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Ann Arbor Public Schools

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October 2, 2026 - Weekly Update

AAPS District News

The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of Carpenter’s school nurse. We also shared stories about the Dicken Elementary topping off ceremony, high school students selected for the MSVMA Musical Theatre Intensive and the AAPS capital programs manager was selected for a national school air quality fellowship. We also shared a one minute video from the Thurston music classroom and a one minute video from a four-five split classroom at Carpenter. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.

 

AAPS Board of Education

The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, October 7th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road. 

 

You can read recaps of board meetings here.

 

AAPS Strategic Plan Community Meetings

AAPS is building its next strategic plan, which will serve as a roadmap that will guide our work for the years ahead. This is your chance to share insights on our schools’ current state and contribute to setting priorities for AAPS.

 

We will be hosting two community forums:

 

  • Pioneer High School Cafeteria on October 14th from 6 to 7:30 PM
  • Huron High School Cafeteria on October 15th from 6 to 7:30 PM

 

Your input is critical as we begin to set priorities and make decisions that will impact our students and community. These meetings are open for parents, students, teachers, staff, local leaders, community members and everyone who cares about our schools.

 

For more information, please email strategicplan@aaps.k12.mi.us. 

 

Mental Health Support

October is Bullying Prevention Month. Let’s come together to foster safe, nurturing environments where everyone feels secure, respected, and protected. If you or someone you know needs help, Care Solace provides 24/7 confidential support to connect you with mental health professionals.

Visit caresolace.com/aaps or call 888-515-0595. You’re not alone.

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.  

Food Service

 

Ann Arbor students are provided with a complete breakfast and lunch each school day. Please note that the meals include the full breakfast or lunch and do not include individual snack items or milk alone.

 

Read our monthly newsletters here.

 

Follow our social media for weekly updates: @chartwellsAAPS on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

 

You can find the menu for your child’s school here.


 

Transportation

 

Bus routes for all of 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.

Idle Free Zone Campaign

Through the leadership of the Freeman Environmental Youth Council, AAPS is instituting a Reduce Idling Zone at all AAPS schools starting this fall. This initiative is aimed at protecting our students’ health. Please help our students breathe cleaner air by following the guidelines below, especially at pick-up when we see vehicles waiting up to an hour before release time.

• Drop-off: When dropping off your student, if you arrive and there is a line of vehicles waiting for the first bell, please turn off your vehicle until cars proceed through the line.

• Pick-up: If you arrive before the bell to release students and join the pick-up line, please turn off your vehicle until the line begins to move. 

Learn more about the student-led effort to improve air quality here.

 

2027 AP Exam Registration

Registration for May 2027 AP Exams is open through October 30th. If your student plans to take an AP Exam, please review the registration information and complete all required steps by the October 30 deadline. The AP Testing webpage here, includes information about:

  • Registration procedures
  • Exam fees and payment
  • Registration deadlines
  • Exam dates and times
  • Self-study and online course registration
  • Reduced-price exams
  • Testing procedures and supports

 

AAPAC October Meeting

The next Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee (AAPAC) for Special Education meeting is Monday, October 5th via Zoom. Office of Special Education Administrators will be available for individual parent/caregiver pre-meeting conferences from 6:15 to 7 PM. The main meeting begins at 7 PM with welcome and introductions with OSE staff. There will also be an introduction and panel discussion with candidates for the Board of Education starting at 7:20 PM.

National Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day

Many of our AAPS schools plan to engage their communities in National Walk, Bike and Roll to School Day on Wednesday, October 7th. Throughout October, school communities are using this focus to encourage safer routes to school and to inspire children and families to be more active. The Freeman Youth Environmental Council is hoping this month more families will review and sign the AAPS Idling Reduction Pledge.

 

Flu Vaccination Clinic

AAPS is pleased to partner with Alana's Foundation again to hold a family flu vaccine clinic at Pioneer High School on October 19th from 4 to 7 PM. Click here to learn more about this year’s Alana’s Foundation Flu Vaccination Clinic including registration.

Phishing Threats Targeting K-12 School Emails Nationwide

There is an increase in scam and phishing emails that may appear to come from a school district, school employee or another trusted source. These emails may include themes like:

  • Household Items for Sale (several variants)
  • Shared Google Doc with persuasive action item wording
  • Link shared in an email with persuasive wording (as an example: “TappanMiddleSchool_Project_DOC9929.pdf”)

Please use caution when receiving unexpected emails. If an email seems unusual, for example, offering free items, asking for money or personal information, or creating a sense of urgency, please do not click on links or open attachments until you have verified that the message is legitimate. 

Receiving one of these emails does not mean that your personal information has been compromised. The greatest risk occurs when a recipient clicks on a suspicious link, opens a malicious attachment, responds to a message, or voluntarily provides personal or financial information.

How to Handle a Suspicious Email

  • Do not click any links or open any attachments you are not expecting.
  • Do not reply or provide any personal information if asked.
  • In your email inbox service, report the suspicious email as scam or phishing.
  • Delete the email after reporting it.
  • If you already clicked a link or provided information, change any passwords you may have entered, and monitor your accounts for unusual activity.
  • Regarding any AAPS emails you have received from staff that you are unsure whether the email is legitimate, please contact the AAPS Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222 before taking any action.

 

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

FREE EVENT! This Saturday, October 3rd, 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM. First Steps 25th Birthday Celebration & Annual Fall Festival is at Westerman Preschool. Bring the family for a morning of outdoor fun, including games, a bike wash and decorating station, face painting, birthday cake, and more! FREE family event.  Learn More here.

 For Kids & Families 

Youth League Sports —Fall Flag Football and Youth Soccer Practice and Play! Registration opens on Monday. Registration for NFL Fall Flag Football and Youth Soccer Practice and Play! Opens on Monday, September 28th. Spots will fill quickly so register early!

For Adults: Stay active and try something new with our variety of adult enrichment and fitness classes. 

Adult October Workshops: 


 

Community Events and Information

Ann Arbor Public Works and Solid Waste Open House is Saturday, October 3rd from 10 AM to 1 PM. Enjoy hands-on activities to learn about utility infrastructure, city forestry, street maintenance, solid waste, compost and recycling programs. Activities include touch-a-truck, fix a water main break and clogged sewer, tour the salt dome, crafts and so much more. Learn more about the open house here.

 

University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) Fall Opening Celebration is free and open to the public on Saturday, October 10th from noon to 5 PM and Sunday October 11th from 1 to 3 PM. A variety of events are planned at the Museum of Art. Learn more about what’s planned and register for some events here.

 

Back to School Vaccines and Lead Testing Clinic will take place on Tuesday, October 13th from 5 to 7 PM at the Washtenaw County Health Department at 555 Towner in Ypsilanti. Call 734-544-6700 to schedule an appointment or more information.

 

WISD Mental Health Workshops return for the 2026-27 school year on Tuesday, October 13th at 7 PM. This month’s workshop, Staying Connected: Supporting Youth Through Depression will include practical tools such as recognizing signs and understanding suicide risk and prevention. Learn more about this year’s workshops and register here.

 

The Michigan Youth Future Flight Challenge is a free STEM opportunity for students in grades 4 through 8. Hosted by the Women of the Aerospace Industry of Michigan (WAIAM) gives teams of students the chance to apply classroom learning to a real-world aerospace problem. More information, including how to register, available here. The four week challenge kicks-off virtually on October 17th.

 

Fangs and Venom is the theme of the next Science Cafe on Thursday, October 22nd at 6 PM at the Corner Brewery in Ypsilanti. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University discuss tarantulas and rattlesnakes. Science Cafes are presented by the UM Museum of Natural History as an opportunity for audiences to discuss current research topics with experts in an informal setting.

 

The City of Ann Arbor is expanding services to help residents manage their seasonal leaves for 2026. Between Monday, October 5th, and Friday December 11th, additional yard bags may be left at the curb for collection; unlimited leaf drop off will be permitted at the Ann Arbor compost facility, from residents or their landscapers; and free wood chips will be available at three city locations. Learn more about leaf collection in Ann Arbor here.

 

C-SPAN’s Student Cam Documentary Competition is accepting submissions through January 20th for this school year’s event. Students in grades 6 through 12 are asked to submit a five to six minute documentary on the issue they would address in their first speech if they were elected to Congress. More details, including how to submit here.

 

 

Sustainability Updates in Our Community

PUBLIC WORKS AND SOLID WASTE OPEN HOUSE on Saturday, October 3rd from 10 AM to 1 PM at the Wheeler Service Center. Enjoy hands-on activities to learn about utility infrastructure, city forestry, street maintenance, solid waste, compost, and recycling programs. Climb aboard the big trucks, meet the crews, watch demos, and so much more. OSI staff will talk about the all-electric refuse truck, circularity programming, and other sustainability work as it relates to the wide world of public works! Learn more at a2gov.org/public-works.

 

You can learn more about sustainability activities in AAPS and sustainability efforts in the Ann Arbor community here. You can follow the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovation on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

 

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