The Au Gres-Sims School District

This past week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week and although the week has come to a close, it’s never too late to express your appreciation. A simple communication of any appreciation is greatly appreciated.

If you are in need of some food, diapers, or clothing, there are a few local resources that are able to help. The Closet Exchange, located at 263 S. Main St (Unit 3) in Au Gres, focuses mostly in childrens clothing (shoes, clothes, etc). To learn more about this resource go to THE CLOSET EXCHANGE. For clothing, diapers, baby wipes, formula, and other baby related items, you can go to the Arenac County Baby Pantry on Wednesdays from 12:00-4:00 pm at 583 E. Cedar St. in Standish. To learn more about this resource, go to ARENAC COUNTY BABY PANTRY. The last resource is the Beacon of Light Church at 201 S. Forest St. in Standish. They have a diaper giveaway every Monday from 10:00 am until noon. For more information, contact them at 989-846-6592.

Do you have spring allergies and/or are you too sick for school? Here are some insights from Maggy Dwan. As flowers bloom and pollen fills the air, many children experience allergy symptoms that can look like illness. It’s not always easy to tell if your child should stay home or not, but knowing the difference can help avoid unnecessary absences and keep learning on track. Mild allergy symptoms might be: runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, a mild or dry cough (no fever or breathing trouble), itchy or watery eyes, and mild fatigue or sinus pressure. These symptoms are typically manageable with allergy medication, hydration, and rest…and are not a reason to miss school. So when should I stay home? Students should stay home or seek medical care if they have a fever over 100.4, a severe cough, wheezing, trouble breathing, are vomiting or have diarrhea, or have a rash with fever or blisters. Allergies are common in the spring, and with the right support, most kids can stay in school and be comfortable.

Teacher Appreciation Week is a special time to recognize the incredible dedication, hard work, and countless hours that educators pour into shaping the lives of their students. From early mornings to late evenings, teachers go above and beyond to inspire, guide, and support every learner who walks through their doors. While we set aside this week to formally celebrate their contributions, we hope that our families continue to share their gratitude and appreciation all year long — because the impact of a great teacher lasts far beyond just one week. We truly enjoyed all of the special events that we had planned for our teacher this week and hope they felt our appreciation for the work they do. Please check out our Facebook page to see all of the great sponsors who helped make this week possible.

Chronic Absenteeism

This year, we renewed our focus on improving student attendance across the district. In the years following COVID-19, it was necessary to prioritize health and safety, often requiring students to stay home for extended periods when ill. Now, after five years of navigating education in a post-pandemic world, we are returning to more typical attendance policies. As we look ahead to next year, we plan to build on this momentum by strengthening our efforts even further. We have plans for how we can encourage and reward attendance. Our goal is to ensure students are present in the classroom as consistently as possible, so they can fully engage in their learning and minimize absences to only those that are truly necessary. Together, with the support of our families and community, we can help our students make every day count.

Wrapping Up Our Math Focus – Keep the Problem-Solving Going!

Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared practical ways to build math confidence at home—from early counting and problem-solving in the younger grades to real-world budgeting and data analysis for our older students. Whether it was counting snacks, solving word problems, comparing prices, or planning a budget, you’ve shown how math truly lives in the everyday moments we share with our kids.

As we wrap up our math series, we want to thank you for taking the time to make math meaningful beyond the classroom. Your efforts to talk about math, practice together, and connect learning to real life make a difference in your child’s growth, confidence, and success.

Even though our weekly math tips are wrapping up, you can keep the momentum going by:

• Encouraging math conversations during daily routines

• Asking your child to explain their thinking when solving problems

• Pointing out how math is used in cooking, shopping, sports, and technology

• Continuing to celebrate small wins—progress, not perfection!

Math isn’t just a school subject—it’s a life skill. Thank you for being partners in helping students see that math is useful, exciting, and part of their everyday world.

Let’s keep solving problems, exploring numbers, and making math a natural part of family life—because learning never stops!

Ways to talk to your children about their emotions

1. Model Emotional Expression

• Share your own feelings appropriately: “I’m feeling a little frustrated because I had a busy day.”
  

• Show them it's okay to feel all emotions.
  
  

2. Use Emotion Vocabulary

• Teach a variety of emotion words beyond just "happy," "sad," or "mad"—like "disappointed," "excited," or "nervous."
  

• Use books, shows, or stories to label and explore emotions characters are experiencing.
  
  

3. Validate Their Feelings

• Acknowledge what they feel without judgment: “It looks like you're upset. That’s okay—do you want to talk about it?”
  
  

4. Ask Open-Ended Questions

• Instead of “How was your day?”, try:
  

• “What was the best part of your day?”
  

• “Was there anything that made you feel worried or unsure?”
  
  

5. Use Play and Art

• Draw feelings with colors or faces.
  

• Use dolls, action figures, or storytelling to explore emotional scenarios.
  
  

6. Teach Calm-Down Strategies

• Breathing exercises, squeezing a stress ball, or taking a break can be part of your emotional toolkit.
  
  

7. Be Patient and Consistent

• Kids may not always be ready to talk. Let them know you're available anytime.

• Reinforce that emotions are normal and manageable.