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Bulldog Bulletin Parent Newsletter Posts

Mitchell Heart Challenge

Kids Heart Challenge is in full swing at Mitchell Elementary School! Our students are working hard to make a difference. Any student that completes Finn’s Mission on www.heart.org/KHC or the Kids Heart Challenge app will get in the 2nd drawing for a mystery prize!

Our school goal is to raise $5,000 toward the fight against heart disease! When we do, we will earn $500 in resources for our gym! Also, any student who raises $150 will get to SLIME Coach Phipps!!!

¡Kids Heart Challenge está muy bien en Mitchell Elementary School! ¡Cualquier estudiante que complete la misión de Finn en www.heart.org/KHC o la aplicación Kids Heart Challenge recibirá un segundo sorteo para un premio sorpresa! Vaya en línea en www.heart.org/KHC

#KIDSHEARTCHALLENGE

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100 Things I 💙 About Mitchell 🐾

In honor of the 100th day of school, here are some of my favorite things:

  1. Pizza day in the cafeteria
  2. The peace during naptime in Pre-K
  3. Harvey Mitchell wearing his face mask every day
  4. Bulldog Bistro sign in the cafeteria (thanks Mr. Godfrey)
  5. Library counters displaying books, books, books
  6. The building is sparking clean every day
  7. Living out philanthropy by participating in Kids Heart Challenge
  8. Happy visit in the principal’s office
  9. Mindfulness practices in specials and the classroom
  10. Bulldog Blasts: shoutouts from one student to another
  11. Students being able to recite and live their Bulldog BEST
  12. Seeing students fun masks every day
  13. Volcanos that erupt at Mitchell every January
  14. Donations to create a collection of rhythm “instruments”
  15. Hands-on activities to help new learning sink in
  16. Christmas & Valentines parties during a pandemic
  17. Run club during specials
  18. Playground antics
  19. Sidewalk chalk for fun and learning
  20. Morning video announcements to celebrate our Bulldogs
  21. Financial Literacy project in 3rd grade
  22. Skippity walking feet in the hallway
  23. Smiling eyes from our masked Bulldogs
  24. Newline interactive TVs in most classrooms
  25. Flashlight reading for fun in 1st grade
  26. Pre-K students commit to the Safe Keeper’s Box
  27. Gratitude tree by the cafeteria
  28. PTO supports and encourages our teachers
  29. Watching new life as chicks hatch in 1st grade
  30. Chromebooks, iPads, and computers for student use
  31. Lots of grant opportunities…and lots of wins!
  32. Monthly teacher of the month recognitions
  33. Critter collection in 4th grade
  34. Pods that allow for collaboration
  35. New cafeteria tables
  36. Friday movie day for good behavior in the cafeteria
  37. Scholastic Book Fair (online this year)
  38. Friendly front office staff
  39. Donations of PPE from Texas A&M University
  40. Kona Ice fundraisers
  41. Baking a synthesis cake in 4th grade
  42. Woot Woot cart for teachers
  43. Fall Teacher Appreciation (new annual event?)
  44. Maintenance and custodial staff are top notch
  45. Box Tops for Education
  46. Homemade plexiglass dividers to keep students safe
  47. Students being greeted every morning by staff members
  48. Teachers opening their classrooms for morning breakfast
  49. Fine arts instruction that develops high skills
  50. Restorative discipline practices
  51. Student work displayed in the hallway
  52. Mitchell Motto: Work Hard, Be Kind, That’s All!
  53. Mobile carts for Art and Music
  54. Dance break during morning attendance
  55. Ordering lunch with a 1, 2, 3, or 4
  56. Token charts
  57. Bulldog Paws for extra recess
  58. Chicken Wing, Chicken Wing, Hot Dog and Baloney
  59. Birthday books for Bulldog birthday friends
  60. Pete giving a thumbs up
  61. Safe spaces in every classroom
  62. Morning cartoons during breakfast
  63. Fence surrounding the back playground area
  64. Campus artwork that JUMPS off the wall
  65. Dream Big t-shirts from PTO
  66. Car rider tags
  67. Disinfection Wednesdays and Fridays
  68. Amazing Students of Character
  69. Social contracts for treatment agreements in every room
  70. The Kennel (but missing the face-to-face)
  71. Fun snacks in the cafeteria
  72. Paraprofessionals that do WHATEVER is needed
  73. Breathing apps and strategies
  74. Small group and individual counseling
  75. Texas Reads One Book
  76. Birthday hats in Kindergarten
  77. KBTX Daily Pledge
  78. Facebook posts
  79. New Science equipment in 3rd grade
  80. Winter Break Bingo
  81. Water bottles in the classroom
  82. Bulldog Bulletin
  83. Early Release Wednesdays
  84. Book Character Day
  85. Essential 8 lessons and activities
  86. Small group Guided Reading lessons
  87. Instructional Coaches that are amazing
  88. Ice Cream on Fridays in the cafeteria
  89. 4th graders in the hallway ~ quiet as a mouse
  90. Online Zoom meetings with students, parents, and staff
  91. Bus drivers and bus monitors
  92. Alpha Best in the afternoons
  93. PE on the outdoor basketball court
  94. Parents who are flexible and accepting of safety protocols
  95. Social skills lessons to support academics
  96. Lysol spray and Clorox wipes
  97. Paw prints and hearts
  98. Making friends and holding hands
  99. Playing hard at recess
  100. Teachers who give and give and give!
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Multicultural Literature

Kerry Gray, the Mitchell Elementary Librarian, wrote and received a grant to purchase books to expand our multicultural selections for our students. Today, our books better mirror our student population. This month, we will highlight just of the few books that our students can check out.

Zuri wakes up on a very special day and needs a perfect hairstyle. The young black girl thinks of the wondrous things her hair can do and how it reflects her personality: “I love that my hair lets me be me!”
As a young girl, Sharon Langley was forbidden to ride the carousel at Gwyn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore because of her race. This picture book tells the story of how the park was desegregated in the summer of 1963. Following desegregation, the Langleys were the first African American family to walk into the park.
Ada is fascinated by all things science, and spends her time actively seeking answers to her numerous questions about the world. When a family friend goes airborne in a pair of inflatable pants and can’t land himself, Ada joins forces with friends Rosie Revere and Iggy Peck to devise a scientific plan to bring Uncle Ned home. 
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January 18-22

Monday, January 18

  • Holiday ~ Martin Luther King Jr. Day
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Click HERE to register.

Tuesday, January 19

Wednesday, January 20

Thursday, January 21

Friday, January 22

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Kid’s Heart Challenge

We are preparing for our official Kids Heart Challenge launch on 1/19/21 – if you are learning from home, be sure to log in to view the kick-off video! As Inductees into the Heart Hero training program, students will receive daily and weekly missions to complete. The more missions they achieve, the more activities that are available to them.

You can get a head start with your student by watching the Official KHC Trailer and by scanning the QR code below to download the Kids Heart Challenge app and register for our team.

BONUS – Anyone who registers BEFORE the kick-off will go into a drawing for a prize!

Our school is proud to help the American Heart Association as they are supporting our community in many ways during this pandemic. In a normal year, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America, but now people who have had a stroke or live with heart disease make up more than 40% of those hospitalized for COVID-19. The AHA has already funded $2.5 Million in fast-response grants to study COVID-19’s effects on heart disease patients, as well as launched a COVID-19 Data Registry within the Get with the Guidelines registry that is used by hundreds of hospitals nation-wide. This has made it possible to learn from COVID patients quickly and improve treatments more rapidly. The more that is discovered, the more research is needed.

We understand that not every family is able to donate, but all students will enjoy (and learn from) the weekly missions and will have the opportunity to share about heart disease prevention in your family and community. However, if you are able to help raise funds, the American Heart Association will put those to work right here in Houston.

Thank you so much for your support!

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Kathy Durst, Kindergarten Teacher

Kathy Durst has been a pillar at Mitchell Elementary for over 20 years.  Her influence with students, her Kinder team, and the entire Mitchell family has left a lasting impression that will transcend generations.  Her unassuming demeanor might fool you, but she is a powerhouse!

Kathy Durst
January Teacher of the Month

Upon entering her classroom, one might sense something akin to an orchestra.  Between the movement of discovery and the hum of learning, there’s a beautiful symphony of academics occurring.  Students are cutting, sorting, writing, counting, illustrating, forming, decoding, and expressing.  They are working independently, in stations, and at her teacher table.  Students experience this unique learning with the structure of routine and procedure.  Ms. Durst’s gentle voice is reinforced with an underlying level of expectation that joyfully propels students to engage.  She can shift from whole group, to an individualized behavior need, to a small group, to a visitor walking in to observe…all without missing a beat.  Her students, after a year in her classroom, are well-prepared to tackled the arduous tasks in first grade.  

Kathy also plays a strong role on her Kinder team.  Three of the teachers have been working together for 20 years, causing this grade level to be one of the strongest and most stalwart teams at Mitchell.  They complement each other well, but Kathy’s gentle leadership on the team illustrates what it means to be a servant leader.  She is not pushy, but she always has something to offer.  She is not meek, but her words are always delivered in a gentle and kind manner.  She is not set in her ways, but she is confident in her skills.  She is a seasoned educator, but she is not too proud to admit mistakes.  She has great responsibilities in her personal life, but she is always willing to meet the needs of her team.  She has lived through several administrators at Mitchell, but she is alway open to new and different ideas. Her quiet leadership provides such a high level of security for her team.

As a member of our Mitchell faculty, Kathy is always positive and in a great mood…even on those challenging days.  If you go to her with a problem, she stops and tries to help you with the problem in a realistic and encouraging manner.  She is everyone’s cheerleader – students and staff alike. She has also stepped in to lead our PBIS team and has taken the role to heart.  As if she wasn’t a blessing already, she led the campus to re-envision our matrix from BARK to BEST.  As we worked as a team to transform our expectations, she helped us make them a part of our daily language.  Today, you can hear students and staff talking about our goals to Believe in yourself, Encourage others, Show ownership, and Take part in the team.  She keeps the needs of our students and staff at the forefront of her mind.  She manages the Applause board for our staff and regularly adds specific words of encouragement for individual teachers and staff members.  

Having someone like Kathy on our team gives a sense of stability and pride.  Because she is here, many others have made it through another day.  As a result, Mitchell Elementary is pleased to recognize Kathy Durst as our January Teacher of the Month. 

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Cancellation of At-Home Learning

Bryan ISD has provided At-Home and On-Campus instruction for the 2019-2020 school year. Some students are successful accessing instruction through the At-Home option. Others are struggling with grades and/or attendance.

As part of Bryan ISD’s goal to ensure an effective learning environment for your child, we are evaluating attendance and/or grade level results of your child’s performance in remote learning. Per the Texas Education Agency a school district can identify students to be discontinued for At-Home instruction if one or both of the following are true in any class:

  • Student has a average of less than 70% in any course
  • Student has 10 or more unexcused absences in a semester

Letters were mailed this week to those we are recommending cancellation of remote instruction.

Please contact the principal (979-209-1400 or shari.hedstrom@gmail.com) if you have any questions or concerns.

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