February is Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month! On Feb. 12, Alma High School hosted the GI-TEC Alma Campus Open House. This event featured several demonstrations from our awesome Alma High School CTE students. Check out this video recap to see some of the demonstrations and to hear from our hardworking and dedicated students about these great hands-on learning experiences! (While you're there, subscribe to our new YouTube channel!😊)
https://youtu.be/hssazT1TQyo
This week we shared some photos of our awesome students volunteering their time to helping others! It has been great reflecting on the amazing ways our students make a difference in their school and their community – and it’s been even better getting to share these stories and pictures with all of you! Here are a few more to wrap up a great week...
At APS, we know attendance matters. Present, engaged students are students on a path to success. Alma’s Pine Avenue Elementary is putting in the work to keep students in the classroom. They track attendance by individual student, classroom and building, and they set goals and encourage students to achieve them.
MTSS Coordinator Ann Passino says it best: “At Alma Public Schools, we celebrate strong attendance. We are proud to partner with families to support every child’s success, because when students show up consistently, amazing things happen.”
We are proud of our dedicated staff and their efforts to keep students in the classroom so they can learn and develop lifelong skills every day.
Q: Where is the School-Based Health Center located?
A: Alma’s Donald L. Pavlik Middle School (1700 N. Pine Avenue Alma, MI 48801)
Q: What is a School-Based Health Center?
A: A school-based health center promotes the health of children, adolescents and their families by providing convenient local access to primary care, preventative care and early intervention health services in underserved communities. It is a partnership between the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, schools and local healthcare providers.
Q: What type of care does this facility provide?
A: Our services include (but are not limited to) primary health care, acute health care (such as influenza testing, strep testing, colds, etc.), first aid, well child exams, sports physicals, immunization, labs, preventative care, risk behavior assessment and behavioral health counseling.
Q: Does the child need parental consent to see the provider?
A: A consent form must be signed and returned to the School Based Health Center before a child can receive treatment. Even though this consent is signed, you will also receive a phone call before your child is seen to confirm that you are aware they are requesting an appointment and that you consent to the visit. We encourage all parents or guardians to accompany their child to the visit when possible, however, we understand that work restrictions, transportation and other factors may prevent parents or guardians from attending in person. In that event, a phone call will be made after the visit to discuss the appointment.
Under Michigan law, minors do have the right to receive certain services (such as behavioral health counseling) without the consent or notification of their parent or guardian, however minors always have the option to involve their parent or guardian in their care and are encouraged to do so.
Q: How are services paid for at the clinic?
A: We accept and bill insurance, but no fees are required during the time of service at the health center. Co-pays and deductibles will be billed, but no child is ever turned away due to inability to pay. Our staff can also assist with enrolling your child in insurance and qualifying for financial assistance.
Q: What if my student needs transportation to the middle school for visits?
A: If the parent or guardian is unable to accompany the child to the visit and the visit takes place during the school day, the school can provide transportation to and from the middle school.
Q: How is this being communicated to parents?
A: MyMichigan Health and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have been working with Alma public schools and school board on this project for more than a year. During that time, we have held two parent meetings, attended five public open houses at the schools and have made presentations to the school board. We also sent a letter home to all parents of students who are eligible to receive care.
Kindness is the theme of the week here at APS! Today, we’re sharing some great projects led by our CTE Health Science students recently. These caring Alma High School students volunteered at a community food drive put on by MyMichigan Health-Alma and spent time in a kindergarten class putting on a Teddy Bear Clinic to help children feel less fear about going to the doctor's office. They also put their compassion skills to the test, working with two 7-month-old twins! Awesome job, Panthers!
Congratulations to the cast of Alma High School's production of The Crucible on three fantastic shows over the weekend. We are so proud of our dedicated students who made this show great and to everyone who came out to support our Panther performers!
Agriscience: Elizabeth Swaton, Hanna Hutchinson
Auto: Canyon Godrey, Hailey Brondstetter
Firefighting: Reese Kress
Health Science - CNA: Joseph Sanger, Jake Soto
Health Science - MA: Raegan King, Madison Myers, Trinity Painter, Payton Penner, Marie Richter, Manny Rodriguez, Emma Verhaar
Pre-Engineering: Mateo Castillo
Welding: Nick Prohaska, Ayden Higgins, Cameron Ryckman, Zayden Stevens, Magglio Soto, Elias Oliva, Keith Dargitz.
Congratulations, Panthers!
Random Acts of Kindness week continues! We are proud of our kind and caring students here at APS, so this week we are sharing some of the ways they give back to their community and lead with compassion. Today’s post features the Alma High School Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball teams visiting Arbor Grove Assisted Living Center. We are proud to have these students represent APS!
*Please see our website for posting or contact Yvonne Neyer at yneyer@almaschools.net with any questions.*
Throughout the month of February, the class is doing an activity called “Show the Love” for all classrooms from our youngest Panther cubs to 5th grade.
Goal: Fill our halls with hearts and positivity!
How it works:
• Each day in February, classrooms choose a staff member, student or another classroom to recognize.
• Students brainstorm the reason, and the teacher writes it on a paper heart.
• A student (secretly – and sweetly!) tapes the heart to the recipient’s door.
End-of-month recognition:
At the end of February, one classroom per grade level will be recognized for truly exemplifying “Show the Love.”
Eligibility: Must live or go to school in Gratiot County or be related to a current/past Festival board member.
Wee Queen: Ages 8–11
Queen: Ages 17–20
Deadline: March 27
For more details and to apply, visit almahighlandfestival.com
Tomorrow, Tuesday, February 17 is Random Acts of Kindness Day. Here at APS, we know character counts and kindness and compassion are a top priority every day! That’s why this week we are sharing some of the awesome ways our students show kindness in the classroom and in the greater Alma community.
In November, Alma High School National Honors Society raked leaves for community members and peeled potatoes for Alma’s annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner! What an awesome example of Panthers giving back to their community!
Our next APS Staff Spotlight comes from Pine Avenue Elementary... it's awesome 5th grade teacher Donnielle Fornusek!
APS knows language skills are valuable for a multitude of reasons. That’s why we offer courses and opportunities that teach and challenge our students. Different levels allow students to hone their skills, and our dedicated language teachers make learning enjoyable. APS even offers travel opportunities that really give students the chance to put their skills to the test!
Students in Michigan must have 2 credits of a foreign language to meet graduation requirements. At Alma, there are benefits to going beyond this requirement. Students who take Spanish III and above are eligible to travel abroad on a trip to a Spanish speaking country. Students use their language skills, learn about another cultures and create amazing memories!
Andrea Palmer and Kelsey Hasso are Spanish teachers at Alma High School. Let’s hear what they have to say about the benefits of learning a language:
“Learning another language helps students learn how to study and how to communicate better with others. It opens their eyes to cultures within our own community, within our country, and the world.” - Andrea Palmer
“Learning a language is about far more than mastering vocabulary or grammar. It is an exploration of new traditions, perspectives, and social norms, and a step toward becoming an informed and empathetic global citizen.” - Kelsey Hasso
In addition to in-person Spanish classes, Alma students can take online courses in other languages like France and American Sign Language! With options to choose from, your student is bound to find a language learning opportunity that is right for them! Ask your student how language courses can enhance their education and set them up for success!
