Hello AAPS Students and Staff, Parents and Community,

On this Day 6 AAPS COVID School Closure, Governor Whitmer has shared a clear message:

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives.

To combat the spread of COVID-19 in Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an  Executive Order requiring the suspension of activities that are not necessary to sustain or protect life through April 13th.

This Executive Order today also extends the closure of Ann Arbor Public Schools, and all Michigan Schools, through April 13th. 

This email provides updates on:

• AAPS Food Service, 
• Student Wellness Support, 
• Technology for Families, 
• Keeping Students Engaged at A2Schools.org, 
• AAPS Travel Canceled, 
• Testing Update: Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate
  
  

AAPS Food Service

Food distribution will continue this week on Tuesday, March 24th and Friday, March 27th at sixteen locations across our community. This food distribution will also continue through Spring Break next week. See the full list of locations and times.

If you have food allergy needs or cannot make it to a pick-up location please call the food hotline at 734-994-2265. Arrangements will be made.

Student Wellness Support

Mental health remains a priority, particularly during this stressful time, and our counselors and staff members are reaching out directly to vulnerable students; please make us aware if you have concerns about particular students.  The University of Michigan’s TRAILS program for support of school-aged mental health services has offered these updated tips for supporting student wellness during COVID-19 school disruptions.

Technology for Families

AAPS has a final tech device pick-up scheduled tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th from 8:00-10:00 a.m. at Tappan Middle School. We have canceled all other planned device pick-ups for Tuesday and Wednesday of this week due to Gov. Whitmer's new Executive Order.

For technical support, our amazing IT team has established a help hotline for our families. Please call 734-997-1222 for help from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM each weekday.

Keeping Students Engaged at A2Schools.org

Our goal during this time is to ensure that all our students are engaged in learning and remain connected with their interests and peers, despite being away from school. We hope that your children were able to connect with their teachers today and to receive access to some online learning opportunities; this should be our rhythm day-by-day as we move forward.  Please see our school directories at this link to make sure your children are connected to their teacher's learning platform and email.  

We all recognize that remote learning is not a ‘one size fits all’ proposition for students or families and it will take some time to acclimate as a family as to how best to engage to achieve a balance that works well for your situation.  If you have any questions during this time, please contact your child's teacher or principal for additional guidance. We are here to support you.  

The Ann Arbor District Library is providing online applications for library cards to all AAPS students. With your library card, you can access audio and digital books from home. Click here for more information. 

AAPS Travel Canceled

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is canceling all school-based, international and domestic overnight trips scheduled for students, staff, and parents through June 30th. We always advise travelers to purchase insurance. At this time, we suggest that you contact the travel organization directly to review your refund options. Complete information here.

Advanced Placement Testing Update

The College Board is making changes this year to best accommodate students and prioritize their health, safety, and success. More information will be released in early April with specific details, but here’s what we know at this time:

• This year, students will take a 45-minute online free-response exam instead of normal hand-written exams.
• Any student already registered for an exam can choose to cancel at no charge. More information on canceling exams will be sent to you in early April.
• There will be two different testing dates for each exam. More information on dates and how to select your preferred date will be shared with you in early April.

This information is what we have available to us at this time, and we will send more information as it becomes available. 

International Baccalaureate Update

The International Baccalaureate Organization has announced that the May examinations for the Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme will not be held this year. Depending on what the student registered for, students will be awarded a Diploma or a Course Certificate which reflects their standard of work. The IB will share full details and FAQs on their website by March 27th.

We appreciate the heartwarming outreach and support of our students and staff, parents and families, and all across our Ann Arbor community. As we continue to come together - during this time of being physically apart - we will work to ensure a connection with every student, show care and compassion for each other, and reach out to children and families in need of support.  This commitment to our children, to each other, and to our community isn’t just what we do in Ann Arbor, it is who we are - and it is this approach that will carry us through this very difficult time. 

Sincerely,

Jeanice K. Swift
Superintendent of Schools