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
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MAY, 2013
Dear Mitchell Families,
As we draw the curtains on another school year here at Mitchell, let us not forget that learning is an every moment of every day experience. School may soon be over until next August but each of us, young and old, continue to learn on a daily basis. I wish you all a very happy and safe summer. I wish you time together to be creative and have fun. The thoughts of end-of-the-year festivities, summer, and outside activities can sometimes distract us from what’s most important. Please continue to encourage your child to finish the year strong by putting forth their best effort everyday.
I would like to again thank you, our staff, our PTO and all who have made this such a great year for our whole school community. We have had many memorable events and have stored away many memories of this year, some historical – like our 50th Anniversary, others related to our curriculum, such as Family Science Night and Dr. Seuss’ Birthday. Children remember the time we give them, the priceless gift of time and the endless gift of happy memories.
On of our focuses this year, which will be carried over to next year is Attendance. Many of our students have a very good attendance record, with a few students achieving Perfect Attendance for the entire year. Unfortunately there are a number of students in our school whose attendance was very poor this year or had an excessive number of tardies. We will continue to recognize students that have Perfect Attendance – no absences, no tardies and no early pick-ups – each month. Please help us achieve the goal of better attendance next year.
I would like to wish our fifth graders the best of luck in middle school. I know they will represent Mitchell Elementary School well, no matter what school they attend in the fall. We will all miss their energy, spirit, and leadership.
Parents often 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 May/June 2013 issue will be out soon and spotlights summer opportunities. Most importantly, don’t forget to just spend time reading and writing with your children this summer. Take them to the library, buy them notebooks to record their thoughts or journal during family vacations, and encourage them to read, read, read, and then to read some more.
Please be sure to keep an eye on our marquee and the Mitchell website (www.aps.edu/aps/mitchell/index.html) for important dates and other information regarding next school year.
I know there are many families that will be saying goodbye to Mitchell this year, as students move onto middle school. We wish you great success in the future. For those families that will be returning, I look forward to seeing you and your children this fall, full of energy and ready for a brand new school year. I wish you all a relaxing summer.
Debbie Garrison
Principal
New Mexico Standards-Based Assessment – "The Test"
Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 will be taking the New
Mexico Standards Based Assessment beginning Tuesday, March 19th. We hope
to complete the testing and any make-ups by Thursday, March 28th. Our
3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will be testing for approximately three
hours each morning, beginning at 7:50 a.m.
We need the support of our families in order for our students to do
their best. You can help by ensuring that your students are rested, have
had breakfast and are
Keep Correct and Updated
contact information (i.e. address, working home/cell/work numbers for all parents and emergency contacts) on file, in order to ensure that you can be contacted if necessary.Click here for the GREAT news about the 2012 Graduation Rates
Click here for a short Video about the 2012 Graduation Rates
Click here for Important Attendance Information
Help Your Kids Do Well in School This Year
Studies show that kids whose parents are involved in their education have better grades, a better attitude toward school, and more appropriate school behavior than those with less involved parents.
Show your interest in school by monitoring assignments. Check your child’s binder and/or agenda daily, and look over completed work.
Help your child get organized.
Read to your child, have him read to you, or read silently together every day.
Keep in contact with your child’s teacher and work together for your child’s success.
If your child should become ill or get injured at school,
requiring the health room to call you, please respond
promptly. It is not fair to your child, the health room
staff, or the rest of the school for your sick or injured
child to spend hours waiting for you.
TARDIES
Please work to get your child to school on time. Did you know that every day more than 20 kids are late to class? Did you know that last year more than 2% of our students were habitually late? Let’s work together to improve that statistic. Make sure your child arrives on campus with enough time to get to class by 7:40 a.m. Thanks!