June/July Newsletter
Dream it, Believe it, Achieve it
Bears Den
Dear Pioneer Families,
We made it to the final month of the school year. We are getting ready to say goodbye to our 8th graders and have several fun activities planned to celebrate all of their accomplishments in middle school. Congratulations to the class of 2027!
Our last day of school for our current 6th and 7th graders is Thursday, June 15. We will have our typical start time at 8:50 AM and end time at 3:35 PM . This will be a field day for all grade levels with lunch served for everyone outside and 2 hours of pool time for each grade level. Please be on the lookout for permission slips for your student to go to the swimming pool.
The last day for 8th graders is Friday, June 16. We will have our graduation assembly starting at 9:30 AM and finishing around 11:30 AM. Students may be checked out after the assembly or stay at school until our early release time at 12:35 PM. As a reminder, we do not allow students to receive deliveries at school (food, flowers, balloons, etc.) Thank you for adhering to this policy.
Our office will be open until Wednesday, June 21. If you find a lost library book, instrument, iPad, charging brick/cable or anything else that belongs to the school, please drop it off during the hours of 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. If not returned, your students will incur a fee in InTouch. You can pay fines and/or fees online or come to the office to pay them.
We are planning to have our August Open House (for all grade levels) on Thursday, August 25 from 7:00-8:00 PM. Incoming 6th grade students are invited to come an hour earlier to an orientation, called BEAR Day from 6:00 - 7:00 PM. We will share more details as this date approaches.
The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Tuesday, August 29. The office will be open two weeks before that day to take payments for sports, binder supplies, planners and PE uniforms. The hours we are open are from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. The school day for next year will be the same as this year. Monday start time is 10:20 AM and Tuesday- Friday school begins at 8:50 AM.
Pioneer will have a new Assistant Principal next year. Mrs. Shelly Jelsing accepted the Director position at Valley Academy of Learning. We are excited to have Julie Sand replacing Mrs. Jelsing. Ms. Sand has been working in Wenatchee School District since 2012, most recently as a 6th grade Core teacher at Pioneer. Best wishes to Mrs. Jelsing in her new position.
One goal we have for next year is to improve Pioneer students’ attendance rates. We hope that students, with the support of their families, will strive to be at school every day. In order to plan ahead for appointments, trips, etc., Please reference the full 2023-3024 Student Calendar.
Have a wonderful summer. I’m looking forward to my second year as Pioneer’s Principal.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Estephan
Principal
Counselor's Column
Welcome to our future Pioneer Bears. We look forward to working with you this next school year. Parents of incoming students, please feel free to email or give us a phone call if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you next school year.
Current 8th grade students, we will miss you and have enjoyed working with you these last three years at Pioneer. We look forward to hearing about all your accomplishments in high school and we look forward to what your future holds. Please know we enjoy hearing from you so please keep in touch. We will miss you!
Have a wonderful summer and we will see you next school year!
Kelli Ottley - 6th and 7th Grade Counselor - ottley.k@wenatcheeschools.org
Tim Trainor - 7th & 8th Grade Counselor - trainor.t@wenatcheeschools.org
Don't Forget to turn in...
Withdrawing Notification
Office Hours
8th Grade End of The Year Activities
8th Grade End of The Year Activities
As we inch towards the end of the school year, we want to share with you the many activities that are planned for 8th graders this Spring. Because these activities are less structured, students must earn their eligibility for each event by showing responsible behavior. All students will start the quarter eligible for all events. However, office referrals, attendance and not turning in work could affect their ability to participate.
If a student has any of the following offenses, they will not be allowed to attend one or more of the events listed below. The loss of events will be cumulative based on the number of offenses a student may have. For example, the first major offense will result in the loss of the first activity listed; each additional major offense will result in the loss of the next activity.
Major Offenses Shall Include:
- Major Office Referral
- Three (3) or more push-ins during 4th quarter
- Five (5) or more absences during the 4th quarter
- Being tardy to any class three (3) or more times during the 4th quarter
- Having three (3) or more missing assignments in three or more classes
- A grade of zero (0) in any class at the time of the scheduled activity
- All fines and fees need to be cleared (books, sports uniforms, etc.)
The activities planned for the 4th quarter this year are:
- Thursday, June 8 - Tye Dye Shirt Activity
- Wednesday, June 14 - Field Day/Pool 2 Park (PM)
- Wednesday, June 14 - 8th Grade Dance 6-8 PM
- Thursday, June 15 - Bear ACE Activity
- Friday, June 16 - 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony 9:30 AM - Pioneer Gym (Only 8th graders attend school this day.)
All of these activities are designed to be fun for the students. We expect students to be able to self-manage themselves at times, so we need to make sure that we have responsible students at the activities. Those who disrupt the daily learning of themselves or others with inappropriate behavior will not be eligible to attend.
If you have any questions about the activities or guidelines for behavior to be eligible to attend the activities, please give us a call at (509) 663-7171.
Thanks for your support.
Jacqueline Estephan - Principal
Shelly Jelsing - Assistant Principal
Nurse News
Please do not send your child to school if they are sick.
Your child needs to stay home when they have any of the following:
Fever of 100.0°F or higher. Your child must be fever free for 24 hours, without the use of medication, before returning to school.
Sore throat with fever, swollen glands, stomach ache or rash, especially if exposed to someone with strep throat. If your child has been diagnosed with a strep infection, please ask your health care provider when they can return to school.
Vomiting or diarrhea: may not return to school until a full 24 hours free of vomiting and/or diarrhea.
Persistent abdominal pain lasting more than 2 hours.
If your child has a moist, productive cough, chest congestion, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
A skin rash of undetermined cause.
Red, crusty or draining eyes.
If your child has live lice present on the scalp or in hair.
They may return to school when they are:
Fever free for 24 hours without the use of any fever reducing medicine, such as Tylenol or Motrin.
Free of vomiting for 24 hours without the use of medication.
Free of diarrhea for 24 hours without the use of medication.
Free of rash, or a release from a doctor that rash is not contagious.
Release from doctor, not contagious.
Free of earache.
PARENTS:
⇨Your school nurse wants to remind parents that the Washington State Department of Health
REQUIRES one additional vaccination prior to 7th grade admission.
1. Tdap: ALL students age 11 or older entering 7th grade must show proof of a Tdap vaccine, which protects against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (whooping cough). If you are unable to show proof of this vaccine your child will not be able to attend the first day of school.
NOTE: Tdap is recommended at 11 years of age.
2. HPV and meningococcal vaccines are also recommended at that time, though are not required for school admission.
Breanna Gustafson
School Nurse
The Power of Reading
As summer approaches, parents are presented with a golden opportunity to instill a love for reading in their children. Engaging in summer reading not only helps bridge the educational gap but also unlocks a world of imagination and intellectual growth. Let's explore why summer reading is essential and discover some strategies to make it a memorable experience for your child.
Preventing the "Summer Slide"
Studies have shown that children who don't read over the summer can experience a significant learning loss, commonly known as the "summer slide." By encouraging your child to read during the summer months, you can prevent this slide and ensure they maintain their reading skills, vocabulary, and comprehension abilities. Summer reading provides a valuable opportunity to bridge the gap between academic years, enabling your child to start the new school year with confidence.
Imagination Unleashed
Summer reading fuels the imagination and transports children to magical worlds and faraway places. Through books, children encounter new characters, embark on thrilling adventures, and explore diverse cultures and perspectives. This imaginative escape not only fosters creativity but also enhances empathy and understanding. By providing a variety of books that cater to your child's interests, you open up a gateway to new horizons and ignite a lifelong passion for reading.
Family Bonding and Lifelong Memories
Engaging in summer reading as a family creates lasting memories and strengthens the parent-child bond. Set aside dedicated reading time and make it a shared experience by reading aloud, discussing storylines, or even organizing a mini book club. Encourage your child to share their favorite parts of the book or ask open-ended questions to spark meaningful conversations. Such interactions foster a love for reading and reinforce the notion that reading is enjoyable, not just an academic obligation.
Summer reading is an invaluable investment in your child's education and personal development. By preventing the summer slide, stimulating imagination, and nurturing family bonds, you set the stage for a lifelong love affair with books. So, this summer, let's embark on exciting literary adventures and create cherished memories together!
Please take time to go to the public library where there are not only books for checkout, but many free subscriptions. You can even pick up free passes to Ohme Gardens and other experiences.
Mrs. Lancaster
Librarian
MIGRANT/BILINGUAL PROGRAM SUPPORT
Hello, and welcome to all the incoming sixth graders! To all parents whose students are being served by the Migrant or Bilingual program, we will be contacting you about parent meetings throughout the upcoming school year. PAC is the Parent Advisory Committee that members or officials are voted on by the community. These parents come from different schools in the district and help the district make decisions regarding our Migrant/Bilingual education. It is important that you plan to attend these events, because your student will benefit from the training that you will receive. Parents will be better informed about what we are doing in school and where to go for services in our community.
There is a radio program presented by the Wenatchee School District on 103.3 FM called Cafecito Educativo that also announces community and district events. It airs every Mon-Wed at 7:00 AM. We will also send flyers and call your home with meeting reminders. If at any time you have a concern or need for your student or family, please do not hesitate to contact me, Lina Maldonado, at 663-7171, ext. 20405.
Mrs. Maldonado
Family Advocate
New Community Youth Crisis Resource
Catholic Charities serving Central Washington will begin operating a Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention program on June 1st, serving Chelan & Douglas Counties, providing free, rapid response to any youth experiencing a mental health crisis at any time of the day or week.
The Catholic Charities' Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention team has added staffing that have clinical training to work with youth and their families in crisis and commit to respond to crisis calls within one hour. They do not involve law enforcement unless absolutely necessary and can provide ongoing aftercare support and follow-up connections to community resources for up to 8 weeks after the crisis event. To request help in a crisis, call 509-662-7105.
Athletic Registrations
Athletic registration opens the first week in August for all 2023-24 sports. Please register your student(s) at this link: https://www.familyid.com/organizations/pioneer-middle-school
Please sign your student up for all sports she/he will be anticipating to participate in for the upcoming school year.
To be cleared to participate, the student will need the following by the first day of practice:
- Online Family ID Registration Filled Out Completely
- ASB Fee Paid
- Current Physical Examination Form on File in the Main Office (physicals are good for two years)
NOTE: If you have already created an account for your student you can just login and update your information for the 2023-24 school year.
See you in the fall! Go Bears!
Music Media
Music students for band and orchestra can find a list of required books and supplies on Ms. Luebber's website.
https://sites.google.com/wenatcheeschools.org/pioneermusicluebber/home
Sixth grade students have the choice of band, orchestra or choir. The local music stores are in contact with Ms. Luebber and can answer any questions you may have!
Summer Camp
Student of The Month - April
Rigoberto Camarena Ceja, Madison De La Cruz Sanchez, Briyid Onofre Sandoval, Jose Ramirez Farias, Spencer Riley, Leilani Ruiz, Chloe Schonning, Esme Segers, Yeshua Silva Mota, Dania Valencia Manriques, Marisela Vargas
7th Grade:
Ja Veon Diaz, Johanna Diaz, Savino Diaz De La Cruz, Armando Delgado Rojas, Alexander Garibay Hurtado, Jesse Ham, Mia Hernandez, Lucas Lester, Britany Maldonado Peña, Max Marchant, Alora Martinez, Cruz Mota Flores, Katherine Negrete Hernandez, Cesar Ochoa Ayala, Dayva Offill, Ximena Orozco Magdaleno, Jennifer Piza Mendoza, Kiralyn Quilter, Alexa Rivera Ponce, Aleyda Rivera Villarreal, Damian Rodriguez, Sarka Rossi, Jonas Rowland, Angelita Santos, Lauren Vega Sanchez, Abraham Villegas Ryes, Judah Weller, Ariana Willsey
6th Grade:
Anthony Avalos Brooke, Meelah Austin, Sergio Esquivel Blanco, Mya Goodman, Atzin Guillen Garibay, Carlos Medina De Jesus, Lluvia Olayo Cuenca, Xavier Perez, Jacksn Pocan, Adan Saucedo Mendoza, Kailee Ann Schmitz, Hayden, Smith, Maximus Snell, Jazmine Torres, Scarlett Ward, Elijah Weller
Important Dates: June
June 6: Pioneer Spring Concert (Band, Orchestra, Choir & Mariachi) Pioneer Gym 7PM
June 8: iPad Turn-in/Instrument check-in for 7th grade
June 9: iPad Turn-in/Instrument check-in for 8th grade
June 12: iPad Turn-in/Instrument check-in for 6th grade
June 14: Pool 2 Park - 8th Grade 9-11 AM
June 14: 8th Grade Dance 6-8 PM
June 15: Last Day for 6th & 7th Grade (Dismissed at 3:35)
June 16: 8th Grade Ceremony 9:30 AM - Pioneer Gym
June 16: Last Day for 8th Grade (Dismissed at 12:35)
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT FOR SCHOOL PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
WENATCHEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
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:
Civil Rights Coordinator, Kelly Lopez, 509-663-8161, lopez.k@wenatcheeschools.org; and
Title IX and Section 504 Coordinator, Kory Kalahar, 509-663-8161, kalahar.k@wenatcheeschools.org.
235 Sunset Ave, Wenatchee WA, 98801.