Mitchell Mustang News

This year, we have the option to translate all of the Mitchell Mustang News weekly communication through S’More. Click here for instructions on how to translate.

Email: mit_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us

Website: https://mitchell.a2schools.org/
Location: 3550 Pittsview Dr. Ann Arbor, MI. 48108
Phone: 734-997-1216

• Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - Last day of school for preschool

• Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony 6:00 PM @ Scarlett Middle School

• Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - 5th Grade Clap Out @ 11:15- 11:30 AM

• Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - Last Day of School, Half Day - Dismissal begins at 11:30 AM

• Wednesday, June 11, 2025 - Report Cards & NWEA Reports Emailed Home

• Thursday, June 12, 2025 - Dine to Donate at Buddy’s Pizza

Hello, Mitchell Community,

Wowza! What a busy but fun week with your children! I am amazed at how quickly the days are going by. Our last day of school is this coming Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Dismissal will begin at 11:30 AM.

I am excited for our Mitchell students to go "summer shopping" at Mitchell on Monday! Please read below about the summer resources that are available to your child and how they can benefit your family!

Summer Resources

We are excited to share about the backpack full of books and resources that your student will be bringing home for summer on Monday afternoon! The bundle of materials that your student will bring home contains both English Language Arts and Mathematics focused items. Our Title 1 funding gave us the opportunity to prepare a selection of materials to support your student’s continued learning over the summer, which includes a variety of books that your student personally “shopped” for and selected. We know that summer reading is a proven, effective way to set students up for success in the new school year. According to current research, we understand that the key to reading success is engaging with books that match students’ interests and reading levels. In addition to books and resources to support reading and writing, students also received materials focused on mathematics. Inside the backpack, you will see a list of included items. Additionally, you will see that the bundle includes a bookmark with a QR code linked to a form that you are encouraged to complete with your child for every book read. Students who complete the form will receive a surprise in the fall and we are excited to celebrate all the summer reading and traveling through books.

Complete Enrollment

Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year have been sent out! Please make sure you complete your enrollment documents early as this helps us to finalize class placements and to determine if we need additional staffing in the fall. Emails to complete the enrollment come from the following email address - noreplyenrollment@powerschool.com

Please look for this email and complete your enrollment as soon as possible. Ms. Dumas, our office professional will process your enrollment from there! If you cannot find your enrollment email, please reach out to her! She can work her magic to get it sent out again. Please call (734)997-1216 and ask for her.

Have a lovely weekend!

Warmest Regards,

Samantha Cucu

Principal, Mitchell Elementary

New Updates found in the Smore Newsletter:

• New Mitchell Update - June (New Playground Fencing on June 12)
• AAPS Geothermal Demonstrations at Mitchell
• Fifth Grade Clap Out Information
• Celebrate 5th graders with a Sign! Signs are going up! See the fence for examples!
• Meet Up to Eat Up! Summer Food Locations @ Mitchell!
• Community Resources and Supports - Updated! Summer EBT Information

If you would like to view previous messages or current messages in a PDF format from the family newsletter, you may view those here: Google Drive Folder.

Come and celebrate our 5th graders on the last day of school! Mitchell students will line our halls and we will whoop, holler, cheer, and clap for our 5th grade students. Fifth graders will then exit the main building near the exit nearest the Art Room and the sidewalk that leads to the playground. At this location 5th grade parents may greet their 5th grade students and congratulate them with cheers, hugs, and high-fives. Expect for 5th grade students to exit at or around 11:25-11:30 AM

See the map below for a better idea of the location where students will exit.

All other students will be dismissed at 11:30 AM to their pick up locations

Families are invited to hang signs in celebration of our fifth grade students beginning Thursday, June 5, 2025. This yearly tradition to celbrate our fifth grade students is a bright and cheery way to celbrate their accomplishments. These signs may be hung on the fence as you enter the Mitchell parking lot/driveline loop.

All signs must be removed by 2:00 PM on June 11, 2025.

Signs that are not removed will not be saved.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for children. Free meals will be made available to children 18 years of age and under or persons up to age 26 who are enrolled in an educational program for the mentally or physically disabled that is recognized by a State or local public educational agency. The meals will be provided without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service. Meals will be provided at the site(s) listed below:

Mitchell Elementary School 3550 Pittsview Dr. Ann Arbor

6/23-7/18, M-F, Breakfast 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM Lunch 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

Allen Elementary School 2560 Towner Blvd Ann Arbor

6/30-7/31, M-Th, Breakfast 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Lunch 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Abbot Elementary 2670 Sequoia Pkwy Ann Arbor

6/23-8/1, M-F, No Breakfast, Lunch 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

ALL SITES NO SERVICE ON JULY 4TH, 2025

We're excited to continue to offer the College Mentors for Kids program to our Mitchell Students!

This free afterschool initiative pairs each child with a trained college student mentor, offering weekly hands-on activities with themes such as higher education and careers, culture and diversity, and community service.

We had 35 students participate this past year in grades first through fifth grade. We are looking to enroll 40 students for this coming year!

For more details and to enroll online, please visit College Mentors for Kids. or https://collegementors.org/

Reminder of Previous Communication:

• The current geothermal drilling at Mitchell Elementary is approximately 30% complete as of 5/30/2024. Work will be progressing from East to West, putting distance between work and the subdivision to the East, which will ease some sound levels. Once the vertical drilling is completed (estimated by August 1), there will be an anticipated reduction in volume as the project continues to the next stage.
• Drilling crews typically operate from 7am to 7pm Monday through Saturday, within the City of Ann Arbor Noise Ordinance.

• Temporary fencing will be installed June 12th, weather permitting, to support the playground equipment that will be relocated (see image below).
• New equipment to be installed and completed by mid July.

Please note:

• Arrival drop off and dismissal pick up locations will remain the same. Relocated walkways will be identified with signs on site to direct foot traffic.
• Construction parking and construction access drives are for construction personnel only and to ensure safety, staff and parents should refrain from using construction parking and/or drives.
• Emails will continue to be sent, to provide updates on campus activities.

This new elementary school is made possible by Bond and Sinking Funds. Ann Arbor Public Schools wishes to thank the Community for the continued support of the Capital Program Bond and Sinking Funds.

AAPS Capital Program’s objective is to transform the student learning experience with the goal of providing for the health, safety, and well-being of all students in high-quality, equitable, and environmentally sustainable schools.

Please visit the Capital Program website www.A2SchoolsBond.org to learn more. To receive email updates on AAPS Capital Program projects, please sign up here.

FREE Academic Support Opportunities

View an updated list of free Academic support resources available to AAPS students and families at

a2schools.org/students-families/community-resources/academic-support

Looking for Low Cost camps, activities, scholarships and resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY).

New Program for African American Youth living in 48197 and 48198 zip codes

Starting Tues, Dec 10th: Parenting Through Separation and Divorce Virtual Workshop
This FREE online workshop helps parents understand their children's needs and behaviors when going through a separation or divorce. Fulfills court requirement. View Flier Here. Register Here. 2025 Dates: January 1, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8

Fill Your Prescription at Packard Health’s Carpenter Road Location

Packard Health’s Carpenter Road Clinic Pharmacy is open for prescriptions! View promotional fliers here: English Spanish

Children, Teen and Family Programs at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor

Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor Offers support groups for children and teens as well as adults. Learn more here: https://www.cancersupportannarbor.org/programs/

Looking for more resources for Health or Medical Needs? Please visit a2schools.org/students-families/community-resources/medical-and-health-needs

Virtual Support Group for Spanish-Speaking Mothers

The Women's Center of Southeast Michigan is offering a virtual support group Thursday mornings from 10:30 AM- 12:00 PM. Fliers with additional information and registration: English and Spanish

Flyershttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gMLsMh9NjNeCE6F3pKuNxoKZxWO5Sd3h?usp=sharing

Summer EBT Program for Food

• The Summer EBT (SunBucks) program gives $120 in food benefits to eligible families during summer. Learn more here: michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/food/summer-ebt

• Am I eligible for Summer EBT? Check to see here: bit.ly/MI-SEBT-eligibilitychecker

• SunBucks Information for Families (with translations).

Free home repair services through the Washtenaw County Home Improvement Program.

• Low income homeowners and renters may qualify for free repairs including furnace repairs and tune-ups, insulation and air-sealing and refrigerator replacement.

• Learn more here: washtenaw.org/2923/Home-Improvement-Programs

Housing Support

First-Generation Down Payment Assistance Program

• Becoming a homeowner isn’t easy, especially if no one in your family has owned a home before. That’s why MSHDA’s First-Generation Down Payment Assistance Program is here to help.

• This limited-time pilot program offers up to $25,000 to first-generation homebuyers to cover down payment, closing costs, and prepaid escrows.

• Available statewide, it’s designed to make homeownership more accessible and set families up for long-term success.

• Learn more here Down Payment Assistance Program MSHDA

Free food Pantry, Ypsilanti
every 3rd Saturday of each month at Berea city of hope -1070 McCartney Ave, Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48198 from 11am to 2pm Remember the earlier the better to receive what you need. Please register here Flier. Many more food options are available at a2schools.org/students-families/community-resources/food

Basic Needs

Ypsilanti Area - Love Ypsi Diaper Pantry
Provides supplemental baby diapers and wipes to families in need. Every 2nd Saturday of each month from 10am-1pm at Faith Lutheran Church – 1255 E Forest Ave – Ypsilanti.

Housing Help

Help with Housing for Justice-Impacted Families

If someone in your family has been in jail, prison, or has been affected by the police and you have a housing choice voucher, you might be able to get help with housing through the Rising Hope Program. Learn more here: Rising Hope for Housing

Utility Help

Support Through DTE

Having trouble paying your DTE Bill? You may qualify for assistance through the Low Income Self Sufficiency Program. Learn more here: Low Income Self Sufficiency Program.

Other Utility Bill Support

Need more help paying your utility bills? Please visit this page other community resources: a2schools.org/students-families/community-resources/utility-assistance

In the Ann Arbor Public Schools, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued devices. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the Internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports.

Click here to see Mitchell Bus Routes

AAPS is currently working with the Durham Transportation team to finalize all bus routes. We will share the updated bus routes, pick-up, and drop-off times as soon as we have access to them.

Please note that they will also be listed on the district website: AAPS Transportation

Every summer, AAPS reviews bus routes to comply with Board Policy 3760- Transportation: following the 1.5-mile walk zone for the safety and efficiency of district operations.

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is again encouraging parents to use the My Bus Stop Arrival APP.

My Bus Stop Arrival APP: My Stop is a free desktop and mobile app that provides parents access to bus route information, such as a child’s assigned bus and location, and updates on the estimated time of arrival at the bus stop. My Stop allows parents and students to plan for late or on-time arrival and prevent missed pick-ups. We are aware of a 1–2-minute lag that may occur as the bus route information is being processed and transmitted to the app through the GPS system. We continue to work with My Stop to improve this issue.

Please still have your student at their bus stop 10 minutes before the posted arrival time.

Instructions on setting up My Stop from the app store and My Stop FAQs are below.

• How To Use My Stop
• My Stop FAQs

MyStop Instruction Translations

MyStop Instruction Translations

Arabic My Stop Instructions

Chinese MyStop Instructions

Japanese MyStop Instructions

Korean MyStop Instructions

Spanish MyStop Instructions

AAPS works closely with the City of Ann Arbor to make walking and biking route improvements following the Safe Routes to School initiatives.

AAPS strives to not only provide safe busing but to also reflect the commitment by AAPS to the Safe Routes to School initiatives as well as sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint.

This a reminder that school-of-choice families are responsible for transporting students to school. At this time, AAPS will not permit school-of-choice students to ride on school buses.

Again this year, the Michigan Legislature has approved a bill allowing all Michigan students to receive free breakfast and lunch at school. As part of our participation in this program, it is necessary for EVERY family to fill out what has previously been known as the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Even if your family does not qualify for Free/Reduced lunch and even if you do not plan on having your child eat school provided lunch or breakfast, it is crucial that every family fill out this form. Below is a link to a letter with more information and directions for completing this application.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/17bdafb6UMmPr-OkSKDSNpKggjwomen9UhWw_KeXOIss/edit?usp=sharing

The hyperlink to the Educational Benefits Form can be found here - https://www.a2schools.org/departments/food-service/ebt-and-ebf-forms-for-all-families

Please note that students are not required to eat school provided meals and can continue to bring lunch from home if your family prefers. Also, while complete school breakfasts and lunches include milk, if your child only chooses milk and not a meal, there is a charge for milk served a-la-carte.

Information about the Special Diet Program:

Our Special Diets Program can accommodate a variety of dietary needs. This includes, but is not limited to, food allergies (e.g., gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, etc.) and other medical conditions that may require special dietary needs(e.g., diabetes, sensory sensitivities, celiac disease, etc.).

We prepare and provide meals for a variety of special diets in an allergen-friendly kitchen. Following their preparation, the meals are distributed to each student’s school weekly for the kitchen staff to reheat and serve. The kitchen staff will have a list of which students are enrolled in the program at their school and will have the meals prepared, however they may need assistance in identifying each student. Parents have been encouraged to have their child introduce themself to kitchen staff.

Accommodations and Enrollment:

Our Special Diets Program can accommodate various dietary needs that are supported by a completed USDA Special Dietary Statement (SDS) which is attached to this email, as well as being available on our website and in our kitchens. This statement must include signatures from both a parent/guardian and a medical professional. This required documentation must be submitted to the district dietitian at aaps_dietary_requests@aaps.k12.mi.us so that an individualized meal plan can be developed prior to serving any meals to the student.

While we strive to meet the highest standards of food safety and dietary accommodation, there are limitations to what we can provide. The program cannot accommodate religious requests or dietary preferences- more specific information regarding this can be found on the USDA Special Diet Statement. This program also cannot accommodate any requests without a completed and signed Special Dietary Statement.

Additionally, we are not able to provide absolute guarantees of zero cross-contact with allergens, as we are not able to offer a 100% allergen-free kitchen environment.

Important Note:

On-site staff is NOT permitted to accommodate special diets under any circumstances without communication and permission from the district dietitian. This measure is in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.

For any questions or concerns, please contact me directly:

Sarah Mason

Nutrition Director, Dietitian

Ann Arbor Public Schools

734-460-1994

masons@aaps.k12.mi.us

MDE Dietary Needs Request Form