Celebration of Excellence Award

Did you know that parents can recognize a Teacher throughout the district's Celebration of Excellence Awards!  Below is some information and the link at the bottom of the page if you would like to nominate an Allen teacher.

The COE committee invites nominations of individual staff members in two categories of excellence. They are:

• INNOVATION - This award will recognize staff members who have demonstrated creative and innovative approaches to their jobs. Staff members worthy of this award are always thinking about how to improve, and they actually do something to make things better. Their innovative ideas get implemented and improve the school district in some way, whether it is a small improvement or a large one. Staff people are innovating all the time, yet frequently no one knows about it except the closest co-workers. The committee welcomes nominees who have accomplished both the big and the small, because each contributes in his or her own way.
• CUSTOMER SERVICE - All employees have "customers", whether they're students, other staff members, parents, or the public. This award celebrates those staffers who provide outstanding service to their customers. The nominator(s) will be asked to describe the ways the nominee is able to brighten the day or take care of those he or she serves. The awardees are the staff people who help everyone else, by figuring out what they want, how to get it for them and how to go the extra mile.

For the link to the nomination form click on:  
http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/boe.exc/online_nomination_form

Top 10 K-12 Public School Funding Advocacy Opportunities

As the legislative session heats up in Lansing, the stakes are incredibly high for students and families. With the threat of over 100 Michigan schools going bankrupt and more funding cuts looming, we must join together at this critical time to influence legislators on behalf of schools.

Please take part in at least one of the advocacy opportunities below. As you decide what your message will be, please read our Talking Points.

• Email Governor Snyder and urge him to establish a stable funding base for schools.

• Call, mail or email your legislators and ask them to fight for guaranteed school funding levels. If you are unsure who your legislator is, use these links to find your Representative and find your Senator.

• Sign an online petition indicating your support for a fair and responsible state budget that fully funds K-12 public education.

• Write a letter to the editor that illustrates how the devastating cuts will impact your school or community.

• Participate in a rally in Lansing to advocate for stable school funding. See Save Our Schools (SOS) for more info.

• Invite your legislator to your school for a site visit. Contact a PTOC member atptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you’d like help organizing and preparing for your legislator visit.

• Attend a coffee hour or town hall meeting with your legislator. This time of year the legislators want to hear from the people they represent on issues that matter to them, and are scheduling meetings in your neighborhood. See the calendar above for coming events and meetings. Print our Leave-Behind Sheet to share with people you meet. 

• Fan our "Ann Arbor PTO Council Advocacy Committee" page on Facebook to get the latest news and advocacy opportunities about school funding advocacy opportunities in Michigan.

• Submit your comments to the House Education Committee.

• Spread the message. Encourage your networks, coworkers, board members, friends, and family members to get vocal and make our message ring loud and clear in Lansing.

Continue to visit this page for updates as the budget and the legislative session evolve in Lansing. Please contact us at ptoc.a2advocacy@gmail.com if you have questions or need specific information about these issues.

Silent Auction a Success!

Thank you everyone who attended the Silent Auction Saturday!  We had a lot of fun and lots of great items were donated and bid on by those in attendance.   Thank you again to Lynne Pauer, Amy McFarren, and Spring Tremaine for their hard work over the past 6 months.   This fundraiser supports the many field trips and opportunities that our students are provided to our students.   Thank you all again for your donations and contributions.  Thank you staff for your attendance and support.

Joan Fitzgibbon

No school Tuesday November 8th

Please remember there is no school Tuesday November 8th.

Ann Arbor Budget Forums

         Ann Arbor Public Schools         

Community Budget Forums

We need your input and suggestions as we prepare the 2012/2013 budget.

Please join Dr. Patricia Green, Superintendent

and Robert Allen, Deputy Superintendent for Operations for this important discussion.

Thursday, November 10

Huron High School Cafeteria

2727 Fuller Rd.

 

Monday, November 14

Pioneer High School, Cafeteria Annex

601 W. Stadium

Both sessions begin at 6:30 p.m.

Allen Celebrates 50 Years

Please plan to attend Allen's 50 Year Anniversary Celebration
Sunday November 6th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM

We are looking forward to several alumni  staff and students to return to help us celebrate the day.  
We hope you will be able to join us.

MindSET

We are once again thrilled to have some of our fourth and fifth grade students  invited to attend MindSET – a math and engineering program sponsored by Tau Beta Pi at U of M’s north campus.

A second round will occur in the Spring so if your 4th or 5th grade student has not yet been invited to participate please let their teacher know you are interested.   The commitment is four Saturdays from 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM.

For more information please go to migamma.org/mindset