APS students will return on Tuesday. 

As the Superintendent has indicated in his communications, the AHS Team is wishing everyone well and hopes that you have found some stability despite any challenges your family has faced and continues to tackle. Our  staff  is ready to meet with your student(s) to make the first days back as smooth as possible, recognizing that the needs of students are not all the same. We are asking students or families to please complete this form so AHS staff can work to better support the needs of individual students. 

A Message From Our Superintendent:

Dear APS Families and Community,

Thank you to everyone who was able to respond to our recent survey regarding the return to school. We received 1,316 responses—your feedback has been invaluable as we continue to assess our readiness. We also recognize that many in our community are still without power and may not have been able to respond. Of those who did, 36% reported still being without power, and we understand that many more may be facing similar challenges.

Here’s a quick summary of what we learned:

• 45% of respondents indicated they were ready to return to school on Monday.

• 27% shared some concerns but felt they could return.

• 29% said they were not ready to return.

Not surprisingly, 60% of those without power said they were not ready, while 88% of those with power indicated they were ready to return.

We’ve been reviewing all of your input, including the suggestions for how we can support our students and staff. Much of the support mentioned—such as restoring power and water—remains outside of our control. Still, we are doing everything we can within our buildings to ensure a safe, supportive, and smooth return.

APS has been partnering with our local emergency management agencies.  You may have noticed that APS has been using social media to communicate important information to the community.  APS also loaned a commercial-grade generator to the county as support for their operations at the fairgrounds.  Once our buildings had power restored, we were prepared to support the recovery efforts by opening some as warming facilities.  Thankfully, many other organizations had opened their doors as warming shelters, and as we came online, warming shelters were being consolidated due to declining utilization.

While our facilities team has been hard at work preparing our buildings, we also need time for our staff to return, reconnect, and make final preparations before welcoming students back. That time is essential to creating the learning environment our kids deserve.

There are also a few logistical issues we need to resolve:

Food Deliveries – We’ve placed emergency orders to replace the food lost during the outages. While we’ve been guaranteed delivery on Monday, we have not been given a specific time. This creates uncertainty around our ability to provide lunch on Monday, though we will be able to serve breakfast.

Bus Routes – Although roads appear to be clear, our drivers will run their routes without students on Monday to assess actual road conditions and report back.

Should food deliveries be delayed or road conditions prove unacceptable, we will adjust our plan accordingly.

Given these circumstances, staff have been informed that they will return to work on Monday, April 7, to reconnect and prepare. Students will return to school on Tuesday, April 8. High school students enrolled in classes at ACC should expect to receive communication from the college regarding their schedule.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff who have already been working tirelessly this past week to get us to this point. Your dedication does not go unnoticed.

As we return, let’s do so with a deep sense of grace and understanding—for ourselves and for one another. Everyone in our community has experienced this storm differently, and we will need patience and empathy as we work our way back into routine.

For those of you who remain without power, I understand how you might be feeling at this time as my family is still without power as well.

Our goal is to provide a sense of normalcy for our students, staff, and families, but we know many are still facing significant challenges. Parents are empowered to make the best decision for their students based on their individual circumstances.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Tuesday, April 8th.

Is Your Chromebook Ready?

Students can help us get into a better position for testing if they try to do a Digital Readiness Check of their school Chromebook at home, using their personal College Board Account. For instructions on how to do this, please check out this presentation!

If you have issues, here is a guide to try to solve them at home.

If you can complete this check of your Chromebook (and it passes!) you will be ready to test. 

Well, you have to be able to charge it up too!  Let's hope you can!

Thanks,

Mr. Caplis

New Testing Information as of 4/7/2025

Greetings AHS staff and families,

This past Friday (4/4/2025), parents received an email regarding testing. Please disregard that communication as the testing schedule has been updated with the students’ best interest in mind. At this point, State Mandated Testing must be completed by AHS students. The schedule below outlines the current schedule for testing. Of note, ALL students are asked to attend school on Wednesday, April 9th as the SAT testing date has been moved. 

• Juniors will now take the SAT on Tuesday 4/15/25. Only Juniors/11th graders will be in attendance that day.  

  • The SAT Chromebook Readiness check will now take place in 11th grade English classes on Wednesday (4/9/25). The Pre ID process referenced in our first Junior Letter linked below was planned for Wednesday and Thursday this week, but will now be done on ACT testing day (4/10/25). 

• Juniors will take the ACT WorkKeys on Thursday 4/10/25. 

  • The Pre ID will be done on test day.

Please see the Juniors - Testing Information sent by Mr. Caplis, to reference the information sent previously.

• Freshmen and Sophomores will take the PSAT 9/10 on Thursday 4/10/25. 

  • 9th and 10th graders will complete their Pre ID information on test day.

Students’ assigned testing rooms will be posted by Wednesday 4/9/25 outside all offices and the Wildcat Den.  

It is important to have all Chromebooks charged and ready for Testing Day Thursday (4/10/25). The Wildcat Den will be set up to support students in getting their Chromebooks charged. 

Please share the emailed information with your peers to ensure no one misses key information.

Thank you,

Mr. Bourdage

Test Day - What to Bring/Expect

• Acceptable photo ID (i.e. school issued ID) and your student number

• Two No. 2 pencils with erasers; mechanical pencils are not allowed

• Bring your school assigned Chromebook (fully charged) and charger

• If you do not want to use the Desmos Calculator on SAT, bring an approved calculator (List of Approved Calculators)

• Dress comfortably and in layers; jackets and book bags are not allowed in testing areas

Test Day - What NOT to Bring 

• Hats and hoods may not be worn during testing

• Any devices, including digital watches (i.e. Apple watch), that can be used to record, transmit, receive or play back audio, photographic, text or video content

• Audio players/recorders, tablets, personal laptops, notebooks, i-pads/i-pods, MP3 players or other personal computing devices

• NO CELL PHONES or any other texting device allowed in any testing area

Students are encouraged to leave cell phones and/or any other electronic device, including watches (i.e. Apple watch) at home, in their vehicle or in their locker (silenced) for security purposes and in order to maintain a quiet testing environment. If a student chooses to bring a cell phone or any other electronic device on testing day, they will be asked to turn off their device and will be required to turn their device in to security personnel at the testing entrance. Once testing is finished and students are dismissed, students will be able to retrieve their electronic devices from security.

If a student is found using a device, or a device makes a noise at any time, including during breaks, the student will be dismissed immediately, their scores will be canceled and the device may be confiscated and contents inspected by the State/College Board.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Juniors - SAT CANCELLED  ~ All Students attend school

Digital Readiness Checks - We plan to complete DRC for school Chromebooks in Junior English Classrooms on Wednesday. 

Online students should see Mr. Whitscell in the Wildcat Den to complete the DRC.

All students attending school on Wednesday 4/9/25 - this is a change!

Thursday, April 10, 2025  State Testing for 9-11th grade.  No school for Seniors.

Freshmen - PSAT 9 in classrooms

Sophomores - PSAT 10 in classrooms

Juniors - ACT WorkKeys in the Gym

Accommodated Juniors take the M-STEP*

No School for Seniors or select retained Juniors

Testing room locations will be posted (all offices & the Wildcat Den) ASAP.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 - Juniors take the SAT

No School for All other AHS Students

Continuing as planned…

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

M-STEP - Juniors in AHS Gym 7:35-10:00 am A-L

Thursday, April 17, 2025

M-STEP - Juniors in AHS Gym 7:35-10:00 am M-Z

Tuesday, April 22nd

SAT Make-up

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

M-STEP Make-up

Thursday, April 24, 2025

ACT WorkKeys Make-up

No Bells during the Testing Window

As we near testing, I want to alert all students that due to accomodated testing, there will be no bells during the two week window of testing.  Rather than turning bells on and off and for constintcy, the bells will be off and staff will release students each hour.

You one more after this one to WIN!  Let's see a record number participate

Wednesday is the Day ~ Are You Ready?

KAPUT Meeting Monday ~  All Parents, it is pivotal to have you connected to upcoming events.   You can message the Terry Manning, President, and she will direct you in the right direction for upcoming events.

stlsmanning@gmail.com

-- Up coming meeting(s) will be publicized via social media and parent emails

--We need you to make everything a success and great for your students

KAPUT Meeting Monday ~  All Senior Parents, it is pivotal to have you connected to upcoming events.   You can message the Terry Manning, President, and she will direct you in the right direction for upcoming events.

stlsmanning@gmail.com

-- Up coming meeting(s) will be publicized via social media and parent emails

Scheduling: If you have not turned in a Green 2025-29026 Class scheduling form for next year, do so ASAP. Without your requests, counselors will create a schedule for you using your transcripts. Turn in your forms in E house Office!

Students:  if you signed up for dual enrollment and plan to take an ACC class semester one, please remember to schedule an appointment with your counselor. Also, if you requested an online class for semester one, you will need to schedule an appointment as well. Click this link to schedule your appointment Student Counseling Appointment Form

Seniors: Just a reminder that there are many scholarships that have due dates coming up. If you have any questions, talk to your counselor or Mrs. Smith in the Wildcat Den. 

ACC Students

If you are struggling with your ACC class and need help, keep in mind that ACC offers free tutoring to their students. 

Visit the Student Success Center for more information .

Do you need support due to challenges from the closure?  Help is available!

The Counseling Team knows that returning to school is difficult for many at this time and there may be a lot of feelings and emotions as we return. If you need additional support, please use the Counseling Appointment Request form and select Personal for the reasoning and we will get you set up with an appointment with a counselor.   

Counseling Appointment Request Form

A Message from ACC for Dual Enrollment and Early College Students

I'm sending this email to those of you (advisors, principals, secretaries, superintendents) at our partner high schools whose students have been severely impacted by our recent weather issues, including loss of electrical power and lack of internet access. We know that many of you are hearing from your Dual Enrollment and EMC students who are very concerned about keeping up with their courses. Please assure them that the faculty at Alpena Community College is poised to be flexible and accommodating with students from your area. Our Vice President of Instruction, Paige Gordier, has emailed the staff letting them know that many of their students lack power and internet access and to please prepare to make significant adjustments for them, including flexibility in due dates and grading schedules. 

In the Alpena area, it appears that about half of the community has regained power, including the college, but many remain without. I know that those of you to our west and north have a very high percentage with no power, internet, and in many cases, no heat in their homes. This is a combination that makes it very difficult for the students to regain their academic footing. Again, please reassure your students that reasonable accommodations will be made, but let us know if any of your students encounter a situation that may need an intervention as we are here to help. Also, please tell your impacted students to make contact with their instructors when feasible. This will serve as an alert to their instructor that they will need some flexibility in the coming days. 

Upcoming Events:

• 4/7/25 KAPUT Meeting 6pm Wildcat Den

• 4/10/25 PSAT Testing 9 & 10th/ Juniors take the ACT Workkeys Test

• 4/15/25 SAT Testing ~ Only Juniors Attend School

• 4/16/25 M-Step Testing Juniors A-L 

• 4/17/25 M-Step Testing Junior M-Z

• 4/18/25 Good Friday - No School 

• 4/21/25 Easter Monday - No School

• 4/22/25 PSAT/SAT Make-Up Testing 

• 4/23/25 M-Step Make-Up Testing

• 4/25/25 CTE National Signing Day

  • WorkKeys Make-Up Testing 

• 5/5/25 ACC Final Exam Week

  • GearUP Day for Juniors

• 5/5/25 Teacher Appreciation Day

  • KAPUT Meeting 6pm Wildcat Den

• 5/6/25 Secretary of State at AHS 10am - 2:00pm

• 5/11/25 Mother's Day

• 5/12/25 Graduation Speaker Deadline

• 5/13/25 Spring Band Showcase 6:30pm AHS Gym

• 5/14/25 Baccalaureate 7pm AHS Auditorium

• 5/16/25 Shortened Day for students/P.M. Professional Development for Staff