The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Au Gres-Sims Families,
Have you heard the news? Do you know what is coming on April 8th? On that day, our first day back from Spring Break, the northern hemisphere will experience a solar eclipse. This event takes place when the moon blocks the path of the sun, creating a phenomenon that has fascinated mankind throughout history. This is an uncommon event, but here in the northern latitudes, it is even more rare. While Au Gres is not in the path of totality, we will experience a magnitude of 93.6% (think coverage). The next time that this will happen is in 2099! On April 8th, the solar eclipse will begin in our area at 1:59pm and will last 2 hours and 27 minutes. The maximum will occur at 3:10pm and last for 4 minutes and 27 seconds. From 3:10 until ~3:15pm the majority of the sun will be blocked out by the moon, resulting in a dazzling display of the sun's corona, a part not usually seen.
Here's the kicker...did you see that time? That small window, from 3:10 to 3:15, is when we are dismissing from school. This is the time when parents are lined up outside the building and kids are getting picked up or loading buses. It is non-instructional time, a time of transition. Not only is this a less than optimal time for eye safety (looking at the sun is very harmful), but it is also a non-instructional time for students to learn about and observe such a rare event. That is why we will be extending the school day by 15 minutes on Monday, April 8th, 2024. On this day we will be dismissing students at 3:25pm instead of our normal 3:10pm. Solar viewing glasses will be provided to all students and staff members so that we can all experience and learn about this special event together, safely. We are encouraging all staff and classes to step outside at this time to take in the solar eclipse, something that most of us won't be around to see the next time that one occurs in Au Gres.
I'm sharing this information with you so that you can mark your calendars now. We have Spring Break coming up and April 8th is our first day back. It is easy to lose track of school messaging over the vacation period, so it is important that the message goes out now. I will be following up next week with a letter emailed and posted and then you can expect a phone call on Sunday, April 7th with a reminder.
Have a great weekend,
Mr. Ming
From the Desk of Mr. Zeien
In a couple of weeks we will be starting our State testing. Although preparation prior to the test is the biggest thing you can do to be successful, there are different things you can do on the day of the test and days leading up to the test. This newsletter is dedicated to some of those ideas.
Don’t cram! In fact, cramming for a test is highly counterproductive. Not only are you less likely to retain the information you need, but cramming also increases stress, negatively impacts sleep, and decreases your overall preparedness.
Get good sleep. Showing up to your test well-rested is one of the best things you can do to succeed on test day. Why should you make sleep a priority? A good night’s sleep will help you think more clearly during the test. It will also make it easier to cope with test-taking stress and anxiety. Moreover, excellent sleep habits have been shown to consolidate memory and improve academic performance, as well as reduce the risk of depression and other mental health disorders.
Get a good breakfast. A mix of complex carbohydrates and healthy protein will keep you feeling full without making you feel sluggish. Whole wheat cereal, eggs, oatmeal, berries, and nuts may be great choices. It’s best to avoid foods that are high in sugar, as they can give you a rush of energy that will wear off quickly, leaving you feeling tired. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
Develop a positive mind set. Don’t underestimate the importance of confidence and a positive mindset in test preparation. Positive rituals can help combat negative thinking, test anxiety, and lack of focus that can easily undermine your success on test day. Engaging in simple breathing exercises and visualizing yourself succeeding on a test is also very helpful. Your rituals can be unique to you, but the important thing is developing a calming habit that will boost your confidence, attitude, and concentration when the test begins.
Ms. Steinbauer's Weekly Update
This week our staff had the opportunity to once again choose a path for their own learning during professional development on our early-release day. These opportunities for professional learning allow our educators to choose learning options that best fit what is happening in their classroom at this point in time. Staff are provided with several options for learning as well as being able to propose ideas that they feel will benefit them. For the month of March, the topic of Social Emotional Learning and Positive Behavior Supports was a focus for our learning. As a district we are hoping to continue to work on these avenues to enhance our supports for students in not just their classroom learning but all aspects of their day and a big part of that is positive reinforcement with behavior. As the learning environment changes, students change and we must adapt to those changes with them.
Also this week, we were able to bring back one of our literacy nights in the elementary school. This was a common practice a few years ago and we are happy to be bringing that back to our families. We had many families in attendance for an evening of pizza and games. Families were able to try out different educational games which were also available for purchase. We had the help of our girls softball team along with our staff who played the games with our families. It was a really great night for everyone to come together. We look forward to continuing to bring these types of events back to the building.
We have just one more week before spring break and upon our return we jump right into our spring testing with the M-STEP, PSAT and SAT. As we spend our last few days with your students preparing them for this, check in with them on how they are feeling about their testing. Also encourage them to take their time and put forth effort as these scores give us a lot of valuable information in terms of our decisions on curriculum and what we are doing here on a daily basis.
School Breakfast and Lunch Menu: March 25-28, 2024
Athletics Update
- Spring Sports are just starting up and we have another week of practice before any contests get started. Time to transition bodies and minds to new athletic endeavors!
T-BALL REGISTRATION FORM
March is Reading Month
The calendar has flipped from February into March and that means Reading Month! This year our theme is Reading is Magical and we have all kinds of fun stuff planned.
AGS Gifts for the Whole Family
Hey, Wolverines fan!
This month, we’re highlighting fleece favorites. Available in a range of styles from everyone’s favorite brands, our fleece gives fans a chance to rep their team while staying warm this spring.
- SHOP - SCAN - EARN FUNDS FOR AGS STUDENTS: Download the app today! https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/get-the-app
- Popcorn Fridays: April 12 & 26, May 3, 17, & 31
Important Dates
MARCH
- 29: Good Friday - NO SCHOOL
APRIL
- 1-5: Spring Break - NO SCHOOL
- 8: School Resumes
Community Events
- "Light up the Sky" Raffle - APRIL 8TH @ 6:30PM (see below) - Proceeds go to the Au Gres 2024 Fireworks.
- Community Hiring Event - APRIL 18 9a-3p - For jobseekers across Arenac County. See the picture below for details.
- Arenac Community Funds' 22nd Annual Golf Outing - MAY 17TH
Season 2 of the Senior Scoop Podcast
It is insightful to hear from our seniors, the product of many years of development, growth, and learning. The featured guest for the Senior Scoop this week was senior Madeline Valley.
Madeline's message to younger students is to, "Take advantage of all the extras provided to us."
Help Wanted at AGS
Job Opportunities at AGS
- We are always looking for BUS DRIVERS. If you are interested in driving a bus as a substitute or for student activities, please inquire with the administrative office. We cover the training costs!
We are also always on the lookout for substitute teachers. If interested, please inquire with Mrs. Freehling in the district administration office, (989) 876-7157 and she will put you into direct contact with Laurie Crane at ESS-WillSub
Guest readers for this week!
Pages of the 1st grader's nonfiction animal books!
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