Dear Parents/Guardians,

As partners in your child's education, we recognize family involvement's profound impact on student success. Education is more than what happens in the classroom—it thrives through collaboration between schools, families, and communities. When parents and caregivers actively engage in their child's learning, students achieve more academically, develop stronger social skills, and build greater confidence. Research continues to show that family engagement positively influences student achievement, attendance, and overall well-being.

Over the years, I have studied the importance of family involvement, and the benefits are undeniable:

Improved Academic Success – Students with involved families tend to earn higher grades, develop strong reading skills, and graduate on time.

Stronger Social and Communication Skills—Family participation fosters better peer interactions, emotional development, and responsible behavior.

Increased Motivation & Goal-Setting – Children who see their parents prioritizing education are likelier to stay engaged, set goals, and strive for success.

A Supportive School-Home Partnership – Collaboration between families and educators ensures students receive the best growth opportunities.

I also emphasize the importance of enriching and involving students in summer programs. Learning doesn't stop when the school year ends! The summer months allow students to explore new skills, reinforce academic concepts, and engage in enriching activities. Without structured learning, students risk experiencing the "summer slide," where academic progress regresses. Students retain essential skills and stay prepared for the next school year by participating in summer programs. Below are some benefits students get when they are involved in programs over the summer.

🔹 Self-Discovery & Hands-On Learning – Summer activities encourage creativity, independence, and real-world problem-solving.

🔹 Social & Emotional Growth – Enrichment programs help children develop friendships, manage emotions, and practice teamwork.

🔹 Healthy Mind & Body – Physical activities, summer reading challenges, and creative workshops keep students mentally and physically engaged.

Join Us for Our First Annual APS & Alma Community Resource Fair!

To ensure families can access valuable resources, we invite you to attend our Parent-Teacher Connection Night & Community Resource Fair!

📅 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025

🕓 Time: 4:00 – 7:00 PM

📍 Location: Donald L. Pavlik Middle School

This special event offers an incredible opportunity for families to connect, explore resources, and actively engage in their child's learning journey. We will host numerous vendors to provide information on summer activities, APS programs, health services, and more, allowing parents to discover options that support student success beyond the classroom.

Together, we can create a stronger, more engaged learning community in school and beyond. We look forward to seeing you there!

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

The City of Alma will temporarily close the entrance to Pine Avenue Elementary School. As a result, all bus drop-offs and pick-ups will now take place at Chatterton Street. The east side of the sidewalk from Richmond, and East End is now open. We will continue to have student supervision for all directions of walkers to Pine Avenue.

Students will have the opportunity to enjoy a short walk from the bus stop to the school building. To ensure a safe and smooth transition, school personnel will be stationed at the bus stop and along the route to provide guidance and supervision. The first map shows the drop off and pick up and walk the students will take. The second map shows how to enter Pine during the day.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we adjust to this change. Our primary focus remains the safety and well-being of all students.

Join Us for Parent-Teacher Connection Night!

To ensure families have access to valuable resources that support student success, Luce, Hillcrest, and Pine invite you to our Parent-Teacher Connection Night & Community Resource Fair!

📅 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025

🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍 Location: Donald L. Pavlik Middle School

We are excited to welcome 30+ vendors providing summer activities, APS programs, vision and dental services, counseling/mental health support, and much more. This event is designed to connect families with local resources that ensure students have an engaging, productive, and enriching summer ahead.

In addition to our vendor fair, teachers will host targeted Parent-Teacher Conferences to provide personalized learning plans for students. Families will also be invited to explore:

🏥 APS MyMichigan Health Center – Providing essential health resources and support for students and families.

🎨 Student Art Gallery – Showcasing the creative talents of our students.

🤖 Robots from STEM Classes – A hands-on look at innovation and student projects.

💡 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) – Resources for building student resilience, behavior strategies, and emotional well-being.

📚 Reading & Math Parent-Student Learning Sessions – Engaging activities that empower families to support academic growth at home.

Together, we can create a stronger learning environment in school and academic growth at home.

We are so grateful for the Alma Elementary PTO (AEPTO) and all they do to support our students, staff, and school community! Their dedication makes a huge difference every day, from sponsoring field trips, book fairs, and family engagement events to providing support for staff and enriching the student experience.

The AEPTO will host the Fun Run on May 2, 2025, with a goal of raising $65,000 to continue funding these incredible opportunities. Thank you, AESPTO, for your tireless work and unwavering commitment to Hillcrest and Pine Elementary Schools!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We have successfully begun the third, final trimester of the school year and hope to be welcoming in some warmer Spring weather soon. While the beginning of Spring typically brings a mixture of storms and sunshine, it also ushers in our final round of testing sessions including M-STEP, NWEA and Acadience. The M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress) is the state-mandated assessment administered once a school year.

Here are ways you can help your child feel more confident going into the final round of assessments this year:

● Encourage Restful Sleep: A good night’s rest before the test day is crucial for focus and energy.

● Healthy Breakfast: A nutritious breakfast can help fuel your child’s brain for optimal performance.

● Positive Encouragement: Help reduce test anxiety by emphasizing that the test is just one way of showing what they know. Encourage a positive attitude and remind them that they have been preparing all year.

● Be On Time: It is important for students to be in school and ready to start on time. Being present for the entire testing session ensures they can complete the test without distractions. Here is what you can expect from Hillcrest and Pine Avenue during the testing sessions:

● A Quiet and Distraction Free Environment: Students are assessed in test environments with comfortable seating and well-lit spaces with extra signage and staff patrolling in the hallways to protect quiet levels near testing classrooms.

● Flexible Scheduling and Timing Adjustments: Staggered test days/times ensure that groups of students are not overwhelmed or fatigued which allows them to focus without being rushed.

● Proper Supervision: Teachers and paraprofessional staff are trained to monitor the testing environment so all students are following the rules and feel supported throughout the testing experience. Security measures are followed to ensure testing materials are accounted for and submitted properly.

● Monitoring Student Well-Being: Staff are monitoring students throughout the testing experience and identifying/reporting to administration, counselors and social workers those who are struggling with test anxiety, stress, and/or other health-related concerns.

If you have any questions about the M-STEP or the testing process, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your child’s academic success. We look forward to seeing all of our students do their best!

Warm regards,

Jennifer Jaeck

MTSS Coordinator Pine Avenue School

1st Grade Courage

2nd Grade Courage

3rd Grade Courage

4th Grade Courage

5th Grade Courage

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:

Late Start or Early Release

Alma Public Schools will implement Late Start or Early Release Days September through May. The dismissal time for Hillcrest is 11:38 and Pine Avenue’s early release is 11:43 am. The school day at Pine Avenue will begin at 11:43 on the late start days. Please note, Late Start days are on Wednesdays and our Early Release days will be on Fridays.

February 28-Friday-Early Release-End at HC-11:38; PA-11:43 am

March 12-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at HC-11:38; PA-11:43 am

April11-Friday-Early Release-End at HC-11:38; PA-11:43 am

May 14-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at HC-11:38; PA-11:43 am