The Pine Bough
Pine River Elementary School Newsletter, April 2021
Classroom Consideration Input for 2021-2022 School Year
Fourth Grade Lighthouse Project
Students in Erin Weber's Fourth Grade virtual class have been working all marking period on a Lighthouse Project. Each student wrote a piece on a chosen lighthouse. Then, they built a models of their lighthouses and shared with the class information about their chosen lighthouses. The students put in a lot of work into this project and their builds were very well done!
Kindergarten Students Publish Class Book
Our virtual Kindergarten students have become published authors through a national student publishing program. As part of the publishing process, students in Mrs. Hagen’s Kindergarten class planned, wrote, and illustrated their own books using a free publishing kit provided by Studentreasures Publishing. The topic of their books was What if Kids Ruled the World.
The students of Mrs. Hagen’s class have been working hard on their books for five weeks. The idea for their creative book started when discussing positive changes kids can make to help make the world a better place. “The excitement in their eyes told me this was the topic!” Mrs. Hagen stated.
The Studentreasures publishing program provides teachers an easy way to incorporate any lesson plan – from math and science to history, art, and more – into a fun and memorable activity. Publishing a book in the classroom engages students through hands-on learning and inspires a love of reading and writing.
The best part? A classroom full of proud, smiling young authors, with a memory that lasts a lifetime, plus, a full-color, deluxe hardcover book for the teacher or school library. The students’ parents also have an option to purchase copies of these unique, childhood keepsakes.
McKenzie was Principal for a Day!
One District, One Book
Students, staff, and families enjoyed reading The One and Only Ivan as an East China school community during the month of March! In addition to enjoying the story, students participated in a variety of enriching book extensions that included art activities, gorilla research projects, and informational reading about African animals. Thank you to all of our families who participated in our One District, One Book readings at home. If you want to continue reading, check out The One and Only Bob in our school Media Centers and local libraries!
Pine River PTO Winter Raffle
Thank you to Kim Shaughnessy, Jennifer Hollerbach, and Natalie Eifert for the long hours of organizing, facilitating, and donation gathering that they did for the Pine River Winter Raffle! Also, thank you to the local businesses and families that donated items for over 80 baskets. We raised $5535 for our students with this event, and we could not be prouder! Thanks, too, to all of the people in our widespread Pioneer community that bought bids. Through your continued support, we make great things happen for our students!
Kindergarten Round-Up
Staff Spotlights
Melissa Kenyon ~ Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Kenyon's favorite thing about being a teacher is building relationships with her students and their families. She has stayed in contact with many families that have come through her classroom doors and loves hearing about the wonderful careers their children are pursuing.
She has been married to her husband, Tom, for 17 years. He is a retired police officer. They have four beautiful and talented daughters: Sophie 16, Avery 15, Grace 12, and Celia 11. Each of the girls attend the East China School District and are former Pioneers.
Her spare time is definitely precious to her as her daughter plays travel soccer. This keeps her running to practices and games. Mrs. Kenyon and her family have recently traveled to Florida, Texas, and Ohio for games. When she does have free time, she loves to read and travel.
During the past five years, the Kenyon family has traveled to over fourteen national parks. These include: Smokey Mountain, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Sequoia, Yellowstone, Canyonlands, Capital Reef, Redwoods, Mesa Verde, Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, and Zion twice because they loved it so much. They are hoping to visit more parks in our future. The Kenyon family loves to hike and spend time as a family enjoying nature.
Students in Mrs. Kenyon's class are fortunate to receive high quality learning experiences that are personalized to their individual needs and interests. She takes great care in building connections with students and their families. We are lucky to have her on our staff at Pine River!
Amy Schock-McNeill ~ Second Grade Teacher
Amy Schock-McNeill started her career here in East China 25 years ago. She has taught at Eddy Elementary, Washington Elementary, and Pine River Elementary in 4th grade, 5th grade, Reading Support, and now 2nd grade. Second grade is her favorite grade. She loves watching her students enter as first graders in the fall and emerge as big-time learners and third graders in the spring. The growth in second grade is remarkable journey and fun to watch.
Some of her fondest memories here in East China are when a group of teachers would take the Fifth Graders to a weeklong camp in the fall. Her favorite part of teaching is making connections with students and families. Building relationships based on trust makes the rest seem easy. She also loves helping young learners understand the power of "YET."
Mrs. McNeill's proudest accomplishment is having raised her two children to be responsible and respectful young adults. Her daughter, Sydney, is a student at Grand Valley State University and her son, Ryan, will graduate from Port Huron Northern High School this year.
She lives in Fort Gratiot with her husband, Rob, their son and daughter, Ryan and Sydney, and her Best Buddy, MOE the Dog. In her spare time, she loves to do anything that involves sunshine. She also loves to run with her dog, read, work in the yard and relax with her family.
Some fun facts about Mrs. McNeill are that she worked at Disney World in college, and she did her student teaching in South Hampton, England. She has a "green thumb," and she only sets her alarm to go off on odd numbers.
Mrs. McNeill focuses on developing her students as lifelong learners and kind and considerate people. Her energetic lessons and enriching activities motivate her second graders to work toward their greatest potentials. We are grateful of the way she inspires both her students and her colleagues!
PTO News
Pine PTO News
Spring has officially begun!!!! The students at Pine River are all enjoying their outdoor time in between their studies. To make their recess time even more enjoyable, the teachers have been asked what items their students could use out on the playgrounds. The PTO has compiled an Amazon Wish List of those items. If you would like to help out and purchase any of the items on the list- that would be very much appreciated!! Please click on the link below.
Mark your calendars! Pine River Elementary PTO is partnering with Vandenbossche Farms to bring you a Spring Flowers Fundraiser! Order forms will come home the week after Spring Break!
Grab a pizza for dinner on April 15th! Hungry Howie's in St. Clair donates 20% back to Pine River!!! Just mention you are from Pine River!
Do NOT miss the next virtual PTO Meeting! Thursday, April 22 at 7 p.m.
East China Virtual Academy
School Events
Positivity Project Resources for Families
The mission of The Positivity Project is to empower students to build positive relationships with others and be their best selves as individuals. Each week at Pine River, we focus on one of the 24 character strengths that everyone possesses. Through lessons presented daily by their teachers, our students learn to be more self aware and self confident in the content of their own character. In addition, they learn to understand and appreciate these character traits in others. Together, we are building meaningful relationships and connections with one another that are essential for learning and growing.
Below are some resources to help our families support The Positivity Project at home. The password is P2.
Positivity Project Calendar ~ 2020-2021
Check out the new items in our Spirit Store!
March Pioneers of the Month
All of our students strive to be motivated learners, as well as model citizens. Each month we will honor students from each class who exemplify the following qualities:
Academic
- Student prepares for classroom activities.
- Student approaches learning with enthusiasm.
- Student has made steady progress in the classroom.
- Student has been working to his/her potential.
- Student completes all assignments and homework.
- Student has a good work ethic and is diligent.
Leadership/ Citizenship/ Character
- Student demonstrates respect of self and others.
- Student assists others in need.
- Student shows acts of kindness.
- Student demonstrates a positive attitude.
- Student displays good conduct.
- Student is a positive role model by example.
- Student participates and puts forth full effort in all areas.
- Student follows school rules.
Young Fives/Kindergarten
Mrs. Guzowski's Class: Vaughn Deering and Alexis LaFriniere
Mrs. Malburg's Class: Jase Metcalf and Gage Trine
Mrs. Schneider's Class: Casey Zoia and Vivienne Liniarski
Mrs. Hagen's/Ms. Smith's Classes: Sophia Groce
First Grade
Mrs. Bean's Class: Sam Jabe and Reece Shovan
Ms. Brosky's Class: Finley Wickman and Samuel Strozeski
Mrs. Jensen's Class: Violet Slota and Sydnee Stanko
Mrs. Trudeau's Class: Cole Deraedt
Second Grade
Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Emma Vernier and Colton Bullock
Mrs. McNeill's Class: Arianna McCracken and Noah Rapier
Mrs. Williams' Class: Hugh Sultemeier and Leah Varndell
Ms. Fox's Class: Nathan Pokriefka
Third Grade
Mrs. Dodge's Class: Jack Galliker and Ally Roberts
Mrs. Koprivica's Class: Jesse Bean and Aiden DeRue
Mrs. Peterson's Class: Emma Bradshaw and Liam Brozik
Mrs. Davis's/Ms. Dewey's Classes: Mira Fraley
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Huston's Class: Aiden Taszreak and Camryn Cody
Mr. Scillian's Class: Susanna Vaughan and Jacob Koehn
Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Mackenzie Heythaler and Aidan Moran
Mrs. Weber's Class: Eleanor (Ellie) Rowell
C.I. Class
Mrs. Frost's Class: Brooke Dwyer
Pioneer Code of Conduct
Kind,
Courteous,
Respectful,
Responsible,
and always Safe!
Mission: The mission of the Pine River school community is to work collaboratively, providing an enriched curriculum that allows for intellectual, social, emotional, physical, and creative growth in a positive and safe environment, empowering all children to become productive lifelong learners.
Pine River Elementary is dedicated to the belief that all students can learn and achieve through the combined efforts of the staff, parents, students, and community.