The Au Gres-Sims School District

Once again food and government shutdown are being used in the same sentence. At the beginning of the month we were talking about how a shutdown of the Michigan government would impact free breakfast and lunch for students, an issue that was resolved when the Legislature finally passed a new budget. Now we are talking about food in relation to the federal government's shutdown.

In Michigan, about 1 in 7 residents receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits and that number is often higher in the rural counties of Northeast Michigan. In this area of the state, 15-20% of households rely on this essential support, a figure that equates to around 200,000 people. AGS is not immune to this and within our district, just under 50% of our students receive food assistance.

Regionally, support efforts are underway. If you or someone you know is struggling to afford groceries, trained specialists at 211 can help to connect you to local food pantries, community meal programs, and emergency food boxes. If you're in a position to help others, 211 can connect you with organizations that need donations, volunteers, or financial support.

The Bay Area Community Foundation (serving Bay and Arenac Counties) is also accepting financial donations. The link provided below allows donors to designate to three different funds: Friends of the Foundation Fund, Bay County Food Insecurity Emergency Fund, and Arenac County Food Insecurity Emergency Fund. Money donated to Arenac County will stay in Arenac County to benefit our residents.

Locally at AGS, the staff has organized a food drive to take place across the school for the next two weeks, November 3-13. For anyone who is able to do so, we will be collecting boxed, bagged, and canned foods. Elementary students may bring in items to their homeroom teachers and secondary students may bring them to their HOUSE leader or to the main office. Starting with the week of November 17 our staff will be contacting families to distribute the donated food items to.

The school has put together a student trip to Washington DC for the Fall of 2026. This would be for next year's 8th and 9th grade students (this year's 7th and 8th grade students). In order to make the trip as cost effective for our families as possible we must fill the bus. Our current numbers do not support that and we are at risk of the trip being canceled.

Mr. Dittenber has sent a form home with students (and also shared digitally) and we need to hear from the families of our current 7th and 8th grade students. Planning out this far in advance provides us a great opportunity to conduct fundraisers and further reduce the cost of the trip, but we need to know if we will reach our goal participation.

We need a minimum of 30 students signed up for the plans of this trip to move forward. The cut off date to sign up is Friday, December 5th. We have been in touch with the travel company and they assure us that up to that date we can cancel the trip and issue a full refund to our families who have signed up and made payments.

Hey AGS Nation,

A big thank you to Consumers Energy for stopping in to talk with our 4th and 5th grade students about ways to conserve energy! Students enjoyed learning how they can make small changes at home and school to help save energy and protect our environment.

This week’s P2 Character Strength was knowing that my words and actions affect others. Knowing that my words and actions affect others is a lot like watching what happens when a pebble hits the water. One small drop creates ripples that spread out farther than you expect. The same goes for what we say and do, even a quick comment or small action can have a big impact on someone else’s day. That’s why it’s important to think before we speak or act. We can choose to send out positive ripples that make others feel good, supported, and respected.

The same thing is true in the real world. The way we talk to and treat others can impact our friendships, jobs, and even our reputation. People remember how we make them feel. That’s why it’s always a good idea to pause and think, is what I’m about to say helpful, kind, and necessary? Being aware of our words and actions helps us build better relationships and make the world a little more positive.

Thanks & Keep Being a Positive Impact Wolverines!

Did you know that AGS students in grades 6-12 have access to Khan Academy, a free online learning platform that provides practice, instructional videos, and personalized learning in subjects ranging from math and science to reading and test prep. In addition, students can now use Khanmigo, an AI-powered learning guide developed by Khan Academy. Khanmigo acts like a tutor and coach, helping students work through problems step-by-step, ask deeper questions, and build confidence in their understanding. Rather than simply giving answers, Khanmigo encourages critical thinking, creativity, and exploration, making it a powerful tool to support learning both in the classroom and at home.

Our students in grades 8–11 use Khan Academy as a valuable tool for both classroom learning and test preparation as they get ready for state assessments. With an extensive library of instructional videos, Khan Academy gives students clear, step-by-step explanations across a wide range of skills. For example, if a student is learning how to solve multi-step equations in math, they can access a video that walks them through the process in detail. This resource not only supports what teachers are doing in class but also gives students additional practice and confidence as they work toward mastering important concepts.

Shared below are resources on ways your student can access and use Khan Academy.

Khanmigo for Students YouTube video

How to access and use Khan Academy and Khanmigo slides

Strive for Fewer than Five: Attendance Matters

As we move into the colder months, our area has seen an increase in cases of both flu and COVID. To help keep students healthy and learning in school, we encourage families to take a few simple precautions. Remind children to wash their hands regularly, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when they are not feeling well. Making sure your child gets enough rest and stays hydrated. Many area businesses and pharmacies are offering flu and COVID vaccinations if you are interested.

Big Sick vs Little Sick Flyer: When to send your student to school

November 12th: 1:00pm-7:00pm

November 13th: 4:00pm-7:00pm

Parent Tips for a Successful Conference:

• Prepare your questions: Write down any questions you have about your child's academic progress, behavior, or any other concerns.

• Plan for timing: Be sure to know how much time is allotted for the meeting and arrive on time.

• Discuss with the teacher: Briefly inform the teacher of any recent changes in your child's home life or any other information you think is relevant.

• Ask questions: Ask questions and listen to the teacher's suggestions. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification. Families and schools are a partnership. Ask if there are additional ways to best support your child, to ensure continued academic growth and success.

• Celebrate and praise your child’s growth and efforts. Discuss goals together and an actionable plan for continued success moving forward.

Senior Parents,

With FAFSA now open it is time to complete this graduation requirement. As a reminder, there is an event on November 13th at 5 - 7 pm at the Delta College Planetarium. The school will provide anyone with proof of attendance to this event a $30 gas card. As students/families complete the FAFSA the school will also be providing the student and the parent a $50 gas or Amazon card through a grant we were awarded. If you have any questions please reach out to me via email and I will be happy to help.

Families Grades K-12

In support of Postsecondary opportunities, the school will be hosting a trip to SVSU for a short walking tour and tickets to the SVSU vs Ferris State football game on Saturday November 8th. Please see the attached flyer for more details or use the link to sign up. https://forms.gle/4iCSPYogiyYehbUA6

Warmly,

Ashley Cardinal

K–12 School Counselor

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. 11/3

• 6p V Volleyball Districts Au Gres-Sims vs Fairview @ Mio-Au Sable

Wed. 11/5

• 5:30p V Volleyball Districts Hale vs Whittemore-Prescott @ Mio-Au Sable
• 7p V Volleyball Districts Mio vs. Winner (Au Gres/Fairview) @ Mio-Au Sable

Thurs. 11/6

• 6p MS Girls Basketball AWAY @ Charlton Heston
• 6p MS Boys Basketball HOME vs Charlton Heston

Fri. 11/7

• 7p V Volleyball District Championship @ Mio-Au Sable

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.

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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 Bazaar: Saturday, November 1 ~ 9:00a.m. - 3:00p.m.
  
• Breakfast with Santa: Saturday, November 29 ~ 8:00a.m. - 10:00a.m.

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!

• November 7, 21
• December 12
• January 16, 30
• February 13, 27
• March 13, 27
• April 10, 24
• May 8, 22

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

NOVEMBER

• 4: NO SCHOOL - Staff Professional Development
• 12: 1p EARLY DISMISAL - Staff Professional Development
• 12: 4-7p Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 13: 4-7p Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 14: NO SCHOOL - Safety Day

• Movie at the Au Gres Community Library (see attached flyer)

* November 1 - 10:30a.m.

* November 12 - 2:00p.m.

• December 6 - 6:15p.m. Au Gres Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade - see attached flyer

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

Greetings Wolverines,

This week our Crew members tried out international foods from the Asian continent. You won't want to miss out on their reviews and recommendations. Thank you for watching, and remember to like, comment, and subscribe!

Click This Link to Watch The Wolverine Wake-Up Issue 134

Sincerely,

The Editor-in-Chief

Current job listings:

• SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER - ELEMENTARY
• 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