The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
In construction news, the front parking lot is almost done! Final grading took place this week and blacktop is scheduled to go in this weekend, weather permitting. As that part of the project completes and the lot becomes useable once again, look for guidance on how our drop off and pick up process will change.
I'd like to close this week with a public announcement urging everyone to exercise their democratic right to vote. The election is around the corner and there are local, state, and national offices to be filled. Exercising your right to vote is a foundational building block of our great nation. Regardless of your affiliation, it is important that members of our community stand up to be counted.
- Michigan Voter Information Center: check your status, find your election clerk, check the status of absentee ballets, find a drop box in your voting location, find your balloting location, view a sample ballet
- Voting Digital Toolkit: a resource guide and spot to have all of your questions answered
While the deadline has passed to register to vote online, you may register in-person all the way up to 8pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd with your township clerk.
Thanks AGS and have a great weekend! #AGSInThisTogether #WolverinesLead
-Mr. Ming
We are super excited to return our MS/HS students to campus for 4 days a week starting next Monday, October 26. Because social distancing will become even more difficult, it is important to remember some key procedures. First, make sure that we are wearing masks at the appropriate times and that the masks properly cover the nose and mouth. The kids have been excellent about this. Second, students need to continue to utilize the classroom dividers to minimize spread. And third, when at breakfast and lunch, our middle school students can only have 8 people at a table, with 4 students on each side. These little things mean a lot...and if it means this is what we have to do to keep everyone here, then let’s all do our part. Thanks!
We are preparing for our parking lot to get finished and are hoping this can happen soon. With a new set up for the parking lot, also comes new procedures. Our pick up and drop off will be at the times and locations listed below as soon as our parking lot project is complete. Parents, when dropping off and picking up students, please stay in or next to your car to facilitate the process as quickly as possible. We will keep you updated as to when we can make this transition happen. Until then, we will continue to maintain our current pick up and drop off times and locations along with using the elementary entrance on Court Street as our main school entrance. Please keep in mind that the back bus loop is dedicated just to school buses.
Grade Levels
Drop Off/Pick Up Location
Pick Up Time
HS-Main entrance near the gym area (“Events Lobby”)-3:05
MS-North end of the glass hallway-3:05
4th/5th-South end of the glass hallway-3:08
2nd/3rd-New covered entrance on south side of the parking lot-3:10
PK/K/1st-On Court St. in front of the elementary-3:12
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
I am so happy to say that the NWEA testing window is now closed! Now, we begin the task of using that data to help give our students the additional support that they need on specific skills during intervention. For elementary, this important time of the day is built into the daily schedule. For secondary, our 7th hour Seminar period is reserved for this very thing. During the first marking period, the students worked on their Educational Development Plans (EDPs) which are required for middle and high school students by the state. Starting Monday, Seminar will return back to its traditional platform, with some modifications put into place due to cohorting and safety protocols. We are working hard to look at data and design a plan that will get out students the additional support that they need.
Our secondary building also has some other big changes happening next week. Obviously our switch to 4 days a week for the secondary is an important change, and we are looking forward to having both cohorts back on campus. We will of course continue to put all of our safety protocols into place - with masks, desk dividers, and distancing as much as possible. We are working diligently to make adjustments to account for both groups coming together on campus. We appreciate your continued support of these protocols. Just another reminder of the importance of students bringing their fully charged Chromebooks to school each day, in order to fully participate in their educational day.
Finally, we are very excited to start our House program back up this week. Last year, we began the program with just the middle school, and this year we are expanding it to High School! The “veterans” of House who took part last year, have already been talking about the return! The middle school House program will continue to focus on team building and social skills, while the high school House program will focus on community and school leadership. We have obviously had to make some significant alterations to how House looks due to our current protocols, but the staff is working hard to make things as exciting and close to our typical experience as we possibly can. We are very excited to reveal the new House teams throughout the day on Tuesday, and we are looking at starting some of our first House competitions for points at the end of the week. Students will be receiving more information next week - both in person and virtual students are included on our House teams, so we will obviously have a large virtual component to this structure! There is already a pretty intense competition underway among the staff members who lead each House, so it should be an exciting start to the marking period!
Counselor's Corner
We all feel sad, low, or irritable sometimes. It is a natural human emotion to feel down when life gets hard. These feelings usually pass over time. However, some people experience these feelings intensely for weeks, months, or even years. Often the reason is not apparent. This is called depression.
Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects how you feel, think, and manage daily activities. Depression is not a choice, a character flaw, or a moral failing. Rather, depression is an illness in the same way that cancer, diabetes, and heart disease are illnesses.
Depression does not discriminate. Men and women of every age, race, ethnicity, educational level, and social and economic background suffer from depression. The problems that result from depression often get even worse because most people with depression are never diagnosed, let alone treated.
There are ways you can feel better. When depression is identified and treated, its symptoms are manageable and there are many effective strategies for living with the disease. Depression and bipolar disorder are both treated most effectively in their earliest stages when symptoms are less severe.
Long-term difficulties- Ongoing stress caused by issues such as a stressful relationship or school/work stress can lead to depression over time.
Life events- Stressful times or events such as unexpected changes in family and school routines, the upcoming end of marking period grade posting, or even positive changes like joining a team or club, may trigger depression in people who are already at risk.
Trauma or grief- Physical or emotional abuse or grief after the death of a loved one can trigger depression in people who are already at risk. Stressful childhood experiences such as abuse, neglect, or witnessing domestic violence are common and have a strong influence on many health and social problems, including depression, anxiety, and risk of suicide.
The University of Michigan Trails program offers a nine question depression screener to help identify a person’s degree of risk of depression. The free screener is anonymous and can be taken by clicking here. Students whose results indicate risk of depression can get more information from Mr. Pauly in the main office. The staff of AGS schools cares about the wellbeing of our students and want you to achieve the very best academically, socially and emotionally.
Upcoming Events
Thursday 10/29 JV /Varsity Tri Vs Posen/SASA 6 pm
Friday 10/30 Varsity Football TBA
Saturday 10/31 Varsity Quad home vs Standish Hillman and Hale 10 am using both gyms .
The Cruff Collection
Mr. Cruff has a wonderful eye for photography and has graciously dedicated his time to capturing the great moments that happen for all things Au Gres-Sims.
“Meet Your Teacher” 2020 Style
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