BIG NEWS: Mitchell School Expansion Update

The walls of the new Mitchell School addition are planned to go up on Monday, May 2!!!!!

PHOTO: New outdoor learning space at Mitchell

We are excited about the possibilities for learning around the tree sitting on a chair made by nature while learning… Isn't that awesome?!

Art Message From Mrs. Williams

Hello Mitchell Families,

 

If you have a twitter account please consider following @a2MitchellArt. I will be tweeting artwork from the students and exciting projects happening in the art room related to our IB work.  This will be a digital space where you can view our students' work and how our art program grows!

 

Thank you!

Home-School Folders

Dear Parents,

You may have noticed that some local businesses are featured on the communication folders that we use to get your student's papers to and from school. An example of a school communication folder is shown below.  If you are a business owner, or work for a business that would like to show support for the school while gaining visibility to our students and parents, please contact our folder company directly at lundwallbob@gmail.com for more information. Ad sales are presently underway for our 2016-17 school communication folders.

PHOTO: Preparing for the Mitchell Earth Day Assembly!

Mitchell Expansion Consultation Team Forming

Dear Mitchell Teachers, PTO and SIT,

As we move forward with the Mitchell expansion, there will be additional need for input from a representative group. My hope is to form a small representative team who will help.

The known needs now include:

- Input on classroom furniture

- Input on furniture for the family resource room

- Input on interior colors

- Other needs as they arise

I am proposing the following dates to meet (BUT MEET ONLY IF NEEDED)

April 28 from 4-5 PM

May 5 from 4-5 PM

May 12 from 4-5 PM

May 19 from 4-5 PM

May 26 from 4-5 PM

June 2 from 4-5 PM

Note: as you can see I'm trying to block time out on my calendar and schedule these dates well ahead of time....we will only meet if it is needed.

If you would like to help, please let Mr. Karr know.

Student Art Exhibit

Mitchell families,

Please join me in congratulating the following students for their work being selected for the Annual Student Art Exhibit at the Ann Arbor District Library:

Kindergarten: Elliot, Daniel, June, and Jeremy
1st: Kendall
2nd: Kasia
3rd: DeAndre, Anthony, Danny, Abril, Natalia, Amir, Liam, and Yair
4th: Anthony, Rome, Mariana, Drew, Vy, Taya
5th: Mariah, Rawan

Mitchell artists' work, along with work from all the AAPS schools will be displayed on the second floor of the library (located at 343 S. Fifth St.) until May 29th. If you are able to please come by and check out all the beautiful art work!

Thank you for supporting our growing art program! -Mrs. Williams

PHOTO: Mitchell School Expansion Rendering

The general look of the @a2mitchell expansion-6 new classrooms for the future Primary Years Programme school #a2ib

PHOTO: Mitchell Expansion Update Tweet

	Kevin Karr (@A2_IB)
4/17/16, 9:57 AM Mitchell Expansion Update: walls are being built and getting ready to pour footings #a2ib #spaceavailable #enrollnow pic.twitter.com/9j0stA3VBD

IB Community Information Meeting - Mitchell School, April 27 @ 6:00 PM

International Baccalaureate schooling is coming to Ann Arbor!

Those interested in learning more about enrolling in the Ann Arbor International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate schools for the fall of 2016 are invited to an IB Community Information Meeting at Mitchell School on Wednesday, April 27 from 6:00 – 7:00 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 (grades K-5)

- The Middle Years Programme at Scarlett and Huron (grades 6 - 10)

- The Diploma Programme at Huron (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.    

Mitchell School PTO Fun Run!

The 3^rd Annual Mitchell School Fun Run will be held on May 13^th during the day here at school! Information packets have come home via backpack mail. The Fun Run is a great way to celebrate and encourage physical activity while raising money for our school. The PTO is looking for more parent volunteers to help make this a great day. Please consider volunteering! You can sign up HERE. 

Mitchell Expansion Update - Colors of New Addition

​​​​​​Dear Mitchell PTO and Staff,

Thank you for the feedback about the colors of the Mitchell phase 1 addition.

It isn't surprising I've heard a range of reactions and input around the color choice of the outside of the building.  To be perfectly clear, I am thankful and happy to receive this input.  It is helpful especially in a moment that requires a quicker decision.

The input I've received about the proposed vibrant green colors has included the following (which includes general reactions from parents and/or teachers):

- I love it.

- I wish it was a slightly darker shade of green.

- I wish it was blue.

- I like the vibrant greens but I want to understand and know more about the overall look of the building that includes phase 2 and 3.

- Vibrant greens make perfect sense for an elementary building

- I connect with the "blades of grass" idea....connects to being a World School for me.

- I like the idea of multiple colors being represented like at King School

- The pop of color is exciting, and I think the kids will love it.

- The color is good, but I think it is really about what happens in the classroom.

In response to this, I have:
1. Checked in with teachers again today to get another read on their input.  All teachers have expressed a range of positive input that includes "I love it" (which is most teachers) to "I like it" or "I am OK with it."

2. I am emailing this to the group that includes PTO parents to receive any additional feedback that was not expressed last night.  The feedback I received last night seemed about 50% "I love it" or "Looks good" and 50% "I'm fine with blades of grass but how about something darker" or "I'm thinking of multiple colors" or "I'm not in love with the green".

In making this decision (albeit with a quick turn around), I want to be clear I'm listening.  Most of what I'm hearing (especially from our teachers) is that the bright greens are exciting and will be a welcome update that connects with the change our school is going through.  It will also say our school is different and special as opposed to the current colors which say our school is a drab eye sore.

I'm also hearing that it would help to know more about what the overall look of the building would be if phase 2 and 3 were completed.  I've asked for some help from the architects with this piece.

In addition, I've also asked to see a version of the school with blues instead of greens.  I've done this to entertain the ideas, but at the same time I also know the majority of input (~85%) is saying "go green".

I also want to remind there are other opportunities for input if you'd like to give it:

- Parent resource room (colors, furniture, uses of, etc)

- Classroom furniture

- Input on phase 2 and phase 3 of the Mitchell expansion (if and when that occurs).

Thank you for any additional input.

Kevin​

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PHOTO: Groundbreaking at Mitchell School Expansion

Schools of choice means enrollment opportunities for fall 16! Call 997-1216 or check out http://IB.a2schools.org for more info. #greateducation #greatopportunity