The Weekly Update #4

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Our schools thrive when families and educators work together to support student success. The Alma Elementary School Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is a vital part of this partnership, creating opportunities for parents and teachers to collaborate and make a meaningful impact on our school community.

One of the ways PTO makes an impact is through its annual Fun Run, the biggest fundraiser of the year. This exciting event brings students, families, and staff together for a fun-filled day and plays a crucial role in supporting PTO initiatives. This year, the goal is to raise $65,000 to provide valuable resources, fund educational programs, and enhance the school experience for all.

Every contribution to the Fun Run makes a difference—whether pledging, volunteering, or simply cheering on the participants. We can hit the goal together and continue building a strong, vibrant community. Let's lace up our sneakers and make this Fun Run the best one yet!

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

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!

Thank You, Families!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the parents and families who attended our Parent Teacher Connection Night and Community Resource Fair! Your enthusiasm, support, and engagement made the evening an incredible success. Together, we are building a stronger school community, and we couldn’t do it without you.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school family!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At Alma Public Schools, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where all students can grow—academically, socially, and emotionally. As part of this effort, we are proud to integrate Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), Restorative Practices, and Natural Consequences into our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) helps students build essential life skills such as self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and responsible decision-making. Utilizing our Character Strong curriculum, classroom lessons and everyday interactions, we guide students in understanding their emotions, setting positive goals, building strong relationships, and making caring choices.

Restorative Practices focus on strengthening relationships and building a sense of community. When conflicts or challenges arise, we encourage students to reflect on their actions, understand how their behavior affects others, and take responsibility in a respectful and supportive way. This helps build empathy and promotes problem-solving and healing, rather than punishment.

Natural Consequences are used as learning opportunities. Rather than imposing unrelated penalties, we aim to guide students in experiencing the real-life outcomes of their actions in a safe environment. For example, if a student makes a mess, the natural consequence might be helping to clean it up. These experiences help children understand the impact of their choices and develop a sense of responsibility.

All of these approaches are key components of our PBIS framework, which celebrates positive behavior, sets clear expectations, and ensures consistency across our school. Together, SEL, Restorative Practices, and Natural Consequences create a foundation for meaningful learning and lifelong success.

We appreciate your partnership in supporting your child’s social and emotional development. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Educationally Yours,

Jennifer Jaeck

MTSS Coordinator

Pine Avenue School

1st Grade Creativity

2nd Grade Creativity

3rd Grade Creativity

4th Grade Creativity

5th Grade Creativity

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