The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
While there are no guarantees and no preparation that can predict or prevent situations like this from happening all together there are many strategies that we employ to mitigate our risk and to increase our awareness. Each year we practice "lockdown drills" in which we simulate the response school personnel and students will have to an active threat. We also lock and secure our building each day and through the recent bond construction have instituted a sally port secure entryway for our main office. All staff members are mandated reports and when they see something are required to submit it for investigation. Each year our staff are trained on keys to look for and our students are encouraged to say something when they see something.
From a student care perspective we have placed a heavy emphasis on the building of strong relationships with our students. A caring adult is more likely to pick up on the indicators that students give off when something isn't right. We have also implemented social-emotional learning into our curriculum, and have increased the number of personnel available to support the needs of our students.
No amount of planning nor preparation can predict acts as senseless as those that took place earlier this week in Oxford. It takes a multi-faceted approach, diligence, maintenance, and commitment. Moreover, it takes many people, staff, students, families, and communities working together to keep our schools and our kids safe.
I conclude this week with a resource for you from the National Association of School Psychologists, a tool for talking with your children about violence. I highly encourage you to read through the materials and speak with your children about what has happened and give them an extra hug when you do so.
Talking to Children about Violence (NASP)
Stay Safe Everyone,
Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
Winter sports are now in full swing. If you are looking to purchase some AGS basketball attire (or general spirit wear), please use the link below. The store closes at midnight on December 19 and apparel is tentatively scheduled to arrive on January 17.
https://augres-simsbasketball2021.itemorder.com/sale
Tis the season! If you are looking for some good STEM educational gifts, check out the list compiled by a regional teacher, Mark Lyons.
https://sites.google.com/baisd.net/marklyons/learning-resources?authuser=0
By now I am assuming that everyone has heard of the recent tragedy in Oxford where four students’ lives were taken by a young shooter. The AGS school district expresses our deepest sympathy for this tragic event. This event has extended throughout the nation and has caused the loss of safety and security for students and families nationwide. There is never a good time for tragedies such as this, but the grief and loss experienced near the holidays make it even tougher. What we often forget is the daily sorrows that many experience over the holiday seasons and the importance of mental health and support. For the students at AGS, we are fortunate to have Brooke Cunningham as a mental health counselor to assist with student needs. Recently, we sent out a passive consent form to offer Brooke’s services. Brooke is on campus on Mondays and Thursdays and she works with students on an as needed basis. If you do not want to use her services (if the situation ever arises), please let us know. Please reach out to the school and let us know how we can help you during these tough times.
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
As I mentioned in my last entry, our winning House teams for marking period 1 earned the chance to go to Main Street Lanes in Standish for an afternoon of fun. Middle School Reveur went on Tuesday the 23rd, and High School Reveur went on Tuesday the 30th. By all accounts, the students had a great time and represented AGS well! I am looking forward to seeing who will win this next marking period!
It is hard to believe as we are just heading into winter that we would already be thinking about spring testing, but the reality is that it will be here before we know it! There are many things that we do to prepare for testing, one of which is the M-STEP Writing Field Test. This field test is available to us after the holiday break, and we typically take part in it at the beginning of January. It allows our students in 3rd - 8th grade to take part in a very small practice test session, which gets them familiar with the testing platform, the tools available to them, and the overall structure of the test. It consists of a reading passage, a passage-based writing prompt , and 5 selected response questions. This test is not graded, and has no impact on the actual M-STEP test results. This is simply an opportunity for the students to engage and get comfortable with the platform, while providing the Michigan Department of Education Office of Assessment and Accountability the opportunity to collect data to further improve the actual Spring M-STEP assessment and work out any issues within the system. This practice session will be done in a regular classroom setting, and will not require make-up sessions. Students who are in attendance will work within the platform for the allotted time and get as much completed as they can. There will also be many opportunities for practice in the classroom prior to the testing window in the spring, so that students are very comfortable with the process and will be prepared to do their best! While 8th grade students take the PSAT for reading and math instead of the M-STEP - it is still a great opportunity for them to practice this type of testing and writing, so they will be participating as well.
Finally, a new month brings a new installment of our School and Home Connection Newsletter. You can find the December issue linked below!
Teen Substance Use at School
Student use of vapes specifically this school year has been an issue in both the Middle and High School. We are working to inform our students of the health and legal risks of using substances like vapes both at school and outside of school. Below are some helpful guidelines and ideas for talking with your student(s) about substance use. Conversations about substance use and drugs can be difficult, but if we all work together we can help lower the number of students who are trying or using substances both in and out of school.
Put yourself in your teen’s shoes. - Consider the manner in which you yourself would prefer to be addressed when speaking about a difficult subject. It might be helpful to think about how you felt when you were a teenager.
Keep an open mind.- If you want to have a productive conversation with your teen, one thing to keep in mind is that when a child feels judged or condemned, he or she is less likely to be receptive to your message. We suggest that, in order to achieve the best outcome for you and your teen, you try to preserve a position of objectivity and openness. We understand that this is challenging and may take practice.
Be honest about your own use of substances. - Your child might see you drinking alcohol or consuming cannabis and get the impression it’s a good way to cope with stress or anxiety. Think about how they may be modeling your reactions to stress, and talk with them about alternative coping mechanisms that are better suited for the developing brain.
Be positive. - If you approach the situation with shame, anger, scare tactics, or disappointment your efforts will be counter-productive. Instead, be attentive, curious, respectful, and understanding.
Athletics Update
Winter Sports season is upon us as we welcome in the cold of December.
Next Week's Game Schedule
- Mon. 12/6 MS Boys Bball HOME vs. Whittemore-Prescott (Parent's Night) 6pm
- Tues. 12/7 JV/V Boys Basketball AWAY @ Kingston, 6pm
- Thur. 12/9 MS Boys Bball AWAY @ Mio, 6pm
- Fri. 12/10 JV Boys Bball HOME vs. Oscoda, 6pm...followed by Varsity Girls Bball HOME vs. Bay City All Saints.
Important Dates
DECEMBER
- DEC. 4: Solo and Ensemble Band Festival @ Tawas Area High School
- DEC. 8: Band Christmas Concert 7p
- DEC. 20: Board of Education regular meeting in Elementary Library 6p
- DEC. 22-DEC 31: Winter Holiday Break (school resumes on Monday, January 3, 2022)
The Wolverine Wake-up! Written by the Students of AGS
Take a gander(that means read this issue) of this week's issue of The Wolverine Wake-Up to start your day off right. Be sure to keep an eye out for video broadcasts of our newsletter too!
Click here for the December 3, 2021 Edition (Issue 42)
Help Wanted at AGS
https://www.ags-schools.org/employment-opportunities--95
Job Opportunities at AGS
- Full-time Special Education Teacher (1.0, but flexible to part time if desired by the candidate)
- (3) full-time Paraprofessionals
High School Reveur won first Marking Period and had a Great Time Bowling
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