AUGUST / SEPTEMBER NEWSLETTER
SUCCESS FOR ALL...BELIEVED BY ALL...ACHIEVED BY ALL...
From the Den
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! In this newsletter, I hope you will find information that is helpful to you in preparation for the start of the new school year. With things changing every day, please read this newsletter carefully and keep an eye on our website and social media for the latest updates.
As you may already know, we will be starting school in person this year. At this point in time, we are planning for all students to wear masks when inside the school unless they are eating. Bus riders will also be required to wear masks. For outside activities, students will not be required to wear a mask. Please remember that these guidelines could change at any time.
In addition to masks, we will be having our students social/physical distance in the building. Desks will be set up to maintain three feet of distance between students and we have adjusted bell schedules to limit the amount of time students spend in the hallways. In alignment with DOH guidelines, we will have more than three feet between students during lunch, PE and during music classes.
Our plan at this time is to have our office open from 9:00 - 3:00 daily starting on Wednesday, August 11 through August 24. Any visitors to the building will have to wear a mask while inside the building. If you are not comfortable coming into the building and need assistance with anything, please call us at 663-7171.
Staffing changes this year are as follows:
Special Education - Ms. Chamberlain will be working with our 6th grade students. She is joining us from Mission View Elementary.
Core - Mrs. Schwartzenberger will be teaching 8th grade Core. She is moving to the valley from Spokane.
Art - Ms. Litchfield will be taking over for Mrs. Smith. She is coming over from Orchard Middle School.
Health - Mrs. Kaminski is moving from our ASAP program to health this year.
Math - Mr. Savage will be taking over for Mrs. Kruckenberg. He is coming to us from WIA.
Our start time this year will be 8:50 and our release time is 3:35. We will continue to use our three entrance points that we used last year. Eighth graders will enter through the gates on the West side of the building, 7th graders at the South double doors and 6th graders at the Orange gates by the gym.
Bear’s Day - will be Thursday, August 19. Please look for detailed information in this newsletter.
We are excited to welcome you to the 2021-22 school year! See you on the 25th at 8:50!
Rob Cline
Principal
2020-21 Fines & Fees
Any student who still has fines and fees from the 2020-21
school year (lost library or textbooks, PE locks, athletic
uniforms, etc.):
1. Will not receive their class schedule
2. Will not clear for sports
Parents, if you want to know if your student has fines to pay,
please call the office at 663-7171.
NOTE: If you receive an invoice for fines and fees during the month of August, your child has a fine.
Counselors Column
Welcome to our current and future Pioneer Bears! We would like to take this time to introduce ourselves. My name is Kelli Ottley and I am the current 6th grade counselor at Pioneer. I am here to help incoming 6th graders as they transition into middle school. Tim Trainor is the current school counselor serving 7th and 8th grade students. Our job as school counselors is to help support and guide the social/emotional and academic development of our students. A big part of our jobs also is to support parents to ensure your students have a successful school year at Pioneer.
Please feel free to call or email us if you have any questions about the schedule or if there are particular things you would like to discuss about your child.
Kelli Ottley, 6th Grade Counselor - ottley.k@wenatcheeschools.org
Tim Trainor, 7th & 8th Grade Counselor - trainor.t@wenatcheeschools.org
Important News!
***BUILDING TOUR***
A building tour has been arranged for all new students. The tour is on Friday, August 20, at 10:00 AM. Come to the lobby at the main entrance for the tour.
***FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL***
The first day of school is Wednesday, August 25. The building opens at 8:15 AM, classes begin at 8:50 AM and the school day ends at 3:35 PM.
***SCHOOL PICTURES***
Tuesday, August 31
***STUDENT PLANNERS***
Pioneer student planners are required for all 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The cost is $8, and they must be purchased in Pioneer’s office.
***WATER BOTTLE***
Please be sure to bring a water bottle to school every day. We have water bottle filling stations in each hallway and one in the gym. Water fountains will not be available at this time.
IMPORTANT PARENT INFORMATION PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS
Students are encouraged to participate in Pioneer’s after-school athletic program. The program focuses on skill development and active participation for all student athletes. Registration opens on August 9. In order to be eligible for participation, students must:
1. Complete the following information through our online registration, FamilyID.com, located on our school webpage:
- a record of a physical exam (good for One Year)
- proof of adequate medical insurance or purchase medical insurance through the school program
- emergency contact information
a signed (by student and parent) WSD Athletic Contract (good for three school years)
a signed (by student and parent) Concussion Information Sheet (good for one school year)
a signed (by student and parent) Safety Guidelines form for each sport
2. Pay $15 ASB Fee (Good for One School Year)
3. Meet scholastic eligibility requirements (reviewed on our athletics webpage). Athletes who are in need of a physical exam are encouraged to schedule their exam as soon as possible. Due to the large number of athletes in our community who will be scheduling sports physicals in August, waiting until the beginning of a sport season to schedule the exam could result in the athlete missing a portion of the season.
Fall Sports Season Schedule:
Aug. 30 - Oct. 28 - 7/8 Football
Sept. 1 - Oct. 28 - 6/7/8 Co-ed Cross-Country
Sept. 1 - Oct. 28 - 7/8 Volleyball
Sept. 1 - Oct. 28 - 7/8 Girls Soccer
Sept. 7 - Oct. 13 - 6th Football
Sept. 7 - Oct. 13 - 6th Volleyball (This is in the morning before school - 7:15-8:25 AM.)
Sept. 7 - Oct. 13 - 6/7/8 Co-ed Tennis
6th Grade Orientation
P.E. Uniforms
P.E. UNIFORMS
Once again Pioneer students will be required to wear
P.E. uniforms for P.E. classes. All students must
purchase a PE uniform if they don't have one. Returning
7th and 8th graders can wear their uniform from last year.
We will selling the uniforms at school for a total of
$13.00 for the shorts and shirt (shirts are $5.00 and
shorts are $8.00). We will also be selling sweatpants
(optional) for $13.00. Uniforms can be purchased starting
on August 11.
Breakfast and Lunch Prices
We are happy to announce Pioneer Middle School’s breakfast and lunch will be free for all students for the 2021-22 School Year.
**You may still add credit to your student’s account to purchase “a la carte items” such as cookies, candy, chips, etc.**
Welcome back to Pioneer, from your school nurse, Katherine Dreyer!
Hello Parents!
Your child’s health, safety and happiness are very important to me. If your child has a new medical condition/diagnosis or change in health that you feel I should know about, please don’t hesitate to call or email. If your child needs medication at school, a new doctor order form must be filled out every year. You can get one from the school office, district website or your family doctor. Middle school students can carry one dose of non-prescription medication with them, if needed, without a form on file. (Tylenol, for example).
Parents of children entering 7th grade: One dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) is required on or after 11 years of age.I am at Pioneer on Monday and Tuesday and at other times when needed. I am in district Monday-Friday.
What kinds of things does a school nurse do?
*Assess and evaluate students with chronic health conditions
*Create emergency care plans for students who need them
*Work with parents to ensure students with health conditions have what they need to be successful and safe at school
*Instruct and supervise office and teaching staff in medication administration and emergency care
*Perform state mandated health screens (vision/hearing for seventh grade)
*Monitor immunization compliance and communicable diseases
*Lots more!
My contact Information:
Pioneer 663-7171 (Office staff will send a message to me if I am not in the building.)
dreyer.katherine@wenatcheeschools.org , for non-urgent questions/concerns.
I look forward to helping ensure that your child has a wonderful school year.
Binder Supplies
School supplies for all students for the 2021-22 school year may be purchased at Pioneer Middle School in the office, beginning August 11 between the hours of 9:00 AM-3:00 PM. For your convenience, and in an effort to reduce your school supply costs and help to keep your student organized, we have created binder inserts, complete with all the school supplies
your child will need for the 2021-22 school year. You can purchase the binder inserts in our office for $30 for sixth grade, seventh grade and eighth grade.
NOTE: Please purchase a sturdy 2"-3" binder on your own.
Online Payments
Payment for the following school items can be made in person at our Pioneer office or online with a credit or debit card: PE Clothes, ASB Cards, Planners, Binder Supply Packets,
Library Fines, iPad Insurance or iPad Damage, Yearbooks, Etc. We strongly encourage everyone to pay for items online and then you can pick up your items during office hours between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM from August 11-August 24 or during your designated time on August 19 during Pioneer Bear Day:
8th Grade - 2:00-3:30
7th Grade - 3:30-5:00
6th Grade - 5:00-6:30
If interested in paying online, go to the WSD website (www.wenatcheeschools.org). Click on the “For Parents” link at the top of the page. Under Parent Resources in the column on the left of the page, there is a link to “e-Funds -
Online Payments,” which you will click on to get started. You will need to know your child’s 7 digit school ID number in order to register for an online account. There is a small convenience fee for this service.
Parent and Visitor Parking
For the safety of all pedestrians and motorists, parents and
visitors are asked NOT TO USE THE BUS RAMP AT ANY TIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. Because buses use this loading area throughout the entire school day, we must ask that parents park in the school parking lot. In an attempt to accommodate Pioneer parents and visitors, we have designated a visitors' parking area in our school parking lot. Thank you for your understanding.
Calling All Parents - ATTENDANCE
You can help us in the office by calling the school
when your child is going to miss school or be late.
Students arriving late or returning to school after
an absence are marked UNEXCUSED if there has
not been a parent phone call or note of
explanation. Parents may call the office after 7:30
AM at 663-7171.
PIONEER’S "BEAR DAY" (OPEN HOUSE)
Be sure to mark Thursday, August 19, on your calendar. That is the night that we have scheduled our BEAR DAY (Open House) from 6:00-7:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to meet your student's teachers and find out what to expect for the upcoming year.
IMPORTANT - AVOID THE LINES!
Beginning on August 11, Pioneer’s office reopens
for business from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
During these hours parents can:
1. Purchase PE uniforms ($13), planners ($8)
2. Pay ASB fee for sports, choir, band, orchestra
and Mariachi ($15)
3. Turn in clearance forms for sports
4. Purchase 6th, 7th, and 8th grade binder supplies ($30)
Parents, your student will avoid long lines on the
first day of school if you can come in any day
from August 11 - August 24th to pay these fees
and turn in forms.
We strongly encourage everyone to pay for items online and then you can pick up your items during our office hours before school starts or during your designated time on August 19 during Pioneer Bear Day:
8th Grade - 2:00-3:30
7th Grade - 3:30-5:00
6th Grade - 5:00-6:30
Although Bear Day is new this year, we anticipate that it will go quickly to pick up your items on this day. Please bring your receipt to help make it go faster.
***CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DEVICES***
Knowing that many parents depend on cell phones to communicate with their children at the end of the school day or at the conclusion of athletic events, we have adjusted our policy regarding bringing phones to school. As new technologies continue to emerge, electronic devices can provide many new and positive educational benefits for learning. To encourage this growth, students in the Wenatchee School District may now bring their own technology to school for the purpose of learning and student engagement. Because there is always the possibility that a student could be tempted to use these devices inappropriately (texting in class, photographing classmates in the restroom or locker room, etc.), we strictly prohibit students from having their electronic devices in their possession during the school day. Phones must be put away before entering the building, kept in the student's locker during the school day, and put away until they have exited the building at the end of the school day. If a phone is visible at any time during the school day, it will be confiscated.
1st Offense: Phone will be returned to the student at the end of the school day.
2nd Offense: Phone will be returned to the parent.
3rd Offense: Possible suspension for defiance.
In addition to cell phones, the following items are specifically restricted from use during the school day and must be left in students’ lockers at all times: pagers, portable music players, iPods, tablets, electronic games, laser pointers and pens.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS REGARDING THE RELEASE OF “STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION” WITHOUT PARENT CONSENT
Washington State law WAC 148-280-040 (5) states: "Directory information" may be disclosed without the parent's (or adult student's) prior written consent, UNLESS the parent (or adult student) notifies the school in writing within ten days of enrollment and thereafter by the tenth day of the academic year that he or she does not want any or all of the student's information to be designated as directory information.” In the Wenatchee School District “Student Directory Information” is:
• Student First and Last Name
• Student Address
• Student Phone Number
• Grade Level
If you want to have your student’s directory information withheld, please send a written request to your school.
NOTE: If you choose to Opt Out of Directory Information and would like your child to appear on the yearbook please write that in your written notice. Otherwise, they will be excluded from the Yearbook.
Pioneer Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Dear Pioneer Families ~
The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) would like to welcome your family to Pioneer Middle School. We are anxious for you to learn just how special Pioneer really makes your child feel.
We are a PTO and not a PTA. The difference is that if you have a child attending Pioneer you are a member and we do not charge a fee. Pioneer has an Associated Student Body (ASB) that raises funds for school activities, and we don’t compete with them for funds. PTO’s main fundraising activities consist of selling spirit wear and operating the school store after school.
The store sells drinks, chips, and candy. We have not been able to operate the school store since the Covid shutdowns, so we are anxious to be able to hopefully open again in September.
We want you to be involved and we are currently looking for a PTO secretary, so if you like to take notes get in touch with us. Meetings are usually once a month and we work around the
schedule of PMS’s administration, so that they can participate. Past projects have been helping to fund two fountains with spouts for water bottles, providing money for grade levels, packing friendship, honoring our staff, and supporting students.
If you would like more information or want to volunteer in any way, please contact Connie Strawn, PTO President at cjvstrawn@nwi.net or Tina Wagner, PTO Treasurer at tinawagner@nwi.net. You can follow us on Facebook by liking the public group Pioneer Bears PTO 2020-2021.
August/September School Events
August
Aug. 11 - Pioneer office officially opens for business. Parents can pay for student items (planners, PE uniforms, ASB fees and 6th, 7th and 8th grade binder supply packets).
Aug. 19 - Schedules will be available to pick up during Bear Day - Times - 8th Grade - 2:00-3:30, 7th Grade - 3:30-5:00, 6th Grade - 5:00-6:30 - Cafeteria
Aug. 19 - Parents can pay for/pick up student items during Bear Day - Designated Times - 8th Grade - 2:00-3:30, 7th Grade - 3:30-5:00, 6th Grade - 5:00-6:30 - Cafeteria
Aug. 19 - 6th Grade Bear Day - Orientation - 5:00-6:30 PM - Gym
Aug. 19 - Bear Day (Open House) - 6:00-7:30 PM - Teachers in Rooms - Meet and Greet
Aug. 20 - Building Tour - New Students - Lobby - 10:00 AM
Aug. 25 - School Begins - 8:50 AM
Aug. 25 - Office Hours - 8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Aug. 30 - 7/8 Football Practice Begins
Aug. 31 - Picture Day
September
Sept. 1 - 6/7/8 Cross-Country
Sept. 1 - 7/8 Volleyball Practice Begins
Sept. 1 - 7/8 Girls Soccer Practice Begins
Sept. 3 - Non-Contract Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
Sept. 6 - Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
Sept. 7 - 6 Volleyball Practice Begins (This is in the morning before school - 7:15-8:25 AM.)
Sept. 7 - 6/7/8 Co-ed Tennis Practice Begins
Sept. 7 - 6 Football Practice Begins
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT FOR SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
WENATCHEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Wenatchee School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator, Section 504:
Kory Kalahar Ed.D., Assistant Executive Director of Learning & Teaching
Civil Rights Compliance and ADA Coordinators:
Dr. Kory Kalahar, Assistant Executive Director of Learning & Teaching (for students) kalahar.k@wenatcheeschools.org
Kelly Lopez, Executive Director of Human Resources (for staff)
235 Sunset Ave, Wenatchee WA, 98801 (509-663-8161)