Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
A lot can change in a year. This week we returned to in-person learning, something we weren’t able to do last year until the first week of October. Last year our focus was on the safe return of students to school. This year our focus has shifted to meeting our students where they are with their learning and creating an individualized learning experience designed to complete the unfinished learning caused by the pandemic. We return to school this year with a new understanding and appreciation of the power of in-person learning and newly acquired skills utilizing virtual tools that we will capitalize on as we look to accelerate the learning of our students to help them reach their true potential.
From a physical standpoint, we have come a long way in the year that I have been in this position. When I arrived on campus in July of 2020 I didn’t have an office, there were no floors in the middle or high school, plywood was being used for doors, and the front parking lot was nothing more than a hole of beach sand. As we start the school year now in late August of 2021 we are approaching the end of our construction project. The parking lot has been filled in and the asphalt laid, we have beautiful, sturdy, and unique epoxy flooring throughout the secondary buildings, and I have an office to work out of instead of a storage closet in the library. More than that, we have windows and doors once again providing safety and security, air exchange units for heating and cooling in all of our classrooms, and many other upgrades across campus. In the past year, our humble school district has transformed into the Jewel of a Destination District, and when we are able to put the finishing touches on this project and close the book on our construction we will open the doors to our community to showcase just how much we have transformed.
This construction facelift to our district coupled with our academic focus of discovering and providing for the individual learning needs of each of our students gives the feeling of a fresh beginning to this school year, different than in years past. It is a feeling of hope, optimism, and light, which is why this year we are building a #NewTomorrow. This is more than just a slogan and the hashtag for our social media posts, it represents the mindset that we are making our decisions by this year. We have a fresh and new facility, we have an understanding about the needs of our students, and we have an opportunity now through relief dollars to be innovative for our students, in ways much different than in the past. AGS has always prided itself on providing a private school feel in a public school setting. With our #NewTomorrow we have the chance to do truly wonderful things for our students, things that we may not have been able to offer in the past.
Opportunities like this do not come along very often. For the first time in my career a window has been opened to a landscape of new possibilities. With our #NewTomorrow we will address the learning of each of our students and work with them to forge a unique path forward. We will also look to expand the offerings available to our students. This is where you, the community, come in. In the past year I have seen the greatness of this community and the many talents of its citizens. While the staff of AGS is incredibly talented and dedicated to their jobs, it takes a symbiotic relationship between the employees of this district and each of you in our great community to properly educate and enrich our students. With this #NewTomorrow I am calling on this wonderful community to bring their talents and passions forward and to share their ideas for our district. Opportunity is knocking, the chance to create something even more special for the students of Au Gres-Sims. I believe deep in my heart that this community will answer that call and will help the amazing staff of AGS to shape the #NewTomorrow that we all want for our children.
Yours in Education,
Chris Ming
Superintendent
K-12 Principal's Update
This year we are extremely fortunate to have received a grant that allows us to have a Mental Health Counselor on campus every Tuesday and Thursday. Her name is Brooke Cunningham. See the attached information to this newsletter which explains Brooke’s role and what she has to offer!
As mentioned in last week’s newsletter, I want to remind everyone about the opportunity to purchase chromebook insurance for the school year. The cost of the insurance is $22 if your child is using an HP Chromebook and $28 if they are using a Dell Chromebook. The link to purchase insurance is: https://gpo.worthavegroup.com/gpo/agsschools/. Some families have inquired about getting a cover or case. Our chromebooks are 11.5 inches and most covers are specific to the chromebook model. Model information is found on the back of the chromebook.
There is a special program called the Arenac County Connect. They have a free event on Wednesday, September 16 which runs from 3:00-6:00 pm and takes place at the Arenac Community Center on 583 E. Cedar Street in Standish. Services provided on this day/time include heat and utility assistance, employment and training, and home visiting and preschool referrals. Don’t miss out on the freebies provided such as food baskets, personal hygiene items, resource information, and transportation provided by Arenac County Transit (846-7500). For more information contact Marc Lauria at 846-2111.
And one event on the horizon...Picture Day! This will take place on Monday, September 13.
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
It was a wonderful first week back with all of our students! With 99% of our students back on campus, it was such a great feeling seeing so many faces that we have missed. As we prepare to start our second week of school, we are working out kinks with schedules, cementing classroom procedures and protocols, and diving right into curriculum and instruction. There will be many important events coming up in the weeks ahead. The first will be our fall NWEA session for this year. This will be an important benchmark for us to have as we start the year. The window begins on Monday, September 13 and ends on Friday, October 1. K-11 students will be testing in reading and math, 2nd through 11th grade students will be testing in language, and 3rd through 11th grade students will be testing in science. The classroom teachers will give you specific testing dates for your students in the weeks to come. We are also excited for some special learning opportunities that are happening in the coming weeks. Next week, our 7th graders will be visiting Charity Island, and on September 15 the entire middle school will be embarking on a three day trip to Hartley Nature Center, where they will be immersed in hands-on learning in a unique environment. We are so excited to be able to have these types of opportunities happening for our students once again.
We have also made some updates to our monthly parent/family newsletters that go home with our elementary and middle school students each month. The September newsletters will be coming out this week. We hope elementary and middle school families will appreciate this monthly information. We also will be having a parent informational meeting regarding Title services and the Read by Grade 3 Law later in the month of September. Please watch upcoming newsletters for more information about these important informational meetings.
I hope you all have a restful last weekend of summer and we will see everyone back on campus on Tuesday!
Counselor's Corner Update
Tips for Connecting with Your Child’s School Counselor for a Successful School Year
Understand the expertise and responsibilities of your child’s school counselor. School counselors make a measurable impact in every student’s life, assisting with academic, career and personal/social development. Professional school counselors are trained in both educating and counseling, allowing them to function as a facilitator between parents, teachers and the student in matters concerning the student’s goals, abilities and any areas needing improvement. School counselors provide services not only to students in need, but to all students.
Discuss your child’s challenges and concerns with the school counselor. As a parent, you know your child best. However, the school counselor can help you better understand your child as a student. It’s important to encourage your child’s expression of needs, hopes and frustrations. School counselors are trained to help your children.
Work with the school counselor to identify resources and find solutions to problems. If your child is having a problem at school, it is important to work with your child’s school counselor to find solutions. Discuss resources available within and outside of the school, and get information on how such programs can benefit your child. Your school counselor can be a valuable partner in your child’s education and preparation for life beyond school.
https://asca-prod.azurewebsites.net/parents-public/back-to-school-tips
Athletics Update
Next Week's Game Schedule
- Tu 9/7 Volleyball Away at Charlton Heston 6pm
- Th 9/9 Volleyball Home vs. Atlanta 6pm
- Th 9/9 MS Girls Basketball Away at Posen 6pm
- Th 9/9 JV Football Away @ Hale
- F 9/10 V Football Home vs. Mio
Important Dates
SEPTEMBER
- SEPTEMBER 3-6: Labor Day Holiday Weekend, no school staff and students Friday 9/3 or Monday 9/6
- SEPTEMBER 7: 7th grade field trip to Charity Island
- SEPTEMBER 13: Picture Day
- SEPTEMBER 15: Early Dismissal @ 1:00pm all students
- SEPTEMBER 15-17: Middle School field trip to Hartley Outdoor Education Center
- SEPTEMBER 20: Board of Education meeting 6p Elementary Library
WE ARE HIRING!
We are hiring for the following positions:
- GSRP Classroom Aide
- Cook
- Administrative Assistant to the Principal's Office
- Substitute Teacher
- Substitute Bus Driver
Information can be found under 'Employment Opportunities' on the district website or can be provided by calling the district office at (989) 876-7150.
Au Gres-Sims School District
Email: web@ags-schools.org
Website: www.ags-schools.org
Location: 310 South Court Street, Au Gres, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 876-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuGresSims/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @agsschools
