This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
January 5, 2009

To: The Staff of the Ann Arbor Public Schools
From: Todd Roberts, Superintendent

This Week’s Good News

Happy New Year and welcome to 2009. I hope you all had a restful and happy winter break.
  • The Enough! Club at Tappan Middle School has been named the Dollars for Darfur School of the Month.  They are featured on the Dollars for Darfur web site at:  http://www.savedarfur.org/page/content/dfd/SOTW/.  It is estimated that 400,000 people have been killed in the genocide in Darfur.  To better understand that number, students are trying to collect 400,000 pennies.  All of the pennies will be donated to Dollars for Darfur.  Classrooms at Burns Park and Mitchell are also participating in this effort.  If you'd like your school or class to participate, please email Laura Roth at rothl@aaps.k12.mi.us.  If you'd like to personally donate pennies, please send them to Laura at Tappan.  If you'd like to donate dollars, Tappan's web site is: http://www.savedarfur.org/page/outreach/view/dfd0809/rothl.
  • Huron Social Worker and basketball coach Waleed Samaha sent the following massage to Transportation Director, Brad Mellor:
    I know you don't get as many of these emails as you should. I wanted to share some thoughts about our Driver on December 16, for the trip to Willow Run. All I have is his first name, David.
    He did a great job. The roads were horrible with cars spinning out everywhere. Visibility was bad. It occurred to me, as I watched the calm, and relaxed faces of our players and cheerleaders, just how safe it was on that bus. The fact that everyone felt safe in rush hour traffic with bad driving conditions made me think; we would only talk about this bus ride if we didn't make it to our destination safely. We never talk about the great job bus drivers do everyday. David did a great job, to and from Willow Run, getting our boys and girls home safely. Of course, he was only doing what he is expected to do.
    Please share with him our deepest thanks and regards for the job he did.  We should always be thankful for the service we are provided. Even if we don't talk about it everyday.
  • Each year the Homebuilders Association (HBA) of Washtenaw County comes together in an effort to recognize those who the association deems as “Pillars of our Industry”. John Birko from the Ann Arbor Public Schools Homebuilding Program has been chosen to receive the 2008 Pillar Award for Distinguished Service to the Building Industry. John will be presented with the Pillar Award on January 9th.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent