The Weekly Update Panther Pride

Dear Hillcrest and Pine Avenue Families,

At Hillcrest and Pine Avenue, we’re committed to creating a safe, respectful, and engaging environment where every student can thrive. As we settle into the school year, we want to highlight how behavior connects to our core expectations—APS ROARS:

Respect

Others

Act Responsibly Be

Safe

These values guide how students interact with peers, adults, and their learning spaces. Whether it’s using kind words, following directions, or making safe choices during transitions, ROARS helps students understand what it means to be part of a caring school community.

Our classrooms are designed to be active, inclusive, and student-centered. When students follow ROARS expectations, they contribute to a positive learning environment where everyone feels supported and ready to grow.

Families play a key role in reinforcing these behaviors. You can support your child by:

• Talking about ROARS and what it looks like at school and at home
• Praising respectful and responsible choices
• Encouraging problem-solving and empathy
• Staying connected through teacher updates and the APS App

Together, we’re building a culture where students feel safe, valued, and empowered to take ownership of their learning and behavior. Thank you for being a vital part of this journey.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow and Ms. Jaeck

Respect Grade 1

Respect Grade 2

Respect Grade 3

Respect Grade 4

Respect Grade 5

As we begin the school year, we want to ensure every child has access to nutritious meals. While Michigan has not yet finalized its state budget, students will receive free breakfast and lunch through September 30, 2025. After that date, meal eligibility may change depending on state funding.

To prepare for any changes and ensure your child continues receiving meals, we strongly encourage all families to complete the Household Information Report as soon as possible. This form not only helps determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals—it also directly impacts our school’s Title I funding.

Title I funds support essential programs like reading and math interventions, classroom resources, and additional staff to help students succeed. When families complete these forms, it strengthens our ability to provide high-quality instruction and support for all learners.

You can complete the form online at the link provided below, or reach out directly to our Food Services Coordinator:

Grace Kaczorowski

(989) 466-7529

gkaczorowski@almaschools.net

Thank you for partnering with us to support every child’s success—your action makes a difference.

Student of the Week and Month:

Earning Student of the Week or Month honors as part of a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school acknowledgement program can be an exciting and motivating way for students to be recognized for positive behavior. Here are the ways in which students can earn Student of the Week or Month honors:

Our first grade students learned how to be a reading partner this week.

Teachers in grades K-5 will be implementing a new, highly engaging math program that promotes mathematical reasoning and problem-solving. Mrs. Benjamin's students are learning how to be outstanding mathematicians.