Friday, January 11, 2019--Issue #28
Robotics Team Is 'Building' Success
An extra-curricular that many may not be aware of, Robotics at Pierz high school continues to ‘build success’ in their competitions this year.

Coached for the past three years by Mrs. Pat Tax and assisted for the past 2 years by Mrs. Mary Jo Schaefer, the high school offers this exciting, innovative and sometimes frustrating competition to both junior high and senior high students.

Students involved in Robotics at Pierz have many different aspirations: some of the students aspire to become mechanical engineers, some are looking at the medical field, some are thinking business and some are thinking public relations--whichever career path any of these students take, the skills they are learning in this after-school activity will indeed help them be that much more successful in their future endeavors.

Katie Schaefer explains, " Robotics is important to me because you are able to think outside the box, and I also like it because everyone has a voice in the group. " Read on to learn about competitions and future goals.
Healy Highlights
3D Printing class uses high-tech printer to collaborate and create
Mr. Teske's 3D Printing and Design class worked with 'clients' this week as they custom designed door clings for each teacher at Healy. This is not only an aesthetically pleasing addition to the doors, but also a safety improvement, as it prevents a potential attacker from seeing inside the locked classroom through the side glass window. To create these masterpieces, students are using the Roland SG300 TruVis printer on loan (a $15,000 printer!) at no cost thanks to SourceWell (formerly NJPA).
Makerspace has an official 'home' at Healy Media Center
The Makerspace in the high school media center got it's official signage last week, courtesy of the artistic abilities of Mrs. Monson. Makespace is a collaborative space where students can come and tinker, create, design, color, glue, cut, and even knit. It's a movement that encourages students to take a break from their day to create and collaborate in an open environment. Some of the Makerspace activities at Healy so far this year: pointillism, BreakerSpace (students get to take apart old appliances and see if they can put them back together), EV3 Lego Robotics, board games, greeting cards that light up, make and take book marks, pixel art and more to come!
**Meet the Team**
(Find out what makes Pierz Schools so successful--our employees!)
Ms. Linda 'G', Para at Pioneer
H ello! I am Linda Geisenhof (or Mrs. G as our students call me). I am a Special Education Paraprofessional at Pioneer Elementary. I live in Fort Ripley with my husband Gerald. We have four adult children and three grandchildren. My son Jake is married and has one son. My son Jonathan is in the Air Force and is stationed in Korea until the middle of January. My son Wade is married and has two little girls. My daughter Andrea just graduated as a Private First Class in the Marine Corps (yes, this is an AWESOME accomplishment)!

I love Pierz Pioneer Elementary school because the children and staff are very caring and kind. I wish my children would have had the opportunity to attend this awesome school. And--everyone knows that the Orange Chicken the kitchen staff prepares is my favorite meal. :-) Read more about Linda and her travels
Mrs. Carol Kasper, Para at Healy
Hello! My name is Carol Kasper and I'm in my third year as a paraprofessional at Healy High School. Most people my age who work in a school are starting to think about retirement while I'm just getting started! My love for kids and the stillness of our empty nest after our 6th and last child went off to college are what prompted me to apply for this job.

I love the students I work with here and desire greatly to have them know they are all important. I want them to know that "God don't make no junk". I try to make sure they realize they can work hard and get further in life than they can even imagine if they put their minds to it.

I came from a single parent home: my dad died when I was two, then my mother died when I was twelve-- so I know what it is to feel lost and defeated. Thankfully, God provided me with family to help me through. We all need someone to help us from time to time. Hopefully, I can be that help to a student who needs it. Read all about Carol's future endeavors:)
Pioneer Elementary School News
Third graders are engineers!
Under the guidance of Mrs. Girtz, the third graders at Pioneer are learning about forces and simple machines. During PLTW (Project Lead the Way) students use an engineering model to solve real-life types of problems. In this case, students are learning about simple machines and then building a compound machine to rescue a tiger out of a deep moat at the zoo .
Fifth graders code the Mona Lisa
Using a cool new program from Google called Google Passport, students in computer classes are earning their passport 'stamps' as they code various works of art this week. Imagine being able to code the painting of Mona Lisa so that she flips, raises her eyebrows and even SMILES :) Students are using Code.org and Scratch Jr. to learn the concepts of block coding, teaching them how to think critically and problem solve.
Team building, collaboration, & communication in physical education
Remember when phy ed was just sit ups, burpees, and dodgeball?
Today's physical education guides the whole student--mind and body. Students in Mr. Monson's phy ed classes were tasked with getting their team safely across the gym using mats--and not letting anyone touch the floor. This physical and mental exercise was part of their Cooperative Learning/Team Building unit. Through experiential learning, students learned key words from the unit: Communication, Sportsmanship, Positivity and Integrity.
**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!
Connor Hennessy, 4th Grade
Nominated by Mrs. Kowalczyk: "I'm happy to nominate Connor Hennessy for the Student Spotlight because he is a wonderful student. Connor is very helpful in class, and he has basically been my go to person to help with miscellaneous duties from the beginning of the year. Connor is very respectful and trustworthy, as a student and as an individual.
He is also very responsible and meticulous with his school work. Connor's wittiness and great sense of humor help make our classroom a fun place to be!"
Josi Smude, 6th Grade
Nominated by Mr. Holbrook: "Through our new class called Metier, we are learning about who we are and how we LEARN. Josi approached me with the idea of sharing a quote everyday from a book that she had purchased at the bookfair. Josi is a kind hearted girl that is very verbal and can be a very deep thinker. With these traits and qualities, she really looks at word meaning and how they can be impactful. Now, everyday she posts a quote that we as a class discuss and grow from everyday. I commend her for her willingness to do this and her insight on something so simple that can have a great impact on everyone."
Josi's Quote of the Week for this week came from Mark Twain: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
Attention parents and future students: January 15 is an important date
It's your chance to become a Pierz student!

Pierz capped open enrollment this past year to continue small class sizes while using our newly modeled four-section PK-6 school.

To clarify, MN law states that parents who apply by January 15 to open-enroll into the following school year will be notified of the possible open slot at the end of February. Once your student is enrolled, you need not apply again.
If you have any questions, please call Shari at the Elementary office x2209 or Kim at the High School office x1209.
Upcoming Events
Pioneer PTO meeting
Monday, January 14 @ 6pm

Open Enrollment Priority Deadline
Tuesday, January 15, 2019

No School - Pioneer, Healy, HT
Friday, January 18
Teacher workshop

School Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 30 @ 6pm

Parent Teacher Conferences, K-6
February 12-13    
                   
No School, President's Break
February 15 & 18   

Parent Teacher Conferences HS Wednesday, February 20
Upcoming Community Ed classes:
The welding class is full but we are taking names on a wait list for another class this spring.

AARP Driver Safety course
4-hour refresher
February 12, 5:30-9:30pm
Pierz Senior Center
$25 (AARP membership qualifies you for a $5 discount)

Introduction to crochet- youth welcome with an adult -- $20
January 23, 6:30pm

It's Snowing (K-2) $10
Snack, game and winter project

Challenged to Play (3-6) $5
Board game challenges for bragging rights

Call 468-6458 ext 7 to register or register online
www.pierzschoolspayonline.org
Pierz Public Schools #484
District Office: 320.468.6458
112 Kamnic Street, Pierz, MN 56364