Constantine's Corner

Hello Pine Island Public Schools Families,

After decades of being in education, one would think I'm used to how quickly a school year flies by, but I'm still surprised when May arrives!

This has been an incredible year of "firsts" for me as the new superintendent of Pine Island Public Schools. It seems as if I just arrived and wondered about the little things like where to park, which key worked in what door and what restaurant is now residing in the "old A & W". More than once, I became lost while driving from the 5-12 building to the elementary school (take the third exit at the big farm with all the cows) and I learned it was OK to drive down the wet, grassy hill to get a better view of the football field on a rainy night. I now know a lot about gravel, gopher claws, and why the "road to nowhere" is barricaded. But more than anything, I have learned what enormous pride our staff and families have in Pine Island and our schools, and I couldn't be more thrilled to be invited to continue in this role as Superintendent. What a true privilege to be serving this incredible district!

Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you for your smiles, your greetings, and for granting us the enormous opportunity to care for your children. Thank you for your continued partnership and involvement in our Pine Island school community. We appreciate you.

We look forward to a productive and memorable conclusion to the 2023-24 school year, and I wish each of you an enjoyable summer.

And most importantly, Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there.

❤️

Tonya Constantine

Superintendent

We have so many people to be thankful for! We recently celebrated our School Nurses (thank you, Kim Pokrandt and Krista Despins!) our Principals, Teachers, Childcare Teachers, and Administrative Assistants (thank you, Sarah, Lynnette, Rachel, Heather, Kerry, and Jen!). Since coming here, I have realized how incredible our PTO is, as well. We are so thankful.

We are so gifted by the incredibly talented and caring teachers here at Pine Island Schools. My favorite thing to do is to get into the classrooms to observe the high levels of student engagement and learning that's happening at all levels in our district. Today, and every day, we are thankful for our dedicated teachers. Below: A few pics from the past week.

What an exciting time for our seniors!

At Pine Island, we take great pride in our exceptional teachers, who are dedicated to their ongoing growth and professional development. In collaboration with Winona University Associate Professor Dr. Bryan Matera, our Pine Island administrators and I have assembled a team of teachers from various subjects and grade levels to guide this work. Together, we're developing district priorities for teaching and learning and will guide this process throughout the school year. Stay tuned for updates on the exciting learning initiatives taking place with our teachers!

Front Row: Morgan Haag, Tammy Betterman, Principal Katie Schafer, Community Education Director Kelly Barker, Kelly Neu, Superintendent Tonya Constantine

Middle Row: Kelly Matera, Jenniffer Munguia Hernandez, ReAnn Peterson, Laura Lee, Rebecca Holtegaard

Back Row: Peter Johnson, Kelly Schliesman, Katrina Kenworthy, Andrew Boman, Jordan Aug, Jessie Bester, Scott Morgan, & Dr. Bryan Matera

Missing: Josh Pederson, Alan Dewey, Principal Josh Westphal, Principal Mitch Schiltz

At the district level, we are already preparing for the 2024-25 school year, with one of our priorities being the management of our student enrollment. You may have heard that we capped our childcare numbers at the Early Learning Center and have closed enrollment for non-residents for childcare ONLY. This was not a decision we took lightly. After careful consideration and recognizing the challenges with spacing due to our district's enrollment, we found it necessary to take this step. We acknowledge the shortage of daycare options for all families, and we empathize with those affected. However, please know that this decision does not reflect a lack of commitment to our community. We remain steadfast in our dedication to the families and staff members of Pine Island Public Schools who are currently enrolled in our district. Their well-being and educational experience continue to be our top priority.

May 12: MOTHER'S DAY 🌺

May 13: School Board Meeting

May 22: Last Day for SENIORS

May 24: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL for K-11

May 24: Graduation! Class of 2024 Commencement Parade and Ceremony

2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR (We start AFTER Labor Day!)

September 2: LABOR DAY, NO SCHOOL

September 3: First Day of School, Grades 7-12

September 6: First Day of School, Grades K-6

September 9: First Day of Preschool

I have a graduating senior, too! My son, Jesse, will be attending UW-Stout in the fall. To the Pine Island graduates: You're ready! Go out there and embrace your dreams! (And remember your roots are here in Pine Island--there is always a place for you here to live and raise your families. We need you!)

Email: tonya.constantine@pineisland.k12.mn.us
Website: www.pineisland.k12.mn.us

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