AGS NEWS
March 14, 2025
AGS Office Staff
Eric Rettenmund, Principal
Megan Yelle, Assistant Principal
Lisa Wissinger, Dean of Students
Melissa Welsh, Counselor
Paige Millikin, Social Worker
Stephanie Miller, Social Worker
Barb Stinson, Secretary
Randi Thorp, Clerk
Important Dates
March
18: Culture Shift Parent Workshop
- 7:00 - 8:30 PM FHS Auditorium
19: AGS Band Concert (7:00pm)
21: End of 3rd Marking Period
31: Spring Break
April
7: Return from Spring Break
8 - 9: 1/2 days - State Testing
18: No School - Good Friday
28: No School (students) - Staff PD
May
9: 8th Grade Awards/Dance (6:30 PM)
16: 7th/8th grade Field Trips
19: 5th Grade Transition Day
22: FHS Graduation
26: No School - Memorial
29: 1/2 Day Exam
30: 1/2 Day Exam (LAST DAY)
Happy St. Patrick's Day
We hope you're feeling the luck of the Irish as we approach St. Patrick's Day! We're sending warm wishes for a fun and festive holiday filled with joy and maybe even a little bit of green.
Whether you're planning to wear your favorite green outfit, enjoy a traditional Irish meal, or simply spend quality time with family and friends, we hope you have a wonderful day filled with laughter, good fortune, and all the happiness that St. Patrick's Day brings!
Culture Shift Parent Presentation
March 18 - 7:00 PM - FHS Auditorium
Attention all AGS Parents! Please join us on March 18th (7:00 - 8:30 PM) in the FHS Auditorium for Jared Scott's Culture Shift presentation. Culture Shift is a powerful presentation on mental health awareness. Scott's focus is to empower students to take action and create positive change. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to engage with this impactful speaker!
Happy National School Social Worker Week
March 2nd-8th was National School Social Worker Week, and we wanted to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to our incredible social workers, Shayna Irvine and Paige Millikin! They provide invaluable support to our students, families, and staff. Whether they're offering guidance, a listening ear, or connecting us with vital resources, they do it all with compassion and dedication.
They help our students navigate challenges, build resilience, and create a positive school environment for everyone. We're so fortunate to have them as part of our team! Please join us in thanking Mrs. Irvine and Mrs. Millikin for their hard work and commitment to our students' well-being.
Unified Sports Inclusion Spirit Week
March 24 - 28
Get ready to dive into a week of fun, friendship, and celebrating everyone's unique awesomeness! Inclusion Week is HERE, and it's going to be a blast! 🎉
Some super LINK Leaders – Emma Dean, Kellyn Conley, and Palmer Hendrick – put their heads together and thought up a week of amazing activities just for YOU! They picked all the fun days and even designed the flyer! How cool is that? Let's give them a HUGE round of applause! 👏
Girls Hockey Program: March 31 at 7:00PM
Dimes for Diapers: April 1 - 30
Wellness Fair - Save the Date
Counselors' Corner
STANDARDIZED TESTING IMPORTANT DATES -
PSAT 8 - 8TH GRADE ONLY -
- Monday, 3/24 - Counselors are meeting with & registering all 8th grade students in their Math classes. This will provide an opportunity for students to become familiar with the PSAT 8 testing process & to practice prior to the test on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH.
- The PSAT 8 test will be given on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9TH. ONLY 8th grade students will come to school that day & it is a 1/2 day. More information to follow.
MSTEP - 6th, 7th & 8th graders -
- Tuesday, April 15th & Thursday, April 17th - more information to follow.
Mrs. Melissa Welsh, MA - School Counselor (last names A - M) - mwelsh@fentonschools.org
Mrs. Stephanie Miller, MSW - Social Worker (last names N - Z) - stmiller@fentonschools.org
After School Tutoring (AST)
AST is available Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. AGS Teachers are present and transportation is available for students residing within the district. AST is on an as-needed basis so students can come as much or as little as they would like. On the days of AST, students will need to sign up using a Google Form on the AST Google Classroom page before 2:00 PM to be able to stay. The purpose of AST is for students to receive help with homework/class work, ask questions from the teachers, or have a quiet place to work. However students must have something to work on. A light snack will also be provided. Please make sure to pick up students by 3:20.
A parent preference Google Form is included below. Please fill it out if your child plans on attending AST.
AST Google Classroom code for your child: rzzjgqy
Please email Mrs. Sayer for more information.
Mrs. Sayer: mailto:esayer@fentonschools.org
Save The Date: 8th Grade Field Trip
PTO Meetings
The AGS PTO meets on the second Thursday of each month at 1:00 PM in the AGS conference room. The PTO helps to support school assemblies, teacher supplies, 8th grade honors/dance, library books, scholarships for field trips, and much more! Thank you for supporting our PTO.
Next Meeting: April 10
Last Meeting: May 8
Lockout Security Installations
During second semester our district has started the process of adding additional security features to our schools including, high visibility placards, emergency pull stations in student areas as well as linked security lighting in our buildings. The implementation is taking place between now and February, and we will be having training with our staff, students and administrators as well as educating our community on the importance of these features and what the use for them is. Below is a picture of a smart classroom with some of the features that we are adding to help keep our students and staff safe. If you'd like to learn more about these added features please take a look at the link to the LockOut USA - https://lockoutusa.com/
24/7 On Demand Chat Tutoring
The Varsity Tutors Platform gives your student more opportunities to learn at their own pace. 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review are live tutoring resources to help your student with any questions about homework, classwork, or test prep. Live group classes, recorded classes, and celebrity-led StarCourses allow your student to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in, and add a touch of fun. Assessments and self study practice problems provide
opportunities to drill skills towards mastery. And college prep & admissions resources ensure that
your student has the best resources available to secure their future.
Middle School Health Curriculum
The middle school health curriculum is delivered by PE/Health teachers in SRT class throughout the school year. This will begin in in the next couple of weeks and will continue until the end of the year. The teachers will teach approximately 4 lessons/units for 30 minutes during SRT. Attached below is a health letter that contains more information. Additionally, a health waiver form is attached. The waiver is only required for those who choose to OPT OUT of the district mandated health class. Students will receive a copy of the letter and waiver 2 weeks prior to taking health class. If you choose the OPT OUT option, please return the waiver before health class begins. You may print the form attached to this email and return it to the main office at any time or complete/return the form when your student receives it 2 weeks prior to class. There are also additional copies in the main office. We will be posting updates in the AGS NEWS, including a schedule of when the class will be taught in your child's SRT.
Please contact the main office (810 591 7700) with any questions. Thank you!
Attachments:
🐅 2024-2025 YEARBOOK POST & INFORMATION 🐅
Below is the code to join PhotoCircle. You'll want to download the app & then request to join the group for this year's yearbook album where you may submit photos to be considered. The link is also posted in the comments for those who have issues with the posted link below.
Submission Guidelines: Please only add photos of AGS events, sports & activities. Please add a caption to each picture with a short description of what the picture is of & who the students are in the picture. PLEASE DO NOT ADD NON-AGS RELATED SPORTS & ACTIVITIES TO THE ALBUM. This causes many wasted hours to the yearbook design process when things such as youth sports, sleepovers & parties are added. Thank you!
Please email Ms. Fleury with any questions or concerns regarding the yearbook. mtodorovsky@fentonschools.org
Photo Circle Link: only click this link once you have downloaded the app.
School of Choice Window for 2025-26 School Year: February 24 - August 15
School of Choice window for 2025-26 school year is Monday, February 24 - August 15, 2025. School of Choice paperwork will be posted/available on the Fenton Area Public Schools website on Monday, February 24th as well.
This School of Choice form will be found on our enrollment page at www.fentonschools.org closer to the March 1st date.
Online enrollment for new students and the registration of current students who may have moved out of the district will be open on Monday, February 24, 2025.
- New families will want to create a Parent Vue account to enroll students.
- Current FAPS families will login to your existing Parent Vue account to add new students and/or update your current students' information. NOTE: If you are a current FAPS family and having trouble logging into your account please contact Mrs. Ebert at cebert@fentonschools.org. DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT.
- Enrollment info link:
https://fentonareaschoolsmi.sites.thrillshare.com/page/enrollment
2025 - 2026 FAPS Calendar
Partnerships
Explore local happenings! Our district website features a 'Community Bulletin Board' with digital flyers showcasing community events, clubs, sports programs, and more. Check it out to see what's going on in Fenton! #WeAreFenton
AGS Office Addition
Below are a few updated photos showing the progress of our new main office addition. During this time, the entrance off of Shiawassee may be closed. There will be more details in the FAPS newsletter and on the FAPS website as the project continues. We are excited about improving the facility for our staff, students, and families.
To help keep our schools and community safe, you can use this confidential tip line to report any suspicious or threatening behavior.
Andrew G. Schmidt Middle School
Email: erettenmund@fentonschools.org
Website: http://fentonschools.org/andrew-g-schmidt-middle-school/
Location: 3255 Donaldson Drive, Fenton, MI, USA
Phone: 810.591.7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fenton-Area-Public-Schools-110556712352619/
Twitter: @fentonschools