“A Culture of Learning” Au Gres-Sims School District 2017-18 Achievements
- Realized a 17% district-wide increase in K-12 student enrollment since 2012
- 48 graduating seniors from the Class of 2018 earned a combined value of $403,738 in collegiate scholarships
- Initiated an August 7, 2018 comprehensive bond proposal project to support student safety and learning that, if approved, will affect every student in every building and will not change the current tax rate
- Au Gres-Sims Elementary School was a finalist for the MDE’s 2017 Title I Distinguished School Award
- Au Gres-Sims Middle School and High School Bands again received the highest Division I rankings at both the District and State Band Festivals for the eighth consecutive year
- Au Gres-Sims High School Band performed at the 2018 Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Au Gres-Sims Great Start Readiness Preschool (GSRP) received the highest 5-star rating for five straight years
- Au Gres-Sims High School Science Olympiad team qualified for the state competition for the second straight year
- Au Gres-Sims Band Instructor, Kim Gordon, was recognized as the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) District 9 Director of the Year
- Au Gres-Sims Superintendent, Jeffrey Collier, was selected by Education First as one of 30 educational leaders to join a U.S. delegation to attend the 2018 Global Leadership Summit in Helsinki, Finland and Berlin, Germany
- Implemented a district-wide Responsible Thinking Process (RTP) for positive behavior intervention supports
- Fully installed security cameras throughout campus and on all buses for increased student safety
- Partnered with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to create a Pathways to Potential Program and bring a Student Success Coach to campus
- In partnership with the Northeast Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative (NEMIGLSI), Au Gres-Sims was featured in a Place-based Education (PBE) STEM case study, and international video release
- Au Gres-Sims student STEM programming was featured in an International Joint Commission’s Great Lakes Connection article
- Partnered with Apptegy to create a brand new mobile app, website, and social media communications platform
- Partnered with Nike Marathon Kids to create a successful elementary and middle school running club
- Partnered with the Michigan Department of Education and Bopp-Busch Manufacturing Company to sponsor a high school FIRST Robotics team for the second consecutive season
- Provided on-campus Dual Enrollment courses and TRIO Talent Search college access program opportunities in partnership with Alpena Community College
- Completed capital project upgrades that included the transfer and reconstruction of a 40’ x 60’ STEM greenhouse, new varsity gym scoreboards, and varsity gym custom wall pads
- Was awarded extensive competitive grants: $20,000 from Environmental Protection Agency toward a new bus; $5,000 from Lowe’s for greenhouse reconstruction, $3,900 from Chef Ann Foundation for healthy foods; $2,500 from Captain Planet for STEM projects; $2,500 from Arenac Community Funds for Science Olympiad; and $1,000 from Watershed Initiative Network for STEM projects
- Au Gres-Sims elementary students continued participating in the third year of a longitudinal study of invasive species on Big Charity Island in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative, Michigan State University Extension, Michigan Sea Grant, Huron Pines, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, and Saginaw Valley State University
- Completed the fourth season of the Huron Forward bi-weekly Podcast joint communication project between the Au Gres-Sims School District and the Au Gres Area Chamber of Commerce
- Au Gres-Sims supported a local chapter of Girls on the Run to provide empowerment lessons to preadolescent girls in grades 3-5 for a third successful year
- The Au Gres-Sims Wolverines varsity football team won the North Star League title for the second straight year and were an Honorable Mention Academic All-State team