Important Information for the 2013-2014 School Year

Mitchell Elementary Forms and Fee Day
Date: Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Location: Mitchell Gymnasium

Time: 
Last Name  A-H   12:00-1:00 or  3:00-4:00
Last Name  I-Q     1:00-2:00  or   4:00-5:00
Last Name  R-Z     2:00-3:00   or 5:00-6:00

After paying the school fee AND submitting all completed required school forms, your child(ren) will have their school picture taken.  Picture order forms will be included in the August mailing.

Classrooms will not be open.  You will be able to visit the classroom at Meet & Greet night on August 29th.

Mitchell's Meet and Greet (Parents and Students)
Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013
Location: Classrooms
Time: 5:30-6:30pm

Please bring your child's school supplies and take them to the classroom.

Information Booths will be set up from 5:30 - 7:00m by various school groups and community organizations to see all that we have to offer.

PIN... Parent Information Night (Parents Only).

Grades 5K, 1, 2 & 3
Date: September 5, 2013

Grades 4K, 4 & 5
Date: September 10, 2013

First Day of School
Tuesday, September 3, 2013

School Hours- Grades 5K - 5
8:25 AM - First Bell
8:30 AM - Tardy Bell
3:30 PM - Dismissal Bell

School Fees
4K - $50.00
5K - 5th Grade - $70.00

If you have been approved for Reduced Lunch, your child's school fees are 1/2 off (4K - $25, %k-5th - $35).  If you have been approved for Free Lunch, you child's school fees will be waived.  This information will be given to the office thru the district office.

Sodexo Fees
Breakfast - $1.30
Lunch - $1.95
Reduced Breakfast - $0.30
Reduced Lunch - $0.40

**THE SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE JULY 1ST, 2013 AND IT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE FORMS AND FEE DAY MAILING IN AUGUST.**

Clipboards

As I packed up the classroom for the summer I noticed that we were missing some clipboards. I have a feeling that during our end of the year cleanup, some students my have accidentally packed up the clipboard with their folders and notebooks. If a clipboard with 109 written on the back accidentally went home for summer, could you please drop it off in the office between 8:00 and 3:00 or just send it to school in August with your child. Thanks!

Thanks a Million!

I want to take the time to thank all of the families for their support throughout the year! The educational process is most effective when home and school work together as a team. Your support of your child's education played a big role in the successes they achieved this year. 4th Grade families, I look forward to working with you again next year. 5th Grade families, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with you over the last two years.

I wish you all a relaxing and safe summer!

-Mr. Krupar

Summer Websites

Included in report card envelopes, you will find a salmon colored sheet titled: Summer Websites. This sheet contains various websites your child can access this summer to keep their skills sharp. In addition to site addresses, you will find your child's username and password for each. Please locate this and keep it in a safe location.

Compass Learning: A site that contains educational tutorials and practice activities assigned to your child based on their MAP test results. There are both reading and math activities here.

KidBiz 3000: An online reading site that delivers daily articles at your child's reading level. In addition to articles, there are multiple choice questions and written response options. This is the same as Achieve 3000.

Khan Academy: This is an online math site that takes students through a wide array of math skills offering support and videos along the way. They should use their Google account to log in.

Google: This is their district Google account. It can be used to access Google Drive if your child wants to journal electronically. Google Drive is a great app for tablets.

Follett Shelf eBooks: Our school has purchased electronic copies of over 100 books. This is where your child can go to read these books.

BrainPop: A great place to go for quick informative videos and activities ranging from the Civil War to Photosynthesis.

Please contact me if you have any questions about these sites. Have a great summer!

Mitchell Achievement Picnic

This spring the staff at Mitchell set a challenge to all the students. If ,as a collective group, 70% or more met their spring target score on the reading and math MAP tests we would have a celebration picnic. The students at Mitchell responded in an amazing way. 80% of students hit their target in math and 73% hit their target in reading!

So tomorrow we will celebrate with an all-school picnic! A flyer went home on Friday detailing the lunch that will be provided. Lunch will consist of a hot dog on a bun, chips, beverage, and freezer pop. There will not be any other lunch choice available. If this is not something your child would like, please send a bag lunch to school with them. Thanks for your support!

5th Grade Ceremony

There has been a bit of confusion about the 5th Grade Completion Ceremony. Family members are invited to join us. We look forward to seeing you all as we bid the 5th graders a fond farewell! If you have any questions about Wednesday, please feel free to contact me. Thanks!

5th Grade Celebration

Here's the schedule for Wednesday!

​9:00 a.m.   ​5th Grade Completion Ceremony (gymnasium)

​10:00 a.m.​ Memory Booklets, Memory DVD, etc.

​11:30 a.m.         Luncheon in the field house-pizza, chips, soda, and dessert

​12:30 p.m  ​Walk to Knights of Columbus (3200 S. 103rd Street). Dress appropriately!

​1:00 p.m.​        2 games of bowling at Knights of Columbus

​3:15 p.m.   ​Return to Mitchell School

​3:30 p.m.   ​Dismissal

Inquiry Fair (By: Miles)

Inquiry fair

Hello my name is Miles. This article is going to be about the Inquiry Fair. You might want to know what I did. I did the causes of the Civil War. It was hosted by Mitchell, yeah Mitchell. It was in Ms. Dierbeck’s room

Who was involved?

You might be wondering who was involved my group. It was Ethan K., Rachel, Jamie, and me. We all made an iMovie. We did it on Ethan's iPad. Mr. Krupar my teacher was saying that the iPads were turning off. So we had to set it for 5 mins, that was the easy part. The hard part was finding the research, everything else was easy like finding your group.

What was it?

This is the obvious way of saying it - it was the Inquiry Fair. This is the detailed way. It was a fair that Mitchell School wanted to show West Allis what we learned. The topics were about Magnets, North and South Region, Solar System, and Electricity.

Why we did it.

The whole school wanted to show the community about forces, magnets, solar system, NE and SE reigns and Animals. So the school wanted to show the community that we got a lot of info.

When was it?

To be exact Thursday April 18 2013 it started at 8:45.

Where was it ?

It was at Mitchell, in Ms. Dierbeck’s room was the Civil War. The American Revolution, Slavery, and Colonization were in Mr. Krupar’s room. The rooms were full with posters, iPads, and projects. It was pretty easy with all the time and space that was in the multipurpose room (that's the lunch room).

How it happen ?

This is how it happened. Mr. Hill wanted all the teachers to get there rooms all sorted out to be ready for the Inquiry Fair. It was both easy and hard but we got through and it was pretty fun.

The Dance (By: Alison)

"What do you think this news story will be about? Let me give you some clues. I would want to say that this will be about a dance that was put on at a birthday. The birthday girl was in the dance as well. So hope you like this news story that I wrote for you!!!

On a Saturday May 4, 2013, the best dance took place at a roller skating rink at 12:30. This dance was danced by three girls named Alison, Savannah and Christina.They also did this dance for Alison with twelve other girls there too for Alison's birthday party. So then those three girls did a dance called The Birthday, Birthday, Birthday Girl. It was done in a fun voice.

They performed it in costumes and also had their hair and makeup done as well.So then they performed it. A worker, from the roller skating rink, was watching the dance as well. She said, "Wow that was really cool with all of those special moves you've had been doing in that dance! What a fantastic job of doing this dance that you all just did, it was just so amazing!”      

Can You Play? (By: Christina)

People at Mitchell school play kickball a lot. Do you want to know how to play kickball? Well, today is your lucky day because I'm going to give out free instructions (oh, and the instructions are in writing). Just thought you should know.  Do you know where we play the awesome game of kickball?

We play the kickball game outside at recess in the morning and sometimes, if we have nothing to do, we play it at safe.            

Picking Teams

There are two team captains and, yes, the  good people get picked first. Then come the rest of the people.

How to Play

There is one team in the outfield and the other team would be on the kicking side. The outfielders spread out and the pitcher pitches the ball and the kicker kicks  the ball. Then the outfielders throw the ball to the pitcher. Then the pitcher calls "time" very loudly so everyone can hear. “When the kicking team kicks, it's always fun and energetic," said  Grace. Then the pitcher keeps on pitching and pitching and pitching until the outfielders get three outs.

   Fouls and Outs

If you kick it and it goes past first base it is called a foul, or if it goes past third base, and you get to kick again. If you get three fouls you have one out and your turn is up.  Of you get three outs the outfield team goes to the kicking side and the kicking team goes to the outfield.                                                                

Interference

If  the person who is kicking kicks it funny and there are people on the sidelines and they hit the people or the people catch the ball that is going to hit them, the kicker has to re-kick and the people on base have to go back to their original base before the outfielders touch the base and get the kicker out.

That's how you play kickball!

iPads...Wonderful (By: Jonathan J.)

The iPads can be used for education. We go on Marble Math to practice fractions, measurement, and  roman numerals. Everyday, we go on KidBiz3000 to read an article and answer questions.

We go on Webster Dictionary to find differ meanings of words we do not know. We go on Google Drive to do writing, to view it on our drive, and also teachers can see it.

"It's a great learning tool, we can get more done!"said Calvin.

"It's great for the new generation!"said Emma.

"Students love iPads and they can help you learn!"

Band (By: Alex Kim)

I'm going to tell you why you start band. Band starts in fifth grade. The band teacher is Mrs. Halet. You get to chose your instrument. Band takes place every Tuesday sometimes at 8:00 but at  different times with your group. Calvin said, "I think band is fun, because you don't miss the same thing every week, like gym." It takes place on the stage. You do band to help to be prepared when you go to middle school.

MAPS Testing (By: Ethan S.)

People say MAPS testing is important. I say it's also important because MAPS testing is a test that everyone looks at. So, I thrive to do my best. We started MAPS testing on 4/29/13 and we were done by 5/17/13. They say you can take all the time you need.

The Three Little League Bros! (By: Brady)

I have Isaac and Ethan K. here with us to talk about little league and how it is going. Little league is a very fun sport if you play it right. Yes, but if you play little league you can play against your friends in your grade.

Hey, we are the little league bros. Ethan, Isaac, and I are here at school right now. It is morning, but we like to talk about the game we played.

"We play the sport because we like it," said Isaac.

We tried out and got picked on different teams. "I am on the Reds, Brady is on the Pirates, and Isaac is on the, I'm trying not to laugh, the Cubs!" said Ethan.  Ethan and I are 1-3 and Isaac is 3-1 in the first 4 games. I pitched for my first time and we won our first game on the fourth game of the season.

Little league starts in spring every year. Little league is baseball but only for kids. You are chosen because of your age level. For example, 7-8 year olds use a pitch machine, 9-10 year olds are minor league kid pitch, and 11-12 year olds are major league kid pitch. There are 18 games in a year. Little league is also a way to see your friends out of school. Playing  in little league is really fun when you have a coach that  will let play the position you want. I have fun learning  from my coaches they teach me new stuff and the good thing is I am a fast learner.

Lightning (By: Ryan)

A few years ago, about 4, a game called Lighting started. It is a really cool basketball game that people like to play. Now tons of kids like it and play it. It happens a lot at recess and sometimes in gym.

I've asked my friends who play lightning to tell me why they like it.

“I like lightning because its fun, competitive,fast,and a chance to improve.”

“It's competitive and a chance to improve on shooting,” said Nick.

“It's fun!” Brennan said.

Ethan S..said, “Its competitive fun, and you get to shoot as fast as you can.”

“I like basketball and some competition,” said Jon.

Finally, I asked Isaac and he said, “It's fun to compete with my friends and lightning and basketball are some of the most competitive sports I know.”

Even our teacher Mr. Kallie plays.

I don't know how the game started . What I do know is that it's that it's the finest game I've ever played. I've played horse, revenge, 52,and around the world. Those are all fun games , but not as fun as Lightning!!!!!!

All City Band (By: Ethan K.)

Ethan and Eli were drummers for the All City Band Concert. It was at Central High School at 6:30 P.M. The All City Band Concert happens every 3 years! Band members around the city get to play together

“It was a fun experience!” said Ethan K.

“It was fun and boss, plus we were on tv!” exclaimed Eli.

All city band was fun we did three songs for 5th grade, three for middle school, and three for high school. Finally, we played one song for all the grades. The song was Stars and Stripes Forever. It was fast paced song. The all city band was on tv Channel 13. We worked hard and long for All City Band. At the end it turned out good.

My 5th Grade Friends' Memories in Mitchell (By: Rose)

Arielle

"When I come to school I love to see my younger friends," said Arielle. She is all about little kids. She loves to help and play with them. She also has younger siblings that she likes to play with and that's how Arielle gets her talents.

Koryn

"Gym gym gym!  I love it when we go outside for gym and play kickball," said Koryn. Sometimes she'll let you win and then other times she can be competitive as the next person but that doesn't stop her from that HOME RUN!!!!!!!!

Alyssa (Lu Lu)

"Sports are my life," said Alyssa. "Pretty much every recess I go outside and play kickball,” she also added that its so fun.

Abby L.

"High Interest Day is coming up and I can't wait!" exclaimed Abby. Just wait till she starts running around to waste time so she can have more time to pick what she wants to do. I say "GOOD LUCK ABBY!"

Brenna

"I love to see my teacher Mrs..Ceel and Miss Wallin. They’re the best!" said Brenna.

Tornado Drill (By: Corbin)

On the week of the Tornado Awareness Month, we had a tornado drill. On that day, Mr. Hill spoke through his microphone: (beep, beep, beep, beep)"We are in a TORNADO WATCH, be safe. "(click). He said that to prepare us. Then seconds later, (beep, beep, beep, beep)"We are in a TORNADO WARNING!" Then the alarm sounded (weeeeeeeerrrrrrr!). Then I get all scared that a twister is going to rip through our school. That's when we went to the school basement. After a few weeerrrs, it went (click). When we were heading down, I didn't know it was an actual warning or just a drill. When we got down, the emergency lights were on, and the main lights were off, making the basement dim. When I was scared,Dena made sure I was okay. All of the classmates stood in the basement for about 5 minutes. Then the drill was over. When we got to the classroom,we continued what we were doing,and I was relieved.

Little League Bros (By: Isaac)

This year the little league season has already started. A group of six friends, are already in it the day the season started. We all have one thing in common and I know there's more but this ones the most obvious, BASEBALL!       

Little league is an association that makes sure kids can play baseball in a competitive, fun and exciting way. Games can happen at 5:30 or 7:15. If it was any earlier than it would cut into school time. If it was any later it would cut into time to sleep for school.The best part is if you don't know when you have a game than they have a schedule online. They have uniforms so you know what team you're on. So it's pretty official! The bros names are Henry, Jon, Ethan, Brett, Brady and me.

The games are at two main fields. They are called Barzack field which is the lower field and Schaff is the upper field. All of us think its a lot of fun because we love playing each other and then when we beat them we don't rub in their face, but we do gloat. It's a lot more fun when we do that. But if one of us doesn't win then, we just keep a low profile. Or just make a joke out of it. I usually make a joke out of it because everybody has to have those games when you’re not necessarily good. If you lose then as friends we give each other hard time, but in a sarcastic way!

We all play baseball because its an interest we all have. Baseball is just our favorite sport because we just love the fundamentals. I can say this now but baseball is what brought us together better as friends. That's why little league is so important!!! If little league was never an existing association then we wouldn't be as good of friends as we are today. We breath, sleep and sweat baseball all day long!

The 80's Dance (By: Brennan)

Get ready to go back in time to the 80's and celebrate! Everyone from General Mitchell Elementary is already there! Don't forget next year you can catch the ride to General Mitchell  in the 80's!

The 80's dance is where you dress up like people from the 80's. While you're there you can eat, dance, or just hang out! Oh and don't forget the games! There's a game where you have throw a ping-pong ball into a cup and win a fish! Another game is where you have to eat a bite sized doughnut hanging from a string faster than your opponent.

The 80s Dance was like totally awesome! Like everyone had awesome costumes! We  like dressed up as famous people, gangsters, and even hippies! The food was like totally awesome! They had hot dogs, chips, soda, and water! Don't forget the DAAAAANCE FLOOOOR!!!! There was different kinds of music like Pop, Country, Rock, and Jazz! Remember to catch a ride to the 80s in the special time machine! The cruiser! ( your car).

Youth Art Month (By: Nick)

Today I'm here at the School District Administration Building reporting on Youth Art Month. A place where kids show what they've made in art class. We are here with our reporter: Nick live on the scene.

A couple months ago, Youth Art Month came. It's when the district picks people from each grade's art and it goes on display. It was at the district office. The host was Ms.Landowski. My art was at the show and so were people from 3rd and 4th and 5th grade. I made a watercolor iguana. My mom and I went to the show. Even the Middle School Band showed up to play music for the people that just came! I thought it was the greatest time doing art! Now, what do you think about Youth Art Month? Do you think it's inspiring to others to see each other’s art? Like us on Facebook and twitter @ #art month.

4th and 5th Grade in One Class (By: Grace)

At General Mitchell school fourth and fifth graders are in one classroom. Together? Why? Why can't the 4th graders be in one class and 5th graders be in the other?

There are about 15 fifth graders and 15 fourth graders in one classroom. Most people like this idea, but some don't. In math, we don't stay in one class, we mix two classes together. It is the same for inquiry too. There are 4 classes like this.  

Say if a 5th grader was at a fourth grade level in a subject they could not go into a fourth grade class! In addition, some fourth graders are at a higher level. With this plan they can get the help they need! The fourth graders will have the same teacher next year in fifth grade.              

"Without the fifth graders there would not be enough fourth graders in a class," Ashley, a fourth grader, said.

This Idea is very helpful to the school. This is the second year Mitchell did this and it works very well!

All City Band (By: Eli)

I was at the All City Band Concert, I was waiting for Ethan K. to come so I could talk to him, until the concert started. I grabbed my drumsticks and my paper and started to play. When I started to play it was bad, we were on cable and my paper fell off my stand so I quickly picked up my stuff quickly and started playing the song.

After us it was 6th,7th and 8th graders, and and while they were playing Ethan K. and I were thinking of the of the song they were playing. All of the songs sounded so familiar from movies. While they were playing. I told Ethan K. to count all the stars on the American flag he opened his eyes wide and started to count them slowly. Then his eyes started to water because his eyes were dry from counting 50 stars from the American flag.

High Interest Day at Mitchell! (By: Abby L.)

Every year at General Mitchell Elementary School there's High Interest Day. It's a day where there are multiple activities to do like this year football with Central, soccer with Hale, Humane Society therapy dogs, and more. "It's fun and interesting," Savannah said.

So here at Mitchell School High Interest Day is put together by the PTA. It involves all the students and its really fun. It will be held in the month of May. It's being held so that things kids are interested in they can do it. Some activities include, arts and crafts, martial arts, and gymnastics. However we couldn't have had this event without the help of the PTA.  "We do this so the kids can have fun," saids a member from the PTA. They have raised enough money for this event for us. Even the teachers get involved too. "I like playing soccer with Mr. Krupar" said Ethan K.

Well, I got to meet up with Christina and ask her a question. "Why do you like High Interest Day?" I asked.

"It's really fun," she said. 

Remember don't forget about...... High Interest Day!!!!!!!!!

How Cadets Help the School (By: Calvin)

The cadets are a BIG help at school in many ways and it all comes back to the same thing - keeping kids safe at school. The cadets that are from Mr. Krupar's class are Isaac, Calvin, Erica, Emma, Alyssa, Abby L.,and  Megan. The cadets that are from Mrs. Ceel's class are Henry, Olivia, and Abby S. The cadets that are from Mrs. Graff's class is Jenna. We have a total of 11 cadets.

The cadets cross kids to and from school. In the afternoon,  the upper playground cadets make sure the 4k kids go to the bus line safely. We bring the barricade in in the morning and afternoon. The big thing is the cadets do a lot of stuff to keep the kids at school safe in any way possible so they don't get hurt in the morning and the afternoon. Here are some quotes from the cadets.    

Alyssa said, “We cross kids to and from school. It’s one of the big ways we help the school,”  

Isaac told me, “We watch the kids so they don't get hurt".   

Emma said, “We keep kids from getting hurt and we cross the kids".

The cadets are picked by the teachers, for good grades and behavior so they don't get others hurt. Cadets are very responsible. We get picked at the end of fourth grade and take over the job at the end of May or  beginning of June.

That is how the cadets help the school in a BIG.   We are the safest kids at school and most trusted kids.