May 16, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: May 26 - No School - Memorial Day
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared a Community jazz combo earned national recognition, the Skyline hosted the annual AAPS Project Lead the Way and Career Technical Education Expo and Westerman preschoolers again joined the world’s largest exercise class. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, May 21st, at 7:30 PM at 3700 Earhart Road.
National Mental Health Awareness Month
May is recognized as National Mental Health Awareness Month, but we know mental health matters this month and every month. The reality is that many people around us are struggling, and they deserve care, understanding and support. Mental health challenges don’t define a person; they are simply part of the human experience. By having open, compassionate conversations, we can break the stigma and create a culture of support.
Let’s stand together to ensure no one has to struggle alone. If you or someone you know needs help, Care Solace is here for you. This complimentary and confidential mental health care coordination service, provided by Ann Arbor Public School District, can help connect you with a provider quickly and easily:
- Call 888-515-0595 for multilingual support, available 24/7/365.
- Visit www.caresolace.com/aaps to search for a provider or click “Book Appointment” for personalized assistance via video chat, email, or phone.
You are not alone. Help is always available—don’t hesitate to reach out.
National Speech Pathologist Recognition
During May, which is also National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, we take the opportunity to express our appreciation to our outstanding Ann Arbor Public Schools speech pathologists. Our speech pathologists work to increase understanding and ensure treatment of speech and language issues, which can improve the quality of daily interaction and life for students experiencing communication challenges.
Communication is critical to connecting with others and is the channel through which all other learning happens. Difficulties with speech and language development impact a child’s ability to learn and socialize.
We join AAPS students, staff and families in recognizing our AAPS speech pathologists for their tremendous role in supporting and empowering our students to achieve personal, school and life success.
AAPS School Quality Survey
Parents and AAPS school based staff should have received directly an email with a link to provide feedback via the AAPS School Quality Survey. This survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. All Responses are strictly confidential.
In case you didn’t receive the email, you can take the survey by clicking here: https://survey.k12insight.com/r/2025-SchoolClimateSurvey-Families
AAPS Freeman Spring Environmental Festival
Please join us on Saturday, May 17th at the Freeman Environmental Education Center (3540 Dixboro Lane) between 1 and 3:30 PM for an afternoon of family fun and educational activities - trivia, arts & crafts, native plants, high school student presentations, stewardship activities and more! We will have both indoor and outdoor activities, so please dress for the weather. Long pants and sleeves are recommended for the outdoor stewardship activities. Elementary and middle school students should be accompanied by a parent/guardian. More information and an RSVP form are available on the EE Program website.
Picnic Pops
Ann Arbor Public Schools Bands present Picnic Pops on Sunday, May 18th, on the Pioneer High School lawn. This free event includes performances by AAPS middle school, K-8 and high school bands, food trucks, games and more. More details here.
Virtual Author Talks
On Wednesday, May 21st, in celebration of Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, AAPS and the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American parent group (APISA/A) are highlighting two virtual author talks for our students, staff and families to attend. From 10 to 11 AM, Saadia Faruqi, author of the popular children’s early reader series “Yasmin,” will talk on the topic of global citizenship. This talk is best for students in grades 3 through 8. From 1:30 to 2 PM, Richard Ho will join for a talk geared towards elementary students, particularly those in grades Young fives through 2nd grade. Ho’s books include children’s picture books like Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars and Two New Years.
Pre-registration is required for these events here. AAPS teachers who register before May 20 have the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to receive a copy of a book by the authors.
AAPS Summer Music, Art and Theater
The AAPS Arts Program is open to Washtenaw County students in grades 3rd through 12th. Students will have the opportunity to display their existing talent and be challenged with new skills. The program runs at Skyline High School from Monday through Friday, June 16 through Wednesday, July 2, 2025, except June 19, for Juneteenth. More information and registration here.
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 anytime. 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 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 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.
Rec & Ed
Before & After Care for Fall 2025-26 - Registration is OPEN!
Rec & Ed offers on-site licensed child care programs at 13 elementary buildings serving 16 school communities. (Students at three buildings bus to nearby schools for after care.) Multiple schedule options are available for AAPS families. Students in Young 5's/Kindergarten through 5th grade engage in enriching, fun, and safe activities in a supportive environment. More information and register here: bit.ly/RecEdBAC
Only 4 weeks until Summer - Sign up now for Summer Camp! Rec & Ed’s summer camps are filling up fast, but there are still spaces available. View all camps here. Check out camp spotlight below.
Check out all our Sport Camps this summer, ages 2-14. Kids develop skills, make friends, and create lasting memories through fun, age-appropriate activities designed to inspire a lifelong love of sports. Please also view our A2 Sport Camp options.
Early Childhood Camp Highlight (AGES 3-5.5): Paintbrushes & Petri Dishes: Science of Art & Manatees & Merfolk Dance Camp.
Register now for a Summer Rec & Ed Class Come take a walk on the funside! Registration for youth and adult evening and weekend classes is now open. Our instructors are subject matter experts, our classes are convenient and affordable, and most importantly, our welcoming environment helps strengthen our community. There are class options for all ages and skill levels, and many scholarships are available! Register today aarecedonline.com.
Community Events and Information
Washtenaw County Health Department Offering Measles Vaccines
The Health Department is providing walk-in MMR vaccinations on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM and on Fridays from 8 AM to 3 PM at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti. The Health Department can check vaccine records if you’re not sure of your status. They can vaccinate those with Medicaid, Medicare, Washtenaw Health Plan, BCBS and those with no insurance. More information here.
My Future Fund
The Washtenaw Intermediate School District administers the My Future Fund program in collaboration with the Washtenaw County government. Every eligible 1st through 7th grade student enrolled in AAPS can now login to their My Future Fund account. Login information will be emailed to families next week.
Ann Arbor Commuter Challenge
The Commuter Challenge encourages and rewards commuters who bus, walk, bike, and carpool to get to work in May. Individuals and workplaces can win prizes for participating in the challenge. Free resources are provided to support successful participation.
Ann Arbor Fire Station Groundbreaking
The City of Ann Arbor invites the community to a groundbreaking ceremony for a new Fire Station No. 4 on Tuesday, May 20th, at 9 AM at South Huron Parkway and Platt Road. The new facility will be the first net-zero fire station in Michigan and will be named in honor of the city’s first female firefighter, Mindy Kerr. Details here.
Ann Arbor Golden Paintbrush Nominations
Nominations for the 2025 Golden Paintbrush Awards are now open! The Ann Arbor Public Art Commission’s biennial awards are designed to recognize people in the community who’ve created or fostered art in Ann Arbor’s public spaces. Any individual, group or organization can be nominated for the Golden Paintbrush Award if their art demonstrates civic engagement, creativity or skill, and is publicly visible and maintainable. Anyone may submit a nomination, including for their own work. Nominations are due by Friday, August 1st, and may be submitted here.
Use Native Plants in Your Garden
Include plants native to Michigan in your garden. The deep, extensive root systems of native plants like Black-eyed Susans, Rose Mallow, Blue Lobelia and many others create channels in the soil, allowing runoff to soak in. You will help improve water quality and create habitat for pollinators. Learn more at hrwc.org/landscaping.
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