The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Au Gres-Sims Families,
In case you missed it, this week the district released the informational webpage for the 2026 Sinking Fund proposal that will appear on the November 3 ballot. The page includes a description of the projects involved, the financial information that includes a cost calculator, the ballot language, and frequently asked questions. I encourage our full community to access this page to learn as much about the sinking fund as possible in preparation for the election.
In the time leading up to the election the district will be reiterating key informational points about the sinking fund through our social media platforms. Each week will feature a single question or theme that will be explained over 2-3 social media posts. This week that question was, "What is a sinking fund?" The graphics for those posts are provided below, and I encourage you to review the full script of the answer on the AGS Facebook or Instagram pages.
As you develop questions about the sinking fund, please send in. The easiest way to do that is on the sinking fund webpage, at the bottom, filling out the question form directly from the page.
'ROOMS' SUPPORT
We are seeing wonderful progress with our implementation of Rooms for our district communications. We are, however, still working with our families to troubleshoot some access. Some of those issues may be on our end, integration issues that we will have to resolve, but others fall into the category of individuals and their devices.
A quick troubleshooting guide is linked below, with things you can try. If you've tried both your email address and your phone number (no spaces for either) and that still hasn't worked, then give these common fixes a try.
Additional resources are published on the Apptegy website and are also linked below.
Thanks for your patience as we implement this new platform.
Principal's Perspective
Hello AGS Nation!
This week, AGS was focusing on the character strength of Teamwork!
Teamwork is about working together, supporting one another, and understanding that we are stronger when we work toward a common goal.
We see teamwork every day at school. Students help classmates, teachers work together, and staff step up to make sure our students have what they need to be successful.
We see it on the athletic field, too. Sports teach us that success isn't just about one person. It takes communication, trust, encouragement, and everyone doing their part.
But perhaps my favorite place to see teamwork is in our Wolverine Nation. I see families, staff, students, businesses, and community members constantly stepping up to support our school and our students.
When we work together, we make our wolverine pack stronger.
Go Wolverines!
INSTRUCTIONAL SERVICES
With our first early release day this week, staff came together to discuss our school improvement goals for the year. Here at AGS, we are focusing on two areas of work to move the district forward. We are working on the strength of our tier 1 instructional practices in the classroom and also our supports in regards to the healthy social and emotional development of our students. We will be working on these areas this school year and beyond. We are seeing great growth in our students with test scores and want to build on that momentum. As we come together each month to work as a team to set our priorities as a district, we will share more information about what we are implementing to continue our forward progress and ways in which you can help your students at home.
We also want to share a community event with you during the month of October. The Sunrise Community Resource Center in Standish is hosting a literacy night with Michigan author Johnathon Rand. Please see the attached flyer for more information.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
With the successful completion of four weeks of the school year, we are pleased with our attendance rates at this point. We know that illness has already struck some of our families this year and appreciate everyone doing their part to keep kids home when they are sick. Here is our Big Sick vs Little Sick flyer if you are wondering just when to keep your student home. As always, if you have any questions regarding attendance or need any support in getting your student to school, please reach out.
Counselor's Corner
Welcome Back to School!
Welcome to a fresh new school year! Whether you are stepping into our halls for the first time or returning as a familiar face, I am thrilled to welcome you back. I’ve spent the summer getting ready, and can’t wait to support our students, families, and staff as we dive into an incredible year ahead.
Seniors:
Scholarship opportunities are emailed to school email weekly and local scholarships will become available in early spring.
Once Rooms is fully up and running please watch for information on Caps and Gowns and other senior information.
FAFSA will open October 1st and we will have two FAFSA nights to support the students and parents with this process. Completing the FAFSA is a graduation requirement, if you have questions please reach out via email or stop in the office.
MI College Match was shared with seniors this week. This is a program that the state is supporting that helps seniors apply and connect with Michigan colleges. The link to sign up was emailed to them on Wednesday and if they create an account by Sunday they will be entered in a chance to win a $5,000.00 scholarship.
MS/HS:
Class meetings will be held in September to discuss academic requirements and needs for graduation, Career Center, and Dual Enrollment.
Reach Out Any Time!
My door is always open. If your student needs extra support, or if you simply have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or by stopping by the counseling office. Emailing is the fastest way to reach me as my voicemail box will not accept voicemails. (cardinala@ags-schools.org)
Let’s work together to make this year the best one yet!
Ashley Cardinal
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH FORMS
We are pleased to inform you that Au Gres-Sims School District will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the School Year 2026-2027.
In place of the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application we still need your household to fill out and sign the Education Benefits Form SY 2026-2027. This report is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs.
Look for this to come home with your student soon.
ATHLETICS UPDATE
The new school year is underway, and that means fall sports are here! We're excited to welcome our athletes back to the field and court for another great season.
Good luck to all of our fall athletes and coaches! We can't wait to cheer you on and watch you represent our school with pride, teamwork, and school spirit!
GO WOLVERINES!
SCHEDULE
Mon. 9/21
- 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Atlanta
Tues. 9/22
- 6p V Girls Swim (CO-OP w/SSC) AWAY @ Caro
- 6p JV Volleyball AWAY @ Fairview
- 7:15p V Volleyball AWAY @ Fairview
Wed. 9/23
- 5p V Boys Soccer (CO-OP w/SSC) HOME vs Ogemaw Heights
- 6p MS Football HOME vs Whittemore-Prescott
Thurs. 9/24
- 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Charlton Heston
- 7p V Football AWAY @ Atlanta
- TBD V Girls Swim (CO-OP w/SSC) TBD
Sat. 9/26
- TBD V Girls Swim (CO-OP w/SSC) TBD
- TBD V Volleyball AWAY @ Pinconning
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PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION
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:
- Homecoming Carnival: Friday, Oct. 2
- Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, November 7
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 8:00 a.m. Your son/daughter's teachers will be reaching out to you different times throughout the year.
Please consider volunteering:
- September 25
- October 9, 23
- November 6, 20
- December 4, 18
- January 15, 29
- February 12, 26
- March 12
- April 9, 23
- May 7, 21
IMPORTANT DATES
SEPTEMBER
- 21: 6p Board of Education Regular Meeting
OCTOBER
- 7: Walk & Roll to School Day
- 14: 1p Dismissal - Professional Development for Staff
- 15: 4p-7p MS/HS Parent-Teacher Conferences
- 19: 6p Board of Education Regular Meeting
Community Events
- Oct. 7: Thrillers & Chillers Family Literacy Night - see attached flyer for details
- Oct. 17: Run for the WELL of it Kids Race - see attached flyer for details
- Oct. 17: Halloween in the Park - see attached flyer for details
HELP WANTED AT AGS
AGS is currently looking for the following positions at the lower elementary level:
PARAPROFESSIONAL - LOWER ELEMENTARY
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
