The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Community,
Driver's Education
One of the services that our district offers is a setting for our students to take driver's education. In a rural community it is very important for our students to learn how to drive. We have been in close contact with King of the Road driving school and have developed a list of safety precautions that will be followed to ensure that driver's education can safely return to the halls of AGS. King of the Road has been a patient and willing partner and has been very understanding of our need to hold this course in an environment conducive to the continued in-person operation of our school district. More information will be coming out soon, but King of the Road anticipates that classes will be starting in April/May in the evenings on campus. Please contact King of the Road to sign up and receive more information.
Kindergarten and Preschool (GSRP) Round-up
We are pleased to announce that Wednesday, April 7th from 3:00-6:00pm will be the Au Gres-Sims School District Kindergarten and Preschool Round-up. Students and their families will go on a scavenger hunt through the halls of AGS to learn the environment and the ins and outs of school. More information will be coming out soon, but please help us in spreading the word. Early registration at this round-up event is critically important to our district to ensure that we have the proper staffing and supplies necessary to welcome in our youngest learners.
Have a great weekend AGS! #WolverinesLead #AGSInThisTogether
-Mr. Ming
Update
There is no question that things have been stressful over this past year. This stress only adds to anxiety for everyone and inevitably affects our overall health. One way to help others with stress and anxiety is to help ourselves! Here are some steps to help manage anxiety and depression for everyone.
Set Small Attainable Goals
For many of us it is the nature of the beast where we bite off more than we can chew. To avoid being overwhelmed by such large tasks, break up the large task into smaller, attainable tasks. As you are able to cross these tasks off your list, the task looks much less intimidating.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
There are many great sites out there to help deal with and manage our lives during this pandemic time. If you type in keywords such as “self harm” there are a myriad of resources that will pop up. Also, please feel free to contact the school for helpful resources. Help is at your fingertips!
Establish Routines
One thing which has been consistent over the last year is that nothing is consistent. By establishing set routines, it gives you a sense of control and that you are in control instead of someone or something else. This helps to reduce anxiety as you know what to expect.
Find Creative Outlets
Finding something creative to do often becomes an outlet in that your mind is not anxiously worrying about other things and instead it focuses on the task at hand. It can be something as simple as coloring, drawing, or building from a Lego set.
Get Physical
Covid and the cold weather has made this form of stress reduction extremely difficult. When you get moving your body releases serotonin which makes you feel better. At AGS. we have been fortunate to begin with organized winter sports. We are hoping that shortly we will be able to get outside and provide additional activities to get more students moving around. Naturally, as a school district, we are following Health Department guidelines to determine when we can start doing organized events safely. Thanks for your patience in this realm. This does not mean that in the meanwhile you can’t do things on your own such as take short walks or do some yoga or stretching. Not only will this keep you busy, but it also distracts your mind.
Be a Part of Something Bigger
Sometimes putting the focus on issues that may be bigger than ours helps to reduce stress and anxiety. It puts things into perspective. These events don’t have to be major activities but can be relatively simple things such as donating your time and efforts at a food bank or local blood drive. We were originally scheduled to have an NHS (National Honor Society) blood drive at the school on March 12. That may not be able to happen, but stay tuned for some potential alternatives. Find something to be a part of and contribute the skills you were blessed with.
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
As February quickly flies by, we are starting to look ahead and plan for some of our traditional spring events. I will admit, it is a little bittersweet planning reading month this year, as it is a reminder that we are approaching the 1 year mark of when the pandemic began. Last year, we were right in the middle of reading month when schools were shut down, and we were not able to finish all of the great things that we had planned. However, it is exciting to get back to planning a new reading month and hopefully being able to see this one to the end!! Watch for more information to come out in the coming weeks!
We are also looking ahead to state testing. We know for certain that we will have one last NWEA session in May to wrap up the year, and at this moment we are still expected to administer the M-STEP, PSAT, and SAT in April and May. We know that there have been some waivers filed at the state level, but at this moment we are planning as though all of these events are happening. As always, we will keep you informed of any updates, and will begin sharing testing schedules and information in the weeks ahead.
Speaking of testing, I do want to share a bit of information regarding our most recent NWEA session. If you head to our website, and click on the Transparency Reporting Link that pops up on the side of the screen, you will see all of our state required documentation for our Continuity of Learning and COVID-19 Response Plan. There you will find our Au Gres-Sims Extended COVID-19 Learning Plan Goal Reporting document, which reports the growth that we have shown in reading and math. We are pleased to report that we do have a large number of our students that are showing growth, but we also know that our hard work needs to continue to make sure we are meeting the needs of all of our students. For our virtual learners, it is very difficult to duplicate the in class experiences in a virtual setting. For those of us who are in person, often the challenge has been the adjustments that we have had to make in student collaboration and instruction in the classroom for the sake of our much needed safety protocols. There is no doubt that this year has been full of challenges, but I think it speaks to the resiliency and strength of our staff, students, and families that we are still moving forward in education during these unusual times. We will do our part to continue to challenge our students, hold high expectations for their learning, reach out to support and communicate, and make the best decisions that we can for the benefit of our students. We look forward to continuing to work with you through this process moving forward!
Cycle of Inactivity
When struggling with depression, it’s common to withdraw and stop doing the things we did before! It may feel impossible to even shower, eat, or go for a walk. However, for most people, the less you do the worse you feel, and the worse you feel the less you do! We have to break this cycle of inactivity by choosing to get up and get moving!
Stuck in this cycle but want to get better? Here are some strategies that might be helpful:
1. Get Active Motivation often follows action. Even a few minutes of being active can have a ripple effect – each positive action is an investment toward recovery!
2. Be Kind to Yourself Depression can be incredibly frustrating and discouraging. It’s so much harder to do anything, and you may feel like a failure because of that. Plus, depression can make it hard to enjoy things, so it can take a while for activities to feel fun again! Treat yourself kindly while you try to get better.
3. Track Your Progress Keep activity and mood logs so you can start to see the relationship between what you do and how you feel. Set goals, and use meaningful rewards to stay motivated – then document your success. This can be hard work, so be proud even of small steps!
4. Set Small Goals Self-care is a great place to start. If you’ve gotten out of the habit of showering, take a shower. Brush your teeth. Clean your room. Notice if it makes you feel better. Even if it isn’t enjoyable immediately, try it again the next day! Even small steps count!
5. Pay Attention to Your Choices Making a good choice can help your body and mind begin to recover! When we aren’t sleeping or eating well, or when we use substances, we leave ourselves vulnerable to negative emotions. In moments of decision, which choice will move you toward wellness?
Ideas for activity:
Making a collage or DIY project
Baking
Going for a swim
Walking your dog
Practicing yoga
Playing tennis or racquetball
Setting up a scavenger hunt
Making up a new sport
Doing a workout video online
Visiting family members
Taking a dance class
Drawing or painting
Joining a sports team
Helping a neighbor with yardwork
Bicycling, skateboarding, or rollerblading
Playing a sport with friends
Playing charades
Going for a run
Bowling
Ice skating or sledding
Playing with a pet outside
Jumping rope
Playing an instrument
Going for a hike
Walking laps around the block
Starting a fitness challenge
Turning up you favorite song and dancing
Playing laser tag
Cleaning a room
Athletics Update
Middle School Volleyball Schedule
Middle Girls Volleyball - Game Action for Next Week
Date Opponent Start Time
Mon 2/22 @ Mio 6:00 - AWAY
Thu 2/25 @ Fairview 6:00 - AWAY
Sat 2/27 vs. Tawas/Whittemore-Prescott (Tri) 10:00 - HOME
High School Boys and Girls Basketball Schedule
Boys/Girls Basketball Schedule - Game Action for Next Week
Date Opponent Start Time
Mon 2/22 vs. Atlanta 6:00
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
- Game will be live streamed through Facebook live, available on the AGS website
Wed 2/24 @ Charlton Heston 6:00
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
Thu 2/25 vs. Hillman 6:00
- Girls tip-off at 6pm with the boys to follow
- Game will be live streamed through Facebook live, available on the AGS website
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