Pioneer Family Communication
Week of April 17 - April 24, 2022
From the Desk of Principal Mr. Tracey Lowder
Good Evening Pioneer!
I would like to extend a huge thank you to our Pioneer families for a very successful opening week of testing! We had well over 95% of our students on time and testing for the MME tests. We continue testing this week for extended time tests and the M-STEP for Juniors. There will be no bells in the building and we ask students to please remain quiet in the hallways this week. We will have another week of unique scheduling due to our continued testing. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.
Below are important days for the week of April 17, 2022.
- Tuesday, April 19 - Club Day Schedule
- Wednesday, April 20 - Early Release Day(Schedule Below)
- Thursday, April 21 - Club Day Schedule
- Thursday, April 21 - M-STEP Testing(Social Studies & Science)
- Friday, April 22 - 3* Holiday - No testing or exams
If you have any questions/needs. Please email me directly at lowder@aaps.k12.mi.us.
Mr. Tracey Lowder, Principal
Pioneer High School
M-STEP Tests - 4/21/22 - 11th GRADE ONLY
- M-STEP Testing for 11th Grade Students ONLY. M-STEP Testing will take place in the Pioneer Cafeteria on Thursday, 4/21/22.
- 11th Grade Students Last Name: A-L will test 8:00am - 10:30am
- 11th Grade Students Last Name: M-Z 12pm - 2:30pm
*11th Grade students are expected to be in class on Thursday 4/21/22. Similar to prebubbling, students will be called to the cafeteria and will find their assigned seats.
- AAPS assigned Chromebooks are required for the M-STEP Tests. Please be sure that your Chromebook is fully charged and that you have logged out of your AAPS assigned Chromebook.
4/20/22 - Early Release Schedule
Pioneer Club Day Schedule - 4/19 & 4/21
SPRING TESTING UPDATE - Pioneer
Spring Testing Update #7: 4/17/22
- M-STEP Testing for 11th Grade Students ONLY. M-STEP Testing will take place in the Pioneer Cafeteria on Thursday, 4/21/22.
- 11th Grade Students Last Name: A-L will test 8:00am - 10:30am
- 11th Grade Students Last Name: M-Z 12pm - 2:30pm
*11th Grade students are expected to be in class on Thursday 4/21/22. Similar to prebubbling, students will be called to the cafeteria and will find their assigned seats.
- AAPS assigned Chromebooks are required for the M-STEP Tests. Please be sure that your Chromebook is fully charged and that you have logged out of your AAPS assigned Chromebook.
Spring Testing Update #6: 4/10/22
Please be on time for testing. Students WILL NOT be allowed to enter the testing room once testing begins.
- Review the testing edition newsletter: https://www.smore.com/93ne0-pioneer-family-communication
- Students should be on time and rested for their assigned testing date/s. Breakfast will be available for all students beginning at 7:30am.
- M-STEP testing date for 11th graders has been moved to 4/21/22 due to a testing conflict. The dates for M-STEP are within the testing window from the State of Michigan.
- Questions about testing? Contact Dean Bullinger - bullinge@aaps.k12.mi.us
Spring Testing Update #5: 4/4/22
- This Thursday 4/7/22 - Juniors will pre-bubble the SAT and Workkeys answer sheets. A-L will be 9am - 11am and M-Z will be 1pm - 2:51pm.
- Classroom assignments for testing will be posted on Monday, April 11th outside of each class office, outside of the cafeteria annex, and outside of the Media Center. Students should check their room assignments BEFORE their testing date.
- Any student who would like a testing guide for the PSAT 9, PSAT 10, or SAT can pick up the booklet outside the 9th Grade Dean's office in the 9th Grade Admin Wing at Pioneer.
Spring Testing Update #4: 3/18/22
While we support parents in making choices for their children, there is no acceptable way under state or federal law to allow an “opt-out” of state assessments. Last year, requirements for 95 percent participation in state assessments were waived by the U.S. Department of Education due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, this is no longer the case for 2022. Students who are not assessed this year will count against their school’s required 95 percent participation rate, which will create an incomplete picture of their school’s performance. - Michael Rice, MI State Super - March 2022 Assessment & Accountability Update
- Remind students to bring their school issued photo ID and/or driver's license if applicable.
- Remind students that phones and smart watches are not allowed in the testing room and both will be removed and placed in a box that is taken to the test coordinator's office if students have them
- Spring MME Testing is a 2023 and beyond graduation requirement.
Spring Testing Update #3: 3/11/22
M-STEP Testing for Juniors will be 4/19/22 - Sessions will be AM & PM by last name. Chromebooks will be needed for the test/s on 4/19/22. Please be sure to restart your chromebook while on wifi at Pioneer for any testing updates during school before taking the the M-STEP test. SAT and WorkKeys will be paper/pencil tests on 4/13 & 4/14.
Spring Testing Update #2: 3/6/22
We will be pre-bubbling for the tests on April 7th and 8th. Students will be called down in groups to the cafeteria. Parent permission is preferred for students to participate in the SAT Suite of Assessments College Search Process. If you would like your student to participate, please have them bring this signed form with them to pre-bubbling (please see the link on the form for more information): CLICK HERE FOR FORM
Spring Testing Update #1: 2/28/22
For spring testing, all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders will automatically be tested and there is no need for families to opt-in. On Wednesday, April 13th, 11th graders will take the SAT + Essay, and 10th graders will take the PSAT. On Thursday, April 14th, 11th Graders will take the Work Keys, and 9th Graders will take the PSAT. There will be a modified bell schedule for all students after morning testing culminates. Testing room assignments for students will be posted outside the Cafeteria Annex, outside the library, and outside the counseling offices prior to the day of testing. For 11th grade students who have unavoidable conflicts, there will be a make-up date of April 26th for the SAT test.
Please see the following links if you would like to access free practice tests prior to the exam:
SAT Practice Tests College Board
Kahn Academy SAT Official Practice
PSAT/NMSQT Practice Tests College Board
Questions? Please contact Dean Bullinger - bullinge@aaps.k12.mi.us
Pioneer Staff Appreciation Week is almost here!
*Families need to drop off their item(s) by Thursday, April 28th in the Main Office at Pioneer (Clocktower entrance).
Good News @ Pioneer!
Congratulations to Pioneers Matias Gonzalez for winning First place in the team homebuilding competition at the SkillsUSA state competition!
The Pioneer Trading Post - Student led School Store
PIONEER BOOK DRIVE
Are you spring cleaning and have some great like-new or gently used books you would like to donate? The Pioneer Library and English Department would love to put them into the hands of students! Please drop them off inside the Clock tower entrance the week of April 25th. We are looking for books that would be interesting to K-12 students and are in great condition. We will pass on books we can't use here to our AAPS K-8 schools. You are always welcome to contact Ms. Hughes (one of the Pioneer Librarians) at hughesc@aaps.k12.mi.us to set up a book drop off anytime during the school year.
PIONEER Care Closet @ C311 - led by ACTION @ Pioneer
ACTION @ Pioneer is in need of donations of the following items for the Pioneer Care Closet. Items are available for Pioneer Students. Please send donated items to the Main Office or C311. Thank you for your support.
- toothpaste
- tooth brushes
- kleenex
- wipes
- hand sanitizer
- floss
- mouth wash
- hair ties
- Q Tips
- chapstick
- lotion
- shaving supplies
- shampoo
- conditioner
- dry shampoo
- hair gel
- men's deodorant
- women's deodorant
- feminine hygiene products
- face wash
- makeup remover
- lint roller
- tide wipes
- bar soap
- body wash
SENIOR INFORMATION BELOW
SENIOR BON VOYAGE PARTY - Calling all parent volunteers!
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0f4cadac23a3fe3-2022
Tickets for Senior Bon Voyage - $40
Thursday, April 21
Tuesday, April 26 & Thursday, April 28
Tuesday, May 10 & Thursday, May 12
Tuesday, May 17 & Thursday, May 19
Thursday, May 26 at the picnic & Friday, May 27 at graduation rehearsal
Class of 2022 - Senior Exam/Final Week Schedule *SENIORS ONLY
* New Information* Senior Class Updates - Class of 2022
ATTENTION SENIORS!
Graduation Update
During the two years of the pandemic, alternative graduation ceremonies were held for the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. In 2020, drive-thru parades were held at each campus. In 2021, outdoor ceremonies were held. For the Class of 2022, we are returning to our traditional indoor graduation locations.
While the previous two years have offered great alternatives for the commencement ceremonies, the activities and locations had limitations and challenges. Most importantly, we want to hold ceremonies that afford all of our graduates the opportunity to share the celebration with family. Our indoor facilities allow students to invite siblings, grandparents, and other extended family members. As well, the indoor facilities are fully ADA compliant, and indoor ceremonies eliminate concerns for inclement weather.
We are very proud of the tremendous work that our high school teams put into the celebrations in 2020 and 2021, we are equally excited to once again offer our graduates a dignified and celebratory experience while welcoming all family members who wish to attend.
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Graduation Announcements - If you were unable to pick up your graduation announcements last week you can pick them up from C311.
Senior Prom - May 20, 2022 @ THE BIG HOUSE!! - tickets go on sale May 9, 2022!
The survey results are in! This year's prom theme will be Enchanted Fairytale. The prom colors will be sage, ivory, and gold! Thank you to all of our seniors that participated in the student led prom survey.
Scholarships:
Please review the links below to identify scholarship opportunities specific for Pioneer Seniors.
2022 Pioneer High School AAPS Scholarship List
Pioneer Announcement: AAPS Scholarships
Please feel free to email our 12th grade team with any needs/questions: Dr. Hyliard - hyliardd@aaps.k12.mi.us or Ms. Roumanis - cisnerose@aaps.k12.mi.us
PTSO @ PIONEER
SENIOR BON VOYAGE:
We need help hosting our seniors 5/27 after graduation- it's a Friday night- who wouldn't want to hang out at school:). Use the attached Signup Genius to volunteer.
Questions for PTSO? Email Susan Brimacombe - sbrim@med.umich.edu