Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Ann Arbor Public Schools

Logo Title

February 20, 2026 - Weekly Update

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of Slauson’s PLTW teacher and athletic director. We also shared Pioneer and Skyline students chosen to participate in the All-State Honors Choir and Pioneer’s Symphony Orchestra spread musical valentines across the school. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

 

AAPS Board of Education

The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, February 25th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. You can review a recap of the last meeting here. 

 

Mental Health Support

When you or your child needs help, it’s hard to know where to turn. To ease the burden of finding the mental health and substance use services you need, AAPS has partnered with Care Solace. Care Solace’s multilingual and culturally sensitive Care Companion team is available 24/7/365 to quickly connect individuals to community providers regardless of need. Call 888-515-0595 (available 24/7/365 with multilingual support) or visit: caresolace.com/aaps to search or click “Book Appointment.”

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.  

Ramadan Meals

We are pleased to offer shelf-stable meals for our students who are observing Ramadan and fasting. Meals will be available during school days through Thursday, March 19, 2026.

Students may pick up these meals during their regular lunch period in the cafeteria lunch line to take home and enjoy after sunset. The meals include a variety of shelf-stable foods that do not require refrigeration and meet Halal requirements.

While students observing the fast are not required to sit in the cafeteria during lunch, they will need to pick up their meal and then proceed to the location designated by their school for the lunch period.

We welcome your input on these meals as we work to ensure they are nutritious, meet USDA requirements, and provide meaningful support to students and families observing Ramadan. Please don't hesitate to share your thoughts with Mike Devries, Chartwells Manager at devriesm@aaps.k12.mi.us or Liz Margolis, Executive Director, School Safety & District Operations at margolisl@aaps.k12.mi.us.

 

Kindergarten Round-Up Events

Come see what fun awaits your child in the Ann Arbor Public Schools for Fall 2026! Open to all families of kindergarten or Young 5s eligible students. Attend any of the listed open houses in February or call to schedule a tour. To be eligible for Young 5s your child must turn 5 years old between May 1st and December 1st.

 

AAPS CTE Program Applications for 2026-27

The AAPS CTE Program application for the 2026-2027 school year is open. AAPS CTE Programs are open to students in Ann Arbor Public Schools. If a program is not offered in the student's homeschool, the student can still apply.

 

All students wishing to be a part of the AAPS CTE Programs for Automotive Technology, Cosmetology, Culinary, CTE Environmental Sciences AP, Health Sciences, and Homebuilding will need to complete an application.

 

Link to the AAPS CTE Programs Application (Application must be completed using the students' AAPS account).

 

Link to a QR Code for Program Applications 

 

All applications are due by Friday, February 27th.  

 

Students and caregivers with questions about the application and CTE programs should contact their student's counselor before the February 27th deadline.

 

AAPS Summer Music Program

The AAPS Summer Music Program is open to students in Washtenaw County grades 5-12. Students will have the opportunity to display their existing talent and be challenged to develop new skills. Registration is now open, click here for class offerings and descriptions and click here for how to register.

 

AAPAC Summer Camp and Activities Fair
On Monday, March 2nd at 7 PM AAPAC will hold an in-person meeting at the Earhart Administration Building (3700 Earhart). This meeting will be AAPAC’s 2026 Summer Camp and Activities Fair.

 

Transportation

Families may continue to apply for Space Available Transportation throughout the school year. It generally takes one week to check availability after the initial student counts are conducted.

 

My Stop is a free desktop and mobile app that provides parents access to bus route information such as a child’s assigned bus, bus stop location and updates on the estimated time of arrival at the bus stop. My Stop allows parents and students to plan for late or on-time arrival and prevent missed pick-ups. Click here for more information and how to login.

For more information on transportation go here.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will serve as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a major step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. 

 

This is a work in progress, so some areas of the MyPowerHub may not be filled yet. We will continue to roll out access to elementary school families in the coming weeks.

 

MyPowerHub Intro Video

 

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 of the app via phone: 1-833-300-STOP, email: tipline@securly.com or their website: https://www.securly.com/tip. Or visit the OK2Say - the State of Michigan’s anonymous tip line: https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say. 

 

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. 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. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

 

Michigan Safe Storage Law

MCL 28.429 requires individuals to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is likely to be present on the premises. Additional resources are available on the Michigan Department of Education website to assist families in maintaining firearm safety. 

 

Rec and Ed 

NEW! Summer Camp Registration Opens February 24th: Time to start planning your child's summer camp adventures! There's no better destination than Rec & Ed, where children ages 3-15 years old can CREATE, PLAY, and EXPLORE all summer long. www.aarecedonline.com/camps

Spring Break Camp Registration Opens February 24th:  Keep your kids moving, creating, and smiling this Spring Break. Full Day and Half day camp options More information and camp options here. (Add Bitly)

Youth Spring Sport League K-8th grade - Sign Up Coming Soon: Registration for Spring Soccer, Flag Football and Field Hockey will open on Tuesday, February 17th. Register here.

Community Events and Information

Trinity Health Nutrition Buddies offers middle schoolers (ages 11 to 14) a medical resident physician mentor for four weeks of in-person, hands-on culinary classes at the Trinity Health Ann Arbor Women’s Health Center. All participants also receive a weekly produce subscription, a kit of cooking tools to keep and one week of free summer camp at the Farm at Trinity Health Ann Arbor. More information, including program dates here.

 

A WISD Family-School Collaboration Survey is now live and accepting responses from AAPS families and staff through February 27th. It will take about 10 minutes to complete this important survey. This survey is made possible thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP), and is being conducted by the Region 9 Family Engagement team in partnership with Hanover Research. 

 

Bus Pass Workshop on Sunday, March 8th from 2 to 4 PM for high school students. Join the Washtenaw County Youth Commission at the Neutral Zone to learn about free and unlimited bus passes, how to use city buses, bonding with peers and a free coffee shop outing. Learn more here and register here.

 

NAMI Washtenaw County Mental Health Support Groups offer strategies to support a loved one struggling with their mental health. This free 8-week mental health education course teaches caregivers, family members and significant others how to better support their loved ones while caring for themselves. NAMI Washtenaw County is offering two upcoming courses, In-person starting on Tuesday, March 10th and Online on Wednesday, March 11th. Learn more and register here.

 

Metro Bureau Thomas D. McLennan Scholarships are available to graduating seniors intending to enroll at Oakland University, Wayne County Community College District or Wayne State University. Click here for more information and submit your application by March 13th here.

 

U of M Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science is looking for interested high school juniors and sophomores who identify as women or non-binary for their mentoring program. Mentorship meetings start in March. Click here for more information and to sign up for the program.

 

A2Y Chamber 2026 LaFontaine Teacher of the Year nominations are being accepted through Thursday, March 19th at 4:30 PM. This award honors excellence in teaching in Washtenaw County by recognizing an exceptional educator who inspires students of all backgrounds and abilities, earns the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues and serves as an active leader within their school and community. Learn more and submit applications here.

 

SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens is accepting applications through March 22nd. SummerWorks offers young adults ages 16 to 24 who either reside in Washtenaw County or attended school here an opportunity to gain professional skills. The program features professional development sessions, connections with local mentors, exposure to potential career paths and an opportunity for a paid 10-week internship this summer. Learn more and apply here.

 

Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Civics Contest is accepting entries from students in 9th - 12th grade through March 27th. To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s contest calls on students to create an original graphic poster and provide a 500 word written description of your poster that conveys the connection between the Declaration’s founding promises and the judiciary’s role in upholding them. The written description should use 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double-spaced text, with one inch margins and include a title page with your first and last name, school, grade, level, city and state, email and phone. Submissions should be sent as a PDF to CA06-Civics_Contest@ca6.uscourts.gov.

 

Sustainability Updates in Our Community

This new series will provide weekly updates on sustainability activities unfolding in the Ann Arbor Public School District as well as in the Ann Arbor community. You can always learn more about this work at https://www.a2schools.org/departments/environmental-sustainability and www.a2gov.org/sustainability or by following the city's Office of Sustainability and Innovation on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

 

  • A2ZERO Sustainability Forum: Leading By Example – Ann Arbor’s Municipal Operations, Tuesday, February 24th, 6 PM, Ann Arbor District Library Downtown Branch. Join Ann Arbor's Office of Sustainability and Innovations, along with Police Chief Andre Andreson, for the second session of the 2026 Sustainability Forums to explore how the City weaves sustainability into its municipal operations. From solid waste collection to emergency services, water infrastructure, and beyond, come learn and ask questions about the efforts that keep our city running smoothly and sustainably. Learn more at osi.a2gov.org/events.   

 

  • Interested in natural resources and conservation? New for the 2026-27 school year, the CTE Environmental Science AP course will be offered at Skyline High School and open to all AAPS students. Learn more here.

 

Learn more about AAPS Environmental Education initiatives here and other AAPS environmental sustainability initiatives 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