May 9, 2025 - Weekly Update
Calendar: May 15 - Early Release - K-12 Students
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared a thank you slide show for Teacher Appreciation Day. We shared that a Clague student won an Aspiring Young Journalist Award, Dicken celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for their new school, Logan celebrated a groundbreaking ceremony for their new school and Pioneer students brought Dicken students’ art to life. We also shared AAPS teams excelled at the Science Olympiad State Tournament, AAPS students shined at National Chemistry Olympiad’s local exam, and Bach was one of our schools that participated in Walk, Roll and Bike to School Day. 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. At this week’s meeting, the Board of Education received a report on Career and Technical Education (CTE) in the AAPS.
National Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and honor the history of Jewish Americans' rich contributions to our nation's development. We pay tribute to the generations of Jewish Americans whose lives, resilience and hope contributed to a better future for our country.
This month in the AAPS, we take the opportunity to honor timeless traditions and heritage. Jewish Americans are highlighted in lessons and reading selections with our students across classrooms and libraries. In the arts, students explore, study and perform the works of great Jewish American artists, lyricists, dancers, composers and many other extraordinary individuals who have positively impacted our society.
We are a stronger school community as we honor, embrace and celebrate our diversity, continually create a culture of belonging for all and value the connections that unite us as an inclusive Ann Arbor community.
National Asian, Pacific Islander & South Asian/American Heritage Month
Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian/American Heritage Month is observed each May to honor and celebrate the contributions that generations of Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian and Native Hawaiian Americans have made to American history, society and culture. This time of recognition provides an opportunity to listen and learn more about the rich diversity within APISA/A communities throughout our country and our Ann Arbor community.
Our students will be able to explore the contributions of Asian, Pacific Islander, South Asian and Native Hawaiian Americans in literature, history, the arts and science during May. We are pleased to share that our students will have the opportunity to celebrate by welcoming inspiring Asian Pacific Islander authors! The virtual author talks will be held on May 21st.
National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day
Today, we celebrated National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. Now, more than ever, we appreciate and honor the people who work every day to provide healthy, safe and nurturing environments for children while their parents are at work or school.
Our AAPS before and aftercare staff are the first to greet over 200 elementary students every day and the last to say goodbye. They are trusted adults who keep our children safe and support working families. On behalf of the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Board of Education, we recognize and thank our AAPS before and aftercare staff for their dedication, commitment and compassion.
AAPS Enrollment
Neighborhood pre-enrollment is available for new students for the 2025-2026 academic year! Applications are also being accepted for In-District Transfers, Non-Resident Children of Employees and Schools of Choice through May 14th. Schools and grades with space availability are posted at the links above. Approvals are based on space availability and are not processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
PTO Council District-wide Fundraiser
The Ann Arbor PTO Council will be wrapping up their 2025 $20 for $30k Fundraiser on May 11th. You can help on this home stretch! Please consider donating $20 (or more) to increase Ann Arbor Title I schools’ per-pupil spending. Every dollar that is donated up to the $30,000 goal will be matched by the PTO Thrift Store. Join the effort to create equitable educational opportunities for every child in Ann Arbor!
AAPS PLTW and CTE Expo
The AAPS PLTW and CTE Expo is Tuesday, May 13th, from 6 to 7:30 PM at Skyline. The expo will include a showcase of student work from Young 5s to 12th grade, hands-on interactive STEAM demonstrations, district robotics team and CTE Programs. More information here.
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.
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.
Dangerous TikTok Challenge
A dangerous TikTok challenge has caught the attention of some of our students. The challenge being circulated shows students inserting pencil lead, paper clips and other objects into the USB ports on their laptops. This causes the computer to smolder, creating a lot of smoke, melting the plastic casing of the computer, and, in some cases, causing the computer to catch fire.
We encourage families to speak with their children about the seriousness of this issue. Please remind them that school-issued devices are educational tools, not toys, and that tampering with or misusing them in this way is both unsafe and unacceptable.
Please be aware that any student who does this will be subject to the disciplinary actions described in the Ann Arbor Public Schools Students' Rights and Responsibilities.
The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority. We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing this message at home and helping us maintain a safe learning environment for all.
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 25-26 - Registration Opens May 15 at 10 AM
Rec & Ed offers on-site licensed child care programs at 13 elementary buildings serving 16 school communities. (Students at three buildings take the bus to nearby schools for aftercare.) 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 how to register: bit.ly/RecEdBAC
Only 5 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 the camp spotlight below.
· Nature Guardians 7/14 -7/18 @ Freeman Environmental Center, Ages 8-11
· 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.
· Did you know Rec & Ed offers drop-off camps for 3 to 4-year-olds? Let your little one experience a week of summer fun with independence led by teachers. View all options here.
· Swiftie Camp (6/23-6/27) - NEW! Ages 8-12
Rec & Ed's High School Volunteer Program (HSVP) - The deadline to apply for summer is Friday, May 16. Learn more about this program here and apply today. Questions? Contact Elyse Bairley at bairley@a2schools.org.
Youth Baseball, Softball and T-Ball Registration Closing Soon Register your Y5-8th grader by Monday, May 12. Don’t miss out on being placed on a team! More information and how to register here.
Register now for a Summer Rec & Ed Class Come take a walk on the fun side! 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.
Support Children Facing Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
May’s WISD Mental Health Workshop on Tuesday, May 13th at 7 PM will focus on supporting children facing anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Dr. Emily Bilek, Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, will provide an overview of these concerns and “do’s and don’ts” for caregivers. Learn more here. 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.
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.
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