Dear Pine Avenue parents,

We are excited to host our first set of Parent-Teacher Connection (PTC) Nights. These nights are vital parts of the educational process, providing a unique opportunity for parents, teachers, and students to collaborate on the student's academic journey. These meetings are more than just a review of grades; they are a platform for parent-teacher engagement, setting meaningful learning goals, and fostering a supportive environment for student success.

One of the primary benefits of PTC is the chance to build a collaborative relationship with your child's teacher. This partnership is crucial for understanding the student's strengths, areas for improvement, and any external factors that may affect their learning.

During the first two PTC nights, teachers will collaborate with you during these more traditional conferences. Together, setting realistic and achievable learning goals is essential. Goals provide students with clear objectives and a sense of direction, helping them stay motivated and focused. This personalized approach can significantly enhance the student's learning experience and outcomes.

Effective communication is at the heart of successful PTC. These meetings provide opportunities for parents to be engaged with the school and classroom. The conferences on 9/27 and 10/1 also provide a structured environment for open dialogue, where parents can share their observations and concerns, and teachers can offer insights and strategies for improvement. This exchange of information helps to create a comprehensive understanding of the student's needs and how best to support them.

Parent-teacher conferences are invaluable for fostering a collaborative and supportive educational environment. Parents and teachers can work together to ensure that each student reaches their full potential by setting clear, realistic learning goals and involving students in the process. These conferences not only enhance academic performance but also contribute to the overall well-being and development of the student.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

We are excited to host our Parent-Teacher Connection Night on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, and October 1, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We will hold more traditional parent-teacher conferences over these two nights. The parent meetings are scheduled every 15 minutes. Teachers will provide you with the link to schedule your in-person conference. Please know that each entry is timed stamped; therefore, should a time slot have more than one parent request, the family with the earliest time slot will get the request, and the other family will be contacted for a different appointment. We aim to have each class host 24 in-person parent-teacher conferences over the two evenings planned. Don't hesitate to contact the office for any questions you may have.

All parents are encourage to review the Title I information regarding the Title I program, policies, curriculumn for students Pre K through fifth grade. Please sign-in using the QR code or the link on page two. Please contact the school for any questions or assistance needed.

From the desk of Pine Avenue’s K-5 Counselor

Greetings parents and caregivers of Pine Avenue Students. I hope you have enjoyed our lingering summer weather as we gently transition into fall. Pine Avenue students are successfully transitioning from summer, evidenced by making more connections with peers at school, knowing where they are supposed to be at the right time, and following expectations. It’s such a rewarding experience to witness and share. I hope your kids are sharing their experiences with you. In recent weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about the term, “Productive Struggle.” It is sometimes used in educational settings, but truly has universal application in that we don’t all learn the same way, and problem solving isn’t necessarily about drawing on memory or looking answers up on a cell phone. I’m not sure why it takes me twenty shots to get a ball into the basket or make par on the ninth hole of golf, but I can tell you that perseverance, making mistakes, (aka learning what NOT to do), having support and encouragement to try different approaches, helps me become more competent, not only on the court but also when faced with new and unexpected challenges. There is a good deal of neuroscience behind this. Teachers and staff at Pine Avenue are working with your kids to become more comfortable with the “struggle,” of learning, which ultimately “produces,” better results, confidence, and competence to solve problems. I encourage you to explore this further with your kids, practice, challenge, and play at home. When we feel safe, curious, and motivated, our productive struggle is fun and rewarding.

I would love to hear from you! I can be reached at Pine Avenue Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. My phone extension is #6526, and my email is aswan@almaschools.net Have a wonderful weekend.

Fourth Graders did an “Unscramble the Preamble” activity created for us by the eighth grade students at DLPMS, assisted by Mrs. Fox.

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

September 24, 2024 Parent Teacher Connection Night

October 1, 2024 Parent Teacher Connection Night

October 7, 2024 Picture Retakes

October 11, 2024 Early Release Day, Students dismissed at 11:43

October 15, 2024 Title I Family Engagement Night at Hillcrest Elmentary 5-7 p.m.

October 25, 2024 Donuts with Grown Ups

October 31 Halloween

Greetings parents and caregivers from the desk of your Alma Public Schools K-5 Counselor,

It’s been quite a start to the school year! My Congratulations to you all as I remember the days

well, the effort it takes to get your child to school, fully clothed, and in one piece, carrying

ginormous backpacks containing everything but a kitchen sink. Many of you are accomplishing

this superhero task for more than one child who also attend different schools spread throughout

our community. Traffic lights are not friendly to busy caregivers and bus drivers navigating the

highways and byways to school. And yet you’ve gotten them here in one piece, with snacks,

kleenex, homework assignments, and a clean driving record thanks to our reminder speed limit

signs that now light up when we may be a smidge over the limit. You do this day in and day out

and we appreciate you! Some day your children will too. As Dr. Konowolo shared in her

Message from the Principal, there exists volumes of data supporting the connection between

school success and regular attendance. This is not only tied to academic performance, but also

positive social, emotional adjustment which promotes a sense of belonging, purpose and future.

This is the culture we are building at Pine, one SEL (social emotional learning) lesson at a time,

one lunch buddy, one game of ball with a new student on the playground who hasn’t made

friends yet...we are making progress together. Recently I’ve decided to hang my son’s

Columbia University Diploma in my Counselor office at Pine. It’s written in Latin and I cannot

understand what it says, but my hope is that our curious Pine students will ask about it. Then I

can share the fact that their Pine Avenue Math Coach, Mrs. Andrea Oswald, was my son’s first

math teacher at the DPMS. She explained things in a way no one else could, which eventually

led to his full scholarship and degree in mathematics. That gift is priceless, and that is the

caliber of staff you have here at Pine Avenue, dedicated, brilliant people, full of heart, just like

your kids, our students! So please never hesitate to reach out, ask questions or inform us about

the ways we can continue to best support your children along this journey. We look forward to

hearing from you. It’s going to be a great year..

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.

PPanther 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. Mr. Nevins 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