Dear Parents,

For the next two weeks, Pine Panthers will be on winter break. Our students will return on Monday, January 6, 2025. In January, students will learn about the character trait perseverance in their SEL special and their classroom. We know the journey of learning and growing can be filled with challenges and obstacles, especially for our students. One of the most valuable lessons we can teach our Pine Panthers is the importance of perseverance and effective goal-setting. These skills contribute to academic success and build resilience and a positive mindset to serve them well throughout life. As your partners in education, we believe that parents play a significant role in supporting their children to develop these crucial abilities.

Perseverance is the ability to persist in the face of difficulty. It involves a determined effort to achieve a goal despite obstacles, setbacks, or discouragement. For Pine students, this means trying even when tasks are challenging or they fail the first time. Perseverance is an essential skill that we use every day as adults. It helps children develop resilience, enabling them to bounce back from setbacks and keep moving forward. In addition, students who practice the character trait of perseverance approach problems with a positive attitude and seek solutions rather than giving up. When a student successfully overcomes challenges, this boosts a child’s confidence and belief in their abilities. Also, perseverance is a key factor in achieving long-term goals, both academically and personally, paving the way for a bright future.

Over winter break, parents can encourage perseverance through family stories, putting puzzles together, and games. When students return to school, ask your child how they persevered during the day. We also want to remind you that an SEL newsletter, which will focus on perseverance, will be sent home with students the first week of January. We encourage you to read it with your child to reinforce the importance of perseverance in their education.

I want to wish all Pine Panthers and their families a wonderful holiday and I look forward to seeing everyone January 6, 2025.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

We ended our December Spirit Month with Jazz Band Concert from AHS Jazz Band under the direction of Mr. Newman. Our very own Mr. Kemler joined in on the drums.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Greetings parents and caregivers of Pine Avenue students. I hope this letter finds you settling into the holiday season, reflecting on the growth accomplished this year, and looking toward new goals, aspirations and dreams yet to be fulfilled in 2025. If ever there was an environment to inspire belief in the realization of goals, it truly is here at Pine Avenue. In the short months we’ve gathered, your children have grown physically, emotionally and intellectually. It’s a remarkable experience to witness, and humbling to a senior such as myself. We don’t typically see growth in the moment because we are so busy juggling the moving parts required to support our family. I hope you will have some down time in these next few weeks to reflect, be in the moment with your children, and enjoy their brilliant presence. And if this magical moment becomes short lived due to boredom, crowded spaces, sibling rivalry, I hope you will take advantage of our local community and the activities that remain available during our break such as the Alma Public Library, Alma College Recreation Center, and Alma Community Art Center.

Wishing you and yours all the best today, and in the new year!

Anne M. Swan, LMSW

K-5 School Counselor/Social Worker

aswan@almaschools.net

Please see the Google link for our new Drop off/Pick-up Procedures below.

December 23-January 3 Winter Break

January 6 School Resumes

January 10 Early Release Day

January 13 Board Meeting

January 15 Parent Teacher Connection Night: Family Stem Activities & More

January 20 PTO

Late Start or Early Release

Alma Public Schools will implement Late Start or Early Release Days September through May. The dismissal time for 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.

September 11-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at 11:43 am

October 11-Friday-Early Release-End at 11:43 am

November 8-Friday-Early Release-End at 11:43 am

November 13-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at 11:43 am

December 11-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at 11:43 am

January 10-Friday-Early Release-End at 11:43 am

February 28-Friday-Early Release-End at 11:43 am

March 12-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at 11:43 am

April11-Friday-Early Release-End at 11:43 am

May 14-Wednesday-Late Start-Begin at 11:43 am

Thank you in advance for planning transportation for your students.

1. Always show your ROARS.

2. Look ahead, not back. Each moment and day are a new beginning.

3. Meet high expectations and goals for yourself, and always display GRIT.

4. Build positive relationships with everyone. Care about each person, and make sure they know you care.

5. Follow directions, procedures, and always do your best.

6. Respect yourself and others.

7. Always play fair, include others, and use words to resolve problems and conflicts.

8. Take responsibility for your actions, accept consequences, and the word no.

9. Do not spend time engaging in rumors or making fun of someone, and always remember words can hurt.

Pine Panther Paws are used as an incentive to promote positive school behaviors throughout the school setting. Students earn Panther Paws when they are caught displaying their ROARS behaviors. As students acquire Panther Paws, they turn them to enter Panther Paw drawing every Friday. Ms. Jaeck or Mrs. Stahl draws Panther Paws and announces the winner over the loudspeaker. Panther Paw winners pick a prize from the Panther Paw Prize Cart.

Each week, one student per class will receive the teacher-selected Student-of-the-Week. Teacher-selection is based on students consistently displaying their ROARS, PAES Behavior Norms, and learning grit. Student-of-Week winner will receive a mini certificate and will have the class Student-of-the-Week trophy sit on their desk for the week.

We look forward to celebrating all of our students and their accomplishments. Please know that each week we attempt to get all the pictures of our winners, student pictures are updated regularly.

Volume levels are being taught and reinforced in classrooms and buildings with K-5 students. This structure allows students to be mindful of their voice level across the various school settings when interacting with others throughout the school day. Volume levels are being taught and reinforced in classrooms and buildings with K-5 students, and this structure teaches students to be mindful of their voice level when interacting with their peers across various school settings. Throughout the school day, students utilize the appropriate level based on the learning activity they are engaged in based on the direction of the teacher.

ROARS stands for Respect Others, Act Responsibly, and be Safe. These are district-wide behavior expectations that all staff members reference as they provide instruction in the classroom and move throughout the school setting. ROARS is the anchor to all school procedures and routines.

Please make sure you are using and checking the APS app, Rooms. Using APS APP-Rooms is how your child's teacher will communicate with you throughout the year. Studies show that parent involvement in a child's education increases the student's education. Your partnership with this program is essential. Each week, you will learn about what is happening in class and the many excellent learning opportunities the teacher provides for your child. Remember to turn on the notifications.

Ensuring student safety before and after school is a high priority. We are asking all parents and guardians to support Pine Avenue during school drop off and pick up by adhering to the following procedures:

Campus supervision for students begins at 7:35 a.m.

MORNING Drop Off:

• Pull all the way forward to the light post to drop off students.

• Keep students in the vehicle until you are past the overhang at the entrance.
  
  

AFTERNOON Pick Up:

• Pull all the way forward until you are asked to stop by an adult. This is usually 2 car lengths past the light post.

• For student safety, students will enter vehicles when told to do so by an adult.

• This occurs when the vehicle is past the light post.
• ID checks will be requested as needed. (Please make sure all adults who will pickup your child are on your pickup list.)

Parents are asked to refrain from making left hand turns into the parking lot. This vehicle maneuver will cause the traffic to backup on Pine preventing a smooth flow of traffic.

Parents/guardians who are choosing to park in the parking lot and pick up their student afterschool:

• To ensure students' safety , please use the school's crosswalk which is located outside our main doors, by the overhang. This is the only location people should be crossing the parking lot for safety. We have a paraprofessional assigned to assist students in crossing upon seeing their parent/adult.

We appreciate your support in assisting us to ensure a safe student drop off and pick up.

We understand that events come up for parents, and changes must be made to students' dismissal plans. Parents are asked to please make sure to call in any transportation changes before 2 pm. The end of the day is hectic at an elementary school, and we must be aware of any changes before then. In addition, we also encourage you to send a note to your child's teacher or the office on the day of a transportation change. Students will not be dismissed to anyone not on a student's pickup list. Parents who have given us permisson to release to an adult through a change of dismissal plan, the person picking up the student must present a valid picture ID.

Parents: A medication authorization form must be completed each school when a student requires medications to be distributed at school. Should you need a form, don't hesitate to contact Mrs. Bailey or Mrs. Quiroz in the office at 989-466-7651.

The listed titles below are also direct links to the desired information.

Pine Avenue Elementary

1025 Pine Ave.

Alma, MI 48801

Phone:

989-466-7651

Principal:

Dr. Kathy Konowalow

Administrative Assistant:

Mrs. Carrie Bailey

Start Time: 8:03 am

End Time: 3:10 pm

Late Start/Early Release: 11:43 am