March 7, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: March 24-28 - No School - Spring Break
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a Burns Park kindergarten teacher. We shared A2 STEAM students studied and highlighted Black labor history, snacking fun at a Discovery Kitchen event at King, the Community High Jazz Band excelled at the 43rd Annual Western Invitational, PTO Council has launched an Equity Fundraiser and Two Minutes at Lawton 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.
National School Social Workers Week (March 2nd - 8th)
We take the opportunity during the first full week of March each year to recognize and celebrate our school social workers.
School social workers are highly valued members and integral to each school’s multidisciplinary support team. Research indicates that school mental health and support programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, dropout rates and discipline referrals while also improving academic achievement.
We join with students, the AAPS team and families to celebrate our school social workers who inspire us with hope, understanding and respect in their work every day.
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
Michigan Indigenous Artists Series
AAPS is sponsoring a series of free events highlighting Michigan Indigenous artists. The first event is an educational concert on Saturday, March 15th, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM at The Ark. Asiginaak-Negamojig (Blackbird Singers) will perform, and Stacie Sheldon, co-founder of Ojibwe.net, will provide background and teaching on Ojibwe language and culture. Lunch is provided, and pre-registration is requested.
AAPS Capital Program Open Houses
The AAPS Capital Program team will be hosting project Open Houses at the following elementary schools:
• Lakewood Elementary: Tuesday, March 18th, 6:30 to 8 PM
• Lawton Elementary: Thursday, March 20th, 6:30 to 8 PM
• Wines Elementary: Tuesday, April 1st, 6:30 to 8 PM
• Burns Park Elementary: Thursday, April 3rd, 6:30 to 8 PM
• King Elementary: Wednesday, April 9th, 6:30 to 8 PM
Meet the architects and design experts involved in planning these new AAPS 21st-century, healthy, high-performance schools. This Open House format will allow guests to move at their own pace throughout multiple stations, review project updates and information and provide feedback. Please visit A2SchoolsBond.org to learn more.
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.
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
Daylight Saving Time
Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 AM on Sunday, March 9th. Don’t forget to move your clocks forward one hour. Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 2nd.
When Your Child Refuses to Go to School
School refusal is not just a problem for children but a family issue. The Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s March Mental Health Workshop for Parents focuses on what works to support children in overcoming the stress and anxiety of attending school. The Zoom workshop is Tuesday, March 11th, from 7 to 8:30 PM. 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.
Washtenaw County Sheriff Community Engagement Division Logo Contest
The 2025 Washtenaw County Sheriff Community Engagement Division Logo Contest is accepting entries from county residents 23 and younger through March 13th. Click here to learn more and submit entries for the chance to win a $300 cash prize.
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 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.
F.E.M.M.E.S. Winter Explore Capstone
The F.E.M.M.E.S. Explore Capstone event this year will be an in-person event from 10 AM to 4 PM on Saturday, March 22nd, for 4th to 6th graders. This event will expose students to various STEM activities, allow them to gain hands-on experience in performing some experiments and projects and give them an opportunity to interact with women pursuing college degrees and careers in STEM. Register by March 14th.
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.
2025 Young Citizens of the Year Nominations
The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation is accepting nominations for the Young Citizens of the Year award through March 24th. The award recognizes leadership and community service (outside of school-based activities) by Washtenaw County High School Students. More information and the nomination form is available here.
2025 Free Tree Giveaway
The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations is holding its 10,000 Trees Initiative 2025 Free Tree Giveaway for Washtenaw County residents on Saturday, April 19th, at Allen Elementary. Registration opens on Saturday, March 15th, and due to limited supplies, registration is expected to fill quickly.
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.
Scientist Spotlight: Forsythe Young Scientist Expo
The University of Michigan Museum of Natural History’s next Scientist Spotlight is at Forsythe on March 16th from 11 AM to 4 PM. U of M Scientists will have hands-on activities, Forsythe students will display science projects and demonstrations from the Forsythe robotics team. More information here.
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.
Treasure Your Trees
Every tree plays an important role in reducing air pollution and controlling destructive runoff. You can calculate how much stormwater your tree will intercept and how much carbon dioxide it will store each year at hrwc.org/planttrees.
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