The Pine Press
December 1, 2023
Message from the Principal
Many factors, such as the quality of instruction, the availability of resources, the motivation of learners, and the support of families, influence student achievement. Among these factors, parental involvement is the most important and consistent indicator of student success. Parental involvement can take many forms, such as helping with homework, attending parent-teacher conferences, volunteering at school events, and providing feedback and encouragement. One of the most effective ways of parental involvement is celebrating student achievement at an awards assembly.
Pine Elementary hosted an awards assembly on Friday, December 1, 2023. Pines's award assembly was a special event for our students to be recognized and rewarded for their academic, artistic, athletic, or social accomplishments. Each trimester, we will hold classroom award assemblies. Why are assemblies like the one held on Friday important? An awards assembly can have many benefits for students, such as:
- Increasing self-esteem and confidence: When students receive recognition and praise for their achievements, they feel proud of themselves and their abilities. They also feel more confident in their skills and talents and more motivated to pursue their goals and interests.
- Enhancing motivation and engagement: When students see their efforts and achievements are valued and appreciated, they are likelier to work harder and strive for excellence. They also become more engaged, interested in learning, and willing to take on challenges and risks.
- Improving academic performance: When students are celebrated for their achievements, they are more likely to improve their grades and test scores, as well as their attendance and behavior. They also develop a positive attitude towards learning and school and a growth mindset that helps them overcome difficulties and learn from mistakes.
- Strengthening social and emotional skills: When students are celebrated for their achievements, they learn to appreciate and respect themselves and others. They also develop a sense of belonging and community and an understanding of responsibility and citizenship. They also learn to cope with joy, pride, and gratitude.
However, the benefits of an awards assembly are not limited to the students who receive the awards. They also extend to the students who witness the awards and especially to the parents who attend and celebrate them. When parents celebrate their child's achievement at an awards assembly, they can:
- Show their love and support: When parents attend and celebrate their child's achievement at an awards assembly, they show their child that they care about them and their education. They also show their child that they are proud of their accomplishments and appreciate their efforts and hard work.
- Strengthen their relationship: When parents attend and celebrate their child's achievement at an awards assembly, they strengthen their bond and communication with their child. They also create positive memories and experiences that can last a lifetime. They also demonstrate their interest and involvement in their child's learning and development and respect and trust in their child's choices and preferences.
- Model positive behaviors and values: When parents attend and celebrate their child's achievement at an awards assembly, they model positive behaviors and values that their child can emulate and internalize. They also reinforce the importance and value of education, achievement, recognition, and celebration. They also encourage their child to be humble, gracious, and generous and to celebrate not only their achievements but also the achievements of others.
Therefore, parental celebration of student achievement at an awards assembly can have significant and lasting benefits for students and parents. It can boost student achievement, self-esteem, motivation, engagement, performance, and social and emotional skills. It can also show parental love and support, strengthen relationships, and model positive behaviors and values. As such, a parental celebration of student achievement at an awards assembly is a powerful and effective way of parental involvement that can make a profound difference in early learning outcomes.
Thank you to all the parents who attended our first-trimester awards classroom assemblies. We look forward to many future events to celebrate your child, our students.
First-trimester Awards
12 Days of Reindeer Games
Mark Your Calendar!
December 13: Teacher Professional Development: Late Start 11:43 a.m.
December 21-Jan.2: No School Winter Break
PAES Student and Staff Values
The Pine Staff and students see failure as an opportunity to learn rather than a negative reflection on oneself. We value the lessons learned from our mistakes.
The Pine staff and students are committed to one another and treat each other with respect. We value high expectations of ourselves and others too.
The Pine Staff and students value kindness. We strive to be kind to one another, being considerate of one another, and always using our manners.
The Pine Staff and students value integrity and strive to always do the right thing, even owning and learning from our mistakes. As a school we are driven by a clear moral compass.
The Pine Staff and students strive to ensure all learners feel welcomed and accepted. We value the inclusion of everyone and want everyone to feel they belong.
PAES Student Behavior Norms
Always show your ROARS.
Look ahead, not back. Each moment and day are a new beginning.
Meet high expectations and goals for yourself, and always display GRIT.
Build positive relationships with everyone. Care about each person, and make sure they know you care.
Follow directions, procedures, and always do your best.
Respect yourself and others.
Always play fair, include others, and use words to resolve problems and conflicts.
Take responsibility for your actions, accept consequences, and the word no.
Do not spend time engaging in rumors or making fun of someone, and always remember words can hurt.
Panther Paws and Student of the Week
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. 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.
Alma Public Schools Behavior Expectations
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.
APS App/Rooms
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.
Pine Avenue Elementary Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
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.