The Au Gres-Sims School District

We are two weeks into the school year and departing for our four-day holiday weekend. The school year is off to a great start, and it is amazing to have all of the smiling faces back in our building. With every new school year comes change, and you've probably noticed a few things that are different as the 2026-27 school year has gotten underway.

Each school year, our staff narrows their focus to a theme. This year, that theme is #PavingPossibilities, something that is near and dear to my heart. The idea is simple: we eliminate barriers and forge a path through the raw wilderness for our students. Where that path leads is up to them, but we take great pride in the responsibility of laying that groundwork and providing future opportunities.

At Au Gres-Sims, we believe strong foundations create greater possibilities. This year, we will celebrate what makes our district special, share the stories of our students and staff, support the development of the whole child, and remain ready to lead through change. Powered by our purpose, we are committed to paving possibilities for every student. Built upon the foundation of strong schools, dedicated people, and a supportive community, AGS is committed to creating pathways that will help every student discover what is possible.

As this school year progresses and we navigate the inevitable changes and challenges to our system, I ask that you take note of the efforts of our staff and students, stay engaged with our process, and continue to support the Au Gres-Sims School District as we pave our way to new possibilities for all.

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Mr. Ming

It starts with the AGS app for your smartphone, available for free on the Apple and Android platforms. Downloading the app gives you a glimpse at our entire website, all in the palm of your hand. The real magic, though, comes when you access Rooms. Logging in only requires your phone number or email address (try them both) and gives you access to messages and announcements made by teachers, coaches, and activity sponsors.

Once in the app you will have the opportunity to alter your own settings, choosing how you want to receive the announcements from the individual rooms. Some people will want text messages for everything, while others will prefer to get banner notifications.

If you don't have a smartphone...or if your student wants to login, don't worry, because you can access the very same information from a computer by going to: http://id.thrillshare.com (link also available on the AGS website under "Parents".

Download on the App Store (Apple iOS)

Download on Google Play (Android)

For a great overview of the platform, as well as how-to resources, please access: https://info.apptegy.com/for-parents-and-guardians for more information.

To keep everyone safe and our campus running smoothly, we’re asking families not to line up for pick-up before 2:45 PM. Arriving too early creates congestion and safety concerns in our main parking lot as well along Court Street.

Why it matters

• Student safety: Early lines block access to our main office, making it harder for end of the day meetings with families and potentially preventing emergency personnel from responding if needed.

• Instructional time: When cars stack up, classrooms are disrupted and students lose valuable learning minutes.

• Traffic flow: Backups spill onto local streets, delaying buses and emergency vehicles and frustrating neighbors.

• Neighbor relations: Idling and blocked driveways impact local residents and businesses; we want to be good community partners.

How you can help

• Arrive at or after 2:45pm—our dismissal line moves quickly once it begins.

• Use the designated lanes and posted signs; follow staff directions.

• Keep crosswalks, driveways, and bus areas (for student activities) clear at all times.

• If you’re early, consider a quick errand or a short loop around the block to return at the correct time.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a safe, efficient dismissal for every student—your cooperation makes a real difference!

We are pleased to inform you that Au Gres-Sims School District will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as part of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the School Year 2026-2027.

In place of the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application we still need your household to fill out and sign the Education Benefits Form SY 2026-2027. This report is critical in determining the amount of money that our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs.

Look for this to come home with your student soon.

The new school year is underway, and that means fall sports are here! We're excited to welcome our athletes back to the field and court for another great season.

Good luck to all of our fall athletes and coaches! We can't wait to cheer you on and watch you represent our school with pride, teamwork, and school spirit!

GO WOLVERINES!

SCHEDULE

Tues. 9/08

• 6p MS Volleyball AWAY @ Tawas
• 6p JV Volleyball AWAY @ Hale
• 7:15p V Volleyball AWAY @ Hale

Wed. 9/09

• 7p V Boys Soccer (CO-OP w/SSC) AWAY @ Clare
• 6p MS Football AWAY @ Hale

Thurs. 9/10

• 6p V Girls Swim (CO-OP w/SSC) AWAY @ Garber High School
• 6p JV Volleyball HOME vs Tawas
• 7:15p Varsity Volleyball HOME vs Tawas

Fri. 9/11

• V Football AWAY @ Akron Fairgrove

Sat. 9/12

• TBD V Girls Swim (CO-OP w/SSC) AWAY @ Ogemaw Invitational

Add some savings to your long holiday weekend. Don’t miss Sideline’s sitewide Labor Day sale, today only.

Wolverine Exchange Sideline Store

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:

• Homecoming Carnival: Friday, Oct. 2
• Holiday Bazaar: Saturday, November 7

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 8:00 a.m. Your son/daughter's teachers will be reaching out to you different times throughout the year.

Please consider volunteering:

• September 11, 25
• October 9, 23
• November 6, 20
• December 4, 18
• January 15, 29
• February 12, 26
• March 12
• April 9, 23
• May 7, 21

SEPTEMBER

• 7: NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY
• 16: 1p Dismissal - Professional Development for Staff
• 21: 6p Board of Education Regular Meeting

OCTOBER

• 14: 1p Dismissal - Professional Development for Staff
• 15: 4p-7p MS/HS Parent-Teacher Conferences
• 19: 6p Board of Education Regular Meeting

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

One of the fun things that our students get to experience at the middle school is HOUSE. Over the course of the school year students will participate in friendly competition in everything from school spirit, to most improvement on NWEA tests, to seminar activities, and more, earning their HOUSE points. At the end of each marking period prizes are awarded to the winning HOUSE team, and have included things in the past like bowling, ice skating, and a pizza lunch.

On the first day of school all of our new middle school students, those who have moved into our district and those who have moved up from the elementary, were sorted into their HOUSES, each led by one of the core subject area teachers in our middle school. These students were greeted by their HOUSE leader and presented with a scarf.

The HOUSES are:

• AMISTAD - led by Mrs. Ming
• "The House of Friendship
• ISIBINDI - led by Ms. Rinn
• "The House of Courage"
• ALTRUISMO - led by Mr. Dittenber
• "The House of Givers"
• REVEUR - led by Mr. Beardsley
• "The House of Dreamers"