November 7, 2025 - Weekly Update
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile on Abbot’s Building Literacy Coach. We shared the Pioneer cross country made history at the state finals, the Ann Arbor NAACP recognized 236 Freedom Fund Scholars and a Forsythe sixth grader published a video game. We also shared that Skyline Theatre is presenting ‘Leaving Iowa’ and highlights from Dicken’s Halloween parade. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, November 19th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road.
National Native American Heritage Month
November is the official month we dedicate to honor Native people and celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, stories of Native American and Alaska Native communities and ensure their important contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.
While we honor and celebrate individuals of Native American ancestry every day in our classrooms and across our schools in the AAPS, during November, we explore and deepen our collective awareness and understanding through rich art, literature and other cultural and learning connections.
National School Psychology Week
This week, November 3rd – 7th, we celebrated National School Psychology Week, honoring the incredible work of our school psychologists.
Our school psychologists make a difference every single day — supporting students’ emotional well-being, fostering positive mental health, and helping create learning environments where every child feels safe, valued, and capable of success. They also serve as trusted partners to families, teachers, and administrators, offering insight and guidance that help us meet students’ needs with care and compassion. Their impact often happens quietly, behind the scenes, but it is felt in the confidence, resilience, and growth of the students they support.
Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area
The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.
Free Breakfast & Lunch for ALL AAPS Students Remember that all AAPS students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch. Here is more information: AAPS Food Service
WISD Countywide CTE Millage
Voters across the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD) this week approved the countywide Career Technical Education (CTE) millage. Thanks to community support, this funding will provide a sustainable local source of support for CTE programs, helping AAPS and schools across the county, maintain and update existing programs and technology, expand equitable access to students across all communities, provide earlier exposure to career pathways, and strengthen connections with industry and postsecondary partners to meet skilled workforce needs.
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. The first information nights are coming up this week on Sunday, November 9th at 2 PM at Community and on Tuesday, November 11th at Pioneer.
We will begin accepting all new enrollments and In-District Transfer applications for Young 5’s and High School grades 9, 10 & 11 starting on Tuesday, November 18th.
Upcoming High School Performing Arts Schedule
• Pioneer Theatre Guild’s production of “Spongebob The Musical” running through Sunday the 9th
• Skyline’s production of “Leaving Iowa” takes place November 14th through the 16th.
• 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
Mental Health Support
November 13th is World Kindness Day, a reminder to be kind to each other, ourselves and our world. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, create a ripple effect of positivity and community.
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.
AAPS Job Fair
The AAPS is hosting a virtual job fair/interview day on Monday, November 10th from 3:30 to 6:30 PM. Appointments will be scheduled via zoom and sign-ups will be accepted through noon on November 10th. Learn more here or contact hr_info@aaps.k12.mi.us for additional information or application assistance.
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.
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:
- STEP #1: Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.
- STEP #2: Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.
- STEP #3: Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).
- STEP #4: Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
- STEP #5: Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.
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
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
FREE FAMILY EVENT- First Steps Early Childhood: Join us for a FREE program at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) November 22, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Get Back To Basics reinforces shapes and colors for UMMA’s youngest visitors. There will be a “soft” space with mats, toys, and board books for infants. Learn more and register here.
Community Events and Information
Mental Health Workshop - Youth Focus- Once again this year, WISD is offering free, online workshops for parents and caregivers on a variety of mental health topics. Mental Health 101: Youth Focus would provide an initial understanding of youth brain development, emotional and social development, trauma, some practical tools and ways to address your own mental wellness. This webinar will be at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 11th. Open to all Washtenaw County parents, caregivers, grandparents, school staff, and adults who work with children. This year, you will need to register for each workshop that you'd like to attend in order to receive the Zoom link. Review the topics and register here.
A2ZERO Household Electronics Collection event is taking place Saturday, November 15th, from 10 AM to 1 PM. This event is hosted by the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) in collaboration with Comprenew, an e-stewards certified Michigan-based nonprofit that recycles and refurbishes electronics sustainably and ethically. All Ann Arbor residents are welcome to register. Registration is required and is now open for the event, which will be held at Allen Elementary. Register for this event at a2zero_electronics.eventbrite.com.
Exploring Storytelling is a free parent/child event at the Ann Arbor Art Center on Saturday and Sunday November 16th. Students ages eight and up and their caregivers are invited to join author and editor Upasna Kakroo from Peerbagh in this special free two-day workshop for aspiring writers. The event is 1 to 4 PM each day and attendees must be present both days. Learn more and register here.
City of Ann Arbor Draft Comprehensive Land Use Plan has entered the third draft review period. Community members are encouraged to review the plan and offer feedback. Learn more about the plan and comment here.
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