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 and winter. 

Here are the updates for this week:

Safety Net and Supports for Students and Families

The Ann Arbor Public Schools team continues work to extend a safety net to students and families impacted by COVID-19, including food distribution, technology and connectivity and community health support. Food distribution continues at more than 20 sites on Mondays and Thursdays. 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 has moved to an “appointment only” device pick-up/drop-off process for the remainder of December. We ask students and families to call the AAPS Tech help desk at 734-997-1222 to arrange for support. 

Parental Controls for AAPS Devices

Many parents continue to ask questions about how they can add parental controls on their child’s AAPS device, such as blocking YouTube and limiting access to non-educational games. AAPS is using Securly, a cloud-based subscription service that offers K-12 Internet content filtering to give parents this option. Learn more about Securly and sign up 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, including testing results, are available here. We will continue to post updated test results to this location so that all in our community are aware of our work and progress with mitigation. 

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. 

AAPS COVID Metrics Dashboard Update

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

These continue to be challenging days, and we appreciate all your continued work in support of our students and staff, families and neighbors through this difficult time. It is our outreach and connection, our support of each other, that brings us together and unites us as an Ann Arbor community, even while we are physically apart. 

Sincerely,

Jeanice Kerr Swift
Superintendent of Schools
Ann Arbor Public Schools