Panther PAWPrints Newsletter
December 2019
Campus News
Trimester 1 House Award
Trimester 1's winning house is...FICTUS with a total of 212 beans! Fictus was awarded the Citizenship Trophy and gets to take part in a special house party in December!
2nd Place - Mentis - 190 beans
3rd Place - Integritas - 170 beans
Trimester 1 Rock Start Award
We are so proud of you, Chloe! Keep up the good work!
Trimester 1 Perfect Attendance
Kindergarten
Easton Lear
Cameron Murray
1st Grade
Rylan Chouinard
Austyn Fawcett
Alexzander Jones
Witten Murray
Brocton Stark
Annabelle Wilmot
2nd Grade
Andrew Rau
Zachary Wyman
Hadley Mayes
3rd Grade
Ryder Kuntz
Asher Sneeden
Madyson Schnitzmeier
5th Grade
Chloe Chouinard
6th Grade
Kara Johnsn
Lily McGarvey
7th Grade
Ryan Comstock
8th Grade
Toby Diaz
Teagon Kelsey
Olivia Weber
Stone Soup
Stone Soup, a story that highlights the value of sharing, is a Europen folk story. The storyline tells a tale of hungry strangers who convince the people of a town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys.
This year, our 2nd and 3rd-grade students hosted the school and our Panther community by telling the tale as they served up the soup, bread, and juice. Each student took some time to let their families know what they are thankful for and how much they mean to them.
We love this yearly event and thank our Panther PTA for sponsoring it once again this year!
Christmas Program - 12/6/2019
Our annual Christmas Program is just around the corner! Our program will be at the Lincoln Center located at 415 N. 30th Street. Students should arrive at 6:45 p.m. and be in their seats at 6:55 p.m. The program starts at 7:00 p.m. sharp! PTA is sponsoring cookies and refreshments immediately following.
Sponsored by the Panther PTA
Season of Giving
Food Drive
Pioneer School is once again sponsoring our
ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE TO BENEFIT THE BILLINGS FOOD BANK!
This year, our students will be racing to see who the winning team will be!
Will the Cats conquer the Griz again? Or, will the Griz STOMP the Cats into the ground?!?
Only you and your donations will decide!
The food drive will begin December 2nd, 2019 and run through December 20th.
Blankets & Bears
Searching For Substitute Teachers!
Interested in making a difference? Pioneer Elementary is looking for substitute teachers and we'd love to add you to our list!
Pay: $80.00 a day
Apply by emailing: schnitzmeier@pioneerschool.us
PIONEER SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE ELECTION
There will be two seats open on the Pioneer School Board.
There will be one seat open on the Board that is a 3 year term
There will also be one seat open on the Board that is a 1 year term.
You may pick up a nomination petition in the school office after December 12 or contact Mrs. Michael and she can email the form to you.
You must reside and be registered to vote in Pioneer School District to run for the School Board.
Nomination Petitions must be turned in by March 26 by 5:00 pm. The election will be held in May.
School Board meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month at 4:30 pm – the public is always welcome.
If you have any questions about the Pioneer School Board, please contact Mrs. Michael
Campus Safety Enhancements
On November 13th, Mrs. S wrote a letter to the Breakfast Flakes at 102.9 inquiring about a grant opportunity for metal detectors that they were rumored to be offering to school districts across Montana. The letter was read on the air the next day, and the rest is history!
You can read the letter from Pioneer to the Breakfast Flakes and the Breakfast flakes blog by clicking on the links below.
Transportation News
Cold and snow are on the horizon here in Montana! As we tiptoe into the winter months, we want to remind you about the importance of cold weather safety at the bus stop!
Cold Weather Information
As our Montana weather becomes colder and potentially more severe, it’s important for parents and students to remember to dress warmly and think smartly, especially when it comes to waiting for a school transportation vehicle. Everyone should be prepared for potentially severe weather conditions. Here’s what you need to know….
* Parents/guardians always make the final decision as to whether or not it is safe to send their child to school. If parents decide to send their child to school when the weather is severe, the school will be open to receive them so long as we have not closed the school due to the severe weather.
* In the event that the school is closed, our Panther families will be notified via text message. In addition, a message will be sent out via the media and our school Facebook page.
* Parents and students should expect delays due to traffic and hazardous road conditions. This means a potentially long wait time for students at the bus stop. Students should be well prepared for extreme weather and have very clear instructions on what to do if the school vehicle does not arrive. Children should be escorted to their bus stop and parents should remain with them until the bus arrives. Parents should have backup arrangements in case of an emergency. That plan should be written down, communicated with children and the paper copy put into the student’s school bag.
Position Opening!
Contact Melissa Schnitzmeier or Marilyn Michael at (406)373-5357 for more information.
Nurse Karen's News
Maintain Don’t GAIN!
The average person puts on extra pounds in the six weeks between the Thanksgiving holiday and the New Year. Unfortunately, weight gained in a short six weeks may take six months to lose. And if you already were trying to shed a few pounds, putting on that holiday weight can really give you the blues.
Take heart. Adding pounds during the holidays is not inevitable. You can enjoy your holiday meals and still face that scale with pride by the New Year. One way you can do that is by moving your resolution date up two months and making a November Resolution to “maintain; not gain” this holiday season.
Consider these resolutions:
MAKE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PART OF YOUR DAILY LIFE
A major contributor to weight gain during holidays is sedentary living. Holiday schedules are tight and exercise schedules are often sacrificed. Pledge to keep moving!
PRIORITIZE HEALTHY EATING
Dieticians agree that the best way to manage weight is to modify eating habits in such a way that you never feel deprived. Choose foods that you actually enjoy that are also lower in fat, sugar, and calories.
Feel free to fill your plate at holiday feasts, but select fresh fruits, salad greens, and filling vegetables in-stead of sugary desserts, fried foods, breads, or starchy entrees. You can still eat the “other” foods you enjoy, but take a smaller portion.
Here are some more ideas for keeping trim during the holidays.
When eating turkey, choose white meat over dark. A 3-ounce serving of turkey breast (skinless) has 119 calories and 1 gram of fat (compared to dark meat with 145 calories and 5 grams of fat).
If you’re the host/hostess, pro-vide at least one healthier option per category. For dessert, offer a fresh fruit option. For side dishes, offer a vegetable option instead of potatoes or rice. If you are going to a party, bring a healthy dish that you can enjoy.
When dining out, decline the bread and butter plate or limit yourself to just one piece.
Resolve to maintain and don’t gain and you’ll have no regrets come January 1st. Plus, maintaining a stable healthy weight has many health benefits including managing and preventing type 2 diabetes, hyper-tension, and heart disease.
Learn more about healthy eating at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), http://health.nih.gov/topic/WeightLossDieting
Principal's Note
December is here and along with cooler temperatures and disappearing daylight, we often see the joy AND stress that the holiday season can sometimes bring. The upcoming weeks can become a little overwhelming as families prepare for family gatherings, special travel, and other activities that take place this time of year. As much as we'd all like to feel that we are organized and well-prepared for the upcoming weeks, it can still prove to be somewhat stressful.
We see increased stress at school during this time as well. At school, students sometimes show stress by crying, acting out, or shutting down. We find that many times, children lack the words to describe or regulate their emotions and that makes it hard for them to know how to handle them. Over the next several weeks, we will spend a lot of time talking and helping children learn how to manage feelings. Feelings are a part of who we are and we each experience a wide range of emotions - that's a good thing! The challenge comes when we aren't sure how to manage feelings like anger, disappointment, and frustration. Please be sure to talk with your child's teacher if you have any special concerns regarding your child's ability to manage their feelings. We are here to help!
December is a very busy time of year and we are all excited for our winter break. The school will be closed December 23rd - January 1st. During the break, there will be many opportunities for you to create a stronger bond with your child and continue to support their academic growth and success. The holidays are a good time for storytelling around the dinner table, or routines like bedtime reading that cultivate connections between home and school. Young children do best with regular schedules and I encourage you to prepare for their return to school by instilling in them an understanding of the importance of being rested and ready to learn.
I want to wish all of you a safe and restful holiday season filled with family and friends. I look forward to seeing each of you in 2020!
- Melissa Schnitzmeier
Principal/Superintendent, Pioneer Elementary
Upcoming
December Adult Education
12/10/2019 - Claypot Snowman Wind Chime Class
To Register, RSVP below!
Class Fee: $10.00 - Due at Time of Class
Registration Deadline: Friday, 12/6/19
12/16 - Holiday Chalking Class 5:30 P.M.
Class Fee: $40.00 ($20.00 due upon RSVP)
Registration Deadline: Wednesday, December 11th