Making “Paws-itive” Strides: Introducing the Viking P.A.W.S. Program
The
halls of Alanson Public Schools are about to get a lot friendlier. We are thrilled to share an update on Viking P.A.W.S. (Providing Academic & Wellness Support), our initiative to bring a highly trained facility dog into our school family to support student well-being and academic success.
While often called a “therapy dog,” our addition is officially classified as a Facility Dog. Unlike visiting therapy pets, a Facility Dog is owned by the school and works full-time to perform specific services tailored to our building’s needs. We are officially partnering with Canines for Change (C4C) for this journey. We have signed the contract and submitted our deposit, securing our place in the program.
After careful consideration, we have selected a male Bernedoodle to join our
team. This breed was chosen specifically for its low-to-no shed coat to ensure all staff and students can safely interact with him. Additionally, Bernedoodles are known for their high emotional intelligence and an exceptional ability to adapt to social situations, making them a perfect fit for the school environment.. Currently, two candidates from a September litter - Otis and Sterlingare with “puppy raisers” for foundational obedience training.
This is an image of a Bernadoodle that resembles the one coming soon to APS!
C4C will eventually determine which dog best fits our school’s needs, and we anticipate formal integration will begin when the puppy is approximately eight months old.
Our community support has been incredible! Our total goal for this
Board begins strategic plan process
The Alanson Public Schools Board of Education will soon begin a process to develop a new Strategic Plan that will guide the district’s priorities for the coming years. Strategic Planning helps school districts define their mission, vision, and goals while identifying clear steps to support student success.
On March 21, the district hosted a strategic planning retreat with a diverse group of stakeholders, including teachers, support staff, students, parents, community members, the Board
project is approximately $20,000.00, and we are currently over halfway to that milestone with $10,275.00 raised to date. You can track our live progress on the “Donation Thermometer” located on the admin office door in the entryway.
For more information about the program, please contact Ashlee Herrington at (231) 548-2261 or aherrington@alansonvikings.net.
of Education, and the superintendent/principal. By including voices from across our school community, we hope to ensure the plan reflects the needs and perspectives of those who learn, work, and live in our district.
Feedback and ideas gathered during the retreat will help shape the district’s updated Strategic Plan. The Board anticipates reviewing and considering approval of the new plan in April. This process will help provide a clear roadmap for the continued success of Alanson Public Schools and the students we serve.
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Meet the new Board of Education members
WHITNEY ROTA
What made you want to serve on the APS Board of Education? As a parent, former employee, and active member of the school community, I care deeply about the continued success of our district. Being involved in school events and activities has given me the opportunity to see the needs of students, families, and staff from different perspectives. I wanted to serve on the BOE so I could help support our school and be part of decisions that will make a positive impact on our students.
What do you hope to accomplish as a BOE member? As a board member I hope to support strong, functional, and practical education through the responsible use of our district’s resources. I am also passionate about exploring ways to improve access to affordable after-school care and enrichment opportunities for our students and families.
What is one thing that you love about APS? One thing I absolutely love about APS is how personal the experience is for our students. Because of the size of our school, teachers and staff truly get to know their students - not just academically, but as individuals. That oneon-one connection helps students feel supported and valued. It makes a huge difference in our success as a whole!
KATHY WOOD
What made you want to serve on the APS Board of Education? I have been a member of this community for most of my life and now that I have children attending Alanson Public Schools, I would like to be a more contributing member of our school system by being a part of the strategy and decision-making processes in a way that not only positively impacts our school system but also our community as a whole.
What do you hope to accomplish as a BOE member? At this moment, I’m not sure what I hope to accomplish as a BOE member, I just want to be a part of the team that contributes to the growth of our students and our community. What is one thing that you love about APS? The school system allows the students to have a more one-on-one interaction with the teachers, which is something many students do not receive in bigger schools.
STEAM night brings families together for learning and fun
In February, we hosted the first Family STEAM Night. STEAM is an educational approach that offers hands-on learning that focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. These events cultivate problem-solving, innovation, creativity, and critical thinking skills with collaboration between the parents, students, and teachers in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Each family chose two activities that included building with Magna-Tiles & Geo blocks, building 3D snowflakes, making a magnetic snowman, building marshmallow catapults, and learning how to make butter. Each station also included a related story that was read to the children prior to
the activity. Families and teachers gathered in the cafeteria for building connections over a meal of walking tacos and treats. The high point was the marshmallow catapult that resulted in mini marshmallows being flung in every direction from the homemade popsicle stick catapults amidst shouts and laughter from parents, teachers, and students alike. It was a fun and successful evening of learning, merriment, and good food.
Math Olympics in Mrs. Abbitt’s classes
While the 2026 Winter Olympics were taking place in Milano Cortina, students in Mrs. Abbitt’s high school math classes have been competing in Math Olympics. Six events were held: math operations, solving equations, sequences, geometry, graphs, and statistics. Students first completed training activities for each event using Gimkit. Next, the qualifying rounds were held using Kahoot where the top five mathletes from each class advanced to the final round. The final round was on Kahoot where students got to compete for medals and a chance to win a class reward.
Congratulations to our Math Olympic medalists: Zachrey Temple, Remi Wiertella, Aubree Johnson, Charlotte Benson, Liam McGarey, Jayden Duarte, Alex Plastino, and Douglas McFarland. Also congratulations to our first place math class Algebra 2!
Horticulture students attend floral expo
The Alanson Horticulture class had the chance to attend the Great Lakes Floral Event and Expo in Grand Rapids from Feb. 27- March 1.
Six students competed in the high school design contest in which they had to make an arrangement containing recycled water bottles. Students also had the chance to attend three different hands-on classes throughout the weekend consisting of foam free arrangements and corsages & boutonnieres. Students were also able to attend the presidential banquet and cheer for the winners of all the design contests.
Fourth-graders wade into Watershed learning
On Jan. 30, the fourth grade class traveled to the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council’s Watershed Discovery Center in Petoskey for a hands-on learning experience focused on Northern Michigan’s lakes, rivers, and the species that depend on them.
During the visit, students explored how native fish and aquatic insects are uniquely adapted to survive in local waterways. Through live fish aquariums and hands-on observations of aquatic insects, students learned about important adaptations such as streamlined bodies that help fish move efficiently through water, camouflage that helps species avoid predators, gills that allow fish to breath underwater, and hooks or claws that allow insects to cling to rocks in flowing streams.
One of the highlights of the trip was observing and touching live fish, including a Lake Sturgeon, a species that has slowly recovered in Michigan thanks to long-term conservation efforts. Seeing these native species up close sparked curiosity and questions from students throughout the visit.
Students were eager to share their favorite moments from the day. Electra enjoyed learning about the animals that live in the lakes, and Sierra liked creating her own fish and environment during the activity portion of the program. Maxton shared that he enjoyed watching the fish being fed and learning more about aquatic insects, referencing the importance of spring clean up and its impacts on our local rivers and the species dependence.
Experiences like this help students connect classroom science lessons to the natural resources that surround our community. Thank you, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council and Education Specialist Eli Baker for providing this engaging educational experience.
HONOR ROLL
Honor roll is a list of students who have performed exceptionally well academically. Congratulations to our Viking Achievers! These Middle School and High School students have made their way onto the All A or A-B honor roll for Fall Semester 2025-26.
ALL A HONOR ROLLHIGH SCHOOL
Logan Barnett
Paula Burniol
Corominas
Terran Costello
Aubree Johnson
Alexander Plastino
Danyin Rota
Vanessa Silveus
Madelyn Skaggs
Emmett Tath
Kassandra Temple
Bryce Vila
Kylee Volz
Remi Wiertalla
Oz Wiklanski
Landen Wright
A/B HONOR ROLLHIGH SCHOOL
Miyah Allain
Rylee Armock
Maximus Capozzoli
Jasper Cutshall
Ezra Foster
Luisa Genn
Dustin Gorney
Reed Hayes
Nicholas Maves
Michelle Meyer
Ella Mundy
Melissa Ormsbee
Valerie Reinfelder
Eva Rose
Gabriella Tomlanovich
ALL A HONOR ROLLMIDDLE SCHOOL
Natalie Babcock
Harper Barden
Hunter Barnes
Charlotte Benson
Annabella Brown
Benjamin Cutshall
Kiiweden Donner
Elijah Hammond
Easton Hughes
Makenna Keller
Henry Larson
Ella Mae Loomis
Tavian MacLachlan
Ryland Peterson
Alexander Rohraff
Koralyn Rood
Keslii Rota
Aubrey Taylor
Annibelle Temple
America Winslow
A/B HONOR ROLLMIDDLE SCHOOL
Gabrielle Bradley
Madilyn Burwell
Trenton Erner
Colton Greenier
Maci Greenier
Ryker Greenier
Ayden Huffman
Wyatt Hughes
Lucy Kolodziej
Kaylene LaDere
Maybelle Lutz
Damiano Maniaci
Virginia McGarey
Natalie McIntosh
Ayden Medrano
Adam Midyett
Jacob Pressler
Naomi Servello
Dominic Sidell
Ivy Thomas
Westley Thomas
William Vila
Hunter Volz
Payzlie Winslow
Ryker Zimmerman
SAFE | RESPECTFUL| ACHIEVERS
N ew look, same Viking pride!
If you’ve been to the gym lately, you might have noticed the boys’ JV and Varsity Basketball teams looking a little sharper on the court. Both squads officially debuted brand-new uniforms this season! The fresh threads are part of our official three-year uniform upgrade cycle, ensuring our athletes are always equipped with modern, highquality gear.
The district will now cover the cost of new uniforms as the cycle continues. This is a huge win for our programs, allowing coaches and boosters to focus their fundraising efforts elsewhere.
Volleyball is on deck to receive their new uniforms over the summer in preparation for the next season. While the high school uniforms were replaced, they didn’t go to waste. The “old” sets have been cycled down to the middle school teams. This was a much-needed upgrade for our younger Vikings, whose previous uniforms were reaching the end of their lifespan. It’s a win-win for the entire district!
Athletic Director Nikki Leech said, “One of the most important things is to make sure that the student-athletes feel confident and proud to be wearing the Viking uniform. I am glad that we have developed a plan to cover the cost through the district. It shows the kids that if
New choir class
APS is hitting a high note this year with the addition of Mr. Samuel Loomis to the faculty. A 2019 Otsego High School graduate, Mr. Loomis brings a fresh
they are willing to put in the work then we will provide the basic tools for them to be successful.”
perspective to the district following his studies at Southwestern Michigan College and Washington State University. While this marks his first year as a solo educator, he arrives with a clear and inspiring vision for a choir program.
Mr. Loomis believes that music is about more than just hitting the correct notes. It’s about what students can build together. He believes everyone can sing and that there are no “bad voices,” only unique ones.
7400 North Street Alanson, MI 49706