This Week In the Ann Arbor Public Schools

December 14, 2009

This Week’s Good News!

  • Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator Robin Bailey submitted a very large nomination packet to Artserve of Michigan, nominating our Ann Arbor Public Schools’ Board of Education for the Kennedy Center Award for School Boards that demonstrate outstanding support of the arts in education.  We received notification from Artserve of MI that they selected AAPS as their nomination to the Kennedy Center for this award.  Each state can only nominate one school board to the Kennedy Center.  The winning district receives a plaque and a cash award of $10,000 to use for their arts education programs. The recipient of the award will be informed of selection prior to the 2010 National School Board Associations Conference and Exposition.  Robin is thrilled that we were selected as the only nomination from the state of Michigan.  I want to recognize and thank Robin for all of her hard work in completing and submitting the very extensive application.
  • On December 9th Clague 6th grade students participated in Abilities Awareness Day.  Students were given a pre survey and introduction before the activity. During the introduction they talked about the many ways we are alike and how we are different in many ways also. They then discussed the various abilities we have within our school community. The Clague support staff in collaboration with the WISD consultants coordinated 6 stations to simulate what it would feel like to have a different ability. The stations were: physical, hearing, visual, cognitive, LD/ADHD and autism, and the students rotated to each of the stations. The students were given many difficult tasks within the various abilities presented. The following day, the students were given a post-survey and had a debriefing meeting about Ability Awareness Day. Students enjoyed the day and the simulations. It was obvious they learned a lot about the Clague community and the challenges some students face daily and for life.
  • Twenty 3rd, 4th and 5th graders from Carpenter Elementary Chorus sang WE ARE THE WORLD (Lionel Ritchie and Michael Jackson) under the direction of their music teacher, Laura Machida, at the 13th Annual Sacred Song Concert which raised almost $3000.00 for WICIR - Washtenaw Interfaith Council for Immigrant RIghts on Saturday at Genesis - Temple Beth Emeth/St. Clare’s Episcopal Church.  The audience responded by jumping to their feet in a rousing standing ovation. We are very proud of our students who represent Carpenter with excellence and service to community.  Pioneer senior Sam Deschamps accompanied the entire concert on percussion. He did an outstanding job.
  • Pioneer students, Kelsey Thompson, grade 12, and Emmy Guttman, grade 11, were named to the Midwest Regional Field Hockey Team by the United States Field Hockey Association.
  • AAPS Psychologist Mary Spence has written a chapter on special education in a recently released book, “Principals and Practice of Child Adolescent Forensic Mental Health.”  It was her summer work in 2008 and quite a learning experience.
  • I want to recognize and thank David Lahey, Chartwell’s Food Service Director, and chef, Neil Murphy for their support in two recent initiatives to help feed some of our students.
    The Pre-School and Family Center recently held a Food Gatherers' food distribution.  Chef Neil was there giving a cooking demonstration for all the families who came by to pick up their produce.  He developed a dinner menu of easy, inexpensive ingredients, and distributed recipes.  His menu included homemade chicken strips, carrots cut and baked to resemble french fries, and sauteed potatoes.  Beyond that, he chatted with each parent, explaining how to choose kid-friendly foods that are healthy and easy.  This was a great support of our wellness efforts, to encourage healthy eating.  He really outdid himself!
    In addition, Chartwells is supporting a food backpack pilot at Mitchell Elementary School.  The company contributed the backpacks and staff time to pack the food and deliver it to Mitchell and this has made the project possible.  Kathy Scarnecchia reports that the first distribution went very well, and they're looking forward to the next one.
  • Best wishes for a happy holiday season to one and all.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent