Panther PAWPrints Newsletter
November 2021
Campus News
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth/Fifth Grade
Dear 4/5 parents,
This year seems to be flying by super fast! We have been busy, busy, busy in 4th and 5th grade. We have had several super fun field trips, learned new math concepts, and have almost completed our first novel study on The Cay. I am looking forward to getting to chat with all of you about your child’s progress during Parent-Teacher Conferences on the 19th, and showing you all of the fantastic things that your child has done so far.
In reading this month we will be finishing The Cay, and doing a final project to demonstrate our understanding of the story. When we are completely finished with that, we will be moving on to Esperanza Rising. This story focuses on a young girl who is growing up in Mexico during the Great Depression. Students will be able to have in-depth conversations about how life can change in a heartbeat, and we will focus a lot on how to be resilient. Throughout the novel study, we will continue to talk about characters, setting, plot, author's purpose, and theme.
In math, 4th grade will be moving on to concepts of measurement, where they will learn how to convert different units of measurement properly. It is a very short module, so it will not take us very long to get through. When we are ready to move on, we will be diving into the multiplication and division of multi-digit numbers. This concept can seem very difficult and overwhelming at times, but we will move as fast or as slow as we need to in order to fully understand the process.
In 5th grade math, the students will also be moving on to their next module. However, their module continues to work on concepts of multiplication and division with whole numbers and decimals. They will also be learning about measurement concepts, including area and perimeter throughout this module. If we move at just the right pace, all of the students will grasp these concepts quickly.
Our class has been doing a fantastic job of meeting the classroom expectations lately. They are working hard, raising their hands, and staying on topic during our class discussions. Please make sure that your student is studying their spelling words each week, so that we can ensure they are successful on their Friday spelling tests. Also, please take a peek at their spelling tests when I send them home on Friday afternoons. I like to provide a chance to retest if they didn’t do stellar the first time, so try to have them get a little extra practice in after the test if needed.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me via email or Class Dojo. I love getting to share the wonderful things that your students are learning and doing within the classroom.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Rau
Sixth - Eighth Grade
Hello parents and guardians!
It continues to be an absolute pleasure to teach these students and how them grow. They are making great connections to the things they learn and how they apply to the world around them.
We have started reading a very interesting book called “House Arrest”. This is a story about a 12-year-old boy named Timothy who is placed under house arrest and forced to write his thoughts in a journal because he was caught stealing a credit card to help pay for medicine that his younger brother needed. This has led to some very interesting discussions about morality and making difficult decisions. It has been wonderful to see the students make connections from the book to their everyday lives.
As the weather and seasons begin to change, please help us keep your students focused by ensuring they get plenty of sleep! We are working hard at identifying emotions and having a strong mindset with our daily Rusty May lessons, but make sure you are talking to your students about their changing emotions and the importance of a growth mindset. These kids are capable of amazing things - sometimes they just need reminders that they CAN do it! Positivity and confidence will move mountains and so shall they!
Mr. Williams
Mrs. Burns
Well, here we are, already in November. I look forward to this month because each family and teacher gets an opportunity to meet and connect about each of the students here at Pioneer. The amount of information shared and what is learned is extremely valuable! It is also a time, as the weather and time changes, that our lifestyles may shift. For many of us, it creates an opportunity to think about thankfulness, giving, and service to others.
We continue to work on ways to engage families in school and with their students' learning. Children feel confident and competent when they read books that are “just right.” But how do you find a “just right” book? Have your child read the back and front cover, and first page of the book. If there are more than five words that he cannot pronounce or understand in context, the book may be too challenging. Be supportive about finding a more perfect fit. Choosing the right book will help your reader feel successful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Parent Teacher Conferences
The time has come to begin to schedule Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 19th, 2021. Please call the school to schedule your time slot with the office. Appointments are made on a first-come, first-serve basis so if you need a specific time slot, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. If we do not hear from you, we will assume that any time that day will work for you, and your conference will be scheduled for you with notice of your time being sent home as a reminder.
This year, we will be offering a Zoom option. If you would prefer to attend via Zoom, please indicate that during your call.
Conferences will be held beginning at 7:45 a.m. and run until 2:30 p.m. Each conference will be no longer than 15 minutes in length. If you feel you need more time, please schedule a meeting with your student's teacher for another day/time.
No conferences will be scheduled from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
Please call/text by Wednesday, November 10th to schedule your time slot.
**There is NO SCHOOL on Friday, Nov. 19
If you cannot meet via Zoom or in-person on November 19th, please call and make arrangements for a different date and time to meet with your child's teacher.
**Mrs. Burns will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis to visit with you if you have concerns about your child’s progress in Title I, Library, or PE. Please limit your time to 10 – 15 minutes.
**Mrs. Schnitzmeier will be available from 7:45 – 4:00 if you wish to visit with her. She will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please limit your time to 10 – 15 minutes.
Thank you!
Mrs. Michael
Campus Adventures
Superintendent's Message
Dear Panther Families,
Every year during the month of November, I slow down and take a few moments to reflect on the experiences that I have had and the people that I have met over the course of the past year. I take time and make a conscious effort to reach out and show those whom I appreciate what they mean to me, and the impact they've had on my life both professionally and personally.
As we continue to navigate our way through education during a pandemic, I am grateful that we’ve found a little more “normalcy” this year. Our students and staff are once again enjoying field trip opportunities. Our Panther PTA is once again hosting hot lunch two Wednesdays a month and pizza every Friday. Simple school community events like these were greatly missed and we’re excited that we’ve been able to bring them back.
The team we have this year working for the success of our young Panthers is incredible. Every staff member is working their tails off to ensure that our campus feels the impact of this pandemic a little less. They pitch in whenever and wherever they are needed to ensure our students can remain in our buildings, with their peers, engaged in in-person learning. They are truly an amazing team of educators and I feel very fortunate to have them as my teammates. Please take some time to reach out and show them some love this month. I promise you, they’ll appreciate it!
Despite the difficulties that the pandemic has brought forth and all of the changes we have had to endure, our little school continues to see a wealth of growth and success. Each triumph was made possible by the hard work and dedication of our Panther staff and the amazing support of our Panther families and community. Without this dedication and support, we wouldn't be where we are today - providing the best education possible in the safest and most loving environment possible!
I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank a few others in our Panther community:
The Panther PTA - Trevor & Alyssa Krieger - The time and effort you put into supporting our staff, students, and school are amazing. It takes tremendous heart, dedication, and downright HARD WORK to keep the PTA organization alive and thriving. It's because of you that our students are afforded opportunities that wouldn't otherwise exist for them or our little school. We appreciate you!
The Panther Board - Kari Jones, Luke Rome, and Colleen Unruh - Your constant, unwavering support and dedication to the staff, students and the school does not go unnoticed! You all took on an often thankless position in an effort to make a difference and what a difference you are making! We appreciate you!
November 12th marks the end of our first trimester! Report cards will be distributed at Parent-Teacher Conferences on November 19th, 2021. Those attending conferences virtually will receive their student’s report cards Thursday, November 18th. The report card is a progress report and represents the growth achieved during each trimester. It informs you and your child about areas of success as well as areas of potential growth. Their academic career is a life-long journey. You can help your child to succeed by celebrating their accomplishments and encouraging their continued growth through goal setting. By helping them in this process, you demonstrate your support and motivate your child to continue to strive for excellence in their life-long learning journey.
I hope you all have a fabulous November and I look forward to making many more memories with all of you!
Sincerely,
Melissa Schnitzmeier, Principal/Superintendent Pioneer Elementary
When Should I Stay Home From School?
Nurse Karen's News
What Are the Eyes and How Do They Work?
In the month of November, I will be conducting vision screening on all students so below I have included some fun facts about our amazing eyes.
What Are the Eyes and How Do They Work?
In a single glance, our eyes work with our brains to tell us the size, shape, color, and texture of an object. They let us know how close it is, whether it's standing still or coming toward us, and how quickly it's moving.
Only part of the eye is visible in a person's face. The whole eye — the eyeball — is about the size and shape of a ping-pong ball.
All parts of the eye are extremely delicate, so our bodies protect them in several ways. The eyeball sits in the eye socket (also called the orbit) in the skull, where it is surrounded by bone. The visible part of the eye is protected by the eyelids and the eyelashes, which help keep dirt, dust, and even harmful bright light out of the eye.
Eyes are also protected by tears, which moisten them and clean out dirt, dust, and other irritants that get past the defenses of the eyelashes and eyelids. Tears also help protect against infection.
With each blink, our eyelids spread a layer of mucus, oil, and tears over the cornea, which covers the front of the eye. The lacrimal (LAK-ruh-mul) glands in the upper outer corner of each eye socket produce tears, which, after moistening the eyes, flow into canals in the eyelids. These canals drain into the lacrimal sac, a pouch in the lower inner corner of each eye socket. Tears then exit through a passage that leads to the nose.
To see, the eye has to move. Six extraocular muscles surround the eyeball and act like the strings on a puppet, moving the eye in different directions. The muscles of each eye normally move together at the same time, allowing the two eyes to remain aligned.
Nurse Karen Graf - 247-3367
Panther PTA News
Dinner Night Out
Where: Use the link below to order from ANY Panda Express across the nation! 28% of your order total will be donated back to the Panther PTA!
Monthly Calendar
Monthly Value
Classroom Wish Lists
Monthly Adult Education Classes
Google 101 - Learn the Basics
Must RSVP by the Monday prior to the event!
Event Dates:
11/9/2021
11/16/21
11/23/21
11/30/21
Tuesday, Nov 9, 2021, 05:00 PM
1937 Dover Road, Billings, MT, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.