Friday, November 20, 2015

Report Cards Coming Soon!

Student report cards will be sent home on Tuesday, November 24. 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. 

Thanksgiving Break

As a friendly reminder, there is no school from Wednesday, November 25 through Friday, November 27. School resumes on Monday, November 30. 

PTO Welcome Event - December 4 from 3:30-4:30

The Mitchell PTO will be hosting a welcoming event as an opportunity for all families to come ask questions and get involved with the Mitchell PTO. We hope to see you there! 

Mitchell Free Food Distribution - 12/5/15

Free food is available for Mitchell families Saturday, December 5 from 9:30-11:00. All Mitchell families who need food are invited to come to Mitchell school for a free food giveaway. This free food distribution will happen the first Saturday of each month. A one-time registration process is required to verify household members. If you registered at a previous event, you will not have to register again.

 

Note: To be clear, this is only available to Mitchell School families at this time.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Student Pick Up/Drop Off - Parking Lot Safety

Student Pick Up/Drop Off
If you drive your child to school or pick them up at the end of the day, please follow the posted signs around the school. 

§ PULL FORWARD in the front drive - pull as far forward as possible so others can pull forward too.

§ NO PARKING in the front drive.  Stay in your car. 
§ NO CELL PHONES in the front drive.  When we are driving around children we want to be as watchful and safe as possible.

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.  This is our fire lane, and it is not safe to park in the circle drive.

Would you like to help?
If you would like to help monitor the front drive from 8:35 - 9:00 AM or from 3:50 - 4:15 PM on any day, please email Mr. Karr or Mr. Hilton (or drop a note in the school office). We'd like to find parents who can help.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Mitchell PTO Meeting - 11/17 6:00-7:00 PM

All families are invited and welcome to attend the Mitchell School PTO meeting! We will meet in the media center. 

Science Olympiad

The Mitchell School Science Olympiad team is now forming! This a great opportunity for 2nd-5th grade students to engage in a fun, highly engaging science based learning experience. More information and event descriptions can be HERE.

Picture Re-Take Day

Picture re-takes will take place on Friday, November 20 from 9:00-10:00 AM. 

PTO Agneda - 11/17/15

PTO (Parent Teacher Organization)

General Meeting 6:00-7:00 11/17/15

 

Our Mission:

The purpose of the Mitchell PTO is to enhance and support the educational experience at Mary D Mitchell Elementary, fund all field trips as needed, to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parental involvement, to improve the environment at Mary D Mitchell Elementary through volunteer and financial support and raise funds as required to provide for these objectives. 

 

6:00-6:05      Opening – Introductions

6:05-6:10      Financial Update – Treasurer's Report

6:10-6:25      Principal Update – Kevin Karr / Matt Hilton present

6:25-6:30      Old Business and approval of minutes.

                                                Votes, if needed

Executive Meeting Recap – n/a

 

6:30–6:35     CAN (Community Action Network) – Jessica, Katie, Dylan

6:35-6:55                  PTO Announcements, Committee Reports & Updates 

  • Art Supplies – Katie Williams presents (5 min)
  • Parking concerns – morning drop off (5 min)  Ways we can help 
  • Science Olympiad – Stacie/Zali present (5 min)
  • Family Fun Night – next meeting early January
  • Talent Show June 3rd – Christine presents (5 min) - may be tabled to December meeting
  • Upcoming Events
    • Chuck E Cheese Dine to Donate 12/9
    • Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – 12/16 - flyers home early December
    • Little Caesars Pizza Kits – kick off 12/14
 

6:55-6:55      New PTO Business

  • Other TBD as time allows or add to upcoming agenda

 

6:55-7:00      Open Discussion

7:00- – Next Steps and adjourn

PTO Updates - 11/13/15

Check out what's happening around Mitchell and information about what Science Olympiad is all about.

 

TCBY Fundraiser – November 24th – Come over to TCBY on Washtenaw Ave on 11/24 to get some yummy yogurt and support Mitchell as well as a great partner to the Mitchell PTO.  TCBY has donated to several of our events and will give us a portion of the proceeds from sales on that day.  Must have flyer for us to receive credit.

 

PTO Welcome Coffee in the Teacher's Lounge on Dec 4th from 3:30-4:30pm.  

This is a great chance to meet one on one with some of the PTO Board members to find out what's going on around Mitchell and how you can get involved.

 

Science Olympiad Team – Registration forms will be coming home soon.  Please have all forms turned in by Dec 2nd.  Practices will begin in January and run through late April.  WESO Competition is scheduled for May 14th at Pioneer.  Science Olympiad is currently only open to students in 2nd - 5th grade.

Science Olympiad is a great countywide event.  Students from all over Washtenaw County compete at grade level in many different competitions.  Look over the forms coming home and discuss the events with your child(ren).  They will spend a few months learning about that subject and have fun preparing for the competition.  This is a hands on learning experience.  Students learn science concepts while having fun.  Examples of the events include creating bridges with pasta, using mystery materials to create the tallest structure, using math skills to estimate how many items are in a jar, building circuits, learning about birds, reading maps to find a location,  make potions, building straw towers from straws and pins.

 

December Upcoming Events:

12/9 - Chuck E Cheese Fundraiser Night - 3pm-9pm - Oak Valley Dr location

12/14 - Little Caesars Pizza Kit sale begins.  Orders due back 1/26 AT LATEST

12/16 - Teacher Appreciation Luncheon – Potluck for teachers

 

New Date Announcements:

The Mitchell Fun Run is scheduled for May 13th at Mitchell during the school day

The Mitchell Talent Show is scheduled for June 3rd at 6pm in the Mitchell MPR

Both of these events will require help from parent volunteers.   Keep an eye out for more details coming after the first of the year.

              

SAVE THE DATE - Our next PTO meeting is Nov 17th in the Media Center at 6pm.

 

No School November 25-27.  Take time to enjoy family and Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

PTO Planning: Family Fun Night

The Mitchell / Scarlett Family Fun Night planning committee meeting will be held at Mitchell on Thursday, November 12th at 6pm in the Media Center.  Families wanting to help in the planning and running of this event are encouraged to attend.

Family Fun Night Meeting Agenda 

Introductions

Event overview – Auction, Raffle, Food, Games, Sponsors

Discuss budget

Responsibilities/To Do List - handouts

  • Event Chair
  • Auction Chair
  • Raffle Chair
  • Food Chair
  • Welcome Chair
  • Volunteers Chair
  • Games Chair
  • Others

Will need to decide on:

  • Menu
  • Hours
  • Locations
  • Games

Monday, November 9, 2015

Message from PTO: Science Olympiad Head Coach and event coaches needed!

Dear Mitchell Families

 

We are in the beginning stages of creating our Science Olympiad Team.  The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad (WESO) is scheduled for May 14th. Children in 2nd through 5th grades can compete.  This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about science, team work and HAVE FUN in the process.

 

Mitchell MUST have a Head Coach (team organizer) per WESO, for our school or we will NOT be able to participate in Science Olympiad this year.  See below for Head Coach Responsibilities.  Last year, Science Olympiad hosted EVERY Ann Arbor Public School as well as many charters and all the other Washtenaw County District Public Schools.  More information about WESO can be found at https://sites.google.com/a/aaps.k12.mi.us/weso-wizards/ 

 

If you are interested in Head Coaching or Co-Head Coaching our team, please email Stacie Jackson at stacie@mikancorp.com ASAP.  School Registration for the events is due by December 1st.  Again, if we don't have a Head Coach by that date, we will not be able to participate.

 

If you'd like to learn more about the Science Olympiad, please come to the PTO meeting on November 17th at 6pm in the Media Center where we'll be discussing the event.

 

Registration forms, as well as event descriptions, will be coming home this month.  Practices will be after school starting in January and go until May. (These after school schedules are created by the volunteer coaches; who will work with their group of students to create an afterschool practice schedule that works for members of that group.)

 

Science Olympiad event practices will require adult Coaches to teach our students various aspects of their events.  WESO does provide training sessions in January for parents to attend. Coaches DO NOT need to be experts.  Volunteering as a coach or at the event is required of all families with participating students.

 

Head Coach Responsibilities:

The Head Coach serves as the contact person for WESO. All official correspondence and updates will be emailed to the Head Coach or made available on the WESO web site. Head Coaches will be responsible for distributing information to the school's respective event coaches, parents, and students. Schools may also designate one Co-head Coach.  The Head Coach will also be required to be at the event the entire day of May 14th to run the event raffle. 

 

 

 

WESO Event Coaches Needed for Science Olympiad (Event Descriptions below)

This is a large, volunteer driven, countywide event on May 14th

 

Science Olympiad is only open to 2nd – 5th graders but parents of younger children can and are encouraged to coach.

 

Event Coaches will need

To attend a training session (date to be determined) hosted by WESO
Do NOT need to be an expert in the field
Can work with another volunteer to Co-Coach events
May be coaching one event for multiple grades
To pass a background check
Meet with students to practice for 1 hour weekly
Tentatively - Mid January – 1st week of May
No practices weeks of school breaks
 

2016 Science Olympiad (WESO)  Event Descriptions
Science Olympiad 2nd Grade Events
 
Barge Building: Participants will construct a barge using the given material that can support a cargo of the largest number of weighted objects (e.g. pennies) without getting them wet.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target:  Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body.  Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner. 
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Science Olympiad 3rd grade Events
 
Aerodynamics: Participants will build and fly paper airplanes for distance, time and accuracy.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
In Bloom: Students will be tested on their knowledge of plants, including grasses, flowers, and trees.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target:  Each team will build 6 missiles, utilizing precision straws as the missile body.  Missiles will be constructed the day of the event, using only materials provided by WESO, and launched indoors at a fixed target. The accuracy of the missile (distance from target) on its three best launches will be used to determine the team score, with the shortest total distance from target being considered the winner. 
Pasta Bridges: Participants will build a bridge using the materials supplied (a variety of dried pasta and clay) and support a cup (in the middle of the bridge) with as many small weights as possible.
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).

Science Olympiad 4th & 5th Grade Events
 
Circuit Wizardry: Circuit Wizardry tests participants' knowledge of basic electrical circuit concepts, components, schematic reading and understanding, and ability to design and build a simple circuit from a functional description.
Disease Detectives: Students will be tested on various aspects of public health problems, including disease, risk, spread and prevention.
Estimania: Measurement is a key component in science. Teams will be asked to either estimate or calculate answers to ten questions of measurement. Types of measurement include area, time, speed, height, length, weight, volume, temperature, and others.
Feathered Friends: Participants will be tested on their bird identification skills. Bird songs, field markings, natural habitat, adaptations and other characteristics will be included as part of this hands-on, multimedia Olympiad event.
iCompute: Participants will be tested on their knowledge of basic computing concepts, including hardware and software, their understanding of how computers solve problems, and their ability to create a simple program.
May the Force be With You: Students will perform activities and answer questions related to force and motion.
Map Reading: Students will test their map reading skills to answer geographical questions. They will answer questions using various kinds of maps.
Mystery Architecture: Each team will be given a bag of materials (such as paper, tape, styrofoam, and paper clips) to build a structure that can support a tennis ball. The tallest structure wins.
On Target:  Each team will build missiles, utilizing a precision straw as the missile body (all materials being provided by WESO). The accuracy of the missiles launched indoors at a fixed target will be tested.
Potions: Each team will follow instructions to make a potion, demonstrating basic lab skills (e.g. weighing, measuring, transferring, and filtering materials) and familiarity with safety rules.
Straw Tower: Each team will attempt to build the strongest tower with the specified number of drinking straws and straight pins.
To Infinity And Beyond: Using a planetarium, charts, and a written test, students will demonstrate an understanding and basic knowledge of the solar system and its elements (including apparent motion of the sky, planets and moons, constellations and stars, asteroids, and comets).
Water Rockets: Students will build a rocket in advance out of a 2-liter soda bottle, making alterations and adding a parachute to help it stay aloft. The rocket that stays in the air the longest will be the winner.
Write It, Build It: Two team members will be shown a "picture" and will write a description of it. In a separate room, the other team members will be given the pieces of the "picture" and the written description and attempt to rebuild it. The team with the most pieces placed correctly wins. This event tests competitor's ability to clearly communicate in writing and follow written directions.

Friday, November 6, 2015

Mitchell Free Food Distribution - 11/7/15

Free food is available for Mitchell families Saturday, November 7 from 9:30-11:00. All Mitchell families who need food are invited to come to Mitchell school for a free food giveaway. This free food distribution will happen the first Saturday of each month. A one-time registration process is required to verify household members. If you registered at a previous event, you will not have to register again.

 

Note: To be clear, this is only available to Mitchell School families at this time.

Mitchell Parent Writing Workshop

Ever wondered how to best help your child be a better writer? We have an opportunity for you! We've partnered with EMU to bring a Parent Writing Workshop to our school community! The date is Tuesday November 10th at the Arbor Meadows Clubhouse (with Spanish translation). The session start at 6:00pm. This workshop provides parents tips on how to help their child at home with writing. 

 

A blue sign-up form came home in your child's backpack. If you have questions, please call the school office at 997.1216. 

Thursday, November 5, 2015

IB Community Information Meeting at Scarlett - November 11, 6:30 PM

International Baccalaureate schooling is coming to Ann Arbor!

Those interested in learning more about Ann Arbor International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate schools for the fall of 2016 are invited to an IB Community Information Meeting at Scarlett Middle School on November 11 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM. 

This presentation will include information and experiences that help participants know and understand:
- The 5 Pillars of IB in Ann Arbor
- The Primary Years Programme at Mitchell Elementary School (grades K-5)
- The Middle Years Programme at Scarlett Middle School and Huron High School (grades 6 - 10)
- The Diploma Programme at Huron High School (grades 11 and 12)
- The value of an internationally focused curriculum

Information before the meeting can be accessed via the Ann Arbor IB website at:  http://ib.a2schools.org.

PTO Updates - 11/5/15

Thank you to everyone who came out to Applebee's Dining to Donate on Tuesday.  It was great to see so many Mitchell and Scarlett families and staff.  

 

PTO Welcome Coffee in the Teacher's Lounge TOMORROW - November 6th from 9-10am.  

This is a great chance to meet one on one with some of the PTO Board members to find out what's going on around Mitchell and how you can get involved.

 

 

Family Fun Night & Silent Auction committee Meeting 11/12 at 6pm in Media Center

 

On March 11th, Mitchell PTO and Scarlett PTSO host a great night of family fun.  We have games, food, a huge raffle, silent auction and more.  We are in need of strong, self starters and go-getters!  Event planning meeting is scheduled for Nov 12th at 6pm in the Media Center.  

 

SAVE THE DATE - Our next PTO meeting is Nov 17th in the Media Center at 6pm.

 

TCBY Fundraiser – November 24th – Come over to TCBY on Washtenaw Ave on 11/24 to get some yummy yogurt and support Mitchell as well as a great partner to the Mitchell PTO.  TCBY has donated to several of our events and will give us a portion of the proceeds from sales on that day.

 

Have a great week! 

Café de Bienvenida del PTO en el Teacher's Lounge será el viernes, 6 de noviembre de 9-10am

Esta es una gran oportunidad para conocer a algunos de los miembors de la Directiva del PTO y para saber más acerca de lo que esta aconteciendo en Mitchell y como usted puede apoyarnos.

 

Reunión del Comité para la Noche Familiar de Diversión y Subasta Silenciosa, 12 de noviembre a las 6pm

El 11 de marzo, Mitchell PTO y Scarlett PTSO anfitrionaran una gran noche de diversión familiar. Tendremos juegos, comida, una gran rifa, subasta silenciosa y más. Necesitamos de algunos encargados de comités para ayudar a que esta noche sea un éxito.  La runiones para la planificación de este evento será el 12 de noviembre a las 6pm en el Media Center

 

GUARDE LA FECHA – Nuestra próxima reunión de PTO es el 20 de octubre en el Media Center a las 6pm.

 

¡Que tenga una buena semana!

 

 




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