The Pine Bough

Dear Pine River Families,

This exciting year has passed by quickly! It was amazing to watch our students grow from a group of curious and magical children to the confident and challenge-seeking learners that they are now. Each child has matured, refined skills, and developed new ideas and insights. Our Pioneers are intelligent, enthusiastic, caring, creative, hard-working, and full of spirit. I am so proud of all of them!

As we reflect back on the 2023-2024 school year, please join myself and the Pine River staff in acknowledging and celebrating the rich learning opportunities that our students have experienced. Together, we have implemented a rich curriculum and facilitated lessons and activities founded in best practices, creativity, and innovation. In addition to supporting students toward meeting high academic expectations, we developed each student’s character and social skills. Pine River is truly committed and dedicated to maintaining a learning environment that supports thinking, understanding, and confidence in our students.

All of our students have made outstanding progress this year! As we break for the summer, please continue to help keep your child’s skills sharp by encouraging and supporting daily reading and math practice. Many teachers have sent, or will be sending home, materials for summer practice, and the local library offers a treasure trove of resources to support summer reading and learning. Of course, I hope all of our Pioneers participate in my summer reading challenge as well!

Summer is also a special time for making memories with your child. Take time to talk, listen, wonder, appreciate, and get to know her/him more. This is a wonderful time to revel in simple, quiet moments when your child's world is less scheduled. You will notice how much your student has matured. My hope is that you also take advantage of opportunities at home and away to have fun as a family during the weeks ahead. Those experiences help develop your child’s healthy development, which prepares her/him for success when we return to school in September.

Thank you for your support during this past school year. Together, we made sure that our students had the academic and emotional support to work toward their greatest potentials!

Have a safe, relaxing, and fun summer!

Sincerely,

Rachel Card

Principal

Congratulations to the follow students! Their artwork was selected for the St. Clair Art Association's Elementary Art Exhibit, which will run from May 25-June 4. You can view the exhibit at the Alice W. Moore Center for the Arts in the Riverview Plaza.

Ms. Struyk's Art Class

Jett Treat, Y5, Shark

Emerson Lancaster, K, Hermit Crab

Logan McCabe, K, Small Turtle

Eden Helmbrecht, 1st, Sunflower

Emma Muldermans, 1st, Sea turtle

Carina Malburg, 1st, Diver

Laudie Sultemeier, 2nd. Bridge

Arya Lancaster, 2nd, Shark

Greta Franks, 2nd, Cherry Blossoms

Thomas Shubnell, 3rd, Rabbit & Spring Flowers

Kate Galliker, 3rd, Tulips

Riley Brozik, 3rd, Shaking Dog

Nolan Stockwell, 4th, Koi fish

Madison Molesworth, 3rd, Dandelions

Ellie Daggett, 4th, Daffodils

Mrs. Wayt's Art Class

Avery Calnan, 3rd, Hot Chocolate

Hailey Van Sprange, 3rd, Cake

Kai Bjornson, 3rd, Hot Beverage

James Leslie, 4th, Apples

Brynn Schweihofer, 4th, Bubbly Drinks

Alexis Price, 4th, Donuts

Lena Volz, 4th, Agamograph

The Golden Dustpan Award was created to recognize the class that works the hardest over the course of a month to keep their classroom neat and clean. Each month, Mrs. Carol and Ms. CeCe, our custodians, will choose a class and present the award. Students in the class will receive a class certificate, a class pizza party, and the honor of displaying the golden dustpan on their hallway cubbie. The Golden Dustpan Award is sponsored by C & K Heating and Cooling.

For the month of May, Ms. Lobsinger's class earned this prestigious honor! Keep up the great work keeping your classrooms clean, Pioneers!

President: Alysha McCabe

Vice President: Chelsea Lessick

Treasurer: Caitlin Middel

Secretary: Sheri Mitchell

Communications Coordinator: Cherie Ridenour

Fundraising Coordinator: Stephanie Lee

Using a secure Login ID and password, you can log into Skyward Family Access and view your students’ data, such as progress reports, attendance records, report cards, transcripts, lunch information and more. Your one login to Family Access allows you to view data on all your enrolled students in the district, even if there are multiple school sites.

How to log into to Skyward Family Access:

1. Go to the district home web page at www.ecsd.us.
2. Click on the Parents link, then Family Access link.
3. Enter your Login ID and Password on the Skyward Family Access login screen.

Pine River Pioneers are...

Kind,

Courteous,

Respectful,

Responsible,

and always Safe!

Students earn "good behavior tickets" when they demonstrate examples of positive behavior. Pioneers whose names are drawn on Friday morning are called to the office to choose prizes.

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: Kyden Jenerou-Ward and Beckett Molesworth

Ms. Lobsinger's Class: Wyatt Ridenour and Ashton Everitt

Mrs. Malburg's Class: Savyn Chouinard and Emerson Lancaster

Mrs. Schneider's Class: Zayne Roberts and Brycen Allen

First Grade

Mrs. Bean's Class: Robert Pelka and Averie Nicolai

Mrs. Jensen's Class: Lucy Roberts and Michael (Finn) Gibson

Mrs. Trudeau's Class: June Shaddox and Finn Brennan

Second Grade

Mrs. Gorski's Class: James Aragona and Dugan Jablonski

Mrs. Huston's Class: Isaac Spanski and Arya Lancaster

Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Bryson Fountain and Rayne Salisbury

Third Grade

Ms. Dewey's Class: Isaac Todaro and Carter DeRue

Mrs. Wahl's Class: Kora Robbins and Hailey Vansprange

Mrs. West's Class: Ainsley Shaddox and Sophia Groce

Fourth Grade

Mrs. Alley's Class: Ronan Bardecki and Kaliana Williams

Mrs. Pousha's Class: Thatcher Aragona and Raeann Thoel

Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Hailie Vickers and Chase Martin

C.I. Class

Mrs. Kierszykowski's Class: Oliver McDonald

Pioneers of the Month will be honored at our STARS assembly on Friday, May 31st, at 9:15 a.m. in the gym. Parents of those students being recognized are welcome to attend. Please check in at the office first.

Parents of our Pioneers of the Month may stop in and pick up a yard sign to display at home during the next month. Just buzz the office at the front doors when you arrive, and we will provide you with a sign. Please return the signs before the last day of school so we can prepare for next year.

Emotions on the last day of school range from euphoria to sadness, with most students and parents being excited about the freedom that summer offers. Before your child exchanges a backpack for a beach bag, take some time to reflect on the past year. Although there was a lot of academic learning, there were also more subtle skills and accomplishments that will have great significance in the years to come.

Here are some questions to guide a reflective conversation with your student:

1. What is something you did well this year? What are you most proud of yourself for?
2. What brought you joy?
3. What was your biggest struggle?
4. Do you think there are things you could do next year to make next better?
5. What have you learned about yourself this school year?
6. If your classmates were honest, would they describe you as a person who is nice to everyone?
7. What is your best quality as a friend?
8. How could you improve the way you interact with others?
9. Do you think you were respectful to your teachers?
10. Do you think your teachers thought you were respectful?
11. How can you improve the way you interact with your teachers?
12. When you think about the things you want to do and become, did your choices this year help you get closer to those goals?
13. What could you do next year to make more progress toward these goals?
14. How would you describe your attitude this year?

Now, it is time for you to reflect as a parent.

1. What did I do for my child this year that s/he could do for herself/himself?
2. Are there ways I can help my child learn to solve her/his own problems? Was there a time I intervened when I could have coached instead?
3. Were there times I didn’t intervene but should have?
4. Several years from now, my child will be leaving home. Am I using these years to help build resilience, confidence, and autonomy? What can I do to make this more a part of my parenting?
5. Did I encourage my child to enjoy an activity without putting the emphasis on winning, getting a leading role, or earning a trophy?
6. Did I try to make my child's teacher an ally?
7. Did I find ways to praise my child’s efforts in something, or did I focus mostly on results?
8. Have I helped my child set limits on technology, gaming, etc.? Have I done this for the summer?
9. Have I given my child some reading goals this summer?
10. What are five things I did well this year? Times I tried, even if it didn’t work out quite the way I envisioned. Give yourself credit for that!

Extra Credit: Have your child write a note to her/his teacher, and send an email or note yourself. Teachers teach because they want to make a difference, and realizing that they are positively impacting lives is the best year-end gift they could receive!

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.

Vision: Pine River Elementary is dedicated to the belief that all students can learn and achieve through the combined efforts of the staff, parents, students, and community.