The Pine Bough
Pine River Elementary School Newsletter, June 2021
Together, we turned challenges into opportunities!
Our team at Pine River is celebrating the culmination of an incredible year full of unprecedented opportunities for learning and growth. Our staff came together like no other year that I can remember. We met in the summer and generated creative ideas for safely bringing our students back to the building on the first day of school in September, while offering a high-quality virtual learning option for families. Our amazing PTO equipped all students with Pioneer swag and found clever ways to generate funds and spirit to enrich and motivate our children. We focused our instructional efforts more on essential skills in reading and math, and we made wellness a priority by building in more time for recess and brain break activities. The disruption of the pandemic forced urgent and necessary change in how our teachers used technology to teach and how our students used technology to learn.
This school year turned out to be nothing short of amazing! Staff and students that had spent months in isolation returned to together in September with great enthusiasm, anxious to just talk to someone face-to-face. We reveled in simple school moments like jumping in autumn leaves on the playground, sharing a well-crafted story with the class, exploring our snow-covered nature trail, finishing a challenging set of math problems, reading with a partner in the hallway, and observing baby robins until they became fledglings and flew away. During times when students were working virtually, parents saw firsthand how hard our teachers work to engage all of the students at one time and how difficult it was at times to replicate that same engagement as a parent working with your own child. Students returned to school excited after breaks and pauses and even weekends because they realized how much they enjoyed being with their friends and their teachers.
This year, all of our students learned and grew despite the obstacles. Through the modeling and support of teachers and parents, our students developed lifelong skills of flexing, adapting, cooperating, innovating, and giving grace. We also made some necessary changes that will improve the culture of our school. My hope is that moving forward we will never take the magic of schooling and our vibrant school community for granted, and we will appreciate the results of resetting, renewing, and restructuring. Thank you for helping us make this an incredible school year!
Sincerely,
Rachel Card, Principal
Student School Supplies for 2021-2022
We are excited to announce that we will be offering 2021-2022 Student Supply Kits to our Pine River Pioneer families! Families are now able to shop online for a complete grade level pack for next school year. Teachers have worked hard to prepare this list to a company that will package, label and deliver the ENTIRE list of Suggested School Supplies to Pine River before the first day of school.
Below is the link to place an order.
Code:PIN498
- Teacher Approve Lists & Brands
- Avoid the Shopping Crowds
- School-Year Product Quality Guarantee
- Easy Online Ordering
Suggested School Supplies ~ 2021-2022 School Year
Thank you for the Memories!
Petra Koprivica ~ Third Grade Teacher
Petra Koprivica has taught for 30 years. During that time, she taught Kindergarten, first grade, and Resource Room classes over the course of five years in Ontario, Canada. Then, she taught for 25 years in Michigan with 24 of them being third grade at Pine River.
Over the years, Mrs. Koprivica has accumulated many accomplishments. She is especially proud of the school business, Just Write, Ink., that she began with her class and some very dedicated parent volunteers. This stationary company grew to include all of the third grade classes, teachers, and parents at Pine River. Mrs. Koprivica was also featured as the Times Herald “Teacher of the Week” after being nominated by a parent. More recently, she is proud of how she overcame a fear of learning so many new things in order to learn to successfully and confidently teach her students virtually during this school year. Whenever a student returns to Pine River to visit or “friends” her on Facebook, Mrs. Koprivica takes joy in knowing that she was a special teacher in their educational journey.
Mrs. Koprivica is looking forward to traveling more with her husband and visiting their Godchildren. She will also have more time to work on her "Vedder Lady" YouTube videos!
Terri Williams ~ Second Grade Teacher
For 24 years, second grade students in Terri Williams class have experienced the joy of learning in a hands-on, nurturing environment. When peaking into Mrs. Williams’ classroom, you might see students reading in the dark with headband flashlights, curious scientists huddled around a hands-on investigation, and young mathematicians creating their own 3D models. Each year, Mrs. Williams decorates her classroom with a distinct theme that sets the tone for the year. Some of the themes have been construction workers, Americans, busy bees, and sunflowers.
Over the years, Mrs. Williams has been a leader in planning events at Pine River and she has served on the Pine River School Improvement Team, the Pine River Council, and the district elementary Social Studies committee. She is also the Pine River PTO teacher representative. Mrs. Williams is both a leader and cheerleader for students, staff, and parents and supports every activity during and after school through volunteering her time and creativity.
Mrs. Williams is looking forward to spending time with her family, especially her beautiful granddaughter, Emma who will turn two in July. She will miss her Pine River Family, but she is excited for her new adventures to begin.
MCHS Class of 2021 Pioneers
Virtual Field Trip to the Detroit Zoo with Our Virtual First Grade Teachers
Calm Classroom
The district received a grant through St. Clair County Community Mental Health to implement Calm Classroom in our school. Calm Classroom is a program that uses simple research-based mindfulness techniques to help students and staff develop self-awareness, mental focus, and inner calm. The program provides tools for effectively managing stress, regulating emotions, and being more productive. These tools include breathing, stretching, relaxation, and focusing techniques that last about three minutes at a time.
Mrs. Amy McNeill and Mrs. Beth Trudeau were formally trained in Calm Classroom, and they have been training our teachers to implement the techniques in our classrooms. The students are enjoying the scheduled times when teachers lead them in Calm Classroom practices to help them get into a mindset to be better learners.
Thank you to the St. Clair Rotary Club for purchasing dictionaries for all of our third graders!
Third Grade Learns About Life Cycles
2021-2022 PTO Executive Board
At our May PTO meeting, the PTO bylaws were revised to include additional members on the Executive Board. New members were voted into the positions, and now we have nine parents on the Board.
Our 2021-2022 PTO Executive Board
President - Lisa Franks
Vice-President - Caitlin Middel
Treasurer - Karen Oleaga
Secretary - Krystal Shaw
Fundraising Coordinator - Aaron Shaughnessy
Events Coordinators - Beth Taszreak & Jennifer Hollerbach
Members at Large - Emily Phelps & Melanie Oleaga
Teacher Reps - Tiffany Bean & Jessica Jones
This is an incredible team! We are excited for the ideas and events they will contribute to our school community next year!
May Golden Dustpan Award
Medication Pick-Up
Report Cards
Lunch Account Balances
Summer Bridge Backpacks for All Students!
Summer Sports and Activities
Second Annual Downtown Port Huron Boat the Blue Art Show and Contest
East China Virtual Academy
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!
May 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 5's and Kindergarten
Mrs. Guzowski's Class: Lucas Schumann and Quentin Lordy
Mrs. Malburg's Class: Joshua Schindler and Raylee Metdepenningen
Mrs. Schneider's Class: Josie Dennison and Riley Brozik
Mrs. Hagen's/Ms. Smith's Classes: Rose Flynn
First Grade
Mrs. Bean's Class: Roland Potthoff and Dax Patrick
Mrs. Jensen's Class: Cohen Joras and Belle Sayers
Ms. Brosky's Class: Kylie Norris and Hayden McIntyre-Keller
Mrs. Trudeau's Class: Maddisen dePaolis
Second Grade
Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Isabell Koehn and Reagan Hollerbach
Mrs. McNeill's Class: Drake Kimmen and Isabel Wisswell Stevens
Mrs. Williams' Class: Colin Eifert and Bailey Butler
Ms. Fox's Class: Jude Dombrowski
Third Grade
Mrs. Dodge's Class: Joey Robinson and Kenzie Nicolai
Mrs. Koprivica's Class: Nathan Baker and Brooklyn Kern
Mrs. Peterson's Class: Koda Oakley and Emma Bradshaw
Mrs. Davis's/Ms. Dewey's Classes: Luciana Meldrum
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Huston's Class: Rex Neiman and Isabella Parrotta
Mr. Scillian's Class: Madalynn Lockwood and Owen Ecker
Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Josie Komarowski and Evan Lumley
Mrs. Weber's Class: Maiya Land
C.I. Class
Mrs. Frost's Class: Finnigan Sultemeier
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.