The Bach Beat

Dear Bach Families,

As we continue through the school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on a mindset that is important for all of us: growth mindset. At its core, a growth mindset means believing that we can improve through effort, practice, feedback, and a willingness to learn. It means understanding that we do not have to get everything right the first time to make progress. Sometimes, the most meaningful growth happens through the challenges we face, the mistakes we make, and the lessons we take from them.

At Bach, this mindset guides how we work with our scholars and one another. Our staff is committed to recognizing the individual strengths and needs of every scholar, meeting them where they are, and helping them take the next step forward. We know that growth looks different for every child. One scholar may gain confidence in reading, another may learn to approach math problems differently, and another may make strides in managing emotions or building relationships. These accomplishments may look different, but each represents progress worth celebrating.

This same mindset applies to how we work together as adults. We are all learning, adjusting, and finding ways to improve. We may approach challenges differently, and we will not always have every answer, but we can learn from one another when we remain open to feedback, embrace new ideas, and support each other's growth. Our goal is not perfection; it is progress. Small steps, taken consistently, can lead to remarkable growth over time.

Families, remind our scholars that mistakes are opportunities to learn and not reasons to give up. Ask them what they learned from a challenge, what they are proud of, and what they want to keep working toward. Most importantly, let them see us modeling the same willingness to learn and grow that we expect from them. Let's keep taking those small steps, celebrating progress, and helping one another grow. Together, we can make a big difference in the lives of our scholars.

Together in curiosity and growth,

Dr. Matthew C. Jones

Principal, Bach Elementary

No School - Election Day

Monday, November 3, 2026

PTO Meeting

Friday, November 6, 2026

9:00-10:00 am

Dance Night Sponsored by The PTO

Friday, November 13, 2026

6:00-7:30 pm

Join us in the MPR for a family-friendly dance night open to all Bach families. Attendance is free. Snacks/juice boxes will be available for purchase ($1 = 1 snack) as a fundraiser for the PTO. Family members of all ages are invited, but kids MUST have an adult in attendance for the duration of the event. Parents/guardians cannot drop off kids and leave.

No School - Late Fall Break

Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27, 2026

School Resumes Monday, November 30, 2026

Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 a.m. Be sure that you get your extra hour of sleep and take your manual clocks back 1-hour!

EVERY SCHOOL DAY MATTERS! Missing just two days a month equals a total of 18 days a year, which equates to 10% of the academic year. This is roughly 126 hours of learning time loss. Please click here to take a closer look at the importance of attending school each day. If scholars are sick, please follow the guidelines surrounding their illness (see below). However, if they are not, please do your best to get them to school.

Please join me in welcoming Ashlyn Coleman, OTD, OTR/L, to the Bach Elementary family! Ashlyn is a graduate of the University of Findlay, where she earned her doctorate in occupational therapy and bachelor's degrees in exercise science and psychology. Before joining AAPS, Ashlyn worked in outpatient pediatrics, supporting children ages 8 months to 11 years old. She will serve as our occupational therapist at Bach Elementary and Allen Elementary, helping our scholars build independence and develop the skills they need to succeed.

Outside of work, Ashlyn enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to join the AAPS family and partner with our scholars and families. We are excited to welcome Ashlyn to Bach, where we remain committed to meeting every scholar where they are and helping them reach their full potential. Welcome to the Bach family, Ashlyn!

There will be no school on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 in observance of Election Day. As members of our community, we have an opportunity to participate in the democratic process and exercise our civic rights. For those who are eligible to vote, we encourage you to learn about the candidates and issues on your ballot and make informed decisions. Thank you for helping us model the importance of civic engagement for our scholars.

The Bach Family is coming together to ensure that our scholars are safe, warm, and that families are able to share in the upcoming holiday season. If you are in need of assistance with holiday food [November] or holiday gifts [December], please complete this form (formulario en español) no later than Friday, November 13, 2026. This form is confidential and will be utilized by Dr. Jones, our Social Worker, Mrs. Yung Hwang, and front office staff to better assist our families. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Social Worker (hwangy@aaps.k12.mi.us).

If you would like to volunteer to support these efforts in any capacity, please complete the Winter of Hope Volunteer Form by clicking here (formulario en español).

Our Fall Scholastic Book Fair is coming up from November 2-6!

• Check out the Bach Fall Book Fair info link for how to volunteer. Class times to shop will be shared by your scholar's classroom teacher.
• Families can shop together after school on Monday, Nov. 2 from 4-7 pm during Parent/Teacher Conferences.
• Set up an eWallet for a cash-free option for your child. Cash and credit card are also accepted. NOTE: This year will be a changeless fair for cash purchases. Any cash purchase will be rounded up to go toward the Share the Fair and books for the Library.
• Please note that ALL volunteers must have completed the Volunteer iChat form.

Parent-Teacher Conference season is underway! Our full-building Parent-Teacher Conference Night is scheduled for Monday, November 2, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 pm. Please reach out to your child's teacher to select a time for your conference. Additionally, teachers may also offer other times outside of this night for your conference. They will communicate this to you as well.

Absences

If your scholar will not be present at school, please report their absences by emailing the office at bach@a2schools.org and include your child's classroom teacher. Once a parent has communicated the absence, the office staff can update their attendance to reflect a verified absence.

Early Releases

If your scholar will be leaving school early, please send an email to bach@a2schools.org and include your child's classroom teacher. This will ensure that all parties are aware and create a smooth transition for all early releases. Please report all early releases by the beginning of the school day. If you need to make a last minute (less than 2 hours before the end of the school day) change to your scholar's pick up plan, please call the Main Office at 734.994.1949.

After Care + Rec. & Ed

If a child will be absent from Aftercare, families should email bachbac@a2schools.org.
If a child will miss a Rec & Ed class, families should notify the class instructor or the Rec & Ed office at aareced@a2schools.org.

The latest we release scholars early is 3:30 pm. If you need to pick up your child after that time, we ask that you please wait until dismissal at 3:53 pm. This helps reduce classroom interruptions and ensures student safety.

The first school bell will ring at 8:47 am. The second bell will ring at 8:50 am. Scholars arriving after 8:50 am will be considered late. Scholars can begin arriving at school as early as 8:43 am.

Please click here to review the arrival/dismissal map. Additional information on Arrival & Dismissal Procedures can be found on The Bach Family Hub.

For scholar safety, please do not drop students off before 8:45 a.m., as supervision is not available prior to that time. Early drop-off leaves students unsupervised on campus, which creates a safety concern. If your family needs care before 8:40 a.m., please review the Before Care information provided at this link.

1. If a child has vomited, they should be vomit-free for a minimum of 24-hours before returning to school.
2. A child with a fever of 100.1ºF or higher should not return until they have been fever-free for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.

Please take a moment to sign up for the bachpto.org website so that you can ensure that you receive communications from your child's room parent about class parties, field trips, teacher appreciation, and classroom needs. Because the school is not allowed to share parent contact information, registering your email at bachpto.org is the ONLY way you will receive room parent communications! Registered families also have access to a syncable calendar of community events as well as a searchable family directory. Click the link below for a step by step guide on how to sign up and create your family profile.

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ef7xLuOttFjsHvv3t1NdgeHwhG0L7u9_/view?usp=drive_link

The Ann Arbor Public Schools supports the reduction of idling on our school campuses. Through the leadership of the Freeman Environmental Youth Council, AAPS is instituting a Reduce Idling Zone at all AAPS schools starting this fall. Please take a moment to review additional information on this student-led campaign by clicking here.

Looking for a simple way to spend more time with your child while making a meaningful difference at Bach? We’d love to have you volunteer during lunch and recess!

Parent volunteers play an important role in helping us supervise, support, and connect with our scholars while they eat, play, and enjoy time with their friends. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be part of your child’s school day and help make Bach an even more welcoming place for everyone.

Come spend some time with our scholars and be part of the Bach BEST! Please complete the Volunteer Form that can be found by clicking here!

Note: Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles & Neighbor also make great volunteers! If you know an individual that has time and desires to help, please pass this on!

If you are in need of community resources, please click here. You will find a variety of resources for scholars and families that are currently available. If there is a resource you need that is not listed, please let us know and we will do our best to assist you.

Please utilize the Bach Information Hub to find important daily information that will help answer frequently asked questions. Before the school year starts, please take time to read through this important information. It will also serve as a source of information throughout the school year.

Community and parent volunteers help to enhance our community and learning experiences for our students. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our parent community!

If you are interested in volunteering when the opportunity presents, please complete the Google Form. Please provide our main office with a minimum of 72 hours to process the application.