The Au Gres-Sims School District

The Weekly Wolverine Update returns this week after taking last week off. Today marks the conclusion of the first of three inter-holiday weeks, the festive time of the school year between Thanksgiving and our Winter Break. I am sure that each of your households is busily preparing for family get togethers and gift-giving traditions, and we are just as busy here at school.

Knowing that everyone is very busy, but still wanting to be timely, relevant, and efficient with our communication, the district is surveying the Au Gres-Sims Community on their communications preferences. This 5-minute survey (or less!) will help us craft our messages and delivery models to best suit the needs of our community.

Our request is multi-faceted but simple:

1. Complete the linked survey by December 31.
2. Share the survey with friends and family who live in the district but might not be consistent readers of our newsletter.

That's it, help us to better supply information to you. We will be sending this survey out in many ways: through this newsletter, via social media, at school events, and even placing them around town...all we ask is that you complete it once and help spread the word.

Thank you for your support,

Mr. Ming

Hey AGS Nation,

This week, we focused on the incredible impact kindness can have on our school community and the world around us. Kindness may seem small, but its effects are truly powerful.

Kindness helps create a welcoming environment where students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. It strengthens friendships, reduces conflicts, and builds a positive culture where everyone feels they belong. Even simple acts like holding a door, offering help, or sharing a smile can brighten someone’s day and inspire others to do the same.

Kindness is just as important outside of school. It strengthens communities, promotes cooperation, and encourages empathy and understanding. Acts of kindness, big or small, can spark a chain reaction that reaches far beyond one moment. It can make workplaces, neighborhoods, and society more inclusive and compassionate.

As we continue to model kindness in our daily interactions, we help create a better school and a better world.

Thanks & Let’s continue to lift each other up and spread kindness wherever we go Wolverines!

With exams approaching in our final days before we have our holiday break, this is a great time for secondary students to finish the semester strong. Students are encouraged to prepare for exams, complete any missing assignments, and use class time to ask questions or get extra help. Staying organized, turning in late work, and studying a little each day can make a big difference. Families can help by encouraging good sleep habits, regular attendance, and quiet time for study at home. Together, these small steps can lead to a strong finish and a more relaxing break! Remember if your student needs extra help at home they have access to Khanmigo and Paper which offer tutoring help.

Khanmigo

Paper

At the same time, our elementary students have made wonderful progress during the first half of the year! Classrooms are celebrating learning with fun holiday-themed activities that build skills while keeping students engaged. These special moments help make school exciting while reinforcing everything students have learned so far this year.

Strive for Fewer than Five: Attendance Matters

While we focus on ending these last three weeks on a strong note, please remember that student attendance is critical for them to perform well on their midterm exams in the middle and high school. Each day prepares students for these tests. Please make sure your student is in attendance each day to ensure their success on the midterms. Reminder that high school students and eighth graders taking Algebra I must pass two out of three components of this first semester to gain credit in their classes. Each credit is necessary for graduation.

Thank you to all the seniors and their parents that attended the FAFSA night this week!!! We had a great turnout, great food, and Kirtland provided valuable information on financial aid for our seniors. With the support of the Post Secondary Opportunity Grant the school was able to provide Olive Garden for dinner and we gave away over $1600.00 in prizes including ipads, mini fridge, airpods, tv, gift cards, and more. Hoping to make this a yearly event and continue to see a large number of seniors and their families participate.

Warmly,

Ashley Cardinal

K–12 School Counselor

We received great news this week, we have received federal database clearance for the opening of our health clinic. This was a significant step that was delayed by the federal government shutdown. With this hurdle behind us we are excited to move to the next phase, the hiring of staff to run the clinic. Sterling Area Health Center is into this process now and hope to have staffing buttoned up before the holiday.

We are anticipating that we will be opening the AGS Health Clinic the week of January 21, 2026. Following the winter holiday we will be sending home registration packets for families to fill out for each of their students. We are finalizing the times for the clinic but are planning on it being open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the calendar year.

More information will follow after the new year, be on the lookout!

As the weather turns colder and we move indoors, we’re excited to kick off another winter sports season here at Au Gres-Sims! Our student-athletes, coaches, and staff are looking forward to a season filled with teamwork, dedication, and school pride.

GO WOLVERINES!

SCHEDULE

Mon. 12/8

• 6p MS Boys Basketball HOME vs Whittemore-Prescott
• 6p JV Boys Basketball AWAY @ Caseville

~7:15p V Boys Basketball AWAY @ Caseville

Tues. 12/9

• 6p V Girls Basketball AWAY @ Tawas

Thurs. 12/11

• 6p MS Boys Basketball AWAY @ Alcona
• 7p V Boys Hockey (CO-OP w/ Tawas) HOME vs Gladwin

Fri. 12/12

• 6p JV Boys Basketball AWAY @ Fairview
• 7p V Boys Basketball AWAY @ Fairview
• 8p V Girls Basketball AWAY @ Fairview

Sat. 12/13

• 7p V Boys Hockey (CO-OP w/ Tawas) AWAY @ Bishop Foley United ~ John Lindell Arena

The Middle School/High School Handbook has been updated to reflect changes in the process for athletic eligibility. A copy of that process is provided as an attachment below. Eligibility will now be pulled every week, starting with the 3rd week of the semester. These changes have been shared with the coaching staff and will be communicated with their student athletes.

In consideration of the roster size and age of our returning football players, the district has been seeking input on the level of play for our program for the 2026 season. A decision will be reached soon so that scheduling can take place, but before the final decision is rendered we will be surveying the players themselves. Next Tuesday, December 9, returning football players from grades 8-11 will take a short survey about level of player for the 2026 season. More information may be found on the student surveys page of the school website.

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The PTO plays an important role in supporting our teachers and students with many of the extras that make AGS so great. Consider joining this wonderful group and helping to make this school year a special one.

EVENTS:

• Holiday Gift Shop: December 15th - 17th ~ see flyer below for details

POPCORN FRIDAYS: The PTO pops the corn on selected Fridays throughout the school year in the elementary building. Volunteers are needed to make this happen, with a report time of 8:00a.m. Your son/daughter's teachers will be reaching out to you at different times throughout the year.

Please consider volunteering!

• December 12
• January 16, 30
• February 13, 27
• March 13, 27
• April 10, 24
• May 8, 22

Important dates for December for the Au Gres-Sims School District

DECEMBER

• 10: 7p.m. ~ Holiday Band Concert
• 15: 6p.m. ~ Regular School Board Meeting (Elementary Library)
• 18: 1p.m. ~ Early Dismissal - Final Exams
• 19: 1p.m. ~ Early Dismissal - Final Exams
• 22 - Jan. 3: NO SCHOOL - HOLIDAY BREAK

• Dec. 6: 6:15p.m. Au Gres Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade - see attached flyer for details
• Dec. 18: 2:00p.m. Movie at the Au Gres Community Library - see attached flyer for details
• Dec. 22: 11:00a.m. Movie at the Au Gres Community Libary

• Chamber of Commerce Gourmet Nut Fundraiser - see attached flyer for details

Stay tuned while our crew works on filming the next exciting episode!

We are also always on the lookout for substitute teachers. If interested, please inquire with Mrs. Freehling in the district administration office, (989) 876-7150 and she will put you into direct contact with Laurie Crane at ESS-WillSub