Dear 4/5 parents,

I hope everyone had a restful holiday break! As much as I enjoyed the break, I am thrilled to be back in class. We have many fun and exciting things that will be happening this month that will keep these students busy, busy, busy!

In reading this month we are starting Esperanza Rising for a novel study. It is about a young girl who faces adversity when her living situation changes. During this novel study, we will get to learn more about the Great Depression, as well as engage in conversations about how we would handle the situations Esperanza is having to deal with. Throughout the novel, we will be exploring story elements such as characters, setting, theme, and more. We will also start up with spelling tests again starting next week. Please encourage your child to study their spelling lists at home.

In math, both 4th and 5th grade will be working on multi-digit multiplication using the standard algorithm and area model. We will also be starting our multiplication fact memorization unit, where the students will be working hard to earn an ice cream party! Each student will be quizzed on the “count by” order for each number, and in turn they will build their ice cream cone. Each ice cream scoop added to their cone represents something that they may use during the ice cream party (bowl, spoon, napkin, ice cream, toppings, etc.) The students are very excited to earn this party, but they have to be willing to put in the work first. Please help them study their multiplication facts at home so that they can be successful.

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

Happy New Year and welcome back!

I hope the break was enjoyable for all of you! As wonderful as it was to relax for a bit and enjoy the time with family and friends, I am very happy to be back in the classroom with your students! As we begin the year 2022, I hope it brings us many opportunities to learn, grow, and overcome the many challenges we have faced these past couple of years. I would invite you all to talk with your students about what they want to accomplish this year and set goals they can achieve with confidence.

We have a lot of great things going on in our classroom to start off this year. We finished reading The Giver before the break and we will now begin another classic novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. I am very much looking forward to what the students will have to say when we read this book and discuss it together.

I know it may be challenging to help the students get back on track after being out of school for a couple of weeks, but I will do everything I can to make sure they get the help and support they need and also make sure they do not fall behind. I have noticed that one of the best things about having a smaller class is that I can give them the individualized attention that they need so they can be successful.

There are also some things the students can do at home as well to stay on top of what they are learning. I would encourage the students to work on their Spanish at home if they are able to. They have all of the information needed to log in and work on their assignments at home. I would also encourage them to continue reading their AR books at home.

I look forward to working with this wonderful group of students as we begin 2022. I am here to help and support in any way that I can. If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you!

Mr. Williams

Welcome to the new year!

Over the next month Pioneer School will be conducting our winter assessments. All students K-8 will take the NWEA Winter Map Assessment. There are a few things students can start or continue to do to perform their best on these assessments. Attendance is important for students to be involved in daily information and review sessions. Also, eating right by getting a good breakfast, and a good night’s sleep will help students. It is also important to develop these habits and routines weeks leading up to the assessment. Here are some other tips to help them be successful.

Have a great January.

As our Montana weather becomes colder and potentially more severe, it’s important for parents and students to remember to dress warmly and think smartly, especially when it comes to waiting for a school transportation vehicle. Everyone should be prepared for potentially severe weather conditions. Here’s what you need to know….

* Parents/guardians always make the final decision as to whether or not it is safe to send their child to school. If parents decide to send their child to school when the weather is severe, the school will be open to receive them so long as we have not closed the school due to the severe weather.

* In the event that the school is closed, our Panther families will be notified via text message. In addition, a message will be sent out via the media and our school Facebook page.

* Parents and students should expect delays due to traffic and hazardous road conditions. This means a potentially long wait time for students at the bus stop. Students should be well prepared for extreme weather and have very clear instructions on what to do if the school vehicle does not arrive. Children should be escorted to their bus stop and parents should remain with them until the bus arrives. Parents should have backup arrangements in case of an emergency. That plan should be written down, communicated with children and the paper copy put into the student’s school bag.

There will be one seat open on the Board. This is a 3-year term

You may pick up a nomination petition in the school office after Thursday, December 9th, or contact Mrs. Michael and she can email the form to you.

To be eligible, you must reside and be registered to vote in the Pioneer School District.

Nomination Petitions must be turned in by Thursday, March 24th, 2021 by 5:00 pm.

The election will be held on May 3rd.

School Board meetings are held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 4:30 pm – the public is always welcome.

If you have any questions about the Pioneer School Board, please contact Mrs. Michael

Interested in making a difference? Pioneer Elementary is looking for substitute teachers and we'd love to add you to our list!

Pay: $100.00 a day

Apply by emailing: schnitzmeier@pioneerschool.us

Pioneer Elementary is searching for a substitute bus driver! Must have CDL with passenger endorsement. The position is an "on-call" position and pays $90.00 a day.

Contact Melissa Schnitzmeier or Marilyn Michael at (406)373-5357 for more information.

Dear Panther Families,

Happy New Year! As we venture forward into 2022, our young Panthers will be getting right back into the swing of learning. Our campus will be focusing on those important COVID protocols in addition to reviewing daily procedures and meeting expectations to ensure the optimal classroom environment for learning.

January is the time that we begin to see our students make giant leaps of progress in their learning. Students who have previously struggled are starting to take off; reading more fluently or adding and subtracting like pros. This progress is a true testament to the work being done both at home and school since the beginning of the school year.

In order to keep the positive growth going, it will take a coordinated effort between home and school. Remember, you can and should read with your child each night. Students need to read with you for 1) a fluent model of what reading sounds like, 2) seeing that you value the practice needed to grow as a reader, 3) continued practice of strategies and skills learned at school, and 4) quality time for you and your child/children.

Please don’t forget to stay connected and “Like” Pioneer Elementary on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pioneerelementarydistrict41/ and also visit our school webpage at http://pioneerschool.us/. We are looking forward to all that this new year has to offer!

Sincerely,

Melissa Schnitzmeier - Principal/Superintendent Pioneer Elementary