April 25, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: May 6 - No School - K-12 Students
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a King fifth-grade teacher. We shared that a Huron teacher won the 2025 LaFontaine Teacher of the Year Commendable Teacher Award, AAPS celebrated volunteers and partners and King students watched a performance from a Dearborn chorus and drummers. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, May 7th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. The Board of Education is holding a Board Retreat on Sunday, April 27th, at 2:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. At this week’s meeting, the Board of Education received a Student Suspensions and Supports Report, a presentation from the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, a report from the AAPS Library Services Department and the March 2025 Monthly Budget Monitoring Report.
National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month
April is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month. This month is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of our bilingual and multilingual students, the fastest-growing student population in AAPS.
We affirm and appreciate the valuable contributions of our AAPS multilingual students and families. This month, we have an opportunity to help our multilingual students feel empowered by their strengths, reinforce the benefits of multilingualism, and advocate for the resources that support multilingual student success.
We are grateful for the dedication of our English Learner teachers and staff who support students in developing proficiency in multiple languages while honoring students’ cultural identities. Our teachers and staff work not only to enhance academic achievement but also to prepare our students to thrive in our increasingly interconnected global society.
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 Employees and Schools 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.
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.
AAPS PLTW and CTE Expo
The AAPS PLTW and CTE Expo is Tuesday, May 13th, from 6 to 7:30 PM at Skyline. The expo will include a showcase of student work from Young 5s to 12th grade, hands-on interactive STEAM demonstrations, district robotics team and CTE Programs. More information here.
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
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 anytime. 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 App Store 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 3, from 3:00 - 5:00 PM at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. Sing and dance with popular local musician Joe Reilly. Proceeds fund scholarships for Rec & Ed’s early childhood programs. Click HERE for event information and to purchase tickets.
Summer Camp Adventure Awaits - Explore Rec & Ed’s incredible lineup of camp options this summer: Art, Science & STEM, Music, Dance, Reading, Nature, Sports and Safety Town. The possibilities are endless for children aged 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 is open. 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 are held at local fields throughout Ann Arbor. All skill levels welcome - no experience necessary!
Rec & Ed's High School Volunteer Program (HSVP) - Apply now, the deadline to apply for summer is Friday, May 16. 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 fun side! Registration for youth and adult after-school, 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 at 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 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.
Medication Take Back Event
Protect teens against drug abuse and overdose by disposing of unused and expired medications. Michigan Medicine and the 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.
Ann Arbor’s Earth Day Celebration
The Ann Arbor Earth Day Festival is Sunday, April 27th, from 1 to 4:30 PM at the Leslie Science and Nature Center. This free, family-friendly event features displays, hands-on activities, live entertainment, green building and commuting technologies, energy topics, water awareness, sustainable agriculture and more. Details here.
Support Children Facing Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
May’s WISD Mental Health Workshop on Tuesday, May 13th at 7 PM will focus on supporting children facing anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Emily Bilek, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, will provide an overview of these concerns and “do’s and don’ts” for caregivers. Learn more here. Register here.
Recordings of past WISD mental health workshops for parents can be found on WISD's website here. Scroll down, click the + next to Parents/Guardians and then click on the video you'd like to watch.
Michigan Indigenous Artists Series
AAPS is sponsoring a series of free events highlighting Michigan Indigenous artists. The next event is a family-friendly concert, great for elementary-aged kids. On Saturday, May 17th, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at The Ark, Joe Reilly and The Community Gardeners with the All Nations Dancers present There's a Place for You in the Circle. This event is free. Lunch will be catered by Anishnabe Meejim. Doors open at 11:30 for food, and the performance will begin at 12:30. Pre-registration is required.
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 and have 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.
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