The Au Gres-Sims School District

Last week I shared the news that our district is in need of a community member to step up and serve our local school board. Not everyone understands what school boards do, however, nor the individual roles that school board members serve for the community.

A strong local school board is the cornerstone of a thriving public school system. School boards serve as the bridge between the community and the district, ensuring that the voices of parents, students, and staff are represented in important decisions. From setting policy and approving budgets to hiring the superintendent and maintaining accountability, an effective board provides the vision and oversight needed for schools to grow and succeed. Their work ensures that resources are used wisely, priorities reflect community values, and students receive the highest quality education possible.

Beyond governance, a dedicated school board strengthens trust and engagement within the community. When board members are visible, transparent, and collaborative, they help build confidence in the district’s direction and cultivate a sense of shared purpose. A strong school board also sets the tone for academic excellence and student well-being by focusing on long-term goals while addressing current challenges. Ultimately, their leadership creates stability, fosters innovation, and lays the foundation for future generations of learners to thrive.

If you are interested in serving on the school board, please call (989) 876-7150 to register your interest, ask questions, and learn about the appointment process. Interviews for interested candidates will be conducted on Monday, October 6 at 6p during a special meeting of the AGS Board of Education.

AGS is proud to announce the return of the student Washington DC trip! In order to make the trip as cost effective for our families as possible we are cohorting two grades, with plans to take this trip every other school year. The trip is planned for September 13-17, 2026 for our 8th and 9th grade classes (note, this is NEXT school year...2026-27).

Locally, you may contact Mr. Dittenber with questions. We are partnering with Bennett Travel for this amazing student opportunity and our trip contact is Jeff Bennett. He may be reached by phone (231) 838-1925 or by email: jeff@bennett-travel.com

Registration for the trip is completed online, with instructions contained in the attached documents below. It is not too late to sign up for this great opportunity. Because we started the planning process so far in advance of the trip, you can still sign up using the online process. Don't miss out!

Hey AGS Nation,

This week’s P2 Character Strength was Teamwork. Teamwork is more than just a buzzword, it’s a skill that shapes how we learn, grow, and succeed together. Whether in the classroom or out in the world, learning how to work with others is one of the most valuable lessons we can take with us.

In schools, students are constantly encouraged to collaborate through group projects, class discussions, sports, and extracurriculars. But what makes teamwork so important?

• Improved Learning: Students learn faster and retain more when they share ideas and solve problems as a group.

• Confidence Building: Working in a team helps students feel supported and appreciated for their contributions.

• Real-World Prep: Teamwork mirrors how most jobs and life situations work. Learning it early gives students a head start.

Teamwork doesn’t stop at the school gates. At home and in our communities, working together plays a huge role in creating harmony and achieving goals.

• Family Teamwork: From doing chores to planning a family trip, sharing responsibilities builds trust and keeps things running smoothly.

• Community Spirit: When neighbors come together for clean-up drives or local events, it fosters a sense of unity and belonging.

• Friendships That Last: Friends who support each other and work through challenges together build stronger, more lasting relationships.

Teamwork teaches us to listen, share, compromise, and lift each other up. Whether you're solving a math problem, organizing a community event, or simply helping a friend, teamwork turns everyday moments into opportunities to connect and grow.

Let’s continue to support one another and make teamwork a part of everything we do at school, at home, and everywhere in between!

Thanks Team Wolverines!

Walking through classrooms this week has been a wonderful reminder of the growth and creativity happening across all grade levels. In kindergarten, students are busy matching words and exploring STEM boxes, activities that build early literacy, problem-solving, and creative thinking skills. Our upper elementary students are strengthening the foundations of learning through handwriting practice and math problem-solving—both critical for future academic success and confidence. Meanwhile, middle schoolers are collaborating on large-scale projects about our solar system, applying knowledge in a hands-on way that builds teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. In the high school classrooms, students are practicing advanced math concepts like solving two-step equations and building stamina in ELA by writing longer, more detailed paragraphs. Each of these activities not only connects to academic standards but also nurtures the skills students need to grow as lifelong learners.

Our staff here at AGS always does a remarkable job of educating students but each trip into a classroom is a great reminder of the hard work and dedication they bring to your students. The level of learning happening within our building is a great thing to see.

Chronic Absenteeism

Our attendance team is sitting down to further our work with approving attendance here in the Au Gres-Sims district. This is an initiative that is an undertaking for the entire Bay-Arenac ISD. Recently, the BAISD released the work they have been doing on an attendance campaign that includes a logo and a tagline. Our attendance team at AGS will be discussing how we can incorporate the ISD’s work into our own this year to improve our overall attendance. Be on the lookout for more information, posters around the community and incentive campaigns on our social media that are meant to increase attendance and instructional time for our students. We know that the more days our students are here, the more growth they can achieve in the classroom.

📢Congratulations to Mrs. Avram’s Kindergarten class for having the best overall student attendance for the month of September! Way to go!🎉 They will be celebrating with an extra reward recess with Mrs. Phillips this month!

Who will be next month’s October class attendance winners? We shall see!

👉The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to AGS 9/29-10/3! Click the link below for more info.

Classroom teachers will be sharing their Scholastic schedules with you.📚

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/augressimselementarysch

📚 Homework Help: Supporting Your Student in Grades 6–12

Helping Families Manage Schoolwork with Less Stress

✅ Managing Deadlines

• Encourage your child to use a planner, calendar, or phone reminders to track assignments.
• Break large projects into smaller steps with mini-deadlines.

• Review upcoming due dates together at the start of each week.

📝 Studying for Tests

• Avoid cramming! Help your student review a little each day instead of all at once.
• Use active study tools like flashcards, practice quizzes, or teaching the material back to someone else.

• Build in short breaks—the brain learns better in focused chunks of time.

🌱 Reducing Academic Stress

• Balance matters: encourage sleep, healthy meals, and downtime alongside study time.
• Create a calm, consistent space for schoolwork at home.

• Remind them it’s okay to ask for help—from teachers, peers, or family—before things feel overwhelming.

It’s hard to believe, but we are already halfway through the first marking period. As grades begin to accumulate in the gradebook, some students may be feeling the pressure of low scores and the stress that can come with them. This is a natural part of the learning process, and an important opportunity for growth. At this stage, students are developing the habits that will carry them into college, careers, and beyond. With your encouragement and support, they can approach challenges with confidence, build resilience, and feel less overwhelmed by schoolwork.

Warmly,

Ashley Cardinal

K–12 School Counselor

Positive news is starting to filter down from Lansing regarding a state budget and we are waiting in anticipation to learn of how that will impact our clinic funding.

In the meantime, the first Parent Advisory Committee meeting of the year for the Health Clinic will be held on October 21 at 6p in the elementary library. All former committee members are welcome as well as anyone interested in joining the group.

On October 8, students (and their parents) are invited to Walk or Roll to School in promotion of regular physical exercise and healthy habits. See the event details in the attachment below.

Get ready to cheer loud and show your pride — the fall sports season is officially underway! Whether you're hitting the field, court, or sidelines, it's time to bring the energy, the teamwork, and the heart. Let’s make this season one to remember. Go Wolverines!

SCHEDULE

Mon. 9/29

• 5p V Boys Soccer (CO-OP w/ SSC) HOME vs Shepherd
• 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Oscoda

Tues. 9/30

• 6p JV Volleyball AWAY Home vs Posen
• 7:15p V Volleyball HOME vs Posen

Wed. 10/1

• 6p MS Football HOME vs Hillman (Parent's Night)
• 5p V Boys Soccer (CO-OP w/ SSC) HOME vs Ogemaw Heights

Thurs. 10/2

• 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Charlton Heston
• 6p V Girls Swimming (CO-OP w/ SSC) HOME vs Garber

Fri. 10/3

• 7p V Football AWAY @ Brimley

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

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!

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

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

OCTOBER

• 15: 1p Dismissal - Professional Development for Staff
• 16: 4p-7p MS/HS Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 24: End of 1st Marking Period

September 26 & 27 - National Ghost Hunting Day at the Au Gres Community Library (see attached flyer)

October 18 - Halloween in the Park ~ more info to follow

Dear Wolverines,

We're back! With a new Crew and fresh ideas, we've brought back popular favorites like Hallway Interviews and studio chats. This week we have a hula challenge and spent some time with Homecoming Court candidates. Be sure to comment and email us with suggestions for new videos at this email address

wake-up@stu.ags-schools.org

Click Here to Watch The Wolverine Wake-Up Issue 132

Sincerely,

The Editor-in-Chief

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