The Au Gres-Sims School District

Thank you veterans!

Wednesday 11/11, we pause to honor and thank the brave men and women who have served our country. Your courage, sacrifice, and dedication to protecting our freedoms mean more than words can express.

To our veterans, AGS Nation is grateful for your service and the sacrifices you and your families have made. Thank you for standing strong for our country and for being an example of courage, commitment, and patriotism.

Go Wolverines & Go USA!

This week, AGS focused on the character strength of Knowing my Words & Actions Affect Others!

Knowing that our words and actions affect others is important both at school and in the real world. Every day, we have opportunities to make others feel respected, included, and valued, or to make them feel hurt, excluded, or discouraged. At school, our words and actions help shape the learning environment. Showing kindness, listening to others, and treating everyone with respect helps create a safe and welcoming community where everyone can succeed.

In the real world, the same principles apply to our friendships, families, workplaces, and communities. The bottom line: We may not always control what happens around us, but we can control how we respond. Before speaking or acting, we should ask ourselves: Will this help or hurt someone? Is this the kind of person I want to be? Our choices matter, and choosing kindness, empathy, and respect helps make our school and the world a better place.

Reminders!

• PTO Holiday Bazaar: November 7th from 9:00 AM–3:00 PM.

• Early Release: November 11th - 1:00pm

As we move into November, our teachers are taking the momentum from our recent professional learning day straight into the classroom. Following up on our focus on essential standards and alignment with Michigan literacy goals, staff are actively fine-tuning daily instruction to ensure every student masters the core, foundational skills needed for success. With the shorter days and cooler weather settling in, maintaining steady learning routines at home becomes even more valuable. You can help keep your child engaged by asking them to explain a specific math strategy or talk through a reading passage they worked on during the day. Partnering together helps ensure our students finish the first semester strong, confident, and on track!

With winter weather around the corner and holiday breaks approaching, maintaining regular school attendance is as important as ever. Missing even a couple of days a month can quickly add up, making it harder for students to stay caught up on classroom instruction, small-group support, and daily routines. While we want students to stay home when they are genuinely sick, keeping predictable evening and morning routines can make getting to school on time much easier during these colder months. If your student needs to miss school, please remember to call the main office, and feel free to reach out to our team if your family needs any support or resources to help keep your child attending regularly!

Seniors:

• Scholarship opportunities are emailed to their school email weekly and local scholarships will become available in early spring.

• Seniors and parents, Jostens was here to provide Cap and Gown and other graduation goods ordering packets. A QR code is at the bottom of my newsletter for just ordering the cap/gown/tassel/stole without anything else.

• FAFSA is now Open, as of October 1st, and we will have two FAFSA nights to support the students and parents with this process. Completing the FAFSA is a graduation requirement, if you have questions please reach out via email or stop in the office. The next FAFSA night is December 3rd at 6:30 and it will be catered in through Olive Garden and there will be prizes.

• If your student is planning to visit a college campus during school hours, please keep the following guidelines in mind:

1. Notify the Office in Advance: Please make sure to pre-arrange or pre-notify the main office prior to the date of the college visit. Advance notice helps us mark the absence appropriately in our system and ensures teachers are aware ahead of time.

2. Bring Verification Back to School: Upon returning to school, students must bring an official note or proof of attendance from the college’s admissions or visitor center. Once submitted to the office, this note will confirm the visit and officially excuse the absence.

MS/HS:

• We will start working in Xello in grades 6-12 through the winter and then Education Development Plans (EDPs) will start in the spring.

Tip of week:

• The "Worry Jar" is a counselor-approved activity where children write or draw their anxieties on slips of paper to be placed inside a decorated container. Establishing a daily ten-minute "worry time" helps children externalize their feelings and prevents negative thought loops before bedtime. This routine fosters emotional literacy and provides parents with a structured framework to support open communication.

Reach Out Any Time!

My door is always open. If your student needs extra support, or if you simply have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us by phone, email, or by stopping by the counseling office.

Let’s work together to make this year the best one yet!

Ashley Cardinal