The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Au Gres-Sims Families and Community
The Au Gres-Sims School District Board of Education has approved placing a non-homestead operating millage renewal on the August 2nd ballot. All registered voters living in the Au Gres-Sims Schools District can vote on this proposal.
The millage renewal only applies to non-homesteads (businesses, rental
properties, vacant land, and second homes). If approved by voters, there will be no
change in the tax rate on primary residences (the home in which you live) NONE!
The purpose of the millage is to enable the school district to levy the required 18
mills as required by the State of Michigan. Michigan law requires school districts to levy
this millage to receive their full share of State Aid or to be “made whole.”
This election is important to Au Gres-Sims School District because the non-
homestead millage generates 42 percent of the school district’s operating budget. If the
millage renewal is not approved this year, State Aid will be reduced by more than
$5,586 per student (approximately $2,324,380 in total). This reduction would result in
the school district making significant reductions in the educational program.
All registered voters living in the Au Gres-Sims School District can vote in the
non-homestead millage renewal election on August 2nd or by absentee ballot after June
23rd through Election Day. To find your Clerk’s Office, voting location, or apply for an
absentee ballot, go to www.michigan.gov/vote.
If you need more information, voters are encouraged to go to www.ags-
schools.org and click on Millage Renewal Election, call any Au Gres-Sims School
Administrator, or contact me, Superintendent Chris Ming at (989)876-7150 or by email at
K-12 Principal's Update
Recently, the Bay-Arenac Career Center celebrated the accomplishments of their students with a special awards ceremony. We had two AGS students who were honored. The first was Joshua Pittman. Josh was recognized as “Outstanding Student” in the Computer Programming class. The second was Lance Selle. Lance was recognized as “Outstanding Student” in the Engineering/Drafting class. Lance was also honored for his status of “National Technical Honor Society” (which recognizes students who have at least a 3.5 GPA and all A’s in their home school districts). In addition, Lance also received the “Engineering/Drafting Advisory Scholarship”. Congratulations gentlemen on the well deserved accolades!
Currently, we have 11th and 12th grade students finalizing plans with Mrs. Cardinal on their intents to attend the Bay Arenac Career Center next year. Did you know that the Career Center offers 24 programs? Did you know that taking classes at the Career Center can substitute for certain classes taken here on campus? Did you know that Career Center classes can be counted towards college credit? Did you know that State and national certification testing is available to students in many programs? Did you know that 95% of Career Center graduates go to college and/or work after completing their Career Center experience?
If you are interested in getting certified for Infant and Child First Aid and CPR, you can sign up for a session in Bay City on May 11 from 6-9 for $20. Classes will be held at 820 S. Lincoln St. For registration or more information call 894-3935.
There is about one week left to submit nomination forms for our 2nd Annual AGS Athletic Hall of Fame. Nominations are due May 15. Please help us in recognizing our well deserved athletes!
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
NWEA testing is now underway! Kindergarten-2nd grade students, as well as 6th-11th grade began the Reading MAP test at the start of the week, and 6th -11th concluded the week with the Math test. 3rd-5th grade have a slightly different schedule due to M-STEP testing, so they will be completing their NWEA testing in the coming weeks, starting next week on Tuesday. This week I wanted to give them a testing break while I focus on M-STEP make-up testing. These make-ups will continue through next week for 3rd-8th grade. In addition, our 11th grade students will be taking thier science and social studies M-STEP tests next week on Tuesday and Wednesday. It will be a very busy few weeks, but we will get everything done! Virtual students, I will be reaching out soon to set up testing sessions with you. As far as data is concerned for these tests, you can expect to receive your students’ NWEA score reports with your child’s report card at the end of they year. M-STEP score reports are generally are released in the early fall and will be sent home to you at that time. Any 3rd grade student who was flagged under the Read By Grade 3 Law for retention will be contacted by the school directly in the coming weeks.
As I have mentioned in last week’s newsletter, we have been working hard on planning some Summer School options for our students here at Au Gres-Sims. We are very close to having all of the details worked out and I will be sharing our summer learning options with you in next week’s newsletter. We will have options for elementary and middle school students, as well as credit recovery for high school students. Watch Thrillshare, as well as my upcoming newsletters for flyers and sign-up information for the elementary and middle school sessions. Credit recovery candidates will be contacted directly by the school. I look forward to sharing this information with you!
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is nationally recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise
awareness about the importance of mental health, promote wellness, and fight the stigma
associated with mental illness and accessing mental health treatment.
As a parent or caregiver, we know that you want the best for your child. Knowing what to look
for and what to do should you have concerns about your child is important. The following is
information from mentalhealth.gov. It lists common warning signs that someone may be
struggling and tips on how to start a conversation with your child related to mental health:
What to Look For
It is important to be aware of warning signs that your child may be struggling. You can play a
critical role in knowing when your child may need help.
Consult with a school counselor, school nurse, mental health provider, contact one of the
resources listed below or another health care professional if your child shows one or more of the
following behaviors:
● Feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks
● Seriously trying to harm or kill himself or herself, or making plans to do so
● Experiencing sudden overwhelming fear for no reason, sometimes with a racing heart or fast breathing
● Getting in many fights or wanting to hurt others
● Showing severe out-of-control behavior that can hurt oneself or others
● Not eating, throwing up, or using laxatives to make himself or herself lose weight
● Having intense worries or fears that get in the way of daily activities
● Experiencing extreme difficulty controlling behavior, putting himself or herself in physical danger or causing problems in school
● Using drugs or alcohol repeatedly
● Having severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
● Showing drastic changes in behavior or personality
How to Talk About Mental Health
Do you need help starting a conversation with your child about mental health? Try leading with
these questions. Make sure you actively listen to your child's response.
● Can you tell me more about what is happening? How are you feeling?
● Have you had feelings like this in the past?
● Sometimes you need to talk to an adult about your feelings. I'm here to listen. How can I help you feel better?
● Do you feel like you want to talk to someone else about your problem?
● I'm worried about your safety. Can you tell me if you have thoughts about harming yourself or others?
When talking about mental health problems with your child you should:
● Communicate in a straightforward manner
● Speak at a level that is appropriate to a child or adolescent's age and development level (preschool children need fewer details than teenagers)
● Discuss the topic when your child feels safe and comfortable
● Watch for reactions during the discussion and slow down or back up if your child
becomes confused or looks upset
● Listen openly and let your child tell you about his or her feelings and worries
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s mental health, don’t be afraid to ask and
seek assistance. Contact your child’s doctor, school counselor/social worker via email during
remote learning, or community mental health professions for assistance.
Aligned with Mrs. Cardinal's information about mental health, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has a vast repository of Mental Health Resources including:
- Online Discussion Groups
- Resources for Teens
- Help Lines (Phone and Text)
- Mental Wellness Webinars
- Behavioral Health Guides
- Video Resources
Check them out at: https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/resources/mental-health-resources
Athletics Update
Next Week's Schedule of Events:
Monday 5/9:
- Varsity Softball & Baseball AWAY @ Posen, 4pm
- MS Track AWAY @ Oscoda, 4pm
Tuesday 5/10:
- Varsity Track AWAY @ Oscoda, 4pm
Wednesday 5/11:
- MS Track AWAY @ Whittemore-Prescott, 4pm
Thursday, 5/12:
- Varsity Softball & Baseball HOME vs. Mio, 4pm
Important Dates - May/June/End of School Year
Good News! We received confirmation this week that our waiver for 3 days was accepted by the state. We are confirmed for only 1 make-up day, meaning our last day of school is Friday, June 10th for students.
MAY
- 14th: 7p Prom at Edmond's Inn
- 16tth: 5:45p Board of Education Meeting (BAISD Budget Presentation followed by regular AGS meeting)
- 18th: Early Release at 1pm ALL STUDENTS
- 27th: Seniors LAST DAY
- 30th: Memorial Day - STUDENT AND STAFF HOLIDAY
JUNE
- 3rd: 7:30p Graduation at AGS Stadium
- 8th: FULL DAY OF SCHOOL (was originally an early release day)
- 9th: Early Release ALL STUDENTS at 1pm, Middle and High School Exams
- 10th: Early Release ALL STUDENTS at 1pm, Middle and High School Exams, LAST DAY OF SCHOOL FOR ALL STUDENTS
- 13th: Teacher Records Day
- 20th: 6p Board of Education Regular Meeting
Help Wanted at AGS
https://www.ags-schools.org/employment-opportunities--95
Job Opportunities at AGS
We are also always on the lookout for substitute teachers. If interested, please inquire with Mrs. Miller in the district administration office, (989) 876-7157.
Looking Ahead to the 2022-2023 School Year
We are already planning ahead for next school year and looking for the very best to fill our ranks and join the AGS Family. We need your help! Please spread the word that we are on the lookout for the following positions for the 22-23 School Year.
- Elementary Teacher
- K-12 Art Teacher
- Bus Driver
- Food Services Director
- Special Education Teacher
- Targeted Math Interventionist (part-time, grades 6-8)
The Wolverine Wake-up
Check out this week's issue of The Wolverine Wake-Up. Also be sure to watch our video broadcast this week. We have a special guest, our CEO and head honcho, Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Freeman, joining us to share a story about how our environmental science students are making a difference in our community. Have a great day!
Candy Melt, the 1st/2nd graders conducted an investigation to determine which types of candy melt in hot water.
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