Friday, November 23, 2018--Issue #25
Looks tempting, right? Kids' soda and cereal flavors? What is this stuff?

It's the nicotine-laced juice teens are obtaining at an alarming rate to fill their e-cigarettes. This is vaping. And it's affecting youth here in Pierz and across the nation.
Vaping and JUULing-- the new epidemic
Flavored e-cigarette products and trendy new vaping devices like Juul are luring teenagers away from smoking cigarettes but keeping them hooked on nicotine.
According to the Center for Disease Control, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among both middle and high school students. The FDA reports that currently 3.5 million middle and high school students regularly vape, and since last year, this dangerous trend is up 80% in high school students and 50% in middle school students. These statistics are both staggering and scary.

'Juuling' refers to the Juul-brand device used to vape these nicotine juices. Juul looks like a USB flash drive and is easy to hide, comes in kid-friendly flavors, and delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, putting kids at greater risk of addiction. How powerful? One Juul contains more nicotine than an entire pack of Marlboro Red cigarettes.

From City of Pierz Police Chief Eric Hanneken: "Given the alarming spike in e-cigarette use among Minnesota youth, we need to do everything we can to address this crisis." Read more about this epidemic.
Healy Highlights
Recycling Challenge at Pioneer and Healy!
Pepsi has challenged schools across the US to recycle plastic and glass beverage containers and tin and aluminum cans--and Mrs. Tax’s Intro to Ag class has accepted that challenge.

The competition between Pioneer and Healy has begun--with the kitchens and students in both buildings making time and effort to recycle! The top 25 schools in the nation at the end of April 2019 will win $500, with the top school earning a $5000 reward. Students are volunteering to remove labels and crush the containers. Join us and 'clean up' your act, too!

Here are some facts to get you motivated to recycle: 

  • The U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country in the world at 1,609 pounds per person per year!
  • Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons has become plastic waste. Of that, only 9% has been recycled.
  • A single recycled plastic bottle saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours. It also creates 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution than would be created when making a new bottle
  • According to a study done by the University of Georgia, 18 billion pounds of plastic trash winds up in our oceans each year. To put that in perspective, it’s enough trash to cover every foot of coastline around the world with five full trash bags of plastic --compounding every year!
**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 elementary office who keep things running smoothly!
Yvonne Kisor, Pioneer Elementary Secretary
Hi. I’m Yvonne Kisor. I work in the office at the elementary school. I started with the district back when there was still an Elementary School in Harding. I’ve enjoyed watching the district grow. My favorite part of my job is the kids--watching them learn, laugh and grow. Read more about Yvonne
Shari Sullivan, Pioneer Elementary Secretary
Hello! I’m Shari Sullivan, the elementary school office secretary. I have been working with the Pioneer Elementary since 2003. I am thankful to work with amazing staff and students, as we like to call it - being part of the Pioneer Family. It is a privilege to be part of this community and school district. Read more about Shari
From Pioneer Principal Tom Otte: "Yvonne and Shari are cornerstones for Pioneer Elementary. They are the faces of our school as everyone who enters our building sees these ladies who have all the knowledge and skills to run our building. Yvonne was one of the founders of the Pioneer PTO organization many, many years ago. She knows all the children and many of their parents. In addition to the general operation of our office, she manages our lunch/breakfast programs, daily attendance, and fills in as nurse among an uncountable number of other things. Shari is similar in that she, too, does just about anything that needs doing. She supports our enrollment processing, daily staffing needs, and many daily and weekly operations. When it is all said and done, Shari and Yvonne are making sure Pioneer Elementary functions day after day. We are all so fortunate!"
Pioneer Elementary School News
STARBURST Award Winners at Pioneer!
Last week, Pioneer teachers had the arduous task of picking just one student from each of their classrooms to receive this quarter's Starburst Award. These award winners have gone above and beyond to show this quarter's focus--GRIT. This was a very hard decision! These are students who persevere despite challenges and don't ever give up. They were announced and recognized in front of their peers at the assembly. For their dedication and GRIT, these students received a certificate, a heart footie, and a bag a Starbursts to be shared with their class to show that Starburst Students SHINE and share their goodness with those around them. Congratulations to all our Starburst Students this quarter! Next quarter's focus: GRATITUDE!
Thanksgiving Day Parade Comes to Pioneer
Channeling the Macy's parade inflatables that delight and entertain millions, Miss Dalsted challenged 3rd graders to make their own Thanksgiving Day 'floats'. Using balloons, pipe-cleaners, feathers, googly eyes, ribbons, yarn and whatever else they could get their hands on, students created and will display these for everyone to enjoy!
**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!
Hailey Koch, Sophomore
Nominated by Mrs. Keith: "Hailey is volunteering her time as a Peer Helper in my Social Skills Group every Monday and will be volunteering in the Early Childhood Class. She is always willing to help in anyway she can...most weeks she adds additional things to her to do list related to Peer Helping. I appreciate her enthusiasm and motivation to help others."
Morgen Dobis, Senior
Nominated by Mr. Gruber: "Morgen showed some serious maturity recently, assisting an underclassman catch up on various welding skills the student missed while being out with concussion symptoms. Very impressive!"

Also nominated by Kindergarten teacher, Miss Dalsted: " Morgen is the peer helper in my kindergarten class. Morgen is very responsible and always willing to help out with any project in the classroom. He is wonderful with the kids and has developed very strong bonds with them. The kindergarten kids love Morgen and are always excited when it is their turn to work with him!" 
Upcoming Events
Jr High Band and Choir Concert
Monday, December 10
High School PAC

SH Band and Concert Choir
Monday, December 17
High School PAC

High School Conferences
Wednesday, December 12

No School at Pioneer K-6
Friday, December 14

No School-Winter Break
December 24-January 1


Upcoming Community Ed classes:
Clay Picture Frame
Who: grades K-6
When: November 29 AND December 6. Register here by Tuesday, November 27- c lass size is limited!
(*note the date on the flyer is wrong)

Floral Wreath - Register here
December 6

Youth Wrestling starts December 10 - free but sign up here

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