Panther PAWPrints Newsletter
April 2024
Campus News
Kindergarten/First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth/Fifth Grade
Sixth-Eighth Grade
Special Education/Library
Somehow it is April – March seemed to go by so fast I feel like I almost missed it!
I hope it will finally start to feel like spring on a regular basis here, hopefully, winter has decided to retire for the rest of the year – I’m ready to bask in the sunshine and finally enjoy some warmer temperatures!
April is National Poetry Month:
Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K–12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and, of course, poets, marking poetry's important place in our lives.
Here are a few things to try this month when reading fiction books to your children: Make reading aloud part of your routine. Read a book to your child each night at bedtime. Slow down to take time to process what is happening on each page. Discuss what happened and what you see in the pictures before you turn to the next page. Encourage predictions and accept all responses as possibilities. Say, “That’s an interesting idea.” or “I wonder if that is what the author is thinking, let’s keep reading and find out!”
I love every minute with each and every student!
Read, Learn, and Explore!
Wishing you a wonderful spring!
Respectfully,
Mrs. Burns
Outdoor Education
Upcoming
Superintendent's Message
Dear Panther Families,
April is here, but here in Montana it still looks like winter!
I would like to take a moment to give a special shout-out to our AMAZING Panther PTA! As usual, they have worked incredibly hard to give back to our campus community through teacher/classroom donations, field trips, and hot lunch/pizza days. Thank you, Trevor and Alyssa Krieger, and Alisa Rau for your continued commitment to our school community.
April is our state testing month. Pioneer School is piloting the new State testing platform, MAST. Rather than a full week of testing, students in grades 3-8 will take smaller assessments over the course of several dates in the month of April. Testing weeks include:
April 8th, 9th - 5th/8th MT Science Assessment
April 15th-18th - 3rd - 8th - MAST
April 22nd - 25th - 3rd - 8th - MAST
April 29th - May 2nd - 3rd - 8th - MAST
Please help ensure your child is well-rested and ready to participate each day! Full bellies make for ready minds. A hearty, healthy breakfast will ensure they are ready to tackle the day and do their best.
I hope that everyone has the very best April!
Sincerely,
Melissa Schnitzmeier, Principal/Superintendent
Pioneer Elementary