October 2026

• Teachers have reported that students are bringing rubber bands into school to "snap" or "pop" one another with them. Please make sure that these items are staying at home.
• We are still looking for more parents to sign up for our upcoming Fun Night on 10/23. We need parents to ensure we can have the event for our students! Please sign up here.
• NWEA Testing is still happening! Ms. Britton is still pulling students to complete their testing. Thank you for your patience!
• Thank you all for the many ways you support our school! We appreciate your understanding, volunteerism, patience, donations, and support! We have a great community because of the families who are actively making it a better place!

October:

10/2 Q1 Interim Ends

10/5 Safety Drill

10/6 Safety Drill

10/7 Count Day; Q1 Grades Due; Coffee & Community @ Clague @8:15 am

10/9-10/12 No School for Staff & Students (Early Fall Break)

10/12 Indigenous Peoples' Day

10/19-10/23 Spirit Week

10/21 PTSO Meeting

10/23 Fun Night @5-7 pm

10/26-11/9 SAEBRS Window

10/28 Safety Drill

10/29 Parent-Teacher Conferences Fall Night 1/2

10/30 Dance-a-Thon; 1/2-Day of School; Staff Report Writing (PM); Last Day of Q1

10/31 Halloween

November:

11/3 No School for Staff & Students

11/4 Q1 Grades Due; Safety Drill

11/5 Parent-Teacher Conferences 4-7 pm

11/6 Q1 Grades Posted

11/8 Diwali

11/10 8th Grade Combined Concert

11/12 7th Grade Combined Concert

11/23 Locker Clean out

11/25-11/27 Late Fall Break

Safety drills vary between Fire, Shelter in Place, and Lockdown Drills. (Here is the link to the Ann Arbor Public Schools' Safety Protocols.)

Parental involvement events happening at Clague.

The parent meeting for the yearbook and newspaper club will be at 8 p.m. Thursday Oct. 1 on Zoom: https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/94720017042

Meetings are every Monday from 3:15-4:30 p.m. in the library. Students must join the club by Oct. 27 in order to participate for the rest of the school year. There is a suggested $25 fee. This covers: MIPA and JEA competition and critique service fees.

Our meetings will start on Zoom and then move to in-person:

Calendar: LINK

Please fill out this interest form to be included in communication about yearbook and newspaper:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScg_t9-FEsgRTwieD42WvKcoVqf6cmEwaCOT2zkBONTztQcKQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=110781145094941171139

Please reach out to Mrs. Badalamente with any questions: badalamentes@aaps.k12.mi.us

• Parents of students who are doing well may prefer to monitor student performance via PowerSchool, emails, progress reports, and grade reports.

• Conferences are ten minutes in length.

• Conference slots are available for Classroom Teachers, Case Managers (Resource Teachers, Social Workers, Counselors, etc)

Before the conference, check Schoology and PowerSchool for the following:

• Has my child missed any assignments?

• Is my child turning in assignments late?

Prepare questions to ask that can't be answered by reviewing Schoology and PowerSchool:

• Is there new information you want to share with the teacher about your child?

• Is my child meeting the classroom expectations for behavior and work completion?

• Does my child arrive to class prepared and on time?

• What areas do they need to improve?

• What can be done at home to reinforce what is being done in the classroom?

After the conference:

• Discuss the conference with your child.

• Start immediately on any course of action that has been agreed upon as a means of helping the child.

What you need to know...

PowerSchool is the Student Information System (SIS); Schoology is the Learning Management System (LMS).

PowerSchool (SIS) – “official records”

• Check this for schedules, schedules, attendance, report cards, transcripts, and other information
  

• Parent/student portals for official grades and attendance
  

• Where final grades live and get published
  

Parent PowerSchool Account

Staying on top of your student’s grades is a key component to their success. By creating a single-sign-on account, you will have access to student grades and any missing or incomplete assignments. For detailed instructions on setting up your account please follow this link. If you are having difficulty with PowerSchool please email our PowerSchool Support team at: pssupport@aaps.k12.mi.us

Schoology (LMS) – “day-to-day learning”

• Hub for posting materials, assignments, discussions, quizzes, and updates
  

• Students submit work; teachers give feedback and provisional scores
  

• Course calendars and classroom communication

• The classes your child is enrolled in

• Your child’s upcoming assignments

• School and class announcements

For detailed instructions on setting up your Schoology account, please follow this link. Follow this link for a detailed Schoology Overview. Need tech help? 734-997-1222

Which one for what?

“What’s due this week? What resources do I need?” → Schoology

“What’s my attendance, schedule, or final grade?” → PowerSchool

MyPowerHub Intro Video

AAPS Family Technology Assistance - Students & Families - Technology Virtual Help Desk

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Call: 734-997-1222

Open a ticket: family_techsupport@aaps.k12.mi.us

Schedule an In-Person Appointment: call the Student & Family Help Desk

Dungeons and Dragons Group for Teens Struggling with Anxiety

• Thrive Counseling is offering a FREE Dungeons and Dragons group for teens struggling with anxiety.

• Sessions happen Oct 16-Nov 20 from 4:00-5:30pm at the AADL Mallett’s Creek Branch (3090 E Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48108).

• Space is limited and registration is required.

• Register at bit.ly/FallDD

• Cost is $25 (scholarships available).

• Learn more by viewing the Flier.

Love Ypsi Diaper Pantry

• 10:00 AM–1:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, (1255 E. Forest Avenue, Ypsilanti).

• Families can receive diapers and wipes.

• The pantry is offered on the second Saturday of each month.

Mother’s Reaching Hands

• 436 Hawkins Street, Ypsilanti.

• Free children’s clothing, shoes, baby supplies, and limited emergency diapers and wipes are available to families

• Current regular hours are Tuesdays from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM, first come, first served.

👚View more resources for Clothing and Household Items here: Clothing and Household Needs.

Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 7pm (Virtual): Mental Health Workshop--Staying Connected: Supporting Youth Through Depression

• UM child psychologist, Alejandra Arango, PhD will share practical tools for understanding and supporting youth experiencing depression, including how to recognize signs and understand suicide risk and prevention.

• We’ll also focus on the importance of connection and offer practical strategies for strengthening relationships with youth, navigating common barriers, and responding in ways that support their well-being.

• Register Here: Tuesday October 13 Mental Health Workshop Registration

• Mental Health Workshop Flier

Breakfast: Students will want breakfast are allowed to enter the building to eat at 7:55 am. Once they are finished eating, they will return back outdoors. All students are expected to clean up after themselves.

Lunch: Lunch periods are assigned by grade-level.Lunch is a very loud time! On any given day, we allow students to talk, sing happy birthday, we may play music, we watch March Madness games, attempt to get them outside when weather permits, and much more! If you are picking up your child during their lunch time, please arrive 10 minutes before their lunch period so we can call them down during passing time, and before entering the lunch room.

After-School Activities: Students participating in after-school activities must be in their designated locations no later than 3:10 PM. That includes students who need to change clothes or make phone calls home.

Inclement Weather: When the temperature is 20 degrees or lower, it is raining or snowing, we will allow students to wait inside the building as early as 7:50 am. Unfortunately, we do not have additional adults to monitor before school hours, so we cannot allow students to enter the building any earlier as they would be unsupervised. Please ensure that your child(ren) are dressed appropriately to the weather and their body temperature.

Buses: Students are to be on the buses by 3:09 pm at the end of the day. All bus riders must remain seated and an "indoor" voice for the entire ride. There is no eating on the bus and every rider is expected to throw away their own trash.

Passes: Passes are not given during the first or last ten minutes of class time. During that time, it is imperative that teacher's take accurate attendance, settle the class into the day's lesson, and/or prepare the class for tomorrow's expectations for learning.

Tardies: Students will serve lunch detention after their 3rd tardy. Tardies are tallied per class, per quarter. For example: Students with three tardies to 2nd hour and two to their 5th hour will serve detention for accumulating three tardies to 2nd hour. IF they accumulate three tardies to their 5th hour, they will serve an additional detention for those tardies. Students have five minutes for passing time. In high school, they will still only have five minutes for passing time. It is very reasonable for them to able to navigate the building within this time frame. Please reach out to the main office staff if your child needs support with mobility.

Bathrooms: Most student restrooms at Clague have multiple private, single-person restroom stalls that can be used by any student at Clague. There are restrooms in two locations- near the gym and inside of the locker rooms- that have restrooms that are multi-use bathrooms designated as either "boy" or "girl."

Student Bags: Backpacks, if brought to school, must be kept in each student's locker. Drawstring or small tote bags are allowed to carry laptops, notebooks, and writing utensils from class-to-class. Lunches, additional shoes/clothes for PE and other items are to be stored in their locker.

Please reach out to the main office if you cannot provide your student with a drawstring bag and they need one.

Lockers: EVERY student is issued a locker located near their Advisory Teacher. Students are not to share lockers or give their combination to their peers in order to keep their personal items safe.

Attire: Hats, hoods, and coats are not permitted after entry into the building. Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather as they will remain outside for arrival and dismissal unless the weather is inclement or below 20 degrees. Our entire building has air conditioning, student do not need to wear minimal clothing due to heat.

Safety & Well-Being: Our utmost priority is to ensure that every student can thrive without encountering negative consequences. To uphold this commitment, we call upon you, as valued members of our learning community, to join us in conveying the importance of appropriate behavior and the potential outcomes should any student engage in unauthorized or harmful activities. For your convenience, we have attached the document titled https://www.a2schools.org/students-families/rights-responsibilities This document outlines the rights and responsibilities of all stakeholders within our school community. By familiarizing yourself with its content, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of the expectations we have for each student's conduct and engagement.

Food Delivery: Food delivery services (e.g., Uber Eats) are NOT allowed during the school day.

Phones & Other Electronics: To create a learning environment free from distractions and to promote student engagement and academic focus, Clague Middle School has established clear expectations regarding the use of cell phones, headphones, and other electronic devices during class time.

All cell phones, headphones, AirPods, earbuds, smart watches, smart glasses, and other electronics must be stored in the student’s locker for the duration of the school day (bell to bell). Students are not permitted to use these electronics at any time after the arrival bell and before the dismissal bell.

Phones and personal electronics must remain put away during bathroom breaks, lunch, breakfast, trips to the drinking fountain, and passing time.

Personal Devices: All students are provided district-issued devices in the AAPS. Students are not permitted to use their personal laptops while at Clague Middle School. Smart Watches, Smart Glasses, and other Smart devices are not permitted for usage while at Clague Middle School.

At Clague, we have so many staff who are able to support! Please reach out to any of the following people, who will uphold your privacy.

For class specific questions and concerns, please start by contacting the individual teacher directly. Contact information for all teachers can be found on our website as well as student's Schoology pages.

Attendance, Visitors, Volunteering & General Information:

Raptor Visitor Information System: The safety of our students and staff are extremely important. Our district policy requires all visitors to buzz in and enter through our main doors and to sign-in at the office. We appreciate staff, parents, and community members’ efforts in working with the school to keep our students and staff safe!

Early Pick Up: Please allot enough time to retrieve your child(ren). In an effort to receive the most time effective customer service, we ask that you minimize early pick during the following times: your child's lunch period, 20 minutes prior to the end of the school day, and 20 minutes after the start of the school day. Once your child is in the gym, it will likely take 5-7 minutes to get them changed, grab their items, and head to the main office.

Attendance & General Inquiries: clague@aaps.k12.mi.us or https://clague.a2schools.org/our-school/about-clague. Absences should be reported using the link below.

Office Professionals (Attendance, General Questions, Records, Registration Information:

• Mrs. Lynette Durbin: durbinl@aaps.k12.mi.us
• Mrs. Kamalika Mitra: mitrak@aaps.k12.mi.us
• Mr. Vince Yi: yiv@aaps.k12.mi.us

Please reach out to the Transportation with any questions or concerns with Durham.

734-994-2330

734-994-2265

Social Workers (Community Resources, Social Emotional Support, etc):

• Mrs. Chelsea Knight: knightc@aaps.k12.mi.us
• Ms. Cheri Antonow: antonowc@aaps.k12.mi.us

Counselors (504 Plans, Grade-level Questions, Scheduling, Mental Health Support, Interpersonal Conflict, etc):

• Mrs. Jessica Derscha: derschaj@aaps.k12.mi.us (6th Grade)
• Mr. David Almassy: almassyd@aaps.k12.mi.us (7th Grade)
• Mr. Derrick Hallman: hallmand@aaps.k12.mi.us (8th Grade)
• Visit the Clague Counseling website to answer most of your questions:

Nikki Austin BSN, RN

Please visit the Nurse's WishList here https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2EG1PZ5V3EL20?ref_=wl_share.

Health Updates Needed?

Please share any changes to your student's health since last year. Contact me with questions or to schedule a meeting!

Medication at School?

Required annually: Updated documentation for all medications (including epi pens, inhalers, etc.).

Action Plans: Submit signed Asthma, Food Allergy, or Seizure plans to the office or email austind@aaps.k12.mi.us.

Medication Plan Policy https://www.a2schools.org/students-families/aaps-nursing-services/medication-policy

Self-Administration Form https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1729531043/a2schoolsorg/somshf6744gfjxoty8md/med_administration_form_self_carry_1112-1.pdf (student-carried)

Medication Administration Form

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1729531043/a2schoolsorg/nhtqegfcgdtisahqdxt8/med_admin_form_1112-1.pdf (nurse clinic)

Drop-off: Nurse Austin is split between Clague and Thurston, so please email her to confirm availability.

Let’s make it a great year!
📞 734-474-8079 ✉️ austind@aaps.k12.mi.us

• Mr. Brandon Copeland- Athletic & Extracurricular Director (copelandb@aaps.k12.mi.us)

• Ms. Alberta Britton (Assistant Principal; Grades 6 & 8 support): brittona@aaps.k12.mi.us
• Mrs. Crystal Fluker (Principal; Grades 6 & 7 support): flukerc@aaps.k12.mi.us

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year! My name is Christina Shinsky, and I'm honored to serve as your PTSO President this year. Alongside me on the board are Ruth Estabrook (Vice President), Christy Deneke (Secretary), and Suki Xu (Treasurer) — together, we're looking forward to a great year supporting our students, teachers, and families.

Email: ptso.clague@gmail.com

Website: https://clagueptso.com/