Cardinal Connection
Max Larsen Elementary School - December
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Larsen School Community,
As we reflect on the month of December, my heart is filled with gratitude for the incredible support and dedication you have shown to our school and students.
Celebrating Our Successes
This month brought remarkable achievements that demonstrate the power of community partnership. Our Gratitude for Grandparents event was a tremendous success with over 300 people in attendance, generating total sales of $10,071.80 with a cash profit of $2,305.69. These funds will directly support our activity fund, enabling meaningful field trip experiences for our students.
I want to extend special thanks to Cottage Inn and our wonderful parents for their continued support of Max Larsen's Second Tuesday of the Month fundraiser initiative. November's efforts resulted in a profit of $355.00—a testament to your generosity and commitment.
Academic and Behavioral Growth
Our students continue to thrive across all areas of development. Our Therapy Pony PBIS program is flourishing, and it is wonderful to see our students enthusiastically earning Pony Points and anticipating their classroom pony visits. These positive reinforcement experiences are creating a culture of excellence and kindness throughout our school.
Academically, we are witnessing wonderful growth through our new UFLI foundational skills program. Our students are building strong literacy foundations that will serve them well throughout their educational journey.
A Team Effort
None of this would be possible without recognizing that our teachers and families are truly a team. It takes a unified effort to unlock the full potential of each Max Larsen student. Your partnership, encouragement, and involvement make all the difference.
Looking Ahead
As we enter the new year, we are energized by the fresh opportunities for growth and learning that lie ahead. I am excited to see what we will achieve together in the coming months.
In the spirit of this season, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for each of you.
Warmly,
Mrs. Hardway
Supporting Student Mental Health Through Animal Therapy
Max Larsen Elementary is proud to welcome specially trained therapy ponies to support our students' mental health and behavioral development. This innovative approach offers healing through gentle animal interactions, particularly benefiting students who have experienced trauma or stress.
Understanding the Science Behind Animal Therapy
Research shows that childhood trauma can significantly impact brain development. When children experience prolonged stress, their brains adapt by becoming hypervigilant. The amygdala becomes overactive, constantly triggering fight, flight, or freeze responses that interfere with learning and emotional regulation.
Unique Benefits of Therapy Ponies
Our therapy pony program offers benefits that traditional approaches may not provide:
- Emotional Regulation: Working with ponies requires calm, centered behavior, naturally teaching self-control
- Trust Building: The non-judgmental nature of ponies helps children develop healthy relationships
- Confidence Building: Successfully caring for ponies creates feelings of accomplishment and self-worth
- Mindfulness: Animal interactions draw children into present-moment awareness, reducing anxiety
Pony Points System
The program integrates seamlessly with our school's PBIS framework through our "pony points" system. Students earn points by demonstrating respectful, responsible, and safe behavior throughout the school day.
All staff members—teachers, bus drivers, and supervisors—can award pony points when observing positive choices. Classrooms with the most points earn special interaction time with the therapy ponies, creating healthy competition while building school-wide community.
Building Life Skills
Through pony interactions, students practice essential skills:
- Empathy through gentle animal care
- Self-regulation by managing emotions during interactions
- Responsibility through feeding and grooming tasks
This monthly partnership represents an innovative approach to student mental health support. The program continues throughout the school year, with pony points maintaining engagement between visits. For children whose brains have focused on survival rather than learning, therapy ponies offer a gentle pathway back to emotional regulation, trust, and academic success.
This sustained approach provides hope and healing while strengthening our entire school community's commitment to supporting every child through comprehensive behavioral interventions.
Thank you for being part of our Max Larsen Elementary family. Together, we're creating an environment where every child can thrive through gratitude, kindness, and innovative support systems.
Please keep in mind that with the weather turning colder that your child/children have on the proper attire. Also, be sure that students have a coat to wear. They must have a coat on if it is below 60 degrees to play outside. They will also go outside if the real feel is 10 degrees or warmer. Thank you.
Important Parent Guidelines
- Please do not send any snacks into the school building without communicating with your child’s teacher first
- Avoid sending foods that may contain nuts or sesame products of any kind
Communication Channels
- Future updates will be shared via Remind and Thrillshare notifications
Our food service program continues to align with the latest USDA School Meal Guidelines, which emphasize:
- Nutritional balance
- Allergen awareness
- Student health and wellness
All food items must be prepackaged and store bought. This includes snacks, class treats, and birthday treats. These items can be dropped off in the office.
Please be sure that you have a current email address and phone number on file with the school. This is important as it is a way to be contacted when needed. Thank you.
Early Release Wednesday: 8:45 AM-2:40 PM
Half-Day: 8:45 AM-12:15 PM
Doors will open each day at 8:25 AM.
Pick up: When picking up your child from school in a car you must use the car line. Any students that need to be picked up early will need to be picked up by 3:25. Anything after that, the child will do their normal end of day transportation. Again, the staff parking lot is reserved for staff and permit parking, and bus use only. Please do not pull into this parking lot. Thank you again for your help with this.
Max Larsen Elementary
Email: hardwayj@ccscards.org
Website: coldwaterschools.org
Location: 25 Parkhurst Avenue, Coldwater, MI, USA
Phone: (517) 279-5960