Hello Au Gres-Sims Families,
I am grateful to the staff, students, and families that make up this school district. More than that, I am thankful for all of the behind-the-scenes people doing the work, big and small, that enable our students to have the experiences that they have. There are so many little things that are done in the background that go unnoticed everyday, and too often taken for granted, that create the opportunities that we all love so much. It is these people that I would like to thank and congratulate as we kick off November.
Little things, done by countless people committed to this community, are what make this place so wonderful. Moreover, without these people doing these little things, we couldn't function the way we do.
Here are some of the small things that go a long way. This is by no means an all-inclusive list, just some examples of the little things that matter.
- Bus drivers delivering students to and from school...
- Boosters who supplement the band and athletics programs...
- Ticket takers and gameworkers who make putting on athletic contests possible...
- Coaches who spend countless hours developing and training...
- Referees who regulate play...
- Parents who assist in the classrooms...
- Staff members who screen students for entry...
- Custodians who take pride in our building and facilities...
- Volunteers who make and bag popcorn...
- Teachers who stay after for the "extras" that students need, the help, clubs, and activities...
- and so many more people who make a difference everyday for our students.
As we traverse this November month, don't wait until Thanksgiving to give thanks and share your gratitude for the people who do those little things in your life.
Have a great weekend AGS. #WolverinesLead #NewTomorrow.
-Mr. Ming
K-12 Principal's Update
A few weeks ago I wrote a short blurb about getting involved and supporting our PTO and/or Wolverine Pride Association. The need is still there. If your situation doesn’t allow you to get involved, you can still support our PTO by attending their annual bazaar. The bazaar this year will take place on Saturday, November 13, from 8-3 in the multipurpose room. We would love to see you there.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. If you, or someone you know, is in need of a Thanksgiving meal, Ascension Standish Hospital will be providing meals for those in need. Meals will be distributed on Thursday, November 25, from 11:30-1:00 at the main entrance of the hospital. Reservations are required by calling 989-846-3400. Thank you Ascension Standish Hospital!
Next week we celebrate a very important day, Veterans Day. Veterans Day is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served. This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. It fell on November 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars. In Covid times, we haven’t had the opportunity to bring our veterans to campus and honor and celebrate those who have made great sacrifices for our common good. The following link recognizes our proud AGS grads who have gone on to serve in the Armed Services: https://youtu.be/aNWAUChr25U Thank you Ms. Richardson for providing this great resource for all of us to enjoy. If we are missing anyone, PLEASE let us know so we can continue to honor the individuals who are so deserving. Thank you, veterans!
From the Desk of Mrs. Socha
Report cards are going home today with elementary students and being sent out for Middle and High School. We are looking forward to speaking with elementary parents at parent/teacher conferences next week. As report cards come home, if you have any questions regarding the new scoring scale, please feel free to contact me.
During conferences, any Kindergarten through 3rd-grade student that has been identified as needing an Individual Reading Improvement Plan (IRIP) will be given a yellow folder at your conference. You will need to bring that folder to the elementary library to meet with Mrs. Gordon or me to go through your child’s IRIP and home plan. There will also be a letter coming home to explain that process to any student who has an IRIP. If you have had an IRIP in the past, please bring the at-home bag that you were given at your initial IRIP meeting, so we can give you more goodies to support your student at home!
Finally, our November School and Home Connection newsletters are ready for you to read. These newsletters give helpful tips to assist parents in how to help support their child physically, academically, and emotionally. We hope that you find the information helpful!
A Re-Post, because this message is so important!
What's Good About Social Media
Social media can help kids:
stay connected with friends and family
volunteer or get involved with a campaign, nonprofit, or charity
enhance their creativity by sharing ideas, music, and art
meet and interact with others who share similar interests
communicate with educators and fellow students
What's Bad About Social Media
The flipside is that social media can be a hub for things like cyberbullying and questionable activities. Without meaning to, kids can share more online than they should.
Most teens:
post photos of themselves online or use their real names on their profiles
reveal their birthdates and interests
post their school name and the town where they live
This can make them easy targets for online predators and others who might mean them harm.
In fact, many teens say they have:
been contacted online by someone they didn't know in a way that made them feel scared or uncomfortable
received online advertising that was inappropriate for their age
lied about their age to get access to websites
Concerns and Consequences
Besides problems like cyberbullying and online predators, kids also can face the possibility of a physical encounter with the wrong person. Many newer apps automatically reveal the poster's location when they're used. This can tell anyone exactly where to find the person using the app.
And photos, videos, and comments made online usually can't be taken back once they're posted. Even when a teen thinks something has been deleted, it can be impossible to completely erase it from the Internet.
Posting an inappropriate photo can damage a reputation and cause problems years later — such as when a potential employer or college admissions officer does a background check. And sending a mean-spirited text, even as a joke, can be very hurtful to someone else and even taken as a threat.
Spending too much time on social media can be a downer too. Seeing how many "friends" others have and the pictures of them having fun can make kids feel bad about themselves or like they don't measure up to their peers.
What Can Parents Do?
It's important to be aware of what your kids do online. But snooping can alienate them and damage the trust you've built together. The key is to stay involved in a way that makes your kids understand that you respect their privacy but want to make sure they're safe.
Tell your kids that it's important to:
Be nice. Mean behavior is not OK. Make it clear that you expect your kids to treat others with respect, and to never post hurtful or embarrassing messages. And ask them to always tell you about any harassing or bullying messages that others post.
Think twice before hitting "enter." Remind teens that what they post can be used against them. For example, letting the world know that you're off on vacation or posting your home address gives would-be robbers a chance to strike. Teens also should avoid posting specific locations of parties or events, as well as phone numbers.
Follow the "WWGS?" (What Would Grandma Say?) rule. Teach kids not to share anything on social media that they wouldn't want their teachers, college admissions officers, future bosses — and yes, grandma — to see.
Use privacy settings. Privacy settings are important. Go through them together to make sure your kids understand each one. Also, explain that passwords are there to protect them against things like identity theft. They should never share them with anyone, even a boyfriend, girlfriend, or best friend.
Don't "friend" strangers. "If you don't know them, don't friend them." This is a plain, simple — and safe — rule of thumb.
Athletics Update
If we win tonight, the team will play in the MHSAA 8-man state seminal final next Friday, November 12. Information about where and who that game would be against is dependent on tonight's results!
Next Week's Game Schedule
Mon. 11/8 MS Boys Basketball AWAY @ Whittemore-Prescott, 6pm
Thur. 11/11 MS Boys Basketball HOME vs. Mio, 6pm
Important Dates
NOVEMBER
- NOV. 9: 5:45p Board of Education Meeting (Budget Update, followed by regular meeting, moved from Nov. 15 (School Holiday)
- NOV. 10-11: Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences
- NOV. 15: School Holiday - No Students or Staff
- NOV. 25-26: School Holiday - No Students or Staff
Help Wanted at AGS
https://www.ags-schools.org/employment-opportunities--95
Job Opportunities at AGS
- Full-time Special Education Teacher (1.0, but flexible to part time if desired by the candidate)
- (3) full-time Paraprofessionals
- Health Resource Advocate (grant-funded for the 21-22 school year)
Au Gres-Sims School District
Email: web@ags-schools.org
Website: www.ags-schools.org
Location: 310 South Court Street, Au Gres, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 876-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuGresSims/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @agsschools