AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift Update for May 27
Update From Jeanice K. Swift, Superintendent of Schools
Hello AAPS Community,
We appreciate all the hard work of our students, staff and parents during this 2021-2022 year, and we are focused forward on a strong wrap-up to this school year over the coming two weeks. It is an exciting time with spring events in progress and AAPS Commencement ceremonies beginning this week.
You may enjoy this video, Two Minutes at Pittsfield, as one in a series offering a quick glimpse into Ann Arbor Public Schools, where our vision is Every Child. Every Day.
To remain current on happenings in the AAPS, you may see the latest in AAPS News stories from the week here.
Safety and Security in the AAPS
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the security and safety of students and staff continue as our number one priority, even before our critical mission of teaching and learning. Following the tragedy this week in Uvalde, it is a priority that you know first that we will remain vigilant to review and strengthen our well-defined safety and security measures in close connection with law enforcement; we will care for and focus on our students; we will connect and support each other, our parents and families, and our beloved Ann Arbor community. You may review the full safety message from earlier this week here.
Good News Updates in the AAPS
Slauson Science Olympiad
The Slauson Golden Bears Science Olympiad team finished in 10th place in the middle school division at the Science Olympiad National Championship on May 14th. Slauson qualified for the national competition by finishing in second place in Michigan. Congrats to the Golden Bears Science Olympiad team and to their teachers and coaches!
Huron Engineers
Huron Engineering students won Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at Invention Convention Michigan held recently at the Henry Ford, and will soon be headed to Nationals. Special congratulations to Meera Ramaswami, Delta Dental’s Grand Prize winner of Invention Convention Michigan, for her winning invention, Cargility, that assists individuals in getting in and out of vehicles. She has qualified for the Invention Convention National Championship, which also takes place at the Henry Ford. Joining Meera at the national competition from Huron will be Emma Kaipainen, Sasha Lee, Cali Streeter, Adam VanderMolen and Anthony Young and Clague 8th grader Hemanth Tavane Shivakumar. Congratulations to Huron Engineering students and teachers!
State Rowing Championship
Crew teams from Skyline, Pioneer and Huron participated at the Michigan State Rowing Championship in Milford on May 21, 2022. Skyline won eight event state titles out of 24, propelling them emphatically to the overall Team and Women’s points State Championships (a program first) as well as taking the runner’s up spot on the Men’s team points. Congratulations to Skyline crew coaches Kit Bennett and Lindsay Davis-Brady.
Pioneer’s crew team placed an impressive 3rd overall and 2nd on the Women’s points, and Huron placed a strong 11th overall. Congratulations to all our AAPS Crew athletes, coaches, and parents on an amazing season!
Picnic Pops
I had the wonderful opportunity to join many others in our AAPS community on the grounds at Pioneer High School last Sunday for AAPS Picnic Pops. Beautiful music outdoors from our middle school, K8, and high school bands made for an extraordinary Ann Arbor day. Congratulations to all our AAPS band students, their directors and families on an exceptional Picnic Pops 2022.
Other AAPS Updates
Weekly COVID Update
We have updated the AAPS COVID-19 Case Dashboard today, reporting 179 cases this week; we are coming down some in the level cases which mirrors the county trend, though we continue to observe clusters across schools in the district. The cases reported represent those individuals who were on a school campus during their infectious period.
Washtenaw County continues at ‘High’ level of COVID community transmission, and the CDC recommends everyone wear a mask in indoor public locations.
Keeping symptomatic students at home, using school-based and home testing and universal masking have all helped limit the spread in our buildings. The most recent statement regarding universal masking, which continues in the AAPS through the end of the school year, can be read here.
AAPS Summer Program Masking Guideline
The summer offers advantages for decreasing the risk of COVID transmission — smaller groups, shorter amounts of time together, more outdoor activities and the ability to open windows. For these reasons, the AAPS masking policy will be adapted for the summer months:
· When Washtenaw County is at the CDC’s ‘High/Red’ level of transmission, we will continue universal indoor masking as recommended by public health authorities.
· When Washtenaw County is at the CDC’s ‘Medium/Yellow’ or ‘Low/Green’ levels, masking indoors will be optional.
· Our classrooms and schools will always be mask-friendly environments for everyone.
You may check the current Washtenaw County transmission level here.
We Honor the Class of 2022
It is truly an extraordinary time in the Ann Arbor Public Schools as we gather as a community to honor our graduates at the commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2022.
Over the coming days, approximately 1,500 Ann Arbor Public Schools graduates will cross the stage, achieving the milestone of high school graduation and joining a long, impressive tradition as alumni of the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
It is an honor to join together with our teachers, support staff and leaders, with parents, families, friends and our Ann Arbor community to honor and celebrate each graduate publicly. We honor each student’s individual story and the many challenges they have overcome, particularly persevering through the COVID pandemic to this very special 2022 graduation.
We honor the parents of the Class of 2022, the many teachers, support staff and leaders from preschool through 12th grade who have guided our students along their pathway to this very special day. Truly, it takes a village to raise a child, and our graduates are a testament to the work and partnership together of this Ann Arbor community.
Congratulations and Best Wishes, Class of 2022!
