The Au Gres-Sims School District
www.ags-schools.org
Au Gres-Sims Families,
Throughout this school year the administration has been distributing Alpaca Packs. Working with a great vendor of ours, we receive 8 of these packs each month to pass out to selected staff memberse for a variety of reasons. Some months there are contests or competitions, while some we look for specific examples of staff who are working toward goals we have set in the building. During the course of the year all of our staff members were treated with a surprise package, always containing different but fun and useful goodies.
For the final distribution of the year, I challenged myself and each of the other three administrators to find two staff members who embodied the moniker "Difference Maker," without giving any clearer definition of what I was thinking. This gave myself, Mr. Miller, Mrs. Steinbauer, and Mrs. Phillips an opportunity to envision on our own what that means and who embodies it most at AGS. While there were many worthy choices that could have received these packs, we are thrilled to share with you the difference makers we selected:
Mr. Miller
- Mr. Jay Bartlett, 4th grade Teacher
- Mr. Brian Duncan, Maintenance Director
Mr. Ming
- Mrs. Kim Gordon, Director of Bands
- Mr. Gordie Ostrander, Athletic Director
Mrs. Phillips
- Ms. Sherry Boensch, Food Services Director
- Mrs. Ashley Cardinal, Counselor
Mrs. Steinbauer
- Ms. Mackenzie Rinn, MS/HS Math Teacher
- Ms. Kirsten Swanson, Paraprofessional
Mr. Bartlett
Mr. Bartlett not only made a difference in the lives of his 29 (yes, 29!) fourth grade students, but his willingness to consistently go above and beyond positively impacts the entire school district.
Mr. Duncan
Mr. Duncan stepped up this year and took on the Head Maintenance responsibilities. His hard work and passion for the district help make AGS not only one of the best-looking schools around, but also a place where students feel safe, welcomed, and proud to be.
Ms. Gordon
She makes every student into a musician, unlocking magic within each one of her pupils. Unassuming and hardworking, she transforms all of her students and brings the absolute best of each and every one of them.
Coach Ostrander
Coach O has the biggest heart in the district, giving endlessly of his time and effort to create athletic opportunities for our students.
Ms. Boensch
Ms. Sherry is our exceptional Food and Nutrition Director who leads with heart, thoughtfulness and dedication, and goes above and beyond on a daily basis to make sure our students and staff have what they need and enjoy. She is a treasured difference maker in our school district.
Mrs. Cardinal
As our AGS K-12 counselor, Mrs. Cardinal makes a meaningful, positive lasting impact in the lives of our students, staff, and families each and every day. Her compassion, wisdom, and unwavering dedication make her a true difference maker in our school district.
Ms. Rinn
She works with middle schoolers who are a tough crowd in the tough subject of Math. Her teaching is engaging and she works hard to make sure each student can access the curriculum. She shows up each day for her kids to make them successful.
Ms. Swanson
She puts 100% effort in each day. She is personally invested in the success of her student and it shows. She is always a positive voice on the staff even when her days are tough.
From the Desk of Mr. Miller
Hey AGS Nation,
It is hard to believe that the end of the school year is quickly approaching. Our seniors celebrated their last day this past Friday and are now looking forward to walking across the stage at graduation on Friday, May 29, beginning at 7:30 p.m. I can’t wait to hear “Pomp and Circumstance” and see the culmination of everyone’s hard work and support come to life as these deserving seniors receive their diplomas. #WolverinesLead #PoweredByPurpose
This week, we wrapped up our Positivity Project character strengths. It is important that we continue to practice these strengths in our everyday lives. Using positivity, kindness, gratitude, and perseverance each day helps build stronger relationships, improve our mindset, and create a more supportive school community.
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” - Roy T. Bennet
Thanks & Stay Positive Wolverines!
Mrs. Steinbauer's Weekly Update
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, it is exciting to see the growth our students have made both academically and personally since the start of the year. This time of year is filled with opportunities for students to demonstrate what they have learned through projects, presentations, assessments, and classroom activities. It is also a time for reflection and celebration as students prepare for the next grade level. We encourage families to continue having conversations with students about finishing the year strong, staying focused, and taking pride in the progress they have made throughout the year.
Summer is quickly approaching, but there are still many meaningful experiences ahead before the school year ends. Teachers are continuing instruction, students are participating in special activities and events, and classrooms remain focused on learning through the final day. We appreciate the continued partnership between school and home that helps students stay engaged and motivated during this important stretch of the school year.
Strive for Fewer than Five: Attendance Matters
As the weather improves and summer approaches, it can become tempting for students to begin thinking that the school year is already over. However, these final weeks are some of the most important days for students to be in attendance. Teachers are completing final lessons, students are preparing for exams and end-of-year projects, and many classrooms are participating in activities that help build positive memories and classroom community. Missing even a few days during this time can cause students to fall behind on important information and miss valuable experiences with their peers. We encourage all families to continue prioritizing daily attendance through the last day of school so students can finish the year successfully and confidently.
Weekly Update from the Dean's Den
May 25th: Memorial Day No School
May 26th: 4/5th graders to Delta College Planetarium
May 27h: 2nd Grade Au Gres Business Walking Field Trip
May 27th EL Walk to Library Grades 3-5
May 27th: American Heart Association Assembly
May 28th EL Walk to Library Grades K-2
May 29th: Celebrating our Successes - Inflatables
June 1st: Fun Day in the Park (grades 3-5 a.m., grades K-2 p.m.)
(June 2 back-up rain day for June 1)
June 3rd: Kindergarten evening graduation 6:00pm
June 4th: Early Dismissal 1:00pm
June 5th: EL Awards 4th/5th grade 8:30am, 1st-3rd grades 10:00am
June 5th: Last Day for Students, Early Dismissal 1:00pm
Student Medicine: If your child has medicine in the office, please remember to come to the office to pick-up your child’s medicine by June 5th. Thank you! Please call the office if you have any questions. (989) 876-7157
Counselor's Corner
Finishing the School Year Strong
Dear Families,
As we head into the final month of the school year, this is an important time for students of all ages. May and early June can feel exciting, busy, and sometimes overwhelming. With end-of-year testing, final projects, spring activities, and the anticipation of summer, students may need extra support to stay focused and finish strong.
Here are some helpful tips for studying for exams:
Ditch the "Familiarity Trap"
Reading over your notes and highlighting text feels like studying, but it's often an illusion. Your brain recognizes the words and thinks, "Oh, I know this," but recognition is not the same as recall.
The Fix: Use Active Recall. Close the book and write down everything you remember about a topic from scratch. Use flashcards (like Quizlet or Anki) or force yourself to answer practice questions without looking at the answers.
Space Out the Madness
Cramming the night before an exam triggers cortisol (the stress hormone), which actively impairs your brain's ability to recall information.
The Fix: Use Spaced Repetition. If your exam is in two weeks, study that subject for 30 minutes every other day rather than five hours straight the night before.
Build a "Brain Dump" Sheet
Teachers love to pull from previous tests and quizzes for cumulative finals.
The Fix: Gather all your past assignments from the semester. On a single sheet of paper, summarize the core formulas, major historical dates, or grammatical rules you struggled with earlier in the year. Review this "cheat sheet" (that you won’t actually use to cheat!) daily.
Thinking Forward
Testing out will take place the last two weeks of school.
Dual enrollment courses need to be signed up for with Mrs. Cardinal
Summer school information will be coming out soon for those who need to recover credits.
Seniors must pay all fines in order to walk at graduation.
Wishing you a positive and refreshing spring season,
Ashley Cardinal
Athletics Update
We are getting down to crunch-time on the season, when championships are decided and MHSAA playoffs edge closer.
SCHEDULE
Tues. 05/26
- 4p Boys Baseball Districts vs Alcona @ Hale
- 6p Girls Softball Districts vs Hale @ Hale
- TBA 26th-30th Varsity Boys Golf Regionals
Wed. 05/27
- 5p Girls Varsity Soccer (Co-op with SSC) MHSAA Districts Semifinal HOME vs. Ogemaw Heights
Fri. 05/29
BASEBALL DISTRICTS @ HALE
- 10a Winner of Au Gres-Sims/Alcona vs Hale
- 3p District Championship
SOFTBALL DISTRICTS @ HALE
- 12p Winner of Au Gres-Sims/Hale vs Mio
- 2p District Championship
Sat. 05/30
- TBA Varsity Track State Championship @ Baldwin
- 5p Girls Varsity Soccer (Co-op with SSC) MHSAA Districts Final @ Saginaw Swan Valley (*with a win on Wednesday night)
Wolverines Fans Save Big This Memorial Day
Celebrate Memorial Day with 25% OFF when you spend $100+. Save on fresh fits from Nike, The North Face, lululemon and more. Better hustle—sale ends Monday. Use code HONOR25.
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.
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!
Important Dates
MAY
- 25: NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day
- 29: 7:30p.m. Class of 2026 Graduation
JUNE
- 4: 1:00p.m. Early Dismissal - Final Exams
- 5: 1:00p.m. Early Dismissal - Final Exams ~ LAST DAY FOR STUDENTS!
Community Events
- May 24: 1p Memorial Day Parade (see flyer)
- July 4: Arenac County Fireworks Festival (see attached flyer for details)
