News & Events: 2002-03 Archive

2002-03 Archive

Pioneer Fund for Ann Arbor High School Grant Awards

The Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation announces the availability of up to $10,000 in grant funds for 2002-2003 school year, with individual grant awards of up to $2,500 for Pioneer Staff. The purpose of the Fund is to provide financial awards to Ann Arbor Pioneer High School teachers who identify opportunities to enrich their classroom teaching and to provide meaningful curriculum-related educational activities for their students. A full description of the grant is included in the Application Materials, available in the Pioneer Principals' office, with Department Heads, or as an Acrobat document (296kb) you can download from this site. The deadline for all applications is November 1, 2002.

Educational Foundation Grant Applications available

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation has announced the availability of several grant opportunities that are open to the AAPS Community. For more information, please contact the Educational Foundation Office at 994-1969.

AAPS EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION GRANT - Applications for the 2002-03 Educational Foundation Grants are now available. You may download an application, or contact the Educational Foundation Office at 994-1969 or by e-mail (mccuisto@aaps.k12.mi.us). Grants are for a maximum of $1,000.00 for innovative projects that increase student achievement and self-esteem. The grant application deadline is October 1, 2002.

New! ELEANORA BIHLER DAHLMAN ART GRANT - The Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the Eleanora Bihler Dahlman Art Grant. This grant, for $500.00, in honor of Mrs. Dahlman will be awarded to an art teacher who proposes a classroom art project devoted to painting. Download the application or contact the Foundation Office at 994-1969 or by e-mail (mccuisto@aaps.k12.mi.us). The grant deadline is October 1, 2002.

PERFORMING ARTS GRANTS - The Burns Park Players through the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation will fund teacher grants for student performing arts projects. Download the application or contact the Educational Foundation Office at 994-1969 or by e-mail (mccuisto@aaps.k12.mi.us). The grant deadline is October 1, 2002.

REPLICATION GRANTS - The AAPS Educational Foundation will fund a limited number of previously funded grants to be replicated by other teachers. for the 2002 - 2003 school year.If teachers are interested in duplicating a grant they should do the following:

Review the past grants that are available in the Partners for Excellence Office in Balas II. Call 994-1969 to arrange a time to come.
Talk with the teacher who wrote the original grant.
Submit a Replication Grant Application

8th Grade Students to Actively Engage in Civil War Experience

On Friday, June 7, more than 1200 8th graders will converge on the Saline Fairgrounds to witness the Civil War from multiple perspectives. As part of the Ann Arbor Schools 8th grade curriculum on American History, five middle schools and 40 teachers have collaborated to make the end of the year/end of middle school activity a meaningful one for students.

The young historians will each experience up to six different events during the day including:

The Dodworth Saxhorn Band will greet the students at the busses and provide a musicale finale. They will also provide dancing and singing workshops
Historical re-enactors will portray President and Mrs. Lincoln, Senator Jacob Howard, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, General Custer, soldiers representing both sides of the conflict, and a spy whose identity cannot be revealed. ( Note: Our own Ann Arbor School Board Trustee, Karen Cross, will portray Harriet Tubman.)
Ford Motor Company will provide Midnight Journey, a display about the Underground Railroad
Students can burn off some energy in the Clara Barton Relays and Military Drills using wooden muskets.

Other event features include:

Members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, The 102 Colored Troops and The Buffalo Soldiers will be present, in full uniform
A “close to historically accurate” lunch will be served
Students will act as war correspondents as they learn glass plate photography similar to that done by famous Civil War Photographer, Matthew Brady.
A writing contest, sponsored by the Civil War Round Table, will select one winner from each middle school. Winners will be presented with a $50 gift certificate to a local bookstore.

“This is a great way to incorporate standards-based learning into our curriculum and celebrate the end of an excellent school year in a fun, educational way”, said Linda Prieskorn, Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator.

For more information, please call 994-1682.

May 2002 "Only in Ann Arbor" features information on achievement within the Ann Arbor Public Schools

Every month, the Ann Arbor Public Schools publish the "Only in Ann Arbor" feature in the Ann Arbor Observer. The May 2002 "Only in Ann Arbor" features information on the various initiatives the Ann Arbor Public Schools are undertaking to close the achievement gap. You can read the full text of the May 2002 "Only in Ann Arbor" on this site.

From left: AAPS Fine Arts Coordinator Lynda Berg, AAPS Board of Education President Kathleen Conway, ArtServe Michigan Board President Barbara Kratchman.

AAPS Board of Education Recognized by ArtServe Michigan

The Ann Arbor School Board was recently named “School Board of the Year” by ArtServe Michigan for their support of the arts in the public school curriculum. As part of this honor, a representative was selected to participate in the 2002 Michigan Youth Arts Festival held at Western Michigan University in May. Teachers, administrators and arts advocates were honored in a special ceremony.For more information, please call the office of the Superintendent 994-2230.

AAPS Teacher receives Presidential Award

Ms. Kielb testifying before U.S. House Committee on Science

Ann Arbor Teacher receives Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

Susan Kielb, seventh grade teacher at Tappan Middle School, has been awarded the national Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This award is the most highly regarded and most sought after award for school mathematics teachers. The award was presented on March 20, 2002, by Rita Colwell, Director of the National Science Foundation, and John Marburger III, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President, during an evening ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. In addition to the Presidential citation and numerous gifts from American business and industry, she received a $7,500 grant from the National Science Foundation and an invitation to work for a week in Washington D.C. with researchers from the National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences and congressional leaders who are interested in education. While in Washington D. C. Ms. Kielb testified before the U. S. House Committee on Science. The hearing was webcast (requires RealPlayer) on CSPAN; you may also access a text version of her testimony on the House Science Committee web site.

As a result of this award Ms Kielb and the Ann Arbor Public Schools will be given substantial national recognition and exposure. The award is not based on a single project but on the accumulated work of a teacher over an entire career. Presidential award winners are authors, reformers, leaders and the highest caliber classroom teachers in America. The review process for the award includes state level review, followed by national level review and finally selection by science and education officers in the Office of the President.

Congratulations, Ms. Kielb!

Parent University

Parent University is a partnership between the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce. Parent University is our joint effort to support your involvement with your children’s education by providing you with important tools and information. Through this program and your concern, we seek to increase student academic success and preparation for the work force. Today, preparing children for academic success, higher education and the world of work is more complex than ever before. Parent University is designed to give you information, assistance and insight that you will need as you support your children through-out their school careers.

Classes are offered twice during the school year. The dates for the next session will be posted on February 4. For additional information call 994-8139 or email mccuisto@aaps.k12.mi.us.

You can also scholarship and other information on the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce web site.