Principal's Message

Ms. Debbie Garrison

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Dear Parents,

 

Every year a Quality of Education Parent Survey is sent out to our parent community in the spring.  Last year’s survey results are as follows:

                                                                                                 Percentage that agreed

Statement                                                                                        or strongly agreed

1. My child is safe in school.                                                                                                    90.8%

2. My child’s school building is in good repair and has sufficient

space to support quality education.                                                                                             88.9%  

3. My child’s school holds high expectations for academic achievement.                                  93.9%

4. School personnel encourage me to participate in my child’s education.                                 93.2%

5. The school offers adequate access to up-to-date computers & technologies.                          80.4%

6. School staff maintains consistent discipline which is conducive to learning.                          92.1%

7. My child has an adequate choice of school-sponsored extracurricular activities.                    68.7%

8. My child’s teacher provides sufficient and appropriate information regarding

his academic progress.                                                                                                                95.7%

9. The school staff employs various instructional methods & strategies to meet his needs.         88.3%  

10. My child takes responsibility for his learning.                                                                    92.6%

11. I prefer this survey be available on-line through the internet.                                              46.4%

12. APS goals for high achievement, low dropout, and better business practices result

in improvements that benefit education                                                                                        69.3%

13. APS provides sufficient opportunity for parent engagement and communication.                84.6%

14. Over the last year I have seen improvements in my school that benefit my child.                71.2%

15. I support the board decision to make money flexible so schools and their

communities can decide how to best use the funds.                                                                     87.7%

                   .

 

Parents feel that Mitchell teachers provide sufficient information regarding student progress.  They also believe that students are held to high expectations by the school. Many think they are encouraged to participate in their child’s education. Parents also appear pleased with the consistency of school discipline and feel it is conducive to

learning. Parent perception is that our students take responsibility for their learning. A large majority is of the opinion that their children are safe at school.

 

Aside from the fact that our respondents preferred not to have the survey be available on-line, our lowest percentage score dealt with school-sponsored extracurricular activities.  It is an area that we as a school have also felt we should augment. In addition, fewer parents feel they have seen school improvements in the past year that benefit their children. In fact, they appear to feel less sure that APS goals are benefiting education.

 

The results of this survey will provide useful data as our leadership team works to establish future goals and objectives for Mitchell Elementary.  We have also kept the comments that were written in the survey by parents who wanted to include more specific information.  Thank you for the time and effort you took to respond to the survey. We will put it to good use.

 

Raquel Reedy

Principal

 

 

May, 2008

 

Dear Parents,      
We have about three weeks left of school, and we ask for your help in keeping our students on task.  Even though vacation is just around the corner, we still have some important learning left to do!    We often have parents ask how they can help their students stay involved in learning over the summer months.  There are a number of activities available, and many of them are free or low-cost.  The New Mexico Kids! Family Magazine is an excellent resource, and can be found at local grocery stores and restaurants.   The local Library has many free programs; their Summer Reading Club Kick-off Party will be held Saturday, May 31st, 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM at four local libraries.  You can find more information at www.cabq.gov/library/src2.html. Most importantly, don’t forget to just spend time reading and writing with your children this summer.  Let them take the lead in the topics they wish to explore with you.  Take them to the library, buy them notebooks to record their thoughts, and encourage them to read, read, read.

Thank you to our dedicated and loving staff for helping our children learn, grow, and mature not only in academics but also as good citizens.  Thank you to our PTO for working so hard to make our school the best elementary school in Albuquerque. And finally, I want to thank each and every family for helping to make this year such a success for our children.

Please be sure to keep an eye on our new marquee (Thanks, PTO!) and the Mitchell website (www.aps.edu/aps/mitchell/index.html) for important dates and other information regarding next school year.

For those families leaving Mitchell, good luck in your future endeavors.  For those who will be returning, I look forward to seeing your children this fall, full of energy and ready for a brand new school year.  I hope you have a relaxing summer.

Debbie Garrison
Principal

 

Homework Hints

  • Assume that your children will have studying to do every night.

  • Ask your children if they understand their homework. If they do not, work a few examples together.

  • Ask your children to show you their homework after the teacher returns it, to learn where they're having trouble and where they're doing well. See if your children did the work correctly.

  • Stay in touch with your children's teachers. Ask about their classes and what they are studying. Ask their teachers how you can support what they are studying (flash cards, spelling, etc.).

  • Remember, you and their teachers want the same thing — to help your children learn.

  • Don't be afraid to get in touch with the teacher if you and your child don't understand an assignment or if your child is having a great deal of trouble. Almost all parents run into these problems, and teachers are glad to help.

  • Don't do your children's work for them. Help them learn how to do it themselves.

  • Show your children that you think homework is important. If you are at work during homework time, ask to see their work when you get home.

  • Praise your children for doing well. Make praise a habit.

  • Maintain a portfolio of "best pieces."

  • Ask your school about tips or guides for helping your children develop good study habits.

  • Help older students organize their assignments by recording them on calendars or planners, along with due dates, dates turned in, etc.