Thurston Family Update
October 30th
Dear Thurston Families,
Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
As we head into Halloween weekend, I hope all of our Thurston families have a safe, fun, and memorable time celebrating! Whether you're trick-or-treating, attending community events, or enjoying time together at home, have fun, look out for one another, and stay safe!
No School Tuesday, November 3rd
A reminder: There is no school for students or staff on Tuesday, November 3rd. It is election day.
For those who are of voting age, I encourage you to get out and exercise your right to vote! Participating in our democratic process is an important opportunity and a privilege that we should never take for granted.
Our best,
Cory McElmeel, Principal
Cara Lawhead, Interim Assistant Principal
Thurston Elementary School
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 2
Book Fair - Thurston Library
Picture Retake Day
Tuesday, November 3
No School for Students & Staff - Election Day
Tuesday, November 10
PTO General Membership Meeting - Thurston Library & Zoom - 6:30pm
Tuesday, November 17
Fall Teacher Appreciation Day
Tuesday, November 24
Report Cards Sent Home
Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27
No School for Students & Staff - Late Fall Break
RETAKE PICTURE DAY - MONDAY, NOV 2
If your student missed Picture Day back in September, retakes are coming up on Monday, Nov 2 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the MPR. After this date no more opportunities will remain to have photos professionally done through Lifetouch.
Order This Year's School Pictures
Volunteers Needed for Our Library Book Fair!
Our Library Book Fair last day is coming up, and we could use a few more volunteers to help on the evening of Monday, November 2!
A big thank-you to all the parents who have already signed up and offered their time. We truly appreciate your support!
The Book Fair is such a fun experience for our children and a wonderful way to spread the joy of reading throughout our school community. If you are available to lend a hand on Monday evening, we would be so grateful for your help.
Thank you for helping make this a special experience for our Herons and for supporting a love of reading at Thurston!
Winter Giving Dine-to-Donate at Rappourt!
A big thank-you to everyone who visited Shake Shack on October 27 to support Thurston PTO’s Winter Giving efforts through our Dine-to-Donate event! We appreciate your generosity and support.
Our next Winter Giving Dine-to-Donate event will be held at Rappourt on November 15 and 16. Gather your family and friends, enjoy a meal together, and help support Winter Giving!
Please note: To ensure your purchase counts toward the fundraiser, you must submit a copy of your receipt (pre-tip). Please email a photo of your receipt to TMA417@yahoo.com.
We hope to see you there. Thank you for continuing to support our Thurston community!
AAPS VIRTUAL JOB FAIR/INTERVIEW DAY - 11/4
To participate - Click here to register
QUESTIONS?
Please contact our HR team at hr_info@aaps.k12.mi.us for additional information or application assistance
Thurston Science Olympiad 2027
Upcoming PTO Meeting on Tuesday, Nov 10 @ 6:30 p.m.
Thurston families are invited to join us for our next PTO General Membership Meeting on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:30 p.m.
We are excited to welcome members of the New Thurston Construction and Design Team, who will share an update on our new school building coming next year! This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the design, construction progress, and exciting plans for our future Thurston.
You can join us in person in the school library or virtually via Zoom. The Zoom link and meeting details are included in the meeting agenda.
We hope you’ll join us to learn more, connect with our school community, and hear about the exciting future ahead for Thurston!
Lunch/Recess Volunteers Needed
Would you like an opportunity to spend more time with children while making a meaningful contribution to your child’s school? Volunteer for lunch and recess supervision at Thurston!
We need parent and caregiver support to help supervise and support our many learners while they are eating and playing. Volunteers are an important part of helping us provide a safe, positive, and enjoyable experience for students during these times.
Recess monitors are needed from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. each school day.
Can't commit to the full two hours? That's okay! We welcome volunteers who are available for just one hour. Simply indicate the hour you are available when you sign up. Every hour of support makes a difference!
Sign up on the Lunch/Recess Monitor Volunteer Form to join our team of volunteers!
All volunteers must complete an AAPS Volunteer Certification form and be scanned through our Raptor system.
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors make great volunteers too! If you know someone who has the time and desire to help support our students, please share this opportunity with them.
Thank you for helping make Thurston a safe, welcoming, and supportive place for every student!
A Reminder About Pets on Campus
As a fellow animal lover—and someone who has two pups of my own—I certainly understand how much our pets mean to us! However, I want to remind families that pets should not be brought onto the Thurston campus during arrival, dismissal, or school hours.
We have many Thurston students and family members who experience severe allergies, anxiety, or fear around animals, and keeping pets off campus helps ensure that everyone can safely and comfortably participate in our school community.
Please leave pets at home when coming to school for arrival, dismissal, or during the school day. Service animals are, of course, an exception.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, welcoming environment for all members of our Thurston community!
Seeking An Event Chair In-Training for International Night!
The PTO is looking for someone to join this year's International Night planning committee with the goal of stepping in as Event Chair for the 2027-28 school year! International Night is one of Thurston's biggest and most beloved events, and even though it doesn't happen until May, planning is already underway! Our current event chair, Emily Terrell, will no longer be at Thurston next year, so we are in need of someone to join her this year to familiarize with the process and ensure a smooth transition. If you would like to support this incredible event, please reach out to Emily (memilyterrell@gmail.com) for more details. She is happy to talk it through before you commit to anything.
2026 AAPS School Board Candidate Resources
The AAPS PTO Council (PTOC) has prepared a living document with publicly available school board candidate forum recordings, interviews, and questionnaires. The goal with sharing this information is to help members of our school community learn about the candidates and come to their own conclusions. The document is available here.
Note: The PTOC, its board members, and its member organizations do not necessarily agree with or endorse any candidate, organization, or view included in this resource.
October 2026 Community Resources Update
- Resources for Thanksgiving and Holiday Food Baskets, winter clothing and gifts.
- Free workshops and activities for teens, new moms, youth with IEPs, and families.
- Free events on financial and mental health.
And much more!
Check it out here:
Help Us Find Our Next 2nd Grade Teacher!
Thurston Elementary is currently seeking applicants for a 2nd grade teaching position, and we would love your help spreading the word!
If you know an outstanding teacher who might be interested in joining the Thurston team, please encourage them to apply. We are looking for someone who is passionate about working with elementary students and becoming part of our wonderful Thurston community.
[View the position and apply here]
Thank you for helping us share this opportunity with educators in our community and beyond. We appreciate your partnership as we work to find the right person to join our 2nd grade team!
Lost & Found
Our Thurston Lost & Found is already overflowing with clothing, water bottles, lunch containers, and other items! If your student may have misplaced something at school, please stop by the Main Office during school hours to take a look through the collection.
We will typically begin gathering unclaimed items before Late Fall Break on November 25. Items that remain unclaimed will be donated to the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop, a nonprofit organization that supports Ann Arbor Public Schools and its students through the resale of unique and gently used community donations.
Please take a moment to check the Lost & Found before your child’s belongings become someone else’s treasure!
Thurston PTO Directory
The Thurston Directory is now available! It includes contact information for all families who opted in during registration.
Information Regarding the New Thurston Build Project
As you may know, discussions about plans for a new Thurston Elementary have been underway for over two years. Access to accurate information about the project can be found at https://a2schoolsbond.org/school/thurston-elementary/. Here you will find several short videos with details.
For Assessments and Surveys about the project go to the bottom of this page.