Dear Pine Avenue parents,

Task avoidance can be a common challenge, for with the right strategies and parent and teacher collaboration, we can support our students who display task avoidance. These strategies include setting clear expectations, providing positive reinforcement, and creating a conducive study environment. Our priority at Pine is to ensure all students receive a quality education. We want our students to be successful at school, at home, and in the community. We value our partnership with parents and know that working together when students experience difficulty, such as task avoidance, will lead to academic and behavioral improvements.

The first step to support children who display task avoidance is establishing a solid communication line with your child's teacher. Regularly discuss children's progress, behaviors, and any concerns you may have. Sharing observations from home can provide valuable insights that help the teacher understand and address the issue more effectively. This open communication will make parents feel involved and informed about their child's academic journey.

As your partner in education, we recognize the crucial role parents play in understanding the root causes of why students avoid assignments, refrain from engaging in the learning process, and fail to attempt to learn the material presented in class. Parent understanding and involvement are not just important; they are integral to addressing these issues effectively. Students can engage in task avoidance behaviors because they lack confidence in the subject matter, which creates anxiety when completing the work. Task avoidance can occur for a variety of reasons. We encourage parents to work with their child's teacher to identify the underlying causes of their avoidance behaviors. Knowing the cause of the behavior can guide the development of targeted strategies to support your child, making you feel more empowered and integral to your child's academic journey.

Parents can also support their children by setting collaborative goals. This approach involves children in the process and instills a sense of hope and optimism about their progress. It can increase their motivation and sense of ownership over their learning. Also, establish consistent routines for homework and study time. Consistency can reduce anxiety and make tasks feel more manageable. Another positive support for students is encouragement and praise. Cheering children on for their efforts and achievements, no matter how small, can build their confidence and reduce avoidance behaviors.

Another way parents can support their children is to reinforce their ability to speak up when they need help. We want our students to ask questions and seek clarification from their teachers. Self-advocacy is a crucial skill that, when developed, can give parents confidence in their child's ability to take control of their learning and overcome task avoidance. When your child needs extra support, work with their teacher to explore options. These resources can provide targeted interventions to address task avoidance behaviors.

By working closely with teachers and utilizing these strategies, parents can help their children overcome task avoidance and develop a more positive attitude toward learning. Collaboration and consistency are crucial to supporting your child's academic success.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

Greetings parents and caregivers. This week at Pine we have been focusing on Engagement. This isn’t a word we typically use in everyday conversation, and yet it is an essential ingredient for success in most aspects of our lives. Engagement is a form of connecting, committing, and being a part of something we value. It is our goal at Pine Avenue to promote student engagement with learning, relating to others, and truly becoming a part of something larger than the “me, myself and I.”

Staff, as well as students, are using engagement practices to build healthy social, emotional learning habits. We hope you will join us by checking in with your children about their day at school, their thoughts and feelings about the lessons being taught, their peer interactions, and overall sense of belonging here. We hope you will check in with us too. 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.

Make Parenting a Pleasure registration form is now live for the Fall 2024 Cohort!

Make Parenting A Pleasure is a free, evidence-based, 7-session class designed for parents, grandparents, and caregivers with children aged 0-8. Grounded in the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework, which recognizes the critical and vulnerable nature of early childhood development, this class is set to provide participants with:

1. Informational, Social, and Emotional Support
2. Guidance in Parental Self-Care
3. Tools for Creating a Positive, Nurturing Environment

Our next Make Parenting A Pleasure class will begin on Sunday, September 8, 2024, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Child Advocacy. Subsequent sessions will take place every Sunday from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, with the final class scheduled for Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Registration for our fall cohort of Make Parenting A Pleasure is required. If you or someone you know is interested in this transformative parenting class, please use this link to register: https://forms.gle/tid6A2hsXRsa1Sqr9

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

September 16, 2024 Title I Annual Meeting

September 16, 2024 PTO

September 20, 2024 Homecoming Parade

September 24, 2024 Parent Teacher Connection Night

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