Alanson Public Schools Community Newsletter Spring 2022

Alanson Public Schools Community Newsletter Summer stretch We believe the role of our STRETCH program is to provide a safe and nurturing environment to all of our children. The primary goal is to meet the individual needs of each child.

We provide a positive environment where children have the opportunity to experience a variety of learning activities to encourage emotional, intellectual, physical, and social development.

spring 2022

Curb Appeal Improvements During the 2021 Strategic Planning process, improvement to the exterior of the Alanson Public School was identified as one of our top priorities.

The school has contracted with Drost Landscape to move forward with the beautification of the building landscape, which will take place in the Spring of 2022.

Our summer program is open to Alanson Public School children and runs from 7 am to 6 pm, Monday - Friday.

The fee is charged per hour. Daily activities include: Field Trips | Outdoor Hikes | Science Experiments | Socialization & Play For more information or to enroll your child, please contact STRETCH director, Whitney Rota, at wrota@alansonvikings.net.

national honor society

Alanson Agriscience

We are very proud to induct more students into the National Honor Society (NHS) in the high school.

Students from the Alanson Agriscience class attended the Great Lakes Floral Event & Expo in Grand Rapids this winter. Six high school students participated in the high school student design contest, where they had to choose an inspirational quote and construct a floral frame suitable to display. Two design elements, clustering and layering, needed to be included in their design.

Aliza Guerrero placed 2nd with her design using a pussy willow frame with the Tree of Life made from wire attached to the frame. She used dried delphinium for clustering and used wire flowers that she made for her layering.

We are so proud of every student who competed this year!

NHS elevates a school’s commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. These four pillars have been associated with membership in the organization since its inception in 1921. Chapter membership not only recognizes students for their accomplishments, but challenges them to develop further through active involvement in school activities and community service.

Pictured here (left to right): Robert Wochoski, Ember St. Amour, Brandon Nguyen, Evan Plastino, Seth Sumner, Christina Midyett, Chloe McNeil, Josh Walker, Troy Johnson

Viking vault and food pantry The Viking Vault has expanded! Started several years ago to offer toiletry items to the students, we have now partnered with the Northmen Den Youth Services from Petoskey. Volunteers provide food pantry items for our students in grades 6th-12th.

Students have the opportunity to visit once a week to pick up food they can easily prepare for themselves and/or their younger siblings. Food items available range from peanut butter and jelly to canned meats and meals, boxed dinners, sauces, and snacks. The volunteers purchase all the items and provide their time to make this happen. This is strictly for the students so encourage your student to check this out if they haven’t already.

Thank you Northmen Den Youth Services for making this happen. What an exciting addition to our school!

Trail Updates The Alanson Physical Education (P.E.) classes had the pleasure of working with Little Traverse Conservancy all school year.

Students in grades kindergarten - 9th grade, have done multiple programs during the fall and winter months to get outside onto our trails.

We now have signs at the trailhead off of Chicago St. and behind the fire station that state the trail etiquette. Some highlights from the school year were creating a new path this fall and then being able to go snowshoeing on it during the winter. The students were also able to make wildlife cookies and hang them from the trees.

These trails are open to the public and we hope our community can enjoy them.

kids read now New this summer! We are excited to share that our Kindergarten 5th grade students will participate in the Kids Read Now Summer Program. This is a program where our students get to pick their books out before they leave for the summer and they will receive those books in the mail over the summer. When the book arrives at the student’s home, it also includes activities/questions that parents and the child can do after reading the book.

The Kids Read Now Summer Program allows our students to keep reading over the summer. Reading over the summer helps decrease the “summer slide,” and increases parental engagement. Kids will also enjoy receiving a book in the mail.

We are so excited to be able to offer this program to our students and families at no charge.

Robotics in classrooms

Mno Bimadizian

Alanson Public Schools has been collaborating with Mr. Beltz, the ISD’s new STEM consultant, to bring STEM opportunities into our classrooms.

Mno bimadizian means good life in Anishinaabemowin.

We are a new club in Alanson Public Schools. We have learned about black ash, how it is processed, then how to weave. I am very proud of the students’ hard work.

2nd grade has used Wonderworks Dot and Dash robots as well as WeDo 2.0 Lego construction kits to practice coding. Our middle school students have had the opportunity to build and code with Lego Mindstorm construction kits.

If you are interested in Native Americans and their culture and language, please join us (parents are welcome). We will learn about the culture, learn to speak some of the language, and how to live in a good way.

In the future, middle school students will also collaborate to further investigate electrical circuits.

- Maanii Tall Cloud, Club Leader mtallcloud@alansonvikings.net

In the skies and in the classroom

By Journalism Students at Alanson High School As a Marine on the ground and a pilot in the sky, Duane Enos has led an exciting life. He has served two tours of duty in Iraq, lived in Japan, and visited several other countries in the world. He retired from the military and recently moved back to Michigan to be near family during the pandemic. Enos is looking forward to his next adventure as the new instructor for the Science Aviation and Technology Course housed at Alanson Public Schools with instruction at Pellston Regional Airport.

“If you don’t know what you want to do after high school, the military is a good way to go,” he said. “You can find your passion.”

Graduating from Cheboygan High School at the age of 17, Enos immediately enlisted into the Marines. His father was in the Navy, so he was accustomed to military life and moving around a lot. He was born in Washington and lived in several states where he attended seven different schools throughout Michigan, Texas, and Illinois.

“It can be hard growing up in a military family,” he admits. “I developed a quiet personality.”

Despite being more soft spoken, Enos is a proven leader. He is a retired U.S. Marine Corps Captain with 20 years of honorable service.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Eastern Michigan University, as well as officer training from the University of Michigan. He began his career as an Avionics Electrical Technician. In 2004, he became a USMC Helicopter pilot, flying TH-57 Bell Jet Rangers and AH-1W Cobras. After a few years, he became a Logistics Officer until he retired in 2013.

Using his experience and knowledge to his advantage, Enos became a general aviation pilot. He enjoys flying for personal recreation, becoming a member of the Air Force Base Aero Club in Warner Robins Georgia, the Georgia Civil Air Patrol, and currently is a member of the Michigan Civil Air Patrol here in Harbor Springs.

“I love flying planes,” he shared. “I’ll never forget the first time I flew. I was in Virginia training, and the very first time I went down the runway, my instructor let me take off. It was a beautiful day, the Potomac River was on my left, and I saw the ground come away from me. It was so exhilarating.”

Since retiring from the military he has dabbled in a few other careers and hobbies, yet he never lost sight of his passion–flying. He worked as a Realtor for a few years in Georgia, and built custom furniture and cabinets as well. He looks forward to investing in his community, becoming a mentor to future aviators, and leaving his legacy here in Northern Michigan.

“Take Advantage of opportunities while you can,” Enos advised.

“And do what you need to do first, then do what you want to do.”

The Science Aviation and Technology Course is offered to Char-Em, COP-ESD, and homeschool students alike in the Fall of 2022, and meets daily from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Pellston Airport. For more information, visit: https://www.charemisd.org/studentacademic-services-programs/career-and-technical-education-cte/cte-programs/

Alanson High School Journalism students meet the new Science Aviation and Technology Instructor, Duane Enos. He is eager to start teaching new generations in the Fall of 2022 at Pellston Regional Airport.

Pictured left to right: Seth Sumner, Michael Hendrickson, Joshua Walker, Duane Enos, Robert Wochoski, Adam Hendrickson, Evan Plastino, Mary Bley, Aliza Guerrero, Delaney Smith, and Cortney Midyett.

2020 bond update New! rock band club With the passing of the bond in the spring of 2020, we have been busy continuing updates to our school.

Our construction company, Moore Trosper Construction Co. and school administration are excited to wrap up projects scheduled for this summer. These include: ■■■Replacement of carpet in high school classrooms and elementary/middle school corridors ■■■ New lockers for the middle school and high school ■■ ■EIFIS on the roof ■ ■Updating canopies on elementary side ■ ■New steel exterior doors These major updates could not have been completed without the support of our community, we thank you!

Begins Thursday, April 7th - May 26th!

This new club is lead by Middle School Teacher, Mr. Seymour. In addition, local musician Pete Kehoe with Big Water Creative Arts will also help lead the club. The Rock Band Club is open to any APS Middle School student.

The idea is to learn to play music in a safe, judgment free zone.

Mr. Seymour would like to thank our School Board and Superintendent Cook for their support and enthusiasm for the new after school club.

He would also like to thank 3rd grade teacher Ms. Herscher and her friend Anthony Talarico for the donation of over $500 worth of musical equipment to the club. Mr. Talarico donated 2 electric guitars and an electric guitar amplifier which will be of great value to our students. In explaining why he was motivated to donate, Mr. Talarico expressed that he would have loved to have had a club like that for him when he was in school.

Anyone interested in donating new or gently used guitars, percussion instruments, or other equipment, please contact Mr. Seymour at Alanson Public Schools at mseymour@alansonvikings.net.

Viking Athletics

alanson booster club

We are proud to offer a variety of athletic programs. Our JV/Varsity Sports that are offered include:

Yearly fund-raisers support back to school supplies for all students, Teacher Appreciation Week, sports team needs, assemblies, and family events.

Basketball Volleyball Baseball/Softball For more information on our athletic program, please contact our Athletic Director, Glen Pemberton, at gpemberton@alansonvikings.net.

View our schedule at alansonvikings.net.

Save The Date Graduation | Friday, June 3rd 6 pm Graduation ceremony in the High School Gymnasium.

Congrats to the class of 2022!

The Alanson Booster Club (ABC) is a parent and teacher run organization dedicated to support teachers and students, kindergarten through 12th grade.

Meetings are held monthly and any parent/teacher is welcome to attend.

Please email alansonvikingspto@gmail. com if you are interested in joining meetings.

ABC strives to enhance and enrich the lives of the students and teachers at Alanson Public Schools.

Kindergarten Round-Up Wednesday, April 13th 5:30 to 6:30 pm Future kindergartners are encouraged to come meet the teacher, see the classroom, and meet future classmates! Dinner to-go will be served.

*This newsletter is an informational piece only and not intended for recruitment.

Safe, Respectful, Achievers!

Each month, we hold a Viking of the Month Assembly.

Students are selected two ways - a ticket from their class bucket or selected by their teacher.

Students are rewarded with an extra recess, treat or open gym time.

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