Calendar: May 29 - No School - Memorial Day

 

Washtenaw County COVID-19 Status

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discontinued their community-level COVID-19 tracker at the end of the federal COVID Public Health Emergency. School districts, however, are required to continue reporting cases and outbreaks. If a child tests positive, parents should report cases here, and here is additional information on what to do if students, staff or volunteers have COVID. The AAPS Weekly COVID case dashboard and the biweekly outbreak report are available here. The Ann Arbor Public Schools 2022-23 Covid Guidance available here remains in place through the end of the school year. 

 

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shares that a Community teacher received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship, Lawton third grader is a finalist in the Doodle for Google contest, and Community, Huron, Pathways, Pioneer, and Skyline cheered out their graduating seniors. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

 

AAPS Board of Education

The next regular meeting of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Board of Education is Wednesday, June 7th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105. At this week’s meeting, the board recognized the AAPS Partner and Community Scholarship Winners, received a Superintendent Update, and the 2022 Graduation Annual Report. Board of Education Update Newsletters provide a summary of board meetings and are available on Board Docs.

 

High School Graduation Ceremonies

The Ann Arbor Public Schools celebrates the graduating seniors in the class of 2023. Learn more about graduation ceremonies, including how to watch a livestream of the events here.

 

Summer Learning Launch

Families are invited to the Malletts Creek Library on Thursday, June 1st for our Summer Learning Launch.  Learn how to access literacy and math learning tools available all summer and pick-up a Summer Workbook. Stop by anytime between 5:30 and 7:00 PM on June 1st.

 

2023-24 A2 Virtual+ 5th Grade Math Acceleration Program

The application for current 4th-grade students interested in the 2023-24 A2 Virtual+ Online 5th Grade Math Acceleration Program will be open from May 15th to June 15th. A recording of important information is available here. If you have additional questions, A2 Virtual+ will offer Q&A sessions via Zoom on May 10th from 5:30 to 6:30 PM and June 7th from 6 to 7 PM.

 

Rec & Ed

Adult Enrichment and Recreation

Want to prepare some delicious side dishes for your 4th of July gathering? Come spend some fun family time crafting assorted salads, making homemade dressing, wrapping pickles in bacon, mastering Mexican street corn, and more! 

Create all-star summer sides for your entire family with the help of an experienced chef.

 

Thinking about trying something new and getting creative? NEW! Beginning Wood Burning is a great opportunity to learn how to burn wood. Instructor James Schayes teaches you the basics of wood burning and gives the scoop on all the tools you need to get started. Ages 15 and up are welcome. 

 

Explore your intuitive nature while creating an expression of art using sound, color, memory, poetry, and music. Image and Word: An Approach to Self-Expression is designed to open new paths to communicate experiences and encourages self-expression through a variety of themes, exercises, and materials. Ages 15 and up are welcome.

 

Youth Enrichment Programs

Looking forward to summer? With art and drawing, enrichment, music and dance, science and technology, and all kinds of sports camps, we’ve got you covered for summer camp. Camps run June 13 - August 14 with FULL DAY and HALF DAY options. Space is limited, registration is open!

 

Create something that looks good enough to eat! Recreate and reimagine your favorite sweets and savory treats using various clay mediums and other materials. Learn basic clay handbuilding techniques to create miniature food sculptures while learning about the history of food in pop culture. All supplies are provided. Students in grades 3rd through 6th are welcome. 

 

Want to prepare some delicious side dishes for your 4th of July gathering? Come spend some fun family time crafting assorted salads, making homemade dressing, wrapping pickles in bacon, mastering Mexican street corn, and more! 

Create all-star summer sides for your entire family with the help of an experienced chef. Young chefs in grades 2nd through 6th are welcome with an adult.

 

Early Childhood Program

Come join our active and exciting summer camp program! With arts and crafts, interactive activities, and outdoor fun, it’s the perfect place for your child to have a blast this summer. It’s not too late to get signed up! 

 

Make Wednesday evenings a special time for you and your baby, toddler or preschooler in our big playroom when you join our Who Let the Dads Out? Playgroup. Ted Austin, First Steps parent of a one-year-old daughter, leads the group and is ready to share the happiness and joys of fatherhood and do some "dad bonding" in this newly-designed class. 

 

NEW! Japanese Exploration Zone on Sundays beginning June 25th! Families who are fluent in Japanese, learning Japanese and/or interested in the language and culture are welcome to join us this summer. Instructor Michiko Wixon weaves her home language and culture of Japan into the traditional Exploration Zone format. Participants ages 8 months to 4 years are welcome with their adult.

 

Safety Town 2023 is a hands-on learning experience in a miniature town complete with street markings and traffic signs. The goal of Safety Town is to educate kids about a variety of safety topics in a fun-filled environment. Safety Town is for incoming Young 5, Kindergarten, or First Grade students. Fee includes t-shirt, helmet fitting, and guest speakers. 

 

Rec & Ed After Care Programs

Registration for the 2023-24 Before/After Care Program is OPEN! 

 

Rec & Ed has a limited number of spaces available in the Before/After Care programs at Abbot, Angell, Carpenter, Lakewood, Mitchell, Pittsfield and Wines. 

Programs are available to families needing financial assistance who meet income eligibility requirements. 

 

Rec & Ed continues to actively hire qualified staff with the intention of continuing to add more sites.

 

Questions? Contact: aapschildcare@aaps.k12.mi.us 

 

Rec & Ed is Hiring

Rec and Ed is hiring caring adults to work with elementary students in our before/after-school program. Join our friendly and supportive team. Find out more and apply here.

 

Community Events and Information

Keeping Medicaid Coverage After End of COVID Public Health Emergency

During the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), many changes were made to the Medicaid program's eligibility, administration, and policies to ease rules for providers and prevent Medicaid beneficiaries from losing health care coverage. Per recent federal legislation, Michigan will restart Medicaid eligibility renewals in June, and amend certain waived policies that were in place during the pandemic.  The State of Michigan has been preparing for these changes during the past several months. Get ready to renew now, by making sure your contact information is up to date, checking mail or text messages for a letter and completing your renewal form if you get one. If you’re a Medicaid member, learn more about how these changes may affect your healthcare coverage at Michigan.gov/2023benefitchanges and learn about how to #StayCovered.

 

Ann Arbor African American Festival

The 26th annual Ann Arbor African American Festival is Saturday, June 3rd from 7:30 AM to 8 PM in downtown Ann Arbor at 4th Avenue and E. Ann Street. Learn all about the activities, entertainment, and more here.

 

Girls’ Engineering Exploration Day

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Detroit Section is pleased to announce our 15th annual Girls’ Engineering Exploration (GEE) Day on Saturday, June 3, 2023. This year’s open house-style event for girls in 4th to 8th grade will be held at Keast Commons on Wayne State University's campus from 10 AM to 2 PM. The free event, with lunch provided, is a part of SWE’s continuous effort to educate girls about the endless career opportunities that the engineering field has to offer. Registration and more information here.

 

A2 Zero Week

The third annual A2 Zero Week is June 4th through 10th, with a wide variety of activities to learn about and celebrate Ann Arbor’s sustainability efforts. Learn about all of the events here.

 

Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council

The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council is now accepting applications for new members to begin in the fall of 2023. The Youth Council brings together 25 high school students from across the county to provide an opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community through grantmaking and service. Learn more and apply here.

 

Ypsilanti Juneteenth Celebration

The third annual Ypsilanti Juneteenth Celebration is June 16 - 18th at the South Huron parking lot. More information including the schedule of live entertainment, community organizations and local vendors can be found here.

 

Ann Arbor NAACP Juneteenth Celebration

The 29th annual Ann Arbor NAACP Juneteenth Celebration and Community Unity Walk is Saturday, June 17th. The Unity Walk is at 10 AM at Fuller Park and the Juneteenth Celebration is noon to 6 PM at Wheeler Park. More details here.

 

OK2Say

As a reminder for students, parents and staff, when any concerns or unease arise, we encourage students and parents to reach out right away to an adult at school for assistance. For those who prefer to share a concern without revealing their identity, we recommend using the OK2Say tool, where tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by telephone, text message, email, mobile app or via the OK2Say website.  

 

BeSMART Gun Safety

The BeSMART Gun Safety initiative is a nationwide campaign created to educate adults on the importance of safe gun storage. It does not endorse or condemn gun ownership; it merely reminds parents of the importance of being aware of guns in the community, in one’s own home, as well as in others’ homes.

 

Michigan Child Protection Registry

The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a do-not-contact service that families can easily and quickly sign up for at www.ProtectMIChild.com. This is a free Registry offered through the State of Michigan that stops adult advertisements from reaching our kids through e-mail, text, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram.

 

Rain Gardens Reduce Runoff

Rain gardens allow up to 30 percent more water to soak into the ground than conventional turf grass lawns. In addition, downspouts and diverters can direct runoff from hard surfaces like rooftops and sidewalks straight into a rain garden, preventing polluted water from reaching nearby storm drains. Learn more at washtenaw.org/raingardens.

 

How to Address a Concern in the AAPS

If you have a concern in the AAPS, we want to hear directly from you. Please reach out directly to an adult, teacher, counselor or the principal at your child’s school.  If additional assistance is needed with school issues beyond the local school level:

For elementary level issues, contact Matt Hilton, Executive Director, Elementary Education: hiltonm@aaps.k12.mi.us

 

For K-8 and middle school level issues, contact Dr. Roberta Heyward, Executive Director, K-8 and Middle-Level Education: heywardr@aaps.k12.mi.us

 

For high school level issues, contact Dr. Robyne Thompson, Executive Director, High School Education: thompsonr@aaps.k12.mi.us