SCHOOL CLOSURES

The majority of public schools in Ann Arbor will resume in-person instruction next week.

Several schools have closed because of threats of violence. Each threat has to be taken seriously, but the closures are having an impact on students.

Following the devastating Oxford High School shooting earlier this week, several schools across Southeast Michigan are increasing police presence or temporarily closing their buildings as they deal with their own threats.

Rochester Community Schools will be closed Thursday (Dec. 2) out of an abundance of caution.

Warren Consolidated Schools are closed Thursday after several threats on social media were reported.

Holly Area Schools are closed for the rest of the week (Dec. 2 through Dec. 3) after school officials received an outpouring of concern for the safety of students.

All Oxford Community Schools are closed for the rest of the week after three students were killed and eight other people were injured in a shooting at Oxford High School.

AAPS announced schools will be closed next week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday due to high COVID activity in the district and an ongoing staff shortage.

MacDowell Preparatory Academy in Detroit will be closed through Wednesday (Nov. 17) after a staff member tested positive for COVID on Friday.

AAPS Superintendent Jeanice Swift spoke with A4 about the district's ongoing staff shortage.

Swift said the district is looking into the factors that made several schools shift to remote learning recently.

The Huron School District will be closed Monday, Oct. 11, due to a large water main break in Huron Township.

Lisa McDonald hasn't missed a week of food deliveries to marginalized community members since March 2020.

ANN ARBOR As local families mark the last day of school Friday, Food Gatherers has announced it is once again partnering with Toyota to support its Summer Food Service Program. Throughout the school year, these local children rely on free or subsidized breakfast and/or lunch, and Food Gatherers annual summer food program aims to fill those gaps. Food Gatherers is grateful for Toyotas investment in the summer food program, Helen Starman, Food Gatherers Chief Development Officer said in a statement. In addition to summer food, they have also supported critical food distribution during the pandemic. Like what youre reading? With the summer food program, Food Gatherers has really had to think about how to serve an even greater need, especially since the schools are closing.

ANN ARBOR Wild Swan Theater has announced a new initiative titled Wild Swan in the Wings to help families with children bring fun, creative activities to their homes while schools are closed. The activities are designed for independent play or for children and adults to engage together at home, with the help of an occasional prop of common household objects. Throughout its 40-year history, Wild Swan offers lively, participatory theater workshops that provide fun ways for participants to develop imagination and creativity in a group setting. Most activities are designed to be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors -- away from screens. Every few weeks, Wild Swan will be releasing new theater games, video clips of past productions, playwriting activities and activities for kids with special needs.

ANN ARBOR A recent video posted by Ann Arbor Pioneers Theatre Guild gives meaning to the phrase the show must go on.When senior Dana Steiner learned that the groups spring production of Les Miserables was canceled, she pitched the performing-in-place idea. I am a senior at Pioneer and this would have been my last musical with my younger brother and my PTG family. To help everyone record their parts, I sent out an instruction video and sample recordings of every ensemble vocal track, Steiner said in a statement. Every cast member who wanted to participate recorded themselves singing their part a cappella while listening to the accompaniment in headphones. I got sent each video individually -- 35 total -- at the beginning of May and spent weeks editing them all together.Wed say it was a big success.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially closed schools for the remainder of the school year Thursday. If you need help with the Public File, call (313) 222-0566.