School Bells: Survey data posted on Mitchell-Scarlett partnership

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Casey Hans

Survey data from the Mitchell-Scarlett Partnership Survey is now available on the school district’s website. Visit this link to see raw data, including comments from those taking the survey, as well as past information regarding the partnership.

The district is creating the K-8 campus between Mitchell Elementary School and Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor through a partnership between the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the University of Michigan School of Education.

After reviewing survey data, Ann Arbor Public Schools officials determined that the district would move forward with the partnership for the 2011-12 school year, but would not reconsider a balanced calendar until the 2013-14 school year.

The decision was made in order to put a system in place for measuring and evaluating teacher performance in the program and to introduce enrichment intersessions for students during school breaks. A number of enrichment activities are planned for the inaugural 2011 school year for interested families.

For more coverage:
Plans for fall start continuing
Ann Arbor, U-M eye partnership for K-8 campus

King Elementary Silent Auction and Science Night is April 29

King School hosts its annual Silent Auction and Science Night on Friday, April 29 from 5:30-8 p.m. with the theme of “Our State – Our School.”

This kid-friendly,family event is a fundraiser for PTO sponsored programs such as academic workshops, Math Olympiad, Academic Games and field trips.

The free admission silent auction features more than 300 items including travel packages throughout the county and Carribean, jewelry, several cases of select and collectible wines, U-M sports tickets (men’s hockey, basketball and football), 15 local “date night” packages with dinner/theater offerings and new this year: 14 Northern Michigan destination packages with opportunities to parasail the Mackinac Straits, tour the Soo Locks, kayak the Indian River and visit wineries near Traverse City,all packaged with free hotel and restaurant offerings.

Dinner will be an International Buffet from local restaurants for $8 in advance; $10 at the door. Entertainment includes 2 Magic Shows and face painting.

Science Night hosts the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Included are more than 12 interactive science tables ready for exploring minds.

For more information and to reserve a dinner spot, contact: King.silent.auction@gmail.com or call (734) 417-7129.

Logan hosting silent auction to benefit Harold Logan Fund

Logan Elementary School is offering its first “Annual Silent Auction” to benefit the Harold Logan Fund, the community fund that provides assistance to families in need.

“During these difficult times it’s important, as a school community, that we support each other,” organizers say on their auction site. “This auction is a great way to ensure that all of our students have the opportunity to have warm coats, eye glasses, school supplies, and field trips and continue to excel in a positive learning environment.”

The auction is now open and will close at 8 p.m., Friday, April 29. Anyone can support the effort by bidding on an item at www.loganelementaryauction.weebly.com Find instructions for bidding under the “Rules” tab and find the auction items under the tab “Auction Items” in the roll down menu.” Included are categories of food/dining, salon/spa, fitness, jewelry/art, entertainment, books/DVDs, educational professional development an home goods.

WISD Board selects the district’s next superintendent

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District Board of Education has named Scott Menzel to be the district’s next superintendent.

Menzel is the superintendent of the Livingston Educational Service Agency, the intermediate school district serving Livingston County. He received his bachelor’s degree in religion from Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., his master’s degree in philosophy and social policy from the American University in Washington, D.C. and is completing work on his doctorate from Eastern Michigan University.

He will begin his superintendent duties by July 1, 2011, conditioned upon completion of the employment requirements for WISD and the State of Michigan.

In addition to unanimously naming Menzel as its new superintendent, the board on April 25 appointed a subcommittee of two to develop an employment contract to bring back to the full Board for approval at a subsequent meeting.

Menzel will replace William Miller who retired. Interim Superintendent Rick Leyshock will continue in his position until Menzel can join the district.

Mitchell-Scarlett balanced calendar to be reconsidered for 2013-14

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Casey Hans

Plans continue for partnership with U-M School of Education

From AAPSNews Service

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is moving ahead with plans for a K-8 partnership between Mitchell Elementary, Scarlett Middle School and the University of Michigan School of Education this fall, but will wait and reconsider a balanced calendar for the 2013-14 school year.

The decision was made after a parent opinion survey was conducted asking about such a calendar, which would be a nontraditional school year with extended breaks and a shortened summer break.

The committee surveyed parents at Scarlett and feeder elementary schools of Mitchell, Allen, Carpenter and Pittsfield. The survey was available online, in printed format and was also translated into Spanish. A total of 360 persons responded to the survey.

“It is with some measure of disappointment that we arrive at this recommendation but all involved feel it is the most responsible position to take at this time,” Interim Deputy Superintendent for Instruction Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley said.

She said the decision will not stop the partnership from moving forward with enrichments and other instructional innovations in place and planned for next fall.

It remains the committee’s desire to see a balanced calendar implemented in the future.

Most Mitchell and Scarlett respondents said they would stay if a balanced calendar was implemented, but other feeder elementary respondents said, as a whole, they would not want to stay because of family scheduling conflicts. Feeder elementary respondents also said they did not want to participate in pilot intersession enrichments as they are offered in 2011-12.

Committee members said was clear from the responses that there must be choices for parents who would not participate in a school program with a balanced calendar in the future, including a way to opt out.

Mitchell-Scarlett partnership plans for fall start continuing

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Casey Hans

By Casey Hans
AAPSNews Service

Plans for a new K-8 partnership between Mitchell Elementary, Scarlett Middle School and the University of Michigan School of Education are moving ahead, with a number of community committees meeting and staff activities leading up to the change that will take place this fall.

“All of us are very committed to doing it,” said Kathy Scarnecchia, who recently moved into the post of interim administrative liaison for the partnership from her role as principal at Mitchell. “The ideas are flowing like a fountain.”

A balanced calendar option originally proposed the fall will not be implemented for the 2011-12 year. It was tabled for further study and is still being looked at for the future. A recently completed parent survey about the balanced calendar is also being studied and will be reported out in the coming weeks.

The partnership does not yet have a name, but the communities will be part of selecting that, she said.

Scarnecchia said planning for the K-8 campus is going well. Principals at both schools have met both in groups and one-on-one with teachers to discuss the upcoming change and to determine who is interested in being part of the new campus. “The staff has a good sense of what is happening,” she said.

“We really, really want to have a (K-8) culture – the same experience for children whatever their age,” she added.

Scarnecchia and Scarlett Principal Gerald Vazquez presented an update to the Board of Education Planning Committee on Thursday, March 24, and are on the agenda this week to present to the board’s Performance Committee.

During this school year, five Mitchell-Scarlett partnership projects have been undertaken between the AAPS staff and members of the U-M School of Education (both staff and interns) including: the Mitchell Mighty Mustangs math project, an ESL literacy professional development, a middle school math assessment and a “managing to teach” unit. U-M has also conducted professional development days on the topic of mentoring at both Mitchell and Scarlett this winter.

Other projects being pursued between U-M interns and AAPS staff include a literacy partnership at Scarlett, a Mitchell Mighty Mustangs Art & Literacy after-school initiative and a Scarlett Middle School Summer ESL and Content Enrichment program that will be conducted in July.

Being planned for the 2011-12 school year are pilot enrichments during school breaks, called inter-sessions, that may be offered to families as early as August, Scarnecchia said. These will give parents a flavor of what types of activities the inter-sessions can offer, she added.

The partnership’s organizing committee surveyed parents Mitchell and Scarlett and at Scarlett’s feeder elementary schools this month to determine public opinion about the balanced calendar option – that would possibly extend the school year.

Those survey results are in, are being analyzed and will be brought back to the school board at a future meeting, Vazquez and Scarnecchia said.

In the online survey which took feedback through March 18, parents were asked a variety of questions, including: the advantages and disadvantages of such a calendar; whether current Mitchell and Scarlett parents would continue to attend school there under a balanced calendar; whether Carpenter, Allen and Pittsfield parents would enroll at Scarlett under a balanced calendar; and their preferences involving an “opt out” choice. The survey also asked whether parents and families would take advantage of inter-sessions during school breaks.

Scarnecchia said the team still considers the balanced calendar important, but that they are committed to beginning the process this fall without it. “It was always the intention to pursue the (balanced) calendar, but with study,” Scarnecchia added. “We’re open to rolling it out at the (school) board’s direction.”

Vazquez and Scarnecchia told members they are encouraged with the planning to date and have been working closely with the Ann Arbor Education Association to allow teachers who wish to opt out for other schools and invite teachers who would like to be part of the new educational approach to apply.

Some of those staffing changes are already under way and an information workshop for teachers drew 25 interested parties to see what is being planned for the fall, Vazquez said.

School Trustee Christine Stead, who chairs the board Planning Committee, told staff that it would be important for them to put measurements in place to assess the program. Interim Deputy Superintendent for Instruction LeeAnn Dickinson-Kelley said those measures were being pursued and would be in place as the program begins.

School Bells: Skyline leader named top high school principal in state

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Casey Hans

The Michigan Association of Secondary Principals has named Skyline High School Principal Sulura Jackson the group’s 2010-11 High School Principal of the Year.

Sulura Jackson, principal at Skyline High School

Jackson is dedicated to furthering education and maintaining the “Skyline Difference,” said information from the MASSP about the award, which is also sponsored by MetLife.

Jackson came to Ann Arbor in 2005 to serve as principal and help design the program for Skyline, the district’s newest high school which opened in 2008. The new 1,600-student high school of the future features a traditional comprehensive program as well as four magnet components.

During her time at Skyline, Jackson has diligently worked to foster relationships among teachers, parents and students alike and helped to launch the PTSO and further both staff and student development.

“Skyline’s vibrant PTSO was promoted and developed by Ms. Jackson’s effective communication with parents from long before the school opened its doors,” said Sara Duvall, lead for media and technology at Skyline who nominated her. “She is simply the most accomplished and dedicated principal with whom any of us have had the privilege to work.”

In addition to being honored as the state’s High School Principal of the Year, Jackson will also represent Michigan at the 2011 MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals National Principal of the Year program in Washington, D.C.

“Sulura has a vision for her school and community and works to deliver it,” said Ron Reed, MASSP president and Milan High School Principal. “She has built Skyline from the ground up, and has brought new ideas to the Ann Arbor community. It is a school of promise, and Sulura is the architect.”

The faculty of Skyline and the Skyline PTSO is hosting a reception to celebrate Jackson on Wednesday, Feb. 9 from 4-6 p.m. in the Skyline Library on the school’s third floor. The MASSP award presentation is set to occur before the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education that evening at 7 p.m. at the Ann Arbor District Library’s downtown branch, 4th floor.

Scarnecchia takes on liaison role for partnership

Kathy Scarnecchia has taken on the role coordinating the Mitchell-Scarlett partnership project and Edward Broom will become the interim principal at Mitchell.

Mitchell Elementary School Principal Kathy Scarnecchia is the new interim administrative liaison for the a proposed partnership between Mitchell, Scarlett Middle School and the University of Michigan School of Education. She took on the role beginning second semester.

She will be the key contact to work with U-M education students and staffs at Mitchell and Scarlett Middle School and U-M School of Education in preparing logistics and planning for the new K-8 Mitchell-Scarlett campus project that is proposed to begin next fall.

Organizers of the plan had proposed a balanced school calendar year, but that portion of the proposal will not be implemented in 2011-12 so it can receive further study.

Documents involving the Mitchell-Scarlett partnership can be found on the district’s website.
Scarlett Assistant Principal Edward Broom will take over as interim Principal at Mitchell and Scarlett teacher Jaye Peterson will serve in Broom’s role at Scarlett.

Pioneer Juniors sell cookie-grams for fundraiser

Juniors from Pioneer High School are selling Cookie-Grams for Valentine’s Day, as a fundraiser to support the class’s community service efforts.

Order a Valentine’s Cookie-Gram for a favorite Pioneer student, faculty or staff person for $4. A festively wrapped package of heart-shaped cookies (from Great Harvest Bread), along with a card will be delivered on Valentines Day. Mail orders to: Jane Burton, Pioneer High School, 601 W. Stadium Blvd, AA 48103 or call 734-994-2128.

Forsythe Science Fair is Sunday, Feb. 13

The Forsythe Science Fair Open House is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. with an awards ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. The event is the largest single school science fair in the state of Michigan and has more than 200 entries each year and features projects of experiments, models and collections by Forsythe Middle School students. Details can be found here.

The event is free and open to the public. Forsythe is at 1655 Newport Road, Ann Arbor.

Projects can be one of two types:

Experiments, where students design a project to answer a question based on a hypothesis, decide on variables, gather and interpret data, write an experimental report and make a display or
Models and Collections which could be a demonstration, a model with a detailed explanation (for example, a river watershed), or a researched description of how something works (for example, solar power, a guitar amplifier, a deadbolt lock).

Orchestra Night at Hill Auditorium is Feb. 15

Orchestra Night, a free event showcasing some 800 Ann Arbor Public Schools secondary music students, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Hill Auditorium on the University of Michigan campus. Admission is free and open to the public.

This gala concert showcases the orchestras of all six Ann Arbor middle schools plus Skyline, Huron. and Pioneer high schools. The annual event features the string department.

Four special guests for the evening include:

Christopher Kendall will conduct the Pioneer orchestras.
Retired Ann Arbor Public Schools teacher and director E. Daniel Long will guest conduct the Skyline and Slauson orchestras.
Ann Arbor Symphony cellist Sarah Cleveland will coach the Huron, Forsythe, Ann Arbor Open and Forsythe orchestras.
University of Michigan string education professor Dr. Michael Hopkins will coach the Tappan and Clague orchestras.

The Huron Symphony Orchestra will perform the second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” and excerpts from Moussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” The Pioneer Symphony Orchestra will perform Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide” and “Danzon No. 2” by Marquez.

Hill Auditorium is at 825 N. University, Ann Arbor. Details: 734-994-2314.

Bright halls: Volunteers ‘Paint for Kids’ at Carpenter and Mitchell

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Casey Hans

Gene Firn, a volunteer painting contractor, works alongside community volunteers at Mitchell Elementary School on Dec. 28

By Casey Hans
AAPSNews Service

Two local painting contractors volunteered their time to the Ann Arbor Public Schools and pulled together community members to paint hallways at Mitchell and Carpenter elementary schools over the December school break.

Both schools participated in the first “Paint for Kids” days, put together by painting contractors Gene Firn and Bill Champion. Firn supervised volunteers at Mitchell Elementary and Champion did the same at Carpenter.

In a pilot effort that they hope will develop into a volunteer program in other Ann Arbor schools, the two coordinated painting at both Mitchell and Carpenter elementary schools on Dec. 28-29, working on the school’s entry hallways and beyond.

Parents John and Sarah McCallum cut in upper walls at Mitchell Elementary School on Dec. 28, where they were taking part in "Paint for Kids."

At Mitchell on Tuesday, a volunteer crew of about 10 was moving along quickly on their allotted projec – prepping and painting the main entry hall, and another along a wing of classrooms.

Bethany Villarreal was busy rolling. The 2006 Huron High School graduate and neighborhood resident said she came by to help after getting a link on her Facebook feed. “I heard about it and came over,” she said.

Parents John and Sarah McCallum came as a team, with Sarah saying she had long thought the school needed sprucing up. They bought and donated pizza for the team. “When I saw this project, I thought ‘put your money where your mouth is’,” said the PTO co-vice president. “It will be fresh when the kids come back.”

Mitchell PTO President Nancy Neff said the project was “long overdue. I wish we had the opportunity to do this a couple of years ago. This is a good start.”

Mitchell Principal Kathy Scarnecchia said she was pleased with the effort. “People have called their friends and said ‘get out here’,” she said. “There’s a lot of energy. It’s wonderful. I love the teamwork.”

A similar-sized crew could be found at Carpenter, where Principal Ron Collins wielded a paintbrush along with volunteers. “It’s great fun to see all of these people come out and share their time and talent with us,” Collins said, adding that he would welcome another volunteer painting effort at winter break.

Parent Kevin Eullister’s son is in his last year at Carpenter, and he was “just looking for something to do” during break. “I figured I’ll do something for the school before he leaves,” Eullister added.

Gilbert Vaknin, a parent at Carpenter Elementary School, works on painting hallways Dec. 29 as part of "Paint for Kids."

Gilbert Vaknin, whose son is in the first grade, came for the second workday on Wednesday. He said his older son, now at Community High, also attended school at Carpenter, so the family is connected. “We feel a part of the community,” he said.

Annette Ferguson, the school district’s business partnership coordinator and also a Carpenter parent, was caulking and priming the walls in preparation for paint. “It’s a wonderful way to build community, to bring businesses, families and schools together,” she said.

Firn said he and Champion hope to continue the pilot program during both the winter and spring breaks and may expand next year to include more schools if there is interest. “How many (schools) will depend on how many painting contractors we can recruit to each take on a particular school,” Firn said.

Carpenter parent Jane Sierra, left, and Julie Walstra, who works in the Ann Arbor Public Schools ITD Department, volunteer their time painting halls at Carpenter Elementary School on Dec. 29.

The school district provided the paint and Anderson Paint Co., Home Depot and Lowes provided discounts. Anderson Paint also has agreed to recruit other contractors for the volunteer effort if it is done during future breaks, Firn said. As part of the Mitchell and Carpenter projects, the professionals shared painting techniques to participants in additional to sprucing up the schools.

The idea for Paint for Kids came to Firn after he began teaching a “Do-It-Yourself Painting Instructors” class through the Community Education and Recreation Department this year. Mitchell volunteered a couple of class walls as a teaching area.

Firn, who lives in the neighborhood nearby, said he thought the walls could use some sprucing up and “I thought, why don’t we start this volunteer program?” He approached Mitchell Principal Kathy Scarnecchia, whom he had gotten to know during the Rec & Ed class.

They met with Randy Trent, executive director of physical properties for the Ann Arbor district, to get approval for the pilot. District maintenance staff washed and prepped the walls for the crews. “We thought we’d start with the hallway,” Firn said. “It has a normal-sized ceiling and it’s a visible area for the school.”

Champion said he hoped that volunteers viewed the event as a fun, community day that “will be a blast for them and help them take care of their school.”

E-mail Gene Firn at or visit his website at www.genefirncustompainting.com

Casey Hans writes and edits this newsletter for the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Reach her at hansc@aaps.k12.mi.us or call 734-994-2090.

Volunteer painters sought for Mitchell, Carpenter over break

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Casey Hans

From AAPSNews Service

Two local painting contractors who volunteer their time to the Ann Arbor Public Schools are looking for community help to paint the hallways at Mitchell and Carpenter elementary schools over the holiday break.

Both schools are looking for volunteer painters as part of the schools’ “Paint for Kids” days on Tuesday and Tuesday Dec. 28 and Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Painting contractors Gene Firn and Bill Champion are leading the volunteer effort and are looking for parents to volunteer by the end of the day Friday, Dec. 17 so that the projects can go forward.

Anyone from the community interested in volunteering their time painting can contact Mitchell at 734-997-1216 or Carpenter at 734-997-1214.

Planning continues for K-8 Mitchell-Scarlett partnership

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Casey Hans

Balanced calendar year will get more study

From AAPSNews Service

Planning for a proposed Ann Arbor Public Schools K-8 campus on the east side will move ahead, but a balanced school year calendar will not be implemented in 2011-12.

The Ann Arbor Board of Education heard a formal presentation on Dec. 8 about the proposed campus at Mitchell Elementary and Scarlett Middle School, a partnership between the University of Michigan School of Education and the school district which could bring a balanced school year calendar and enrichment activities for students.

Board committees had received interim reports on the plan, but this was the first presentation to the full board. Two parent forums were held this fall at Mitchell and Scarlett, raising questions by parents and prompting the district to extend its planning time.

The project planning committee originally hoped to launch the full partnership project in the 2011-12 school year, but members said last week they had decided against implementing a balanced calendar year in 2011. A district message to that effect was sent to parents of Scarlett Middle School students as well as its feeder elementary schools of Mitchell, Carpenter, Allen and Pittsfield.

Interim Deputy Superintendent for Instruction Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley said the enrichment portion of the partnership would move ahead, but within a traditional school calendar. She said the hope is to have planned enrichment programs, called “inter-sessions” in place by February of 2012 to pilot so the community would have a better understanding of them.

Mitchell Elementary School Principal Kathy Scarnecchia told the school board that the Mitchell-Scarlett campus was selected for the project because an achievement gap persists there and because both schools serve a comparatively large proportion of ethnically and economically diverse populations. Such a setting would provide a rich array of opportunities for beginning teachers, she said.

The district will survey parents in January and host additional parent forums, as needed, to gather more feedback on the project. The community will also be invited into the extended planning process.

Officials have also said the geographic proximity of the two schools also played a role in the selection.

Members of the Ann Arbor Board of Education voiced support for the proposed partnership last week and said they looked forward to hearing more about it as plans progress. Parent comments were mixed, with some concerned about the balanced calendar and how it might affect families with students at different schools and others saying they were looking forward to the opportunities such a calendar would bring.

If adopted, the balanced calendar would include extended school breaks – allowing for either family time or school enrichments – and a shorter, six-week summer recess with school starting in early August and ending in late June.

Some parents asked the district to consider an “opt in” or “opt out” policy as it would relate to any future calendar change. Others have suggested the district consider such a K-8 campus as a “school of choice” similar to Ann Arbor Open @ Mack.

Dickinson-Kelley said many of the issues raised by parents were being taken into account. She said the district would survey parents in January and host additional parent forums, as needed, to gather more feedback on the project. The community will also be invited into the extended planning process.

School board members suggested that all parents in the district be surveyed so that the level of interest in the project and the balanced calendar could be gauged.

Officials stressed that plans for a K-8 campus did not include transporting students between middle school and elementary school campuses, but noted that the K-8 approach would address the teaching partnership between AAPS teachers and U-M teaching interns and staff.

AAPS administrators involved with planning for the K-8 Mitchell-Scarlett Partnership include: Interim Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley; Interim Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Ruth Williams; Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools Joyce Hunter; Scarlett Middle School Principal Gerald Vazquez; Scarlett Middle School Assistant Principal Edward Broom; and Mitchell Elementary School Principal Kathy Scarnecchia.

Members of the planning committee representing the U-M School of Education include: Associate Dean for Research Elizabeth Moje; Clinical Associate Professor of Education Cathy Reischl; Clinical Associate Professor of Education Tim Boerst; lecturer Debi Khasnabis; and graduate student assistant Melissa Stull.

Mighty mathematics at Mitchell: U-M Interns join after-school program

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Balanced Calendar

The planning committee for the K-8 Mitchell-Scarlett Partnership with the University of Michigan School of Education will take an additional year to plan and study the program, piloting some enrichment partnership activities but using a traditional calendar for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 school year. A “balanced calendar” is still being considered beyond 2011-12. Here are the basics being considered:
• Approximately 6 weeks of summer break, including all of July.
• School would start in early August and end in late June.
• One or two week “inter-sessions” offered in fall, winter, and spring, aligning with or adjacent to times on the regular district calendar. Inter-sessions would be additional days for children and families who choose to participate.
• It woud have the same school curriculum and same number of official school days as other AAPS schools on a traditional calendar.

About Inter-sessions

Some students regress during summer break, requiring time to be taken for re-teaching at school start-up. The inter-sessions are designed to counter the effects of this “summer slide.” Research on extending school time suggests that well-designed, extended school year programs can support student learning, especially for students at risk.
• One- or two-week inter-sessions” would be offered in the fall, winter, and spring. Children could either take vacation during these times or choose to participate in academic and enrichment activities taught by teachers, U-M faculty and teacher interns.
• Possible topics: academic enrichment activities through study of literacy and math, special science or social studies topics, the arts and humanities, physical education and other explorations. There would be opportunities to link to resources on the U-M campus.
Source: Ann Arbor Public Schools, Dec. 8, 2010 presentation to the Board of Education

School board to hear partnership presentation Dec. 8

Posted on December 1, 2010 by Casey Hans

Discussion continues about Mitchell-Scarlett K-8 campus

From AAPSNews Service

Feedback from November community information sessions involving the proposed Mitchell-Scarlett K-8 campus and partnership with the University of Michigan has been posted at the Ann Arbor Public Schools website in advance of the Dec. 8 school board meeting where a report is scheduled to be presented.

Links to the information can be found on both the front page of the website (http://a2schools.org) and on the front page of the “especially for parents” portion of the site.

Click here to access PDF downloads of the Parent Forum Presentation, Parent Forum Notes and Feedback Form Comments.

Plans are being explored to create a K-8 campus between Mitchell Elementary School and Scarlett Middle School in Ann Arbor through a partnership between the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the University of Michigan School of Education. A balanced school year calendar is being considered that could include a shorter summer break and “inter-session” breaks for academic enrichment or vacations at intervals throughout the year.

To date, two parents forums have been held to offer basic information on the partnership and encourage discussion in small groups to generate ideas and raise pertinent questions. In addition to being posted online, feedback from the forums will be reported at the Dec. 8 Board of Education meeting.

Ann Arbor, U-M eye partnership for campus at Mitchell and Scarlett

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Casey Hans

UPDATE: Parent information meeting to discuss the proposed Mitchell/Scarlett/UM Partnership begins at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18. A spaghetti dinner that was originally scheduled with this event has been postponed to allow more time for discussion about the project.

UPDATE: DEC. 8, 2010 from AAPS Board of Education meeting – Planning for a proposed Ann Arbor Public Schools K-8 campus on the east side will move ahead, but a balanced school year calendar will not be implemented in 2011-12.

Several team members who have done preliminary planning for the Ann Arbor Public Schools and University of Michigan partnership at Mitchell Elementary and Scarlett Middle schools (from left): Ed Broom Jr., Kathy Scarnecchia and Gerald Vazquez of AAPS and Cathy Reischl of the U-M School of Education. The full team will present its findings to the Board of Education on Dec. 8

By Casey Hans
AAPSNews Service

Mitchell Elementary School is being considered as part of the K-8 Ann Arbor campus.

A balanced school year calendar is being considered that could include a shorter summer break and “inter-session” breaks for academic enrichment or vacations at intervals throughout the year.

Parent information forums on the topic are scheduled for the evenings of Nov. 10 and Nov. 18 for those with children at Mitchell and Scarlett, as well as other elementary feeder schools including Allen, Pittsfield and Carpenter. Parents may attend a forum at either school:

6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, Scarlett Middle School, 3300 Lorraine St.
6- 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, Mitchell Elementary School, 3550 Pittsview Drive ~~(A spaghetti fundraising dinner is also scheduled here on this night.)~~

Scarlett and Mitchell schools are located west of Carpenter Road, south of Packard in Pittsfield Township. (Enter south off of Packard at the traffic signal at Fernwood Avenue to reach both schools.)

Scarlett Principal Gerald Vazquez said the forums are expected to offer basic information on the partnership and encourage discussion in small groups to generate ideas and raise pertinent questions. “We want parents to know that we are working on this as a process and we want them involved in the process,” he said.

Those working on the partnership say it would allow staffs from Ann Arbor and U-M to collaborate through innovative programs that serve students and families, as well as nurture the professional growth of new and experienced teachers.

Although the program has been generically referred to as a “lab school,” organizers have not yet determined a permanent name for the proposed new, combined campus.

The campus is being envisioned as a gathering place for families and as an incubator of new ideas and approaches enhancing teacher learning and teaching practices. Being discussed are different ways of organizing time to effectively support teaching and learning. This includes the possibility of expanding or reorganizing the school year, or making adjustments to the school day. One option being considered includes strategically placed “inter-sessions” throughout the school year that would provide targeted, academic support or enrichment opportunities for students and families.

“The lab school will be a place where teacher candidates, experienced teachers, administrators, and university faculty will work together to support student achievement,” said Catherine Reischl, clinical associate professor of education for U-M who is on the project’s organizing committee. “ We see this as a huge opportunity to play an integral role in our community.”

Vazquez said Scarlett and its feeder schools represent a unique opportunity for the program because of its diverse populations. “This quadrant of the city is different. It has different needs,” he said, adding that the K-8 approach to professional development will offer more continuity for students and support their academic achievement.

Mitchell Principal Kathy Scarnecchia said teacher collaboration at different levels would be “inspiring for professionals. This raises the bar for everyone,” she said.

Schools with balanced calendars are not new. At Holt Public Schools near Lansing, Dave Hornak is principal at Horizon Elementary School, where grades K-4 attend school on a balanced school year calendar and have done so for 17 years. In Holt, students typically attend school for 30 days – about six weeks – then are on a break. Hornak said students have a six-week summer break, ending in mid to late June and starting a new year in early August.

He said the balanced calendar helps students maintain their learning. “We are not re-teaching in August and September to get ready for MEAP tests,” he said. “We don’t have that summer slide (of knowledge.)”

Hornak said the school has more breaks than other schools in the district, but when they can they plan their “Inter-sessions” around traditional breaks.

He said new families coming to the school get acclimated to the calendar pretty quickly. “Parents seem to be right on board,” he said. Often, middle school students come by in August and offer to help. “They say ‘I’m bored, can I help?’” he said. “They’re ready to go back to school.”

Hornak estimates there are only about 20 schools around the state using the extended, balanced calendar. Jackson Public Schools is preparing to start an elementary program in 2011 and Grass Lake Community Schools is exploring the idea.

He said the K-8 campus concept being considered in Ann Arbor is unique, as is the district’s partnership with U-M.

This is the third major academic initiative developed between the Ann Arbor district and the U-M School of Education. The Summer Learning Institute brings U-M education students into Ann Arbor classrooms to teach each summer. The Ann Arbor Languages Partnership, a world language program launched in 2009, serves third- and fourth-graders and will expand to serve fifth-graders in 2011-12. In addition, teaching interns work with experienced teachers throughout the district.

A committee of stakeholders from both the Ann Arbor Public Schools and U-M School of Education has been working on preliminary plans over the past few months. During this school year, planning teams comprised of UM faculty, AAPS administrators, teachers, and parents, will set goals, draft program structures and calendars and build a timeline to launch the program for the 2011-12 school year. Also this year, pilot efforts are planned, including an after-school math enrichment currently underway at Mitchell; embedded teacher education that will provide extra support for sixth grade math students this winter; and professional development for elementary teachers in the area of literacy instruction for English Language Learners.

The partnership idea came from discussions last spring between former Ann Arbor Superintendent Todd Roberts and Dean Deborah Loewenberg Ball of the

University of Michigan School of Education. Two Ann Arbor Board of Education committees have reviewed preliminary information about the program and a proposal is scheduled to be taken to the full board for consideration on Dec. 8.

Speaking at a community event this fall honoring Roberts, Ball said the university and school district partnerships that developed under Roberts’ watch are “unheard of elsewhere.” She said the university staff is excited about the lab school concept and called it a “model program that is a true partnership.”

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Informational Meetings

Forums for the parents from Mitchell, Scarlett and the feeder elementary schools of Allen, Pittsfield and Carpenter interested in finding out more about the program are scheduled for:

6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 at Scarlett Middle School, 3300 Lorraine St.
6 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 18 at Mitchell Elementary School, 3550 Pittsview Drive ~~(A spaghetti fundraising dinner is also scheduled on this night.)~~

Scarlett and Mitchell schools are located west of Carpenter Road, south of Packard in Pittsfield Township.

Mighty mathematics at Mitchell: Interns join after-school program

Posted on November 8, 2010 by Casey Hans

From Casey Hans
AAPSNews Service

Say hello to the Mitchell Mighty Mustangs. They’re in the saddle and ready to go, thanks to a partnership this year between the Ann Arbor schools and the University of Michigan School of Education.

U-M student interns work with Mitchell students as part of the Mitchell Mighty Mustangs after-school math enrichment program.

This group of 36-plus upper elementary students stays after school to work on an intensive math program with the help of three staff teachers from Mitchell and U-M student interns who are earning their Elementary Masters of Arts with Certification degrees.

“They have the opportunity to learn through the doing of teaching,” said Tim Boerst, a clinical associate professor of education who works with the Mitchell program. “Depending on what the student is doing, they have to tailor their lessons. It’s really alive – they have to be on their toes.”

Ann Arbor teachers oversee the program and work with the U-M interns, while the U-M professors on site observe the interns and their lessons and interactions with students. The program meets four nights per week and U-M interns take their lessons from the School of Education right on site at Mitchell.

The Mitchell after-school pilot is trying out a proposed partnership being considered between the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the U-M School of Education. The Mitchell Mighty Mustangs program is several years old, but this is the first year that U-M interns are participating, said Kathy Scarnecchia, principal at Mitchell.

The AAPS and U-M partnership would create a K-8 campus between Mitchell Elementary School and Scarlett Middle School using a balanced school year calendar. The concept being considered would have a shorter-than-typical summer break and more breaks during the school year. The Ann Arbor Board of Education is scheduled to consider the partnership at its Dec. 8 meeting.

The Mitchell Mighty Mustangs program is funded with Title I grants and participating students are also provided with dinner through a grant from Chartwells Food Service, the district’s food service provider, Scarnecchia said.

An addition this fall to the Mitchell Mighty Mustangs program is an after-school Kindergarten Reading Club. This club is funded through a grant from the Karen Thomas Memorial Fund of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation. Click below for a video:

Ann Arbor, U-M mentoring partnership enters 17th year

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Casey Hans

Program affects dozens of students over the years

From AAPSNews Service

The idea is basic: Offer one-on-one help for students who need an extra nudge, a bit of attention or assistance with a family or life crisis. The help can be offered at any point in a child’s life, depending on individual need.

This simple concept grew into a class in The University of Michigan Department of Psychology and has helped hundreds of students in The Ann Arbor Public Schools over many years. The Michigan Mentorship Program is entering its 17th year this fall and, although it is smaller and serves fewer schools today than it once did, the program remains popular and still offers a helping hand to Ann Arbor students.

“Kids struggle at all ages,” explained Ellen Quart, an Eberwhite Elementary School teacher consultant and U-M Psychology professor who started the program in the mid-1990s. “They can have a family trauma, trouble making friends, and some have severe problems.”

She said whether students have a learning disability or are just going through a difficult time due to stress in the family, mentors offer emotional, cognitive, and personal support.

Quart is the director of the Michigan Mentorship Program and teaches the corresponding university course in the Department of Psychology.

Quart said the idea first blossomed here after reviewing an experimental, intervention mentorship program in the Detroit Public Schools. Quart and Scott Paris, formerly of the U-M Psychology Department, decided to try a pilot in Ann Arbor and began it with eight U-M students at Pioneer High School in 1994 where they spent eight hours per week mentoring helping students.

From there, the program took off. “Suddenly, I had hundreds of students who wanted the course,” Quart said. “And (Ann Arbor) students experienced gains in attendance, appropriate school behavior and grades.”

To enroll in Psychology 305, students must be juniors or seniors in good standing and can be psychology majors, but it is not required. They must, however, have taken some psychology as a prerequisite, Quart said. Students first go through orientation and about such things as family privacy and confidentiality issues, student allergies, dos and don’ts of how to interact in the classroom and how to work one-on-one with students. Then, the U-M students are supported with a weekly seminar that focuses on issues of child development and needs, stress, coping, learned helplessness and goal setting.

The class is a graded course and U-M students are expected to be good role models, attend regularly and on time, do required readings and write a term paper at the end. It is a one-semester course, but Quart said some students elect to come back for an independent study to stay with their mentee longer. U-M students often go on to pursue degrees in medicine, psychology, social work and education.

The college students begin in an AAPS classroom assisting the teacher and working with all of the students. From there, the mentor and teacher can best determine who might benefit from having the mentor’s help. Some of the ways they assist might include social and personal skills, helping with homework, offering friendship and discussing careers.

“These mentors are dedicated to the kids,” said Quart. “They want to make a difference – they want to help.”

Ann Arbor students can apply independently to have a mentor or be recommended through a counselor, teacher or school administrator. The program works with students of all socio-economic backgrounds and ages. “The only commonality is that they have to want a mentor,” she said. And teachers, administrators, school psychologists and socials workers in the district determine who might best be served.

Quart credits caring and dedicated U-M students as well as individual building coordinators in Ann Arbor for the program’s success.

“I am very proud of this program and it truly has become an essential in helping our kids be successful in school,” says Pam Kirchen, a teacher consultant at Community High School

The building coordinators manage the mentoring schedules and are“ ”a very important part of the equation,” Quart said. “They are a tremendous resource for the mentors and help them understand how to help.” AAPS staff members Bob Bower and Pam Kirchen have been building coordinators for all 16 years of the program.

Kirchen, a teacher consultant at Community High School, calls the mentors “invested and enthusiastic” and said they work closely with Ann Arbor teachers to address students concerns.

“I am very proud of this program and it truly has become an essential in helping our kids be successful in school,” Kirchen said. “It … serves many students who need this kind of support, and is a wonderful example of how U-M and AAPS can work together in education.”

Kirchen said the mentors provide an avenue for teens to practice positive school skills such as planning, organizing, communication, managing stress in a safe and enjoyable way. “We love the mentors. They are actually a wonderful support to us in our support of the student.”

Quart said that a mentoring relationship is different than that of child to teacher or child to parent. It is based on shared experiences, empathy, trust and positive encouragement. The focus of the program is on building a relationship with students in a way that is understanding and not judgmental, she added.

The Michigan Mentorship Program was larger at one time, serving 150 students in nine Ann Arbor schools with about 50 mentors at its peak. Today, the program is conducted at Mitchell and Angell elementary schools, Scarlett Middle School and Community High School with 20 U-M mentors. Each mentor works with one or two Ann Arbor students.

Despite a now-smaller program, Quart said it remains popular. “I don’t even advertise it,” she said. “And I stop accepting applications at between 70 and 100 (students.)”

Others interested in the program have tapped Quart’s experience. U-M Dearborn officials have used her expertise to set up a similar program there with charter schools in the Dearborn area and the state of Florida has consulted with her on a mentor program to help students who have been incarcerated.

Quart is of the belief that all of us can use a helping hand at some point. “Everyone should have a mentor in his or her life – someone to be their anchor,” she said, noting that everyone should have a special person who is not there to judge, but be supportive and interested in them.

For more information about the Michigan Partnership Program program: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/psych/mmentor/mentor.html

Aww shucks: Kids prep corn for eating, part of Farm Fresh Features

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Casey Hans

From AAPSNews Service

Farm Fresh Features is back this fall, providing students with fresh produce from southeast Michigan every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in September and October. Formerly known as Farm Fresh Fridays, the program began on Fridays and was expanded to offer local produce to students more frequently.

Students from Carpenter Elementary School have some fun shucking corn last week in preparation for Farm Fresh Features.

Featured items are served in the Fruit and Veggie bars at elementary schools and are made available for the taking at the secondary schools. Click here for the district’s Farm Fresh Features schedule.

Last Wednesday, students at several schools – Mitchell, Ann Arbor Open @ Mack, Lakewood, Carpenter and the Ann Arbor Preschool and Family Center – shucked and cleaned corn during the school day that was to be served as part of the Friday “Farm Fresh” lunch for students.

Students at Ann Arbor Open took the project one step further, with kindergarteners creating corn husk dolls and other students reading a book about the history of corn and it’s importance to the Azteck culture, said Sara Aeschbach, the district’s director for community education and recreation who helps coordinate the district’s wellness efforts.

“The Farm to School Collaboration is always looking for ways to expand on the program,” said Aeschbach. “One goal of the program is to increase student awareness about locally grown food, so we thought that husking the corn would get kids more involved and interested in eating it.

More corn done!

“When the corn arrived from the farm, some ears were still attached to large stalks. That definitely made a different impression than eating corn out of a can.”

The Farm Fresh project also provides in-class visits by local farmers and fruit and vegetable tastings and reaches hundreds of students in The Ann Arbor Public Schools each fall. It is made possible by the Ann Arbor Farm-to-School Collaboration which includes: The Ann Arbor Public Schools, Chartwells Dining Services, Project Healthy Schools, The Agrarian Adventure, The Ann Arbor Farmers’ Market, Food System Economic Partnership and The Washtenaw County Health Department.

The Farm to School Collaboration embraces local and regionally grown produce as not only a healthy choice for students but as a way to educate students on the availability of fresh foods in their area as well as supporting local and regional farms in their efforts to be sustaining contributors to our local economy.

Expanded Listening Library enhances student skills at Mitchell

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Casey Hans

From AAPSNews Service

Early elementary students at Mitchell School have a longer reading list to choose from, thanks to the expansion of the school’s Listening Library this year.

A first-grader at Mitchell Elementary School uses the Listening Library station in her classroom.

With a $1,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation, the school was able to expand not only the number of titles in its collection, but the genre of books so that they will appeal to a broader base of students, said reading intervention teacher Matt Hilton.

The grant was used to enhance the titles at the early elementary level.

“The grant really gave us a chance to order a substantial number of books on CD,” said Hilton, who applied for the grant. “It’s definitely a support to the curriculum. Teachers in (grades) K-2 use it as a station or a center in their classroom.”

Hilton said the Mitchell set up listening stations all classrooms last year with CD players, headphones and a variety of reading titles from which to choose. Students use them as part of their overall reading program. Hilton said listening to the CDs while reading along help students develop fluency in their reading as well as helping with comprehension and vocabulary.

First-graders in Vanessa Sanmiguel’s classroom at Mitchell share a moment while using the Listening Library station.

The AAPSEF grant allowed the Mitchell staff to take the program one step further.

As a reading specialist, Hilton’s job is to work with students in small groups who need help with their reading skills. He said once he has gotten students back to grade level reading targets, they return to their classroom for regular lessons. “And when kids do get back, they stay on track,” he said.

Hilton said that the Listening Library is one tool that helps the overall approach to reading at Mitchell in combination with some traditional approaches.

Second-graders in Aaron Padgen Soucy’s classroom work with the Listening Library.

“I think the relationship you build with kids is huge,” he added. “Our job is to scaffold, or structure, reading in such a way that they (students) can be successful in it.”

School Bells: Options Magnet meeting Jan. 7

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Casey Hans

Options Magnet information Jan. 7 at WISD

An information session is planned for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7 at the Washtenaw Intermediate School District Teaching and Learning Center for students and families from Washtenaw County interested in learning more about the Options Magnet Program in The Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Students from Ann Arbor as well as throughout Washtenaw County can enroll in the program, which allows customized instruction and leads to a high school diploma.

It features alternative scheduling for students who need flexibility or want to select a variety of class types including online classes, a combination of online and face-to-face classes, small group seminars and one-on-one instruction.

The WISD offices are at 1819 South Wagner Road, between Liberty and Scio Church Road in Scio Township. Details: E-mail Susette Jaquette at jaquette@aaps.k12.mi.us or call 734-994-2026.

District chosen as state nominee for national award

ArtServe Michigan has selected The Ann Arbor Public Schools as its nominee to the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network for the group’s National School Boards Association Award. Only one state school district is submitted from those nominated to represent the state.

The nomination was submitted by the district’s Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Robin Bailey. The award recognizes outstanding support of the arts in education. The winning district from among the national nominees receives a plaque and a cash award of $10,000 to use for arts education programs. The recipient of the award will be announced at the 2010 National School Board Associations Conference and Exposition.

KCAAEN works in partnership with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to support policies, practices, programs, and partnerships that ensure the arts are an essential part of American K-12 education. Details: www.artservemichigan.org.

Clague students learn about differing abilities

On Dec. 9, Clague Middle School sixth-graders participated in Abilities Awareness Day. Clague support staff and Washtenaw Intermediate School DIstrict consultants coordinated six stations – physical, hearing, visual, cognitive, learning disabled/ADHD and autism – to simulate for students what it would feel like to have a different ability.
The following day, the students were given a post-survey and had a debriefing meeting to talk about what they had learned.

Carpenter, Pioneer students involved with concert

Twenty third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from the Carpenter Elementary School Chorus sang “We Are The World” under the direction of their music teacher, Laura Machida, at the 13th Annual Sacred Song Concert which raised almost $3,000 for the Washtenaw Interfaith Council for Immigrant Rights last month at Genesis-Temple Beth Emeth/St. Clare’s Episcopal Church. Pioneer High School senior Sam Deschamps accompanied the concert on percussion.

Preschool hosts Food Gatherers distribution

The Pre-School and Family Center recently hosted a Food Gatherers distribution. Chef Neil Murphy of Chartwell’s Food Service, the district’s food vendor, was on hand giving a cooking demonstration for families who came by to pick up their produce. He developed a dinner menu of easy, inexpensive ingredients and distributed recipes for homemade chicken strips, carrots cut and baked to resemble french fries and sauteed potatoes. In addition, he chatted with each parent, explaining how to choose kid-friendly foods that are healthy and easy supporting the district’s wellness efforts to encourage healthy eating.

Chartwells also is supporting a food backpack pilot at Mitchell Elementary School. The company contributed backpacks and staff time to pack the food and deliver it to Mitchell to make the project possible. According to Principal Kathy Scarnecchia, the first distribution went well and the school community is looking forward to the next one.

Homework help available at library

Free drop-in homework tutoring is available in the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch Youth Department from 4-8 p.m. on Mondays, Jan. 11 and Jan. 25 and on Wednesdays, Jan. 13, Jan. 20 and Jan. 27. College students from the University of Michigan’s Circle K chapter will provide homework help to school-aged children and teens at no charge. The downtown branch is at 343 South Fifth Avenue.

Also, online homework help is available for grades three through adult (for assistance with elementary, middle and high school subjects, including advanced placement.) Visit the library Web site at aadl.org/homework. Details: Visit aadl.org/homework or call 734-327-8301.

Free help offered for ACT/SAT testing

Free sessions are offered to students preparing to take the ACT or the SAT at the Ann Arbor District Library. Sessions at the Pittsfield Branch are offered in partnership with Kaplan, Inc. Details: 734-327-4200. The Pittsfield Branch is at 2359 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor. Sessions include:
• How to approach test day with confidence. Kaplan instructors will lay out strategies and suggestions for preparing for the tests from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6.
• Writing Test Tips, a road map for getting ready to write a dynamic response in a short amount of time, just in time for the March test date from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Other items of note around the district:
• Pioneer High School senior Kelsey Thompson and junior Emmy Guttman were recently named to the Midwest Regional Field Hockey Team by the United States Field Hockey Association.
• Ann Arbor Public Schools psychologist Mary Spence has written a chapter on special education in a recently released book, “Principals and Practice of Child Adolescent Forensic Mental Health.” It was her summer work in 2008.
• Ann Arbor Ultimate donated $2,500 to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Rec & Ed Department to help cover recent renovation maintenance work on the fields at Scarlet Middle School. Patrick Reed, a director for the organization, gave the check to Director Sara Aeschbach at the Recreation Advisory Committee meeting on Dec. 1. Ann Arbor Ultimate has more than 450 players participate in its summer league and hosts leagues in all seasons and welcomes players of all levels. Details: a2ultimate.org.