May4,
2004 Summer is a’comin’! The Pioneer staff is preparing a Summer Learning Flyer for all students. This will have lots of suggestions for learning activities for families. One side of it will detail the skills students need to have for entering the next grade. The other side is packed “to the brim” with ideas for all ages, including activities and online learning sites. This flyer will take the place of the Summer Scholar packet that students worked on last year. You will receive yours in the mail with your child’s report card. Summer is a’comin’! Happy Learning! Kathy
Engell
April
14, 2004 A safe school for all! The events of the past weeks have reminded us again of how vigilant we must be to teach our children to be tolerant, caring citizens. It was good to know that at Pioneer, we didn’t need to rush to teach new information to our students but to keep on doing what we have been doing all year: teaching kids to stand up to bullying behavior and to be an activated bystander. All students have been reminded these past weeks that the adults at Pioneer want our students to feel safe every day at school. This means saying “no” to bullying and harassment of any kind, and it means being willing to report bullying. As those two things become habits, our school will continue be a safe place for all. Kathy
Engell
SAFETY
again . . . last month we mentioned the need for improving
the safety conditions in front of Pioneer at 3:40. If
you are picking up your child, you may have noticed that
some changes have been made blocking curbside pickup.
The safest (and only) place for curbside pickup is at
the back of the school. If you drive in the front, be
sure you accompany your children to your car. DRIVERS,
remember Eaglefield Drive is a 20 mph speed limit (for
our kids’ safety). Keep a lookout for the kids
who are crossing with our wonderful Crossing Guards!
Remember to give them the right of way. Kathy
Engell
February
4, 2004 Safety is always on our minds as we care for your children at Pioneer. We have an active Safe Schools Team that focuses on various issue of preparedness, anti-bullying and other issues related to school safety. You are probably aware of our well-supplied emergency closet and our safety plan in case of a major disaster. Each adult has a pre-assigned responsibility with duties ranging from student supervision, student release (keeping track of kids who leave with parents) to search and rescue, should that be needed. This month, those teams will be reviewing their responsibilities in case of disaster. School is a good place to be if we should face such an event. On a day-to-day basis, we also face safety issues, especially before and after school. Remember, the parking places in the front of school are reserved for parents who are coming into the building. No children should cross the drive to parent cars without an adult walking with them. All regular pick-up and drop-off of students occurs in the back of the school. Please do not pick-up or drop off students curbside in front of the school. We all work together to make our school a safe place for our kids. Kathy
Engell
January 7,
2004 Did
you have the privilege of attending the Winter Concert
on December 11, 2003? If so, you are aware of the strong
music program at Pioneer Elementary. The fifth grade
band debuted with a great performance showing us that
Mr. Horsak can take these beginning musicians a long
distance musically in a few short months. The sixth grade
band was impressive, playing several numbers and entertaining
us with the clever “Christmas in the Kitchen” with
expert percussion playing by Dain Munnich and Matt Parker
on the skillets! We continued to be entertained by a
musical with script written by our own music teacher,
Mrs. Rodriguez. Every grade was featured each time Santa
got mixed up in a time machine. This event was truly
a team effort with classroom teachers and parents lending
their expertise for costumes and extra practices. Mrs
.Stratton aptly coached the dancers. On December 19,
we closed
out the week with a visit from AHS’s Jazzmine followed
by a “performance” of the Twelve Days of
Christmas by the Pioneer staff. Pioneer is a “happening” place
for the arts!
Kathy
Engell
(from Trailblazer Gazette Volume 1, Issue 4) During the past month, staff and parents have had the opportunity to participate in training sessions regarding anti-bullying. Mr. Olson and I are using each report of bullying as an opportunity to teach students appropriate friendship behaviors. Reports are tracked so that follow-up can be consistent for the students who exhibited bully behavior and for the target. During the month of December, third graders and sixth graders will participate in a confidential bullying survey. These efforts will help keep our students feeling safe at school. However, there is a group of people who can make even more changes than the staff and administration at Pioneer Elementary. That group we will call bystanders. This may be up to 85% of our student body. If this “silent majority” stick up for the idea that “Bullies are not welcome at Pioneer Elementary” a big change will happen. Remember, reporting bullying is helping to protect others. It is not tattling which is when someone tries to get someone in trouble. Kathy
Engell
November
5, 2003 This year our 4th, 5th and 6th graders are learning about how to build friendships and create a school climate where bullying is not acceptable. This curriculum is called Steps to Respect. The classes are taught by Mr. Dolan and me once a week to the intermediate students. We have recently discussed friendship skills and learned that friendly behaviors are respectful behaviors. Respect means treating people the way you want to be treated. Bullying behavior is defined in this curriculum as “Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening or leaving someone out on purpose.” As the year progresses, the students will learn the three R’s of anti-bullying: Recognize, Refuse and Report. We are excited about this new curriculum and how it reinforces the Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying legislation that requires all schools to have a plan in place to deal with this issue keeping our schools a safe place for our kids. Kathy
Engell
What a great start to the school year! We have been busy working on many of the start-up activities. Mr. Olson and I have visited the classrooms with a presentation about being successful in school. Students were reminded about the four school rules:
It has been exciting to meet all the students. Some activities related to the Program Support Specialist role are in formation, including my covering classes for teachers who want to observe a lesson taught by another teacher. Hurray for collaboration! Kathy Engell
September
2, 2003 Greetings from the Assistant Principal’s office! I am excited about my new adventure as a team member at Pioneer Elementary School and want to take this opportunity to introduce myself. Previously, I taught music at Eagle Creek Elementary. Prior to that, I had administrative responsibilities in a K-12 private school. My husband (a math teacher at Post Middle School) and I have two children, both of who also chose the teaching profession. We enjoy motor homing, reading, gardening, classic cars, keeping up with a home that was built in 1902, and spending time with our three grandchildren. We are awaiting a fourth grandchild in October. Along with assistant principal responsibilities, I will be a Program Support Specialist. This is a new position in the Arlington Public Schools. The responsibilities will become clearer as we move into the school year, but the focus will be on improving student achievement. I look forward to assisting the outstanding staff in providing a stimulating and positive learning environment for your children. Here’s to a great year! Kathy Engell |
