The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
In the letter that I sent out on Monday afternoon I provided more insight into just how much of an effect these cases can have in our building. With over 25 staff and students already out before Friday and another 75+ going into quarantine as the result of exposure to positive cases and the contact tracing process, the need to stop the spread was real and immediate. When the added uncertainty of potential cases that were pending test results was added to the equation, the difficult decision to close our doors was made.
In the days that have passed since that decision a number of people have contacted me, many with words of understanding and some with words of disagreement. The single thought that I have had coming out of these dialogues has been GRACE. If you're anything like me as soon as you hear that word "grace" you begin immediately playing that seen from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation in which the family is seated around the table for Christmas dinner and Aunt Bethany is asked to say grace:
"Grace? She passed away 30 years ago."
Grace, however, is so much more than a name, as the classic holiday movie demonstrated. It is also a blessing, it can be a demonstration of finesse and refinement, it is an act of courteous goodwill. This last one is important, this act of courteous goodwill.
Now, more than I can remember at any point in my time on this earth, we as a people are being challenged. The stress and strain of the pandemic has impacted all of us in some way or another. It has pushed us to our mental breaking point and it has made combatants out of once friendly neighbors. This virus has shortened our fuses and pushed our logical brains and caring hearts aside.
Grace is the answer; grace for one another, courteous goodwill in the face of adversity. Let us all truly hope that Grace didn't pass away 30 years ago and that she is alive and well in all of us.
Stay safe everyone and we will see you soon.
-Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
The end of the school year is rapidly approaching, and for our seniors, it is even that much closer as graduation is set for Friday, May 28, at 7:30 pm. With Covid guidelines in place that currently dictate 14 days of quarantine if you are a close contact, there has been some conversations and anxiety for our Senior families that they potentially wouldn’t be able to participate in graduation and other end of the year festivities. To help make sure that you can participate fully, we encourage you to get vaccinated. There are various opportunities out there for this, and more will be coming.
And, also for our Senior families, here are some things you may want to know and consider if you are planning to go to college, but haven’t made that big decision yet.
What College You Attend May Not Matter
There can be a huge focus on attending the “best” college possible. Don't put too much pressure or emphasis on that. Financially, many schools simply aren't a realistic option for most. State schools, private universities, small liberal arts colleges, huge sports schools, and prestigious universities all give out bachelor's degrees. As long as an individual has a bachelor's degree, they will have some advantage professionally. According to the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, a person with a bachelor's degree earns on average about $32,000 more than someone who has only has a high school education.
Check Your Finances
College is far from cheap and the cost is rising every year. If you don't have a designated college fund, or if you do and understandably not enough, you'll need to do some financial planning. Financial aid for college does have a learning curve. The most important thing you can do for your student is to fill out the yearly FAFSA which is federal student aid for higher education determined by the parent's income. This is a way to get money for school and information on the best student loans. Find out how much money you have and how much your student will need. Be sure to include living expenses such as food and decide if your student will need to work in order to make ends meet. Get all those tax forms and financial documents in order, because paying for college is no joke.
Teach Autonomy & Independence Early
When your young adult moves out and is on their own, you won't be there to speak for them or make their decisions. These are skills that need to be taught early but will be a huge benefit later. College is likely the first place a young adult is away from home and away from family for an extended time. They need to be able to speak up for themselves and talk to people they don't know. Make sure your child knows their voice means something and they should use it.
They'll Still Need You
College-age young adults are legally adults but still need so much guidance. Your seemingly adult children will need you for many years to come. Advice, support, and compassion are among the needs of college students who still rely on their parents. Everyone needs a support system and you can still be one for your child from afar. Parenting doesn't end when your child grows up. It just changes and evolves. College is only four short years. It's possible your child will return home, or nearby, so you can continue being their proud mom. They will always be your baby!
With our 2 week pause to in person learning, one thing that we will continue to provide is the supply of meals. Food will be delivered to approximately 40 spots throughout the district through 4 bus routes. These deliveries can cover up to 5 days of food (breakfasts and lunch) and will take place on Tuesday and Thursday this upcoming week. For a list of food locations and times, go to the school website under the “News” section. This week we were able to serve 136 kids for a total of 335 meals! I’m glad we could serve so many families! Let’s get more next week!
Our two week pause to in person learning has also affected our State testing schedule. For our elementary, we will resume testing when we return on May 3 with our 5 graders, followed by our 3rd and 4th graders testing the week of May 10. At the secondary level, the MSTEP will be administered to our 6th and 7th grade students on the mornings of May 4 and May 6, our 8th grade will test on the morning of May 4, and our 11th graders will be finishing their testing on the morning of May 6. Makeup dates have not yet been established.
As we enter the second week of our two week pause, I can’t stress enough about the importance of attending classroom Google Meets and staying connected to staff. There are various opportunities to stay involved with classroom teachers, while also staying connected and taking advantage of intervention service hours through our paraprofessionals, Title, and itinerant staff. A two week pause to being on campus should not be two weeks without direct learning from your educators. This learning time is crucial to continued success!
And, as an FYI, National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is tomorrow, Saturday, April 24. You can take advantage of this from 10-2 at the Iosco County Sheriff’s Office, or utilize the Sheriff’s Department in Standish who have a permanent secured box.
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
Last week, I reviewed some Remote Learning Tips and Technology Procedures from earlier this year. With COVID-19 cases rising in our county and community, I wanted to be proactive in case we were faced with the decision of going back to remote instruction. Ironically, the day the newsletter entry that I wrote was posted, Mr. Ming had to make that call. Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to review our Virtual Learning Platform and our recommendations to make the remainder of this 2 week period as successful as possible.
First, as I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, students should be logging into their Google Classroom each day for their daily assignments. Even though we are asynchronous, meaning you are not required to log in live at a specific time, you are expected to interact daily with your lessons and complete assignments in a timely manner. It is very difficult to catch up once you start to fall behind, so keeping up with daily work is incredibly important. Also, in your Google Classrooms teachers are posting links for synchronous live class meetings/lessons, as well as office hours where they are available live for any questions you may have. They are also available via email, and can answer any questions or set up individual meetings if needed. It is very important to attend those meetings if you are able to remain engaged with your teachers. We have also added an additional layer of support for this 2 week closure. All students will see links in their Google Classroom to join a session with one of our amazing paraprofessionals for academic support. There are open sessions each day where any student can pop in to get assistance on a question or an assignment. These schedules are posted in each Google Classroom, so please be sure to take advantage of this great resource. Our support staff are also scheduling individual meetings with select students that they typically work with in class, so if you are contacted to set up an individual meeting time, we encourage you to take this opportunity.
We know that remote learning can be difficult. We would prefer to have them in person ourselves, but we also have to put their health and safety first. Therefore, we have put as many supports in place as we can to ensure that our students can be successful during this time. I urge you to use as many of these supports as possible to make this 2 week pause in our face-to-face learning as successful as possible.
One last note - we still have the Learning Resources Page available on our website, that includes videos that support some of the technology pieces. This may also help if you are stuck on a technology piece or need a refresher on some of our platforms. As always, you can also contact us directly as well!
Elements of Self-Care - Part 1
It has been a long year, and circumstances have caused us to experience new demands at home, at work and at school. The narrowing of social outlets, increases in screen time, and the constant reminders around us (masks, statistics, media reports, etc.) that we are in the midst of a pandemic continue to take their toll on society. With all of this going on, we may have forgotten to care for ourselves. This is such an important aspect of our lives, but, unfortunately, when we are already stretched for time and other resources, self-care is often put to the side. In the first of a two part series highlighting key elements of self-care, we will be looking at four of these elements. Five other elements will be examined next week.
Healthy Eating: A healthy balanced diet is the foundation for self-care. Including fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains in your diet instead of sugars and processed foods is a good starting point. And don’t forget the importance of staying hydrated by drinking water and natural juices. Try limiting pop and caffeine intake.
Physical Fitness: Now that the weather is getting nicer, the opportunity to be outside and active is growing. Activities like walking, jogging, biking and rollerblading will get you active and get your heart rate up. If you are beginning a new exercise program, you may want to check for recommendations and advice from your healthcare provider.
Reducing Stress: There are all kinds of simple things you can do to reduce stress during your day. Here are some examples: watch a sunrise/sunset, listen to music, play with a pet, lay in the sunshine, write, draw, pray, play music, take a nap, watch nature, gaze into a campfire, talk to a friend, set a puzzle. For more ideas of activities to reduce stress that kids and adults might use, click here. Keep in mind, what is relaxing and stress reducing for one person might not be what works for you. Do some experimenting and find the things that are your best fit activities.
Time Management: Do you ever feel like saying “There just isn’t enough time!”? You are not alone. We cannot create more time, but we can try to use our time more efficiently. Try these approaches: Make a list of tasks, create a schedule for the day, set goals, stop procrastinating. Prioritize your work for the day and stay focused on accomplishing the most important tasks. Changes in time management are usually not immediate, so be patient as you make progress in this area.
I challenge each of you to improve your self-care during this upcoming week by making a deliberate change in one or more of the aforementioned areas. Taking action to ensure you are taking care of yourself is an important step in being prepared and equipped to help a friend, family member or even a stranger when situations arise. Be the best self you can be!
Athletics Update
Athletics are currently on a pause with the recent rise of cases within the building. We are coordinating with the health department and other schools to assemble plans for when we are safely able to return to competition.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ALL CONFERENCE TEAM PICKS:
BOYS BASKETBALL
2nd team Evan Saunders
2nd team Parker Nelson
GIRLS BASKETBALL
2nd team Keagan Skacal
Mark Your Calendars
APRIL Events and Dates to Remember
- Apr 23: Board of Education Spring Retreat, 1pm AGS Elementary
This week it's fresher than the dew of a mountain glen on a cool spring morning.
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