This Week
In the Ann Arbor Public Schools
September 22, 2008

To: The Staff of the Ann Arbor Public Schools
From: Todd Roberts, Superintendent

This Week’s Good News!

• The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is pleased to announce our Initiatives for Excellence grants for the 2008-2009 school year.  These grants support specific initiatives within the school system that would not otherwise receive funding and would likely not happen.
  The AAPSEF is excited to continue funding for the My Access! program. My Access! is an award winning, web based writing program that builds better writers by instantly scoring student essays and by providing immediate instruction that engages and motivates students.  This year students in grades 5 – 10 will use My Access!
  New for this school year are three additional grants:
  COMP Tutor Program:  The Cooperative Outreach Music Program (COMP) provides music tutors to talented, low-income, middle school students who cannot afford private instruction on their instrument.  The program provides one, thirty minute, tutor assisted lesson weekly for students currently enrolled in our school’s band and orchestra classes, in grades 6–8.
  Enrichment Coordinators:  This grant awarded for elementary school enrichment coordinators will provide funding to secure the staffing infrastructure necessary for development and implementation of enrichment programming across all elementary schools. The new district-wide initiative is modeled after the successful Angell Elementary enrichment program.
  ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN Assessments: The EXPLORE assessment will be administered to all eighth graders and the PLAN assessment will be administered to all tenth graders.   Guidance counselors will coordinate parent meetings to assist in interpretation of results.  These tests are part of ACT’s Educational Planning and Assessment System, an integrated series of assessment and career planning programs designed to help students increase their academic readiness for college.   
  “Each of these grants help us to directly support the Ann Arbor Public schools in areas that might not happen without the AAPSEF,” said Wendy Correll.  The Champions behind each initiative should be commended.
  Initiatives for Excellence is the major grant program within the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation. The committee works in conjunction with the Ann Arbor Public Schools to assure that major grants are in coordination with the district strategic plan.  The committee also provides ongoing oversight of funded grants to assure the success of the programs and responsible stewardship of the awarded funds. 
• From a parent at Huron’s Capsule Night to Choir Director Dr. Richard Ingram, “Your students transported me to this whole other place, where I could take a break from the craziness and enjoy some wonderful, wonderful, music.  The energy, passion and talent of your students was commendable, and the experience a terrific example of the role that music plays in our lives. Thank you.”
• Huron Speech Pathologist Jonelle Gillette was once again  appointed to the State Special Education Advisory Committee which meets once per month in Lansing.  Jonelle represents speech pathologists from across the State of Michigan and the Ann Arbor Public Schools. The committee advises the State Board of Education on special education issues. This past week she met with State Superintendent, Mike Flanagan and Kathleen Strauss, State Board of Education President.
  Jonelle served on this committee last year as well and the work that her specific group did on Extended School Year was adopted into practice. An example that the work that we do does make a difference!  We are honored and proud to have Jonelle represent the AAPS on such an important committee in Lansing.

Todd Roberts, Ed.D.
Superintendent