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Ann Arbor Public Schools

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November 21, 2025 - Weekly Update

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional profile of an Ann Arbor Open 3rd/4th grade teacher. We shared a Tappan Spanish teacher won a prestigious honor at a state conference and Pattengill fourth graders got up close with science through the new Arts and Letters curriculum. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

AAPS Board of Education

The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, December 10th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. At this week’s meeting the Board of Education received the 2025 Annual Financial Audit Presentation, a 2025-26 General Fund Budget Update, a Native Authored Book Collections Presentation and the October Monthly Monitoring Report.

 

Paraprofessional & Educational Support Professionals Day

This week marked American Education Week, and the Wednesday of American Education Week, was designated by the National Education Association as Education Support Professionals Day. 

 

Paraprofessionals perform a variety of teacher-related jobs and often assist teachers in classrooms, working with students on supplemental enrichment activities in small groups or one-on-one. Paraprofessionals often work with students with special education needs and may work in self-contained classrooms and resource rooms or serve as inclusion assistants who accompany individual students throughout their day. The work of paraprofessionals is vital to the students they serve.

 

We proudly recognize and celebrate our AAPS paraprofessionals and all education support professionals who help to keep students safe, healthy, and ready to learn every day.

 

Give Help, Get Help: AAPS Winter Giving
Give Help to AAPS families and students in need by donating a gift card, organizing a drive or supporting a school. Get Help by finding food, winter clothing and other needed resources for your family. Visit a2schools.org/wintergiving today to learn more.

 

High School Information Nights, Enrollment & In-District Transfers

Learn more about the opportunities at AAPS high schools at information nights at each building in November and December. The complete schedule of information nights is available here. 

Ann Arbor Open Information Night

Come learn about Ann Arbor Open! We will share information about kindergarten and middle school, and we will be open for all prospective families to tour the building on Thursday, December 11th from 6 to 7 PM. Doors open at 5:45 PM. The lottery for kindergarten is open and closes on January 9, 2026. Click here for more information.

 

Upcoming High School Performing Arts Schedule

• Community Ensemble Theatre’s production of “Fahrenheit 451” is tonight through November 23rd

• Pioneer’s winter orchestra concert on December 1st and 4th

• Tonight We Sing, a joint performance by Community HS Jazz Ensemble, Pioneer HS Jazz Band, Huron HS Jazz Orchestra and Michigan State Jazz Orchestra will take place on December 5th. 

• Huron’s orchestra concert on December 3rd 

• Huron band concert on December 15th

• Community’s jazz Arctic Blast Concert on December 16th

• Pioneer Choir Winter Sing on December 16th 

• Huron’s Winter Choir Concert on December 17th

• Skyline Winter Choir Concert on December 17th

Friends of Freeman Fall 2025 Newsletter

Find out the latest information about the Freeman Environmental Education Center in the Fall 2025 Friends of Freeman Newsletter here. You can sign up to learn more about the Friends of Freeman here.

 

Free “Fuel” for School for ALL Students

Reminder! Even if a student brings their own lunch they can still get a free school lunch and choose at least three food groups: Milk, Fruit, Veggie, Protein & Grain! Or choose all five for the best nutrition.

 

All students can have free breakfast and lunch! Take, Eat and Enjoy!

 

Mental Health Support

AAPS provides complimentary, confidential coordination services through Care Solace to match you with the right mental health or substance use provider:

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.  

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.

 

Links to bus routes for our schools are available here. 

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.

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will serve as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a major step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. 

 

This is a work in progress, so some areas of the MyPowerHub may not be filled yet. We will continue to roll out access to elementary school families in the coming weeks.

 

MyPowerHub Intro Video

 

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 

WINTER CLASS SNEAK PEEK - ❄️ Winter is coming... and so are our amazing early childhood, youth, and adult classes! Click here to preview what we’re offering this winter and mark your calendar - registration opens Tuesday, December 2nd at 10:00 AM. 

WINTER BREAK CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Rec & Ed will be partnering with Nutty Scientists of Southeast Michigan to offer two winter break camps from 12/29 - 12/31. Campers will build, create, and experiment through winter-themed science investigations. These STEAM-focused camps will be available for kids ages 3-5 and 6-9 and will be held at Westerman Preschool & Family Center. Click here for more information.

YOUTH SPORTS 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun! 

FREE FAMILY EVENT- First Steps Early Childhood: Join us for a FREE program at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) this Saturday, November 22, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Get Back To Basics reinforces shapes and colors for UMMA’s youngest visitors. There will also be a “soft” space with mats, toys, and board books for infants. Learn more and register here.

PISTONS NIGHT WITH REC & ED - 🏀 Join us for an exciting evening of NBA basketball! Watch the Detroit Pistons take on the Charlotte Hornets on Saturday, December 20th at 7:30 PM at Little Caesars Arena. A portion of ticket sales benefits the Rec & Ed Scholarship Fund! For ticket information click here.


 

Community Events and Information

WISD Mental Health Workshop on December 9th will focus on the Washtenaw Chapter of Sibshops. The organization supports children and teens who have siblings with autism, neurodivergence, disabilities and/or chronic health needs. In this workshop, parents and caregivers will learn how the program combines fun, connection and support to help siblings feel understood and empowered. Click here to learn more and register for the zoom that starts at 7 PM.

 

Cinema & Sustainability Film Series Continues off with Catching the Sun on Wednesday, December 10th at 7 PM at the State Theater. The City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations is collaborating with the Marquee Arts for a series of films through December. Following the free screening, there will be discussions with local experts and organizations who are working toward making Ann Arbor more sustainable and equitable. Tickets can be reserved online at marquee-arts.org.

 

Ann Arbor Seasonal Leaf Collection Begins runs through Friday, December 12th. During this period families may set out up to 20 paper yard bags per collection day. Additionally unlimited leaf drop off will be accepted at the Ann Arbor compost facility from residents or their landscapers and free wood chips will be available at three locations around the city. More information here.

 

Catch the Plastic - Keep microplastics out of our rivers and streams. Shed by synthetic clothes and textiles in your washing machine, these tiny fibers are not filtered out by the wastewater treatment process. Adding a filter or using special laundry devices can help. 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