The Pine Bough
Pine River School Newsletter, December 2022
Happy Holiday Memories
My hope is that the Christmas season is relaxing and joyful for all of our Pine River families! You and your children deserve special moments of time shared with one another. Rather than focusing on material gifts, here are some ideas for giving your children the gift of time:
- Give your children quality time devoted specifically to them. Children need and want your attention. Baking cookies, playing a board game, or watching a Christmas movie are ways to enjoy time together.
- Set realistic expectations for gifts. For some families, this means limiting the number of gifts. Help your children understand how much is “enough” when it comes to presents. A good guideline might be something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.
- Evenly pace your holiday season. Choose holiday events carefully as not to overwhelm children or add to Christmas stress. Focus on events in which children can savor the sights and sounds of the season, like attending a holiday concert or viewing Christmas lights. Arrange to spend time with loved ones during which your child can nurture relationships with family and friends.
- Continue old family traditions and start new ones. When your child looks back on memorable Christmases in the future, it will not be the gifts that will be remembered. Instead, your child will remember what you did as a family, such as cutting down the Christmas tree, attending Christmas Eve church services, reading a favorite holiday book, visiting relatives, or donating time to help a local cause.
Remember, the greatest gift parents can give their children is the feeling of love and security. Your love and attention teaches your child that s/he is important and unique, builds self-esteem, teaches your child positive social skills, and builds communication skills. Those are certainly gifts we all want for our children!
May you all have a happy holiday and the best upcoming year yet! I hope you continue to collect moments, not things, in 2023!
Wishing you the gifts of the season —Peace, Joy, and Hope!
Rachel Card, Principal
The Golden Dustpan Award
For the month of November Mrs. Bean's class earned this prestigious honor! Keep up the great work keeping your classrooms clean, Pioneers!
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 is a link to resources to help our families support The Positivity Project at home.
Skyward Family Access
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 Fives/Kindergarten
Mrs. Guzowski's Class: Elle Wojtowicz
Ms. Brosky's Class: Reese Galliker and Emerson Forro
Mrs. Malburg's Class: Carina Malburg and Dean Woodman
Mrs. Schneider's Class: Lucy Roberts and Olivia Shaughnessy
First Grade
Mrs. Bean's Class: Charles Smith and Sadie Tatman
Mrs. Jensen's Class: Matthew Culloty and Dahlia Schultz
Mrs. Trudeau's Class: Noah Kolis and Laudie Sultemeier
Second Grade
Mrs. Gorski's Class: Grace Stone and Hannah Ball
Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Levi Luca and Madison Mitchell
Mrs. McNeill's Class: Jack Roberts and Kora Robbins
Third Grade
Ms. Dewey's Class: Emma Baker and Aaron Abubakar
Mrs. Dodge's Class: Thomas Fountain and Avyrie Allen
Mrs. Wahl's Class: Skylar Coomer and Weston Fraley
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Huston's Class: Nathan Pokriefka and Aurora Dionne
Ms. Jakiel's Class: Emma Mitchell and Hugh Sultemeier
Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Michael Romeo and Avery Galliker
C.I. Class
Mrs. Kierszykowski's Class: Coltyn Stevens
Pioneers of the Month will be honored at our STARS assembly on Monday, December 5th, at 2:45 p.m. in the gym. Parents of those students being recognized are welcome to attend. Please check in at the office first.
Yard Sign Pickup
Good Behavior Tickets and Prizes
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.