A Letter to the Au Gres-Sims Community from Superintendent Collier

December 21, 2017

 

Dear Au Gres-Sims Community,

 

    Our Au Gres-Sims School District is amazing!  As we collectively continue our relentless pursuit of excellence, the number of partnerships we are forming with community and private entities, who are also deeply committed to the education of our area youth, are growing at a tremendous rate!  The abundance of opportunities and activity choices for students to participate and be engaged in at Au Gres-Sims is overwhelming, both in and out of the classroom.  Positivity is building upon positivity for our “public school with a private school feel,” and our partners are eager to offer their sustained support with a growing momentum that is central to the story being shared about the incredible things that are happening for students here in Au Gres. Their enthusiastic commitments are positive evidence that they share our belief that the size of our district is one of our greatest strengths, allowing us the flexibility to consistently offer the dynamic and unique programming that we provide for our learners.  Embracing and cultivating this progressive philosophy, the professionals within our established Culture of Learning are actively authoring grant applications to maximize our treasured resources, acting as ambassadors, and establishing relationships with outside philanthropists and experts. 

   Below are examples of some of the grants (not including State and Federal grants) received just this fall:
~ Grant received from the Exxon Mobil Educational Alliance Program for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programming.

~ Grant received from the Arenac Community Funds through the Bay Area Community Foundation in support of our Science Olympiad program.

~ Grant received from the Saginaw Bay Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) to support our river quality/watershed studies.

~ Grant received from the Captain Planet Foundation to support our Charity Island and greenhouse STEM projects.

~ Grant received from Target to support our “AGS Travels” student program.

~ Multiple grants received from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe to support our extensive initiatives in instructional technology and dynamic classroom programs.     
    Following are some of the partnerships we are fortunate to have established in 2017:  
~ Alpena Community College provides dual enrollment courses on our campus.  Did you know that our students can earn over 30 college credits while attending Au Gres-Sims High School? Wow!

~ The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service has provided a greenhouse that is being erected on our campus to support the propagation of endangered plant species by our students as a component of our Charity Island STEM studies.

~ The 4H Foundation and Arenac County 4H Leaders Council have sponsored a full VEX IX robotics classroom kit and resources for elementary science, robotics and engineering studies to build and enhance foundations for upper level Science Olympiad and FIRST Robotics programs.

~ Bopp-Busch Manufacturing continues to generously partner with and sponsor our competitive FIRST Robotics team.

~ Our Girls on the Run Club (Au Gres Chapter), an after-school running club, inspires and empowers our upper elementary female students to be joyful, healthy, and confident.

~ The Department of Health and Human Services has partnered with us to provide a full-time success coach for our students through the “Pathways to Potential” program.

~ Nike Marathon Kids has partnered with us to provide an after-school running club for upper elementary and middle school students to promote healthy, physically active lifestyles.

~ Recently a local family anonymously donated new, brand name coats for our fourth grade students valued at over $800.

    This list is only a snapshot, and does not even come close to encompassing the extensive scope of our fantastic partners or all of the magnificent contributions that have been made to our district on behalf of our children. We are also the fortunate recipients of the tireless volunteerism, advocacy, and generous sponsorship of our Parent Teacher Organization members and Wolverine Pride Association athletic boosters.   Further, our area residents who volunteer substantial time and talent for the improvement of our facilities and student activities is simply inspiring. 

    We are deeply appreciative and humbled to be the recipients of these good works, which I believe are indicative of the school district itself.  Coupled with this extensive support network, our entire staff continues to excel and live up to the community’s high expectations and our far-reaching reputation as a “Destination District” that truly provides an unequivocal product of excellence in education.  We invite you to join us and celebrate the knowledge that we represent a growing school district of unbounded student opportunity and unrelenting greatness!

Yours in Education,

Jeffrey Collier
Superintendent