February 28, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: March 4 -Early Release
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared a Slauson student’s artwork was used in the State of the State Address program, Black History Month Assemblies at Pioneer and Skyline, AAPS teachers bridge cultures and environmental justice through a Puerto Rico exchange and a two minutes at Thurston video. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, March 12th, at 7 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. At this week’s meeting, the board received the January Monthly Budget Monitoring Report.
Orchestra Night
Orchestra Night will feature performances by the AAPS Middle School Orchestras and the Symphony Orchestra Nights from Huron, Pioneer and Skyline on Thursday, March 6th at 7 PM in Hill Auditorium. Admission is free, and doors open to the public at 6:30 PM.
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.
AAPS 2025-2026 Enrollment
Neighborhood pre-enrollment is available for new students for the 2025-26 academic year! Applications are also being accepted for In-District Transfers and Non-Resident Children of Employees between February 25 - March 31, 2025. Schools and grades with space availability are posted at the link above. Approvals are based on space availability and are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Neighborhood pre-enrollment and the IDT/NRCE applications are available here.
AAPS Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
AAPS offers multiple scholarships to graduating seniors looking to further their education at a credentialed college, university or trade school. To view a listing of scholarships and apply online, visit a2schools.org/scholarships. Application deadline is March 14th at 10 PM.
Share Your Stories of Community Partners and Volunteers
Help AAPS recognize the inspiring efforts of our community partners and volunteers by sharing your story. We'll showcase stories during the AAPS Celebration of Partners and Volunteers on April 17th. Submission Deadline: March 7th. Submit your stories here: bit.ly/AAPSPartnerVolunteerStories
Michigan’s Seal of Biliteracy
AAPS is again offering students graduating in the class of 2025 the opportunity to earn Michigan’s Seal of Biliteracy. The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by the Michigan Department of Education to recognize students who have attained proficiency in English and one or more languages by high school graduation. Learn more here.
Rec & Ed
Register NOW for Rec & Ed Spring Break & Summer Camps!
Registration is open for Spring Break Camps and Summer Camps. Explore all the camp options, including Art, Science, STEM, Music, Dance, Drama, Reading, Nature, Sports and the beloved Safety Town program for rising kindergarteners. New this year: Swiftie Camp, Jurassic Park, Magic and more. The possibilities are endless for children ages 2 to 14.
Upcoming: Rec & Ed Spring/Summer Classes
Registration for youth and adult afterschool, evening and weekend classes begins Tuesday, March 11th, at aarecedonline.com.
Don’t Miss Out: Rec & Ed Youth Spring Sports Registration closes March 10th. Registration for youth soccer, flag football and field hockey is open until March 10th here. Sign up today for children in grades Y5-8th. Everyone plays!
Community Events and Information
Rotary Fights Child Hunger - Food and Funds Donation Drive
AAPS is partnering with the Ann Arbor Rotary Club to assist our local food bank, Food Gatherers, in its annual Rotary Fight Child Hunger Food and Funds Donation Drive. This year the drive runs from Monday, March 3rd, through Friday, March 14th. You can learn more about the effort to fight the increasing number of Washtenaw County community members facing food insecurity here.
NAAPID at Night Poster Contest - Deadline Extended
Applications for the 30th annual NAAPID at Night Poster Contest will now be accepted through Friday, March 14th at 11:59 PM. The theme for this year’s National African American Parent Involvement Day is “Love, Guidance, Respect, and Compassion are the Greatest Gifts given to ALL Children!” Student applications can be submitted here. NAAPID at Night is now scheduled as an online event from 6 to 7 PM on April 14th.
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology Winter Family Day
Learn about the Roman Empire and the Ides of March at the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology’s Winter Family Day on Saturday, March 15th, from noon to 3 PM. This free event will include docent guides, scavenger hunts and storytime sessions.
LaFontaine Teacher of the Year Nominations
The Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Chamber is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Colleagues, administrators, board members, parents, students and community members are invited to submit nominations online here through March 20th. Please note that this is a very competitive nomination process, so including as much detail as possible, including letters of support, is critical.
Trails Suicide Prevention Training
We all play a role in suicide prevention. Community members and caregivers can get an overview of suicide and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents, including risk and protective factors, through a Zoom presentation on March 20th at 5:30 PM. Participants will receive an introduction to TRAILS and core beliefs about suicide prevention, recommended language to use when talking about suicide and more. Click here for more information and to register.
STEM Symposium at the University of Michigan
The engineering honor society at the University of Michigan, in collaboration with the Biomedical Engineering Society, is holding a STEM Symposium for students in grades 7th through 12th on Sunday, March 23rd, from 9:50 AM to 2:20 PM. U of M Students will speak about their interest, research or career in STEM and offer lab tours. Click here for more information and to register by March 16th.
Give Kids A Smile Day
The University of Michigan School of Dentistry will hold a free dental clinic for children ages 4 to 14 on Saturday, March 29th, from 8 AM to noon. Dental exams, cleanings and X-rays will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required.
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