Hello AAPS Students and Staff, Parents and Community,

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to partner in our work to serve our students and families through this COVID pandemic fall.  

Here are updates for this week: 

Thanksgiving Week Food Distribution and Technology Supports for Students

The Ann Arbor Public Schools team continues to extend a safety net to students and families impacted by COVID-19, including food distribution, technology and connectivity and community health support. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we will only have food distribution on Monday, November 23, 2020, and it will include a full week’s worth of meals. Full details on the food distribution program are available here.

To keep students, families and staff safe during the current uptick in cases of COVID-19, ITD is moving to an “appointment only” device pick-up/drop-off process for the remainder of November and all of December. We ask students and families to call the AAPS Tech help desk at 734-997-1222 and staff use the staff help desk to schedule an appointment for technology hardware needs. 

AAPS Fall 2020 Survey

We appreciate the 21,000+ individuals - students, parents and staff - who took time to respond to the AAPS Fall Survey. We value your feedback, and the information gained from your responses will inform our work to continue to improve the learning experience moving forward. 

Based on the feedback received, we have shared some refinements to the virtual school day for this second quarter. You will hear more specific information about next steps directly from your school principals about any adjustments at your child’s grade level or school. 

Reimagine Learning Plan, Fall 2020 Update

At this week’s Board of Education meeting, we shared an update on the Reimagine Learning/Extended Continuity of Learning Plan, Fall 2020, in two parts. Video of the introduction to the AAPS Update and Student Supports is available here. The second segment on Readiness of School Buildings for Return to In-School Learning and Recommendations is available here. All previous Reimagine Learning Plan presentations to the Board of Education are available here.

AAPS COVID Metrics Dashboard Update

Our weekly update of the COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard was published today and can be viewed here.

Fall 2020 Water Testing Update 

Recognizing additional risks to the water system in older, unoccupied buildings, we have proactively expanded our existing water testing program to include E Coli and Legionella in addition to our ongoing Lead in Drinking Water Testing Program. Initial testing results have indicated elevated levels of Legionella at a few locations, and focused work is in progress to mitigate this situation; more details are available here.

New Youth Programs from Rec & Ed

The early fall Rec & Ed youth classes were such a hit that we're back with a late fall line-up of fun, active and enriching youth classes. Both free and fee-based classes are available. The free class line-up includes the outdoor classes Let's Play! for PreK-5th grade and Stay Active, Stay Fit! for middle school. Fee-based classes include soccer training, art, and scavenger hunts. Note: For outdoor classes, AAPS COVID Protocols will be observed, and masks will be required for students and staff at all times.

Check out all of Rec & Ed's free and fee-based youth classes and activities at aarecedonline.com. 

Skills for Stress Resilience and Supporting Mental Health

With funding provided by the Miles Jeffrey Roberts Foundation, and with support from the Washtenaw ISD and Washtenaw County Community Mental Health, the AAPS is providing all families with the opportunity to view Screenagers Next Chapter: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience. For more information, please see the district’s website, or CLICK HERE to register for on-demand access to the documentary.

AAPS invites you to attend a Facebook Live event on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, at 7:00 PM. Complete details about this event will be shared when we return from winter break, yet you may want to mark your calendar now.

In addition to members of our capable school teams who are available to offer support, if your student or family is ever in need of immediate and urgent help, here are two resources: Washtenaw County Community Mental Health - Crisis Line: 734-544-3050 and Ozone House - Crisis Line: 734-662-2222. 

With the start of the holiday season on Thanksgiving weekend, many students and others in the community can feel isolated. Please share this video created by AAPS students a few years ago, offering additional resources and the reminder that You are Not Alone.

You may be interested in reading these Good News in the AAPS happenings; our AAPS students and staff continue to distinguish themselves during this 20-21 school year, and we are proud of these impressive achievements. 

These are challenging days, and I am grateful for each of you and for this AAPS community we share. We appreciate all you are doing to support our students and staff, families and neighbors through this hard time. It is our outreach, connection and support of each other that brings us together, that unites us as an Ann Arbor community, even while we are physically apart. 

Wishing you and yours a warm and peaceful Thanksgiving. 

Sincerely,

Jeanice Kerr Swift
Superintendent of Schools
Ann Arbor Public Schools