October 10, 2025 - Weekly Update
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of an English Learner (EL) teacher at Logan. We also shared about a retired AAPS teacher receiving Michigan’s top honor for Environmental Education and Huron IB students volunteering at the Freeman Environmental Education Center. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, October 22nd, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. At this week’s meeting the board received the Fall 2025 Student Achievement Annual Report.
National Principals Month
In recognition of National Principals Month, we express gratitude for the dedication and service our AAPS principals provide to our students, their families, staff members and our community every day.
An effective school leader makes a significant difference in serving and supporting a school community. We thank our strong leaders for their tireless efforts to strengthen and work alongside the school team while maintaining the school environment as a safe and welcoming place for all.
Thank you, AAPS School Principals, for the positive and profound differences you continue to make in the lives of all those you serve each day.
National Head Start Awareness Month
October is Head Start Awareness Month. This nationwide celebration highlights the enduring national commitment to breaking the generational cycle of poverty by providing access to critical early childhood education and support to families in need.
Head Start programs support children's growth from birth to age 5 through services that support early learning and development, health, and family well-being. HeadStart is an effective investment that helps prepare all children, regardless of their circumstances at birth, for success in school.
All Hallows Concert
The annual All Hallows Concert is set for Tuesday, October 28th, featuring performances by Pioneer Bands. This family-friendly event invites everyone to come in costume and enjoy a festive evening. The Schreiber Auditorium doors at Pioneer High School open at 6:30 PM, and the concert will begin at 7 PM. Attendees can take a picture at the spooky photo wall and take part in some early trick-or-treating fun! The concert is free and open to the entire community. While admission is free, a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family is welcome to support the bands.
Food Service Update
As shared last Friday, the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be providing meals to all students throughout the 2025-26 school year based on the state budget passed by the legislature late last week. As a reminder only full meals are covered by the state funding, a la carte items such as milk only still require payments.
We know with this update to food service, some families may want a refund from their Meal Magic Account as they don’t anticipate their student(s) purchasing a la carte items. In order to receive a refund from your students' meal service account please send an email and include this information:
Name of the student(s):
School(s) they attend or attended:
Reason for the refund:
Name of who to make the check out to:
Address where to send the check:
Send to: bollingere@aaps.k12.mi.us and devriesm@aaps.k12.mi.us
Education Benefit Form (EBF)
It is still important for ALL AAPS families to fill out the Education Benefit Form (EBF) to check for qualification for free and reduced meals:
The EBF form also helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology.
Mental Health Support
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Let's stand together to create a safe and supportive school community. Recognize the signs, speak up, and report bullying. Together, we can make a difference.
In addition, Care Solace, APS’s free Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Service, is available 24/7/365 to connect individuals to care. Call 888-515-0595 or visit caresolace.com/aaps to search anonymously.
Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.
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.
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.
WISD Countywide CTE Millage
Absentee ballots are now available!
They were recently mailed out by your local clerk’s office and you can return your ballot by mail, secure drop box, or to your local clerk’s office.
Want to learn more about the CTE proposal first? Check out this on-demand pre-recorded Zoom presentation that you can watch on your own schedule!
You can learn more about the importance of CTE in this short video with Superintendent Jazz Parks.
Learn more at www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage.
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.
Michigan Child Protection Registry
The Michigan Child Protection Registry is a do-not-contact service that families can easily sign up for at www.ProtectMIChild.com in order to keep their children safe while on their devices at school and at home. This is a free Registry offered through the State of Michigan that stops adult advertisements from reaching our kids through e-mail, text, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Discord, Twitch and TikTok. This Registry is an excellent resource for making sure our kids aren’t being served ads for alcohol, tobacco/vaping, online gambling, pornography or marijuana.
FAFSA Form Now Available
We’re excited to share that the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now open at fafsa.gov.
Completing the FAFSA form is a key to accessing federal, state, and institutional financial aid that can help cover the cost of college or career training. We strongly encourage all students to complete the form as soon as possible.
Start your FAFSA form now: FAFSA.gov
The earlier you apply, the better your chances of maximizing aid.
If you need help or have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school counselor or college advisor.
Advanced Placement Exams
AAPS is pleased to offer 25 different Advanced Placement (AP) Exams this spring. All students in grades 9-12 are eligible to register. Details on registration, exam fees, deadlines and supports are available at our AP Testing Webpage.
Rec and Ed
AI 101: Everyday Uses of ChatGPT - new workshop! ChatGPT can help parents with daily activities like meal planning and organizing tasks. Join our one-evening, in-person workshop on November 12th. No technical background is needed - just a desire to simplify everyday challenges. Click HERE for workshop details and online registration.
Calm & Connect: Intro to Infant Massage - this 5-week class helps with soothing, sleep, digestion, colic, depression, relaxation, communication and more. It offers a great way to bond with your baby while connecting with other parents. Time to share stories and ask questions is built into this relaxing and informative class (best for pre-crawling babies). Click HERE for class details and online registration. AAPS employees may use their BOE Staff Pass for this class.
Multi-Sport Tots (ages 2-5). Experience instructional sports alongside your 2-5 year old this fall. Skyhawks coaches introduce a different sport each week to our littlest athletes. Saturday mornings, indoors in the Bryant Elementary Gym beginning November 6th. AAPS employees may use their BOE Staff Pass for this class. aarecedonline.com/earlychildhoodclasses
🏈 ⚽ GAME ON! Fall Flag Football (Y5-8th Grade) and Indoor Soccer Practice and Play (Y5 - 5th Grade) registration is open. Registration closes on Monday, October 20th at 5 PM. Limited space in both programs so register early!
Community Events and Information
A2ZERO Household Electronics Collection events are taking place Saturday, October 11th and November 15th, from 10 AM to 1 PM. These events are 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 Oct. 11 event, which will be held at Zion Lutheran Church. Register for this event at a2zero_electronics.eventbrite.com.
Halloween Costume Swap on Sunday, October 19th at the Ann Arbor District Library’s downtown facility from 11 AM to noon. Come pick up a new-to-you costume for this year. Gently used and clean costumes can be dropped off at any library location through October 14th. You do not need to drop off a costume to pick one up at the swap. More information here.
Cinema & Sustainability Film Series Continues off with Fashion Reimagined on Wednesday, October 22nd at 7 PM at the Michigan 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.
Science Cafe: A Tale of Two Libraries takes place on Wednesday, October 22nd from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Conor O’Neill’s Traditional Irish Pub. Learn more about some of the less known collections at the University of Michigan library system and the Ann Arbor District Library. The U of M Museum of Natural History’s Science Cafes provide an opportunity for audiences to discuss current research topics with experts in an informal setting.
Washtenaw County Health Department Back-to-School Day Clinic will take place on Saturday, October 25th between 9 AM and 2 PM. These clinics are designed to help families get caught up on required immunizations and other health services before the school year is fully underway.
Ann Arbor District Library Halloween Costume Contest takes place on Sunday, October 26th from 11:30 AM to 3 PM at the downtown library. Bring your creative, cool, cute or spooky costume to the library. To enter, you must be seen by the judges between 11:30 AM and 2 PM. More information here.
Trunk or Treat - October 30th from 5 to 7 PM at LaFontaine Kia Ann Arbor. Costumes encouraged, cider and donuts, Halloween activities including games and a face painter. Details 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