Skip To Main Content

Logo Image

Ann Arbor Public Schools

Logo Title

March 27, 2026 - Weekly Update

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of Mitchell second grade teacher. We also shared that the Westerman preschoolers took their first school-wide field trip, Skyline hosted the A2 Area Invention Convention, Pioneer’s Orchestra excels at the State Solo and Ensemble Festival and Allen holds their annual vocabulary parade in honor of National Reading Month. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

 

AAPS Board of Education

The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, April 8, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. At this week’s meeting, the Board of Education received a presentation on the AAPS Sinking Fund. You can review a recap of the last meeting here.

 

Measles Update

Over the past two weeks, the Washtenaw County Health Department has reported 7 cases of measles in our county. To date, there is no connection between these cases and Ann Arbor Public Schools.

 

Measles (rubeola) is an extremely contagious disease caused by the measles virus, which can cause complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). 

 

Now is a good time to make sure your students are up to date on their measles vaccinations (MMR). Fortunately, the measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97% effective. 

 

If there is a case or suspected case of measles in a school, students who are not fully vaccinated against measles will need to be excluded from school for a minimum of 21 days following the most recent case. 

 

If you’re not sure about your student’s immunization status or need a vaccine appointment, contact your pediatrician’s office or the Washtenaw County Health Department. 

 

Steps AAPS is taking in accordance with Washtenaw County Health Dept. guidance for schools:

-- Encouraging families to make sure their students are fully vaccinated

-- Regular disinfection of frequently touched surfaces throughout school buildings

-- Communication with the Washtenaw County Health Department to understand protocols and procedures if a case or exposure is connected to AAPS

 

In the event of a case or suspected case of measles in our schools, AAPS staff will work closely with the Washtenaw County Health Department. AAPS will adhere to local and state measles containment protocols in order to keep our school communities safe. 

 

Visit the Washtenaw County Health Department’s Measles page for more information, including how to check a vaccine record and information regarding measles vaccine appointments.

 

AAPS Safety and Security Forum

AAPS provided an update on school safety protocols and procedures at a community meeting on March 23rd at Pioneer’s Schreiber Auditorium.

You can review the presentation shared at the forum and some of the questions and answers that were submitted before and during the meeting here. Please check back as we continue to add questions and answers.

 

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. 

Passover Matzah for Students

AAPS is pleased to offer matzah for our students who observe Passover April 6 - 9, 2026. Matzah will be available upon request in the cafeteria during lunch to replace bread/yeast products served to students.

The matzah meets USDA requirements, and provides meaningful support to students and families observing Passover.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

AAPS Job Fair

AAPS is holding an in-person job fair on April 13th from 3 to 6 PM at the Huron High School cafeteria, 2727 Fuller Road. Come join our team. Meet with recruiters, screening interviews will be held, so please bring your resume. Sessions will be first come first served.

 

Available Positions:

  • Teachers
  • Paraeducators
  • Special Education Staff
  • Noon Hour Supervisors
  • Title 1 Tutors
  • Bilingual Liaisons
  • EL Co-Teachers
  • EL Instructional Assistants
  • Substitute Teachers
  • Bus Drivers and Assistants

 

Click here to complete an online application before attending the job fair. Please contact our HR team hr_info@aaps.k12.mi.us for inquiries.

 

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.

 

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

Registration is OPEN NOW for:

Spring & Summer Class Registration - Check out Rec & Ed's wonderful spring/summer line-up of early childhood (ages 0-5), school-age youth (ages 5-14), and adult classes and activities at aarecedonline.com. With so many NEW classes being offered, you are sure to find something you like. Spring into learning with Rec & Ed - where curiosity blooms!

Summer Camps - Time to sign your child up for 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

Late Registration for Youth Spring Sport Leagues - K-8th grade. Learn more about each league and register late here. Late registrations do not guarantee placement in a program.

NOW HIRING: Spring Soccer Goal Crew Member Weekend Position, $15 an hour. Rec & Ed is looking for dependable individuals to help set up and take down soccer goals and fields for our Youth Team Sports program on weekends this Spring. Flexible weekend hours, and no experience necessary — we'll train you! Contact Shadaira, our Equipment & Sports Field Specialist: 📧 mccartys@aaps.k12.mi.us

High School Volunteer Program - Launch Your Future This Summer Current 8th–12th graders: Gain real-world experience and develop leadership skills at a Rec & Ed Summer Camp! Learn more here or contact Elyse Bairley at bairley@a2schools.org.

 

Community Events and Information

Undergraduate Research Showcase at the U of M Museum of Natural History on Tuesday, March 31st and Thursday, April 2nd from 2 to 4 PM. Meet U of M students and participate in engaging, hands-on activities to learn about their research in cell biology, neurology, ecology and more. Held during spring break, this mini showcase will feature several undergraduate students from a Science Outreach course taught by Museum of Natural history staff. Learn more about the showcase here.

 

Run Ann Arbor is a fun, free running program for kids in grades K-8 every Sunday at Leslie Park from April 5th to May 10th. University of Michigan student athletes are leading these free, team-centered running practices and races for kids of all abilities. Run Your City is a nonprofit committed to creating an inclusive community where every child can grow into a healthy, confident and inspired individual. Click here for more information and to sign up for the program.

 

Scientist Spotlight at the U of M Museum of Natural History from 11 AM to 4 PM on Saturday April 11th. Visit with U of M scientists and participate in engaging, hands-on activities to learn about their cutting edge research. Suitable for upper elementary through adult visitors. Learn more about the event here.

 

WISD Mental Health Workshop on Tuesday, April 14th at 7 PM will offer parents, caregivers, grandparents, school staff and adults who work with children strategies to help children with ADHD flourish. Register for this online workshop here.

 

Teacher Appreciation Month Videos are currently being accepted by the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Office of Educator Excellence. The MDE invites parents/guardians to submit 15 to 30 second videos of their students recognizing and thanking a specific teacher for their impact. Submitted videos may be posted on the Teacher Appreciation Month webpage and MDE’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the Office of Educator Excellence’s Facebook  (@MIeducator) and X (formerly Twitter) will promote the videos throughout the month of May.  

 

Please follow the directions on the flyer. Videos and parental consent must be submitted via the Teacher Appreciation Video Project Google Form.  Videos are currently being accepted until April 15, 2026.

 

Michigan Youth Sports Initiative Field Day is on Friday, April 17th from 4:30 to 7:30 PM at Mitchell Field for 1st through 8th graders. U of M student athletes and members of the MYSI are hosting three hours of skill workshops, games and other activities. Learn more and register here.

 

U of M Aerospace Day is Saturday, April 18th from 9 AM to 4 PM for Grades K-12, with students under 16 needing to have at least one guardian with them. Sessions are broken up for K-6 and 6-12. The Director of Research and Engineering at NASA Glenn will give the opening keynote remarks to kick off the day, and he will be a part of the Q&A panel with UM faculty, students, and other industry professionals to close out the day. Learn more and register here.

 

Free ESL and Academic Tutoring for Adults from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy provides free tutoring for adults.  Want to improve your reading?  Math?  Computer Skills?  ESL?  Call us at 734-337-3338 or email merritt@WashtenawLiteracy.org for a Personal Tutor.  Or you can join drop-in tutoring. Learn more at https://washtenawliteracy.org/

 

University of Michigan Mental Health Focus Group for Teens

The Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Educational Video Project (CAPEV), is a collaboration between child psychiatrists, pediatricians, and medical students at the University of Michigan. Our goal is to create engaging, accessible educational tools to help teens better understand mental health conditions and to support providers in caring for adolescents more effectively. They are hosting small student focus groups to gather feedback on their materials. Click here for more information and if you would like to participate.

 

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. 

 

  • REGISTER NOW: Climate Teach-In, Saturday, April 25, 1 – 5:30 PM.  Returning for its fourth year, this year’s annual Climate Teach-In will be Sunday, April 25. This free event provides residents the opportunity to learn from local sustainability leaders and other community members as they create and innovate climate solutions. Register now at a2climateteachin.com.  

 

 

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