The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
Now that we have entered into second quarter and the beginning of the holiday season it is more important than ever for everyone to remain diligent with their schooling efforts. At the beginning of the year it is very easy to build strong habits for the learning process due to the nature of the school calendar and the fairly regimented pattern of 5-day weeks. This past week we experienced our first of the fractured weeks that come fast and furious at this time of the year. On the one hand, it is nice to have some special days to look forward to, but on the other, it can be very difficult to keep up with the demands of a changing calendar. That is especially the case for students, who become very accustomed to their schedules and in many cases come to rely upon those habits to regulate their behavior and learning.
While the holidays will be what they are, and are exciting and fun, it is important to remember that we are also here for learning and that the process must go on. That is why it is imperative that families support the school by helping their children maintain some of those learning habits to the extent possible at home. November and December are months that are gone in a blink of an eye and we want to ensure that while they are fun for our students, they are also productive learning months. If you or your student has difficulty with any of the adjustments to the schedule, please do not hesitate to reach out to the school for tips and tricks on how to help your student with this transition. The holidays are fun, but they can often be disruptive as well when it comes to the habits of students.
With the short week three-day school week due to the Thanksgiving holiday next week, we will not be producing a newsletter. We will resume our communication to our community the week of November 29-December 3.
I wish you and your family the most enjoyable of Thanksgiving holidays. #WolverinesLead #NewTomorrow
-Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
Throughout the school you may see various OK2SAY posters in the school hallways. OK2SAY is a confidential reporting system that encourages anyone who has information about a student safety threat to submit a tip by text message, mobile app, email, phone, or on the OK2SAY website. The OK2SAY program focuses on early intervention and prevention through awareness and education. OK2SAY is confidential unless the tipster is an adult and chooses to voluntarily disclose their identity, or if ordered by a court under very limited and specific circumstances. It is encouraged and OK2SAY!
This week is National Apprenticeship Week. This week we had a local Michigan Works rep visit us during MS/HS lunch and provide information on apprenticeship opportunities. An apprenticeship allows you to “earn while you learn”. It is an opportunity available for everyone where you can get paid while learning valuable job skills. If you want more information about these apprenticeship opportunities contact Nichole at apprenticeships@michiganworks4u.org or call 989-426-8571 ext. 1310.
Despite all of the curve balls life has thrown at us, especially within the last couple of years, we still have many things to be thankful for. I hope that having two days off next week allows you more time and opportunity to create those special memories with family and friends.
Happy Early Thanksgiving!
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
We are wrapping up a shortened yet busy week here on campus. On Tuesday, I was excited to reveal the winners of our Middle and High School House Marking Period 1 competition. As a reward, both teams will have the opportunity to travel to Main Street Lanes in Standish for an afternoon of bowling, pizza, and fun! The winning House for both middle and high school was Reveur!! Middle School Reveur will travel to Main Street Lanes on Tuesday, November 23rd, and High School Reveur will attend on Tuesday, November 30th. If your student is in either Reveur House, you will receive a letter that includes specific information about the trip, as well as an opt-out section if you do not want your student to attend. Reveur parents, please make sure to check with your student to get a copy of the letter. We are so excited to be able to do these types of rewards again! 2 years ago, our winning Middle School House for Marking Period 1 earned this same reward. They had a great time and Main Street Lanes took very good care of our students, giving them an extra game and turning on glow bowling. They complimented the behavior of the students and were more than willing to work with us again this year to offer up the same reward. I am confident that our students will once again represent Au Gres-Sims again in such a positive manner!
We also held our Elementary Child Study Meetings this week. This important piece of our district plan to support our students takes place a few times each year. A team of educators and specialists from Au Gres-Sims and the Bay Arenac ISD meet to discuss and plan supports for our students who are showing needs in academics and/or behavior. This important process also takes place in the secondary as needed. We are very lucky to have such a strong partnership with our ISD, in order to meet the needs of our students.
Finally, I am working on contacting a few final families to discuss IRIP plans for some of our elementary students who were not able to come in for face-to-face conferences. These are crucial conversations to update you on the supports we are providing for students who are needing additional reading support as outlines by the Read by Grade Three Law. As always, if you have any questions regarding additional supports or services that your child receives, please reach out to me and I can answer your questions or direct you to the appropriate individuals.
Social Emotional Learning or Emotional Intelligence
Whether it's called "social and emotional learning" or "emotional intelligence," most people understand it's critical to pay attention to the development of the whole young person, including character education. Parents have a dual role to play in raising a self-aware, respectful child who knows how to manage his or her emotions, make responsible decisions, and resolve conflicts non-violently. At home, you should strive to create an environment of trust, respect, and support. Remember that modeling "emotionally intelligent" behavior at home is the first step in nurturing emotionally intelligent children. At school, we are working to create a climate that supports social and emotional learning - in and out of the classroom. In our Middle School, we are using a program called the Positivity Project to help our students build strong character traits that will help them throughout their lives.
Here are some specific steps you can take to nurture an emotionally intelligent child, and additional resources you can use to learn more about social and emotional learning.
Be a good listener
Model the behavior you seek
Nurture your child’s self-esteem
Respect differences
Take advantage of support services
https://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-parent-resources
Athletics Update
Congratulations to the Varsity Football team on an excellent 2021 season. You gave the school and the community something special this year, well done!
Now that we have come to a full close on the fall sports season it is time to shift our thoughts indoor and the start of the winter sports season.
Next Week's Game Schedule
- Mon. 11/22 MS Boys Basketball AWAY @ Oscoda, 6p
- Tues. 11/23 MS Boys Basketball HOME vs. Hale, 6p
Important Dates
NOVEMBER
- NOV. 25-26: School Holiday - No Students or Staff
DECEMBER
- DEC. 1: Coffee with the Superintendent - Au Gres Cauffee Shop 8-9a
- DEC. 2: Arenac Community Funds Holiday Auction at T&C Sports Lounge 6pm
- 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)
ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON MONDAY
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!
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
COME CHECK OUT THE BOOK FAIR
Inside Recess Can Still Be Fun!!
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