September 5, 2025 - Weekly Update
Superintendent Message
Dear Ann Arbor Public Schools Community
In the AAPS, we are dedicated to providing a safe environment where every student can thrive without fear.
You may have seen reports of an incident involving ICE agents near one of our schools this week. Please know this did not occur in the school or on school property. AAPS has a protocol in place if ICE agents appear on school property.
The safety and well-being of students, staff and all within the AAPS community will continue to be our top priority. We remain committed to fostering inclusive school environments that value the dignity, well-being and belonging of all.
Sincerely,
Jazz Parks
AAPS Superintendent
AAPS District News
The AAPS District News shared an Exceptional Profile of a Pioneer Spanish teacher, a best-selling author visited Abbot and highlights from the first day for the Westerman Preschool and Family Center. Read all of the AAPS District News stories here.
AAPS Board of Education
The next Board of Education Regular Meeting is Wednesday, September 10th, at 7:00 PM at 3700 Earhart Road.
Food Service
As of October 1, 2025, AAPS will no longer be able to provide universal free meals for all students if the state aid budget is not passed or is passed without universal breakfast and lunch funding. Please know that this difficult decision was not made lightly. We remain hopeful that state legislators will soon pass a budget that includes the Michigan School Meals program—maintaining free breakfast and lunch for all students.
All AAPS families are strongly encouraged to complete the annual Education Benefit Form (EBF) to ensure that all free and reduced-price lunch eligible students are identified. The form can be completed electronically in the AAPS Family Portal, which you can log into here. Hard copies of the Education Benefit Form are available in your school office.
Please review the full message on this food service change here.
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month each September, we remind our AAPS community of the important role we all can play in preventing suicide. Although this is a tough topic, we know that working together to reduce stigma, recognize warning signs, and encourage help-seeking can make a big difference in keeping students safe.
Each Friday District Update in September, we are featuring critical information and resources for youth suicide prevention. Visit the AAPS Suicide Prevention page to see all of the information and additional resources.
Learn the Risk Factors, Warning Signs, and Protective Factors to Suicide Talking about suicide or self-harm, expressing hopelessness, displaying severe emotional pain/distress, and worrisome changes in behavior are all signs that someone is struggling or in crisis. Read useful, more detailed information about warning signs and how to build protective factors here.
Mental Health Support
Care Solace is AAPS’s free Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Service. If you need support, Care Solace is here - free and confidential 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to connect students, staff and their families to mental health, substance abuse and ABA service providers, even during summer break.
Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.
Using Care Solace is easy!
- Call 888-515-0595 anytime. A dedicated Care Companion will help you every step of the way to research options, secure appointments and follow up with you to make sure it's a good fit.
- Search anonymously by visiting caresolace.com/aaps
Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin.
Transportation
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.
Freeman Environmental Youth Council
Applications are now open for AAPS 9th, 10th and 11th graders for the Freeman Environmental Youth Council, a districtwide environmental advocacy extracurricular club. More information and application form available on the Youth Council webpage.
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. We’ll share soon details on how to set up your account.
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
Did you know? Career Technical Education, or CTE, helps students learn by doing, and combines classroom learning with hands-on experiences and real-world skills. From PreK-12, students can explore their purpose, passion, and potential. Then they can connect to future-focused careers in high-wage, high-skill, in-demand pathways in our region like:
- Aviation and aerospace
- Automotive technology
- Computer science
- Construction trades
- Cybersecurity
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental science
- Health sciences
- Robotics and engineering
If the CTE millage is approved in November, a countywide PreK-12 CTE model would expand access to both new and existing CTE programs and offer more opportunities to help prepare students for college, careers and beyond! Learn more at www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage.
Rec and Ed
“Try it Free” Fitness Week - Sept. 8-14: Ready to discover your new favorite workout? Join us Sept. 8-14 for FREE adult fitness & yoga classes! From yoga flow and strength training to dance fitness and martial arts - there's something for everyone! Available for Grades 9-Adult.
FREE FAMILY EVENT! Join us Saturday, September 27th from 9:30am-12pm at Westerman Preschool & Family Center for the First Steps Fall Festival/Trike-A-Thon. (Perfect for families with children under 7 years old)
· Bring bikes, trikes, scooters, wagons or strollers, and go through our fun riding course. Additional activities include face painting, balloon animals, vehicle displays, and more.
· First Steps Fall Festival is a First Steps PTO sponsored family event to raise scholarship funds for First Steps class participants. For more information or to make a donation, please click here
Rec & Ed Before Care - Space Available
Do you need before-school care for your Young 5s - 5th grade student at Bryant, Mitchell, and Pittsfield. Please call 734-994-2300 x 53253 or email aapschildcare@aaps.k12.mi.us to enroll and for general questions.
Youth Sports Fall League registration is NOW OPEN! Sign up now for Basketball (2nd & 3rd Grade) or Volleyball (4th - 9th Grade)
Fall Youth & Adult Classes
Check out Rec & Ed's fantastic fall line-up of early childhood (ages 0-5) and school-age youth (ages 5-14) classes and activities and adult classes for parents and caregivers here. Register today for the best class selection. Scholarships and senior discounts are available!
Community Events and Information
A2Zero Monthly Closing Swap - Join the Office of Sustainability and Innovations for monthly clothing swaps on the third Thursday of each month. These are a perfect way to give your gently used clothes a new home, and you might find an item of clothing you have been looking for, without having to buy it new. The next swap is Thursday, September 18th from 4 to 7 PM at City Hall. Learn more and RSVP here.
Ann Arbor’s 25th Annual Green Fair is Friday, September 19th along Main Street in downtown Ann Arbor from 5 to 8 PM. The free, sustainability-focused event will feature resources, education, interactive demonstrations, games, live music and more. Learn more about the Green Fair here.
Bikeapalooza is a free annual family friendly education event celebrating downtown Ann Arbor’s protected bikeway network. There will be live music, giveaways, face painting, fun activities and more. Bikeapalooza will be located on the surface parking lot at the corner of William and Fifth from noon to 2 PM on Saturday, September 20th. More details here.
Girls in Aviation Day is targeted for boys and girls ranging grades K-12 who have a passion for or are interested in the different avenues and career opportunities in the aviation industry. The Ann Arbor Chapter of Women in Aviation is hosting the event from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, September 20th at Pittsfield Township Park. More information including a schedule of events, organizations that will participate and required registration is available here.
Science Cafe - The next University of Michigan Museum of Natural History Science Cafe is focused on the power of pollinators and the threats they are currently facing. Learn about pollinator aware lawncare and new native planting strategies to support biodiversity on UM's campus on Wednesday, September 24th at 6 PM at Conor O’Neills. Learn more about the event here.
Explore the Huron River Watershed - With over 300 lakes and ponds and 1200 miles of creaks and streams, there is surely somewhere in the Huron River Watershed you haven't been before. Plan your next adventure at hrwc.org/maps.
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