​It sounds like you are enjoying a wonderful summer with your families -- picnics, water-fun, bicycle rides, camping, cousins visiting -- these are just a few of the activities you've shared with me when we've run into each other these past few weeks.  If you have time, please join us for one of the School Work Days.

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School Work Days!
We need help with maintenance and Back-to-School preparations -- this is a great opportunity to get a jump on volunteer hours!  Eric Rasmussen, one of our newest Board Directors, has taken on the Herculean task of keeping the building in top-shape for our students and recommends you bring simple tools for work in the building and the garden. The work-days are on a drop-in basis, but it would be great to get an idea of who can help out.  THANKS!

RSVP or send questions to Eric at: erasmussen@mitchcharterschool.org

Sunday, July 30th, 8am to 3pm
Sunday, August 6th, 8am to 3pm

Hope to see you -- continue enjoying this beautiful summer!

Melissa

STEAM Fair 2017
​Our Annual STEAM Fair is a phenomenal educational opportunity for our students to share with one another what they have learned this year in science, technology, engineering, arts & agriculture, and math.  Ask you child about their presentation  -- everyone spoke in front of their group! ​

What's Happening
​Tuesday, 6/20, 6pm
Kinder & 8th Grade Graduation

Overflow PARKING at KAISER

Use care in crossing Tualatin-Sherwood 
 
Wednesday, 6/21 Last Day of School -- FULL DAY
Students released at 2:30

PSO Field Day, 3 - 6:30pm
Ibach Park

2017-18 Teachers
The school leadership team has prepared Teacher assignments and the overall schedule for the 2017-18 school year.  Special kudos go to Shasta Maclean as our SG (Schedule Guru) – thanks for translating all the moving parts into calendars and excel spreadsheets.  And a huge thank-you to Sandra Ottley for designing a phenomenal middle school plan.  Finally, thank you Ashley Robinson for making sure we are always moving forward and for gathering the balls we may drop!
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PRIMARY & LOWER ELEMENTARY GRADES
We anticipate exciting changes for our Primary Grades with one change creating a dominoes-falling effect for the remaining classes. Mrs. Onstott and Mrs. Gates will share teaching duties for 1A, with the resulting vacancy in Kindergarten-A filled by Mrs. Baker. Therefore, we will have two teaching positions open in third grade, one of which is filled by Dr. Hudson who has been teaching in other areas in the school for much of this year.  We are currently interviewing excellent candidates for the remaining third grade position. Here is the line-up for the Primary and Lower-Elementary classes:
 
Primary
KA – Janet Baker
KB – Kelsey Meyers
1A – Rachel Onstott & Mindy Gates
1B – Rebecca Jackson
 
Lower-Elementary
2A – Brittany Hill
2B – Shelby Gill
3A – Beth Hudson
3B – New Hire
 
UPPER ELEMENTARY & 6th Grade
Sixth grade is designated as a middle school class with all the student responsibilities and rewards associated with this stage in school.  Nevertheless, we are creating an instructional team consisting of the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades to ensure seamless instruction in the Core Knowledge Sequence and to support student needs in math instruction.
 
Upper Elementary & 6th Grade Team
4 – Dina DeYoung
5 – Jennifer Wytmans
6 – Karin Bury-Roller
 
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Like the exciting changes at the primary level, there are middle school transformations on the horizon. It is with incredible sadness that I let you know Mr. Simmons is not returning to MITCH next year – he has chosen to pursue other teaching opportunities. We will honor Craig’s service to the school and our students at the end of the school day on June 21st – watch for more information. 
 
We have thoughtfully examined how best to meet the 7th and 8th grade students’ developmental and social needs while providing an exceptional education.  We have designed a plan to teach the 8th grade CKS curriculum next year, followed by teaching the 7th grade curriculum in 2018-19; the combined class will be team taught by Sandra Ottley and Jennifer Grady.  We’ve planned the field trips, the Core Knowledge Events, as well as designating specific times for projects to better coordinate homework expectations.  Parents of current 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students have received a separate email accompanied with more detailed information about the middle school program.
 
SPECIALS TEACHERS
With the imminent development of the MITCH Frontier Garden, we have made a commitment to return to the integration of agriculture with the Core Knowledge Sequence by dedicating a half-time position to Ag-instruction.  Mr. Ketel will resume these duties while continuing to teach PE half-time with Mrs. Grady teaching the other half.  Finally, Mrs. Johnson is returning to Library Media Tech.
 
Here is our Specials Team for next year:
Kristi Dotson, Interventions Teacher
Jenni Grady, PE
Kirsten Johnson, Library Media Tech
Duncan Ketel, Ag-Instruction & PE
Sue Lau, Art
Ed Roller, Music

What;s Happening?
Tuesday 6/6
Yoga For Kids, 2:40

PSO Meeting, 6:30
Dr. Lukich's Visit

Wednesday 6/7
Kids Like Languages, 2:40

Thursday 6/8
6th CK Event: Astronomy Rocket Day

5th CK Event: Science/STEAM
Governance Committee, 6:30
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Friday 6/9
7th CK Event: Cyrano de Bergerac

MITCH Frontier Garden
July 24th, 7pm
City Council Hearing
​Our conditional use permit application for the MITCH Frontier Garden is complete and we have a hearing scheduled with the Tualatin City Council for July 24th at 7:00pm.

It has been a long road, but a huge thank you to Amanda Hoffman for helping us to finish this lap of the race.

Annual Board MeetingLast night's Annual Board Meeting was informative and productive. If you missed it, check out the results of the Annual Family Survey and the Executive Director's State-of-the-School Report posted on the web site under the Board's Highlights.   Meeting minutes will be approved and posted after the June meeting.  

The governing Board and the Parent Support Organization (PSO) are working together to draft a memorandum of understanding to create clear communication avenues between the two groups and to prepare a fundraising/event calendar.  Watch for more news in June about this collaborative effort. 

Three parents were newly-elected to the Board for two-year terms -- welcome to Lindsie Bailey, Todd Olson, and Eric Rasmussen. Caitlin Blood, Donna Capodacqua, Jeff Demland, Jacqueline Fasset, and Karen Forman were re-elected to one-year terms.  ​

What's Happening

​Saturday 5/20
PSO Work Day
9am - 1pm

Monday - Wednesday
Outdoor School, 6th Grade

Monday 5/22 
Science Matters, 2:35pm

Tuesday 5/23
Yoga For Kids, 2:40

Wednesday 5/24
Kids Like Languages, 2:40

Thursday 5/25 6-8pm
End of the Year Celebration 
OPEN HOUSE
Max's Fanno Creek Brew Pub

Summer Camps
Kids Like Languages Summer Camps
Registration is open for the Kids Like Languages Summer Camps  which will be held here at MITCH. ​

What's Happening?

Monday 5/15
Science Matters, 2:35pm
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Tuesday 5/16
4th & 6th Ape Caves
5th Tyron Creek Park

Yoga For Kids, 2:40
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Wednesday 5/17
Kids Like Languages, 2:40

Thursday 5/18
Spirit Day: Crazy Sock Day!

MS An American in Paris, 7:30

Annual Board Meeting, 6:30

Friday 5/19
Half School Day, 7:45 - 11:30

Spirit Day: Half-Uniform Day!

Parent Teacher Conferences
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PSO Sock Hop, 7 - 9pm

What's Happening?

Sunday May 7
NNC Annual Plant Give-Away
1pm, Gym

Last Call for Al's Garden Vouchers- Basket & Veggie Vouchers available at Plant Give-Away

Monday 5/8
Science Matters Club, 2:35

Tuesday 5/9
TTSD School Board Candidate Visit, 1pm
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Yoga for Kids, 2:40

Wednesday 5/10
Kids Like Languages, 2:40pm