The Au Gres-Sims School District

April is Earth Month, and although the month of April is half way done, it’s never too late to do good things. Earth Month is a perfect opportunity to teach children about the environment. It is a chance to help them appreciate the world around them and make a difference in protecting it. Use this tip sheet to talk, read, and sing with children about the earth and show them ways we can all do our part to keep it healthy. For a copy of additional opportunities, see the following newsletter from the Great Start Collaborative.

As the weather gets warmer, it is finally getting more convenient to get outside and enjoy our loving pets. As much as we love to see precious fur babies, most pets are not allowed on campus, regardless of whether they are on a leash or you are holding them. This applies to athletic contests, also. Thanks for your cooperation in being respectful to all.

Please help start spreading the word to friends and families about our upcoming Kindergarten registration. This is slated for Wednesday, April 16, running from 4:00-6:00 pm. Please remember to enter through the Main Office and provide Mrs. Vollbach with your birth certificate, proofs of residency, and immunization record, and then she will present you with your materials and send you along to the elementary.

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.

Although the end of the year sounds like a long ways away…it really isn’t. For planning purposes, below are some events going on throughout the district for the remainder of the year. We will keep you posted as we gain information and things potentially have to change.

-April 16 PLC Early Release at 1:00, Kindergarten Roundup at 4:00

-April 18 No School- Good Friday

-April 26 Prom at 8:00 at the River Mill

-May 14 Spring Band Concert at 7:00

-May 16 NHS Blood Drive from 11:00-4:00

-May 21 PLC Early Release at 1:00

-May 23 Last Senior Day

-May 26 No school- Memorial Day

-May 27 Pre-Districts BB/SB- TBD

-May 28 Graduation Rehearsal 8:30-10:00, Senior Class Night 6:00-8:00

-May 29 Graduation Rehearsal 8:30-10:00, MS/HS Academic Awards 7:00-8:00

-May 30 Districts BB/SB, Graduation at 7:30

-June 2 Elementary Fun Day

-June 3 Elementary Fun Day Backup Day

-June 4 1:00 Early Dismissal after Exams 1-3

-June 5 1:00 Early Dismissal after Exams 4-6- Last student day

8:30-9:45 4th/5th Awards

10:00-11:00 1st/2nd/3rd Awards

10:30-11:30 6th Grade Orientation in MPR

11:30-12:30 K Awards

As we move through the school year, one of the most rewarding parts of our work is watching our students blossom—not just in their academic abilities, but in their confidence, too. In classrooms across the building, we’re seeing students grow in their abilities across the board. Our first graders proudly shared their published book with me this week as they worked on writing bunny narratives—just in time for (what we hope is) the arrival of spring weather. Students in classrooms across the building are reading new and challenging texts as they push their thinking. We’re so proud of the progress our students are making and can’t wait to see how far they’ll go by the end of the year! Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Your involvement at home—reading together, asking about their writing, or simply cheering them on—makes all the difference.

Chronic Absenteeism

As we enter our first week of testing, we want to remind you how important it is for your child to be at school each day. If a student misses a testing day, they will need to be pulled from regular classes to complete makeup sessions. This results in additional lost instructional time and can make it harder for students to stay on track. Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in academic success. Our staff is here every day to support your child’s learning, and missing class instruction can lead to gaps that are difficult to recover from. Please help us by ensuring your child is present each day. Your partnership is essential in helping them stay on the path to success.

Math starts early—and it’s all around us! For young children, developing early math skills doesn’t mean sitting down with a worksheet. Instead, it’s about exploring numbers, patterns, shapes, and problem-solving through simple, everyday experiences.

This week, we are going to focus on those early learners. We’re encouraging families to make math part of their daily routines in fun, hands-on ways. When math feels natural and playful, children build a strong foundation for later learning—and even begin to enjoy it!

Key Early Math Skills Include:

• Counting and number recognition

• Comparing quantities (more/less, bigger/smaller)

• Recognizing shapes and patterns

• Sorting and classifying objects

• Understanding basic measurements (length, weight, time)

• Exploring position and direction (above, below, next to)

How to Build Math Skills at Home:

Count Everything
Count steps as you walk, snacks on the plate, or stuffed animals in a row.
“Let’s count how many grapes you have. Can you eat 2 and tell me how many are left?”

Sort and Match
Let kids sort laundry by color or match socks and shoes.
“Can you find all the red socks?” or “Let’s put all the big spoons in one pile and the little spoons in another.”

Use Math Talk
Use simple math words as you talk to your child: more, fewer, next, in front of, behind, taller, heavier.
“Which tower is taller?” or “Can you put the spoon next to the plate?”

Play With Shapes
Draw, cut, or build with blocks. Talk about sides and corners.
“This block is a square—it has four sides. Can you find another square?”

Measure in Real Life
Involve your child in measuring while cooking or comparing sizes of items.
“Let’s use a measuring cup to pour the water” or “Which book is heavier?”

Count, sort, measure, or compare something together. Simple math talk goes a long way!