Spring Break has arrived and many of us are eagerly looking forward to a break from our daily routines. While some may plan to fill their time with travel or other activities, it's also important to consider the value of rest and finding wonder during this time. By intentionally making space for rest and exploring new experiences, we can return to our regular routines feeling refreshed, renewed, and reinvigorated.

Rest is an essential component of our well-being, yet it can be easy to overlook its importance in our busy lives. During spring break, we can take advantage of the extra time by setting aside intentional periods of rest. This might involve sleeping in, taking naps, or simply spending some time relaxing and unwinding. By prioritizing rest, we can recharge our batteries and return to our routines with renewed energy and focus.

Another way to make the most of spring break is by seeking out experiences that inspire wonder and curiosity. This might involve trying new foods, exploring new places, or engaging in new hobbies or activities. By embracing new experiences, we can cultivate a sense of awe and appreciation for the world around us. This can lead to greater creativity, a deeper appreciation for the diversity of life, and a sense of connectedness to the larger world.

Of course, not everyone will have the opportunity to travel or engage in new experiences during spring break. However, it's still possible to find wonder in the everyday moments of our lives. This might involve taking a walk in nature, spending time with loved ones, or simply taking a few moments to appreciate the beauty of the world around us. By making a conscious effort to find wonder in our daily lives, we can cultivate a sense of gratitude and joy that can sustain us long after spring break has ended.

Spring Break is an ideal time to prioritize rest and find wonder. By intentionally creating space for rest and exploring new experiences, we can return to our regular routines feeling refreshed, renewed, and reinvigorated. Whether we travel to new places or simply take time to appreciate the beauty of our everyday lives, let us make the most of this opportunity to rest, recharge, and find wonder.

Have a wonderful break AGS and we will see you back on campus on Monday, April 10th.

-Mr. Ming

Happy Spring Break! I hope everyone has a relaxing break and that maybe you even get a chance to visit somewhere a little warmer! Shortly after we get back from break we will be taking our annual MSTEP/PSAT/SAT tests. Overall, testing will run for about a month, and we will start testing on Tuesday, April 11, with our 5th and 8th grade. On Wednesday, April 12, we will have a “mega” testing day in which we will be testing across the district in grades 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11. All other grades will run a normal school day on that day in their designated classrooms. Below is a summary of tests taken by grade level.

Grade 3 and 4- MSTEP ELA/Math

Grade 5- MSTEP ELA/Math/Science/SS

Grade 6 and 7- MSTEP ELA/Math

Grade 8- MSTEP Science/SS, PSAT ELA/Math

Grade 9 and 10- PSAT ELA/Math

Grade 11-SAT ELA (with essay)/Math, MSTEP Science/SS, SAT Work Keys

With testing it also often brings a little anxiety. And although a little anxiety is okay, excessive anxiety can greatly hinder your individual success. So, what can we do to prevent test anxiety?

1. Avoid thinking you have to get every single problem correct. Don't expect to be perfect. We all make mistakes and that's okay. Knowing you've done your best and worked hard is really all that matters, not perfection.

2. Get the negative thoughts out of your head. If you start to have anxious or defeated thoughts, such as "I'm not good enough," "I didn't study hard enough," or "I can't do this," push those thoughts away and replace them with positive thoughts. "I can do this," "I know the material," and "I studied hard," can go far in helping to manage your stress level when taking a test.

3. Get enough sleep. A good night's sleep will help your concentration and memory.

4. Be prepared. That means studying for the test early until you feel comfortable with the material. Don't wait until the night before. If you aren't sure how to study, ask your teacher or parent for help. Being prepared will boost your confidence, which will lessen your test anxiety. Khan Academy is a great resource to learn and practice your testing skills and help in this area.

5. Take deep breaths. If you start to feel anxious while you're taking your test, deep breathing may be useful for reducing anxiety. Breathe deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Work through each question or problem one at a time, taking a deep breath in between each one as needed. Making sure you are giving your lungs plenty of oxygen can help your focus and sense of calm.

And, as the weather gets warmer, it is finally getting more convenient to get outside and enjoy our loving pets. As much as we love to see precious fur babies, most pets are not allowed on campus, regardless of whether they are on a leash or you are holding them. This applies to athletic contests, also. Thanks for your cooperation in being respectful to all.

After we return from a much-needed spring break, we will jump right into the busy season that spring always brings every school year. Individual teachers will be giving out testing information, but we do have a few major testing days where a good portion of our building will be testing. This will be followed by our spring session of NWEA testing, which will be here before you know it! In secondary, we have used our latest round of data to adjust our seminar periods, so this week secondary students began their newest seminar class. You will receive a copy of these results with report cards that will be going out this week.

For the PSAT/SAT day (April 12th), it is important that all students arrive at school on time. The same is true for the M-STEP testing dates, as no one can enter a classroom once testing has started. There are many things that you can do to help your child prepare for state testing. For those students in 3rd - 7th grade who will be taking the M-STEP (along with 8th and 11th grade for science and social studies), you can find some helpful test prep information and resources available by visiting my M-STEP information newsletter.

We have also wrapped up Reading Month! The hope is that students enjoy reading all year round, but I hope that the students enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate reading! Thank you to the families that attended Literacy Night, as well as all of the volunteers that made the event happen! Another thank you to parents for helping support their students with the reading activities throughout the month!

I hope that all students and families have the chance to destress and take a much-needed brain break for a week. We look forward to seeing everyone back on April 10th!

Next Week's Schedule of Events:

It has finally arrived, the start of the Spring Sports Seasons, with our athletes in game action this week! Good luck to our spring athletes in their first week of contests!

Tue. 4/11

• 4p V Boys and Girls Track AWAY @ Fairview (vs. Hale/Hillman/Posen/Fairview)

Wed. 4/12

• 5p V Girls Soccer (co-op w/ Standish) HOME (SSC) vs. Oscoda

Thu. 4/13

• 5p V Girls Soccer AWAY @ Gladwin

Sat. 4/15

• 9a V Girls Soccer AWAY @ Bay County Tournament (1st game @ John Glenn)
• 4p V Softball AWAY @ Owendale-Gagetown

Sun. 4/16

• 11:30a V Baseball AWAY @ Dow Diamond (825 E. Main Street, Midland) vs. Mayville

It's that time of the year again, the time when we start rounding up our youngest learners for next school year. This is the time when we start the registration process for both pre-school and Kindergarten at Au Gres-Sims.

We will hold our AGS Kindergarten and GSRP Round-up on Monday, April 17th from 4-6pm. If you have an age-eligible child or know of someone who does, please plan on attending so we can get our youngest Wolverines registered for the Fall!

Students and their parents will start in the main office where they will get a passport to visit different stations and earn stamps and prizes, while learning where everything is in their new school.

Important dates for April for the Au Gres-Sims School District.

April

• 3-7: Spring Break Staff and Students
• 12: 4-7p Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences
• 17: 4-6p Kindergarten and Pre-school Round-up (see above)
• 17: 6p Board of Education meeting (Elementary Library)
• 19: 1p Early Release for Students

Please note that the Main and Administration Offices will be closed April 3-7.

Important and note-worthy events taking place in Au Gres and Arenac County

• April 21: Relay for Life of Arenac (see attached)
• May 19: Arenac Community Funds' 21st Annual Golf Outing, Huron Breeze Golf Course (see attached)

Here is a the Spring Break edition, issue number 81 of the The Wolverine Wake-Up.

Wolverine Wake-up #81

This week's guest was senior Elizabeth Beardsley. Check out what this wise senior had to say about her time at AGS, her plans for the future, and a little bit about aliens.

"Don't focus too much on how you look or how you are perceived by others because in the end that's all going to change"

Job Opportunities at AGS

We are also always on the lookout for substitute teachers. If interested, please inquire with Mrs. Miller in the district administration office, (989) 876-7157 and she will put you into direct contact with Laurie Crane at ESS-WillSub

Email: web@ags-schools.org
Website: www.ags-schools.org
Location: 310 South Court Street, Au Gres, MI, USA
Phone: (989) 876-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuGresSims/?ref=br_rs
Twitter: @agsschools