*Please see our website for posting or contact Yvonne Neyer at yneyer@almaschools.net with any questions.*
Mr. Newman enjoys getting to know his students and seeing them grow, in some instances, over the course of seven years (from 6th grade band through senior year of high school). “My favorite part of teaching band at APS is seeing students grow as people, as a community and as musicians during the time I get to have them in class,” said Newman.
“Any student who engages with the skills necessary to be a successful musician is learning skills that will set them up for success in any future endeavor. A musician learns discipline, delayed gratification, perseverance, problem solving skills, relying on others and having others rely on you, responsiveness, patience, creativity, self-reflection and dedication just to name a few that first come to mind,” said Newman. “The present and future version of every student will benefit from developing these attributes. Further, music itself is important to study because it connects us with our humanity and helps us understand the world through sound. While one can appreciate music without learning to play or sing, I believe the best way to understand and connect with music is through making music firsthand, which is what students do in our music classes.”
*Please see our website for posting or contact Yvonne Neyer at yneyer@almaschools.net with any questions*
Here are some a quick updates on our APS Aquatic Center facility:
- We are currently offering school-sponsored swim lessons for 2nd through 5th graders from 12:45 pm to 2:40 pm Monday through Thursday.
- The high school swim season has wrapped up so we are happy to provide additional swim time for community members. The Aquatic Center hours through April will be 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 3 pm to 4:30 pm.
- Finally, our water aerobics classes have switched from 9 am to 10 am Monday through Friday.
Please follow this link to complete the APS Pool Survey Interest form if you have not already. Your input is important and will help us improve upon our Aquatic Center facility and opportunities!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfX0MozSj1NOHXRBIlMHpHgyOiUwIO0PrarUqKgmVC2HNSIIA/viewform?usp=header
This meeting is for all spring sport parents of high school athletes.
6:30pm in the HS auditorium
Please plan to attend so you will know and understand our new attendance policy that includes Dr appointments along with important information from the coaches.
Thanks to the PTO, elementary students have been able to go on great trips to Forest Hill Nature Center, Mt. Pleasant Discovery Museum, Impressions 5 and even baseball games! The PTO also runs an annual Scholastic Book Fair, where up to 50% or the proceeds go back to the school’s library and media center. The schools are awarded “Scholastic Dollars” they can use to purchase classroom supplies too – whatever they need, from books to furniture! And once a month, the PTO brings in volunteers from Art Reach to teach students about a famous work of art! Along with all these amazing opportunities, the PTO hosts additional special events for students and their families like the upcoming carnival at Donald L. Pavlik Middle School (March 25 from 5 pm – 7 pm)!
Most of the funds for all these opportunities come from one big fundraiser – the spring Fun Run – which will take place this year on May 1. Here is a link to learn more about the AEPTO, including how you can get involved and help make a positive impact here at APS! https://www.almaelementarypto.org/
Maintaining an open and positive dialogue about school can be the difference between your student attending school consistently or missing important learning opportunities.
Checking in matters. Attendance matters.
*Please see our website for posting or contact Yvonne Neyer at yneyer@almaschools.net with any questions.*
*Please see our website for posting or contact Yvonne Neyer at yneyer@almaschools.net with any questions.*
At APS, character counts. When students’ good behavior is noticed and celebrated, they are more apt to make these actions a habit. That is where the R.O.A.R.S. (short for Respect Others, Act Responsibly and be Safe) program comes in. At Donald L. Pavlik Middle School, students are encouraged to make choices that align with the mission of the R.O.A.R.S. program and have the opportunity to earn great prizes!
The R.O.A.R.S. Store is funded by the sports concession stand (the store is also located in the concession stand space) and kind donations from local businesses. Attendance Secretary, Lisa Haller opens the store after school and “sells” items for completed stamp sheets. Here is a look at some of the awesome prizes available in the store: https://sites.google.com/almaschools.net/roars-store/home
We have been pleased to see interest in the Alma Public Schools Aquatic Center lately, and we want to ensure it is accessible and engaging to the community. Please take a moment to fill out the APS Pool Interest Survey. The survey will be open until March 2. Your feedback is important and appreciated.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfX0MozSj1NOHXRBIlMHpHgyOiUwIO0PrarUqKgmVC2HNSIIA/viewform?usp=header
Registration is now OPEN for half day care this FRIDAY, February 27th. If you need care for your preschool through 5th grader please fill this form out. Fill ONE form for EACH child that will need care. Snack will be provided. If you have any questions please email Kimberly at almachildcare@almaschools.net
Half-Day Care Link: https://forms.gle/a8G1iAFchFXoo2hL7
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.
