Tag Archives: AAPS Business Partnerships

Target volunteers read with Lawton Elementary students

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Target employees volunteered at Lawton Elementary as part of "Read Across America."

Target employees volunteered at Lawton Elementary as part of “Read Across America.”

By Tara Cavanaugh 

“You’re never too wacky, too old, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”

That’s the slogan of “Read Across America,” a National Education Association program that focuses on motivating children and teens to read. The program, now in its 16th year, attracts participation from many organizations and businesses, including Ann Arbor’s own Target, which sent volunteers to Lawton Elementary on May 20 to read with children throughout the school.

The Target employees visited five classrooms during the morning, reading to students in groups or helping individual students read books aloud.

Target also donated Dr. Seuss books, charts teachers can use to track students’ reading, and flash cards.  Continue reading →

Portfolio Day inspires Scarlett eighth graders to plan for college, career

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By Tara Cavanaugh 

Ann Arbor City Councilman Stephen Kunselman sits down with a Scarlett Middle School eighth grader, looks him in the eyes, and shakes his hand.

“So, where do you see yourself in four years?” he asks.

“That’s a good question,” the boy answers nervously as he opens his portfolio and begins talking about where he might like to go to college.

Conversations like this took place throughout the school on May 15 during the 19th annual Portfolio Day. Business professionals from the community volunteered to conduct one-on-one mock interviews with eighth graders, and the students showed off their new portfolios and best professional demeanors.

The event is an opportunity for local professionals from a variety of fields –– finance, medicine, media, technology and more –– to pass on their wisdom, and for the students to begin shaping their careers.  Continue reading →

Google Career Day inspires AAPS juniors, seniors

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Google AAPS Career Day Panel Discussion

By Tara Cavanaugh 

When you think of Google, you think of Google Docs, Gmail and its all-knowing search engine. Its creative and innovative products stem from a deliberately unique and inspiring work environment –– and last month the company shared its inspiration with AAPS students.

Google’s Ann Arbor office hosted 43 Ann Arbor Public Schools juniors and seniors at its Career Day event on Nov. 29. The high schoolers took a tour of Google’s eclectic offices and talked one-on-one with employees, taking away lessons and tips for their future college and career experiences.

Continue reading →

Volunteer buddies build love of reading at Allen

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By Tara Cavanaugh

In just eight weeks, a group of second and third graders at Allen Elementary have improved their reading skills by one or two levels.

These students were having a hard time with reading, but now they seem to love it. So what made the difference? Their reading buddies.

Reading buddies are volunteers who spend an hour with one, two or three students. The one-on-one attention and friendship helps the students love to read.

“They’re reading books that are a little harder for them than they normally would be reading,” said Carol Clyde, Allen’s Title I teacher. “This program has really helped them improve their attitude toward reading.” Continue reading →

Scarlett eighth graders get career, life lessons at Portfolio Day

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Student Chris Torella talks with Jaqueline Lucas at Portfolio Day on May 16. Lucas was the first African-American female to be a corporate pilot for General Motors Air Transportation. She has also been a pilot for Skyline, Northwest and the U.S. Air Force, where she received the Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service.

By Tara Cavanaugh

A nervous and excited tension filled the air at Scarlett Middle School last Wednesday. Grown-ups in dark suits, toting Blackberrys and shiny briefcases, walked briskly through the halls. Smaller versions of those grown-ups, wearing high heels or slightly oversized suits, clutched plastic binders and waited.

It was Scarlett’s 19th annual Portfolio Day. More than 90 members of the medicine, law, technology, science, athletic and business communities visited Scarlett to conduct mock job interviews with the eighth graders. Continue reading →

Local business professionals mentor AAPS principals

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At the March 22 session of the mentorship program, which took place at Menlo Innovations, Pattengill Principal Che Carter and Denise Murray from Briarwood Mall listen to Bryant Principal Roberta Heyward. Photo provided by Annette Ferguson.

By Tara Cavanaugh

Principals in the Ann Arbor Public Schools are partnering with local business professionals in the Principal and Business Mentor Program.

The goal of the program is to help principals learn new skills in customer service, while at the same time helping the business professionals have a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the public schools. Continue reading →