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AIS Newsletter for June, 2018
From the Principal…
Please encourage our new staff members and those who are changing teaching assignments at AIS.
- Mr. Michael Bridges, GT Teacher/Coordinator
- Mrs. Shea Marsh returns to AIS as a fifth-grade teacher
- Mrs. Kim Chatman is moving from 3rd to 5th grade, so we are currently working to fill the third-grade position.
- Miss Rebecca Tate is moving from 4th grade to 3rd
We also welcome our incoming third graders who toured AIS on May 14. They are a great group of young people and will bring a lot of enthusiasm for learning. We look forward to seeing everyone on August 9 for Open House between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m.
New third graders will have the school to themselves during Great Start on August 13 from 8:30-12:30. Great Start gives our younger students confidence when regular school begins on Wednesday, August 15th.
I’m proud of the work our students and staff have done this year and look forward to great things for next year!
~ Mr. Warnock
Click here to open the whole newsletter that includes school supply lists on page 2: News Alma Intermediate Edit 0618
AIS News for May, 2016
Click here to open the complete newsletter: AIS News for May, 2016
From the Principal…
Our teachers are inspiring! Over the last two weeks, I visited more than twenty classrooms and am looking forward to more this week.
Entering a classroom is like entering a little community built around learning. The mix of personalities and strengths is unique in every room. Teachers orchestrate learning experiences for students in a way that sometimes has a magical quality. It’s fun to watch!
I’m thankful for our teachers and staff and their positive approach to teaching. I’m thankful for our students and the enthusiasm they bring to learning. I’m looking forward to a great 2016-17 school year!
Great Start
Great Start for kindergarten, third, sixth, and ninth grade is scheduled for August 11, from 8:30-12:30. At AIS, third graders will be able to work with their teachers and have fun introductory learning experiences. They’ll also learn about goals and plans for the year.
Alma Intermediate School April News
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for April, 2016 This link takes you to the full text of the newsletter that includes upcoming dates and news.
From the Principal…
Part of growing up is learning when to push and when to back off and relax. I learned this by participating in music performance groups and athletic activities. Practice and preparation were important, and those who were lazy in their approach paid a price. We practiced hard but had fun as we learned and increased our skills.
When performance day came, it was a big deal and required stepped up focus. We “put our game face on” and jumped in with full effort to show just how good we were.
As a student, I found this approach helpful. I remember a particularly difficult writing assignment in high school. I lacked confidence in writing but attacked this assignment with full effort. I ended up producing something that surprised my teacher and still makes me proud today.
This internal pride is what I hope for our students. Learning to focus and complete a demanding test with enthusiasm and effort is a life-skill that will impact our children’s future success. I look forward to what our students can do when they put their minds to it and “get their game face on.”
Newsletter for October, 2015
Click this link to view the whole newsletter: Newsletter for October, 2015
From the Principal…
This year, we’re preparing students to take a new assessment, ACT-Aspire. PARCC was administered last year, but it was determined that giving the ACT-Aspire would be more beneficial for students as we prepare them for college and careers.
One of the challenges of preparing for a difficult test is to increase students’ stamina, or their ability to stick with a difficult task to its completion. Stamina is especially hard if the task isn’t fun.
I experienced this first-hand several years ago while taking a national teaching exam. At one point during the three-hour test, my mind began to wander. I realized this and refocused my attention on the test. I passed, but the best lesson I learned was the importance of staying focused to the end of the test.
Our teachers go to great lengths to present lessons that engage students so we can increase learning and make it stick. It’s a thrill to see students involved in discussion or a hands-on task and excited about learning; lessons that are fun!
There are also times that teachers must work to increase academic stamina and endurance. If students are enthusiastic about demonstrating their learning, we have a much better chance of increasing their stamina and showing what they actually know on tests.
Our goal is to prepare our students to perform well on any challenge they confront in life, including high-stakes tests. Thank you for supporting your child and for giving us the honor of working with your child.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for June, 2015
Click the following link to open our newsletter for June.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for June, 2015
From the Principal….
Ms. Break was my fourth-grade teacher. I heard her from the hallway during my third-grade year and looked forward to her famous reading performances. Fourth grade became an important year in my schooling.
I had a habit of drumming on my school desk. I liked to explore the sounds that could be made by hitting different parts of the desk. I occasionally put my head on the desk so I could hear the rhythms better. Ms. Break would tap me and say, “Stop that drumming!”
Years later, I was playing timpani (kettle drums) for a church in my hometown. During rehearsal, I heard a lady yell down from the choir, “You never did stop that drumming!” We had a laugh, and I enjoyed a short visit with an elderly Ms. Break, thanking her for the influence she had on my learning.
When I look back at the teachers who had the greatest impact, it boiled down to relationships. The positive relationships between the teacher and students often determined the quality of learning. The greatest teachers built a sense of community around shared tasks, and the subject being taught.
Ms. Break had a positive influence on my learning. I was a slow and reluctant reader, but she instilled a love of reading that sustained me through school and helped me become a stronger student.
I’m proud that we have a school filled with “Ms. Breaks” who are excited about teaching and who build positive relationships with their students. I’m excited about the coming year and the great things in store for our students. Have a great 2015-16 school year!
Ms. Break, fourth grade teacher
One of my first drums.
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for May, 2014
Alma Intermediate School Newsletter for May, 2014
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Principal Notes 