Mustang Messenger for Parents

The mission of Mitchell Road Elementary School is to educate all students in a safe, inclusive learning environment while challenging them to be lifelong learners, prepared for their future as compassionate, respectful, and self-disciplined citizens.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our first ever MRES Art Show! We loved having artwork from every one of our students on display. If you did not get a chance to join us, you can still order your child's artwork online at THIS LINK. The online gallery will close today!

Parents, it is almost time for one of our biggest events of the year! We hope you will join us for our PTA Glow Party this Thursday, April 24 from 5:30-7:00pm. For this party to be a success, we need the support of parent volunteers. Please consider signing up HERE to help out. Remember, parents must stay on site for the event so consider helping out while you are with us. We look forward to the fun!

We are excited to welcome our incoming kindergarten students and parents into the building to learn all things MRES! We need you to help us spread the word. Please share the flyer above and this Google RSVP Form to any rising K5 parent.

Back to School Vaccine Clinics

The South Carolina Department of Public Health is hosting four vaccination clinics at the Greenville County Health Department. The clinics are appointment only. Please share the flyers linked below.
Link: English Flyer | Spanish Flyer Contact: Janet Lage, 355-3171

Hurricane Helene Makeup Days

The Board of Trustees voted to forgive 3 instructional days missed due to Hurricane Helene. In accordance with state law, the State Department of Education is requiring districts to make up 3 of the days missed during Hurricane Helene, which would then allow our local school board to excuse 3 days and the State Board of Education to excuse 3 days. The district’s plan for addressing the 8 missed days from Hurricane Helene is as follows:

• 3 Makeup Self-paced eLearning Days (Friday, March 14; Friday, April 18; and Saturday, May 10, 2025)
• 3 Days Forgiven by GCS Board of Trustees (approved)
• Up to 3 Days Forgiven by SC State Board of Education (pending approval in April)

Greenville County Schools will make up three days missed from Hurricane Helene using self-paced, asynchronous (no live instruction) eLearning on the following days: Friday, March 14; Friday, April 18; and Saturday, May 10. Students and teachers will not need to be online for these makeup days; teachers will provide students with assignments that can be completed within five school days upon return to school. Details about how self-paced, asynchronous eLearning will be conducted, the complete plan for making up days, and other FAQs can be found on the Greenville County Schools website.

Future Teachers Scholarship

Established by the Greenville County Schools Foundation, the scholarship provides financial support to GCS students pursuing careers in education. You can help support this program. Your gift will go to students entering the education profession and can be made in honor or memory of an educator. Your contribution helps aspiring teachers achieve their dreams and ensures a strong future for our schools. Links: GCS Foundation Website | Scholarship Flyer Contact: Whitney Hanna, 355-8871

Cinderella Project & Prince Charming: SC Bar Young Lawyers Division is offering free Prom Outfits

SC Bar Young Lawyers Division will host the annual Cinderella Project and Prince Charming shopping experience. They will offer new and used dresses, suits, accessories and more! All items are available at no charge to high school students. To enter the boutique, students must bring their student ID. Limit one dress per student. Please share this flyer with students who could benefit from this opportunity. Link: Greenville Boutique Flyers Contact: Anne Lee Buck, 864-355-3144

GCS Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame nominations can be made in one of two categories: Graduates or Educators. Please read the selection criteria and determine which nomination form is appropriate for the nominee. 2025 nominations are open until May 1. Link: Submit a Nomination Contact: Whitney Hanna, 355-0821

Evolv System at the Elementary Level

Parents and Guardians,

Greenville County Schools is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all students. To enhance safety measures, we will begin utilizing the Evolv Weapons Detection System at our elementary schools, similar to the process already in place at middle and high schools.

Students in grades 3-5 will participate in random screenings using the Evolv system, which will be worked into the school day with minimal disruption to the schedule. While only students in grades 3-5 will participate in random screenings at this time, there may be times in which all grades are screened if necessary. Before the screenings begin, we want you to have the opportunity to preview this video, which schools will share with students to familiarize them with the process.YouTube’s captioning function can assist with language translation.

Since the 2022-23 school year, the Evolv system has been used on a random, rotating basis around the district during the school day and at events. The system uses algorithm technology and cameras to detect concealed weapons, and multiple students can walk through it at the same time, at a normal pace. The system is a more current and superior technology compared to traditional metal detectors. Learn more at the Safety and Security page of the GCS website.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your school’s principal or the district’s Infoline at 864-355-3100 or infoline@greenville.k12.sc.us.

Back to School Vaccine Clinics

The South Carolina Department of Public Health is hosting four vaccination clinics at the Greenville County Health Department. The clinics are appointment only. Please share the flyers linked below.

Link: English Flyer | Spanish Flyer Contact: Elizabeth Kinard, S.C. Department of Public Health

Register for Special Education Forums and View Survey Results

Parents and Guardians,

As we previously shared, Greenville County Schools is undergoing a review of special education services called the Shared Ownership Strategic Review Process. As a parent or guardian of a GCS student with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), your input is critical. You’re invited to provide feedback at upcoming forums and to review the responses to the recent parent survey. Please see the details below, and all of the following information is available on the GCS Shared Ownership Review webpage. Thank you for your time and input!

Forum Dates & Registration

There are several options for parents and the public, both in-person and virtually, as outlined below. Responses from the recent parent/guardian survey are being used to develop topics and questions for discussion at the forums.

PARENT Forums – These four forums are reserved for only parents/guardians of GCS students with an IEP. Each parent/guardian’s name must be in the district’s student database as a parent or guardian to participate. This helps ensure confidentiality as required by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If unable to attend one of these, parents/guardians may attend one of the public forums.

• Registration must be completed by April 24 using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScNCWGA4aJgnV3M0cXlqRLwa9MlTX6ia5rES2LS-PZOcd6mYA/viewform

• In-person forums are 5:30 - 8 p.m., with pizza and drinks available from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m. There is a structured agenda so please plan to attend the entire session; this is not a drop-in format. There is no child care provided during the forums.

• Monday, April 28 – Berea High (201 Burdine Drive, Greenville)

• Tuesday, April 29 – Ralph Chandler Middle (4231 Fork Shoals Road, Simpsonville)

• Tuesday, May 6 – Blue Ridge High (2151 Fews Chapel Road, Greer)

• Wednesday, May 7 – Mauldin High (701 E. Butler Road, Mauldin)

PUBLIC Forums – Two forums (one in-person and one virtual) are open to anyone, including parents of GCS students without an IEP and the general public.

• Registration must be completed by April 24 using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeySpy0VwCArQx1Tj8QUn4Jvlk_WhlwnWBAjOl7-bSfCMEaVQ/viewform

• In-person Public Forum:

• Tuesday, May 13 – MT Anderson Support Center (100 Blassingame Road, Greenville)

• From 5:30 - 8 p.m., with pizza and drinks available from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.

• There is a structured agenda so please plan to attend the entire session; this is not a drop-in format. There is no child care provided during the forums.

• Virtual Public Forum:

• Tuesday, May 13 – Online from 12-1:30 p.m.

• After registering online, a link will be emailed to participants.

For questions, please email kamalone@greenville.k12.sc.us or jwarren@greenville.k12.sc.us, or call 355-3100.

Parent Survey Responses

Parents/guardians of students who have an IEP were invited to participate in a survey. There were 1,859 responses logged, which included 1,760 unique responses from those who self-identified as parents or guardians and met the criteria for the survey. This equates to a response rate of approximately 15%, which is in line with generally acceptable response rates in the field of research. The district has been committed to a transparent process, and the responses are available on the district website. There are two documents that they can view on the Shared Ownership Review webpage:

• Summaries of Close-ended Responses – Duplicate responses and responses from anyone who was not a parent or guardian of a student with an IEP were removed from these.

• All Open-ended Responses Redacted – All responses are included, and any personally identifiable information, including student, teacher, parent, and school names, has been removed in order to protect the privacy of respondents.

Your input is critical to the success of this process. Thank you for your time and feedback. See more details HERE.

• Mitchell Road provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.

• Breakfast is from 7:00-7:45am each day.
• At the 7:35am bell, the cafeteria switches to bagged breakfasts to help get students to class on time.
• If parents would like to join students for breakfast or lunch, please sign in at the front office with your ID. Parents cannot walk with students to class after eating. All parents must say goodbye at the cafeteria door and sign back out at the main office.
• If students would like to purchase additional servings or snacks, they must have money on their lunch accounts. You can do this by sending in cash or check to the cafeteria or by adding money to the student's account on MySchoolBucks.
• Meal prices for adults this year will be $3.10 for breakfast and $5.27 for lunch.
  

• The weekly newsletter can be translated to a variety of languages. Please click the "Translate" button on the top right side and select your language.
  
• El boletín semanal se puede traducir a una variedad de idiomas. Haga clic en el botón "Traducir" en la parte superior derecha y seleccione su idioma.
• Please be sure any transportation changes are sent to the teacher, in writing the day of the change. We cannot accept these over the phone.
  
• No early dismissals will be allowed after 1:45pm.
• Dismissal begins at 2:15pm. If you are not here by 2:35pm, you will need to go to the office with your driver's license or car tag to sign your student out.

April

24: Glow Party from 5:00-7:00pm in the gym (1 dollar cash admission for students and parents MUST stay)

25: SIC Meeting at 7:00am in conference room

29: SC Ready ELA Writing State testing for third grade

May

1: SC Ready ELA Reading Day 1 State testing for third grade

2: SC Ready ELA Reading Day 2 State testing for third grade

2: PTA selling Chick-fil-a biscuits in car rider lines while supplies last (5 dollars cash per biscuit)

5: Mustang Monday!

6: SC Ready ELA Writing State testing for fourth and fifth grades

7: Second grade Mother's Day Tea event (see details from homeroom teacher)

8: SC Ready Reading Day 1 State testing for fourth and fifth grades

9: SC Ready Reading Day 2 State testing for fourth and fifth grades

10: Asynchronous eLearning makeup day

13: SC Ready Math State testing for third, fourth, and fifth grades

14: SC Ready Science State testing four fourth grade

12: Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night at Pelham Road from 4:00-8:00pm

14: Field Day for self-contained special education classes

15: Field Day for grades pre-K, K, 1, and 2

15: Senior Clap Out (details to come)

16: SIC Meeting at 7:00am in conference room

16: Field Day for grades 3, 4, and 5

20: K5 program (see details from homeroom teacher)

21: Awards Day for first, second, third, and fourth grades (details to come)

21: Fifth Grade Day (details to come)

22: Clapout event for fifth graders at 8:15am (before awards)

22: Awards Day for fifth grade at 8:30am

22: Half Day Dismissal for Students at 11:45am

23: Last Day of School! Half Day Dismissal for Students at 11:45am

We know it is important for you to see a glimpse of our school day, even when you cannot be here with us. Please follow us on social media at the following accounts:

• Facebook: Mitchell Road Elementary School
• Instagram: mitchellroadelementary
• Twitter: mitchell_road

Email: jholman@greenville.k12.sc.us
Website: https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/mitchell/
Location: 4124 East North Street, Greenville, SC, USA
Phone: (864) 355-6700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mitchell-Road-Elementary-School/100050881973460/
Twitter: @mitchell_road