November 1, 2024 - Weekly Update
Calendar: November 5 - No School - Election Day
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a Skyline teaching assistant. We shared that AAPS students were accepted for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Region C Honors Choir, Burns Park students got a behind-the-scenes look at the Vice-President’s visit, Dicken’s Halloween celebration, and we offered a glimpse inside of Allen. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education meeting is Wednesday, November 6, at 7:30 PM at 3700 Earhart Road.
AAPS Mental Health Partnership
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. We are grateful for the grant dollars that allow us to provide this critical service to our students and families. Learn more here.
AAPS Food Service Is Hiring
Chartwells Food Service is currently hiring for several positions, and we’re looking for motivated individuals to join our team. These roles are perfect for parents who want to work during school hours and have their evenings and weekends free.
Positions Available:
- Part-Time Food Service Workers:
- 15-25 hours per week (Monday through Friday)
- Starting at $16 per hour (depending on experience)
- Full-Time Sous Chefs:
- Monday through Friday, 6 AM to 2:30 PM
- Starting at $19 per hour (depending on experience)
If you or someone you know is interested, click here to apply for the Ann Arbor Public Schools postings. Please email HR manager Brittney DeWitt at dewittb@aaps.k12.mi.us after applying to set up an interview.
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 of 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.
Special Education Millage on November Ballot
Voters residing in school districts served by the Washtenaw Intermediate School District will be voting on a Special Education Millage Renewal proposal. If it's renewed by voters, there would be no increase in tax rates. As you're filling out your ballot, remember to flip it over! Learn more at www.washtenawisd.org/SpecialEdRenewal.
Freeman Environmental Education Center Update
You can review the Freeman Environmental Education Center fall update here. Stay connected to what's going on at the Freeman EE Center and receive quarterly updates about what's happening there by clicking here. You can also share at that link if you're interested in volunteering to be part of habitat enhancement and site improvement projects.
New AAPS Website
The a2schools.org website and our school websites have all migrated and work continues on resetting links. As a tip, if you have bookmarks set to pages on the old website, you will need to reset them on the current website. Thank you for your patience as we work on this update.
Rec & Ed
Adult Enrichment & Recreation
THIS WINTER! Online registration for the Adult Winter Basketball League is set to begin on Monday, November 4. All leagues will be divided by skill level. The winter adult basketball season is 6-weeks, beginning Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Bump, set, spike it with 2025 Winter Adult Volleyball. Online team registration begins Monday, November 4. Teams will play eight matches beginning January 13, 2025. Players without a team should email brinsone@a2schools.org for help. Players must be at least 16 years old.
Youth Team Sports
Online registration for Youth Winter Basketball is OPEN! Winter basketball is open to youth in grades 4th-8th during the 2024-25 school year. Most games are scheduled for Saturdays beginning January 18, 2025, with one evening practice per week. Scholarships are available.
Register online now for Youth Winter Indoor Soccer/Futsal. Indoor Soccer/Futsal is open to youth in grades Young 5 through 5th during the 2024-25 school year. Every child plays! Teamwork and active participation are key components of this league. Games begin on Saturday, January 18, 2025. Scholarships are available.
Youth Enrichment Program
Drum and dream with us in a fun 2-hour workshop experience that will introduce you to the powerful artistry and generous spirit of Japanese Taiko Drumming on Sunday, November 24, through demonstrations and hands-on activities. Share in our dream of collective play as we explore the rhythms and groove of Taiko music together. Grades 8th through Adult are welcome.
Early Childhood Division - First Steps Program
FREE Family Pajama Time! Pajama Sing-A-Long on Monday, November 11, 2024, from 6:00 to 6:45 PM. Westerman Preschool & Family Center, Lower Family Room. Register to add your family’s favorite bedtime or class songs. Bring a picnic blanket, stuffie/blankie and let’s sing!
Rec & Ed Before and After Care Programs
Rec & Ed’s Before and After Care program has openings available at the following schools: Abbot, Allen (AM), Angell (AM), Bach (PM), Carpenter, Dicken (PM), Eberwhite (PM), Lakewood, Logan (PM), Mitchell, Pittsfield (PM combined with Allen), Thurston (PM) and Wines (AM). Please visit the child care registration website or call 734-994-2300 ext. 0.
Programs are available to families needing financial assistance who meet income eligibility requirements. Find more information on our Rec & Ed Scholarship page.
Questions? Contact: aapschildcare@aaps.k12.mi.us
Join Our Friendly and Caring Rec & Ed Team
Rec & Ed wages and benefits are highly competitive. Schedules are flexible, with both part-time and full-time opportunities ranging from assistant to program director. Find out more about before/after care positions on our employment opportunities page.
Community Events and Information
City of Ann Arbor Seasonal Yard Waste Collection
The City of Ann Arbor is expanding services for the season to help residents manage fallen leaves. Between Monday, Oct. 7th and Friday, Dec. 13th, the number of bags that can be left at the curb for collection will be increased to 20 bags (50 pounds or less each); unlimited leaf drop-off will be permitted at the Ann Arbor compost facility, from residents or their landscaper; and free wood chips will be available to pick up at three locations around the city. More details here.
Early Voting in Washtenaw County
Michigan voters now have the right to vote early in person during nine days prior to every major election. Washtenaw County’s early voting takes place through November 3rd, before the November 5th election day. Learn more here, including where you can vote early.
Toy and Game Swap
The Ann Arbor District Library downtown library is hosting a free toy and game swap on Saturday, November 2nd, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. You don’t need to bring a toy or game to get something new to you.
Daylight Saving Time Ends
Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour on Sunday, November 3rd, as Daylight Saving Time ends. In 2025, Daylight Saving Time will start on Sunday, March 9th.
Kid Support for Kids Affected by Cancer
Kid Support is a peer support group for children and teens who have a parent or loved one with cancer (either in treatment or post-treatment). A new four-week program on Monday evenings starts November 4th, with meetings including dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Please contact the Cancer Support Community to register your family at 734-975-2500 or email trevor@cancersupportannarbor.org.
Suicide Awareness and Prevention Presentation
TRAILS invites you to attend an upcoming presentation: Suicide Awareness and Prevention for Caregivers and Communities. The free presentation will take place via Zoom on Thursday, November 7th, from 6 to 7:30 PM. Register here.
MindSET 2024 - Programming Sphero Balls
Join engineering students at U of M on Sunday, November 17th. We welcome all interested students in 3rd through 5th grade to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math through the MindSET program. For this MindSET event, we’ll learn how to write code to make a robot perform a set of tasks. Click here for more information and to reserve your spot.
Catch the Plastic
Keep microplastics out of our rivers and streams. Shed by synthetic clothes and textiles during laundering, these tiny fibers are not filtered out by the wastewater treatment process. Washing machine filters and special laundry devices can help. If you buy a new washing machine, choose a front-loader. Learn more at hrwc.org/microplastics.
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