March 25, 2023 - Issue #104

Updated Welding/Metallurgy Area

Updated Woodshop

New Special Education Classroom

Healy High School hosted an Open House night on Wednesday, March 22 to showcase the new industrial technology wing which also houses new agriculture classrooms, a special education classroom, and new hi-tech workspaces.

Community members were able to tour the newly remodeled and updated facilities as well as visit with students who were conducting demos on various equipment. Laser engravers, plasma cutters, 3D printers, and more were on display and are ready for our students to use in these new classrooms.

More details on the expansion have been posted on the district blog.

New Agriculture/FFA Classroom

New Technology Workroom/Laser/3D Printing

Introduction to Ag students experience the Joy of Soy

Students in Introduction to Agriculture are studying the soybean. Perhaps thought of only as livestock feed, the soybean has so many additional uses. Pictured, students are using organic materials to make lip balm as well as soy candles.

Exotic fruit in Nutrition and Wellness

Rick Grammond was a welcomed guest in Mrs. Strohmeier's Nutrition and Wellness classes this week when he brought in a boxful of unidentified fruit. Now, living in central Minnesota, we might think we know all the fruit there is to know: bananas, oranges, apples, grapes - what else could there be? Only about a thousand other varieties, all for purchase from Miami Fruit company. Each week, in-season fruit is harvested and shipped all across America with the goal to make tropical fruit available for all to enjoy.

Mr. Grammond purchased the variety box which had about 20 pieces of fruit for classes to sample: red atemoya, blood orange, small banana, cacao, mamey, cactus fruit, cherimoya, kumquat, passion fruit, yellow dragonfruit, tamarillo, key lime, pomelo, soursop, and sapodilla. Students used the Miami Fruit website to identify the mystery fruits before cutting up each piece to sample. Some were a hit; some were a big miss. But it was fun to learn about and experience something first-hand that they had never heard or seen before.

Special thanks to Mr. Rick Grammond for this idea, purchasing the box, and taking the time to come to the Nutrition and Wellness classes to give our students this experience.

Happenings at Pioneer Elementary

First graders planting greenhouse and enjoying harvest

Last week, first graders teamed up with the Greenhouse Management students at Healy to help plant for this year's school greenhouse. Being genuine green thumb growers, they also planted the hydroponic grow tower at Pioneer earlier this year and were fortunate to reap (and eat!) a bountiful harvest this week.

Author William Durbin visits sixth grade

This week, sixth graders were treated to a visit from Minnesota author William Durbin. Durbin's books are centered around historical fiction: fur trade in Minnesota, midwest logging camps, the Great Depression, and World War II. He talked to students about how he became an author, the writing process and how he created his characters, and answered students' questions about his books. He also conducted an interactive writing workshop with the students. We even had Holy Trinity sixth graders join us for the presentation. 

Pioneer P.R.I.D.E Students in Middle School

February students recognized and rewarded for living out Pioneer PRIDE

Each month, teachers have the opportunity to recognize and nominate students from each grade in 5-8. The selected students are then narrowed down to just two recipients of the Pioneer PRIDE award from each grade. Each month, we will feature the winners from each grade.

Perseverance Respect Integrity Discipline (self) Empathy



These are five of the characteristics our students strive to exhibit throughout the day here at Pierz Schools. Teachers are encouraged to nominate students each month whom they feel are strong leaders among their peers using these character traits. A committee of teachers, counselors, and administrators then choose two students from each grade as recipients of the PRIDE award. Students get their choice of Subway or Red’s for lunch, a sign for their locker, and have their names and pictures displayed in the hallways. Congratulation to ALL the nominees!

Mason Ausmus (6th), Sandy Kloss (6th), Alexis Wenner (5th), Leah Gotvald (5th).

Brooklyn Hanneken (7th), Madalyn Millner (8th), Gabe Stangl (8th). Not pictured, Camren Waytashek (7th).

Upcoming Community Education Adult Classes

First Aid Certification, April 3, 6:00pm RESCHEDULED from an earlier date. Taught by Rachel Young

Register for summer baseball or softball! Boys in grades 2-7 can sign up for JVL and girls in grades 3-11 can sign up for JO Softball. Both links and details are in the webstore. The deadline is April 3.

The 30-hour driver's education course for students will be offered this summer starting on June 12 and again on July 31. To register, students must be 14 years of age by the first day of class.

Pierz Public Schools #484

newsletter@pierz.k12.mn.us

District Office: 320.468.6458

112 Kamnic Street, Pierz, MN 56364

www.pierzschools.org