Pioneer Pride News

Friday, November 9, 2018--Issue #24

ECFE an Important Component in Pierz

Our youngest children and families are truly valued here in Pierz. Mid-State Education District offers four Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes each semester for babies and toddlers ages birth - five. These young children attend ECFE along with their parents.

ECFE classes are taught by licensed early childhood teachers, one of whom has a parent education license.

ECFE classes allow parents to spend time together with their children reading and playing with activities intentionally created to promote school readiness skills. Classes provide an introduction to independence for the child by allowing time for the children to interact with the child educator and separate from their parents, as well as time for parents to network.

The parent educator has a topic prepared each week for the parents to discuss such as discipline, literacy, bedtime, preschool readiness, love and logic, and more. The parent group shares their joys and struggles in parenting. They help each other out, build community, and build lasting friendships! Many parents who have experienced ECFE will say that is was a favorite memory for them of precious time with their young children.

Pierz families have been strong participators in ECFE, as classes are continually full, year after year. We look forward to having the space to offer more classes next year. If you would like to be put on the waiting list for ECFE, please email or call Beka Swisher [email protected] 320-631-2509. There is also information on our Pierz Schools website www.pierz.k12.mn.us/ecfe.html . We hope to meet you there!

Healy Highlights

LEGO ^TM Wall Challenge

The high school media center provides a MakerSpace area where students can participate in various hands-on activities throughout the year. This month, we challenged students to create a marble run that went from one side to the other and back again using LEGOs on the new LEGO wall. We love watching collaborative learning in our learning spaces!

Dia de Los Muertos

Art Club and Spanish Club held the 3rd annual combined event of painting faces for Día de los Muertos. Day of the Dead, Nov. 2, is celebrated in central and southern Mexico as well as the United States. It is a time to honor loved ones who have died. The celebrations include painted faces, flowers, candles, food, and much more. Students in Spanish 2 make tissue paper flowers, Spanish 3/4 makes skull cookies and Spanish 1 makes skeleton art. Pictured below is Healy art teacher, Mrs. Underhill, with her tribute to Frida Kahlo de Rivera--the famous Mexican artist who used her art to explore questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society.

Veterans Day program at Healy brought students & community together

At the Veterans Day program this week at Healy, students from Pioneer, Holy Trinity and Healy along with community members remembered and honored our veterans. Pierz Healy alumnus Army Sergeant First Class, Anthony St. Sauver, gave the keynote and talked to the students about a long day he had while serving--expounding on commitment and dedication to a greater cause. You can view the entire program here.

We give heartfelt thanks to all military men and women who have served, are serving and those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice.

**Meet the Team**

(Find out what makes Pierz Schools so successful--our employees!)

This week's spotlight is shared by those (professional jugglers) in the high school and district offices who keep things running smoothly!

Tia Schlichting, Activities Director Secretary

"Hello! I am Tia Schlichting, Activities Director Secretary of Pierz School District. I am starting my 8th year at the district. There are many different 'hats' you may see me wearing here at school. [...]

What I love about my job is that each day is different than the last. Watching the students pursue their

goals and dreams is inspiring to watch and be a part of. I have also been lucky to work and learn from some great colleagues, too! I am grateful and thankful for being able to be a part of the Pioneer Team!" More about Tia...

Kim Radunz, Healy High School Secretary

"Hi! I’m Kim Radunz, the high school office secretary. This is my 21st year at Pierz

Healy High. [...]

I truly enjoy coming to work and seeing the faces of each and every one of the students. The best part of my job is being able to talk with, laugh with, and spend time with all the wonderful students and staff in the Pierz district on a daily basis. I am fortunate to work in this community and have my children witness the kind acts that are shared throughout. More about Kim...

Terri Krych, Administrative Assistant to Superintendent & Accounts Payable

"My name is Terri Krych and I have been working with the Pierz School District since 1999. I started in the High School office and was then offered to work in the District office in 2004. [...]

I enjoy working with the staff and am proud to be part of the Pierz School team! It’s pretty amazing to work in a small town that has so much pride for their school and the community has so much support for everyone! It makes me smile when I go into the local businesses and everyone knows your name :) More about Terri..

Read about these staff members and many more!

Pioneer Elementary School News

Sixth Graders Use Construction to Learn About 'Picture-Spatial Smart' in METIER

As part of their METIER course, fifth and sixth graders are learning all about themselves - how they learn, how they communicate, and what they value. This week, they learned about 'picture-spatial smarts'. Mr. Holbrook used the construction project to teach what spatial-smart people and careers can accomplish. Using birds-eye-view images of the proposed construction, students were tasked with figuring out where they were standing and where and how the various components would be implemented.

Metier, pronounced meteor, is a grades 5-8 experiential learning program that teaches students to build a life and a career around flow, the happiest state wherein you feel and perform your best. Pierz is only one of a handful of schools in the state fortunate enough to be implementing this program! Learn more about the Metier program.

Fourth Graders 'Hangout' with Students in Mexico

Fourth graders in Mrs. Kowalzyk's class connected with students at Colegio San Patricio in Monterrey, Mexico. Students there are celebrating Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) at their school and they shared their experiences and how they celebrate the lives of people who have died. The presenting students were sixth graders, speaking to us in both Spanish and English. Fourth graders in Pierz were interested to learn about the school and students in Mexico and how they celebrate an important holiday in their culture.

**Student Spotlight**

Featuring students in grades 4-12 selected by their teachers for being awesome humans.

We wish we could feature ALL our hard-working students!

Kamery Hahn, 10th Grade

Nominated by Ms. Hauan: "Kamery has been involved in the theatre for the past 10 years. She started as an actress in the children's choir for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". A year ago she played the part of JoJo in "Seussical the Musical". This year she is playing the part of Wednesday in "The Addams Family". But besides the on-stage acting, she is invaluable to the theatre department because she works tirelessly on things the director needs. Such as doing the Playbill, finding props or making them, helping the younger actors learn their lines and songs, helping the choreographer, painting the set, talking to community members etc. There's too many to mention! She does all of this with such humbleness that it is amazing to see. Her talent is wonderful and her personality and work ethic are outstanding!"

Jaron Gross, 10th Grade

Nominated by Mr. Paulson: Jaron Gross has been involved in theatre since first stepping foot in Healy. If you've ever met him, you'd know right away--he's a theatre kid! Taking his love for theatre to the next level, Jaron applied for the Spotlight program at Hennepin Theatre Trust in Minneapolis. Of 96 students that applied, only 6 new students were accepted. The program he was accepted into is called Critical Review . Through this program, he attends workshops (the last one he attended was given by a writer from the New York Times!) and gets to watch every single production at the Orpheum this season. After watching each performance, he will write a review giving his reactions, recommendations, and critical analysis of the production. The top reviews will be published. He also gets to meet and visit with the actors of all the shows. What a tremendous opportunity--congratulations Jaron!

Upcoming Events

"The Adamms Family" Musical

The Pierz Healy Drama students will be performing “The Addams Family” musical.“The Addams Family” follows the story of Gomez (Jaron Gross) and Morticia (Tori Mitchell) as they find out that Wednesday (Kamery Hahn) is getting married to Lucas (Ryan Stangl) before they have given their permission for them to marry. Just like the original television series, there are many twists and turns along the way. Diane Hauan is the stage and vocal director, Joel Pohland is the pit band director, Kim Horning is the choreographer and Simon Kroll will be the technical director.

When: Thursday, November 15, 7:00pm

Friday, November 16, 7:00pm

Sunday, November 18, 2:00pm

Where: Healy Performing Arts Center

$6 Adults, $3 Students and Senior s

Thursday, November 22
Race starts at 7:30am at the MAC.
Registration starts at 6:45am.
Cost is $15/person for pre-registrations until November 19; race day registration is $20/person.
First 150 registered get a FREE PAIR OF SOCKS!
For more information or to register, call Jill Hoheisel at 468.6458 x 1427 or [email protected]

Proceeds go to the Adopt-a-Family Christmas giving program! More information here

Upcoming Community Ed classes:

Retiring Fearlessly and Understanding Social Security - Register here

Discover five keys to unlocking a retirement where you can have more confidence in your ability to achieve your goals.

Optimize Social Security and know how much you can receive from other income sources.

Instructor is Tara Hemsing Woitalla

Monday, November 12, 6:30pm

Media Center, High School

$3/person or $5/couple

Essential Experience: Vitality Edition - Register here

Are you tired of having the same old dinner? Ready to kick it up a notch? Discover how essential oils can enhance your dinner plate and how you benefit by adding them to your foods. We will go over YL vitality oils, how to incorporate them into your foods, along with sending you home with practical tips and recipes for in the kitchen.

You will make and take the following oil infused seasonings to enjoy at home: