Pioneer Press

Pioneer Elementary Families,

Welcome to August! I hope you your family are having a wonderful summer, and enjoying the beautiful weather here in the Pacific Northwest.

This month's newsletter includes important back-to-school information. Please read through it carefully, and reach out to the office if you have questions. Our office opens on August 9 and hours of operation are 7:30-4:00.

This fall marks the start of my 7th year as principal at Pioneer, and I am grateful to serve and lead our wonderful school community. Pioneer's Mission Statement is "Together, we believe, achieve and succeed - all day, every day!" Our goal is to live out this mission statement each day, as we partner with you to ensure your student is thriving in school. I look forward to seeing you soon at our School Kick-off event and when school starts in early September.

Pioneer Together,

Paul McKenzie - "Mr. Mac"

Principal, Pioneer Elementary

In June, we announced that Mrs. Collins had become the new Assistant Principal at Lakeland Hills Elementary (Auburn School District). We appreciate all she has done over the past 6 years. Mrs. Collins expresses that Pioneer holds a very special place in her heart!

Also in June, we shared that Mrs. Tamikya Gore would be the new assistant principal at Pioneer starting in fall 2024. Previously she served as an administrator at the district and middle school levels in Auburn. However, Mrs. Gore has recently taken a new job in a neighboring district and resigned her position.

The assistant principal position at Pioneer Elementary has been posted on our district website and is open until filled.

Together, we believe, achieve and succeed - all day, every day!

(This is our new mission statement, and we are encouraging all students to memorize it!)

• Friday, August 9: Pioneer Office opens. The office will be open 7:30-4:00.
• Thursday, August 15: Annual Welcome Back to School Event for Auburn School District, location - Auburn Memorial Field, 801 4th Street NE, Auburn, WA (3:00-6:00pm)
• Thursday, August 29: School Kickoff Event at Pioneer Elementary, Gym & Playground 5:00-6:30pm)
• Monday, September 2: No School (Labor Day)
  
• Tuesday, September 3: No School, but Office is open
  
• Wednesday, September 4: First day of School for 1st-5th Grades; WA Kids Conferences for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten
• Thursday, September 5: WA Kids Conferences for TK and Kindergarten; 1st Day of ECEAP Preschool, Slow Start Orientation for ECE
• Friday, September 6: WA Kids Conferences for TK and Kindergarten; Slow Start Orientation for ECE
• Monday, September 9: 1-hour Late Start (School starts at 9:45am for TK-5th Grade); First Day of School for TK and Kindergarten
• Tuesday, September 10: First Day of School for ECE
  
• Monday, September 16: 1-hour Late Start (School starts at 9:45am for TK-5th Grade)
• Thursday, September 19: Open House for TK-5th Grade (5:00-6:30pm * see below for details)
• Monday, September 23: 1-hour Late Start (School starts at 9:45am for TK-5th Grade)
• Monday, September 30: 1-hour Late Start (School starts at 9:45am for TK-5th Grade)
• * every Monday in the school year is a 1-hour late start
• Thursday, October 10: Individual Picture Day (more details to come)
• Friday, October 25: Trunk or Treat (more details to come)

Do you have a child who will turn 5 years old by August 31, 2024?

Do you know a neighbor, family member or friend who lives in the Pioneer boundary area AND has a child meeting this age requirement?

If you answered YES... Now is the time to stop by the Pioneer Elementary office or call us at 253-931-4986. We encourage the Pioneer community to register children for Kindergarten and we are here to help with this process!

What should you do to prepare your child for kindergarten??? Click the link below:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DSdmvjpBPf1JXTOdTV2gQNgldYf7or8-_VVcxm2Bqqk/edit#slide=id.gf319825cab_0_58

We encourage you to attend the annual Auburn School District Welcome Back to School event on August 15. There will be food to enjoy, district staff to answer questions, and resources you can receive.

PUT THIS DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR!

This is a fun event where students and families get to meet their teacher before the first day of school.

• Date: Thursday, August 29
• Time: 5:00-6:30pm
• Location: Pioneer Elementary Gym and Playground (enter through the north / parent parking lot, walk through the gym then to the playground)
• Who will be my child’s teacher? Staff members will be here to help you (in the gym) by sharing the name of your child’s teacher. After receiving this information, you will walk out to the playground with your child to meet the teacher.

(Please know this event is a meet and greet, not an Open House. Open House will take place on September 19.)

There are still many students enrolling for school, and class lists will not be available until August 29 at 5:00pm. If you cannot attend the event, you will be able to see the name of your child's teacher by logging into your Skyward Family Access account.

Beginning in August, the Auburn School District will be using a new communication platform called ParentSquare so we can better communicate with families.

ParentSquare lets families choose how they want to receive messages and designate their preferred language. Last spring the district tested the new system at multiple schools and the results were great!

https://player.vimeo.com/video/678443118?h=eef27f8b26

- Video in English

https://player.vimeo.com/video/806510300?h=cd841a94ac

- Vídeo en español

For more information on how to download the ParentSquare app and use this resource, click the link below:

https://www.auburn.wednet.edu/Domain/6153

Key #1

Read for 20-30 minutes each day!

• Books, magazines, online reading websites, go to the library - it all supports continued reading growth!

Key #2

• Finger Stretching & Blending (throughout the day)

Key #3

Ask your child questions about what they are reading! Foster their interest in reading.

SUMMER NOTES FROM THE HEALTH ROOM:

YAY, it’s summer time! Summer can be filled with fun and exciting activities for students and their families. But summer can also be a time for potential dangers when exploring the outdoors or when playing around water. For tips on how to enjoy your summer safely, please review this article on how to keep outdoor fun safe.

https://publichealthinsider.com/2023/06/27/summer-vacation-is-here-at-last-how-to-keep-outdoor-fun-safe/

Summer is also the time to make sure your students are ready to attend school in the fall. Do they need a vision check up, a well child appointment, a dental cleaning, or catch up on immunizations? State law requires that all students be fully immunized prior to starting school. If your student needs health or dental check ups or immunizations, please be sure to make those appointments now and have them seen by their provider during summer break. If you are uncertain if your student is missing immunizations, please reach out the school health room for assistance.

If your student has a health condition that requires them to have access to medications during the school year, summer is also a great time to get those medication orders completed. If your student has a life-threatening health condition requiring emergency medications such as an EpiPen or an Asthma Inhaler, your student will not be allowed to start school until they have medication orders, medications, and a care plan at school prior to the first day of school. So make those appointments now. Links to the required documents are provided below. Reach out to your school nurse if you have questions or concerns.

https://www.auburn.wednet.edu/Page/22264

SAVE THE DATE!

Consider attending the Auburn School District Back to School event on August 15 (see above for info). There will be free food, community resources, immunizations, school district programs and so much more!

Kelly Benshoof, MSN, RN

School Nurse

The national mental health crisis has hit hard at home here in Auburn with one of the highest

percentages of people with mental health issues in Washington State. Your help is needed.

Auburn’s Blue Ribbon Committee “Healthy Auburn for Life” has developed three mental health videos. To watch the videos, click the link below.

https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/mayor/healthy_auburn_for_life

The Auburn City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting mental wellness. This resolution challenges Auburn residents to fight this mental health crisis by watching at least one of their mental health videos and encouraging your friends and neighbors to watch too!

School rules for the playground still apply when school is not in session. Please help us by following these playground expectations, and reviewing these expectations with your child.

#1 - Remember that fireworks are prohibited on school property. Aside from being dangerous to use, fireworks can cause significant damage to school property and buildings.

#2 - The playground is open 8:00am - dusk. (Dusk is after sunset, when it is dark out.) The playground will be closed during hours of operation for summer school or district related activities.

#3 - Other playground expectations:

• Playground equipment is used properly

• Help us by leaving the playground in the best condition possible. Make sure garbage is thrown away.

• Pets and other animals are not allowed on the playground or turf field at any time.

• No bikes, scooters or wheeled vehicles or toys of any kind are allowed on the turf field.

• Use of alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine delivery devices, marijuana or drugs is strictly prohibited.

We have put together a SUMMER SAFETY TIPS resource for you.

Please review these slides so you and your family can enjoy summer fun while staying safe!

Visit us at https://www.facebook.com/asdpioneer to follow our school on Facebook! Each week we post our Monday announcements, and also post other important school and district news.

Website: www.auburn.wednet.edu/pioneer
Location: 2301 M St SE, Auburn, WA 98002, USA
Hours: 7:30am-4:00pm, Monday-Friday

Phone: 253-931-4986
Facebook: facebook.com/asdpioneer

• Principal: Paul McKenzie - “Mr. Mac” pmckenzie@auburn.wednet.edu
• Assistant Principal: To Be Hired
• Office Manager: Karin Ode kode@auburn.wednet.edu
• Office Assistant: DesMarie Wilson dwilson@auburn.wednet.edu
• Office Assistant: Kimberly Tenorio ktenorio@auburn.wednet.edu

• Family Engagement Liaison: Nolan Moyer nmoyer@auburn.wednet.edu