April 18, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: April 23 - Early Release - K-12 Students
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a Burns Park first grade teacher. We shared highlights from the groundbreaking ceremony at Mitchell, singers from AAPS shined at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival, Forsythe’s Robotics Team is heading to the FIRST World Championship and Slauson and A2 STEAM students attended an adaptive sports day at the University of Michigan. We also shared a two minute video from Eberwhite, a Skyline senior received a pair of prestigious honors, the Tappan Players are presenting “Moana” and a Pioneer senior has received a DAR Good Citizen Award. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, April 23rd, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road.
National Volunteer Week - April 20 - April 26, 2025
National Volunteer Week each year provides us with an opportunity to express our appreciation for the wonderful parents and families, PTO members, community and strategic partners who selflessly serve in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Volunteers support classroom and school enrichment activities, field trips, office and library support, academic and bilingual support, noon hour/recess support, afterschool/homework support and in many other capacities in the daily life of our schools. We recognize that strong communities are characterized by strong public schools. Our AAPS schools are strengthened and made more vibrant, connected and successful through the engagement, participation and support of caring and committed school volunteers. No matter the form in which volunteers serve, we recognize and celebrate them all.
AAPS held an open House on Thursday, April 17th at Huron High School to celebrate our strategic partners and volunteers.
Thank you, AAPS volunteers, for giving your time and talents to make an affirming, positive difference in the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
Earth Day - Monday, April 22, 2025
The Ann Arbor Public Schools, with a long-standing commitment to the environment, is celebrating Earth Day 2025. Each year on April 22, we mark the anniversary of the first Earth Day in 1970 as the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world. More than a billion people every year celebrate this as a day of action to change human behavior and create better global, national and local policies to protect our health and environment.
In classrooms across the AAPS, Earth Day presents an excellent opportunity for learning as students, their teachers and school teams explore and celebrate a shared commitment to environmental sustainability. We look forward to continued engagement in our collective effort to serve as strong stewards of our planet within our Ann Arbor community today and for future generations.
Administrative Professionals Day - Wednesday, April 23, 2025
We recognize our AAPS Office Professionals and their work as vital partners in our Ann Arbor Public Schools family. We appreciate the dedicated service they provide throughout the year. Their efforts, knowledge and expertise are crucial components to enabling the strong connections and service our district provides for our students, staff and families in the Ann Arbor community.
The role of the administrative professional encompasses an incredibly wide range of expertise and skills. They are the front-line presence that ensures support throughout our school days. We have come to depend on the multitude and wide span of tasks they maneuver through daily, and without their support, we could not serve and care for our students as well as we do.
To our amazing administrative professionals: thank you for your hard work, dedication and positive attitudes. You make our jobs easier and more enjoyable, and we are grateful for everything you do. Happy Administrative Professionals Day!
AAPS Enrollment
Neighborhood pre-enrollment is available for new students for the 2025-26 academic year! Applications are also being accepted for In-District Transfers, Non-Resident Children of Employee, and School of Choice through May 14th. Schools and grades with space availability are posted at the links above. Approvals are based on space availability and are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
PTO Council District-wide Fundraiser
The Ann Arbor PTO Council, a support organization for AAPS PTOs, is writing today to share about our 2025 District-wide Fundraiser. Together with the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop, our fundraiser raised over $55,000 in 2024, all of which was distributed to Title I school PTOs with no strings attached. This year, we hope to raise even more and would love your help. We launched our online fundraiser on March 6th with the hopes of boosting PTO funding at Title I elementary schools, and we are already seeing excitement build in the community.
How can you help? You can share information from our Facebook page. Thanks for any help you can provide in getting the word out! We are grateful for this community and partnership. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. PTOC Co-Chairs, Nicole Collines/Brittany Sayles: ptocchairs@gmail.com
Measles Prevention Information
The Washtenaw County Health Department provided guidance for measles in schools to all Washtenaw County school districts. AAPS will follow all guidance from the WCHD.
According to the state Public Health Code, if a measles case occurs in a school, students who are not fully immunized with the MMR vaccine will be excluded from school and all school-related activities for a minimum of 21 days.
We strongly urge families with children who are not fully immunized (2 doses of MMR for children ages 4 and over) to get the first dose as soon as possible. The full message can be found here.
Care Solace - AAPS Mental Health Partnership
Care Solace is AAPS’s free Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Service. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to connect students, staff and their families to mental health, substance abuse and ABA service providers.
Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.
Using Care Solace is easy!
- Call 888-515-0595 any time. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments and follow up with you to make sure it's a good fit.
- Search anonymously by visiting caresolace.com/aaps
Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.
AAPS Free On-Demand Learning Resource For Students
The Ann Arbor Public Schools, in partnership with Varsity Tutors, is making a free set of 24/7 learning resources available to our students via Clever. Our 5th - 12th graders now have immediate access to a learning platform with the following:
· Chat Homework Help
· Asynchronous Academic Support Courses
· College Preparation Tools and Courses
· SAT Prep
· Myriad Live and Asynchronous Extracurricular Courses like coding, chess, comic drawing and more.
The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace. We invite you to view this short video overview of the platform and resources.
AAPS Securly Tip Line
AAPS is pleased to offer this anonymous tip line for students, staff and families to address bullying, mental health concerns or important “See Something, Say Something” concerns. The Securly Tip Line can be downloaded from the AppStore or Google Play, and a bookmark will be placed on all student Chromebooks. Students, staff and parents can initiate an anonymous tip outside the app via phone: 1-833-300-STOP, email: tipline@securly.com or their website: https://www.securly.com/tip.
AAPS Securly Parent Portal
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued devices. To help parents monitor their child’s online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the Internet connection to the device as desired and receive weekly usage reports.
Rec & Ed
Kidfest 2025 Family Concert Calling all families with young children! You’re invited to the annual Kidfest Family Concert on Saturday, May 3rd, from 3 to 5 PM at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. Popular local musician Joe Reilly will lead an outdoor dance party for babies, toddlers, elementary-aged children, and their families! Proceeds from Kidfest fund scholarships for Rec & Ed’s early childhood programs. Click HERE for event information and to purchase tickets.
Summer Camp Adventure Awaits - Explore our incredible lineup of camp options this summer. Art, Science & STEM, Music, Dance, Reading, Nature, Sports, and Safety Town. The possibilities are endless for children ages 2-14 years old. View all camps here. Check out these weekly featured camps below
- Swiftie Camp (6/23-6/27) - NEW! Ages 10-13
- PUPtastic Dance Camp (6/16-6/18) - NEW! Ages 3.5-5
- Stability in Motion (7/21 - 7/25) - NEW Project Lead the Way Camp for Current 4th & 5th graders
Youth Baseball, Softball and T-Ball Registration for Y5-8th: Opens Monday, April 21st. The season will run from June 16th through the beginning of August. More information and how to register can be found here. Games and practices at local fields throughout Ann Arbor. All skill levels welcome - no experience necessary!
Rec & Ed's High School Volunteer Program (HSVP) - Apply now! Learn more about this program here and apply today. Questions? Contact Elyse Bairley at bairley@a2schools.org.
Register now for a Spring or Summer Rec & Ed Class Come take a walk on the funside! Registration for youth and adult afterschool, evening, and weekend classes is now open. Our instructors are subject matter experts, our classes are convenient and affordable, and most importantly, our welcoming environment helps strengthen our community. There are class options for all ages and skill levels, and many scholarships are available! Register today aarecedonline.com.
Community Events and Information
Washtenaw County Health Department Offering Measles Vaccines
The Health Department is providing walk-in MMR vaccinations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 3 PM at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti. The Health Department can check vaccine records if you’re not sure of your status. They can vaccinate those with Medicaid, Medicare, Washtenaw Health Plan, BCBS and those with no insurance. More information here.
Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan Draft Public Engagement Sessions
A draft of the Ann Arbor Comprehensive Land Use Plan is now available for public review. This plan charts the course for affordable, sustainable, equitable and dynamic land uses for the next 25 years. Public engagement sessions are scheduled for Thursday, April 24th, from 3 to 7 PM at the Westgate Library; Wednesday, April 30, from 3 to 7 PM at the Mallets Creek Library; and Wednesday, May 7th, from 3 to 7 PM at the Traverwood Library.
Ann Arbor A2Zero Household Electronics Takeback Event
Registration is now open for an event inviting city of Ann Arbor residents to responsibly dispose of broken and unwanted household electronics. The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations is hosting the A2ZERO Household Electronics Takeback event on Saturday, April 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at Zion Lutheran Church. This is a free event, and registration is required to attend. More information here.
Girls’ Engineering Exploration Day
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Detroit Section is holding its 17th annual Girls Engineering Exploration (GEE) Day on Saturday, April 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the College of Creative Studies Taubman Center in Detroit. The free event is open to 4th through 8th grade girls for students to do hands-on activities, learn what engineers do and how they use STEM in their jobs. More information and required registration here.
Medication Take Back Event
Protect teens against drug abuse and overdose by disposing of unused and expired medications. Michigan Medicine and Ann Arbor Police Department are hosting a drug takeback event on Saturday, April 26th, from 10 AM to 2 PM at St. Francis School. Learn more here.
Education Town Hall
The Washtenaw Superintendents Association and the Washtenaw Association of School Boards are sponsoring an Education Town Hall on Wednesday, April 30th from 7 to 8:30 PM in the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College. Panelists will discuss how changes to federal policy and funding impact Washtenaw County’s public schools. Hear from educators and legislators about topics such as immigration, diversity, school funding, special education, Head Start and federal staffing. Ask questions and learn how to be strategic advocates. More information and register here.
City of Ann Arbor Smoke Detector Program for Ann Arbor Homeowners
The City of Ann Arbor, in partnership with the State of Michigan Prevention Smoke Alarm Program, provides fire prevention, detection and escape strategies to City of Ann Arbor resident homeowners. As part of this free program residents receive important safety information as well as smoke alarms installed in their homes, including those that belong to at-risk groups, such as older adults and people with disabilities. The application for the smoke detector program can be found by clicking this link.
A2ZERO Heat Pump Concierge Platform
The Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations is announcing a new platform to help residents transition from gas furnaces to cleaner electric heat pumps. The new Heat Pump Concierge Platform lets residents input their home information to generate initial heat pump system design options. Learn more here.
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 school level:
For early childhood and elementary level issues, contact Melita Alston, Executive Director, Early Childhood and Elementary Education: alston@a2schools.org
For High School, Middle School and K-8 school issues, contact Dr. Roberta Heyward, Executive Director, K-8, Middle and High School Education: heywardr@a2schools.org