9.1.26
The First Day Back is in the Books
Welcome back! I hope the first day was a success for everyone. As I traveled around the district, I was greeted by bright, eager faces ready to dive into learning. I also empathized with a few parents of kindergartners who seemed more anxious about the first day than their student was. As a parent, I know how emotional the journey of firsts can be, whether it is kindergarten, high school, college, or a new school. Despite the nerves, it is truly heartening to see our community come together to support one another as we embark on this exciting new chapter. Here’s to a fantastic year!
Snow Day or Late Start?
While it feels early to think about winter weather, I want to make you aware of a new process for this year. To prioritize student and staff safety while maximizing instructional time, this year we will implement a one- or two-hour late start instead of a full closure whenever possible. Every weather decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. We aim to make these decisions as early as possible to give you ample time to make arrangements due to a delay or closure. I will provide more details in the October Superintendent Update.
ASK APS
Have questions about our district's operations? Use our 'ASK APS' feature. We address community questions through our superintendent updates or social media channels. Please submit your questions using this link. Please note that this link is not monitored daily and is not intended for urgent matters or individual responses.
Wildcat Athletics App
We are committed to keeping our community informed. Based on your feedback, we launched the Wildcat Athletics app as a one-stop resource for schedules, scores, and updates. Download the app today by scanning the QR code below or visiting www.alpenawildcats.com.
Education and Nutrition Benefits Form
Please complete the 2026–27 Education and Nutrition Benefits Form online or on paper. This form helps determine eligibility for free and reduced meals and ensures our district receives essential state and federal funding for our programs. Please take a moment to complete the Education and Nutrition Benefits form and return it to your student’s school or to APS Food Service at 2373 Gordon Road, Alpena, MI 49707. You can also fill out the form online using the Apply for Benefits button
Your Feedback is Important
We know that between Superintendent Updates, newsletters, building updates, and daily teacher-family communications, there is a lot of information coming your way. To ensure we are communicating effectively, we regularly seek your input. Recent survey results from 2025–26 show strong positive momentum, with respondents feeling supported and well-informed. Words like Improving, Transparent, and Supportive reflect the progress we are making together, but your constructive feedback helps us refine our efforts even further.
To maintain this momentum, we invite all students, parents, staff, and community members to complete our latest communication survey this month. Your feedback directly guides our decisions and ensures every voice is heard. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts through the link below, thank you for your ongoing partnership!
Keep Your Contact Information Current
Email is our primary communication method. Please verify that your contact information is up to date in ParentVUE.
To help reduce phone calls, we are using a new system called Thrillshare, which allows us to send texts for many updates. You can enable this by adding a text-enabled number in your ParentVUE account under My Account > Phones (select 'Text B') or by requesting that your child’s school update it in Synergy.
Finally, please notify your child’s school office of any new or updated emergency medical information for the school year.