The Au Gres-Sims School District

This year we are fortunate to host Boys Basketball Districts. Games will run on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, February 24/26/28. We kick off Districts on Monday against Whittemore-Prescott with the game starting at 7:00 pm. If we win, we will then play against Mio on Wednesday at 5:30 pm. If we win that, we will play in the District Finals Friday at 7:00.

Is your son or daughter ready to take the next step toward their future? To help with that decision, Saginaw Valley State University is hosting a Great Lakes Bay Region College Night. It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. in the Curtiss Hall on the SVSU campus. During this time you can meet representatives and connect with admissions officers from over 40 colleges and universities from Michigan and beyond. You can discover opportunities and learn about financial aid, scholarships, academic programs, career paths, student organizations, athletics, and more. Besides SVSU, this also includes colleges from Albion College, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and nearly 40 others. This event is free and open to the public including students in any grade in high school. It's a fantastic opportunity to gather information and ask questions to help you and your students make informed decisions about their educational journey. For more information, registration, and to see the full list of participating institutions, visit the website: Great Lakes Bay Region College Night.

MS/HS Parent Teacher Conferences are just around the corner. This year conferences will be run slightly differently. Although conferences still cover the time from 4:00-7:00 pm, the first hour and a half from 4:00-5:30 will be invitation only. The second half of conferences will run from 5:30-7:00 in normal fashion with teachers meeting with families on a first come first served basis.

The AGS Athletic Hall of Fame is looking to induct its fifth class this fall. If you know of some deserving recipients, please fill out a nomination form. These can be found online on the school website and/or forms can be picked up at the main office. Nominations for this fifth class are accepted until May 1.

Next week on Wednesday 2/26 and Thursday 2/27, our secondary students have the opportunity to travel to the Midland Center for the Arts to experience their Space Explorers The Infinite Exhibit. Here is a brief excerpt from the website explaining the experience: Unearth an awe-inspiring perspective of Earth through a rare, astronaut-view that has been shared by very few... until now. THE INFINITE puts you on the virtual ISS to explore breathtaking views of Earth and share a new perspective in the daily life of the crew on board. Explore a 45-minute immersive walk-through adventure, self-guided or partnered with your family members or friends. Thanks to a generous sponsorship for the Center, student field trips are very affordable allowing us to take both our middle and high school students. We are very excited for this opportunity as field trips on that end of the building do not happen often. Students will depart from school around 8:15a and return around 1p. We will have a light snack on our bus ride back to Au Gres and lunch upon our return. We cannot wait for students to have this great experience and share their day with you. Please check out the link below for the Midland Center for the Arts to see more information about the experience.

Midland Center for the Arts Website

Chronic Absenteeism

Letters have begun to go out again for second semester absences for your students. While we have committed to refocusing our attention to having students in the building with us each day, we just wanted to share our reason why consistent attendance is important. When a student is not here at school, we do not see it as just an absence but more importantly as missed instruction. Missing just 5 days of school is equivalent to 35 hours of missed time with a teacher. 10 days is equivalent to 70 hours. As these days of instruction missed add up, a student is falling further behind. When students are absent for just one day they have to return and keep up with that day’s work also knowing they need to complete the missing work from the time they were gone. For students who are absent a lot, missing work can quickly turn into a mountain that seems insurmountable to climb. If you receive a letter, phone call, or request for a meeting with your student, know that we are most concerned with students not falling behind and missing out on the important lessons that are taught here each day at school.

How to talk about Suicide with children and teens:

In the last week Arenac County lost two young adults to suicide. Talking to your children about suicide is a difficult but important conversation. It’s essential to approach it with care, honesty, and age-appropriate language. Here are some guidelines and thoughts on having these difficult conversations with your students and/or their friends. It is a major misconception that if you talk about suicide it increases the chance someone may die by suicide. Statistics actually show that talking about suicide provides the opportunity for communication. If you know of anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts they can text 988 to reach a hotline where there is someone to help 24/7.

1. Create a Safe Space

• Choose a quiet, comfortable place to talk.

• Let your child know they can share their thoughts and feelings without judgment.

• Keep your tone calm and reassuring.

2. Use Age-Appropriate Language

• Young children (under 10): Keep explanations simple. Example: "Sometimes, people feel very sad and don’t know how to ask for help."

• Tweens and teens: Be more direct and use real terms like "suicide," while also emphasizing help and hope.

3. Be Honest but Gentle

• If the conversation is triggered by a loss, provide truthful but sensitive information.

• Avoid euphemisms like "went to sleep" that may confuse younger children.

4. Encourage Open Dialogue

• Ask open-ended questions like:

• "Have you heard about suicide before?"

• "How do you feel about this?"

• "Do you ever feel really sad or hopeless?"

• Listen without interrupting or overreacting.

5. Validate Their Feelings

• Let them know it’s okay to feel sad, confused, or even angry.

• Reassure them that they are not alone and that help is available.

6. Emphasize Help & Hope

• Explain that suicide is preventable and that there are people who care.

• Let them know that talking to someone (parent, teacher, counselor) is always okay.

7. Monitor & Follow Up

• Keep an eye on changes in behavior, mood, or social withdrawal.

• Check in regularly and keep the conversation ongoing.

• If they express suicidal thoughts, seek professional help immediately.

One of the best ways to help children understand and remember what they read is through retelling and summarizing. These strategies encourage kids to reflect on a story’s key details, improving their comprehension and communication skills.

What’s the Difference?

• Retelling – When a child retells a story, they include many details, often in the same order as the book.

• Summarizing – A summary focuses on the main idea and key events in a shorter version of the story.

Retelling for Younger Readers (K-2):
Have your child retell the story in their own words, using pictures from the book as a guide.
Ask them to tell you who the story was about, where it took place, and what happened first, next, and last. Use the “Somebody, Wanted, But, So, Then” strategy:

• Somebody (Who is the main character?)

• Wanted (What did they want?)

• But (What problem did they face?)

• So (How did they try to solve it?)

• Then (How did the story end?)

Summarizing for Older Readers (3rd-5th Grade):
After reading, ask:

• "What was the main problem in the story?"

• "How was it solved?"

• "What were the most important events?"

Challenge them to summarize the book in 3-5 sentences using only the most important details.

Retelling & Summarizing for Middle & High Schoolers:

Ask your child to summarize the book in one sentence (a great challenge for teens!).

Discuss the theme – What is the deeper meaning of the story?

Have them write or tell you a "30-second book talk" explaining why they would or wouldn’t recommend the book.

Encouraging retelling and summarizing builds confidence and strengthens reading skills that will last a lifetime! 📚✨ Let’s make this week one filled with great books and great conversations!