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AA Open Running Weekly Notes 2025-26
Updated automatically every 5 minutes

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           May 29, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another great week here at Ann Arbor Open! As always, we hope that your weekend is full of peaceful moments. Here are some notes for the week.

AA Open “Graduates”

Besides our 8th Graders transitioning on to high school, there are some other beloved members who are moving on. They have served our students and families for many years, and in their retirement, we will miss them dearly. Check out the picture below showing them “leaping” into new adventures. Good luck to:

Jamie Martin

Karen Connor

Kathy Rinehart

Lori Hayes

Also, we want to thank Connie Burris, food service worker, who has served our students breakfast and lunch all year long. Happy Retirement Connie!

Spring Open Sk8 (one more chance to skate together this year!)

Join us for one more spring session of AAOCC Kids Open Sk8 at Ann Arbor Skatepark (Veterans Memorial Park).

What is Open Sk8?

Kids in all grades and with all levels of experience are welcome. Bring your skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, or scooter. For safety, please wear a helmet, pads, and closed toe shoes. If you have extra equipment to share, please bring it along – we want this to be a fun and safe experience for all!

AAOCC

Here is a one stop information email with all the links to reference.

🎟️ Tickets :2026 Ice Cream Social Tickets

🐼 Sponsorship and Support :2026 Sponsorship and Support for Ice Cream Social

🍿 Volunteers : Ice Cream Social Volunteers

🍦 FAQ :2026 FAQ TONS of Information

We have just a few more things on our Amazon Wish list that would make this a sweet success. Thank you to all who have already donated!  Please give it a look : ICS Station Wish list

 🍭 - High on the wishlist - The Small Bags for all the treasures at the stations, so you have free hands and pockets.

Dum Dum Lollipops for the Lollipop pull station - These do not have to be bought on Amazon but in order to have the station, we need them.

We are always seeking more Sponsors and Raffle prizes. Fundraising@aaopencc.org 

Sponsors: Businesses - Please email Aleah to include your logo so we can properly display it and Thank You.

Proud Panda's: You do not have to email Aleah if you don't want to. We will display our 🐼 in your honor and we Thank you so much!

Raffle Prizes: Please email me, so I keep a record of how many tables Aleah will need.

Ideas: Gift baskets, Coffee/Tea, Gift cards, things teens like, things younger panda's like, classes, sky's the limit.  

Thank You and we hope to see you at the 2026 Ice Cream Social.

Seeking volunteers to get involved with the AAOCC next year!

As we look toward the 2026-27 school year, we'll be electing new AAOCC Executive Board members. Terms are ending this spring (or have already ended) for the Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Co-Chair, and Fundraising Co-Chair. We are also seeking people to serve as PTOC liaison and in several support roles.

Are you interested? Or even just a tiny bit curious? Current Executive Board members will hold two informal sessions where you can learn more and ask questions about these roles. We're also ready to help with the transition as we move into the next school year! If you are interested in a position but cannot attend tomorrow's session and want to learn more, please e-mail execboard@aaopencc.org and we can find an alternative time to talk.

Thanks!

The AAOCC

Lost and Found will be in the pool lobby during ICS.  

Last chance to come find your lost items (or find some new-to-you items that have gone unclaimed!) before it all gets donated to charitable organizations.

All items will be donated after the ICS event

Big thanks to Amanda H. and all the parents who have helped curate the lost and found items throughout this year.

From the District:

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Health and Wellbeing

Get Help with Community Resources through the Healthy Neighborhoods Team.

Substance Abuse Program for Adolescents: Catholic Charities Intensive Outpatient Program

Thrive Counseling FREE Summer Drop in Dungeons and Dragons Groups

Free Medications for Eligible Individuals: Dispensary of Hope

Summer Programming

Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

All May: Mental Health Awareness Month Events from U-M Medical School

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, June 2, 2026

8th Grade Graduation - Friday, June 5, 2026 (1:30pm - 3:30pm)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (CORRECTION - DISMISSAL at 10:50 - Lunch Provided)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           May 22, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another great week at Ann Arbor Open! As always, we hope that your weekend is full of peaceful moments. Here are some notes for the week.

Cultural and Historical Heritage Months Celebrated in May

Bartering Benefit

        On Friday, May 29th, we’ll be hosting our annual 5/6 Bartering Benefit.  Kids are working alone or in small groups to create something to barter for donations for Food Gatherers.  We’ll be collecting items each morning for kids to get bartering bucks to use at the Bartering Benefit.  Here are the details.

Message about Staffing from Krista and Dr. B

There is currently nothing to share about staffing for next year. This time of year brings about  a lot of moving pieces not only in our building, but also at the district level.  We are having regular staffing meetings with the district leadership, and we will keep you posted when we are able to.  There are no final decisions at this time to share.  

AAOCC

AAO Community—Ice Cream Social is almost here! 🎉🍦

What’s your favorite part of the night—the games, food trucks, music, raffles, or just the overall buzz of it all? Whatever it is, you can help make it happen!

We’re looking for volunteers to jump in for a quick 45-minute shift and keep the fun running smoothly. It’s a small time commitment that makes a big difference (and you still get plenty of time to enjoy the event!).

If you want to explore all the options, you can browse everything here:  AAO Ice Cream Social Volunteer Sign-Up

If you already have a favorite spot in mind, sign up directly for that activity!

Our Ice Cream Social stations can use a little boost. We put together a wishlist of a few items that would be a great help. Items do NOT have to be purchased from this link. If you can find them locally, that would be great too. I thank you in advance.

Ice Cream Social Station Wishlist

In addition we will be seeking donations of :

2 liters - Approx 100- 150 or so, a Mix of flavors and juices but 2 liters shaped for the ring ross please

Baked goods- Cookies, Brownies,donuts, cake slices, ( Gluten free, Allergy friendly is always appreciated as well )  The baked goods would need to be dropped off on June 2, 2026.

Thank You for all your help in making this a sweet success!

Dear AAO Families,

We’re excited to invite you to one of our favorite community events of the year—the AAO Ice Cream Social on June 2 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm!

Join us for an evening of live music, food trucks, games, raffles, and time together as a community. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly event designed for all ages.

🎶 Live Music
Come rock out with local bands featuring AAO students & alumni: South 7, North of Nowhere, and The Juice Boxes

🍕🌮🍦 Food Trucks
Vegano Italiano, Tru Food Pizza Truck (dedicated gluten free), Tacos El Mariachi Loco, Mean Weanie, Goodie Ice Cream, Kona Ice, and Travelin’ Tom’s

🎟️ Raffles, Games & Activities
Fun for kids, families, and friends throughout the evening!

🪑 Blankets & Lawn Chairs Welcome
Bring something to sit on and settle in for music, food, and community time.

Get Involved

✔ Buy Tickets
AAO Ice Cream Social Tickets

✔ Volunteer
We still need help to make this event happen smoothly!
Volunteer Sign-Up

We hope to see you there for a fun, easygoing evening with friends, food, and music!

Warmly,
AAO Coordinating Council

Seeking volunteers to get involved with the AAOCC next year!

As we look toward the 2026-27 school year, we'll be electing new AAOCC Executive Board members. Terms are ending this spring (or have already ended) for the Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Co-Chair, and Fundraising Co-Chair. We are also seeking people to serve as PTOC liaison and in several support roles.

Are you interested? Or even just a tiny bit curious? Current Executive Board members will hold two informal sessions where you can learn more and ask questions about these roles. We're also ready to help with the transition as we move into the next school year! If you are interested in a position but cannot attend tomorrow's session and want to learn more, please e-mail execboard@aaopencc.org and we can find an alternative time to talk.

Thanks!

The AAOCC

From Deb:

Congratulations to our students who had work selected for our end of the year art show! 30 students were featured and here are photos of a few. Stay tuned for Y5 - 6th grade Art Portfolios coming home soon. Self portraits will be taped inside. Collect each year's self portrait and see a rainbow of artistic growth. This has been a wonderful year of seeing our kids inspire each other to grow.

Let's finish strong,

Deb

From the City:

The City of Ann Arbor has authorized Tanner Excavating, to conduct water and sanitary lead work for 725 Brooks St, will require a road closure on Brooks, between Summit and Hiscock starting May 13 through May 22, 2026.

 

School buses will still be able to access Ann Arbor Open Mack school East parking lot from Hiscock and Miller.

A vehicle traffic detour is planned around Miller Ave, Miner St and Summit St.

image001 (1).png

From the District: 

Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Parent Advisory Group are excited to welcome Kao Kalia Yang for a virtual author talk to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. On Friday, May 29 1:30 PM, award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang will join us to read her children's book, A Home on the Page. She'll also answer a few questions from our audience. See more information below and register at https://forms.gle/Jdg4zppPRbKuR3Uw5 to receive the Zoom information for the talk.

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Health and Wellbeing

Get Help with Community Resources through the Healthy Neighborhoods Team.

Substance Abuse Program for Adolescents: Catholic Charities Intensive Outpatient Program

Thrive Counseling FREE Summer Drop in Dungeons and Dragons Groups

Free Medications for Eligible Individuals: Dispensary of Hope

Summer Programming

Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

All May: Mental Health Awareness Month Events from U-M Medical School

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, June 2, 2026

8th Grade Graduation - Friday, June 5, 2026 (2pm - 4pm)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (DISMISSAL at 10:50)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           May 15, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another great week here at Ann Arbor Open, and I think that the warm weather is on the way! We want to take a moment and thank you all for the things you do to make this such a wonderful place. Ann Arbor Open is truly special.  As always, we hope that your weekend is full of peaceful moments. Here are some notes for the week.

Cultural and Historical Heritage Months Celebrated in May

Bartering Benefit

        On Friday, May 29th, we’ll be hosting our annual 5/6 Bartering Benefit.  Kids are working alone or in small groups to create something to barter for donations for Food Gatherers.  We’ll be collecting items each morning for kids to get bartering bucks to use at the Bartering Benefit.  Here are the details.

Message about Staffing from Krista and Dr. B

There is currently nothing to share about staffing for next year. This time of year brings about  a lot of moving pieces not only in our building, but also at the district level.  We are having regular staffing meetings with the district leadership, and we will keep you posted when we are able to.  There are no final decisions at this time to share.  

AAOCC

Dear AAO Families,

We’re excited to invite you to one of our favorite community events of the year—the AAO Ice Cream Social on June 2 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm!

Join us for an evening of live music, food trucks, games, raffles, and time together as a community. It’s a relaxed, family-friendly event designed for all ages.

🎶 Live Music
Come rock out with local bands featuring AAO students & alumni: South 7, North of Nowhere, and The Juice Boxes

🍕🌮🍦 Food Trucks
Vegano Italiano, Tru Food Pizza Truck (dedicated gluten free), Tacos El Mariachi Loco, Mean Weanie, Goodie Ice Cream, Kona Ice, and Travelin’ Tom’s

🎟️ Raffles, Games & Activities
Fun for kids, families, and friends throughout the evening!

🪑 Blankets & Lawn Chairs Welcome
Bring something to sit on and settle in for music, food, and community time.

Get Involved

✔ Buy Tickets
AAO Ice Cream Social Tickets

✔ Volunteer
We still need help to make this event happen smoothly!
Volunteer Sign-Up

We hope to see you there for a fun, easygoing evening with friends, food, and music!

Warmly,
AAO Coordinating Council

Seeking volunteers to get involved with the AAOCC next year!

As we look toward the 2026-27 school year, we'll be electing new AAOCC Executive Board members. Terms are ending this spring (or have already ended) for the Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Co-Chair, and Fundraising Co-Chair. We are also seeking people to serve as PTOC liaison and in several support roles.

Are you interested? Or even just a tiny bit curious? Current Executive Board members will hold two informal sessions where you can learn more and ask questions about these roles. We're also ready to help with the transition as we move into the next school year! If you are interested in a position but cannot attend tomorrow's session and want to learn more, please e-mail execboard@aaopencc.org and we can find an alternative time to talk.

Thanks!

The AAOCC

From the City:

The City of Ann Arbor has authorized Tanner Excavating, to conduct water and sanitary lead work for 725 Brooks St, will require a road closure on Brooks, between Summit and Hiscock starting May 13 through May 22, 2026.

 

School buses will still be able to access Ann Arbor Open Mack school East parking lot from Hiscock and Miller.

A vehicle traffic detour is planned around Miller Ave, Miner St and Summit St.

image001 (1).png

From the District: 

Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Asian Pacific Islander South Asian American Parent Advisory Group are excited to welcome Kao Kalia Yang for a virtual author talk to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month. On Friday, May 29 1:30 PM, award-winning author Kao Kalia Yang will join us to read her children's book, A Home on the Page. She'll also answer a few questions from our audience. See more information below and register at https://forms.gle/Jdg4zppPRbKuR3Uw5 to receive the Zoom information for the talk.

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Health and Wellbeing

Get Help with Community Resources through the Healthy Neighborhoods Team.

Substance Abuse Program for Adolescents: Catholic Charities Intensive Outpatient Program

Thrive Counseling FREE Summer Drop in Dungeons and Dragons Groups

Free Medications for Eligible Individuals: Dispensary of Hope

Summer Programming

Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

All May: Mental Health Awareness Month Events from U-M Medical School

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, May 19, 2026 (7-8PM)

https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/81432592679

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

Ice Cream Social - Tuesday, June 2, 2026

8th Grade Graduation - Friday, June 5, 2026 (2pm - 4pm)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 9, 2026 (DISMISSAL at 10:50)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           April 10, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

We hope that you all had a wonderful and relaxing spring break and congratulations to all of our Wolverines out there! Students and teachers have worked really hard to get back into the flow this week. Next week will be wet and soggy, so it seems as if April showers are upon us. Here are some notes for the week.

National Arab American Heritage Month

National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) is celebrated throughout April to honor the rich culture, history, and contributions of the diverse Arab American community.

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a global initiative dedicated to fostering inclusion, celebrating neurodiversity, and moving beyond awareness toward meaningful acceptance. It highlights the need for better support, services, and opportunities for autistic individuals, rather than just knowledge of the diagnosis.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting was March 3...check out the website for more details!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Makers Market

Mark your calendars! The Makers Market is tomorrow - April 11, from 12-4pm, in AAO's Gym (enter though the Pool Lobby)!

What will be there??? All of these amazing things!!

There will also be a sports swap. Donate items you've outgrown and take items you need!

If you have questions, please email Sarah at fundraising@aaopencc.org. Can't wait to see you there!

*Student Council Fun Days*

Friday, April 17th - Dress Wacky Day (silly, colorful, backwards, fancy)

Friday, May 8 - Dress like your Favorite Character Day (book, movies, TV show, comic book, game)

More from the AAOCC:

From the District: 

MYSI (Michigan Youth Sports Initiative)

MYSI's goal is to promote, fund, and coach youth sports in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor areas.

Host: University of Michigan AIAA Student Branch (Aerospace Engineering student organization

Event: Aerospace Day features hands-on activities, projects, and experience live-demos from all of our aerospace project teams and student organizations on campus. The day is broken up into sessions that the students get to rotate through, each hosted by a different organization. The sessions are broken up into two types, aiming at either a younger audience (K-6) or an older audience (6-12), and the students get to choose which session rotation group that they would like to be a part of when checking in to the event. Some examples of activities from previous years are build-your-own hovercraft, model rocket competitions, aerospace coding crash courses, and so much more. The Director of Research and Engineering at NASA Glenn will give the opening keynote remarks to kick off the day, and he will be a part of the Q&A panel with UM faculty, students, and other industry professionals to close out the day.

Invitees: Grades K-12. Students under 16 years old must have at least one guardian with them at all times. Lunch will be provided, and noted allergies or dietary restrictions can be accommodated if informed.

Date: April 18th, from 9 AM to 4 PM

Location: 1320 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Makers Market - Saturday, April 11, 2026

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, April 17, 2026 @8:15

Book Madness - Thursday, April 30, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           March 27, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Happy Spring Break! We hope that you get a chance to take a deep breath, sleep in, and have some fun next week. Here are some notes for the week.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women all throughout the nation’s history.The 2026 national theme for Women’s History Month is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

This week in Women’s History:

2026/2027 Parent Input Form is Due April 10th!

https://forms.gle/gUY4gLSzC29UiN9KA

1. This form is not required but is helpful for staffing and scheduling purposes.

2. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: Multiple staff members (Teachers, Admins, OPs) may view this information, please consider this when you respond.

3. Principals use the form over the summer to balance and adjust classes to meet contractual obligations.  Informal requests or conversations with staff/teachers cannot be taken into consideration, if not also indicated on this form.

4. While we will make every effort to consider information received after the due date of APRIL 10th,  it may be too late to honor requests.

A2 Class Placement Policy:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HyTrhebemKDWkXIVe8sPYWRCsxBwf2_D/view?usp=share_link

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting was March 3...check out the website for more details!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Makers Market

Mark your calendars! The Makers Market is coming up in a few weeks - April 11, from 12-4pm, in AAO's gym!!!

What will you find there?

To sign up for a music gig, go here!

Can't wait to see you all there!

From Jennifer:

The AAO Chickens are now laying eggs regularly!  If you would like a half dozen for $3.50 (or a dozen for $7) please sign up and I will contact you when it is your turn! 🐓. Please respond within 3 days to the email so we can keep fresh eggs moving! You can pay cash or check payable to the AAOCC or use the donor box at https://donorbox.org/2023-2024-chickens.  Any additional contributions are always welcome!

Here is the link for the Google form:  https://forms.gle/hh8cfEjkjesLkJSz8

From Anne:

Students had the opportunity to hear some wonderful stories during their time in the Library. Ask your child which book was shared with them during their time.

From the District: 

MYSI (Michigan Youth Sports Initiative)

MYSI's goal is to promote, fund, and coach youth sports in the Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor areas.

Host: University of Michigan AIAA Student Branch (Aerospace Engineering student organization

Event: Aerospace Day features hands-on activities, projects, and experience live-demos from all of our aerospace project teams and student organizations on campus. The day is broken up into sessions that the students get to rotate through, each hosted by a different organization. The sessions are broken up into two types, aiming at either a younger audience (K-6) or an older audience (6-12), and the students get to choose which session rotation group that they would like to be a part of when checking in to the event. Some examples of activities from previous years are build-your-own hovercraft, model rocket competitions, aerospace coding crash courses, and so much more. The Director of Research and Engineering at NASA Glenn will give the opening keynote remarks to kick off the day, and he will be a part of the Q&A panel with UM faculty, students, and other industry professionals to close out the day.

Invitees: Grades K-12. Students under 16 years old must have at least one guardian with them at all times. Lunch will be provided, and noted allergies or dietary restrictions can be accommodated if informed.

Date: April 18th, from 9 AM to 4 PM

Location: 1320 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

Makers Market - Saturday, April 11, 2026

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, April 17, 2026 @8:15

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           March 20, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Another great week at AA Open, and we only have one more until Spring Break. We should see some sun on Sunday, so take advantage of it! As always, please remember to grab some moments of peace and relaxation. Here are some notes for the week.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women all throughout the nation’s history.The 2026 national theme for Women’s History Month is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

This week in Women’s History:

We will have many activities celebrating this month here at AA Open

2026/2027 Parent Input Form is Due April 10th!

https://forms.gle/gUY4gLSzC29UiN9KA

1. This form is not required but is helpful for staffing and scheduling purposes.

2. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: Multiple staff members (Teachers, Admins, OPs) may view this information, please consider this when you respond.

3. Principals use the form over the summer to balance and adjust classes to meet contractual obligations.  Informal requests or conversations with staff/teachers cannot be taken into consideration, if not also indicated on this form.

4. While we will make every effort to consider information received after the due date of APRIL 10th,  it may be too late to honor requests.

A2 Class Placement Policy:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HyTrhebemKDWkXIVe8sPYWRCsxBwf2_D/view?usp=share_link

This Upcoming Tuesday!

Zoom Link: https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/86598835037

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting was March 3...check out the website for more details!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

April 11, 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. If you’ve been thinking about signing up, now’s the time! We have 7 full-table slots, or 14 half-table slots available. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here!

New this year will be live music in the pool lobby! If you have a student (or know of anyone else) interested in playing in public for a short time, please sign up here! If you need help, please email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

From Jennifer:

The AAO Chickens are now laying eggs regularly!  If you would like a half dozen for $3.50 (or a dozen for $7) please sign up and I will contact you when it is your turn! 🐓. Please respond within 3 days to the email so we can keep fresh eggs moving! You can pay cash or check payable to the AAOCC or use the donor box at https://donorbox.org/2023-2024-chickens.  Any additional contributions are always welcome!

Here is the link for the Google form:  https://forms.gle/hh8cfEjkjesLkJSz8

From the District: 

Host: University of Michigan AIAA Student Branch (Aerospace Engineering student organization

Event: Aerospace Day features hands-on activities, projects, and experience live-demos from all of our aerospace project teams and student organizations on campus. The day is broken up into sessions that the students get to rotate through, each hosted by a different organization. The sessions are broken up into two types, aiming at either a younger audience (K-6) or an older audience (6-12), and the students get to choose which session rotation group that they would like to be a part of when checking in to the event. Some examples of activities from previous years are build-your-own hovercraft, model rocket competitions, aerospace coding crash courses, and so much more. The Director of Research and Engineering at NASA Glenn will give the opening keynote remarks to kick off the day, and he will be a part of the Q&A panel with UM faculty, students, and other industry professionals to close out the day.

Invitees: Grades K-12. Students under 16 years old must have at least one guardian with them at all times. Lunch will be provided, and noted allergies or dietary restrictions can be accommodated if informed.

Date: April 18th, from 9 AM to 4 PM

Location: 1320 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Career Opportunities for High School Students

Interested in Engineering or Computer Science? Pair with a Mentor from GEECS UMICH!

 SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens

Summer Programming
Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

Makers Market - Saturday, April 11, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           March 13, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

I am not sure what is happening with the weather but we had another great week at AA Open. We should see some sun on Sunday, so take advantage of it! As always, please remember to grab some moments of peace and relaxation. Here are some notes for the week.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women all throughout the nation’s history.The 2026 national theme for Women’s History Month is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

This week in Women’s History:

We will have many activities celebrating this month here at AA Open

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Student Council News

Food Gatherers Item and Money Collection!

Ann Arbor Open will be participating in the 2026 Rotary Food Gatherers drive.  The 2026 drive will include collecting nonperishable food at participating AAPS buildings. Food donations are always appreciated and provide an excellent way to involve our students in this vital effort. Boxes are by the main entrances  to the building and in the pool lobby.

 

Another option is to make financial donations, as Food Gatherers are able to use their bulk buying power to efficiently distribute more food in our community. For every $5 donated, Food Gatherers can provide 10 meals to our hungry neighbors.

 

Here is the link to our AAO team page for financial donations:

https://give.foodgatherers.org/teams/26224-ann-arbor-open?ref=1

The program will run from Monday, March 9th to Friday, March 20th and focus on raising money with the goal of providing more than 100,0062 meals to beat our 2025 performance.  

From the AAOCC: Spirit Wear

Dear Ann Arbor Open Families,

Our Spring Ann Arbor Open Spirit Wear Sale is officially open!

If you’ve been waiting to stock up on A2O gear for the warmer months—or grab a few favorites to show your school pride—now is the perfect time. The online store is open now through March 11 at midnight.

You can browse and place your order here:
https://annarboropen.itemorder.com/

All orders will be delivered before spring break, so students can head into the break in style!

Thank you for supporting our school community, and we can’t wait to see everyone sporting their Ann Arbor Open gear this spring.

Warmly,
Ann Arbor Open Coordinating Council

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting was March 3...check out the website for more details!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Makers Market Update! We still have space for more vendors with a little less than a month until the event date (April 11, 12-4pm in AAO’s gym). If you’ve been thinking about signing up, now’s the time! We have 7 full-table slots, or 14 half-table slots available. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here!

New this year will be live music in the pool lobby! If you have a student (or know of anyone else) interested in playing in public for a short time, please sign up here!

**For those wondering what the heck this event is, think Artisan Market or Art Fair meets Farmers Market! A place to sell your creative imaginings. Most of the vendors are students, a few are grown-ups. If you need help, please email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

From Jennifer:

Chicken Care Needed:  Fabulous Open families - the AAO Chickens are in need of care for Spring Break (3/27 - 4/5).  If you are able and interested in helping to care for them, please use the following link to sign up.  There are 3 slots for that week, so the work can be divided between multiple families.  If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us.  Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4EA4A72EA13-61112907-aaochickens

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Winter Clothing and Basic Needs

Children’s Hats and Gloves Giveaway

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health’s Nutrition Buddies Program 

 

Support Your Loved One Struggling with Their Mental Health

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Career Opportunities for High School Students

Interested in Engineering or Computer Science? Pair with a Mentor from GEECS UMICH!

 SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens


Summer Programming


Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

Sun March 8th, 2-4pm: Bus Pass Workshop for Middle and High School Students

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

Makers Market - Saturday, April 11, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

NO SCHOOL - Monday, May 25, 2026 (Memorial Day)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           March 6, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Welcome to March. The weather should be pretty good this weekend, so get outside if you can. Spring is on the way!  As always, please remember to grab some moments of peace and relaxation. Here are some notes for the week.

Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration in the United States that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of women all throughout the nation’s history.The 2026 national theme for Women’s History Month is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

March is Reading Month

March is National Reading Month, a nationwide initiative aimed at fostering a love of reading, improving literacy, and encouraging daily reading habits for all ages.

We will have many activities celebrating this month here at AA Open

Trivia: See if you an guess Dr. B’s two favorite childhood books!

Book 1: Takes place in Florida and involves a supermarket, fear of thunderstorms, and the distinct ability to “smile.”

Book 2: Jazz plays a significant role, you have to make sure you follow the “rules,” and music has the ability to connect friends and family.

If you know either of these books, let Dr. B know. What is your favorite book?

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Student Council News

Food Gatherers Item and Money Collection!

Ann Arbor Open will be participating in the 2026 Rotary Food Gatherers drive.  The 2026 drive will include collecting nonperishable food at participating AAPS buildings. Food donations are always appreciated and provide an excellent way to involve our students in this vital effort. Boxes are by the main entrances  to the building and in the pool lobby.

 

Another option is to make financial donations, as Food Gatherers are able to use their bulk buying power to efficiently distribute more food in our community. For every $5 donated, Food Gatherers can provide 10 meals to our hungry neighbors.

 

Here is the link to our AAO team page for financial donations:

https://give.foodgatherers.org/teams/26224-ann-arbor-open?ref=1

The program will run from Monday, March 9th to Friday, March 20th and focus on raising money with the goal of providing more than 100,0062 meals to beat our 2025 performance.  

From the AAOCC: Spirit Wear

Dear Ann Arbor Open Families,

Our Spring Ann Arbor Open Spirit Wear Sale is officially open!

If you’ve been waiting to stock up on A2O gear for the warmer months—or grab a few favorites to show your school pride—now is the perfect time. The online store is open now through March 11 at midnight.

You can browse and place your order here:
https://annarboropen.itemorder.com/

All orders will be delivered before spring break, so students can head into the break in style!

Thank you for supporting our school community, and we can’t wait to see everyone sporting their Ann Arbor Open gear this spring.

Warmly,
Ann Arbor Open Coordinating Council

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting is scheduled for March 3...check out the website for more details and a meeting link!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Saturday, April 11 (Backup date is April 18), from 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here!  Can’t wait to see you there!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

From Jennifer:

Chicken Care Needed:  Fabulous Open families - the AAO Chickens are in need of care for Spring Break (3/27 - 4/5).  If you are able and interested in helping to care for them, please use the following link to sign up.  There are 3 slots for that week, so the work can be divided between multiple families.  If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us.  Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4EA4A72EA13-61112907-aaochickens

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Winter Clothing and Basic Needs

Children’s Hats and Gloves Giveaway

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health’s Nutrition Buddies Program 

 

Support Your Loved One Struggling with Their Mental Health

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Career Opportunities for High School Students

Interested in Engineering or Computer Science? Pair with a Mentor from GEECS UMICH!

 SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens


Summer Programming


Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

Sun March 8th, 2-4pm: Bus Pass Workshop for Middle and High School Students

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           February 27, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

We have had another great week here at Open. There will be a few moments of sunshine this weekend, so grab some if you can. Spring is on the way!  As always, please remember to grab some moments of peace and relaxation. Here are some notes for the week.

Black History Month           March is Reading Month

We are rounding out Black History Month, and students, families, and staff have done a wonderful job embracing the celebrations and sharing of knowledge. We now turn our attention to March is Reading month!

We will have many activities celebrating this month here at AA Open

Trivia: See if you an guess Dr. B’s two favorite childhood books!

Book 1: Takes place in Florida and involves a supermarket, fear of thunderstorms, and the distinct ability to “smile.”

Book 2: Jazz plays a significant role, you have to make sure you follow the “rules,” and music has the ability to connect friends and family.

If you know either of these books, let Dr. B know. What is your favorite book?

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Maker Fair

What a great event this was! The creativity and time put into this event was on display this week. Students, families, and teachers should be proud of all the work that students did.

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting is scheduled for March 3...check out the website for more details and a meeting link!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Saturday, April 11 (Backup date is April 18), from 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here!  Can’t wait to see you there!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

From Jennifer:

Chicken Care Needed:  Fabulous Open families - the AAO Chickens are in need of care for Spring Break (3/27 - 4/5).  If you are able and interested in helping to care for them, please use the following link to sign up.  There are 3 slots for that week, so the work can be divided between multiple families.  If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us.  Thank you!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0D4EA4A72EA13-61112907-aaochickens

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Winter Clothing and Basic Needs

Children’s Hats and Gloves Giveaway

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health’s Nutrition Buddies Program 

 

Support Your Loved One Struggling with Their Mental Health

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Career Opportunities for High School Students

Interested in Engineering or Computer Science? Pair with a Mentor from GEECS UMICH!

 SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens


Summer Programming


Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

Sun March 8th, 2-4pm: Bus Pass Workshop for Middle and High School Students

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           February 20, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful (short) week we have had! Let’s hope we get to see some more of the sun this weekend. As always, please remember to grab some moments of peace and relaxation. Here are some notes for the week, many of which are repeated from the previous newsletters.  

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in African-American history, before it spread to other countries where it could celebrate black people worldwide. It initially lasted a week before becoming a month-long observation in 1970.

BHM Assembly

We had the pleasure of having some assemblies to continue our celebration of Black History Month. Our latest assembly celebrated the influential contributions of the African American community by highlighting how dance has played a significant role in shaping cultural and societal norms throughout the years.

Christina Marie Sears, who is a talented dancer with experience working in the Ann Arbor community as a Rec-n-Ed dance instructor, led the assembly.

Drop Off Reminder along Brooks

We are hearing concerns from some residents along Brooks that they are witnessing unsafe student drop offs in the middle of the road and frequently their driveways are blocked by waiting cars.

Please help support our school by being a good neighbor to the residents along this side of Open. Please always drop off your students by pulling legally along the curb and not in the middle of the road.

We appreciate your attention to these concerns.

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Science and Maker Fair and the Book Fair will be Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 6-8pm.

Below is a letter with more information about this wonderful event.

https://bit.ly/aoosciencemakerfairparentletter

ICE CREAM SOCIAL IS COMING…

The AAOCC is excited for this year's Ice Cream Social! You can learn about all things ICS by going to https://www.aaopencc.org/community/ICS. This site is for AAO families so you will need to set up your AAOCC website account if you haven't done so yet.

Our initial Planning and Volunteer Meeting is scheduled for March 3...check out the website for more details and a meeting link!

If you have any questions, please email Amanda Jennings (volunteer@aaopencc.org).

From Deb:

Congratulations Artists and Families!

Artwork by these creative pandas is currently on display at WCC alongside work from numerous districts in our surrounding area. See the flyer below for more information.

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Saturday, April 11 (Backup date is April 18), from 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here! Can’t wait to see you there!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Please see below for information and a flyer sponsored by Tau Beta Pi Society at UoM for a free, hands-on engineering event for 3-5 graders next month.

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Public Benefits Assistance

Need Help Getting Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Health Care Coverage?

Winter Clothing and Basic Needs

Children’s Hats and Gloves Giveaway

Need Diapers?

There are several places in the Ypsilanti area where families can go to get diapers.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

FREE Weekly Online Tutoring, GED and ACT/SAT Help by College Students

**AAPS is sharing this resource as an information item. AAPS does not vouch for the quality of this service. Parents should use their judgment when deciding if this service is right for their child.**

Health and Wellbeing

WCC Dental Clinic

Trinity Health’s Nutrition Buddies Program 

 

Support Your Loved One Struggling with Their Mental Health

Trinity Health Healthy Families Program

Career Opportunities for High School Students

Interested in Engineering or Computer Science? Pair with a Mentor from GEECS UMICH!

 SummerWorks Summer Internship Program for Teens


Summer Programming


Looking for Low Cost Camps, Activities, Scholarships and Resources?

Check out this summer activity document put together by members of the Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth (WACY) and will be updated continually as information becomes available.

Upcoming Events

Sun March 8th, 2-4pm: Bus Pass Workshop for Middle and High School Students

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (Election Day)

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Thursday, May 14, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           February 12, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful week we have had, with many events happening around the building. We want to thank all those that had an opportunity to visit us for NAAPID, our 100’s Day Celebration, or our screening of “A Letter to the West Side.” With this extended break, it is important to rest and recharge. Here are some notes for the week.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in African-American history, before it spread to other countries where it could celebrate black people worldwide. It initially lasted a week before becoming a month-long observation in 1970.

BHM Assembly

We had the pleasure of having some assemblies to continue our celebration of Black History Month. These assemblies included performances from the jazz band, orchestra, and the choir! There were also readings and poems shared from past and present important figures. The students were a great audience, and it was a great way to end our week and head into break.

Drop Off Reminder along Brooks

We are hearing concerns from some residents along Brooks that they are witnessing unsafe student drop offs in the middle of the road and frequently their driveways are blocked by waiting cars.

Please help support our school by being a good neighbor to the residents along this side of Open. Please always drop off your students by pulling legally along the curb and not in the middle of the road.

We appreciate your attention to these concerns.

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Science and Maker Fair and the Book Fair will be Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 6-8pm.

Below is a letter with more information about this wonderful event.

https://bit.ly/aoosciencemakerfairparentletter

From Tom’s ¾ Class:

The Ann Arbor Open Animal Service wants your Donations to Help Homeless Pets!

Until Feb 20, we are taking donations in Tom’s Room before 8:30 and after 2:45

Most Needed Items for the Humane Society: Towels, Blankets, Cat and Dog Food, Dog Treats

Full List:

Thank you!

Love, The Homeless Pets

From the AAOCC:

Hello all!

For several years, the AAOCC could reach everyone in the school using AAPS software. We no longer have access to that, so we will be communicating via Membership Toolkit. You must sign up to receive communications. If you have not already registered, please do so! We want to make sure to keep everyone in the loop about the AAOCC; ways to support our school's teachers, staff, and students; and events that help build our amazing community.

It's easy! Go to www.aaopencc.org. Click "Register/Login" on the left side of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

From Deb:

Congratulations Artists and Families!

Artwork by these creative pandas is currently on display at WCC alongside work from numerous districts in our surrounding area. See the flyer below for more information.

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Saturday, April 11 (NEW DATE! Backup date is April 18), from 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here! (please ignore the date on the header for now...) Can’t wait to see you there!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Please see below for information and a flyer sponsored by Tau Beta Pi Society at UoM for a free, hands-on engineering event for 3-5 graders next month.

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Heat and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter?
There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4pw2IwJ

Health and Wellbeing

Free Virtual Workshops: Cooking with Plants

WCC Dental Clinic

Annual U-M Give Kids a Smile Day: Feb 14, 2026

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

½ Day of School (Report Card Writing) - Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Dismissal at 11:15

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Report Cards Sent Home - Friday, March 20, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Spring Break Begins - Friday, March 27, 2026 (Break begins at the end of the day)

School Resumes - Monday, April 6, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           February 6, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful week we have had, with many events happening around the building. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with one another, share some laughs, and grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month, an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in African-American history, before it spread to other countries where it could celebrate black people worldwide. It initially lasted a week before becoming a month-long observation in 1970.

Drop Off Reminder along Brooks

We are hearing concerns from some residents along Brooks that they are witnessing unsafe student drop offs in the middle of the road and frequently their driveways are blocked by waiting cars.

Please help support our school by being a good neighbor to the residents along this side of Open. Please always drop off your students by pulling legally along the curb and not in the middle of the road.

We appreciate your attention to these concerns.

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

NAAPID

National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is Monday, February 9, 2026!

Started in 1995 by Roberto Clemente Founding Principal Joe Dulin as a way to get more African American parents involved in the educational journey of their children, we welcome all parents to our schools in an effort to showcase our learning communities on NAAPID. Please take a look at the flyer below, and mark your calendars!

Science and Maker Fair and the Book Fair will be Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 6-8pm.

Below is a letter with more information about this wonderful event.

https://bit.ly/aoosciencemakerfairparentletter

From Tom’s ¾ Class:

The Ann Arbor Open Animal Service wants your Donations to Help Homeless Pets!

Until Feb 20, we are taking donations in Tom’s Room before 8:30 and after 2:45

Most Needed Items for the Humane Society: Towels, Blankets, Cat and Dog Food, Dog Treats

Full List:

Thank you!

Love, The Homeless Pets

From the AAOCC:

Hello all!

For several years, the AAOCC could reach everyone in the school using AAPS software. We no longer have access to that, so we will be communicating via Membership Toolkit. You must sign up to receive communications. If you have not already registered, please do so! We want to make sure to keep everyone in the loop about the AAOCC; ways to support our school's teachers, staff, and students; and events that help build our amazing community.

It's easy! Go to www.aaopencc.org. Click "Register/Login" on the left side of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

From Deb:

Congratulations Artists and Families!

Artwork by these creative pandas is currently on display at WCC alongside work from numerous districts in our surrounding area. See the flyer below for more information.

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Saturday, April 11 (NEW DATE! Backup date is April 18), from 12-4pm in AAO’s gym. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! For more information and to sign up, go here! (please ignore the date on the header for now...) Can’t wait to see you there!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

AA Open - Ubuntu Communities Presents the Screening of “A Letter to the West Side.”

In collaboration with the Community Leadership Council (https://www.a2gov.org/.../community-leadership-council-clc/) Ubuntu Communities will host a free screening of "A Letter to the West Side." The screening will be held in the Ann Arbor Open School Auditorium on Wednesday, February 11. The film will begin promptly at 7pm with a run time of (1hr 45min). We are excited to share this screening especially for those who have no idea about this very important piece of Ann Arbor's history. There is some reconciliation to be found in this story by community members being aware. A shared understanding of community history is important. In this film's story we have a "tribute to the past, present, and future of the West Side."

Please RSVP here -  https://forms.gle/H1rhmKwsAs3w5zSeA

Please see below for information and a flyer sponsored by Tau Beta Pi Society at UoM for a free, hands-on engineering event for 3-5 graders next month.

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Heat and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter?
There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4pw2IwJ

Health and Wellbeing

Free Virtual Workshops: Cooking with Plants

WCC Dental Clinic

Annual U-M Give Kids a Smile Day: Feb 14, 2026

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

Coffee with the Principals - Monday, February 9, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (7PM) https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/83772415799

NAEP Testing - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

A Letter to the West Side Screening - Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (7PM)

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           January 30, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

 

District Note

Drop Off Reminder along Brooks

We are hearing concerns from some residents along Brooks that they are witnessing unsafe student drop offs in the middle of the road and frequently their driveways are blocked by waiting cars.

Please help support our school by being a good neighbor to the residents along this side of Open. Please always drop off your students by pulling legally along the curb and not in the middle of the road.

We appreciate your attention to these concerns.

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

Global School Play Day

From Tori:

It's that time again! Global School Play Day takes place this year on Wednesday, February 4. 

If you have never heard of this event before, the idea is that classes take the day (or as much time as teachers can—GSPD is optional!) to play games, do crafts, and engage in other non-electronic fun together. Some folks choose to meet up with buddy classes or to work as grade level teams to offer different activity spaces. Teachers may reach out to families a week or two beforehand so that kids can decide what toys and activities to bring from home. The event website has lots of resources, particularly if you want to see some research about the benefits of play. Please reach out if you have questions!

NAAPID

National African American Parent Involvement Day (NAAPID) is Monday, February 9, 2026!

Started in 1995 by Roberto Clemente Founding Principal Joe Dulin as a way to get more African American parents involved in the educational journey of their children, we welcome all parents to our schools in an effort to showcase our learning communities on NAAPID. Mark your calendars, we will have more information in the coming weeks.

Science and Maker Fair and the Book Fair will be Thursday, February 26, 2026 from 6-8pm.

Below is a letter with more information about this wonderful event.

https://bit.ly/aoosciencemakerfairparentletter

From Tom’s ¾ Class:

The Ann Arbor Open Animal Service wants your Donations to Help Homeless Pets!

Until Feb 20, we are taking donations in Tom’s Room before 8:30 and after 2:45

Most Needed Items for the Humane Society: Towels, Blankets, Cat and Dog Food, Dog Treats

Full List:

Thank you!

Love, The Homeless Pets

From the AAOCC:

Hello all!

For several years, the AAOCC could reach everyone in the school using AAPS software. We no longer have access to that, so we will be communicating via Membership Toolkit. You must sign up to receive communications. If you have not already registered, please do so! We want to make sure to keep everyone in the loop about the AAOCC; ways to support our school's teachers, staff, and students; and events that help build our amazing community.

It's easy! Go to www.aaopencc.org. Click "Register/Login" on the left side of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

Milkshake Factory Fundraiser

Date: February 4, 2026

Time: 3:30pm - 9:30pm

Location: 326 South Maple Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (Westgate Shopping Center)

Chipotle Restaurant Night

Date: March 10, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 2295 West Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Panera Bread Fundraiser

Date: March 25, 2026

Time: 4:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: 140 South Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103

             

Makers Market

Calling all Makers and Bakers! The AAOCC is happy to announce our 2nd annual Makers Market (previously called the Art Market), taking place on Sunday, February 22nd, from 12-4pm at AAO. Anyone can participate - students, staff, parents, friends, grandparents…you name it! More information will be coming very soon!

**Got questions? Not sure what to make? Email fundraising@oopencc.org and we’ll happily answer them and support you in any way possible. Happy creating!!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

AA Open - Ubuntu Communities Presents the Screening of “A Letter to the West Side.”

In collaboration with the Community Leadership Council (https://www.a2gov.org/.../community-leadership-council-clc/) Ubuntu Communities will host a free screening of "A Letter to the West Side." The screening will be held in the Ann Arbor Open School Auditorium on Wednesday, February 11. The film will begin promptly at 7pm with a run time of (1hr 45min). We are excited to share this screening especially for those who have no idea about this very important piece of Ann Arbor's history. There is some reconciliation to be found in this story by community members being aware. A shared understanding of community history is important. In this film's story we have a "tribute to the past, present, and future of the West Side."

Please RSVP here -  https://forms.gle/H1rhmKwsAs3w5zSeA

Please see below for information and a flyer sponsored by Tau Beta Pi Society at UoM for a free, hands-on engineering event for 3-5 graders next month.

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Housing Support

Funding available for Ann Arbor residents facing eviction

Heat and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter?
There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm! Learn more here: https://bit.ly/4pw2IwJ

Health and Wellbeing

Free Virtual Workshops: Cooking with Plants

WCC Dental Clinic

Annual U-M Give Kids a Smile Day: Feb 14, 2026

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Career Opportunities for High School Students

FREE Energy Career Panel for Teens: Washtenaw County 4-H, Feb 4, 6:15-7:45pm  

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Winter Resources Support

Get help with winter clothing, gifts, or food during the colder months

Check out a2schools.org/wintergiving and select get help to find local resources.

Upcoming Events

Sat, Jan 31, 2026, 11am-3pm, 4135 Washtenaw Ave: Empower Your Finances Fair

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Global School Play Day - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Milkshake Factory Fundraiser - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (7PM) https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/83772415799

NAEP Testing - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

A Letter to the West Side Screening - Wednesday, February 11, 2026 (7PM)

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Another visit from Zero the Hero on Day 90!!

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           January 23, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

 

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

From Liz Margolis

We have moved the crossing guard to the new location at Red Oak and Miller. This is the preferred crossing location for student crossing. We are not planning on adding another crossing guard at MIller and Seventh because we believe it will be a duplication of service and we do not have any available funding to add crossing guards. Additionally, the Seventh/Miller has a crosswalk indicator,so that is helpful. We will continue to keep an eye on this area. Please remember that when exiting onto Miller from Red Oak, there is NO LEFT TURN. This allows afterschool traffic to clear out quickly. Thank you.

Global School Play Day

From Tori:

It's that time again! Global School Play Day takes place this year on Wednesday, February 4. 

If you have never heard of this event before, the idea is that classes take the day (or as much time as teachers can—GSPD is optional!) to play games, do crafts, and engage in other non-electronic fun together. Some folks choose to meet up with buddy classes or to work as grade level teams to offer different activity spaces. Teachers may reach out to families a week or two beforehand so that kids can decide what toys and activities to bring from home. The event website has lots of resources, particularly if you want to see some research about the benefits of play. Please reach out if you have questions!

From the AAOCC:

Hello all!

For several years, the AAOCC could reach everyone in the school using AAPS software. We no longer have access to that, so we will be communicating via Membership Toolkit. You must sign up to receive communications. If you have not already registered, please do so! We want to make sure to keep everyone in the loop about the AAOCC; ways to support our school's teachers, staff, and students; and events that help build our amazing community.

It's easy! Go to www.aaopencc.org. Click "Register/Login" on the left side of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

From Johnny T

Beetlejuice Audition and Tech Interest Sign Up

Greetings!  Johnny is excited to announce that it is time for Open's second production of the year: Beetlejuice Jr.!  She's also excited to introduce a guest musical director--Erin Goldman!

If you would like to audition or express an interest in participating on tech crew, please check out the link above and, if after reading the details, you're still interested, sign up by JANUARY 18-midnight.  This is a hard deadline and we CANNOT accept forms after this date.

Rehearsals for actors run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:30 pm beginning January 27 until our performance on Saturday, April 25, 2026

Those who indicate on the form that they will be auditioning will receive more detailed information on or before January 21.  Auditions will begin on Tuesday, January 27 immediately after school in the auditorium.  Those interested in tech crew will get a follow up email with more details the first week of February.  We look forward to starting this adventure!

From Rebecca

Dear Ann Arbor Open School Community,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a restful, joyful break and are feeling energized as we head into the second half of the school year.

As we begin 2026, I’m excited to share plans for a new and improved 7th/8th grade garden at Ann Arbor Open School. The garden has long been a special part of our learning community, and this year we are hoping to refresh and expand it as a hands-on space for science learning, environmental stewardship, collaboration, and connection to our food system.

Creating a thriving garden is truly a community effort, and we would love your support. Here is a Google Form where families can indicate if they are interested or able to help in any way. This might include donating materials, sharing gardening expertise, helping with planning, or lending a hand during build or planting days. Any level of involvement is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being such a supportive and engaged community. We’re excited about the learning opportunities this garden will provide for our students, and we look forward to growing something special together this year.

Warmly,
Rebecca Wancier

Milkshake Factory Fundraiser

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Embracing Our Differences

Embracing our differences is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor. To encourage community participation every year, we invite you to  submit your original artwork and thoughts on the theme of diversity. The  winning selections are displayed in the spring. They are currently calling for your original thoughts, ideas, quotes or  slogans about diversity, inclusion, and social justice in 20 words or less. The deadline for art and quote submissions is January 30, 2026. Here is a flyer with more details.

 

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Winter Food Resources

Free Holiday Meals

Find information on Christmas and New Years Meals here: foodgatherers.org/find-help/holiday-meals

Health and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter? There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Winter Resources Support

Get help with winter clothing, gifts, or food during the colder months

Check out a2schools.org/wintergiving and select get help to find local resources.

Upcoming Events

Thurs, Jan 29, 2026, 8:30-10:00am: Special Education Coffee and Conversations

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Band/Choir Concert - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 @6:30PM

Global School Play Day - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

Milkshake Factory Fundraiser - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (7PM) https://a2schools.zoom.us/j/83772415799

NAEP Testing - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Chipotle Restaurant Night Fundraiser - Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Panera Bread Fundraiser - Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee for Special Education (AAPAC) (https://a2pac.wordpress.com/)

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           January 16, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

We hope that you enjoyed the unexpected day off this week. It was great taking a few moments this morning to speak with parents over coffee. We hope you can come out for the next Coffee with the Principals. Remember, there is no school on Monday. Please take a few moments to read over the notes for the week, we appreciate you all.

 

WESO 2026!

Here is some information from our coach Lisa Garnaut:

Calling all 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders: Join the Ann Arbor Open Science Olympiad Team!

The Washtenaw Elementary Science Olympiad is a fun, hands-on event where students explore science, engineering, and problem solving through team-based challenges. Participants will build, experiment, test ideas and learn how to think like scientists, all while having fun with friends. Students will prepare for their event at practices on Friday afternoons leading up to the May 9th Olympiad. Events have been designed to recognize a wide variety of student skills. While some events require knowledge of scientific facts and concepts, others rely on scientific processes, skills or application to ensure that everyone can participate. If your kiddo loves learning, science and having fun, check out this presentation or the attached flyer for more

information.

From Liz Margolis

We have moved the crossing guard to the new location at Red Oak and Miller. This is the preferred crossing location for student crossing. We are not planning on adding another crossing guard at MIller and Seventh because we believe it will be a duplication of service and we do not have any available funding to add crossing guards. Additionally, the Seventh/Miller has a crosswalk indicator,so that is helpful. We will continue to keep an eye on this area. Please remember that when exiting onto Miller from Red Oak, there is NO LEFT TURN. This allows afterschool traffic to clear out quickly. Thank you.

Global School Play Day

From Tori:

It's that time again! Global School Play Day takes place this year on Wednesday, February 4. 

If you have never heard of this event before, the idea is that classes take the day (or as much time as teachers can—GSPD is optional!) to play games, do crafts, and engage in other non-electronic fun together. Some folks choose to meet up with buddy classes or to work as grade level teams to offer different activity spaces. Teachers may reach out to families a week or two beforehand so that kids can decide what toys and activities to bring from home. The event website has lots of resources, particularly if you want to see some research about the benefits of play. Please reach out if you have questions!

From the AAOCC:

Hello all!

For several years, the AAOCC could reach everyone in the school using AAPS software. We no longer have access to that, so we will be communicating via Membership Toolkit. You must sign up to receive communications. If you have not already registered, please do so! We want to make sure to keep everyone in the loop about the AAOCC; ways to support our school's teachers, staff, and students; and events that help build our amazing community.

It's easy! Go to www.aaopencc.org. Click "Register/Login" on the left side of the homepage, and follow the prompts.

Winter After-School Classes

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on creativity, exploration, a sense of belonging, and fun! Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Neuro Ninjas - FULL

1/12-3/2

K-5th

1365.201

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! 3D Printing - FULL

1/20-3/3

K-5th

1361.201

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

Beginner Crochet

1/21-2/25

2nd-3rd

2159.201

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

Improv Comedy

1/22-2/26

3rd-8th

1339.201

Fri, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Crochet Foundations & Granny Squares

1/23-3/6

4th-8th

2169.201

2026 MLK Children & Youth Program

The University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education will be celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by providing a day of dynamic activities for youth in grades K-12. Here is a flyer below with more information. Use this link to register.

From Johnny T

Beetlejuice Audition and Tech Interest Sign Up

Greetings!  Johnny is excited to announce that it is time for Open's second production of the year: Beetlejuice Jr.!  She's also excited to introduce a guest musical director--Erin Goldman!

If you would like to audition or express an interest in participating on tech crew, please check out the link above and, if after reading the details, you're still interested, sign up by JANUARY 18-midnight.  This is a hard deadline and we CANNOT accept forms after this date.

Rehearsals for actors run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:30 pm beginning January 27 until our performance on Saturday, April 25, 2026

Those who indicate on the form that they will be auditioning will receive more detailed information on or before January 21.  Auditions will begin on Tuesday, January 27 immediately after school in the auditorium.  Those interested in tech crew will get a follow up email with more details the first week of February.  We look forward to starting this adventure!

From Rebecca

Dear Ann Arbor Open School Community,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a restful, joyful break and are feeling energized as we head into the second half of the school year.

As we begin 2026, I’m excited to share plans for a new and improved 7th/8th grade garden at Ann Arbor Open School. The garden has long been a special part of our learning community, and this year we are hoping to refresh and expand it as a hands-on space for science learning, environmental stewardship, collaboration, and connection to our food system.

Creating a thriving garden is truly a community effort, and we would love your support. Here is a Google Form where families can indicate if they are interested or able to help in any way. This might include donating materials, sharing gardening expertise, helping with planning, or lending a hand during build or planting days. Any level of involvement is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being such a supportive and engaged community. We’re excited about the learning opportunities this garden will provide for our students, and we look forward to growing something special together this year.

Warmly,
Rebecca Wancier

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Embracing Our Differences

Embracing our differences is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor. To encourage community participation every year, we invite you to  submit your original artwork and thoughts on the theme of diversity. The  winning selections are displayed in the spring. They are currently calling for your original thoughts, ideas, quotes or  slogans about diversity, inclusion, and social justice in 20 words or less. The deadline for art and quote submissions is January 30, 2026. Here is a flyer with more details.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

 

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Winter Food Resources

Free Holiday Meals

Find information on Christmas and New Years Meals here: foodgatherers.org/find-help/holiday-meals

Health and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter? There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Winter Resources Support

Get help with winter clothing, gifts, or food during the colder months

Check out a2schools.org/wintergiving and select get help to find local resources.

Upcoming Events

Thurs, Jan 29, 2026, 8:30-10:00am: Special Education Coffee and Conversations

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

MLK Day - Monday, January 19, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

Band/Choir Concert - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 @6:30PM

Global School Play Day - Wednesday, February 4, 2026

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (7-8PM)

NAEP Testing - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           January 9, 2026

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Happy New Year! It has been such a pleasure to see all of the smiling faces in the hallway this past week. We are slowly getting back into our routines and procedures, but the energy levels are on the rise. Please take a few moments to read over the notes for the week.

 

Hearing and Vision Screening

Hearing and Vision screening January 14-16, 2026 for all Y5-5th and 7th graders. Be on the lookout for the purple flier to fill out and return to the office after the break.

Winter After-School Classes

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on creativity, exploration, a sense of belonging, and fun! Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Neuro Ninjas - FULL

1/12-3/2

K-5th

1365.201

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! 3D Printing - FULL

1/20-3/3

K-5th

1361.201

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

Beginner Crochet

1/21-2/25

2nd-3rd

2159.201

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

Improv Comedy

1/22-2/26

3rd-8th

1339.201

Fri, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Crochet Foundations & Granny Squares

1/23-3/6

4th-8th

2169.201

2026 MLK Children & Youth Program

The University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education will be celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by providing a day of dynamic activities for youth in grades K-12. Here is a flyer below with more information. Use this link to register.

From Johnny T

Beetlejuice Audition and Tech Interest Sign Up

Greetings!  Johnny is excited to announce that it is time for Open's second production of the year: Beetlejuice Jr.!  She's also excited to introduce a guest musical director--Erin Goldman!

If you would like to audition or express an interest in participating on tech crew, please check out the link above and, if after reading the details, you're still interested, sign up by JANUARY 18-midnight.  This is a hard deadline and we CANNOT accept forms after this date.

Rehearsals for actors run Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:30 pm beginning January 27 until our performance on Saturday, April 25, 2026

Those who indicate on the form that they will be auditioning will receive more detailed information on or before January 21.  Auditions will begin on Tuesday, January 27 immediately after school in the auditorium.  Those interested in tech crew will get a follow up email with more details the first week of February.  We look forward to starting this adventure!

From Rebecca

Dear Ann Arbor Open School Community,

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family had a restful, joyful break and are feeling energized as we head into the second half of the school year.

As we begin 2026, I’m excited to share plans for a new and improved 7th/8th grade garden at Ann Arbor Open School. The garden has long been a special part of our learning community, and this year we are hoping to refresh and expand it as a hands-on space for science learning, environmental stewardship, collaboration, and connection to our food system.

Creating a thriving garden is truly a community effort, and we would love your support. Here is a Google Form where families can indicate if they are interested or able to help in any way. This might include donating materials, sharing gardening expertise, helping with planning, or lending a hand during build or planting days. Any level of involvement is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for being such a supportive and engaged community. We’re excited about the learning opportunities this garden will provide for our students, and we look forward to growing something special together this year.

Warmly,
Rebecca Wancier

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Embracing Our Differences

Embracing our differences is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor. To encourage community participation every year, we invite you to  submit your original artwork and thoughts on the theme of diversity. The  winning selections are displayed in the spring. They are currently calling for your original thoughts, ideas, quotes or  slogans about diversity, inclusion, and social justice in 20 words or less. The deadline for art and quote submissions is January 30, 2026. Here is a flyer with more details.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

 

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because…

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Winter Food Resources

Free Holiday Meals

Find information on Christmas and New Years Meals here: foodgatherers.org/find-help/holiday-meals

Health and Utility Support

Looking for heat or utility support this winter? There are resources to help Michigan families stay warm!

Academic Support

Free Tutoring from Washtenaw Literacy.

Washtenaw Literacy offers free ESL, academic, digital literacy and other types of tutoring.  Learn more by going to washtenawliteracy.org or by viewing the fliers below.

Parenting

Want to better understand your child’s needs and behaviors? Enroll in Mom Power!

Health and Wellbeing

FREE CLR Academy Programs EVERY Saturday for children K-8

Winter Resources Support

Get help with winter clothing, gifts, or food during the colder months

Check out a2schools.org/wintergiving and select get help to find local resources.

Upcoming Events

Thurs, Jan 29, 2026, 8:30-10:00am: Special Education Coffee and Conversations

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Hearing and Vision Screening Begins (Y5 thru 5th) - Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Panda Express Restaurant Night - Thursday, January 15, 2026

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, January 16, 2026

MLK Day - Monday, January 19, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

Band/Choir Concert - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 @6PM

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, February 10, 2026 (7-8PM)

NAEP Testing - Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Mid Winter Break Begins - Friday, February 13, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

School Resumes - Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           December 12, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a week! Between our unexpected closure on Monday, our wonderful orchestra students at Skyline on Tuesday, the district closing on Wednesday, and our wonderful Open House last night here at our building, it has been quite a ride. We hope that you all can find a few moments this weekend to grab some peace and rest. Here are the brief announcements for the week.

Ann Arbor Open Showcase is coming!

Each year, our school spends much of November and December participating in a school-wide learning event called “Showcase.”  The AAO Showcase offers students opportunities to pursue knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways (researching, note-taking, writing skills, cooperative learning, problem solving, and creativity).  Every year has a different theme - last year, our school-wide theme was “How Things Work.”  The year before, it was “Journeys.”  This year’s schoolwide theme will be “Change.”  Each class will interpret this theme in a different way, with some focusing more on literal interpretations while others might be more abstract. This year, our event will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025. It’s always fun and engaging to see how a class project develops, and we can’t wait to share this night with you!

Enrollment Update for 2026-2027

All Families with students in grades Y5-7: Please fill out the 26/27 Enrollment Survey - Please let us know your plans for next school year!

https://forms.gle/G58M9aethqF3sG2Z7

Families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year:

The A2Open Y5/Kindergarten Application/Lottery is open this Tuesday, November 18, 2025 through Friday, January 9th, 2026.

CURRENT families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year should fill out the application so that we have all of your information for your new incoming student. They will be offered a reserved sibling space, they will not be part of the lottery. (If your student is in Y5 with us now, no need to apply, your student will automatically roll up to our Kindergarten.)

https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=45337&culture=en

 

Dr. Sheril in the News!

In case you missed it, Dr. Sheril has a nice profile on the district website. We know she is exceptional, but it is nice that others recognize it too.

https://news.a2schools.org/sheril-bulley-simpson-a2-open-3rd-4th-grade-teacher/

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. The last information night for Huron High School will take place next week on Tuesday, December 16th from 5-8PM.

From the AAOCC:

Dear Ann Arbor Open Families,

As we enter the holiday season, we are reminded of the kindness and care that make our community so special. Each year, many of you ask how you can support Ann Arbor Open families who may need a little extra help—and once again, we’re grateful to offer a way to do just that.

Our Coordinating Council has put together a holiday gift registry for families who could use some added cheer this season.

🎁 Gift Registry:

https://www.myregistry.com/organization/ann-arbor-open-coordinating-council-ann-arbor-mi/5152408/giftlist

You’re welcome to purchase directly from the registry, or choose a similar item from another store or local business. If you do purchase an item elsewhere, please remember to mark it as purchased on the registry so we can keep everything organized.

📦 Delivery Information

Please have all gifts delivered or dropped off at school by Wednesday, December 17:

Ann Arbor Open School

c/o Kate Funk

920 Miller Ave

Ann Arbor, MI 48103

If you’d prefer, gift cards are also deeply appreciated—Kate will distribute them to families based on their needs.

Thank you, truly, for the generosity, compassion, and community spirit that define Ann Arbor Open. Your support helps make the season brighter for everyone.

Warmly,

Kate Funk

funkcar@aaps.k12.mi.us

Teacher and staff holiday gifts--a note from the AAOCC

Class parents are reaching out to families about contributing to a holiday gift for classroom teachers. If you haven't heard from anyone about this, please contact communications@aaopencc.org; it could simply be an issue of not having your contact information. Families also received an e-mail on Thursday regarding contributions toward cash gifts for other amazing teachers and staff--our Specials teachers, English language teachers, resource room teachers, our building literacy coach, counselors, social workers, front office staff, crossing guards, bus drivers, lunch supervisors, custodial staff, and more! In addition to or in lieu of these group gifts, you are also welcome to gift individually. We've created a spreadsheet with teacher and staff favorites if you ever want guidance on what people love! This list of giving opportunities is not intended to pressure you to contribute; please feel welcome to give whatever works for your family. All classroom teacher gifts will be from the entire class, and all other gifts will be from the entire school. A huge thank you for supporting Open's wonderful teachers and staff as you are able!

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Embracing Our Differences

Embracing our differences is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor. To encourage community participation every year, we invite you to  submit your original artwork and thoughts on the theme of diversity. The  winning selections are displayed in the spring. They are currently calling for your original thoughts, ideas, quotes or  slogans about diversity, inclusion, and social justice in 20 words or less. The deadline for art and quote submissions is January 30, 2026. Here is a flyer with more details.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because…

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Showcase - Thursday, December 18, 2025 (6 - 8PM)

Winter Break - Monday, December 22, 2025 - Sunday, January 4, 2026

School Resumes - Monday, January 5, 2026

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, January 9, 2026

MLK Day - Monday, January 19, 2026 (NO SCHOOL)

Band/Choir Concert - Tuesday, January 27, 2026 @6PM

NAAPID - Monday, February 9, 2026

Panda and Zero at is again for the 70th Day of School!

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           December 5, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Welcome to December!. It is super cold out, but the kids were full of smiles. Please make sure that you take a moment to visit our Silent Auction which closes on Sunday.

Enrollment Update for 2026-2027

All Families with students in grades Y5-7: Please fill out the 26/27 Enrollment Survey - Please let us know your plans for next school year!

https://forms.gle/G58M9aethqF3sG2Z7

Families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year:

The A2Open Y5/Kindergarten Application/Lottery is open this Tuesday, November 18, 2025 through Friday, January 9th, 2026.

CURRENT families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year should fill out the application so that we have all of your information for your new incoming student. They will be offered a reserved sibling space, they will not be part of the lottery. (If your student is in Y5 with us now, no need to apply, your student will automatically roll up to our Kindergarten.)

https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=45337&culture=en

 

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. Below is a screenshot that lists the dates for all Ann Arbor high school information nights. The complete schedule is here.

From the AAOCC:

Hello Our Great Ann Arbor Open Community,

Our Next Restaurant Night is coming up! It is at Detroit Filling Station. On December 8th 2025, from 4-8 pm. All Sales and Orders are included, including plant sales. This means that eat-in and take-out orders are included! Plants are a great gift for yourself, friends, neighbors, teachers, coworkers, and anyone else. Ann Arbor Open will receive 10% back which will benefit our student enrichment fund. I linked the menu below to look over.

300 Detroit St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104  

 Menu for Detroit Filling Station

Online ordering Menu

"Please see the attachment from the ANN ARBOR PTO THRIFT SHOP.  They support our schools & our students!"

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

Ann Arbor Open Showcase

Each year, our school spends much of November and December participating in a school-wide learning event called “Showcase.”  The AAO Showcase offers students opportunities to pursue knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways (researching, note-taking, writing skills, cooperative learning, problem solving, and creativity).  Every year has a different theme - last year, our school-wide theme was “How Things Work.”  The year before, it was “Journeys.”  This year’s schoolwide theme will be “Change.”  Each class will interpret this theme in a different way, with some focusing more on literal interpretations while others might be more abstract. This year, our event will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025. It’s always fun and engaging to see how a class project develops, and we can’t wait to share this night with you!

Embracing Our Differences

Embracing our differences is a nonprofit organization based in Ann Arbor. To encourage community participation every year, we invite you to  submit your original artwork and thoughts on the theme of diversity. The  winning selections are displayed in the spring. They are currently calling for your original thoughts, ideas, quotes or  slogans about diversity, inclusion, and social justice in 20 words or less. The deadline for art and quote submissions is January 30, 2026. Here is a flyer with more details.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

Rec & ED

Youth Sports: 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun.

 

Check out Rec & Ed's wonderful winter line-up of early childhood (ages 0-5) and school-age youth (ages 5-14) classes and activities at aarecedonline.com or in the attached documents. Registration began on Tuesday, December 2nd.

NEW! this winter:

Kung Fu for Kids

Hula Dancing 101 for Kids (see adult hula class as well!)

3D Printing

Robocoding

Electronic Games Design

Stop-Motion Animation

Infinity Dreams: Inspired by Yayoi Kusama

Adult & Child series of classes

Michigan Wildflowers: Family-Friendly Winter Planting

Digital Balance: Smart Tech Habits for Families

Into the Winter Forest for Young Artists (ages 2-4 yrs & an adult)

and many more!

To stay informed about class information and registration dates, subscribe to our youth e-newsletter, Fun Forward: SUBSCRIBE HERE

Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance.

Ways to register:

Finally, please consider giving a friend or family member a Rec & Ed gift card - it will allow them to chose their own adventure!

We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, relaxation, and great moments with the people who matter most. Thank you for being part of the Rec & Ed family - we look forward to serving you in the new year.

Rec & Ed Staff

recedstaff@aaps.k12.mi.us

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because…

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Detroit Street Filling Station Restaurant Night - Monday, December 8, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Orchestra Winterfest @Skyline High School - Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Band/Choir Winter Concert @Skyline High School - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (6:30 - 7:30PM)

Open House - Thursday, December 11, 2025 (6 - 7PM)

Showcase - Thursday, December 18, 2025 (6 - 8PM)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           November 25, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful (short) week we have had! As we enter this holiday season starting with Thanksgiving, we want to express our gratitude for being able to work with your children each day. Their value is unmatched, and we are all better for having come in contact with them. We hope that your break is full of peace, rest, happiness, and memorable moments.

Enrollment Update for 2026-2027

All Families with students in grades Y5-7: Please fill out the 26/27 Enrollment Survey - Please let us know your plans for next school year!

https://forms.gle/G58M9aethqF3sG2Z7

Families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year:

The A2Open Y5/Kindergarten Application/Lottery is open this Tuesday, November 18, 2025 through Friday, January 9th, 2026.

CURRENT families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year should fill out the application so that we have all of your information for your new incoming student. They will be offered a reserved sibling space, they will not be part of the lottery. (If your student is in Y5 with us now, no need to apply, your student will automatically roll up to our Kindergarten.)

https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=45337&culture=en

 

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a national observance to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This month-long celebration honors American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. Below is a screenshot that lists the dates for all Ann Arbor high school information nights. The complete schedule is here.

From Skyline

Hello,

Skyline High School's upcoming Curriculum Night on Tuesday, December 2nd, occurring right after we return from Thanksgiving break.  

This is a special evening for your current 8th graders and their families to learn about Skyline High School.  Building Tours will begin every 10 minutes between 4:30pm and 5:30pm to familiarize everyone with our classrooms and facilities.  In our Commons, students and parents can speak with athletic coaches and learn about all the various extracurricular Clubs offered here at Skyline.  At 6pm, our Administration Team will give a general presentation about Skyline in our Auditorium, followed by smaller, curriculum presentations by our Department Leads.  By the end of the evening, students and families will hopefully have a good idea of what Skyline HS has to offer. Here is a flyer with more information.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

Ann Arbor Open Showcase

Each year, our school spends much of November and December participating in a school-wide learning event called “Showcase.”  The AAO Showcase offers students opportunities to pursue knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways (researching, note-taking, writing skills, cooperative learning, problem solving, and creativity).  Every year has a different theme - last year, our school-wide theme was “How Things Work.”  The year before, it was “Journeys.”  This year’s schoolwide theme will be “Change.”  Each class will interpret this theme in a different way, with some focusing more on literal interpretations while others might be more abstract. This year, our event will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025. It’s always fun and engaging to see how a class project develops, and we can’t wait to share this night with you!

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

Rec & ED

Youth Sports: 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun.

 

Check out Rec & Ed's wonderful winter line-up of early childhood (ages 0-5) and school-age youth (ages 5-14) classes and activities at aarecedonline.com or in the attached documents. Registration begins at 10am on Tuesday, December 2nd.

NEW! this winter:

Kung Fu for Kids

Hula Dancing 101 for Kids (see adult hula class as well!)

3D Printing

Robocoding

Electronic Games Design

Stop-Motion Animation

Infinity Dreams: Inspired by Yayoi Kusama

Adult & Child series of classes

Michigan Wildflowers: Family-Friendly Winter Planting

Digital Balance: Smart Tech Habits for Families

Into the Winter Forest for Young Artists (ages 2-4 yrs & an adult)

and many more!

To stay informed about class information and registration dates, subscribe to our youth e-newsletter, Fun Forward: SUBSCRIBE HERE

Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance.

Ways to register:

Finally, please consider giving a friend or family member a Rec & Ed gift card - it will allow them to chose their own adventure!

We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, relaxation, and great moments with the people who matter most. Thank you for being part of the Rec & Ed family - we look forward to serving you in the new year.

Rec & Ed Staff

recedstaff@aaps.k12.mi.us

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

From the AAOCC

"Please see the attachment from the ANN ARBOR PTO THRIFT SHOP.  They support our schools & our students!"

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because… 

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2025

Silent Auction Week Begins - Monday, December 1, 2025

Coffee w/The Principals - Friday, December 5, 2025

Pajama Day - Friday, December 5, 2025

Detroit Street Filling Station Restaurant Night - Monday, December 8, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Orchestra Winterfest @Skyline High School - Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Band/Choir Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (6:30 - 7:30PM)

Open House - Thursday, December 11, 2025 (6 - 7PM)

Showcase - Thursday, December 18, 2025 (6 - 8PM)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           November 21, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful week we have had, with many events happening around the building. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Enrollment Update for 2025-2026

All Families Please fill out the 26/27 Enrollment Survey - Please let us know your plans for next school year!

https://forms.gle/G58M9aethqF3sG2Z7

Families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year:

The A2Open Y5/Kindergarten Application/Lottery is open this Tuesday, November 18, 2025 through Friday, January 9th, 2026.

CURRENT families with new Kindergarten or new Y5 students for the 26/27 school year should fill out the application so that we have all of your information for your new incoming student. They will be offered a reserved sibling space, they will not be part of the lottery. (If your student is in Y5 with us now, no need to apply, your student will automatically roll up to our Kindergarten.)

https://secure.infosnap.com/family/gosnap.aspx?action=45337&culture=en

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a national observance to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This month-long celebration honors American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. Below is a screenshot that lists the dates for all Ann Arbor high school information nights. The complete schedule is here.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

Ann Arbor Open Showcase

Each year, our school spends much of November and December participating in a school-wide learning event called “Showcase.”  The AAO Showcase offers students opportunities to pursue knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways (researching, note-taking, writing skills, cooperative learning, problem solving, and creativity).  Every year has a different theme - last year, our school-wide theme was “How Things Work.”  The year before, it was “Journeys.”  This year’s schoolwide theme will be “Change.”  Each class will interpret this theme in a different way, with some focusing more on literal interpretations while others might be more abstract. This year, our event will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025. It’s always fun and engaging to see how a class project develops, and we can’t wait to share this night with you!

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

Ann Arbor District Library Toy and Game Swap!

On Saturday November 22, 2025 the Ann Arbor District Library will be hosting a FREE Toys and Games Swap. This event will take place from 12pm - 2pm. Please visit this AADL web page to get more information. Again, this is FREE and should be a great time for students and Families.

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS)

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS) at the University of Michigan is hosting an on-campus program this semester called GirlsTalkTech. We invite middle school and high school female and non-binary students to join us for engaging hands-on experiences, designed to introduce them to computer science at the University of Michigan and strengthen their coding skills through exciting projects. The events welcome both beginners and experienced coders. Our first event of the semester, a Virtual Reality Workshop, will take place November 22nd from 3 pm - 6 pm on University of Michigan’s North Campus. Dinner will be provided for all participants. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached flier with any students who may be interested in this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to geecs.officers@umich.edu if you have any questions. Here is a flyer with more information.

Thank you for your support!

Sign Up Form

Thank you,

GirlsTalkTech

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

Rec & ED

Youth Sports: 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun.

 

FREE FAMILY EVENT- First Steps Early Childhood: Join us for a FREE program at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) November 22, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Get Back To Basics reinforces shapes and colors for UMMA’s youngest visitors. There will be a “soft” space with mats, toys, and board books for infants. Learn more and register here.

Check out Rec & Ed's wonderful winter line-up of early childhood (ages 0-5) and school-age youth (ages 5-14) classes and activities at aarecedonline.com or in the attached documents. Registration begins at 10am on Tuesday, December 2nd.

NEW! this winter:

Kung Fu for Kids

Hula Dancing 101 for Kids (see adult hula class as well!)

3D Printing

Robocoding

Electronic Games Design

Stop-Motion Animation

Infinity Dreams: Inspired by Yayoi Kusama

Adult & Child series of classes

Michigan Wildflowers: Family-Friendly Winter Planting

Digital Balance: Smart Tech Habits for Families

Into the Winter Forest for Young Artists (ages 2-4 yrs & an adult)

and many more!

To stay informed about class information and registration dates, subscribe to our youth e-newsletter, Fun Forward: SUBSCRIBE HERE

Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance.

Ways to register:

Finally, please consider giving a friend or family member a Rec & Ed gift card - it will allow them to chose their own adventure!

We wish you a joyful holiday season filled with peace, relaxation, and great moments with the people who matter most. Thank you for being part of the Rec & Ed family - we look forward to serving you in the new year.

Rec & Ed Staff

recedstaff@aaps.k12.mi.us

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

From the AAOCC

"Please see the attachment from the ANN ARBOR PTO THRIFT SHOP.  They support our schools & our students!"

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year was yesterday (Thursday, October 23) in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

LOST and FOUND!

Please come and see if any items belong to your family, AND you are welcome to take any of the items on the racks which have been there a long time.  

Items lost in the last 3 weeks are on the table to the left of the staff lounge; please leave those for their owners.

Items will be taken away December 18th at the end of the AA Open Showcase. The front office will take pictures of all items and post to our facebook page and an email will go out to further encourage all items to get back to their owners or find a new home.  

           

Food Gatherers

Food Gatherers is hosting EXTRA emergency food distributions this November at Briarwood Mall.  

These are drive-thru distributions, and include a box of shelf-stable items, fresh milk, and produce.

The next distribution is Sat Nov 15th from 9:30 - 11:30 AM @ 100 Briarwood Circle

Open to anyone who needs food.

No registration required. Proxy pick-ups are okay!

For more information, visit:

https://www.foodgatherers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FG_Emergency-Food-Distributions-Flyer.pdf

To view a full list of food pantries and meal sites across Washtenaw County, visit: www.foodgatherers.org/foodresources

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because… 

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Wednesday Nov 10th and Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2025

Silent Auction Week Begins - Monday, December 1, 2025

Coffee w/The Principals - Friday, December 5, 2025

Pajama Day - Friday, December 5, 2025

Detroit Street Filling Station Restaurant Night - Monday, December 8, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Orchestra Winterfest @Skyline High School - Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Band/Choir Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (6:30 - 7:30PM)

Open House - Thursday, December 11, 2025 (6 - 7PM)

Showcase - Thursday, December 18, 2025 (6 - 8PM)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           November 14, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

What a wonderful week we have had, with many events happening around the building. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a national observance to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This month-long celebration honors American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

World Kindness Day

Thursday, families, students, and staff came together to celebrate World Kindness Day at AAO. We made bracelets, cards, and bookmarks to give to members of our community and we wrote notes about how we are leaving people and places better than we found them. A big thank you to all of the volunteers who made this day possible. You spread kindness with your presence!

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. Below is a screenshot that lists the dates for all Ann Arbor high school information nights. The complete schedule is here.

Power Hub Information for Families:

Here is the PowerHub Introduction Video. Families that wish to use the PowerHub will need to have a PowerSchool Account.  Here is the parent guide.

If you don't have an account already, then you should follow the instructions on this site:https://www.a2schools.org/digital-platforms/powerschool/powerschool-for-parents.   Instructions for setting up a PowerSchool Account

Securly Portal

Securly Parent Portal - How to Opt In

In the AAPS, we utilize a cloud-based web filter called Securly to keep students safe on their district-issued device. To help parents monitor their child's online activity at home, AAPS offers the free Securly Home app. This application allows web-based filtering and parental controls on district-issued devices at home. Parents may set rules to allow or disallow certain websites, pause the internet connection to the device as desired, and receive weekly usage reports. To OPT-IN to the Securly Parent Portal service, please encourage families to use the pathway as outlined below:

 

STEP #1:  Read about the AAPS Securly - 25-26 Parent Portal Opt-In opportunity available to all families.

STEP #2:  Sign-up on the Securly Parent Portal Program Form.

STEP #3:  Look for an email from Securly when your account is ready to go (it can take up to 48 hours to receive).

STEP #4:  Download the Securly Home App from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).

STEP #5:  Navigate the App to explore different views into your child's online safety and check out the AAPS Securly Parent Portal FAQs.

 

If families have any questions, they can always reach out to the Student & Family Help Desk at 734-997-1222.

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

A Few Quick and Important Notes

Parking

Ann Arbor Open has over 50 staff members and only 38 designated staff parking spots. The parking lot on the Brooks st side of the school is specifically intended to be staff parking, which is also where the bus loop is. We know that this new construction update will cause hiccups for our families and staff. Many families drop their kids off on the Brooks side, but please keep this in mind:

PLEASE don’t drop your kid off in the bus loop.  The buses are frequently impacted by parents pulling all the way through the bus loop. It has a much bigger impact than it might seem.

PLEASE don’t park in the Brooks parking lot to drop off your kid, even if you’re just parking for a minute. Staff members frequently have to detour into the neighborhood in search of street parking because of families waiting in cars before school in the mornings. This usually gets much worse in the winter months, so we’re mentioning it now:  PLEASE don’t take up a staff parking spot in the mornings.  (You might think that it would go without saying that people definitely shouldn’t hang out in the handicap designated parking spots, but that has become an issue recently as well, which has impacted the staff members who depend on those accessible parking spots.) Again, we understand that this will be a tremendous inconvenience for us all, but by working together we can get through it.

Ann Arbor Open Showcase

Each year, our school spends much of November and December participating in a school-wide learning event called “Showcase.”  The AAO Showcase offers students opportunities to pursue knowledge and skills in a multitude of ways (researching, note-taking, writing skills, cooperative learning, problem solving, and creativity).  Every year has a different theme - last year, our school-wide theme was “How Things Work.”  The year before, it was “Journeys.”  This year’s schoolwide theme will be “Change.”  Each class will interpret this theme in a different way, with some focusing more on literal interpretations while others might be more abstract. This year, our event will take place on Thursday, December 18, 2025. It’s always fun and engaging to see how a class project develops, and we can’t wait to share this night with you!

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS)

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS) at the University of Michigan is hosting an on-campus program this semester called GirlsTalkTech. We invite middle school and high school female and non-binary students to join us for engaging hands-on experiences, designed to introduce them to computer science at the University of Michigan and strengthen their coding skills through exciting projects. The events welcome both beginners and experienced coders. Our first event of the semester, a Virtual Reality Workshop, will take place November 22nd from 3 pm - 6 pm on University of Michigan’s North Campus. Dinner will be provided for all participants. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached flier with any students who may be interested in this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to geecs.officers@umich.edu if you have any questions. Here is a flyer with more information.

Thank you for your support!

Sign Up Form

Thank you,

GirlsTalkTech

F.E.M.M.E.S.

F.E.M.M.E.S. Explore Capstone event is an in-person event from 10 AM - 4 PM Saturday (tomorrow), November 8th for 4th to 6th graders, held at the University of Michigan. This event will expose students to various interactive STEM activities, allow them to gain hands-on experience in performing some experiments and projects, and give them an opportunity to interact with women pursuing college degrees and careers in STEM. All of the events are specifically designed to support girls* in developing confidence and interest in STEM fields, but like all F.E.M.M.E.S activities, is open to students of all genders. This event is completely free and at no cost to participants. Lunch will be provided, and more information is here on this flyer.

Rec & ED

Youth Sports: 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun.

 

FREE FAMILY EVENT- First Steps Early Childhood: Join us for a FREE program at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) November 22, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Get Back To Basics reinforces shapes and colors for UMMA’s youngest visitors. There will be a “soft” space with mats, toys, and board books for infants. Learn more and register here.

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

From the AAOCC

"Please see the attachment from the ANN ARBOR PTO THRIFT SHOP.  They support our schools & our students!"

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year was yesterday (Thursday, October 23) in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

LOST and FOUND!

Please come and see if any items belong to your family, AND you are welcome to take any of the items on the racks which have been there a long time.  

Items lost in the last 3 weeks are on the table to the left of the staff lounge; please leave those for their owners.

Items will be taken away December 18th at the end of the AA Open Showcase. The front office will take pictures of all items and post to our facebook page and an email will go out to further encourage all items to get back to their owners or find a new home.  

           

Food Gatherers

Food Gatherers is hosting EXTRA emergency food distributions this November at Briarwood Mall.  

These are drive-thru distributions, and include a box of shelf-stable items, fresh milk, and produce.

The next distribution is Sat Nov 15th from 9:30 - 11:30 AM @ 100 Briarwood Circle

Open to anyone who needs food.

No registration required. Proxy pick-ups are okay!

For more information, visit:

https://www.foodgatherers.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FG_Emergency-Food-Distributions-Flyer.pdf

To view a full list of food pantries and meal sites across Washtenaw County, visit: www.foodgatherers.org/foodresources

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

​​Updates on Miller Road Closure - N.Maple to First St. - Through November 22, 2025

The City has informed us that the Miller Rd. closure will have major impacts on car travel. Buses

have been rerouted through the neighborhoods.

The City shares that all of the intersections (Saunders Crescent, Linda Vista, etc.) may be used

to and from eastbound Miller for local traffic.

Brooks St. lane closures will be completed shortly and can be used as well.

The Crossing Guard at Miller should still be able to cross students. If a sidewalk detour arises, we will adjust the crossing location.

These are the suggested detours and impacts from the City:

● Eastbound vehicles traveling on Miller Avenue will be detoured south on North Maple

Road, then east on Dexter Avenue to east on West Huron Street, then north on North

First Street to Miller Avenue.

● Westbound vehicles will be detoured south on North First Street, then west on West

Huron Street, then west on Dexter Avenue, then north on North Maple Road to Miller

Avenue.

● Cyclists are advised to travel to and from downtown Ann Arbor via Dexter Avenue,

South Revena Blvd, and West Washington Street.

● Pedestrian traffic will be maintained, with detours posted as necessary during

sidewalk replacement work.

● Emergency vehicles are advised to follow the posted detour, when possible. However,

emergency vehicle access will be maintained as needed.

● Access to driveways within the closure will be maintained.

Thank you for your patience during this road construction and please build enough time into

your arrival and pick up. We encourage drivers to park in the neighborhood areas and walk to

pick up your student(s). The church parking lot is the safest option to lessen traffic in the

neighborhood.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

Impacting the City:

     - Embracing Our Differences

          - Kids and adults may submit work

          - Deadline: January 26th

          - The theme is recognizing that we, as people, have differences, and that these differences make us

 stronger / more beautiful.

          - Five AAO artists have won and had their artwork enlarged + displayed. View the website to see

 galleries of past winners.

     - AAPS Art Shows

          - In the spring, artwork from AAO will be selected for display around the city. Keep practicing and

 building your skills!

Impacting the Community:

     - Washtenaw Bicentennial Art Contest

        - K-8 students in Washtenaw Country

          - Theme: I Love My Country Because… 

          - Deadline: November 29, 2025

          - Format: 8.5" x 11" original artwork (please scan or take a high-quality photo of artwork; PDF, PNG,

 and JPG files preferred).

          - Send submissions to Tabatha Reynolds at reynoldst@washtenaw.org

Impacting the Country:

     - Doodle for Google

          - Deadline: December 3rd

          - Theme: "My Superpower Is..."

          - AAPS students have been finalists, some even winning for the whole state of Michigan!

     - Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

          - Ages 13 and up (Many families have older siblings who may be interested)

          - Deadline: December 1st

      - Artsonia

          - Parents: Check your inboxes for an email from Artsonia

          - This announcement is a soft-launch of a fundraising website for our art program.

          - Upload images of art from prior years to build a portfolio that young artists from other schools can\         see!

          - Be sure to take and submit high-quality photos because...

          - You can select options for having artwork printed on shirts, bags, mugs, etc! Part of the proceeds

 kick back to our program!

Impacting the World:

     - International Festival of Owls

          - Ages 18 and under

          - Deadline: January 15th

     - More Art Contest Opportunities

          - Various Deadlines

Best of Luck, my Creative Pandas!

Deb

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Wednesday Nov 10th and Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Noodles & Company Restaurant Night - Monday, November 17, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2025

Silent Auction Week Begins - Monday, December 1, 2025

Coffee w/The Principals - Friday, December 5, 2025

Detroit Street Filling Station Restaurant Night - Monday, December 8, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Orchestra Winterfest @Skyline High School - Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Band/Choir Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (6:30 - 7:30PM)

Open House - Thursday, December 11, 2025 (6 - 7PM)

Showcase - Thursday, December 18, 2025 (6 - 8PM)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           November 7, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Welcome to November! As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a national observance to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This month-long celebration honors American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

Picture Retake Day

Date: Wednesday, November 12

Time: 9am-11am

Please bring the original photo package to give to the photographer if you need retakes.

Order additional packages online at kaiserstudio.com use code: 2526AAOPEN

World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day in 2025 is on Thursday, November 13. Also known as World Kindness Day, it is an observance established in 1998 to promote global goodwill, compassion, and empathy through acts of kindness.  

Food Resources Available in Ann Arbor Area

The Ann Arbor Public Schools understands that many of our families will face challenges with the loss of SNAP benefits. If you know of any families who may need some assistance, Here is a list of free food resources that may be helpful.

 

High School Information Nights

For some families it is time to start thinking about high school. Below is a screenshot that lists the dates for all Ann Arbor high school information nights. The complete schedule is here.

MyFuture Fund

Over 21,000 Washtenaw students in grades 2-8 have had their college and career dreams jump started with more than $2 million allocated to them through My Future Fund, a county-wide early scholarship program made possible with funding from the Washtenaw County Government. Families can get the details and unlock all the benefits of the My Future Fund program, including the $475 bonus deposit if they qualify, by completing the information form by December 31, 2025. The information form is available on the My Future Fund website at www.myfuturefund.org.

A Few Quick and Important Notes

Parking

Ann Arbor Open has over 50 staff members and only 38 designated staff parking spots. The parking lot on the Brooks st side of the school is specifically intended to be staff parking, which is also where the bus loop is. We know that this new construction update will cause hiccups for our families and staff. Many families drop their kids off on the Brooks side, but please keep this in mind:

PLEASE don’t drop your kid off in the bus loop.  The buses are frequently impacted by parents pulling all the way through the bus loop. It has a much bigger impact than it might seem.

PLEASE don’t park in the Brooks parking lot to drop off your kid, even if you’re just parking for a minute. Staff members frequently have to detour into the neighborhood in search of street parking because of families waiting in cars before school in the mornings. This usually gets much worse in the winter months, so we’re mentioning it now:  PLEASE don’t take up a staff parking spot in the mornings.  (You might think that it would go without saying that people definitely shouldn’t hang out in the handicap designated parking spots, but that has become an issue recently as well, which has impacted the staff members who depend on those accessible parking spots.) Again, we understand that this will be a tremendous inconvenience for us all, but by working together we can get through it.

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information. We are off to a great start!

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS)

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS) at the University of Michigan is hosting an on-campus program this semester called GirlsTalkTech. We invite middle school and high school female and non-binary students to join us for engaging hands-on experiences, designed to introduce them to computer science at the University of Michigan and strengthen their coding skills through exciting projects. The events welcome both beginners and experienced coders. Our first event of the semester, a Virtual Reality Workshop, will take place November 22nd from 3 pm - 6 pm on University of Michigan’s North Campus. Dinner will be provided for all participants. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached flier with any students who may be interested in this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to geecs.officers@umich.edu if you have any questions. Here is a flyer with more information.

Thank you for your support!

Sign Up Form

Thank you,

GirlsTalkTech

F.E.M.M.E.S.

F.E.M.M.E.S. Explore Capstone event is an in-person event from 10 AM - 4 PM Saturday (tomorrow), November 8th for 4th to 6th graders, held at the University of Michigan. This event will expose students to various interactive STEM activities, allow them to gain hands-on experience in performing some experiments and projects, and give them an opportunity to interact with women pursuing college degrees and careers in STEM. All of the events are specifically designed to support girls* in developing confidence and interest in STEM fields, but like all F.E.M.M.E.S activities, is open to students of all genders. This event is completely free and at no cost to participants. Lunch will be provided, and more information is here on this flyer.

MindSet

MindSET 3 is a free non-school sponsored event for all 3rd-5th grade students.  The event is on Sunday, November 9th and it is designed to provide students with hands-on science to engineering experiences students work with U of M engineers. Here is a flyer with more information.

Rec & ED

Youth Sports: 🏀⚽Basketball Leagues for 4th-8th Graders and Futsal Leagues for Y5-5th Graders  - Registration is open, leagues begin in January. Stay active and have fun.

 

FREE FAMILY EVENT- First Steps Early Childhood: Join us for a FREE program at the University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA) November 22, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM. Get Back To Basics reinforces shapes and colors for UMMA’s youngest visitors. There will be a “soft” space with mats, toys, and board books for infants. Learn more and register here.

Ways to raise funds for Ann Arbor Open without spending any extra $$!

The AAOCC is continuing to work hard to raise funds to support our school's students, teachers, and staff!

There are a number of ways to raise funds without spending any extra money. Do you shop at Kroger? Busch's? Arbor Farms? Please make sure to set your Kroger and Busch's loyalty cards to support Ann Arbor Open, and mention our school when you check out at Arbor Farms. Here are links/instructions to do this. (You can ask your friends and family members to do this, too!)

We also have an ongoing fundraiser with Mabel's Labels. If you need labels for your child's clothing so that lost items find their way home, please select Ann Arbor Open to receive 20% of your purchase.

You can also designate the AAOCC to receive your organization's donation through the United Way.

Learn more about all these options here!

From the AAOCC

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year was yesterday (Thursday, October 23) in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Lost and Found

Parents, please encourage your children to check the lost & found. Recently, the parents who work to keep it organized have said that it is overflowing. We also encourage parents to stop by during pick up or drop off to take a look.

           

Food Service

 

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to ALL students for the rest of this school year. We still need families to complete the Education Benefit Form (EBF). We have included a link to the form below that can be printed and turned in to the front office:

Education Benefit Form

The EBF form helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology.

We encourage you to complete the form online. Here is a QR code that can help you complete the process.

Chromebooks

As classrooms ramp up with work and testing, it is important for students to remember to bring their chromebooks every day, or to leave them at school. There is a limited supply the office has to loan out for students, so let’s work together to ensure they are prepared.

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

​​Updates on Miller Road Closure - N.Maple to First St. - Through November 22, 2025

The City has informed us that the Miller Rd. closure will have major impacts on car travel. Buses

have been rerouted through the neighborhoods.

The City shares that all of the intersections (Saunders Crescent, Linda Vista, etc.) may be used

to and from eastbound Miller for local traffic.

Brooks St. lane closures will be completed shortly and can be used as well.

The Crossing Guard at Miller should still be able to cross students. If a sidewalk detour arises, we will adjust the crossing location.

These are the suggested detours and impacts from the City:

● Eastbound vehicles traveling on Miller Avenue will be detoured south on North Maple

Road, then east on Dexter Avenue to east on West Huron Street, then north on North

First Street to Miller Avenue.

● Westbound vehicles will be detoured south on North First Street, then west on West

Huron Street, then west on Dexter Avenue, then north on North Maple Road to Miller

Avenue.

● Cyclists are advised to travel to and from downtown Ann Arbor via Dexter Avenue,

South Revena Blvd, and West Washington Street.

● Pedestrian traffic will be maintained, with detours posted as necessary during

sidewalk replacement work.

● Emergency vehicles are advised to follow the posted detour, when possible. However,

emergency vehicle access will be maintained as needed.

● Access to driveways within the closure will be maintained.

Thank you for your patience during this road construction and please build enough time into

your arrival and pick up. We encourage drivers to park in the neighborhood areas and walk to

pick up your student(s). The church parking lot is the safest option to lessen traffic in the

neighborhood.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to                  

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 8, 10am-3pm: Empower Your Finances Fair

Wednesday Nov 10th and Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, November 11, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Picture Retake Day - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Noodles & Company Restaurant Night - Monday, November 17, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2025

Silent Auction Week Begins - Monday, December 1, 2025

Detroit Street Filling Station Restaurant Night - Monday, December 8, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

AAOCC General Assembly Meeting - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 (7 - 8PM)

Band/Choir Winter Concert - Wednesday, December 10, 2025 (6:30 - 7:30PM)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           October 31, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. Hopefully you were able to join us for our parade this morning, but if not, we have included a few pictures below. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month, a national observance to celebrate the rich history, traditions, and ongoing contributions of Indigenous peoples in the United States. This month-long celebration honors American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan communities to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation.

A Few Quick and Important Notes

Parking

Ann Arbor Open has over 50 staff members and only 38 designated staff parking spots. The parking lot on the Brooks st side of the school is specifically intended to be staff parking, which is also where the bus loop is. We know that this new construction update will cause hiccups for our families and staff. Many families drop their kids off on the Brooks side, but please keep this in mind:

PLEASE don’t drop your kid off in the bus loop.  The buses are frequently impacted by parents pulling all the way through the bus loop. It has a much bigger impact than it might seem.

PLEASE don’t park in the Brooks parking lot to drop off your kid, even if you’re just parking for a minute. Staff members frequently have to detour into the neighborhood in search of street parking because of families waiting in cars before school in the mornings. This usually gets much worse in the winter months, so we’re mentioning it now:  PLEASE don’t take up a staff parking spot in the mornings.  (You might think that it would go without saying that people definitely shouldn’t hang out in the handicap designated parking spots, but that has become an issue recently as well, which has impacted the staff members who depend on those accessible parking spots.) Again, we understand that this will be a tremendous inconvenience for us all, but by working together we can get through it.

WISD Countywide CTE Millage

In partnership with local school districts, the WISD CTE team has put together a list of current CTE programs offered and what proposed programs could be added for each individual school district. This includes proposed state-approved 11th and 12th grade CTE programs, as well as PreK-10 CTE experiences. To see the full draft proposed list, click here!

These proposed expanded programs connect to future-focused careers in high-wage, high-skill, in-demand pathways in our region like:

•Aviation and aerospace

•Automotive technology

•Computer science

•Construction trades

•Cybersecurity

•Entrepreneurship

•Environmental science

•Health sciences

•Robotics and engineering

•Welding

Learn more at www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage.

Travelin’ Tom’s - Coffee Shop Fundraiser

Travelin’ Tom’s will be coming to our building Monday, November 3, 2025. They will be parking on the corner, near the lot on Red Oak. I have attached a flyer that gives more information about the event.

UNICEF Fundraiser

The student council is working to make a difference in the lives of children all over the world. They are conducting a fundraiser with the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF foundation. This fundraiser will run from now until December 30th. We are attaching a flyer with more information.

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS)

Girls in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (GEECS) at the University of Michigan is hosting an on-campus program this semester called GirlsTalkTech. We invite middle school and high school female and non-binary students to join us for engaging hands-on experiences, designed to introduce them to computer science at the University of Michigan and strengthen their coding skills through exciting projects. The events welcome both beginners and experienced coders. Our first event of the semester, a Virtual Reality Workshop, will take place November 22nd from 3 pm - 6 pm on University of Michigan’s North Campus. Dinner will be provided for all participants. We would greatly appreciate it if you could share the attached flier with any students who may be interested in this opportunity. Please feel free to reach out to geecs.officers@umich.edu if you have any questions. Here is a flyer with more information.

Thank you for your support!

Sign Up Form

Thank you,

GirlsTalkTech

F.E.M.M.E.S.

F.E.M.M.E.S. Explore Capstone event is an in-person event from 10 AM - 4 PM Saturday, November 8th for 4th to 6th graders, held at the University of Michigan. This event will expose students to various interactive STEM activities, allow them to gain hands-on experience in performing some experiments and projects, and give them an opportunity to interact with women pursuing college degrees and careers in STEM. All of the events are specifically designed to support girls* in developing confidence and interest in STEM fields, but like all F.E.M.M.E.S activities, is open to students of all genders. This event is completely free and at no cost to participants. Lunch will be provided, and more information is here on this flyer.

MindSet

MindSET 3 is a free non-school sponsored event for all 3rd-5th grade students.  The event is on Sunday, November 9th and it is designed to provide students with hands-on science to engineering experiences students work with U of M engineers. Here is a flyer with more information.

PTO Thrift Shop

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year was yesterday (Thursday, October 23) in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Lost and Found

Parents, please encourage your children to check the lost & found. Recently, the parents who work to keep it organized have said that it is overflowing. We also encourage parents to stop by during pick up or drop off to take a look.

           

Food Service

 

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to ALL students for the rest of this school year. We still need families to complete the Education Benefit Form (EBF). We have included a link to the form below that can be printed and turned in to the front office:

Education Benefit Form

The EBF form helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology.

We encourage you to complete the form online. Here is a QR code that can help you complete the process.

Chromebooks

As classrooms ramp up with work and testing, it is important for students to remember to bring their chromebooks every day, or to leave them at school. There is a limited supply the office has to loan out for students, so let’s work together to ensure they are prepared.

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

More Road Construction near Open…

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to                  

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 8, 10am-3pm: Empower Your Finances Fair

Wednesday Nov 10th and Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

AA Open Coffee Fundraiser (Travelin’ Toms) - Monday, November 3, 2025

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

Picture Retake Day - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Noodles & Company Restaurant Night - Monday, November 17, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           October 24, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

A Few Quick and Important Notes

Parking

Ann Arbor Open has over 50 staff members and only 38 designated staff parking spots. The parking lot on the Brooks st side of the school is specifically intended to be staff parking, which is also where the bus loop is. We know that this new construction update will cause hiccups for our families and staff. Many families drop their kids off on the Brooks side, but please keep this in mind:

PLEASE don’t drop your kid off in the bus loop.  The buses are frequently impacted by parents pulling all the way through the bus loop. It has a much bigger impact than it might seem.

PLEASE don’t park in the Brooks parking lot to drop off your kid, even if you’re just parking for a minute. Staff members frequently have to detour into the neighborhood in search of street parking because of families waiting in cars before school in the mornings. This usually gets much worse in the winter months, so we’re mentioning it now:  PLEASE don’t take up a staff parking spot in the mornings.  (You might think that it would go without saying that people definitely shouldn’t hang out in the handicap designated parking spots, but that has become an issue recently as well, which has impacted the staff members who depend on those accessible parking spots.) Again, we understand that this will be a tremendous inconvenience for us all, but by working together we can get through it.

Halloween/Costume Parade

Halloween is Friday, October 31st.  It’ll be a half day of school (dismissal at 11:15am) and we’ll have a Costume Parade at 9:30am.  A reminder that Ann Arbor Open is a pre-K-8th grade school, so please help your child keep that in mind when planning the school version of their costume. Things that might seem edgy but reasonable for a 12 year old could be absolutely nightmarish to some of their six year old schoolmates. Please use discretion.

Filipino American History Month

During the Month of October we celebrate Filipino American History Month. Filipino American History Month (FAHM) is celebrated every October to commemorate the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans in the United States.

Johnny and Kayleigh’s classes created a bulletin board for Hispanic Heritage Month. Check it out by the office and take your own picture with the Frida Kahlo inspired wings! Look closely to find quotes by other important Hispanic figures. They also created another great project. Stop by and check it out!

                                

Focus Studies!

                         

It is time to engage in our first Focus Study of the year! Next week, students will have a wonderful opportunity to engage and dive into a deeper topic of interest. Here is a flyer with more information. Please contact Jesse or Sarah if you have any questions.

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year was yesterday (Thursday, October 23) in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Lost and Found

Parents, please encourage your children to check the lost & found. Recently, the parents who work to keep it organized have said that it is overflowing. We also encourage parents to stop by during pick up or drop off to take a look.

           

Food Service

 

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to ALL students for the rest of this school year. We still need families to complete the Education Benefit Form (EBF). We have included a link to the form below that can be printed and turned in to the front office:

Education Benefit Form

The EBF form helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology.

We encourage you to complete the form online. Here is a QR code that can help you complete the process.

Public Works & Solid Waste Open House - Free

Public Works & Solid Waste Open House

Saturday, October 25th, 2025

10a.m-1p.m.

 

Join us for a free family-friendly event exploring the world of public works & solid waste!

Enjoy hands-on activities to learn about, utility infrastructure, city forestry, street maintenance, solid waste, compost & recycling programs.

 

Activities:

Public Works Unit

Solid Waste Unit

4251 Stone School Road

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

A2GOV.ORG/PUBLICWORKS

A2GOV.ORG/SOLIDWASTE

 

WISD Countywide CTE Millage

On November 4, 2025, voters residing within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s service area will be asked to consider a 1 mill tax that would support the expansion of Career Technical Education (CTE) learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation.

CTE helps students understand why they learn what they learn from PreK-12, and it opens doors to college, careers and beyond.

 

If a CTE millage is approved by voters in November, students in preschool, elementary, middle and high school would benefit from new programs and expansion of existing programs. Washtenaw County’s CTE framework would span from PreK-12, with age-appropriate experiences that build on each other as students grow and learn.

To learn more about the proposal, visit www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage. The WISD is hosting community information sessions:

Chromebooks

As classrooms ramp up with work and testing, it is important for students to remember to bring their chromebooks every day, or to leave them at school. There is a limited supply the office has to loan out for students, so let’s work together to ensure they are prepared.

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

More Road Construction near Open…

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to                  

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Upcoming Events

Saturday, November 8, 10am-3pm: Empower Your Finances Fair

Wednesday Nov 10th and Wednesday December 3rd: Childbirth and Breastfeeding Classes

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

Picture Retake Day - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Noodles & Company Restaurant Night - Monday, November 17, 2025 (4 - 8PM)

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           October 17, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Filipino American History Month

During the Month of October we celebrate Filipino American History Month. Filipino American History Month (FAHM) is celebrated every October to commemorate the history, culture, and contributions of Filipino Americans in the United States.

Johnny and Kayleigh’s classes created a bulletin board for Hispanic Heritage Month. Check it out by the office and take your own picture with the Frida Kahlo inspired wings! Look closely to find quotes by other important Hispanic figures. They also created another great project. Stop by and check it out!

                                

Focus Studies!

                         

It is almost time to engage in our first Focus Study of the year. During the week of October 27th, students will have a wonderful opportunity to engage and dive into a deeper topic of interest. Here is a flyer with more information. Please contact Jesse or Sarah if you have any questions.

QSA Club

Attention all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders - you are invited to join the Ann Arbor Open QSA (Queer Straight Alliance Club) again this year.  Our kickoff meeting of the year will be on Thursday, October 23 in Jennifer's room (237) from 3:30 to 4:20.  

The QSA is a student-run organization that unites LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in our schools and surrounding communities. QSAs have evolved beyond their traditional role to serve as safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth in middle schools and high schools, and have emerged as vehicles for deep social change related to racial, gender, and educational justice.  All 5th-8th graders are invited to please join us in this important mission at Ann Arbor Open on Thursdays beginning October 23, from 3:30-4:20.  As members of the QSA, you get to help decide what it will look like!

Note:  If you are interested in taking the late bus home on Thursdays,  you must register in advance.  Please contact the main school office.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer at thomasjen@aaps.k12.mi.us

Lost and Found

Parents, please encourage your children to check the lost & found. Recently, the parents who work to keep it organized have said that it is overflowing. We also encourage parents to stop by during pick up or drop off to take a look.

           

Food Service

 

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is pleased to announce that we will be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to ALL students for the rest of this school year.

Overnight, the Michigan legislature passed a state budget for the 2025-26 year, including the K-12 education budget that provides funding for school meals for all students.

Education Benefit Form (EBF)

It is still important for ALL AAPS families to fill out the Education Benefit Form (EBF) to check for qualification for free and reduced meals:

Education Benefit Form

The EBF form also helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology.

We encourage you to complete the form online. Here is a QR code that can help you complete the process.

Fall Festival

AAOCC is hosting its second annual Fall Festival this Sunday, October 19, from 1-5pm! This event is free for the whole AAO community (families and staff). There will be a Community Picnic (bring lunch and join us on the lawn!) as well as fall themed activities including a costume swap, face painting, games, fall-themed art, and snacks.

Have a costume to donate? Drop it off in the box outside the main office, or you can bring a costume to donate on Sunday.

Are you available for a 45-60 minute shift to help out? We need folks to help with set up/clean up, popcorn popping, the costume swap, the art station, and the snack table. We also would love pumpkin donations. Click here to sign up (https://www.aaopencc.org/volunteer/156926). Here is a flyer with more details. 

Public Works & Solid Waste Open House - Free

Public Works & Solid Waste Open House

Saturday, October 25th, 2025

10a.m-1p.m.

 

Join us for a free family-friendly event exploring the world of public works & solid waste!

Enjoy hands-on activities to learn about, utility infrastructure, city forestry, street maintenance, solid waste, compost & recycling programs.

 

Activities:

Public Works Unit

Solid Waste Unit

4251 Stone School Road

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

A2GOV.ORG/PUBLICWORKS

A2GOV.ORG/SOLIDWASTE

 

WISD Countywide CTE Millage

On November 4, 2025, voters residing within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s service area will be asked to consider a 1 mill tax that would support the expansion of Career Technical Education (CTE) learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation.

CTE helps students understand why they learn what they learn from PreK-12, and it opens doors to college, careers and beyond.

 

If a CTE millage is approved by voters in November, students in preschool, elementary, middle and high school would benefit from new programs and expansion of existing programs. Washtenaw County’s CTE framework would span from PreK-12, with age-appropriate experiences that build on each other as students grow and learn.

To learn more about the proposal, visit www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage. The WISD is hosting community information sessions:

Attendance Robocalls

Robocalls have been enabled.Each night scripts pick out all remaining unverified absences as of 4:30 pm for the current day and compile a list of the corresponding students for upload to SchoolMessenger for each building. All contacts marked as custodial or designated to receive SchoolMessenger messages will be phoned for each student. Calls begin going out at 6pm.

Chromebooks

As classrooms ramp up with work and testing, it is important for students to remember to bring their chromebooks every day, or to leave them at school. There is a limited supply the office has to loan out for students, so let’s work together to ensure they are prepared.

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

More Road Construction near Open…

Here is a flyer with more information about some new construction that is about to take place. The flyer has a backside, but we have copied the information and put it below for you

Schedule

Construction is anticipated to start on Monday, October 20, 2025 and last until Monday, October 27, 2025.

General work hours will be between 7am and 8pm, Monday through Saturday.

What You Will See

Paving

CONTRACTOR: Bailey

ONSITE CONTACT:

Dan Powers, City of Ann Arbor Inspector

DPowers@a2gov.org

Cell: 248.974.0094

Carl Emmons, City of Ann Arbor Inspector

O: 734.794.6410 x43644

CEnnibs@a2gov.org

GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION:

Francisca Chan, Project Manager

FChan@a2gov.org

734.794.6410 x43701

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to                  

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

From the District: 

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Fall Festival - Sunday, October 19, 2025 (1pm - 5pm)

***Diwali - Monday, October 20, 2025

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

Picture Retake Day - Wednesday, November 12, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Report Cards Sent Home - Tuesday, November 25, 2025

No School - Wednesday, November 26 - 28, 2025 (Late Fall Break)

School Resumes - Monday, December 1, 2026

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           October 3,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It is important that every student and family feel a sense of belonging here at Ann Arbor Open. Know that you are welcomed and valued. Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and each student brings with them their unique talents, ideas, culture, and experiences to our school community. We celebrate their successes, support them through challenges, and encourage them to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Our doors are always open, we are here to support our students and families, and your voice, presence, and participation make our school community stronger. Together, students, families, and staff create a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment at Ann Arbor Open where everyone can succeed.

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month! This time is used to give recognition to the Hispanic and Latino history, culture, and contributions made by these communities to the United States. Books are a great example of this! Books connect us with cultures, memories, and movements that we would otherwise not know about. Our librarian Anne has put out a wonderful selection of books for our students to enjoy.

Lost and Found

Parents, please encourage your children to check the lost & found. Recently, the parents who work to keep it organized have said that it is overflowing. We also encourage parents to stop by during pick up or drop off to take a look.

           

Food Service

 

Education Benefit Form (EBF)

It is important for ALL AAPS families to fill out the Education Benefit Form (EBF) to check for qualification for free and reduced meals: Education Benefit Form

The EBF form also helps AAPS qualify for important additional funding for instructional staff, social workers, counselors, nurses and technology. We encourage you to complete the form online. Here is a QR code that can help you complete the process.

Attendance Robocalls

Next week starting on Tuesday, October 7, robocalls will again be enabled.Each night scripts pick out all remaining unverified absences or unexcused tardies as of 4:30 pm for the current day and compile a list of the corresponding students for upload to SchoolMessenger for each building. All contacts marked as custodial or designated to receive SchoolMessenger messages will be phoned for each student. Calls begin going out at 6pm.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This year we will be having a common conference night for the whole building. We are doing this for two reasons

  1. It allows families with siblings in multiple grades to possibly coordinate only one night of conferences.
  2. Safety - It allows our teachers to be in the building after hours together, so no one is doing conferences alone.

The night that was chosen for our common parent-teacher conference night is Thursday, October 16th.

Conferences will begin between 3:30 and 4pm, and conclude at 7pm. Some teachers may have already relayed this information to you during curriculum night, but we wanted to make sure that everyone is aware. If that night does not work for your family, please coordinate with the teacher to have your conference at a different time. Some grade levels may decide on a common date/time and hold conferences together.

This year, the AAOCC is helping out with the new parent/teacher conference format by making sure our amazing staff has dinner while they stay late to meet with families. Watch your inbox for an email from the AAOCC with details on how you can treat your student’s teachers to a meal!

All Skate!

Join us on Saturday, October 4th 12:30-2:30pm at the Ann Arbor Skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park for the first ever Open SK8!

 

Bring your skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, or scooter. We will have some extra skateboards available for people who want to give it a try. Please bring a helmet and pads and wear suitable clothing (closed toe shoes, etc.). Here are some more details.

 

Kids in all grades and with all levels of experience are welcome. It will be an epic first Open SK8!"

Community Dialogue and Data Walk

Calling all AAPS Parents & Caregivers: Please join a Community Dialogue and Data Walk event on October 16, 2025 at 6pm at the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library (2359 Oak Valley Dr). We will dive into data and discussion of experiences with PTOs and resources across the district! Dinner and childcare/activities will be provided. Please RSVP here (feel free to join even if you do not RSVP)! Here is a flyer with more information.

Fall Festival

AAOCC is hosting its second annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 19, from 1-5pm! This event is free for the whole AAO community (families and staff). There will be a Community Picnic (bring lunch and join us on the lawn!) as well as fall themed activities including a costume swap, face painting, games, fall-themed art, and snacks.

Have a costume to donate? Drop it off in the box outside the main office, or you can bring a costume to donate on Sunday.

Are you available for a 45-60 minute shift to help out? We need folks to help with set up/clean up, popcorn popping, the costume swap, the art station, and the snack table. We also would love pumpkin donations. Click here to sign up (https://www.aaopencc.org/volunteer/156926). Here is a flyer with more details. 

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Focus Studies!

                         

It is almost time to engage in our first Focus Study of the year. During the week of October 27th, students will have a wonderful opportunity to engage and dive into a deeper topic of interest. Here is a flyer with more information. Please contact Jesse or Sarah if you have any questions.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

Kelsey Museum

The Kelsey Museum will have a Fall Family Event on Sunday, October 5th geared towards students Y5 through 5th grade. Here is a link to a flyer that contains some additional details related to the event.

From the District: 

Bikeapalooza is a free annual family friendly education event celebrating downtown Ann Arbor’s protected bikeway network. There will be live music, giveaways, face painting, fun activities and more. Bikeapalooza will be located on the surface parking lot at the corner of William and Fifth from noon to 2 PM on Saturday, September 20th. More details here.

Game On! Youth Sports Fall League registration is open.  Sign up now for Basketball (2nd & 3rd Grade) or Volleyball (4th - 9th Grade). The deadline to register is September 22.

FREE FAMILY EVENT!  The annual First Steps Fall Festival/Trike-A-Thon is Saturday, September 27th from 9:30am-12pm at Westerman Preschool & Family Center. Perfect for families with children under 7 years old.

Care Solace

Need mental health or substance use care for your student or yourself?

AAPS contracts with Care Solace to provide free, confidential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Care Coordination Services. Care Solace is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to connect students, staff, and their families to mental health and substance abuse service providers.

Over 200 languages are supported, and help is available to those with and without insurance.

Using Care Solace is easy!

Information about Care Solace is available in Spanish, Arabic, and Mandarin.  

Alana's Foundation Flu Vaccine Clinic - October 6, 2025

All AAPS students and family members are welcome to the Alana’s Foundation Flu Vaccination Clinic at Pioneer High School on Monday, October 6, from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Vaccine is available for those two and up. A flu vaccine doesn’t always prevent the flu, but it can lessen flu’s more serious symptoms, reducing the risk of serious illness and flu-related hospitalization in children and adults with chronic conditions.

** Get a $5.00 Target gift card for each dose, while supplies last! **

Save time and pre-register:

  1. GO TO: https://alanas.vna.org
  2. ENTER:         

    Clinic ID: 2819

    Passcode: ALANAS2025

         3. SCROLL DOWN AND SELECT PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL, OR ENTER DATE

Children 17 and under must have a consent form completed by a parent/guardian.

More information for parents/guardians here: CDC’s Flu Info for Parents

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Upcoming Events

Job Fair 2025

Registration is open for a2Tech360! Happening September 24 – October 3, 2025

Mind Matters: The Intersections of Substance Abuse, Suicidality and Bipolar Disorder

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

AA Open Common Parent-Teacher Conference Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025 (3:30-7)

Panera Restaurant Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025

Fall Festival - Sunday, October 19, 2025 (1pm - 5pm)

***Diwali - Monday, October 20, 2025

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           September 26,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 through October 15, we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month! This time is used to give recognition to the Hispanic and Latino history, culture, and contributions made by these communities to the United States. Books are a great example of this! Books connect us with cultures, memories, and movements that we would otherwise not know about. Our librarian Anne has put out a wonderful selection of books for our students to enjoy.

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 30th

Order online at www.kaiserstudio.com 

School ID Code: 2526AAOPEN

Or use the paper order form that came home with your students this week.

AA Open Spirit Wear

Ann Arbor Open's Spirit Wear shop is now open! It will close on September 30 at midnight; please order before then. Purchases will be delivered at the end of October. There are new items and colors available this round--check them out!

Direct questions to: fundraising@aaopencc.org

Food Service

As of October 1, 2025, AAPS will no longer be able to provide universal free meals for all students if the state aid budget is not passed or is passed without universal breakfast and lunch funding.  Please know that this difficult decision was not made lightly. We remain hopeful that state legislators will soon pass a budget that includes the Michigan School Meals program—maintaining free breakfast and lunch for all students.

 

All AAPS families are strongly encouraged to complete the annual Education Benefit Form (EBF) to ensure that all free and reduced-price lunch eligible students are identified. The form can be completed electronically in the AAPS Family Portal, which you can log into here. Hard copies of the Education Benefit Form are available in your school office.

 

Please review the full message on this food service change here.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This year we will be having a common conference night for the whole building. We are doing this for two reasons

  1. It allows families with siblings in multiple grades to possibly coordinate only one night of conferences.
  2. Safety - It allows our teachers to be in the building after hours together, so no one is doing conferences alone.

The night that was chosen for our common parent-teacher conference night is Thursday, October 16th.

Conferences will begin between 3:30 and 4pm, and conclude at 7pm. Some teachers may have already relayed this information to you during curriculum night, but we wanted to make sure that everyone is aware. If that night does not work for your family, please coordinate with the teacher to have your conference at a different time. Some grade levels may decide on a common date/time and hold conferences together.

This year, the AAOCC is helping out with the new parent/teacher conference format by making sure our amazing staff has dinner while they stay late to meet with families. Watch your inbox for an email from the AAOCC with details on how you can treat your student’s teachers to a meal!

All Skate!

Join us on Saturday, October 4th 12:30-2:30pm at the Ann Arbor Skatepark at Veterans Memorial Park for the first ever Open SK8!

 

Bring your skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, or scooter. We will have some extra skateboards available for people who want to give it a try. Please bring a helmet and pads and wear suitable clothing (closed toe shoes, etc.). Here are some more details.

 

Kids in all grades and with all levels of experience are welcome. It will be an epic first Open SK8!"

Fall Festival

AAOCC is hosting its second annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 19, from 1-5pm! This event is free for the whole AAO community (families and staff). There will be a Community Picnic (bring lunch and join us on the lawn!) as well as fall themed activities including a costume swap, face painting, games, fall-themed art, and snacks.

Have a costume to donate? Drop it off in the box outside the main office, or you can bring a costume to donate on Sunday.

Are you available for a 45-60 minute shift to help out? We need folks to help with set up/clean up, popcorn popping, the costume swap, the art station, and the snack table. We also would love pumpkin donations. Click here to sign up (https://www.aaopencc.org/volunteer/156926). Here is a flyer with more details. 

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Focus Studies!

                         

It is almost time to engage in our first Focus Study of the year. During the week of October 27th, students will have a wonderful opportunity to engage and dive into a deeper topic of interest. Here is a flyer with more information. Please contact Jesse or Sarah if you have any questions.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Author News!

Former Ann Arbor Open parent Lynn Baldwin, parent of Elliot, has published her first children’s book. It’s called “My Backyard Used to Be” and she will be hosting a storytime at Schuler Books on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00am. All are welcome to join for this fun free event!

https://www.schulerbooks.com/event/storytime-lynn-baldwin

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

Kelsey Museum

The Kelsey Museum will have a Fall Family Event on Sunday, October 5th geared towards students Y5 through 5th grade. Here is a link to a flyer that contains some additional details related to the event.

From the District: 

Bikeapalooza is a free annual family friendly education event celebrating downtown Ann Arbor’s protected bikeway network. There will be live music, giveaways, face painting, fun activities and more. Bikeapalooza will be located on the surface parking lot at the corner of William and Fifth from noon to 2 PM on Saturday, September 20th. More details here.

Game On! Youth Sports Fall League registration is open.  Sign up now for Basketball (2nd & 3rd Grade) or Volleyball (4th - 9th Grade). The deadline to register is September 22.

FREE FAMILY EVENT!  The annual First Steps Fall Festival/Trike-A-Thon is Saturday, September 27th from 9:30am-12pm at Westerman Preschool & Family Center. Perfect for families with children under 7 years old.

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Upcoming Events

Job Fair 2025

Registration is open for a2Tech360! Happening September 24 – October 3, 2025

Mind Matters: The Intersections of Substance Abuse, Suicidality and Bipolar Disorder

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins - Monday, September 15, 2025

Lockdown Drill #1 - Friday, September 26, 2025

Chipotle Restaurant Night - Monday, September 29, 2025 (4-8pm)

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

Picture Day - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

***Yom Kippur - Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (Begins at Sunset)

Count Day - Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, October 3, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

AA Open Common Parent-Teacher Conference Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025 (3:30-7)

Panera Restaurant Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025

Fall Festival - Sunday, October 19, 2025 (1pm - 5pm)

***Diwali - Monday, October 20, 2025

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           September 19,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. As always, we encourage you to take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Picture Day is Tuesday, September 30th

Order online at www.kaiserstudio.com 

School ID Code: 2526AAOPEN

Or use the paper order form that came home with your students this week.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This year we will be having a common conference night for the whole building. We are doing this for two reasons

  1. It allows families with siblings in multiple grades to possibly coordinate only one night of conferences.
  2. Safety - It allows our teachers to be in the building after hours together, so no one is doing conferences alone.

The night that was chosen for our common parent-teacher conference night is Thursday, October 16th.

Conferences will begin between 3:30 and 4pm, and conclude at 7pm. Some teachers may have already relayed this information to you during curriculum night, but we wanted to make sure that everyone is aware. If that night does not work for your family, please coordinate with the teacher to have your conference at a different time. Some grade levels may decide on a common date/time and hold conferences together.

This year, the AAOCC is helping out with the new parent/teacher conference format by making sure our amazing staff has dinner while they stay late to meet with families. Watch your inbox for an email from the AAOCC with details on how you can treat your student’s teachers to a meal!

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Focus Studies!

                         

It is almost time to engage in our first Focus Study of the year. During the week of October 27th, students will have a wonderful opportunity to engage and dive into a deeper topic of interest. Here is a flyer with more information. Please contact Jesse or Sarah if you have any questions.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

Art News from Deb:

By the end of the year I usually have a pretty solid compilation representing what we do in our art program here at Open.

Ann Arbor Open Online Art Gallery

Families might be interested in exploring the site to

a) learn about our program

b) look for their artwork and artwork made by friends,

c) find inspiration

Author News!

Former Ann Arbor Open parent Lynn Baldwin, parent of Elliot, has published her first children’s book. It’s called “My Backyard Used to Be” and she will be hosting a storytime at Schuler Books on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00am. All are welcome to join for this fun free event!

https://www.schulerbooks.com/event/storytime-lynn-baldwin

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

Kelsey Museum

The Kelsey Museum will have a Fall Family Event on Sunday, October 5th geared towards students Y5 through 5th grade. Here is a link to a flyer that contains some additional details related to the event.

From the District: 

Bikeapalooza is a free annual family friendly education event celebrating downtown Ann Arbor’s protected bikeway network. There will be live music, giveaways, face painting, fun activities and more. Bikeapalooza will be located on the surface parking lot at the corner of William and Fifth from noon to 2 PM on Saturday, September 20th. More details here.

Game On! Youth Sports Fall League registration is open.  Sign up now for Basketball (2nd & 3rd Grade) or Volleyball (4th - 9th Grade). The deadline to register is September 22.

FREE FAMILY EVENT!  The annual First Steps Fall Festival/Trike-A-Thon is Saturday, September 27th from 9:30am-12pm at Westerman Preschool & Family Center. Perfect for families with children under 7 years old.

Community Resources For Families and Students

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Families and Students

Vouchers for Free glasses and exams through America's Best

Oct 15-Nov 4: The Science of Sleep Course Series by the U-M Alumni Association

Winter Resources Support

Now Open! 2025 Volunteers of America Adopt a Family Program

Academic Support

Free Tutoring Through Student Groups at the University of Michigan
***AAPS does not vouch for the quality of or endorse any of these tutoring services. AAPS Students and families should use their own judgment when deciding if a tutoring option is right for them.***

Tutoring with LEAP for Middle and High School Students

FREE K-12 Afterschool, GED, ACT/SAT Weekly Online Tutoring: End the Cycle

FREE online tutoring through the Education Project

Upcoming Events

Job Fair 2025

Registration is open for a2Tech360! Happening September 24 – October 3, 2025

Mind Matters: The Intersections of Substance Abuse, Suicidality and Bipolar Disorder

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins - Monday, September 15, 2025

Fire Drill #1 - Friday, September 19, 2025

***Rosh Hashanah - Monday, September 22, 2025 (Begins at Sunset)

Lockdown Drill #1 - Friday, September 26, 2025

Chipotle Restaurant Night - Monday, September 29, 2025 (4-8pm)

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

Picture Day - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

***Yom Kippur - Wednesday, October 1, 2025 (Begins at Sunset)

Count Day - Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Coffee with the Principals - Friday, October 3, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

AA Open Common Parent-Teacher Conference Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025 (3:30-7)

Panera Restaurant Night - Thursday, October 16, 2025

Fall Festival - Sunday, October 19, 2025 (1pm - 5pm)

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School - Tuesday, November 4, 2025 (Election Day)

Coffee With the Principals - Friday, November 7, 2025

World Kindness Day - Thursday, November 13, 2025

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                           September 12,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been another wonderful week here at Ann Arbor Open. Hopefully you had a chance to stop by last night during Curriculum Night to see your child’s teacher and visit the classrooms. Please take some time this weekend to find a few moments and connect with nature, share some laughs, or grab some peace. Here are some notes for the week.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

This year we will be having a common conference night for the whole building. We are doing this for two reasons

  1. It allows families with siblings in multiple grades to possibly coordinate only one night of conferences.
  2. Safety - It allows our teachers to be in the building after hours together, so no one is doing conferences alone.

The night that was chosen for our common parent-teacher conference night is Thursday, October 16th.

Conferences will begin between 3:30 and 4pm, and conclude at 7pm. Some teachers may have already relayed this information to you during curriculum night, but we wanted to make sure that everyone is aware. If that night does not work for your family, please coordinate with the teacher to have your conference at a different time. Some grade levels may decide on a common date/time and hold conferences together.

This year, the AAOCC is helping out with the new parent/teacher conference format by making sure our amazing staff has dinner while they stay late to meet with families. Watch your inbox for an email from the AAOCC with details on how you can treat your student’s teachers to a meal!

From The Executive Director of School Safety and Operations:

Miller & Red Oak Traffic Congestion

We have seen more recent back-ups on Miller during pick-up time. We anticipated that  the changes on Miller could result in vehicles staging on Miller. But now  these vehicles are blocking the crosswalks at Miller and Red Oak, creating a potentially dangerous situation for student walkers and bikers.

As we wait for the city to complete the road work and add signs, we want to remind you that there is No Left Turn from Red Oak to Miller. The sign is missing but we ask families not to turn left onto Miller to avoid the crosswalk.

Working together we can ensure the safety of our students, especially the ones who walk or bike to and from school using the busy Red Oak and Miller intersection.

Thank you

Zero the Hero

Zero the Hero visits our Y5 and K  classrooms every 10 days for the first 100 days of school (on the zero days) and our 1st & 2nd graders on the 10th, 50th and 100th days of school. Part of the lower grade math curriculum is counting the days to 100 - learning skip counting, etc.  We celebrate the 100th day of school with 100s day collections of objects in our 100s day museum.

Zero, our local resident superhero, also delivers gifts to the classroom with each visit. Each gift Zero gives, is in the shape of a zero!  Panda is Zero's silent sidekick that helps Zero on the visits to our younger students to help count and celebrate the days.

Two Items From Jennifer:

Eggs

If you would like to receive some eggs from AA Open please sign up using the google form below:

The egg request form:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nXF2ob2gBJtfb81UKTWKdkZ7IyZv04HQI9XN2nUn0Yc/edit?usp=sharing

 Disco Fridays!

Put on your dancing shoes (or sneakers)  every Friday morning from 7:45 to 8:15 and come to Jennifer's room (237) to dance to the disco classics!  Jennifer's room is on the corner of the building by the lower playground & parent drop off lane.  Come in through the outside door (marked #5).  All are welcome - families, students, and siblings - teachers too, if we’re lucky!

From Bridgit:

Hello Elementary Families: it has been great to be back musicking with Ann Arbor Open Students! Art Teacher Deb shared this video with me, and I "Just Can't Get Enough" of it, so I played it for 3rd & 4th graders, and they were delighted. Several students asked me to share it with them, so here it is! Have you ever made music with found instruments? (I promise I told them not to use the refrigerator as an instrument.) What do you have at home that you could use to make music?

Happy Musicking!

Bridgit

Author News!

Former Ann Arbor Open parent Lynn Baldwin, parent of Elliot, has published her first children’s book. It’s called “My Backyard Used to Be” and she will be hosting a storytime at Schuler Books on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00am. All are welcome to join for this fun free event!

https://www.schulerbooks.com/event/storytime-lynn-baldwin

Early Pickup

We are asking families to refrain from picking up students between 2:30 and 3:18pm. While we understand that emergencies arise, that is an extremely busy time for our front office and many students are in special area classes or on the playground, which sometimes makes it difficult to locate them. It can also cause congestion in the parent pick-up line, which adds to the difficulty. So please try to avoid early pick-ups during the last 30-45 minutes of the school day unless necessary.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

Kelsey Museum

The Kelsey Museum will have a Fall Family Event on Sunday, October 5th geared towards students Y5 through 5th grade. Here is a link to a flyer that contains some additional details related to the event.

From the District: Community Resources For Families and Students
Food and Groceries

Find FREE Food for your Family

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider

Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Get a Sports Physical Through RAHS!

Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) is offering sports physicals at their Scarlett Middle School Location. Learn more here: RAHS-Scarlett Sports Physicals. 

Mom Power Group for Mothers of Young Children

Academic Support

Free Tutoring, Reading, Writing, Math, ESL Classes: Washtenaw Literacy (age 16+)

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Events for the First Weeks of School

National Hispanic Heritage Month Begins - Monday, September 15, 2025

Fire Drill #1 - Friday, September 19, 2025

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

Picture Day - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

Fall Festival - Sunday, October 19, 2025 (1pm - 5pm)

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                             September 5,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

It has been a wonderful week with students as we continue to strengthen our classroom communities here at AA Open. We still wanted to make sure that you all had access to the Ann Arbor Open Handbook.

Curriculum Night

We are excited to welcome all families to our Curriculum Night next Thursday, September 11th. During this time, you will have the opportunity to speak with your child’s teacher, learn about the curriculum and daily activities, possibly sign up for a parent/teacher conference, converse with AAOCC representatives, and meet with administration. This is a great opportunity to interact with staff and see all of the wonderful things happening here in our building. Panda Programs is generously offering free childcare for students during curriculum night, see the attached flyer for more information. Here is the schedule for the evening:

Two Quick Updates from Krista:

Families of students in grades K-6- Please see this letter regarding literacy.

Staffing- It is with great pleasure we announce that Rusty Fuller will be teaching social studies humanities in grades 7/8 while teaming with Cedric! The exact date of his return is yet to be determined. More details on his transition into the position will be shared with grades 7/8 students and families soon. In the meantime, A2O parent and beloved building sub Maryam has been successfully covering this classroom with dedication to student learning and our Open philosophy of education.

From Bridgit:

Hello Elementary Families: it has been great to be back musicking with Ann Arbor Open Students! Art Teacher Deb shared this video with me, and I "Just Can't Get Enough" of it, so I played it for 3rd & 4th graders, and they were delighted. Several students asked me to share it with them, so here it is! Have you ever made music with found instruments? (I promise I told them not to use the refrigerator as an instrument.) What do you have at home that you could use to make music?

Happy Musicking!

Bridgit

Quick note from Kayleigh and Johnny:

Tryouts for AAO Theatre Club's Fall Show will be held on Tuesday, September 16th, from 3:20 pm- 4:30 pm. Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:30 pm until Tech Week (November 17th). Please complete the form below if your student is interested in participating! AAO Theatre Club is open to students in grades 5-8.

Technical Theatre Club will run Mondays from 3:20-4:30 pm, starting Monday, September 22nd. If you're an interested techie, please also complete the form below to show your interest. You are not required to attend tryouts, but are welcome to join to get a feel for what the show will be about and potentially support scenes if you would like. AAO Technical Theatre Club is open to students in grades 5-8.

AAO Theatre Club (Actors & Tech) Interest Form

Author News!

Former Ann Arbor Open parent Lynn Baldwin, parent of Elliot, has published her first children’s book. It’s called “My Backyard Used to Be” and she will be hosting a storytime at Schuler Books on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00am. All are welcome to join for this fun free event!

https://www.schulerbooks.com/event/storytime-lynn-baldwin

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Author News!

Former Ann Arbor Open parent Lynn Baldwin, parent of Elliot, has published her first children’s book. It’s called “My Backyard Used to Be” and she will be hosting a storytime at Schuler Books on Saturday, September 27 at 11:00am. All are welcome to join for this fun free event!

https://www.schulerbooks.com/event/storytime-lynn-baldwin

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

Kelsey Museum

The Kelsey Museum will have a Fall Family Event on Sunday, October 5th geared towards students Y5 through 5th grade. Here is a link to a flyer that contains some additional details related to the event.

From the District: Community Resources For Families and Students
Food and Groceries

Find FREE Food for your Family

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider

Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Get a Sports Physical Through RAHS!

Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) is offering sports physicals at their Scarlett Middle School Location. Learn more here: RAHS-Scarlett Sports Physicals. 

Mom Power Group for Mothers of Young Children

Academic Support

Free Tutoring, Reading, Writing, Math, ESL Classes: Washtenaw Literacy (age 16+)

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Upcoming Events

Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 11, 2025

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

Picture Day - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2025 (½ Day - Dismissal at 11:15am)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                                August 29,2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

We hope that all of our families have had a chance to grab some rest and relaxation over this long weekend. We look forward to seeing all of our students and families on Tuesday September 2nd. We wanted to make sure that you all had access to the Ann Arbor Open Handbook for students and families.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Absences

When your child is absent, please email aao_attendance@aaps.k12.mi.us  Please include:

reason for the absence (ie. ill, appointment, etc)

Quick note from Kayleigh and Johnny:

Tryouts for AAO Theatre Club's Fall Show will be held on Tuesday, September 16th, from 3:20 pm- 4:30 pm. Rehearsals will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:30 pm until Tech Week (November 17th). Please complete the form below if your student is interested in participating! AAO Theatre Club is open to students in grades 5-8.

Technical Theatre Club will run Mondays from 3:20-4:30 pm, starting Monday, September 22nd. If you're an interested techie, please also complete the form below to show your interest. You are not required to attend tryouts, but are welcome to join to get a feel for what the show will be about and potentially support scenes if you would like. AAO Technical Theatre Club is open to students in grades 5-8.

AAO Theatre Club (Actors & Tech) Interest For

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project: A BIG thank you to our families for the smooth adjustment of traveling to and from our school at the end of last year. We will again need to think creatively around arrival and dismissal as we begin the 2025-2026 school year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns.  

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

If families come out at Arborview, they can take that up to Miller and turn left just a short distance from the Red Oak crossing. The district has had police look at the Red Oak crossing with the road improvements and we anticipate staying at this location. A map is attached, and they will continue to review this location

.

Information from School Nurse Jessica

Here is a link to the Healthcare letter for Fall 2025.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

Please mark your calendar for this year’s Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30-7:45pm.  This is a vital time to visit your child’s classroom, hear from their teacher, converse with AAOCC representatives, and meet with administration.

We know this is a great amount of information to digest at one time.  Please keep this document for reference, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns at 994-1910.   We look forward to a great new school year!

MyPowerHub

AAPS is excited to announce a new centralized hub for student information and communication called MyPowerHub. This new hub will operate as a one-stop portal designed to better serve our students and families. This streamlined system will bring together everything from grades and attendance to schedules, assignments, and communication tools, all in one easy-to-access location. By simplifying access and enhancing the user experience, we’re making it easier than ever for families to stay informed and engaged in their student’s education. This is a positive step forward in our commitment to providing seamless, efficient, and supportive tools for student success. We’ll soon share details on how to set up your account.

From the District: Community Resources For Families and Students
Food and Groceries

Find FREE Food for your Family

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider

Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Get a Sports Physical Through RAHS!

Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) is offering sports physicals at their Scarlett Middle School Location. Learn more here: RAHS-Scarlett Sports Physicals. 

Mom Power Group for Mothers of Young Children

Academic Support

Free Tutoring, Reading, Writing, Math, ESL Classes: Washtenaw Literacy (age 16+)

Rec & Ed at AA Open!!

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Events for the First Weeks of School

First Day of School – Monday August 25, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School – Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day)

Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 11, 2025

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

Week of October 27-30th - Fall Focus Study- this will be a four day focus study

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal                                                                                   Aug 22, 2025

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Hello Ann Arbor Open School Families!

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We hope your child is excited to return to school on Monday, August 25th.  We look forward to having a school filled with their smiles and voices. Please remember that our first day of school is a ½ day. Students will be dismissed at 11:15am.

Class Placements - Class lists were sent via email to families on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.  Our class placement policy includes the statement, “No classroom changes are made during the first two weeks of school, nor will changes be discussed before that time.” This practice is in place not only at Ann Arbor Open, but districtwide, and we will adhere to it as directed. We have made every effort to create class groupings that meet the needs of our students and staff, and that will ensure every opportunity for a successful school year.

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

On Monday, students will have the opportunity to take a Grab-n-Go bag lunch as they leave the building. No student is required to take lunch. We do not want any student to feel as though they have to.

Bus Information

Links to routes for our school are available here.

Ann Arbor Open Calendar

Volunteering at AA Open

The district began accepting applications for volunteers on August 20th (per the website) but that doesn't mean you can't complete our building form. You don't need to go through the district unless you want to do more than just our school. Here is the Volunteer Certification Form Link: https://forms.gle/CekjejjZZTeQP8rZ7

Parking/Arriving at Ann Arbor Open

Construction- We will keep this as an open item throughout the duration of the project:

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

Information from School Nurse Jessica

Here is a link to the Healthcare letter for Fall 2025.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

Please mark your calendar for this year’s Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30-7:45pm.  This is a vital time to visit your child’s classroom, hear from their teacher, converse with AAOCC representatives, and meet with administration.

We know this is a great amount of information to digest at one time.  Please keep this document for reference, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns at 994-1910.   We look forward to a great new school year!

From the District: Community Resources For Families and Students
Food and Groceries

Find FREE Food for your Family

Mental Health, Health and Wellbeing Resources

Care Solace Helps Families or Staff Connect to a Mental Health Provider

Care Solace is a free service that connects students, staff, and their families to care. You can use Care Solace to find available mental health and substance use providers matched to your needs.

Get a Sports Physical Through RAHS!

Regional Alliance for Healthy Schools (RAHS) is offering sports physicals at their Scarlett Middle School Location. Learn more here: RAHS-Scarlett Sports Physicals. 

Mom Power Group for Mothers of Young Children

Academic Support

Free Tutoring, Reading, Writing, Math, ESL Classes: Washtenaw Literacy (age 16+)

Upcoming Events 

Registration is open for a2Tech360! September 24 – October 3, 2025

Fall After-School Classes 

AAPS Rec & Ed is excited to offer after-school classes focused on fun, learning, movement, and discovery. Please click on each class ID# below or visit aarecedonline.com. Scholarships are available! Please call (734) 994-2300 ext. 0 for assistance. Register today!

AA Open

Day/Time

Name of Class

Dates

Ages

Class ID#

Mon, 3:18-5:00pm

Spanish

9/15-11/17

K-4th

1401.101

Tues, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Debate Derby

9/16-11/11

2nd-5th

1387.107

Wed, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Kickstart Soccer

9/17-10/22

K-5th

3303.101

Thurs, 3:18-5:00pm

NEW! Jewelry From Earth

9/18-11/6

1st-5th

2158.101

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Events for the First Weeks of School

First Day of School – Monday August 25, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School – Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day)

Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 11, 2025

No School - Monday, September 29, 2025

No School - Friday, October 10 and Monday, October 13, 2025 (Early Fall Break)

Communication & Information- Please bookmark:

Krista Visser, Principal

Dr. Bernard Bell, Assistant Principal

Ann Arbor Open, 920 Miller Avenue

Dear Ann Arbor Open School Families,

Welcome to the 2025-26 school year! We hope your child is excited to return to school on Monday, August 25th.  We look forward to having a school filled with their smiles and voices.  

Class Placements - Class lists will be sent via email to families on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.  Our class placement policy includes the statement, “No classroom changes are made during the first two weeks of school, nor will changes be discussed before that time.” This practice is in place not only at Ann Arbor Open, but districtwide, and we will adhere to it as directed. We have made every effort to create class groupings that meet the needs of our students and staff, and that will ensure every opportunity for a successful school year.

Staff Moves

This summer, we said farewell to Diane VanDorn, Aina Bernier, and Rusty Fuller. We want to thank them for all of their wonderful contributions to Ann Arbor Open. This year we also have some internal moves. Sarah Kairis is moving to Kindergarten, Jesse Deucher is moving to a ½ classroom, and Chad Downs is moving to PE.

New Staff - See attached page, Summer Updates

Welcome Back Returning Staff

Chartwells Food Service (Breakfast and Lunch) – Important

First, just as in previous years, every student at Ann Arbor Open is eligible to receive free breakfast and lunch this year. The task is for EVERY family to complete the Education Benefits Form. Why?

Each household is asked to complete the Household Information Report. This report is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs. No information is shared at the building level as ALL information is kept at the district level.

Lastly, once on the website, please click <Apply for Benefits> Read the information and once you are able to, please click <Education Benefits Form> and follow the prompts.

Please use this link for a translated copy of this information. That’s it!

Bus Information

Transportation will publish the 25-26 bus schedule information soon. Be sure to review this link for more information.

AA Open New Crosswalk

Here is a link to a letter with important information regarding the crosswalk on Miller Road.

Information from School Nurse Jessica

Here is a link to the Healthcare letter for Fall 2025.

Medications - If your child requires prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, there are very specific guidelines in place. Please stop by the office for details. Children are not allowed to carry their own medications without prior permission from you, your doctor and the Principal. The AAPS Nursing Services website has forms and additional information.

Please mark your calendar for this year’s Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 11th from 5:30-7:45pm.  This is a vital time to visit your child’s classroom, hear from their teacher, converse with AAOCC representatives, and meet with administration.

We know this is a great amount of information to digest at one time.  Please keep this document for reference, and let us know if you have any questions or concerns at 994-1910.   We look forward to a great new school year!

Sincerely,

Krista Visser & Dr. Bernard Bell

Ann Arbor Open Administrators

Events for the First Weeks of School

Summer Playdate at Ann Arbor Open – Saturday, August 16, 2025 (3:00-5:00pm)

Student Placements – Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Popsicles on the Playground – Thursday, August 21, 2025 (2:30-3:30pm) - Link to Flyer

First Day of School – Monday August 25, 2025 (Dismissal at 11:15am)

No School – Friday, August 29 and Monday, September 1, 2025 (Labor Day)

Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 11, 2025

Communication & Information- Please bookmark: