AGS NEWS

Eric Rettenmund, Principal

Zachary Bradley, Assistant Principal

Lisa Wissinger, Dean of Students

Melissa Welsh, Counselor, MA, LPC, SCL

Barb Stinson, Secretary

Randi Thorp, Clerk

April

21 & 23 - MSTEP for All Grade- Levels

27 - No School (PD Day for Teachers)

May

8 - 8th Grade Awards/Dance (see the section below)

15 - 1/2 Day (FHS Graduation)

25 - No School - Memorial Day

27-29 - 1/2 Day Final Exams

Good evening AGS Families! We will be administering the M STEP on Tuesday and Thursday next week. After testing on Tuesday, the students will attend hours 1 - 3. On Thursday, the students will attend hours 4 - 6 after testing. A detailed version of the daily schedule is linked below. Here are a few reminders for M STEP Testing:

Please Be on TIme
Students report to SRT/Homeroom in the morning
No devices allowed in the classroom (smartwatches, cellphones, headphones, etc.)
No food, gum, candy, etc. during testing
Please CHARGE those chromebooks
LINK to detailed schedule: MSTEP Bell Schedule

Thank you for helping us to provide the best testing environment for our students!

Class of 2030, it's time to celebrate on May 8th from 6:30 - 10:30! Tickets for the 8th grade dance will be available for purchase during 8th grade lunches April 20-24th. Tickets are $5 and CASH ONLY - reduced from $10 due to fundraising efforts from our AGS PTO. Tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be available the day of the dance. Tickets include admission to the dance, DJ, Photo booth, games, and yummy food. Parents, stay tuned for information on how you can help make this dance shine by volunteering to help set up, chaperone, and clean up after the event is over.

The awards portion of the evening will begin at 6:30 PM until approximately 8:00 PM. The dance is immediately following. All 8th grade students will receive a Certificate of Recognition and will be announced to walk across the stage.

Thank you to 8th grader, Elaine Blue, for creating this year's ticket (image below)

Don’t let the memories fade! This is your last chance to secure a 2025-2026 yearbook. To pre-order, visit ybpay.com and use the school code: 14635326. All orders must be submitted by this Sunday, April 19, 2026. Once the deadline passes, we cannot guarantee extra copies will be available!

To ensure this dance flyer is fully accessible, the alt text provides a clear breakdown of the event logistics, including the date, time, and ticket purchasing details. Recommended Alt Text "Flyer for the AGS Middle School 6th and 7th Grade Dance. The design features colorful abstract pastel shapes and illustrations of three students dancing at the bottom. Event Details: Date: Thursday, April 30th Time: 2:15–3:30 PM Tickets: $8 each Information and Logistics: Dress Code: Students are encouraged to dress for warm weather. Refreshments: Snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. Ticket Sales: Tickets are on sale during lunch from April 28–30. At the Door: Tickets will also be available for purchase at the door. The header text reads 'AGS Middle School Presents 6th & 7th Grade Dance' in large blue lettering." Why this works for ADA Compliance: Information Extraction: It pulls the vital "who, what, where, and when" into a structured format that screen readers can easily navigate. Logistics Focus: It specifically highlights the ticket sale dates and the "at the door" option, which is critical for student and parent planning. Visual Description: It notes the "warm weather" dress code and snack availability, ensuring those with visual impairments have the same preparatory information as other students.

8th grade parents, attached to the button below is our 8th grade transition one-pager. Please find some time to review the artifacts/ attachments and read about what can be expected for the 26-27 school year.

8th Grade Transition (Incoming 9th Grade) One-Pager

7th-grade students received their group request forms for the upcoming dance this past Thursday, April 16. Please ensure these are completed and turned into the green bin located outside Mrs. Wissinger’s Spanish classroom (Room C107) no later than Tuesday, April 21. Thank you so much!

AST will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays directly after school in the media center and will end at 3:15 with bus pickup scheduled for 3:25 PM. A completed permission slip is required for students to stay for AST. The permission slip is a Google Form that parents must fill out. Click the button below to access the permission slip!

AST Permission Slip

PSAT 8 UPDATE

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 8TH GRADERS ON THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THEIR FIRST COLLEGE BOARD PSAT TEST! THEY WERE ON TIME WITH CHARGED CHROMEBOOKS & WORKED DILIGENTLY WHILE TAKING THEIR TEST. FOR ANY STUDENT WHO MISSED THE TEST, THE MAKEUP TEST INFORMATION WAS EMAILED TO YOUR STUDENT & PARENTS.

Mrs. Melissa Welsh, Counselor, MA, LPC, SCL

mwelsh@fentonschools.org

March Career Exploration Update from Mrs. Nellis

During March, all 8th graders will be completing a 4-year plan for high school. This is a very general plan that helps students visualize their numerous options and opportunities as they prepare for high school. The 4- year plan is updated each year throughout your child's high school experience as part of the EDP process.
XELLO: Most AGS 8th graders have completed their career exploration work in XELLO this year. As a reminder, XELLO connects parents with their child's preferred career matches and clusters based on their interests, skills, and personality. As part of our requirements for EDPs, we need at least one parent to activate a XELLO account. Weekly account activation reminders will be emailed to parents/guardians if your child does not have a parent account linked in XELLO.

As always, please feel free to reach out to Wendy Nellis, AGS Career Advisor, with any questions at wnellis@fentonschools.org.

I am excited to share that while my title has changed, my role remains the same. As your Student and Family Engagement Coordinator, I continue to focus on attendance and truancy, managing our valuable resources, and fostering strong connections between school and home. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns about attendance—your engagement is crucial to our success. Additionally, remember to complete our Tiger Paw Pantry request Google form if your family needs support.

Below, you'll find quick links and important information for frequently asked questions:

At-Home Resources: Explore resources you may need to support your student's learning at home.
Attendance Policy: Find everything you need to know about our school's attendance procedures.
Want to Donate? Click the Tiger Paw Pantry button below to easily support our school programs.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our coordinator, Lauren Underwood directly at 810-591-7750] or lunderwood@fentonschools.org.

8th Grade Graduation announcement from Lauren Underwood, Student and Family Support Coordinator at Fenton Schools. The image features a black background with rose gold balloons and festive banners. The text reads: 'Dear Parents, With our 8th grade Graduation and Dance quickly approaching, I wanted to reach out and let you know that if your child is in need of dressier clothes or shoes for the occasion, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as soon as possible. I would be happy to help make sure every student feels confident and prepared for this special event!' Contact information: Phone 810-591-7750, Email lunderwood@fentonschools.org.

AGS Attendance Flowchart

Tiger Paw Pantry Request Form

Tiger Paw Pantry Flyer/QR Code

The AGS PTO is run by parent volunteers, and your support—whether it's your time, knowledge, helping hands, or a donation—is essential for a successful school year full of exciting events!

This year, we are hoping to establish Parent Representatives for each grade, especially for 6th graders, to help coordinate volunteers and be a point of contact. No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and help out! If you're interested in volunteering in any way, please fill out this quick form: https://forms.gle/1y3CuJ96L4WCsx5o6 Thank you, Go Tigers!

Future PTO Meeting Dates: March 12, April 9, May 14

Carlson's Greenhouse Plant Sale Fundraiser

Our AGS PTO Carlson's Fundraiser Plant Sale has begun! CLICK BELOW and thank you for supporting the AGS community!

Carlson's Order Form

8th Grade Dance: Donations and Help Needed

It feels like just yesterday they were starting kindergarten, and now they’re heading to high school. We want to send our 8th graders off in style with a night of dancing and memories! To make the magic happen, we need a little help behind the scenes. Click the link below to access the SignUp Genius!

The 8th Grade Awards - Friday, May 8 @ 6:30. Dance immediately following.

Digital Box Tops!

Scan Your Receipts, Support Our Students!

Earning money for our school just got a whole lot easier. No more clipping—the Box Tops program is now 100% digital!

How to help in 60 seconds:

Download the Box Tops for Education app or CLICK HERE
Select our school.
Scan your grocery receipts (physical or digital) within 14 days.

If you shop online or use grocery pickup, you can simply forward your digital receipts to receipts@boxtops4education.com using the same email associated with your account!

The app automatically finds participating products and credits our school 10¢ per item. It’s "free money" that goes directly toward classroom supplies and school events. Every scan counts!