February 11, 2022 - Issue #86
It's Snow Daze Week at Healy
This past week students at Healy had fun celebrating Snow Daze: pep fests, dress up days, spike ball and hockey competitions, a treasure hunt, a staff dance mob, and the crowning of Snow Daze royalty for grades 9-12 gave staff and students a break from the winter doldrums.

Snow Daze Royalty were nominated by Healy staff based on the following criteria and then voted for by their peers: leadership qualities (positive leader), school involvement, social with all grades, is in at least one sport or activity, helps out students in need, and shows school spirit. Congratulations to the Royal Court: Back row (L to R): 10th grader Max Barclay, 11th grader Eugene Skiba, 9th grader Will Stangl, 12th grader Trevor Radunz. Front row (L to R): 10th grader Kyla Krych, 11th grader Ashley Kimman, 9th grader Josi Smude, 12th grader: Arika Libby

Inset: Seniors dressed as 'senior citizens' on Wednesday's themed day.
Happenings at Healy
Apiary becoming a reality
Matthew Hennen has always had an interest in raising bees. But, until a few months ago, time and money prevented him from working toward this goal. This year, Hennen secured a $1,000 grant from the National FFA organization. With this grant and the time he will be allotted through FFA’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program, Hennen has earned the time and money it will take to make his vision a reality. 
 
The in-depth grant process required Hennen to submit detailed plans for his apiary project. This included proper plant selection and placement. Hennen wrote in his grant application that the ideal plants will include plants with blooming flowers throughout most of the year and hardy shrubs for wind protection. He also outlined bee and handler safety, mite and beetle control for the bee cells, and proper construction and placement of bee boxes to decrease risk of harm to the bees from weather or other animals. As part of the apiary project, Hennen will also create a trail to walk to the hives and a pad to set the hives on—knowing that this should be a permanent area that is sheltered from the winter wind and snow as much as possible. 
 
Mrs. Pat Tax, Healy ag teacher and Hennen’s FFA advisor and project supervisor, is impressed with Matthew’s determination and work in this specific area: “I'm excited Matthew has this opportunity. We all need to do what we can to build bee-friendly habitats. It is necessary. One- third of our diet depends on bee pollination.”
 
Hennen’s research determined that a tract of land on his brother’s farm will be an ideal location for his apiary. He plans to start with the garden and set up the hive stand just after the snow is gone, finally incorporating the bees this summer.
Knowledge Bowl does well at first competition
The Knowledge Bowl team had their first meet of 2021-2022 season. Out of 26 teams competing, the Healy team of Guy Clemons-Virnig, Conner Cummings, Jonah Smith, Julian Westmoreland, and Lucas Kunstleben took first place! Other Pierz teams took 3rd and 9th overall. It was an impressive showing for all students.
Happenings at Pioneer Elementary
Programming, coding, and having fun
Students in Miss Dalsted's computer classes were programming Dash and Dot robots last week. Along with making noises, moving, and flashing lights, students programmed them to find each other - a sort of robot treasure hunt.

Coding and programming games and devices lay the foundation for a coding mindset: thinking about what steps to take in an exact, sequential order to create the expected outcomes.

And they thought they were just having fun...
'Bee-ing' kind at Pioneer
At Pioneer Elementary the Pioneer Pride theme is "Bee Kind!" Students in K-4 are reminded and encouraged through support from teachers and staff to treat their classmates and themselves with kindness. Students 'caught' being kind have their names put in a weekly drawing for chance at a reward and recognition.

A good reminder for all of us: treat each other with kindness not only makes them feel good, it makes us feel good too!
Preschool 2022-23 open house is on the horizon
Preschool registration materials are ready! To attend Pioneer Preschool, your child will need to be 4 on or before September 1, 2022, and intend to attend Kindergarten in 2023.
Forms can be downloaded, completed, and emailed as an attachment or printed and mailed in or dropped off.
If you would like to stop and pick up the forms or have them mailed, please contact Sarah Funk at 320-468-6458 Ext 7.
Looking Ahead
  • February 15 & 16 - Elementary Parent-Teacher Conferences (Gr. K-6)
  • February 17 - Spelling Bee 1:30-3pm, Pioneer Gym
  • February 18 & 21 - No School – Presidents Day Break
Community Education
We are still offering the four-hour refresher course for your insurance discount. The fee is $24 and the instructor is Rick Sczublewski. Call the Community Education office for the next date or to add your name to the list.
Join Sara Rocksted for a painting class on March 1 from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm. The fee is $35 and all supplies are provided. You choose from six designs and then personalize it by outlining which spaces you choose to paint and your paint colors. Each will look completely different! Register online!
Pierz Public Schools #484
District Office: 320.468.6458
112 Kamnic Street, Pierz, MN 56364