The Delevan Digest
February 2024
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Delevan Families,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and ready for a fantastic February! As we navigate through the winter months, our school continues to buzz with excitement and learning. Read on to stay informed about upcoming events, important reminders, and highlights from the month of January.
Upcoming Dates:
- February 16th-23rd-No School, Mid-Winter Recess
- March 8th-Half Day, of school
Academic Updates:
On January 18th and 19th, all students completed their winter i-Ready diagnostic assessment. The diagnostic assessment allowed us to see growth from the fall assessment that was administered in September. I am happy to report that we saw a tremendous amount of growth from our students!
The week after the i-Ready assessments, all classroom teachers participated in data team meetings. At these meetings staff collaborate to identify students that are in need of intervention services or students no longer in need of intervention. A spring diagnostic assessment will be administered in May.
As we step into February, we are excited for the continued growth and success of our students. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or the main office.
This will be my last newsletter as the principal at Delevan Elementary School. The time I have spent working with your children has truly been a privilege. I appreciate your support for Delevan Elementary and the Pioneer School District. Thank you for your kindness, collaboration, and trust as the leader of Delevan Elementary.
Wishing you and your families continued success, happiness, and endless possibilities.
Mr. Langworthy
Welcome Mr. Jansma!
Mike Jansma begins as principal at Delevan Elementary this month.
"I have been in education for the last 13 years. I taught high school math for 9 years at Attica, I was an Assistant Principal at Pioneer High School for 3 years, and I was the Assistant Principal at the Middle School since September. While at Attica High School I coached Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Track as well as ran a variety of different clubs and organizations. Personally, my wife Rachel and I have three sons. Michael is in kindergarten, Thomas is in UPK, and Warren is 3. My hobbies include hunting, snowmobiling, being outdoors, reading, and spending time with my family. I look forward to getting to know everyone here at Delevan and am proud to be the new principal."
Meet Mr. Negus
Mr. Negus is coming from the Iroquois School District and joining us at Delevan Elementary as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher in Second Grade.
“I am so excited to be a part of Delevan Elementary and to create new relationships with the wonderful students and staff!”
Education and Experience: “I graduated Co-Valedictorian from Houghton University in the Spring of 2023 with a semester in London, UK, a major in Inclusive Childhood Education, and a concentration in Writing. During the Fall of 2023 I worked as a Long-Term Substitute Teacher in a 7th Grade Special Education Classroom in the Iroquois Central School District.
Hobbies and Activities: “I love all things musical and pertaining to the outdoors. I sing and play the drums. I also love hiking, backpacking, and canoeing in the Adirondack Mountains or up North in Canada. Very recently, I adopted a golden doodle puppy named Winnie.”
Fun Fact: “A fun fact about me is that I have an identical twin brother.”
Students of the Month
During the month of December we were very busy working on our school pledge: RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE & SAFE. These students were nominated by teachers and staff for going above and beyond our school pledge! Congratulations to our Students of the Month for December:
Kindergarten- Carson George and Declin Law
1st Grade- Tavius Reitz and Andrea Sebzda
2nd Grade- Ava Hoard and Callahan Holyoak
3rd Grade- Vincenzo Wiedemann and Easton Zielenieski
4th Grade- Maxon Credeur and Christian Sampson
Thank you to our families for coming to our breakfast to celebrate these students!
First Grade Hot Chocolate Writing Celebration
Winter Fun Day!
As a reward for positive behavior throughout the building, all students received a Winter Fun Day! After playing outside in the snow students were invited for some hot chocolate with their teachers and friends! We had SNOW MUCH FUN!
Cub House Presents: The Hall of Presidents
During a morning discussion with our Cub House kids, a discussion arose about the upcoming President's Day. We were surprised at how little they knew about our country's presidents so we were inspired to create a fun, educational, and visual project. The Cub House Hall of Presidents was created by our students coloring caricatures of each president. On each sheet are facts about each of our presidents, their first ladies and their life. We also added life size George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, along with a 7ft ruler that has each president's height, so students could see where they measure up against the US Presidents. We are following this up with an informative game of jeopardy.
-Mrs. Reisdorf and the Cub House Staff
💝 Fun Valentine's Day Crafts & Activities 💝
Free/Reduced Lunch
Pioneer Central School District is participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program this school year. CEP is a federal program that allows eligible schools to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. Every Pioneer student receives one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day. Nothing about the meals themselves has changed, and they all still meet the same nutritional standards they always have.
We will continue to collect the Education Benefits Form (formally meal application form) from families because this data is used to qualify the district for many forms of funding our schools. These funds help the district provide specialized services and school supplies directly to students that support ALL children in our schools. Forms can be filled out online at the link below or paper copy (available at the greeters desk). Information for families is included in the return to learn student folders.
Please contact Heidi Miles at hmiles@pioneerschools.org with any questions.