Dear Parents and Guardians,

It seems it was just a week ago that we were closing out the 2023-24 school year and now a new year is around the corner. We had a lot of successes this summer, K-5 Summer School, K-4 Math Tutoring, and 5th Grade Boot Camp and are ready at Pine Avenue Elementary for more in the next nine months.

If you're new to our district, I look forward to working with you and helping your kids succeed. This weekly newsletter, distributed is sent via email and posted on Facebook, will keep you apprised of achievements, important dates and student and staff member features.

As summer winds down, this is the time to get kids ready for a new school year. Whether your kids spend summer playing outside all day or love sleeping in and staying up late, getting them acclimated to the school schedule before school resumes is crucial to a successful school year.

Educators say re-establishing a sleep schedule must happen a few weeks before students return to school. "Routines are extremely important for students," said Emily Jennings, a fifth-grade teacher at Boyne Falls Public Schools. "Going from summer to school can be a shock to students' systems if they are without a routine in the summer and then (suddenly) they have to wake up way earlier and then be prepared for school."

Kids Co., a Seattle, Washington-based child-care provider, recommends parents adjust wake-up times by 15 to 30 minutes for one to two weeks before classes start.

"Start going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at the same time each morning," Jennings said. "Create a specific routine that works for you and your family for the last weeks of summer. Stick to the same type of routine and it will make the transition back to school a lot easier."

Setting healthy limits on screen time is also recommended. Jennings said eliminating screen time one hour before bedtime is crucial.

Educators also suggest incorporating fun activities into going back to school, such as creating a countdown calendar, buying school supplies and, for students new to Pine Avenue, visiting the building and playground so children are comfortable on their first day.

Some important dates and the school schedule and lunch menu for the first week are shared in this newsletter.

I look forward to working with year to make the 2024-25 school year successful for you and your children an outstanding student.

Your partner in education,

Dr. Konowalow

Summer greetings from the desk of Pine Avenue’s K-5 Counselor, Ms. Swan

Dear families and students of Pine Avenue School,

I’ve missed you! And I’m looking forward to our transition back to school soon. Last year was my first at Pine Avenue as a K-5 Counselor, and I loved it. You have all been so welcoming, easy to connect with, and shown me the ropes of what it’s like to navigate elementary school.

I hope you have enjoyed a wonderful break, free from rushed schedules, commitments, deadlines, and the occasional stress that a school year can bring. I notice both parents and students work very hard to balance busy lives during the year, and they truly earned a much deserved break in June! And while the break has been nice for many of us, it can’t, and probably shouldn’t last forever. Did you not surprise yourself at how much you actually juggled, managed, and pulled off during the last school year? It’s as if the more put on our plate somehow becomes the new high bar of what we can accomplish. But what happens when there is less on our plate…less commitments, schedules, challenges and the like? For me, as I write this after my 5th or 6th snack of the day, late into the night, I notice less structure over time may have undone some of the healthy lifestyle habits I’d developed during the structured season of a school year. Noticing that, I decided to look up recommendations to prepare for a smoother transition back to school this year. If I may, I’d like to share a few with you:

• If you are a family of night owls, consider going to bed 5 minutes earlier each night and begin setting an alarm to wake up five minutes earlier each day until school begins. (You math wizards can calculate the incremental steps of your choosing, for example, go to bed 11PM, set an alarm to wake up at 9AM; next day 10:50PM, alarm 8:50 AM, etc…) Notice how you feel and adjust accordingly. Parents can possibly make this a fun challenge with small rewards as you near a wake/sleep cycle that best fits a school year.

• Consider working toward structured, healthy meal times, remembering breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day to fuel both your body and brain, and balanced meals include fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, carbohydrates, along with hydration, preferably water if you can “swallow” that. Try to reduce sugary snacks that tend to leave us with energy crashes and little motivation; I personally know this to be true.

• Begin looking for school items around the house that may be useful this year such as unused notebooks, pencils, pens, and supplies. And while you are finding these gems, crack open a book and test your knowledge from last year. Read a paragraph, chapter, or book or two. Take a look at your math sheets from last year, do you still remember long division? (I’ve forgotten prime numbers again, but thank goodness for books and my ability to read directions).

Now you may be thinking Ms. Swan is no fun at this point, and while that may be true on rare occasions, this transition could be a family affair with fun built in if you’re creative. Remember to remain physically active, curious, open minded, and brave. It’s going to be a great year and we are all in this together. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me anytime if you have questions or concerns, or just want to connect. Hope to see you at our Open House in the very near future, and I cannot wait to see you!

August 14, 2024, Open House

August 20, 2024, First day of school

August 29, 2024, Community Tailgate

August 30, 2024, No School

September 2, 2024, No School

September 6, 2024, School Pictures

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.

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 1 pm. The end of the day is VERY 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.

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. Guyette in the office at 989-466-7651.

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

Pine Avenue Elementary

Start Time: 8:03 am

End Time: 3:10 pm

Late Start/Early Release: 11:43 am

1025 Pine Ave.

Alma, MI 48801

Phone:

989-466-7651

Principal:

Dr. Kathy Konowalow

Administrative Assistant:

Mrs. Carrie Bailey