VIDEO: Mitchell After School Music Program - Michigan Artist Citizen

PHOTO: Michigan Artist Citizens Performance

We had a great turnout for our 5th grade music performance!

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Tweet by Kevin Karr on Twitter

	Kevin Karr (@A2_IB)
12/17/15, 9:07 AM The classroom news from Mrs. Schmidt's class @a2mitchell because parent communication matters  #a2ib

PHOTO: Packed House For First Grade Sun, Moon, Stars Performance

Great job to our first grade students on a wonderful performance this evening. You learned so much!!!

Thanks to Mrs. Deshpande and Mrs. Sanmiguel for the dedication and excellence!

Mitchell School Used Book Give Away

During the week of December 14, all Mitchell School students will have the opportunity to choose a free book to add to their at home reading libraries. It is important that students continue to read during the winter break. After your child reads his or her book some questions you might ask your child are, "What was the problem in the story?" "How was the problem solved?" and/or "What did you learn from the book?"

Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron Recognized for Academic Excellence - Open Enrollment For 2015-16

Dear Current and Prospective Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron Families, 

We are pleased to share exciting news about the continuing improvements at Mitchell Elementary School, Scarlett Middle School and Huron High School. 

International Baccalaureate
First and foremost, Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron are working to become International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools. You probably know this already. If you do not, more information can be found at http://ib.a2schools.org. ​Becoming IB schools is important because it help us take the next step in becoming even more effective teaching and learning environments. 

While the IB website has a lot of helpful information, we would like to answer any questions you have about IB. Please ask us – or ask a teacher. We want to help! 

Excellence at Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron
Mitchell, Scarlett, and Huron High School have recently been recognized as excellent schools in Michigan by a school rankings website called Niche (h​ttp://k12.niche.com)​. 

● Mitchell was ranked 198 ​out of 1463 elementary schools in Michigan (top 14%)

●  Scarlett was ranked 43 ​out of over 700 middle schools in Michigan (top7%) 

●  And Huron High School, where Scarlett students will typically go to high school, was the 5​th ranked high school in Michigan (top 1%).

While we know our families understand the excellence of our schools, it is pleasant to see this recognized outside of our immediate community as well. The Niche ranking system takes into account test scores, experiences of students and families, and other factors. The methodology used by Niche is listed on their website. 

Learner Profile
The IB Learner Profile is connected to our work to become IB schools, and it represents the way we talk about learning from now on. For example, learners try to be I​NQUIRERS, KNOWLEDGEABLE, COMMUNICATORS, PRINCIPLED, OPEN­-MINDED, CARING, RISK­-TAKERS, BALANCED, and REFLECTIVE.
We want parents and their children to talk about learning at home using the same words we use at school:

• ●  Read the IB Learner Profile
  
• ●  Use the IB Learner Profile words when talking about learning and how to learn at home
  
• ●  Put your copy of the IB Learner Profile on your refrigerator so you can refer to it later.
  

Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron Open Enrollment
Families from Ann Arbor and from Washtenaw County can enroll in at Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron for the 2015­-16 school year.  The transfer window for current Ann Arbor Public Schools families will open in late March 2015, and the Schools of Choice window for Washtenaw County residents to enroll is April 20 - May 19, 2015.  If you have questions or want to visit Mitchell, Scarlett or Huron, please email or call us.

We are looking forward to the future working with you and your child to make Mitchell and Scarlett the best schools they can be. If you have questions please call or email. 

Sincerely,
Kevin Karr 
Principal
Mitchell Elementary School
karrk@aaps.k12.mi.us
7349971216

Gerald Vazquez 
Principal
Scarlett Middle School
vazquez@aaps.k12.mi.us
7349971220 

Jennifer Hein
Principal
Huron High School
hein@aaps.k12.mi.us
7349942040

Mitchell School Homework Diner featured on AAPS News

Our exceptional new Mitchell School Homework Diner was recently featured on the AAPS News . . .

Check it out at:
http://news.a2schools.org/homework-diner-strengthens-teacher-parent-bonds/

International Baccalaureate - Learner Profile

As you know Mitchell School is working toward becoming an International Baccalaureate World School. Part of this process involves the IB Learner Profile. You might be wondering, "What is the IB Learner Profile?" The IB Learner Profile is a set of words that describe good learning behavior. Students who demonstrate the Learner Profile are better able to learn than others. You might even post it on your refrigerator!! We will also send it home in backpack mail soon. 

VIDEO: Michigan Makers at Mitchell School

For the second year at Mitchell School, we are happy to partner with the UM School of Information to offer Michigan Makers.  So far over 100 Mitchell students have participated in this after-school enrichment class for students to learn and experience STEM related curriculum connections.

Please check out the video below showcasing Michigan Makers.

Kindergarten Round Up at Mitchell School – 2/24 @ 6:30 PM - Enroll at Future IB School Now

We are excited to announce that Kindergarten Round Up at Mitchell School will be on February 24, 2015 from 6:30 – 7:30 PM.  Children who turn five on or before September 1, 2015 are eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2015-16 school year.  Children who turn five between September 2 and December 1, 2015 are eligible to enroll if parents wish for them to enroll early AND they fill out a kindergarten waiver form.

Mitchell School will be the only school in Washtenaw County to become an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme school.  Our work has started and will extend the excellence Mitchell is known for.  Families who live in Ann Arbor or in Washtenaw County are eligible to enroll.  Click here for more information.

At the round up presentation, we'll share information about the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme and important information about preparing for the kindergarten year including registration information and information about the kindergarten curriculum. 

Please bring your child as we'll have an activity for them in the kindergarten classrooms with the teachers.

If your child falls into the eligible age range, please do two things now:

1. Call the Mitchell School office at 997-1216 to give your child's information. This will let us know to expect you for the presentation.

2. Put Kindergarten Round Up on your calendar. It will be held in the multipurpose room at Mitchell.

Also, if you know of a family who will have a kindergarten aged child for next year, please share this information with them. We'd love to get to know them.

If you have questions or if you would like to schedule a separate meeting with us, please call the school office at 997-1216.

Sincerely,

Kevin Karr
Principal

Matt Hilton
Assistant Principal

Mitchell Participates In Academic Games Michigan State Tournament - First Time Ever

Congratulations to the following Mitchell students who plan to participate in the Michigan League of Academic Games state tournament in early March:
Anna Tuinukuafe
Braden Vibber
Jevon Wilson
Kevin Payne

Ted Lee

Our Mitchell students will participate with hundreds of other students from across the state in the following academically oriented games:  Equations, Set Theory, Presidents and Propaganda.

A very, very special thanks to King School parent Vivian Lin for her leadership and coaching of our Mitchell team. 

You Are Invited: Video Premiere Night @ Mitchell - The Coolest School on Earth

Dear Mitchell School Community and Friends (including the International Baccalaureate Teacher Leadership and Advisory Groups),

Please join us for:
"Mitchell is the Coolest School on Earth!" Video Premiere Night
Thursday, January 29, 2015, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Mitchell Elementary School Multipurpose Room

In connection with writing goals ofthe Mitchell School Improvement Plan, the 4th graders at Mitchell Elementary School, working with the University of Michigan School of Education ELMAC teaching interns, have created Mitchell School promotional videos. Join us to see how 4th graders learned to write persuasively and create videos that reveal what they love about Mitchell school.

We think you'll find this event enjoyable and informative in understanding why Mitchell School is the "Coolest School on Earth!"

Questions? Please e-mail Dr. Cathy Reischl from the School of Education (creischl@umich.edu) or 4th grade teachers Beth McCready
(mccreade@aaps.k12.mi.us) and Bernard Bell (bellca@aaps.k12.mi.us).

More at:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3FLenwvd2mDUnpiNFFGMWhqVEJKQXhZY2hlcGdfUVhNNjVB/view?usp=sharing

Happy Thanksgiving!

As we begin the Thanksgiving break, I want to express thanks and gratitude for the strengths of the Mitchell School community and families:

- We have exceptional teachers who work very hard to bring excellence to all of our work at Mitchell, but especially our school improvement plan
- We are very lucky to be the only school in Ann Arbor to partner with the UM School of Education and all of their expertise and support
- Our families are caring, hard working, resourceful and supportive of our work to educate our children
- We work with the very best students in Ann Arbor....really. 

- And last, we are beginning work to bring the very best teaching and learning practices in the world to Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron....it is called International Baccalaureate schooling, and I believe it will be an important part of your child's educational future in Ann Arbor.  You can find out more at: http://a2-ib.blogspot.com/p/home.html.

Most of all, thank you for your support of the work at Mitchell School, the coolest school in the world.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,
Kevin

World Language Takes off at Mitchell School

As a part of our work to become an International Baccalaureate school, we now offer world languages at Mitchell. In the video below you'll immediately notice the power of this new initiative as a native Spanish speaker leads a choral reading of a Spanish language book the class has written together.  It is a great example of how students from around the world have strengths that enhance learning.  Wow!

Direct link to video:
http://bit.ly/1rfQ5k8

PHOTO: Wild Swan Theater Visits Mitchell School

Thank you to Mike and Annemarie Savistski for sponsoring today's Frog and Toad production in connection to the first grade Friends and Neighbors unit of inquiry.  Students explored, asked questions and wrote about friends and neighbors from around the world.

World Languages Now A Part Of Curriculum At Mitchell

Dear Mitchell Families,

In connection to the Ann Arbor Public Schools work to bring the best school offerings and educational practices to students in Ann Arbor – like Mitchell working to become an International Baccalaureate school – I am excited to share that all students at Mitchell are now learning a second language. 

Kindergarten through second grade students are learning Spanish.  For third through fifth grade, students began the year learning Arabic and are now learning Spanish.  In not too long, students in third through fifth grade will make a choice about which language to continue studying this year.  Please know that these choices on language will continue to exist for students as they move through Scarlett Middle School and Huron High School.  This means students who continue with the same second language have the opportunity to reach a high level of proficiency. 

One question I've been asked is why was Arabic chosen as the other world language to offer at Mitchell after Spanish.  This answer is that Arabic is the second most spoken world language at Mitchell – after Spanish – so it connects to our community.

Please join me in recognizing this important development at Mitchell.  It offers students learning opportunities never before available at our school.

If you have questions, please call, email me, or stop by.

Sincerely, 

Kevin Karr

Mitchell School Achievement Increases Recognized - No Longer Focus School!

Dear Mitchell School Parents, Guardians and Staff,

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has released Scorecards and Top-to-Bottom rankings of the state's public schools based on the results of 2013-14 standardized tests. The State of Michigan uses the scores from these tests to determine whether a school is meeting Michigan School Proficiency Targets and where it ranks in the "Top to Bottom" list of schools based on their performance.

As a result of their ranking, schools may receive the designation of Reward, Focus or Priority school. Reward and Priority labels deal with schools ranked in the top or bottom 5 percent of all schools in the state. Reward schools are in the top 5% of the top-to-bottom ranking. Priority schools are in the bottom 5% of the top-to-bottom ranking.  

However, the Focus label compares the school to itself. Essentially the highest performing students are compared to the lowest performing students within a single school building to determine an inner-school achievement gap. A Focus school label does not necessarily imply low achievement for a school as a whole.

We are extremely pleased to share that Mitchell School is no longer considered a Focus School by the Michigan Department of Education due to the hard work and achievement of students, faculty and administration as measure by the 2013-14 MEAP assessment.

We couldn't be more proud!  

This accomplishment is the direct result of sustained attention on achievement, high expectations, thoughtful school improvement planning and excellent classroom instruction. The many benefits gained from the Mitchell/ Scarlett School Partnership with the University of Michigan School contributed to this excellence, as well.  

Parents, thank you for your tremendous partnership in the achievement success of your child. 

Congratulations, Mitchell School!!!

Sincerely, 

Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, Superintendent, and

Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley, Assistant Superintendent for K-12 Instruction 

Cc/Kevin Karr, Principal

Matt Hilton, Interim Principal

Mitchell Family Literacy Fund - GOAL Achieved!

On October 18, 2013, Mitchell School announced the Mitchell School Literacy Fund initiative as a way to support of achievement at Mitchell and the literacy goals in the Mitchell School Improvement Plan.  Our goal was to raise $50,000 in order to create a permanent endowment to provide free books and family literacy events.  

Today I am so happy to share that our initial goal for the Mitchell Family Literacy Fund has been achieved . . . $50,000+!  We'll use the earnings from the endowment to fund book purchases for students to read during the summer months or when they are away from school.

It is with great pleasure I thank the following friends of Mitchell School for their support and donations:

• Akers Foundation
• Suzan Asbahi
• Shirley Axon
• Deana Barch
• Gary and Shelley Bruder
• Daniel Byk
• James and Edna Mae Caris
• Dan Chapman
• Carol Charles
• Columbia Asset Management, LLC
• Marie T. Craven
• Nell Duke
• Mary Anne Drew
• Donald P. Eckber
• Rich Ferdman
• Kevin Flattery
• Gerson Geltner
• Wendell W. Heers
• Norman G. Herbert
• Kevin and Stephanie Karr
• Jean Karr
• Randall Karr
• Blair Kohan
• Roberta Knox
• Brad Levin
• Jay J. Levin
• Keith and Lindsay Lieberthal
• Literacy, Language and Learning Institute
• Jewish Community Foundation - Elana Spitzberg Family Foundation
• David and Louise Lutton
• Mitchell School PTO
• Arnold Moore
• Rishi Moudgil
• Robin E. McGregor
• Teresa McMahon
• Sandra and Ken Michalik
• Charles Newman
• Jan Barney Newman
• Amy Schlecht Pachera
• William Phillips
• Henry Pollack
• Gui and Cecelia Ponce de Leon
• Anne Reader
• Catherine H. Reischl
• Michael and Kathy Sanders
• Manfred Schmidt
• Schwab Charitable Fund - Gardner-Pokempner
• Christine M. Stead
• Douglas L. Strong
• Jeffry Weisman

Sincerely,

Kevin Karr

El Sistema Performs at UM Stamps Auditorium

The final El Sistema concert of the year occurred the evening of April 23, 2014 at the Stamps Auditorium on the north campus of the University of Michigan.  Please check out the video where your can hear the students performing while being accompanied by Mitchell teacher Dan Tolly and UM teacher Horacio Contreras Espinoza.

Mary D. Mitchell Recognized As Most Diverse School In Michigan

Mitchell School was recognized this week as the most diverse school in Michigan by publicschoolreview.com!

While we've always known Mitchell has extraordinary rich ethnic and cultural diversity, I didn't know the school would qualify as the most diverse in the state.  This is great news!  Diversity at Mitchell School is one of our great strengths.  This is a moment celebrate and embrace as we continue our work to achieve ongoing excellence at Mitchell.

Note: The way in which this designation was achieved is explained in the following text from publicschoolreview.com which refers to how their "diversity score" was determined:  "The chance that two students selected at random would be members of a different ethnic group. Scored from 0 to 1, a diversity score closer to 1 indicates a more diverse student body."

More at:

http://www.publicschoolreview.com/diversity-rankings/national-data#!states