Welcome to Besser Elementary

A fixture at Alpena High School who has a smile and a kind word for every student, Brydi Haugerud serves as the assistant to Principal Romeo Bourdage and has earned her Doctorate in Romeo Management (It's even harder than it looks!) She is vital to the operations of Alpena High School as she helps to keep things running for 1200+ staff and students each school day! Mrs. Haugerud is a proud AHS graduate and our April 2024 #WeAreWildcats Staff Spotlight! 

April 2, 2024

State Testing Starts Soon

Beginning this month, students in grades 3 through 11 will undertake the M-STEP, PSAT, and/or SAT exams. Essential details regarding testing schedules and useful strategies for student success are being disseminated through your school's weekly newsletter. Keep an eye out for this information. Remember, it is very important for students to be well rested and put forth their best effort for these assessments. The results gleaned from these tests offer valuable insights for students, parents, and the district in gauging academic progress.

Listening to Our Students, Community, and Staff

Recently, our school district has been actively engaged in two significant activities to garner feedback from our community and staff. First, we've been formulating a strategic plan for the district, with input from students, community members, and staff playing a pivotal role in this process. Second, in January, we conducted the Rehmann Employee Engagement survey, yielding invaluable insights into the experiences of our staff within the district.  Using the feedback from this survey, we will take targeted action to continuously improve the work experience for our employees. For a bit more on our strategic plan and the findings of the Rehmann Employee Engagement survey, please see my guest column in the March 18th edition of the Alpena News.

March is Reading Month

Thank you to all the staff and volunteers whose dedication and hard work made March is Reading Month an extraordinary success this year! From meticulously planning engaging in-school and after-school activities to generously donating time and resources, and even stepping up as "celebrity readers," your contributions were invaluable. We are sincerely appreciative of your steadfast support and dedication. Thank you immensely!

Transportation Update

We are excited to see a decrease in cancellations lately! This is fantastic news for our families. With a couple of additional drivers now on board, and with my road test on the horizon, things are looking up!

Solar Eclipse

On Monday, April 8th, Alpena will experience a solar eclipse. The timing of the eclipse presents some challenges for our students, staff, and families. Although the eclipse will reach its peak after the Junior High and High School dismiss (3:15 pm), our elementary schools will still be in session. Besser, Lincoln, and Ella White will be nearing dismissal time, whereas Hinks, Sanborn, and Wilson will still have over an hour remaining in their school day.

We urge everyone to exercise the utmost caution on April 8th, whether viewing the eclipse or arriving at school to pick up students.

Jim Milroy AHS class of 1978 is our April 2024 #WeAreWildcats Alumni Spotlight! 

After graduating from Michigan State University, Jim began his career as a Certified Public Accountant with Crowe, Chizek & Co (now Crowe), later entered the banking industry, and is now President and CEO of 1st State Bank, based in Saginaw.  Former roles in banking include CFO, COO, and risk management. He has also volunteered in many community organizations, including as an instructor and president of the board of Junior Achievement of North Central Michigan (which serves the Alpena area), and is currently chairman of the board of Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw. 

Visit APS Youtube @AlpenaPublicSchoolsMichigan

Here is the link for the meeting at Wilson on March 25th