The Pine Bough
Pine River School Newsletter, May 2024
May 6th - 10th
A Tribute to Our Teachers
In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week, let's take a moment to reflect on the incredible work of our teachers at Pine River! In my opinion, our teachers are heroes who work silently, changing and impacting the lives of our students without any need for acknowledgment. They were never in this job for money or prestige. Their work as educators has always been about the students because the teaching profession is a calling, a purpose.
As the school year is winding down and students, families, and teachers are feeling a bit exhausted, let us take time to recognize the great work and sacrifices that our teachers have made throughout the year for our students. In addition to taking up the task of educating students, they often guide them through life's obstacles and play a part in the shaping of who they are and who they are yet to be. A teacher is more than an educator. A teacher can play many roles: a friend, an advocate, a counselor, a mentor. A teacher can be the guiding force in students’ lives even after they pass through the doors of Pine River and step into the world that lies ahead to be conquered.
I feel lucky to have the unique perspective in which I see on a daily basis these special small moments when teachers go out of their ways to impact individual students. In my role, I see our teachers working tirelessly to create and deliver interesting and high-quality lessons as well as providing essential social-emotional support so students are ready to learn. Our teachers spend long hours planning, preparing, communicating, and evaluating before and after school, at home, and on weekends. Our teachers know their students inside and out, almost as well as parents, providing strategies and instruction tailored to each child. They divide their time among dozens of students, pouring their hearts into developing each child to his or her greatest potential as a learner and a person. Our teachers care for and love our students.
Pine River families, I encourage you to take a moment to acknowledge the efforts of our teachers. Because we are all so busy, we often only reach out to teachers when there is a problem or concern. Let us take a moment in May to celebrate the work and dedication of our incredible teachers. Brighten a teacher’s day with one or more of these compliments:
- Thank you. It is simple, but meaningful. People in education do not hear this often enough.
- We appreciate you. Teachers do not just teach students. They prepare them for life. Saying you appreciate them reminds teachers that their impact goes beyond the classroom.
- You deserve a break. Remind our teachers to recharge their batteries and take care of themselves.
- Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed. Our teachers give up their personal and family time to attend meetings, prepare lessons, communicate with families, and grade student work. Tell them their extra work means a lot to you. That compliment will mean a lot to them.
From now until the end of the school year, let us support our teachers by working together and cheering them on. Their work is so important because it impacts our students and the future.
With gratitude,
Rachel Card, Principal
Celebrating Our Superb Support Staff
At Pine River, we support the whole village concept for educating our students and improving our school. All school employees work together to help students succeed. Our objective is to create a school culture that helps students reach their full potentials academically, socially, and emotionally. Standing shoulder to shoulder with our teachers in the work of educating and caring for our students are our secretaries, school social worker, teacher consultant, paraprofessionals, cooks, noon aides, and custodians. They are the essence of our school and an integral part of our staff.
With the increase of students with special academic and health needs over the years, our support staff has taken on roles that are akin to nurses and social workers in the ways they tend to the health and social-emotional needs of students. Those support staff members working directly with children in classrooms have specialized skills and knowledge to help them facilitate the best learning outcomes for children with a wide range of special needs. Our support staff also plays an important role in ensuring students are learning in a safe and supportive learning environment. They foster heartening, trusting relationships with students and improve our school climate by modeling positive behavior and sending encouraging messages to students.
As with teachers, I have the privilege and pleasure of watching our support staff connect with students as individuals. They celebrate successes, provide support and strategies for navigating through challenges, and go out of their ways to make students laugh and smile. It is especially heartwarming to watch a student's bad day flip to a positive one through the efforts of a member of our staff. Their work is challenging and often exhausting, but the joy derived from the growth and development of our students is the greatest reward for their work.
If your child is positively impacted by a member of our staff, I encourage you to let that person know that her/his efforts are not going unnoticed. Our support staff members are the unsung heroes at Pine River, and I am so proud that they are part of our team!
National School Nurse Day - May 6
May 6th has been designated National School Nurse Day. Pine River is thankful for school nurse, Karrie Mackie, who spends every Thursday morning checking in on students with health needs and being on call to treat occasional boo boos. We appreciate Karrie's care for our Pioneers!
National Provider Appreciation Day - May 10
May 10th is National Provider Appreciation Day. It is a special day to recognize child care providers, teachers, and other educators of children. We appreciate the work of all of our staff in caring for our Pioneers!
Speech-Language Pathologist Day - May 18
Our Speech-Language Pathologist, Claudia Packan, is an expert in communication who supports student in pronouncing words, using language, and getting their thoughts out. She makes sure that all of her students have a voice!
Ms. Cindy & Ms. Kim
School Lunch Hero Day - May 3
Thank you to our cooks, Cindy Macuga and Kim Ferguson as well as our lunch aides including Michelle Askew, Beth Taszreak, , Angie Rock, Jessica Galliker, Marilyn Spranger, and Jill Stockwell. They serve a nutritious lunch and help students refuel and recharge during the middle of the school day!
Our Amazing Lunch Aides
2024-2025 Classroom Placement Consideration Form
Soon, we will begin the process of assigning students to classrooms for the 2024-2025 school year. Parents who wish to provide insight about how best their child learns and to inform placement decisions may do so by submitting a Classroom Consideration Form, which is linked below. Placement input is reviewed as one aspect of the overall student placement process. All information must be specific, completed in full, and received no later than May 3, 2024. A request for a specific teacher or forms submitted after the due date will not be considered.
Golden Dustpan Award
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 April, Mrs. Ursitti's class earned this prestigious honor! Keep up the great work keeping your classrooms clean, Pioneers!
The Golden Dustpan is Sponsored by
C & K Heating and Cooling
Pine River PTO
PTO Information Hub
Skyward Family Access
Using Skyward to Access Your Student's Information
How to log into to Skyward Family Access:
- Go to the district home web page at www.ecsd.us.
- Click on the Parents link, then Family Access link.
- Enter your Login ID and Password on the Skyward Family Access login screen.
Positive Behavior Expectations
Pioneer Code of Conduct
Kind,
Courteous,
Respectful,
Responsible,
and always Safe!
Pioneer Pride Tickets & Prizes
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.
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: Bayleigh LeBeau and Leland Moran
Ms. Lobsinger's Class: Landrie Reed and Joseph McKim
Mrs. Malburg's Class: Hannah Lilly and Adeline Malone
Mrs. Schneider's Class: Benjamin Smith and James Senger
First Grade
Mrs. Bean's Class: Olivia Shaughnessy and Aylin Swedmark
Mrs. Jensen's Class: Kinsey Bosel and Camryn Lee
Mrs. Trudeau's Class: Jackson Quade and Levi Adams
Second Grade
Mrs. Gorski's Class: Barrett Deraedt and Mila Emerich
Mrs. Huston's Class: Markus Bailey and Gabrielle Robinson
Mrs. Kenyon's Class: Cole Abdilla and Korbin Eifert
Third Grade
Ms. Dewey's Class: Raelynn Lumley and Jackson Weeks
Mrs. Wahl's Class: Luke Marsh and Oakley Bogumil
Mrs. West's Class: Eliana Livingston and Rhett Langell
Fourth Grade
Mrs. Alley's Class: Leah Straub and Julia Jurkiewicz
Mrs. Pousha's Class: Levi Black and Isaiah Brown
Mrs. Ursitti's Class: Isabella LaPlante and Ronan Kozara
C.I. Class
Mrs. Kierszykowski's Class: Coltyn Stevens
Pioneers of the Month will be honored at our STARS assembly on Friday, April 26th 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
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. Near the end of the month, please return the sign so we can get it ready for a new honoree.
Pioneer of the Month is sponsored by
Pine River Mission & Vision
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.