Friday, May 3, 2019--Issue #36
Construction Update
If you’ve stepped foot in, or even driven past Pierz Schools anytime in the last 6 months, you’ve witnessed a significant transformation to our buildings. Each week, the construction project continues to evolve and transform--despite the cold, despite the snow, despite the rain!

From the outside, you’ll see the elementary and high school buildings have been joined by the middle section, complete with classroom spaces and a gymnasium. The walls of the classrooms are studded in, the classrooms, hallway, and gym floors are poured, and the brick on the outside is in place as are the window and door openings.

While the outside has taken shape, the inside also continues to advance. The construction project is running ahead of schedule for the band room and kitchen addition, with plans to pour the floor for the band addition in mid-May. Because the interior kitchen work requires a great deal of demolishing and saw cutting, some cannot be done during the school hours. As such, we have had workers on site late into the evenings many, many nights. We also took advantage of students being gone during the Easter break to perform electrical work from Thursday night through Friday, shutting the power down for Healy High School during that process.

Another significant behind the scenes job is selecting, pricing and researching all the furniture needs for the new spaces. We spend a great deal of time trying to save money in that area because the world of school desks, chairs, tables and creative learning can be very expensive. We have some terrific staff who are very good at knowing the school supply industry and working to get the best prices.

Last, but certainly not the least..PARKING. We will continue to be creative to figure out how to park for graduation and other spring events. Once the school year ends, the workers will quickly start addressing the elementary parking lot in order to have it completed in the very short time slot that summer allows.

Certainly, spring is always a busy time in the school year. This year it is magnified with the construction challenges. For this reason, we cannot say THANK YOU enough to staff, students, parents, and community members for your support, patience and flexibility during this time!
Healy Highlights
Healy students learning about Ojibwa folktales from an expert
Students in Miss Loch's 7th grade English classes are wrapping up their Folktales unit. To reiterate the lessons learned, American Indian Educator & Cultural Liaison for the Princeton and Milaca School district, Gary Loch (yes, this is Miss Loch's father!), shared some Ojibwa folktales. He taught the students about the Ojibwa star map and how they used constellations and their stories to prepare for the changing of seasons. He also shared the Ojibwa creation story and other tales that taught lessons of love, bravery, respect, humility, and other core values.
Putting their skills to the test!
Students in Mrs. Tax's Electrical Wiring, Plumbing and Concrete class and had to make a manifold using steel and thread the pipe using copper and had to solder and flare the pipes; using PVC and had to cut, prime and glue. The whole thing was then put under pressure and had to not leak.
Pioneer Elementary School News
Celebrating a perfect match--the uniting of the letters 'Q' and 'U'
Kindergartners dressed up in their best and celebrated the union of the letters 'Q' and 'U'; t hey are now joined together forever in phonemic awareness. They promised to always help each other with words like 'quick' and 'queen', and to never 'quit' on each other:) The happy couple received a quilt, a quarter, a question mark, and a portrait of a queen as wedding gifts. The ceremony was followed by a dance, gift opening, and cake, of course!
5th and 6th learn the fine game of cribbage from community volunteers
Fifth and sixth graders are learning the 'Minnesotan-required' card game of cribbage from Gil and Vicki Statz, volunteers who are working with our students each week. At first, students were a bit confused by all the "15-2, 15-4s", but once they got the hang of it, some were heard loudly exclaiming,"I GOT NOBS!" and "I SKUNKED YOU!"
**Staff Spotlight on Retirees!**

(It's retirement season--that bittersweet time when we have to say goodbye to our friends: but they get to say goodbye to alarm clocks and scheduled bathroom breaks:)
Marilyn Meyer, 3rd Grade Teacher
"Greetings! My name is Marilyn Meyer and I am a third grade teacher at Pioneer Elementary. I grew up in the Pierz area on a farm near the village of Harding. You could say I’m a local, since I attended Harding Elementary School and Pierz Healy High School.

I would have to say that my love for children and also babysitting a lot when I was young, led me to becoming an educator. [...] I t was not an easy decision for me, but I have decided to retire from full-time teaching at the end of this school year. I plan to fill my days with providing daycare for my grandchildren a couple days of the week and perhaps some substitute teaching. I also will be enjoying my favorite hobbies of taking walks, playing tennis, reading, cooking, and traveling."

Maureen Van Keuren, Payroll/HR
"Hello Everyone--This is my 23rd year working for the Pierz School District. My main duties include payroll along with
benefits. I work mostly with the employees, but one of my favorite parts of my job is helping students and parents. I have made lots of life-long friends who keep me going each and every day.

One thing that sticks out as special to me about the school is the feeling of community. We all support each other during good times and the not so good of times. [...] With retirement, I hope to do some traveling and spend more time with my large family which includes
eight brothers, one sister and many nieces and nephews. Also, I would like to hang out more with friends and just plain enjoy life."

**Student Spotlight**

Featuring students in grades 4-12 selected by their teachers for being awesome humans.
Taryn Hopp, 4th Grade
Nominated by Mrs. Kowalczyk, "Taryn Hopp is our classroom artist. She has inspired many of the students in our class to take up drawing, and coming up with their own "characters" for stories.
While Taryn is very talented, she is also very gracious and humble about it. She is always willing to help anyone who asks her to teach them how to draw like her. The possibilities are endless for her. Whatever it is she decides to do with her talents, I know she will have a bright future ahead of her!"
Madelyn Kessler, 5th Grade
Nominated by Mrs. Talberg, "If you are looking for a role model for younger students or fellow classmates to look up to, Madelyn is it! She sets the bar high for herself in every situation and works hard to reach it. Madelyn is polite and respectful to teachers and classmates alike, and she is always willing to lend a helping hand. You might not hear much from Madelyn throughout the day, but that is simply because she is busy reading one of the many, many books she reads in a week!"
Community Education Happenings
Due to the popular garage sale night in Pierz, our Instant Pot class was postponed! Check out the webstore or Facebook for the next scheduled night!

You will work in a group of 2-3 people and make one recipe. Then you will sample all 4 recipes. You will take all the recipes home with you! You will learn the basics and tips and tricks to use an instant pot.

High School FACS room
Limited to 12
Fee $20
Looking Ahead...
There will be a Buy One Get One FREE book fair in the Media Center May 6-10. Students may shop during computer specials class 8:30-3:00. It will also be open after school Thursday evening for the Fine Arts Festival and on Friday for the Kindergarten Spring Program. Stop by to stock up for summer reading!
May 3- Night of Jazz

May 6- Choir Concert

May 9- Pioneer Fine Arts Festival

May 13- Band Concert

May 24- Graduation
Last day of school
Upcoming Community Ed classes:
30 hour Driver Education Course
must be 14 years or older

AARP Driver Safety course
May 14, 5:30-9:30pm, Pierz High School
$25 (AARP membership qualifies you for a $5 discount)

The Summer Activities booklet has been distributed! Registration is available online for all classes at

*Swim lessons will open on May 19th so set up an account now and call if you need help!
*You will add to basket and "check out" before you add your child's name to the activity.
Please call if you need help- I am happy to troubleshoot with you as we hope to go paperless in 2020!

Call 468-6458 ext 7 to register
Pierz Public Schools #484
District Office: 320.468.6458
112 Kamnic Street, Pierz, MN 56364