The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Community,
H - Helping each other
We have seen great acts of helping each other during this pandemic. Though neighbors have always helped one another, my overwhelming take away from this past 11 months is an emphasis on slowing down and supporting one another, placing value on relationships. We see the value of relationships all around us everyday and that is why we continue to mask up and make sacrifices, because we believe in the greater good.
O - Optimism
I'll admit that at times it has been difficult to stay positive during the cold of the winter and the 2nd wave of the virus. With the beautiful and much warmer weather that we have experienced this week and the news from the health department that our sacrifices are paying off, there is a renewed optimism in the air. The expectation is that restrictions that we have all experienced and made sacrifices for will be further loosened soon.
P - Perseverance
No doubt this pandemic has tested our resolve and challenged us to new limits. Day to day our perseverance has been tested. When looking at the positive takeaways from this whole experience one thing that stands out to me more than others is the grit, determination, and perseverance that has been shown. Those are skills that our students have seen in all of us and are valuable to their future success.
E - Enthusiasm
Much of what we have done at the school level has been changed due to our circumstances. Inside the walls of the buildings we have adjusted to meet the needs of our learners and we have learned in the process. While many of the changes have been forced, the end result is that sometimes you need to be pushed into trying something new. I am enthusiastic about the future of this district for many reasons that include the renewed cooperation and commitment of our families, the appreciation of the teacher-student relationship, the learning of new skills that we have acquired, and the grit that has been developed during this crisis.
There has been a lot of darkness over the last year. I have HOPE that there is light and I HOPE you do too.
Have a great weekend AGS,
Mr. Ming
Last week I talked about how to reduce anxiety and stress. One of the ideas provided was to “Get Physical”. Currently, we are limited in being able to provide opportunities for our youth to stay active. One option that is currently available is the start of community based youth programs such baseball and softball. For more information about Little League opportunities go to the Au Gres Little League facebook page. Parents, besides getting involved in supporting community associations such as Little League or the Chamber of Commerce, you can also get involved in school based groups like the Wolverine Pride Association (sports boosters) and/or the PTO. There are never too many good people supporting our youth!
In these tumultuous times, the MSU Extension offers some great learning opportunities through child and family classes and workshops. There is a wide range of free online classes. Some topics include: Positive Discipline, Guiding Principles for Highly Successful Families, Screen Time for Young Children, Setting the Stage: Promoting Social-Emotional Health of Children, The Parent Talk System, and many more. Please contact the main office for more information or check out the MSU Extension Facebook page for more information at MI Stronger Family - MSU Extension.
With just over three months left, the end of the school year is coming quick! This time of the year always flies by. Stay tuned to class and district communications to keep abreast of how things look as we finish the year strong. Some big events during the month of March include district basketball, the start of spring sports, Parent/Teacher conferences, Preschool and Kindergarten registration, March is Reading Month, and Spring Break. These important experiences help develop bonds while forming who we are. Enjoy the ride!
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
As you may have heard in the news this week, the US Department of Education has released a statement regarding state testing for this spring. Within this 3 page document, the USDE explains their viewpoint on the importance of having this state test data to analyze the effect of the pandemic on the students. They have encouraged states to apply for waivers that will adjust the traditional testing framework, suggesting that states adjust elements such as the length of the assessments, when they are given, and/or offering a virtual option for administration - just to name a few. We of course will be looking to Lansing for further direction on what things will look like for us here in Michigan, but at this point we are at least planning on taking state assessments in some form.
In other news, we are ready to kick off March is Reading Month!! We are excited to have activities happening K-12 throughout the month. Elementary students will be enjoying a camping theme, which is encouraging them to do “Smore Reading!!” They will enjoy a virtual visit with an author, and log reading minutes to earn cool prizes. A calendar will be sent home with lots of reading month activities for students and their families! Middle and high school will both be participating in a “One School, One Book” event, with each school reading a novel together. They will also have a calendar of events that will be sent out to them that includes spirit days, trivia competitions, and House activities. They will have many opportunities to earn House points by showing their knowledge of the books, and participating in some fun activities too! We will also be holding our secondary Book Fair the week of March 15-19. Middle and high school students will have opportunities to shop and order both here on campus and online. The Book Fair here on campus will look a little different than in the past due to safety protocols, but we will still be giving students access to purchase a wide range of titles like always! Students will also have opportunities to earn gift certificates for the Book Fair as prizes for the trivia competitions. More information about the Book Fair will be sent out soon. I hope all students enjoy March is Reading Month!
Recognize and Validate Grief
Everyone around us is experiencing some form of loss right now. The many difficult emotions you may be experiencing – sadness, disappointment, anger, guilt, frustration, or loneliness – are normal responses to abnormal conditions. We are grieving; and with grief, it is important to take a compassionate approach to ourselves and those around us.
How can you practice self-compassion?
• Recognize and name the emotions you are experiencing. Check in with yourself, just like you would for a friend. Give yourself permission to feel your feelings, whatever they may be.
• Guilt, especially survivor’s guilt, is common during a widespread crisis, but it is not productive. Try to let it go.
• Practice self-kindness. Treat yourself the way you would treat a friend! Kindness and compassion toward yourself is never selfish; in fact, it will help you maintain strength and resilience, ultimately enabling you to be a more effective support for others.
• Recognize the common humanity around you. We are all in this together. Many people around the world are having the same kinds of experiences, thoughts, and feelings as you.
Understanding the stages of grief may also help. Remember, these stages aren’t linear and may not happen in this order. It’s not a map but it provides some scaffolding for this unfamiliar world. There’s denial, which we say a lot of early on: This virus won’t affect us. There’s anger: You’re making me stay home and taking away my activities. There’s bargaining: Okay, if I social distance for two weeks everything will be better, right? There’s sadness: I don’t know when this will end. And finally there’s acceptance. This is happening; I have to figure out how to proceed.
It is normal and healthy to cycle through these various stages, and there is no set timeline for the grieving process. The time required to reach acceptance varies widely from person to person. It is not unusual for someone who is grieving to continue to experience these stages over the course of years. Over time the intensity of emotion related to the grief may vary, too. Let’s continue to be aware and sensitive to the grief that those around us are experiencing. Kindness, encouragement, compassion and caring does make a difference.
“He had to keep her calm, keep himself calm; panic, he knew, could spread between two people more quickly than any virus.” - Anthony Marra, A Constellation of Vital Phenomena
Athletics Update
Middle School Volleyball Schedule
Middle Girls Volleyball - Game Action for Next Week
Date Opponent Start Time
Thu 3/4 @ Mio 6:00 - AWAY
Fri 3/5 @ Surline-West Branch 6:00 - AWAY
Please note that this schedule reflects a change to the originally posted schedule and was distributed to players and parents earlier in the week.
High School Boys and Girls Basketball Schedule
Boys/Girls Basketball Schedule - Game Action for Next Week
Date Opponent Start Time
Tues 3/2 @ Fairview - 6:00 - AWAY
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
Wed 3/3 vs. Hale 6:00 - HOME
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
- Game will be live streamed through Facebook live, available on the AGS website
Fri 3/5 @ Posen 6:00 - AWAY
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
Mark Your Calendars
Next week we welcome in the month of March! Spring is on its way!
- Mar. 1: Special (Virtual) Board Meeting, 5pm
- Mar. 3, 10, 17, 24: Virtual Wednesday learning days for all K-12 students
- Mar. 14: "Spring Forward" - Daylight Savings Time begins...don't forget to move your clocks forward 1 hour!
- Mar. 15: Regular (Virtual) Board Meeting, 6pm
- Mar. 18: Secondary (grades 6-12) Parent-Teacher Conferences - scheduled virtually
- Mar. 22: Start of MHSAA Spring Sports (high school)
- Mar. 29-Apr 2: Spring Break
This week it's fresher than a new pair of slacks. We're not sure what slacks are either, but ask your grandma, she'll know.
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