The Heron Hello!

Welcome to the Thurston Elementary Weekly Newsletter! We are excited to share with you important updates, information, and upcoming events.

If you would like to view previous messages from the parent newsletter, you may view those here: Google Drive Folder

The Smore Newsletter service offers amazing accessibility features to support all members of the community. We hope that you find these accessibility features helpful to you! These features include:

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https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17-UjrT74a8ImOjIPLgBLt9CKcy6ZUw_b?usp=sharing

Email: thurston@a2schools.org
Website: https://www.a2schools.org/Domain/28
Location: 2300 Prairie Street, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Phone: 734-994-1970

• August 22, 2024 - Thurston Welcome Back Event @ 5:15-6:30 PM

• August 26, 2024 - First Day of School for Students

Hello, Thurston Community,

Today marks the end of our 2023-2024. It is quite unbelievable, but as I reflect on the school year, it has been a privilege to witness the growth and accomplishments within our school community, from academic success to remarkable performances and amazing gatherings of our community.

I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Serving as your interim principal has been an incredibly rewarding experience, and I am deeply thankful for the warm welcome I received from students, parents, and staff alike. Your kindness and support have made this transitional year a joy. I am honored to have been a part of it.

I'm sending my best wishes to all of you. Whether your family is continuing your journey here or moving on to new adventures, I am confident that our Thurston Herons will continue to achieve great things.

Have a wonderful and restful summer, and all the best in the coming year.

I have updated the Heron Hello Smore newsletter one last time. The update includes so many events and resources for your summer break.

With love and care,

Samantha Cucu

Interim Principal, Thurston Elementary School

The Heron Hello Newsletter includes the following new information this week:

• Thurston AAPAC Parent Liaison Needed
• Community Events and Resources - Updated! Lots of great resources for ALL!
• Summer food and grocery locations
• Summer learning, activities, and resources
• Summer Transportation
• Mental Health Resources
• Health and well-being resources
• Upcoming events

If you would like to view previous messages or current messages in a PDF format from the parent newsletter, you may view those here: Google Drive Folder.

AAPAC is the Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee for special education in Ann Arbor Public Schools. Our mission is to positively impact the education of ALL students in the AAPS schools, with an emphasis on representing students and parents of students needing or receiving special education services. Please see our brochure below.

We are hoping to see if a Thurston parent who has been involved with or who has a child who receives special education services (either IEP or 504) who would interested in being a Thurston Parent Liaison.

Those interested should reach out to aapacexec@gmail.com

Summer Food and Grocery Locations

• AAPS Summer Food Service Program: Over the summer, The AAPS Summer Food Service Program will offer breakfast and lunch at several AAPS schools. For times and locations visit the Summer Food Service Program site here.
  

• Free Summer Meals for Kids and Teens from Food Gatherers: Food Gatherers will have sites for meals and groceries across Washtenaw County. Visit foodgatherers.org/summer for Summer Food Site locations and a summer meal map.

• Packard Health Fresh a Sprout Free Market - Is provided by The Farm at Trinity Health and Food Gatherers and is FREE to all community members.Visit website here or see calendar with locations here.

New! Drive Thru Food Pick up at Westerman Preschool.

• Anyone from the community can stop by Westerman Preschool on Thursday, June 6th at 2pm to pick up a box with non-perishable food items.

• View flier here.

A2schools.org/summersupport: Summer Learning, Activities and Resources

AAPS offers a variety of learning opportunities and popular community resources available for families and students over the summer. Visit a2schools.org/summersupport to learn more.

• Feonix Mobility Rising offers free transportation to healthcare and other supports for new mothers in Washtenaw County: Transportation is provided for medical appointments, healthcare appointments, pharmacy, groceries, support groups and more. Call (734) 272-4956 for assistance. Flyer with more information

• MDHHS vehicle purchase assistance. Did you know MDHHS can assist families receiving FIP, CDC, FAP, or Family MA with up to $5000 to purchase a vehicle? Requests for vehicle assistance are routed through the MDHHS case worker and approved based on local office funding. To reach Assistance Payments staff, please call 1-844-464-3447 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

• Free Bus Ride week starts June 15 - Free Bus Ride Weekends with a valid Ann Arbor District Library or Ypsilanti District Library card are back starting June 15. See details from The Ride here.

• Every Saturday and Sunday from June 15 - August 25, library cardholders can ride any of the TheRide local fixed route buses for free.

• All you need to do is show the driver your valid Ann Arbor District Library card or valid Ypsilanti District Library Card when boarding the bus.

Parentguidance.org: Free Resources For Mental Health Concerns

Parentguidance.org offers answers, hope, and support for parents who are concerned about their child’s or teen’s mental health. ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides specialized courses, support and a safe community for parents to get more information about anxiety, depression, self-worth, grief and loss, suicide ideation, family strife and other mental health concerns. Free to all staff, parents, and families at AAPS. No account required.

New! 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. Connect with Care Solace for free by calling (888) 515-0595 or by visiting caresolace.com/aaps. Multiple Languages supported. Care Solace flyers are available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Mandarin

For Parents/Caregivers:

The Washtenaw County cooling site list has been updated for 2024.

• As temperatures rise, community members can escape the heat and stay cool at these locations. During extreme heat, stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to the sun.

• See more hot weather safety tips here.

Free Hearing/Vision Screenings For Preschool/Kindergarten students

• All children starting kindergarten or preschool must have their hearing and vision tested before starting school. The Washtenaw County Health Department offers FREE office appointments for hearing and vision screenings for children entering school in the fall.

• Appointments are currently available from May until August 2024. Call 734-544-6786 to schedule.

• Flier here.

For Everyone

MSU Extension Food Preserving MI Harvest - Celebrating Juneteenth
African-American Cuisine has influenced American cooking for decades. June 13, 2024 1-2 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. Join via zoom to discover the history of Juneteenth, safe food preservation methods, and recipes. More information here.

Starting June 14: AADL Summer Game
Visit play.aadl.org to play the AADL Summer Game. Codes, books, points, prizes, events and more!

AADL Pride Month Free Activities
Click here and you’ll find activities the whole family can enjoy in the month of June as well as adult focused events at the Library’s main branch and satellite locations.

Washtenaw County Health Department Summer Health Days
Weds, 7/31 and Wed, 8/21 from 4-7pm. Events will be held at WCHD (555 Towner St., Ypsilanti). WCHD/other local organizations are tabling to provide education, resources, and giveaways. Free food/water (while supplies last). These events are family-friendly and include activities for kids. Flyers in English, Spanish, Arabic and Pashto

Low Cost Summer Camps and Programming

Find a listing of free and low cost summer camps, including scholarships and other resources here: Summer 2024: Low Cost Camp Option, Activities and Scholarships.

Hello Thurston Families,

Based on the results of the survey, Thurston Elementary School will have child care

starting the first day of school in the PM!

Registration is OPEN and there IS a waitlist.

We are pleased to announce that Rec & Ed will offer both full time and PART-TIME

scheduling in 2024-25.

● For PART-TIME, select either Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday.

● For FULL-TIME (M - F), add both M/W/F AND T/TH (two activities) to your cart.

A one time registration fee of $7 per activity/per student is due at registration. The first

installment of your auto-payment plan will be due on August 22, 2024.

We’re also proudly announcing lower fees. With the expansion to additional schools,

we were able to lower before and after care fees. You may register directly from the

links below on May 30th.

If registration fills, a waitlist will automatically form. As we add staff into the fall, and

other parents’ plans change, we will be able to accommodate students from the waitlist.

For more information please visit the Before/Aftercare webpage at a2schools.org and/or

contact us via aapschildcare@aaps.k12.mi.us or (734)994-2300 x53253.

Thank you!

BAC Administrative Team

Bus routes are will be updated for the 2024-2025 school year sometime during the week of August 19, 2024.

Thurston's bus routes can be typically found at https://www.a2schools.org/Page/10471

Learn more about our Thurston Elementary School! Read over our Thurston Elementary Handbook to learn more about our school hours, visiting Thurston, attendance, arrival, dismissal, transportation and more.

Thurston Parent Handbook