of course if it is questionable, I'll ask kids to line up inside.  :-)

I hope this helps to know so that when it is raining outside, parents know your kids won't be getting wet in the morning.  And when the snow starts flying, kids won't be outside when it is dangerously cold.

As a reminder, students can begin to line up at 8:35 AM - but please, not sooner than that.  

Science Olympiad Starting for Grades 2-5

The 12th Annual Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO)

will be held on May 10th, 2014 at Pioneer High School.

Mitchell School will be participating again this year!

Forms and information about the Science Olympiad will be available in November.  If you have any questions, please contact  Sarah McCallum, Mitchell Head Coach at 734-945-8076 or mccallumsarah@yahoo.com.

PHOTO: El Sistema After School Music Class

Warm up exercises today for kids learning to play stringed instruments.

PHOTO: Abby @ Michigan Makers After School Club

Making squishy circuits!

PTO Notes - 10/28/13

We hope you enjoyed Fall Fest last Friday! It looked like there was a lot of fun going on.  Please let us know if you have suggestions for anything else you might like to see at our Fall Fest party. Thank you to all of you parent and teacher volunteers!

Attached, you will find our October newsletter. Enjoy!

Please note the following dates:

Friday, November 1 – Fun Run Pledges and Donations Due! Thank you for your support!

Tuesday, November 5 – No School – Leo's Coney Island – Dining to Donate – 4-8PM

            No flyer needed, Just vote and then head out to dinner with the family.

Please be sure to Vote on Tuesday, November 5. The Sinking Fund Millage Renewal will be on all ballots in the Ann Arbor school district. These funds are for building and property construction and remodeling. No increase is proposed - your taxes would remain the same, while preserving regular funding for classrooms.

Thank you,

Mitchell PTO

PHOTO: Kindergartens In Music Class

Students worked with mallets today keeping the best and playing along as their classmates sang!

PHOTO: Fall Fest at Mitchell - Friday, 10/25 @ 6 PM

Announcement: Mitchell School Literacy Fund

Dear Mitchell School Community, 

I am excited to announce the creation of the Mitchell School Literacy Fund in support of achievement at Mitchell and the literacy goals in the Mitchell School Improvement Plan.  While I realize that we have shared bits and pieces of this initiative over the past weeks and months (with many of you), today is our official launch date!  Please read the information below about this initiative ... and check out our video! 

Of course if you have questions, please let me know.  

Sincerely,

Kevin

Help Narrow the Achievement Gap 

by contributing to an Endowment Fund

at

The Ann Arbor Area  Community Foundation

to support

Mitchell School Summer Reading

See our video at: 

http://bit.ly/1h0WFGL

To donate online to the Mitchell School Literacy Fund, CLICK BELOW: 

http://tinyurl.com/mit-lit-fund

"Summer reading loss is one of the important factors contributing to the reading achievement gap . . . "

Allington, Richard. Summer Reading: Closing the Rich/Poor Reading Achievement Gap. New York: Teachers College Press, 2013. Print. 

At Mitchell Elementary School in Ann Arbor, a significant number of students come from families who are disadvantaged.  Some families have few or no books in their homes and have limited access to local libraries.

In the spring of 2013, Mitchell educators, with the help of Children's Literacy Network and a grant from Galens Medical Society, selected 1300 new books to give to all kindergarten, first, and second grade students.  Teachers and volunteers helped 130 students choose 10 books each for their very own - at no cost to families.  With your help, we would like to continue and expand this vital program to include all students at Mitchell School.

OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $50,000 TO CREATE A PERMANENT ENDOWMENT TO PROVIDE FREE BOOKS & FAMILY LITERACY EVENTS

We begin with a $10,000 matching grant

To donate online to the Mitchell School Literacy Fund, CLICK BELOW: 

http://tinyurl.com/mit-lit-fund

OR

Send your donation to:

Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

301 N. Main Street #300

Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

memo line: Mitchell Literacy Fund

PHOTO: Fun Run!

The Fun Run today was a major success! Thank you to everyone who donated and volunteered.  If your family (or extended family members) still want to donate, please do!  We need the money at school :-)!  There is a donation form in your child’s backpack.  Check it out!

Fun Run This Friday! - 10/15

Please turn in any pledge forms you have. You will get these forms back once the kids have completed the run, so you can collect the money pledged. Thank you for your support of this fundraiser! By the way, you can still collect pledges; just add them to the form once you get it back on Friday afternoon. If you need a form, it is available in the school lobby, or on the website -http://www.a2schools.org/mitchell.home/home

NOTE: If you volunteered and provided an email address, we sent your scheduled volunteer slots yesterday. If you left a phone number, we will call you today or tomorrow. Email us with any questions.

Chess Club - next meeting on 10/17

Dear Mitchell Chess Club Families,
I hope your child enjoyed the first session of chess last evening.  The next session of chess club will be on October 17 from 3:45 - 5:15.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Sincerely,
Kevin

Sinking Fund Renewal - November 5th

AAPS is asking the community to vote November 5 on the continuation of the district's Sinking Fund. A Sinking Fund allows the district to fund repairs, construction and remodeling for the schools, and free up shrinking operating funds for direct use for the main mission of the district – educating our students.

A second community meeting is planned to learn more about the current Sinking Fund, and priorities for future facilities repair and capital projects.

- October 25, 12-1:30pm at the Downtown District Library, 4^th floor – Brown Bag Forum

Follow the AAPS News series Sinking Fund Millage 2013 for much more information.

GREAT START!

I want to thank student, parents, and teachers for a great start to our school year.   We all know Mitchell is the best school anywhere.  The reason for this is simple:  Mitchell kids, Mitchell parents, and Mitchell teachers. 

And in case you didn't know . . . I am proud to work and help at Mitchell School.

Sincerely,

Mr. Karr

MEAP Testing

We've just finished the first week of MEAP testing.  The kids did a great job, and their learning over the past few years will certainly show in the results we get sometime in early 2014. 

Please take a moment to share with your child that Mr. Karr was happy with how hard students worked on their MEAP tests this year.  

Mitchell Fun Run Schedule – Friday, October 18

Classes will be running and having fun at the following times:

9:40 – 10:20 – Sanmiguel, Krigbaum, Spiess

10:20 – 11:00 – Padgen, Hatt, Bell

1:00 – 1:40 – Nobis, Thompson, Deshpande

2:20 – 3:00 – Hamilton, Faison, Rothman

Parents are welcome to come and participate in the Fun Run with your child's class.  When you arrive, please sign in at the office and get a visitor's tag.

After School Club for 4th/5th: Michigan Makers

After School Club - Fall 2013

Dear 4th and 5th Grade Mitchell Parents,
Below is another great after school opportunity for our fourth and fifth grade students.  I hope you'll consider signing up it!
 

What:  Michigan Makers: An after school program

Michigan Makers is an after school program that helps students engage with technology through tinkering and creating, while promoting group work and peer mentoring.  We thank the UM School of Information for sponsoring this program.

When:  

Mondays this fall from 3:45 - 5:15:  10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

Who:

Fourth and fifth grade students who sign up to participate.  

How:

To sign up, do the following:

1. Fill out the online form (or paper copy in backpacks) at:  http://tinyurl.com/michiganmakers

AND

2. Fill out the School of Information permission slip and return to school (or paper copies in backpacks):  CLICK HERE

Where:  

Mitchell School Media Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need equipment? No . . . all equipment is provided.  

Can my child ride the bus home?  Yes, we will have transportation for children who typically ride the bus.  The bus will leave Mitchell School at 5:15 PM.

What time should I pick my child up?  Children who get picked up must be picked up promptly at 5:15 PM.

How do I sign my child up?  Fill out the form on the back of this sheet or use the online form.

Can I attend too?  Yes, parents are welcome to attend as well.

Fall 2013 Chess Club - Registration Closed

Chess Club is now filled for the fall 2013 session. If you would like your child to be on a wait list, please call the school office at 997-1216.

Announcement: Chess Club - Fall 2013 - Sign Up Now!

Mitchell After School Chess Club

Fall 2013

Sign up Now!! :-)

What:  Chess!  

Mitchell students will be guided by the Huron High School Chess Club.  At the weekly after school sessions, Mitchell students will learn basic chess skills and will practice playing chess under the guidance of the Huron Chess Club members.

When:  

Thursdays from 3:45 - 5:15 on the following dates:  10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14, 11/21

Who:

Mitchell 1st - 5th grade students who sign up to participate.  Sign up online at:  http://tinyurl.com/8ajxfls

Please note:  This experience is only available to Mitchell students and is limited to 30 students this fall.  Please sign up early if you want your child to be a part of the excitement.

Where:  

Mitchell School Media Center

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need equipment? No . . . all equipment is provided.  

Can my child ride the bus home?  Yes, we will have transportation for children who typically ride the bus.  The bus will leave Mitchell School at 5:15 PM.

What time should I pick my child up?  Children who get picked up must be picked up promptly at 5:15 PM.

How do I sign my child up?  Sign up online by using the link above or fill out the form that will come home in backpacks on Monday.

Can I attend too?  Yes, parents are welcome to attend as well.