The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Au Gres-Sims Families and Community,
Every year is a new beginning and this year feels different than the others that I have had here at AGS. Our goal this year is to extend that feeling throughout our 180 days of learning and to maintain the momentum that we have built up in this first week of school. We humbly ask that you help us to do that by continuing to have conversations with your students about their day, find out what interested them, and what they have to work on at home.
Learning does not stop when our students exit our building each day. Learning extends to the practice fields of youth sports and our middle and high school teams; it extends to the classrooms where community clubs gather; and it extends into your homes. Even when students don't have homework to complete for the next day of school, the conversations that you have with your children about their learning make a difference. This reflection activity is a way for students to cement their learning and transfer it from their sensory input to their memory.
Over this 4-day holiday weekend I encourage you to sit down with your children, from our youngest learners to our most experienced, and have a chat with them about what they learned this week, what they are looking forward to this year, what they plan to do to make that happen, and how you can best support them. It is not just a new school year for our students and staff, but for each of you at home reading this as well.
Have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend and we will see everyone back on campus on Tuesday, September 6th!
Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
As the school year begins, we are quickly upon many exciting annual events. I will continue to provide more details as these events get closer, but stay tuned for other communication avenues (teachers communications, emails, school messengers, etc). We would love to see as much family involvement as possible at these events!
Next week you should see information coming home regarding a district wide fundraiser. Packets and information will be sent home from the teachers highlighting how the program works. In a nutshell, families can make online purchases from the Family Book Store for books and normal, everyday products. This fundraiser will last throughout the year. The role that students/families play is to send email invitations to friends and family 18 years and older and when purchases are made, portions of the purchases go directly back to the school. Personal information and addresses will only benefit the Au Gres-Sims School District and will NEVER be shared or used for any other purpose. Student prize incentives are available based upon the number of emails provided. Participation in this is completely optional.
Next week is the induction into our second annual AGS Athletic Hall of Fame class. Individuals will be recognized during halftime of the varsity football game against Charlton Heston Academy on Friday, September 9, and then again the next day, Saturday, September 10, at our induction ceremony. Congratulations to the following individuals and teams:
1968 Boys Basketball Team
1995 Girls Softball Team
1995 Boys Track Team
Lindsay Nowak (Soule)
Heidi Kauffman (Miller)
Shanon Freehling (Sylvester)
Mike Bilacic
Kevin Whyte
Lois Compau
Barb and Willard Rempert
Don and Carla Fritz
Norma Ostrander (Schwiderson)
Mike Hering
Justin Kelly
Bill Lake
Valorie Parker (Pendred)
Duane Pendred
Tom Farver
Natasha Dewald
Smile pretty! Picture Day is quickly approaching on Tuesday, September 12! On this day we also have an OK2SAY Assembly planned for our 4th and 5th graders at 1:30 and another assembly for 6th-8th graders at 2:15.
The week of September 19 has many exciting Homecoming events planned. Stay tuned for more details regarding daily dress up themes. Friday, September 23rd, will consist of a Homecoming parade, carnival, and football game. The week will conclude on Saturday, the 24th, with our Homecoming dance.
From the Desk of Ms. Socha
It was a wonderful first week back with all of our students! It was great to see all of those familiar faces again, as well as getting the chance to meet so many new ones. As we prepare to start our second week of school, we are working out kinks with schedules, cementing classroom procedures and protocols, and diving right into curriculum and instruction. There will be many important events coming up in the weeks ahead. The first will be our fall NWEA session for this year. This will be an important benchmark for us to have as we start the year. The window begins on Monday, September 12th, and ends on Friday, September 30th. K-11 students will be testing in reading and math, 2nd through 11th-grade students will also be testing in language, and 3rd through 11th-grade students will take all tests with the addition of science. The classroom teachers will give you specific testing dates for your students in the weeks to come. We are also excited about the return of a special learning opportunity happening in the coming weeks. On September 14th the entire middle school will be embarking on a three-day trip to Hartley Nature Center, where they will be immersed in hands-on learning in a unique environment. We are so excited to send our middle school students for a second year to Hartley! Middle school students brought home an informational letter today along with the packet that needs to be completed and returned to the school office by Friday, September 9th. An emailed copy of the informational letter with links was also sent out this afternoon.
As we dive back into academics, I would also like to send a friendly reminder to secondary families to make sure that Chromebooks are coming to school with students each day, and that they are fully charged. We have a limited number of loaner Chromebooks, and students need to be responsible to come to school prepared to learn each day. Our Chromebooks are an important school tool, so please help encourage your student to be ready for a full day of learning each day!
Over the summer, we reflected on our teacher and student survey data through our District Continuous Improvement Process. One idea that came from the data review process was a platform for students to be able to anonymously report any concerning activity to me and Mr. Zeien. From those conversations, we have started a campaign called “See Something, Say Something.” There are posters in all middle and high school bathroom stalls as well as in the hallways with a QR code that students can scan and report information such as suspicious activity, vaping, drug/alcohol use, depression, bullying - anything that they feel should be reported. Mr. Zeien and I are the only people that will see the information and will handle it in a confidential manner. This will also be linked on our school website so that students can report at home as well. We hope that students will use this tool as a way to look out for each other and get classmates the help they need to be successful and safe.
Finally, a new school year means new monthly School and Home Connection Newsletters! Below you will find the September Newsletters for both Elementary and Middle School.
Elementary Newsletter - September
Breakfast and Lunch Menu for the September 5-9
Athletics Update
AGS Fan Gear Stores are open...check them out and get your order in before they close!
- FOOTBALL closes at 11pm on September 5th: Click the FOOTBALL LINK HERE
- VOLLEYBALL closes at 11pm on September 11th: Click the VOLLEYBALL LINK HERE
Next Week's Schedule of Events:
Tues. 9/6
- 530p JV/V Volleyball AWAY @ Midland Calvary Baptist
- 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Charlton Heston Academy
Thur. 9/8
- 530p JV/V Volleyball AWAY @ SASA
- 6p MS Volleyball HOME vs. Mio/WP
- 630p JV Football AWAY @ Alcona
Fri. 9/9
- 7p V Football HOME vs. Charlton Heston (Hall of Fame Induction)
Sat. 9/10
- 9a JV Volleyball Tourney AWAY @ Oscoda
- 9a V Volleyball Tourney AWAY @ Bay City All Saints
Important Dates
SEPTEMBER
- 2nd: No school - Student and Staff Holiday
- 5th: No school - LABOR DAY - Student and Staff Holiday
- 9th: Hall of Fame Induction Football Game/Ceremony
- 14th-16th: Middle School Fieldtrip to Hartley Outdoor Education Center
- 19th: Board of Education regular meeting 6pm in the Elementary Library
- 21st: Early Release at 1pm
- 23rd: Homecoming Football Game
- 24th: Homecoming Dance
Middle School Families
The trip is planned for Wednesday, September 14th through Friday, September 16th. Registration forms went home with students TODAY but are also linked below. Please do not hesitate to start filling out and submitting your student's paperwork! The registration forms include a medical sheet that needs to be signed off on by a doctor if any medication needs to be administered while we are on the trip.
The cost of the trip is $20 per student and we are asking that all paperwork be submitted by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH...that is next Friday! Please turn in the completed registration forms to the main office prior to and up to this date.
New Middle School Students Sorted
The 4 Houses and their Middle School Teacher/House Leaders are:
- ALTRUISMO: Mr. Dittenber
- AMISTAD: Ms. Ming
- ISIBINDI: Ms. Rinn
- REVEUR: Mr. Bearsdley
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.
If you are interested in substitute teaching and need assistance with the paperwork process, a WillSub representative will be in Arenac County twice per month for onsite consultation.
- 2nd Tuesday of the month, from 12-4pm in the AGS Administration Office
- 4th Tuesday of the month, from 12-4pm at Standish-Sterling School District
Here is a complete list of dates:
- September 13 (AGS) and 27 (SSC)
- October 11 (AGS and 25 (SSC)
- November 8 (AGS) and 22 (SSC)
- December 13 (AGS)
- January 10 (AGS) and 24 (SSC)
- February 14 (AGS) and 28 (SSC)
- March 14 (AGS) and 28 (SSC)
- April 11 (AGS) and 25 (SSC)
- May 9 (AGS) and 23 (SSC)
Happy to Be Back!!
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