Pine Press
April 22, 2022
The warmer weather is COMING SOON! But, in true Michigan spring form, bring those jackets and layers to school as it looks like things are going to be chilly again next week! Enjoy the sunshine & warm temperatures this weekend.
5th grade is halfway completed with MSTEP testing, 4th grade had visits from CMU's Center for Excellence in STEM, and we had a great week here at Pine Avenue!
Next week, both 4th and 5th grades take the ELA MSTEP test. The schedule for testing is below. You can help by reminding your student to get a good night's sleep and reminding them to do their best work!
We also have the PTO Fun Run occurring next week during PE classes. We plan to have a livestream of the event so that families can tune in during the school day to see what's going on.
As always, if we can be of assistance here at school, contact the office (989) 466-7651.
~Mrs. Adams
April 25-26-27 - PTO Fun Run
May 25 - 5th grade Music Concert
May 27 & 30 - No School, Memorial Day weekend
June 1 - Field Day
June 3 - Tentative Last Day, Half day, dismissal 11:20AM
Student Attendance
Congratulations Eve!
Family Book Club
If you have missed any of the chapters, here they are!
MSTEP Testing
Students will be participating in the M-STEP test during the time frames indicated below. The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress, or M-STEP, a 21st Century computer-based assessment designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards.
4th Grade: April 25 - May 6 {Make up tests may occur until May 20.}
Subjects: Math, ELA
5th Grade: April 11 - May 6 {Make up tests may occur until May 20.}
Subjects: Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies
If you have questions or would like more information about the M-STEP, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the main office.
PTO FUN RUN
As of the latest update, over $42,000 has been raised for our students through PTO's Fun Run fundraiser! We are over 85% of the way to our all school goal of $50,000!!! Our community is SO generous!! Thank you PTO, our families, and community for all of the support!!!
YOU'RE INVITED!!!
Alma PTO Meetings
The Alma Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, AEPTO, provides several very important functions for elementary students in Alma Public Schools. Their primary purpose is to provide opportunities, experiences, and equipment that will enrich students’ educational experience at APS.
Monday, May 16 @ Luce Road 6:30pm
Michigan Learning Channel
STEM Information & Activities
End of Day Pickup Procedures
Using the entrance off of Pine Avenue, enter the right hand side of the driveway to pick up your student. To ensure the safety of our students, vehicles are NOT permitted to use the left lane in the student pick-up driveway. This policy will likely slow the pick-up process down somewhat, but exists to maintain student safety. To maximize the amount of students who can be picked up at once, please pull forward as directed by Pine Avenue staff members. **This is a fire/emergency lane and must be open at all times. This traffic has also become congested and potentially dangerous.
Exit the student drop-off driveway through the exit off of Washington Avenue.
To ensure a steady flow of traffic, we encourage parents to use southbound Pine Avenue for entering and exiting the drop-off driveways to minimize intersecting traffic.
One alternate option to driving through the student drop-off driveway:
You may park along southbound Pine Avenue next to the playground fencing, where your student can walk on the sidewalk to meet you. This option will allow you to avoid needing to enter into the drive-through drop-off.
It can be tricky to know who is waiting along the fence line and who is waiting to approach the pick up area in the parking lot. Be alert and aware for the safety of all!
Please call the office at 466-7651 if you have any questions about these procedures. Thank you for your cooperation! We appreciate your assistance in maintaining student safety.
UPDATED APS Quarantine Guidelines
Additional Student Activities / Community Agency Information
Throughout the school year, there will be many extracurricular activities listed in the Pine Press that the main office will have information on. Currently available:
Gratiot County Strings Association
Champion Force Cheerleading
Alma Public Library Programs & Services
Michigan Psychological Care
Michigan Autism Care & ABA Services
After School Transportation
Please make sure your student and teachers are aware of how they will be getting home each day. We know things come up and changes happen. Communication is key!
Please remember to send a note with your child in the morning if there are any changes you know of ahead of time.
If you need to call during the day to make a change, please do so by 2:30 p.m. so we can make sure we can make the proper arrangements.
Contact Information:
Do we have the most recent contact information on file at school? If you have changes to your home address or a new phone number, please make sure to contact the office at (989) 466-7651 to update this important information.
Staff Shoutout
Want to recognize one of our FANTASTIC staff members? You may click on the following link to complete the form online:
Symptoms of Illness
Reminder to Check for COVID Symptoms Daily
Pine Avenue Daily Schedule:
Pine Avenue Office Hours: 7:30 am-4:00 pm
Drop Off Supervision begins at 7:35 am
School Begins: 8:03 am
Lunch: 4th Grade 10:45-11:30am
5th Grade 11:35-12:20pm
Dismissal: 3:10 pm
After School Supervision ends at 3:25 pm
1025 N. Pine Avenue
Alma, MI 48801