November 6, 2020 - Issue #60
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Teachers prepare for hybrid learning model at Pioneer
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As you know, the rise in positive COVID cases in Morrison County and specifically the Pierz area continues to rise, directly affecting number of Pierz Schools staff, parents, and students.
Because of the direct impact we are experiencing at Pioneer both in cases and due to required contact tracing, we need to make a quick decision to temporarily discontinue our current learning model.
To that end, Pierz Schools will be moving the elementary to a hybrid learning model, beginning Tuesday, November 10th (note: Monday, November 9th was a prior-scheduled workshop day). All elementary staff have been in in training these transition days: creating and learning about best practices for distance learning, creating hybrid schedules, socially distancing their classrooms, creating new lunch arrangements, going over bussing protocols, and so much more.
This model will decrease classroom sizes, allowing students to more effectively social distance, thereby cutting down on student and staff contact and removal due to infection and/or contact tracing. What does this mean specifically for your child? Full details can be viewed here.
It's stressful and heartbreaking for teachers, parents, and students. We hope that we can continue to be in this together, supporting each other throughout and after this pandemic.
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Community members, staff, and students: please be digilant in reducing your contacts and maintaining social distance. We have seen spikes in the number of cases and have a record number of staff out. We are so thankful to have made it this far; we need your help to tackle this hurdle.
As always, please review the symptoms list below, and remember to keep ALL individuals at home if symptoms are present--even those not showing symptoms yet. Keep in close contact with the nursing staff regarding your plan to test or not to test for your family. This will determine next academic steps.
ONE MAJOR: Cough, shortness of breath, loss of smell or taste, or fever over 100.4.
TWO MINOR: sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, muscle pain, fatigue, headache, congestion/runny nose.
Also important to note: we understand that many are experiencing allergy and cold symptoms this time of year. Unfortunately due to state guidelines, we must have a negative test or alternate diagnosis on file for your ill student, or they and their siblings must enter the COVID protocols.
We thank parents, students and community members for continuing to do your part - wearing masks, socially distancing during and after school hours, and not coming into contact with friends and family who are at higher risk.
--Nurse Robyn
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Science room gets a facelift
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Mr. Teske's science room has served our junior high students since it was built in 1968. This past summer, it received a facelift with new floors, cabinets, sinks, tables and technology. Here, students are learning how to use the microscope and going over notes on the new (and socially distanced) lab tables.
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As part of a annual curriculum for 7th graders, the school counselors and social worker share a unit on suicide awareness and prevention. Always an important unit, more than ever students are struggling with feelings of frustration and loneliness. With the events and changes in the last six months, it fair to say we all have experienced a wide range of emotions.
The City of Buffalo created the Bounce Back project a few years ago to help their community deal with some tragic events. One idea everyone can implement starting today is called "3 Good Things":
- Based on research with clinically diagnosed depressed adults, the benefits of journaling and putting focus on three good things that have happened during the day affirms what goes well in our lives.
- It is as easy as writing down three things from the day that went well right before going to bed.
- Becoming more aware of good events increases happiness and decreases depression.
- Research shows completing "3 Good Things" for 14 days produces results as powerful as taking anti-depressants.
(The Bounce Back Project is an unrelated, additional resource to the unit for 7th graders.)
If you have concerns about your student, it is important to check in with the school counselors and/or your medical doctor. In wake of our current state in the midst of a pandemic, now more than ever, research has indicated that students all across the nation are experiencing an increase in feelings of sadness, loneliness, and/or depression. It has been very common for these students to seek out support to help cope with all of these feelings. We are here to help; just let us know!
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October Students of the Month
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Landon Schomer, son of Howie and Kelly and Emily Herold, daughter of Dennis and Domino were chosen as the October Students of the Month. Each month two seniors are chosen and eligible for a scholarship award in May.
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Happenings at Pioneer Elementary
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Remember hopscotch as a kid? Sensory paths are like that--except more fun and integrated with a bit of learning and a lot of whole-body sensory play. Mrs. Miranda Hoheisel and Mrs. Stephanie have researched and installed sensory paths throughout Pioneer Elementary and are providing training to all staff on how to best use these new tools with students. Read more about what sensory paths are (and are not) here.
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First graders were practicing their addition by adding up how many ghosts they knocked down during pumpkin bowling. After estimating and measuring the pumpkin's height, width and number of lines on the pumpkin, they were able to decorate and paint them!
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Student Activities Updates
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Update to Fall Concerts:
- All Fall Concerts have been postponed at this time.
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Subscribe to Pierz Schools YouTube for live streamed events
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We are hoping to live stream upcoming home sports and activities directly to our Pierz Pioneers YouTube Channel. Click the link below and watch the Pioneers from the comfort of your home! We try to stream Rick Grammond's voice with the video but are not always able to pair it. You may want to tune it to Rick or Falls Radio.
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- K-12 No School November 9 - Teacher Workshop Day
- K-12 No School November 26-27 - Thanksgiving Break
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Current Community Ed Classes
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Community Education is now a site for students to take their permit test! We will be able to proctor the online test for students who have completed the 30 hour course and have turned 15 years old. Instead of making an appointment at the courthouse, make an appointment in the Pierz Webstore! More dates coming as soon as the state's website is back up and running on the 16th.
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Additional Defensive Driver (55 Alive) 4-hour refresher safety classes will be scheduled soon! Local community member, retired teacher and driving instructor, Rick Sczublewski, is in process of completing the training and reviewing the materials. We will hold one class per month. Call 320-468-6458 ext 7 to add your name to the wait list.
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Pierz Public Schools #484
District Office: 320.468.6458
112 Kamnic Street, Pierz, MN 56364
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