Pioneer Family Communication
December 17, 2023. - January 7, 2024
GREAT DAY TO BE A PIONEER!
Be Extraordinary!
From the Pioneer Leadership Team
Pioneer Caregivers,
This week was quite eventful with many great successes in the classroom, on the stage, and on the playing field. We have so much to be thankful for, even when our students underperform and make poor choices at times. There are so many more great things happening in Pioneer than not, let’s remember that. I learned of a young lady who won Presidential Scholarships at both DePaul and Albion this week. She will also be a 1st generation college student and another senior that earned a full ride to Penn and was accepted into their business program! These are just a couple of our shining stars and there are many more! Share your stories and successes with us! We are so proud of all of your hard work with your Pioneer students and with our Pioneer Community.
We have one more week of school before the Winter Break!
Let’s have some fun next week and have a Winter Wonderland Spirit Week:
Monday: Holiday Pajamas Day
Tuesday: Festive Winter Hat & Accessories Day
Wednesday: Green & Red Grinch Day
Thursday: Mix Match Wild Socks Day
Friday: Ugly Sweater Day
This will be our last newsletter of 2023! We hope you all have a safe and restful winter break!
Be Extraordinary!
Desmond, Eve, Jodi, Kevin & Dan
DEI Student Council Symposium at Pioneer
DEI Council and Student Council Symposium Committee will be having a Navigating Pathways college symposium this Thursday, December 21st in the Little Theater during 2nd and 3rd hour! The symposium will feature a panel of Pioneer Alumni who will talk about their different experiences past high school and where they are now. Students will need to fill out the google form on the flier in order to attend and to be excused from their classes. There will be donuts!
Happy holidays! Pioneer Baseball will be picking up Christmas trees again this year. All information is in the flier. Thank you for your support!
What: Multi Culti, a festival of culture, music, celebration, and joy presented by Huron students!
When: Thursday, December 21, 2023, 7:00-8:30 pm
Where: Meyers Auditorium, Huron High School
2727 Fuller Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Who: Parents and community members.
We hope to see you there! It is a night not to be missed.
Are you/your student interested in attending the Early College Alliance at EMU? Learn how the ECA can help you/your student get a head start on college and career while earning up to 65 college credits at Eastern Michigan University — a $35,000 value open to AAPS students entering grades 9, 10, or 11 in the 2024-2025 school year! Please join our virtual Information Meeting for more information.
ECA Virtual Informaiton Meeting
Thursday, January 11, 2024
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Register in advance for this meeting: https://tinyurl.com/ECAInfoAA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Questions? Please contact the ECA at info@earlycollegealliance.info, or 734-487-4290.
Pioneer Bands are fundraising!!
If you have ever been to a Pioneer Band concert, you know how amazing they are! This program provides students with unique performance and community building opportunities. The program relies upon donations to offer both robust programming and scholarship support to our students and families. Please consider a gift to the Pioneer Band Association to ensure these experiences continue. To donate, you can click here or text AAPBand to 53-555. Thank you for your support!
Let the Pioneer 2025 Action Team do your gift wrapping!
As you prepare for the holiday season, please consider using Pioneer 2025 Action Team students to wrap your holiday gifts!
This year, the Action Team will host a gift-wrapping fundraiser to help them reach their fundraising goal for senior prom. Please see the flyer for important details!
Gift Wrapping Dates: December 19 and December 21 are all gift wrapping drop off dates between 10a-2p in C229 (class office).
We are also looking for donations of gift wrapping paper and supplies! If you are interested in donating, please see the link below. If you are interested in volunteering, please let Mrs. Willis know your availability.
Pioneer 2025 Class Action Team Hot Chocolate and Gift Wrapping Donation Form
GAP FAIR hosted by HURON HIGH
USA GAP YEAR FAIRS HOSTED BY
HURON HIGH SCHOOL, ANN ARBOR
Monday, January 29, 2024
6:00-8:30 PM
Why take a gap year? The best way to learn about gap year options and connect with gap year program providers is to connect face-to-face at a USA Gap Year Fair virtual or in-person event. With more and more students choosing to take gap time this year, there is a growing need for students, parents, and educational professionals to become aware of the advantages of taking “time out” from traditional education and “time on” for experiential learning.
USA Gap Year Fairs is an annual circuit of 30-40 events that bring together reputable gap year organizations, interested students and parents, educational professionals, and gap year experts. For the past 16 years, the circuit has crossed North America each winter and expanded to offer virtual events the last several years. As the premiere event series of its kind, the fairs have provided students with broad exposure to gap year programs that encourage active learning through travel, cultural immersion, service, work experience, and mentorship. Opportunities for face-to-face conversations with gap year program providers, trip leaders, advisors, and alumni offer attendees a personal and individualized experience. Each event begins with a presentation by gap year advisors and alumni. These gap year experts provide attendees with a rich overview of the gap year option, share relevant data, highlight authentic student experiences, and offer tips and resources to help guide families through gap year research.
To register for the FREE USA Gap Year Fair: https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs/schedule
For more information on USA Gap Year Fairs, visit www.USAGapYearFairs.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ojnh_0MnrQZZEGpaSvJT4vnJGXdXf2OU/view
Pioneer Trading Post Apparel
- Are you interested in purchasing some new Pioneer apparel? The Pioneer Trading Post now has black quarter zips, purple and gray embroidered hoodies, and purple full zips. CLICK HERE to complete the order form new merchandise as well as some existing merchandise.
PTSO HOLIDAY SPIRIT WEAR SALE
Online Holiday Pioneer PTSO Spirit Wear Sale
Great Holiday Gift Ideas to cheer on Pioneer! See attached online store for your spirit wear purchases which will also support the Pioneer PTSO. You can ship directly to your home or you can pick up at the school drop offs on Tuesday, December 19 and Thursday, December 21 from 7:30-8:15AM or the pick up Friday, December 22 from 2:30-3:10PM. Store closes on December 4.
CLICK IMAGE OR HERE TO VIEW SALE!
LATE AP TEST ORDERING - NOW OPEN!! IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO ORDER. AN AP TEST!
AP UPDATES - PIONEER!!
Hello again AAPS 9-12 grade students and families,
If you are interested in taking an AP Exam but missed our regular payment and registration deadline, don’t worry! 9-12 grade AAPS students can still order an AP exam for May of 2024 with these two steps:
1. Complete late-fee payment in MyPaymentsPlus and
2. Complete the registration request form linked HERE to have your test indicator changed to “Yes”.
(Payment must be completed before test indicators will be updated)
Late-fee registration ends 3/8/24. No additional AP exams may be requested after 3/8/24.
More information about 2023-24 AP testing payment and registration can be found HERE.
Questions? Contact an AP Coordinator - Mr. Cory McElmeel - mcelmeel@aaps.k12.mi.us or Dr. Daniel Hyliard - hyliardd@aaps.k12.mi.us
Email for Absences: pioattendance@aaps.k12.mi.us
We are seeing a rise of students arriving at the school under the weather. We encourage students and staff that are under the weather to stay home for the day. Coming to school and spreading germs causes the cycle of more staff and students to catch illnesses. It is best for everyone. Many assignments can be captured in Schoology. Students can easily communicate with teachers about work assigned and/or missed via email (Staff Directory) and within Schoology.
Attendance email: pioattendance@aaps.k12.mi.us
Attendance Policy: The procedure for excusing student's absences requires that parents/guardians must notify the Attendance Office by email within 48 hours of the day that the student is absent.
Please do not call the attendance line until further notice. We are planning to hire someone to cover that position; it is currently not filled. The position of Book Depository/Attendance Office Professional will be posted soon and we would love for someone connected to the Pioneer community to serve in that capacity.
Regular Schedule - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
CLUB Day - Wednesday
Ann Arbor Community Resources
If you've ever wondered where you can send a parent or student to get help, you're not alone.
AAPS has several tools to help you guide families to resources (food, basic needs, emergency services) in their time of need.
Where to find help
CARE CLOSET - C311
SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS NEEDED IN AAPS
Substitute Teachers Needed: As we are headed into the Winter season, which also may be known as cold/flu/COVID season, the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) is looking for substitute teachers and paraeducators to support our classrooms. If you are a passionate person who enjoys connection with students EduStaff is looking for you. Substitute positions are necessary and meaningful work that enriches the lives of students in our community. If you, your family or friends are interested in making an impact, we encourage you to support the AAPS team as a substitute teacher or paraeducator. Start your application at https://www.edustaff.org/
Pioneer Administration Team Assignments
Athletics - Ms. Eve Claar
9th Grade Dean - Ms. Jodi Bullinger
10th Grade Last Name A-L - Dr. Daniel Hyliard
10th Grade Last Name M-Z - Mr. Kevin Hudson
11th Grade - Mr. Kevin Hudson
12th Grade - Dr. Daniel Hyliard
AAPS Family Technology Assistance
Students & Families - Technology Virtual Help Desk
Hours of Operation
Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Call: 734-997-1222
Open a ticket: family_techsupport@aaps.k12.mi.us
Schedule an In-Person Appointment: call the Student & Family Help Desk
PIONEER COUNSELING LINK
The Writing Center at Pioneer High School wants to help! We are open daily during both lunches and 4th Hour in room C216. We offer online writing assistance through our website and hold fun writing competitions throughout the year. We want to help with brainstorming, revising, editing, polishing, and really any part of your writing assignment! Come see us!
SCHOOL STARTS at 8AM - Doors Open at 7:35AM
1. CLOCKTOWER - this location backs up so please plan accordingly
2. FLAGPOLE ENTRANCE - near student parking lot
Please do not drop off students in the 7th Street Bus Loop