Panther Cubs Press

This is how we Take Chances, Make Mistakes and Get Messy! Our little Panther Cubs are learning to ROAR with pride and how “we do school”!

Happy, joyful December, Luce Road Family! We have just wrapped up Week 17, with students continuing to learn how to be problem solvers and show empathy. Below you will see all the excitement and fun as our Cubs take chances, make mistakes, and get messy with their learning.

This week we saw students across all three programs work on life skills, gross motor skills, and social development. Our Cubs practiced putting on and zipping their own winter gear, taking turns and sharing materials, using their big muscles in the gym and on the playground, and talking through small problems with friends. In every classroom, teachers are helping students use kind words, listen to others, and make safe choices, even when things feel tricky.

As we move into this final week of school before our two week break, we have a lot of fun and exciting adventures planned for the kids, including spirit week dress up days, gingerbread and winter holiday activities, sledding, hot chocolate and a movie, and cookies with Santa.

Below you will see information on how to continue the conversation about being a problem solver at home from the ECPBIS curriculum we are teaching. A few simple ideas you can use at home are:

• When your child is upset, help them pause, take a breath, and use words to say what is wrong.

• Ask, “What is the problem?” and then, “What is a safe and kind way we can fix it?”

• Offer two good choices and let your child pick one to try.

• Notice and praise your child when you see them staying calm, using their words, or trying again after a mistake.

Remember, if you are volunteering this week, please register with your child’s teacher. Kindergarten parents will come in through the middle doors (pick up and drop off doors), sign in and sign out, and you are welcome to take your student with you when you leave, as long as you sign them out.

Thank you for the many ways you support your children and our school. We are grateful for each family, each student, and each staff member who helps our Cubs learn, grow, and ROAR with respect, responsibility, and kindness every day. We are proud of the caring, curious, and confident learners they are becoming, and we are excited for the joy and connection this final week of school will bring.

Where Little Panther Cubs Begin Big Journeys

Warmly,
Mr. Ernest Conerly
Principal and Program Director

Come join your kindergartener make their own gingerbread house!

All adults need to have a completed background check form to attend. If you did not complete a background check for Fall festival here is the link: https://www.almaschools.net/o/aps/page/guidelines-for-chaperones-and-voll

Please email your student's teacher with any questions!

Building Community, One Tasty Snack at a Time!

Our Young Fives students have been busy spreading cheer this season with their very own Hot Cocoa Stand! They’ve been practicing teamwork, taking orders, and serving up cozy cups of “pretend cocoa” while building social and communication skills. Alongside their stand, our new Winter Gross Motor Area is full of snowy fun—ice fishing, ice-skate slides, and snowman build that keep everyone moving and smiling. It’s the perfect mix of imagination, movement, and winter magic!

In class, students read Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters. The book follows a real child at Plimoth Plantation and gives students a glimpse into what daily life, chores, and responsibilities looked like for children long ago. We used the story to talk about how life then is similar to and different from their lives today.

To bring the learning to life, students then made their own butter in class. They shook heavy cream in jars, watched it change from liquid to solid, and tasted the butter they created together. This hands on activity helped students connect history, science, and teamwork in a fun and memorable way.

Our preschoolers had a special visit from Officer Mueller and his K-9 partner, Blue! Officer Mueller talked with the children about his important job keeping our community safe and answered lots of curious questions. The highlight of the day was meeting Blue, who showed off his calm manners and gentle personality. The visit helped our students learn about community helpers and how police officers and their dogs work together to keep everyone safe.

Even though school was canceled, our Snow Day Child Care was full of excitement! Students stayed warm and busy making festive wreath crafts, writing heartfelt letters to Santa, and enjoying a snowy sledding adventure outside. We ended the day with a cozy movie party and plenty of laughter. It was the perfect mix of creativity, outdoor fun, and holiday spirit!

Alma Public Schools was awarded 12 additional seats for 4 year students looking to start preschool. The enrollment process has begun! Please let us know if you know someone still interested in enrolling their child into a stellar preschool program! Please reach out to gsrppreschool@almaschools.net for help with enrollment. We will need the following:

Income Verification (pay stubs, W-2s etc)

PowerSchool Enrollment (General Forms and Enrollment forms 1-12)

State paperwork

Birth Certificate

Proof of Residency

Immunization Record or Waiver

• Talk about feelings together and name them so children learn to notice how others might feel too.
• Model empathy by showing kindness, saying sorry, and checking in when someone is upset.
• Ask simple questions like “How do you think they felt” or “What could we do to help” after stories or real life moments.
• Celebrate small caring actions at home like sharing, helping, and comforting so kids see that empathy matters.

Stop 🖐️ (hand out like a stop sign)

Tuck 🐢 (hug yourself and curl in like a turtle)

Breathe 😮‍💨 (3 slow belly breaths)

Think 🤔 (finger to brain, “what could I do instead?”)

🎶Tucker the Turtle song🎶

Tune of Dem Bones

Tucker the turtle is angry

Tucker the turtle is angry

Turker the turtle is angry

Calm down tucker

Calm down

Tucker the turtle will stop first

Tuck in his shell and breath deep

3 deep breathes he does take

Breathe tucker breathe

Tucker the turtle pops back out

Tucker the turtle has calmed down

Now he finds a so-lu-tion

Hooray tucker hooray

The Lost and Found is overflowing. Please take a moment to look through it and reclaim any missing items your student might have missed placed.

🧥 Dress for the Weather

Please help your child come to school dressed for the changing fall weather. Our Panther Cubs go outside 3 to 4 times a day, and mornings can be chilly.

• Check the weather each morning to help your child dress appropriately.

• Send a jacket or hoodie and closed-toe shoes every day.

• Students are expected to go outside each time, so being prepared helps them stay comfortable and focused.

• Label all items with your child’s name so we can return lost items quickly.

Thank you for helping keep our Cubs comfy, safe, and ready to play all day long! 🐾

Please make sure you send a change of clothes in for your student. Sometimes accidents happen and it’s helpful for them to have a change of clothes.

Please make sure ALL of your student’s belongings are labeled with their name! If it gets lost, staff will know who to return it to!

We love having our Luce Road families be part of the fun! If you’re interested in volunteering at the school—whether it’s helping in classrooms, assisting with events, or supporting special projects—your time and enthusiasm make a huge difference.

Please reach out to the office or your child’s teacher to learn how you can get involved. Thank you for helping make Luce Road such a warm and supportive community for our students!

Parents and guardians, please label your Panther Cub’s belongings, including backpack, coat, lunch box, and water bottle. Our Lost and Found is filling up, and labeled items can be returned quickly. Thank you for your help!

Click HERE or the picture to register!

Visit the Kinney Lodge Christmas House

321 N. Kinney, Mt. Pleasant, MI

Kinney Lodge Christmas House hours of operation

They will be open from 5 PM to 10 PM every day until January 1st, spreading cheer and warmth to all.

Their cookie shop, Santa, and The Grinch will be open and out from 6 PM to 8 PM on the dates listed below. Join them for a free cookie, a hot chocolate, and many other special surprises, as they come together to make this season brighter for all.

Friday, November 28th

Saturday, November 29th

Thursday, December 4th

Friday, December 5th

Thursday, December 11th

Friday, December 12th

Thursday, December 18th

Friday, December 19th

To see more information visit their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/kinney.lodge.christmas.house

As we head into flu season, families who are interested will have the opportunity to get flu shots through our school’s scheduled clinic. Participation is completely optional.

See flyer below for more information.