The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
As you have likely seen by now, our situation with COVID transmission in the community and within our walls has improved dramatically since we hit the pause button. That means that we are able to bring our students back for in-person instruction this Monday, May 3rd. While this statement has likely elicited more than a few "thank yous" and maybe even a couple "hallelujahs" from parents like you and me exasperated by the balancing act, the timing could not be better to truly step back and show gratitude for the work our amazing teaching staff does with our students every day.
Monday, May 3rd through Friday, May 7th is TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK and now is the perfect time to express your thanks to the humble individuals that continuously seek to bring out the best in your children, who work diligently to improve the lives of all the students they teach. I'm not suggesting that you go out and buy gifts for your children's teachers (though those gifts are always welcome), but I am suggesting that you try to take a moment to let your child's teacher know what they have meant to them. I was a high school chemistry teacher for 7 years and my greatest mementos of my time in the classroom are the words that were shared with me by students and parents. I carry them with me in a special folder and pull them out from time to time and without fail they make me smile. There is nothing easy about being a teacher, but one of the hardest things is never really knowing if the lessons you taught, both curricular and in life, mattered in the lives of others.
So, this Friday, on the eve of TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, I would like to express my gratitude to all of the teachers of the Au Gres-Sims School District for their time, dedication, creativity, and care. I'd also like to thank the most important teacher in my life, Mr. George Campbell, my high school biology teacher. I have an internal flame for learning and education that was sparked by the passion and commitment of a teacher. That teacher, Mr. Campbell, saw something in me that I didn't know existed, and he brought that to light. I have him to thank for the wonderful life that I have and I would not be sitting where I am today were it not for him. He taught me much more than mitosis and genetics, he taught me the power of learning and how to share that passion with others. The impact he had on my life and so many other lives cannot be measured. This is just one example of why this week we take a moment to appreciate the noble profession of teacher and to thank the individuals whose lessons shape lives.
"Teachers affect eternity; no one can tell where their influence stops."
- Henry Brooks Adams
K-12 Principal's Update
As we head down the final stretch of the school year, make sure you take care of yourself. Your mental health matters! It matters to you. It matters to your family. It matters to all the people you come into contact with every day — whether virtually or in person. Here are a few simple ideas for taking care of yourself, so that you can take care of others:
Go for a walk after dinner. Do you need alone time? Go by yourself. Do you need family time? Take the whole crew.
Go to bed earlier. Getting more sleep will help recharge your body and your mind.
Up your hydration. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. With our new bottle dispenser in the Middle School, they have consumed over 4,000 bottles of water so far this year!
Juniors and Seniors, mark your calendars! Prom will be taking place on Saturday, May 8, from 8:00-11:00 pm at the City Park Pavilion. This is a change of date from May 15. Although things may look slightly different than normal, this is guaranteed to be a good time! The theme for this event is appropriately, “Masquerade”. Get your full masks now at some of the following locations:
For more details of how we plan to make this a safe event check your school emails. Also on the changing of dates front, the Spring Band concert has been pushed back to Friday, May 21, to allow more time for Mrs. Gordon and the bands to prepare. Start time is slated for 7:00 pm.
And for our upcoming young drivers, ThinkFirst for Parents of Teen Drivers is a virtual 75-minute evidence-based traffic safety program to educate parents on Michigan’s GDL law. Supported by a grant from General Motors, ThinkFirst has partnered with the Michigan State Police, the Office of Highway Safety Planning, and several Michigan hospital trauma centers. The goal of the program is to reduce new driver crashes and the resulting injuries and fatalities by increasing parents’ awareness and enforcement of Michigan’s GDL law. At the end of the program parents will have an increased awareness of teen driving risks, have a greater understanding of Michigan’s GDL law, have the tools to monitor and enforce GDL compliance with your teen, and understand the importance of being a positive role model. If interested, there are four Zoom sessions to choose from which run from 6:30-7:45 pm on May 6, 10, 18, 20. You must pre register for these classes by calling 630-961-1400.
And, best of luck to our spring sports athletes who will be starting their first competitions this week!
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
As we wrap up the final days of this temporary pause in in-person instruction, we are looking ahead to a busy few weeks to wrap up the year. I can hardly believe that we are talking about the final weeks of school already. With this unexpected closure of the building, we have had to revamp our testing schedule. With everything that we have to fit into a very short period of time - every moment will count! However, we have a plan to finish and as I mentioned a few weeks ago, our primary focus is completing our NWEA testing. It is important data that not only we are required to report to the state for our Extended Continuity of Learning Plan, but it is also we use this data to provide specific interventions. This year, we will also be using this data for some summer learning opportunities as well, which we will release information on in the next couple of weeks.
As we have for the previous testing sessions this year, I will be contacting virtual families to set up times for virtual students to come and complete their NWEA testing. I will be making phone calls next week to start scheduling appointments beginning the week of the 10th, when the testing window opens. For our in-person students, classroom teachers will share out the NWEA testing days for each subject area. To help out with our end of the year testing, there are a few things that you can do to help ensure that students are well prepared for the testing days ahead. First, is to ensure that your student is getting plenty of rest! This will help them to be focused and alert throughout the test session. Second, is to ensure that they are on time for school. Not only does it make for an undisturbed testing environment, but there are some tests, such as the M-STEP, PSAT, and SAT that do not allow late students to enter a testing room once the assessment has been started. Finally, encourage your student to have a healthy breakfast. Whether they choose to eat at home or at school, it is an important part of a successful testing session. There is a strong connection between eating breakfast and cognitive functioning (thinking skills). Eating breakfast also improves memory!
I am looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Monday!
Elements of Self-Care - Part 2
As we continue through the school year, and hopefully transition back to a more normal routine of school schedules next week, I encourage you to make self-care part your daily lives. After all, effectively supporting those around you demands that you are first in a healthy state.
If you have been on a commercial flight you have heard the flight attendant tell passengers that in the case of an emergency, you should put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help others. This same principle applies to helping and assisting others in their social and emotional health. It may seem selfish to care for yourself first, but in order for you to support those who lean on you, you have to be strong and healthy. In part two of this series on elements of self-care, we will look at five additional ways we can bolster ourselves to be in a better position to help others.
Relaxation Learning how to relax is vital for self-care. Fortunately there are a number of well-developed techniques you can use. Step-by-step instructions on how to use progressive muscle relaxation and visual imagery to ease tension and increase relaxation are included in Effective Methods for Relaxation. By tensing and relaxing muscles in a prescribed sequence and pattern, muscles are reset at an overall more relaxed state that allows you to feel less fatigued and more at ease. Other techniques you might consider are yoga, Tai Chi or massage.
Mindfulness When we feel stressed and overburdened, it can often seem like we’re living on “autopilot,” disconnected from the here-and-now and our present experience. One remedy for this is mindfulness, which involves direct and nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment. You may have heard of mindfulness as a form of meditation, but it can also be a general orientation to your own experience. Tuning in to your five senses intentionally will increase awareness, and mindful (purposeful and deliberate) breathing can help you slow your thinking to improve clarity.
Avoiding Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue can develop from a combination of burnout (feelings of hopelessness and difficulties in caring for others) and from exposure to traumatic life experiences that your family/friends are going through. If you are close to difficult situations, and have a daily role in supporting others in these situations, it is likely that you will feel worn out from the whole ordeal. It is important to occasionally take a break from your support role to just be yourself and unwind.
Assertiveness Learning to be assertive (rather than unassertive or aggressive) is a tremendously important skill for your emotional well-being – one that can positively impact your life both personally and professionally. Assertiveness enables direct and honest communication and important boundary setting, and it can address some of the situations that add to feelings of stress.
Be Good to Yourself Sometimes you might get so caught up in helping others in need that you forget to be good to yourself. It is vital that you take time for yourself to laugh, self-indulge and spend time engaged in activities that you enjoy. This may be something that you do by yourself, or that you do with a group. In either case, the main thing is that you are doing it for you!
Have a great week everyone!
Athletics Update
Athletic practices and competitions for both the middle and high school teams resume next week. Coaches will be sending details and updates if they haven't already.
Monday morning, May 3rd, AGS will resume rapid antigen testing of all student-athletes ages 13-19 starting at 7:30a in the high school cyber cafe. Student-athletes that have tested positive within the past 3 months should bring a copy of the medical paperwork to the main office and will not be required to antigen test.
Schedule Updates for Athletic Competitions
Vaccination Clinic for 16, 17, 18 year old students
This clinic is primarily for high school students, but will be made open to the public soon. If interested, please use the link provided to register for an appoint.
Mark Your Calendars
MAY Events and Dates to Remember
- MAY 3: Return of In-person Learning at AGS!
- MAY 3-7: Teacher Appreciation Week
- MAY 17: Board of Education Special Meeting, 5:45 pm AGS HS CYBER CAFE
- MAY 17: Board of Education Regular Meeting, 6:00 pm AGS HS CYBER CAFE
- MAY 28: High School Graduation, 7pm at the Stadium
- MAY 31: Memorial Day Holiday, No School for Staff and Students
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