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Ann Arbor Public Schools

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January 23, 2026 - Weekly Update

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a Huron art teacher. We also shared Abbot held their annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly, Skyline hosted a Restorative Justice Practices Symposium and the Board of Education elected officers at their 2026 Organizational Meeting. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

 

AAPS Board of Education

The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, February 4th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. 

 

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.  

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.

 

Meal Magic EFund Issue

AAPS has been informed that Meal Magic EFunds for Schools is experiencing issues with online deposits. The company is aware and working to solve the issue.

 

If the Family Portal indicates to parents that a deposit could not be confirmed, please do not try again to make the deposit to avoid being charged a number of times. This is not a Meal Magic issue but the EFunds portal. 

 

We will let families know when this issue is corrected.

 

We want to hear from AAPS students about our meals

Our dietician, Nika, is looking to get feedback on the daily lunch and breakfast menus from students. Click here to access a form designed to involve students in the menu-making process. For any questions regarding student feedback or our menu, be sure to contact Nika at olszewskiv@aaps.k12.mi.us.

 

Reminder! Even if a student brings their own lunch they can still get a free school lunch and choose at least three food groups: Milk, Fruit, Veggie, Protein & Grain! Or choose all five for the best nutrition.

 

All students can have free breakfast and lunch! Take, Eat and Enjoy!

 

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.

 

Links to bus routes for our schools are available here. 

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.

AAACF Scholarships

Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation (AAACF) Scholarship Applications are being accepted through February 10th at 3 PM. AAPS graduating high school seniors can access 25+ scholarship opportunities (awards ranging from $1,000 to $26,000) by visiting www.aaacf.org/scholarships. Questions or concerns can be directed to Maryellen Ferro at mferro@aaacf.org. 

 

AAPS Music Camp Scholarships

AAPS Music Department’s 2026 Summer Music Camp Scholarship Auditions are being accepted now through February 17th. Auditions this year will be via video recording only. Apply here.

 

School Crossing Guards Wanted

The City of Ann Arbor is currently hiring school crossing guards. Duties include, holding up a hand-held "STOP" sign until all children are safely across the street and reporting any unsafe observations, incidents or accidents involving students to school authorities. Click here to learn more and apply.

 

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

 

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 

WINTER CLASS Registration Is Open ❄️ Have a wonderful winter with Rec & Ed! Click here to browse our classes. 

Think Winter is the right time to start planting? 🌱 It sure is! Check out our Michigan Wildflowers: Family-Friendly Winter Planting workshops on Jan. 31st, Feb. 28th, or March 14th. You can attend on your own, with a friend, or with your entire family. All are welcome!

 

Community Events and Information

Arab American Advisory Group Open House takes place Saturday, January 24th from 3 to 5 PM at the Pittsfield Library Community Room. Come learn about the group and their plans for this year. Children are welcome and kids’ crafts will be available.

 

WISD Special Education Coffee and Conversation on Thursday, January 29th from 8:30 to 10 AM. This event is intended to bring together families, students, community organizations and education professionals to listen and discuss current and relevant topics in special education. Learn more here. Sign up for the free event here.

 

Embracing Our Differences Michigan is accepting artwork applications through January 30th. Embracing Our Differences Michigan invites you to participate in creating a society where diversity is embraced and individuality is celebrated. The exhibit will be on display in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti parks from May through the end of October 2026. Click here to learn more and submit your artwork.

 

Energy Career Panel for Teens is taking place on Wednesday, February 4th from 6:15 to 7:45 PM at the Pittsfield Branch of the Ann Arbor District Library. Join Washtenaw County 4-H and Invenergy for an interactive career panel where you’ll discover the wide range of roles in the energy industry and learn how cleaner energy is transforming businesses and communities. Sign up here. Please contact Jenny Speyer at speyerje@msu.edu with questions.

 

TRAILS Suicide Awareness and Prevention for Caregivers and Communities on Thursday, February 5th from 4:30 to 6 PM. This presentation will provide participants with an overview of suicide and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents, including risk and protective factors. Participants will learn warning signs that may indicate elevated risk for suicidal behavior and how to intervene. Click here for more information and to register.

 

F.E.M.M.E.S Winter 2026 Connect will be held Saturday, February 21st from 10 AM to 2 PM for 6th to 8th graders at the University of Michigan Chemistry Building. The program will expose students to various hands-on STEM activities and give students an opportunity to interact with women pursuing college degrees and careers in STEM. The program is designed to support girls but is open to students of all genders. Registration for Connect is currently open and will close on February 14th.

 

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.

 

Conquer the Cold 2026 is underway through February 12th. Ann Arbor’s getDowntown Program launched the 2026 Conquer the Cold Challenge this week. To participate, community members log when they take trips using sustainable forms of transportation in the greater Ann Arbor area at win.getDowntown.org.

 

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