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

15 - PSAT 8 (8th Grade only- Early Dismissal) 6th and 7th Grades DO NOT REPORT

21 & 23 - MSTEP for All Grade- Levels

27 - No School (PD Day for Teachers)

The 8th graders will be taking the PSAT 8 test on Wednesday, April 15 th, beginning at 7:25am. This is an important test that will help with future class registration, as well as future standardized test score predictions (i.e., SAT). Please note the following:

Students MUST BE ON TIME for school that day!! We are starting at 7:25 - once the first test starts, we cannot admit students into the testing room.

Students can access testing room assignments through their RTI account. In addition, staff members will directing students on the morning of the test.

Students MAY bring water. You MAY NOT have this on your testing desk. Teachers will direct you on where to put it.

Students will get a 10 minute break between the two tests

Students will NOT be allowed to bring food into the classroom, so please eat a healthy & hearty breakfast. You will also want to get plenty of sleep the night before. If you are Diabetic, you may bring what you normally would to the testing room, in regard to food & beverage (teachers in your testing room will direct you where to place these items).

Students will NOT be allowed to bring the following into the testing room, so please leave these items at home, OR locked in your locker BEFORE entering the testing room - NO cellphones, smartwatches, or watches with alarms. ANY STUDENTS THAT HAVE TO HAVE THEIR CELLPHONES (i.e., Diabetes purposes) - please give your cellphone to the teachers in the test room and they will monitor while you’re testing.

Students WILL NEED TO BRING - CHARGED, SCHOOL ISSUED CHROMEBOOK. If you do not have a school issued Chromebook, one will be provided for you on testing day. Also, bring a pencil for Math problems - this can be mechanical or a #2 lead pencils.

**PLEASE NOTE: No school on Wednesday, April 15 for 6th and 7th graders. ONLY 8th graders report.

This week is National Assistant Principals Week! AGS would like to recognize our very own AP, Zach Bradley, and Dean of Students, Lisa Wissinger. We appreciate Mr. Bradley and Mrs. Wissinger everyday, but take this time to recognize their dedication, leadership, and passion. Thank you, Mr. Bradley and Mrs. Wissinger!

We are working hard, but we need more photos! If you have any school-related pictures of AGS students only, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE share them through the link below for a chance to be featured. It is ok if you are unsure how to tag, just add the photos and we will take care of the rest! Reach out to Lisa Wissinger at lwissinger@fentonschools.org with an questions. Thank you for helping us create an amazing yearbook! To pre-order your yearbook, visit ybpay.com and use the yearbook code: 14635326. The order deadline is April 19, 2026.

CLICK HERE to share your photos!

We need your help! Recently, we’ve noticed a concerning uptick in destructive behaviors involving student Chromebooks. These devices are essential tools for learning, and we want to ensure every student has a functional, reliable device to use every day. To keep our technology in top shape, we are asking you to partner with us in reinforcing expectations at home.

How You Can Help:

The "Check-In": Take a moment this week to look at your student’s Chromebook. Are there missing keys? Cracks? Stickers or drawings that shouldn't be there?
The Conversation: Talk with your student about being Safe, Respectful, and Responsible with school property. Remind them that these devices are on loan and need to last.
Safe Storage: Encourage students to keep their Chromebooks in their cases (if provided) and away from food, drinks, or the floor where they can be stepped on.

Why It Matters

When a device is damaged, it doesn't just cost money and potentially end in a monetary fine—it costs learning time. Students without a working device miss out on interactive lessons and digital assignments. State testing (PSAT/MSTEP) has moved to a digital format which requires all students to have a device. We want to ensure that all of our students have a reliable, working device. We appreciate everything you do to support our school community. Let’s work together to keep these tools ready for learning!

Student Chromebook 1

Student Chromebooks Repair

Screen Damage

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

Please click below to access the website for registration!

LINK to Mackinac Registration

CLICK HERE

I will email parents and students their group assignments within the next week. The Group Guidelines are as follows:

• Groups are limited to a maximum of 6 students.

• Students must be in a group. If one is not chosen, no problem. I will add them to a group.

• While these are the official "check-in" and "bus" groups, students are free to meet up and enjoy the park with all of their friends once we arrive!

I will send more reminders and a full itinerary as the trip date approaches. Thank you for your support in making this a safe and fun experience! If you have any questions, please reach out to Lisa Wissinger at lwissinger@fentonschools.org or 810-591-7763.

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 REGISTRATION UPDATE

PSAT 8 REGISTRATION UPDATE - Several math classes were registered on Thursday, 3/26. The majority of math classes will be registered after the spring break - Monday, 4/6. They will need their charged Chromebooks for this session.

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

No Fuss Fundraiser

Our AGS PTO No Fuss Fundraiser has begun! The PTO is asking for a one-time donation to support all the activities we provide to the AGS community. Similar to the past 4 years, if we meet our goals, we will not have any other fundraisers and won't be asking students to sell anything. We can't do this without your support.

The top earning student in each grade wins a pizza lunch with 3 friends and Mr. Rettenmund!

If a business donates a minimum of $250 to your student, we will display their logo on a sponsor banner on the fence line in front of AGS! Add the business name during the checkout process.

We will report the leader boards periodically and share the final results Tuesday, April 7th.

CLICK BELOW and thank you for supporting the AGS community!

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!