WELLNESS CHALLENGE ALERT!
Breakfast is an important part of your day! Watch the video below, and then send us a picture of YOUR healthy breakfast for a chance to win! You can post or send to our Facebook page or in a chat to Mrs. Zacaroli. One randomly-drawn winner from each grade level will win a Tim Horton's card. (Yes, you CAN find healthy choices anywhere if you look for them!) Enter as many times as you like, and help your grade win the MOST challenges this year! This challenge ends at 2:30 p.m. on October 31st. Happy breakfast-ing!
https://youtu.be/UEQwTyQxejc
TEAMS UPDATE! Check this out! Now you can see ALL assignments at once!!! I just tried it on my own kids' Teams and it is going to make life so much easier!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLr59ngYfUo
A message from Ms. Prorok: A letter is being mailed home explaining the importance of remote learning while not at school. Please work with your child to develop a schedule to complete work daily when remote. If students are not attempting to do the work remotely and not in communication with teachers to get assistance if needed, they will be marked "remote absent" and could receive a zero for missing work.
Please partner with us as we work to make this challenging year a positive learning experience for our students.
GOOD MORNING, Pioneer Middle School!
Please make sure that you are in communication with your teachers today if you have questions or concerns. Your teachers have office hours and/or Zoom meetings so they can help!
Please also look at your chats on Teams. These are not intended for socializing with friends, and many of you have so many chats that you may be missing important ones from your teachers. Teachers are trying to contact students who have not turned in work or whose work needed revision, and they are not hearing back from you, so please check!
If you are having tech issues, use the SysAid app on your home screen, email techsupport@pioneerschools.org, or call 716-492-9330 and leave a message. Leave your name and contact information, and make sure your voicemail works.
We are working hard to get into the groove, and we can see that you are, too. We are constantly evaluating and adjusting to try to make a difficult situation workable, and we appreciate all of your support. Work hard, persevere, be kind...and have a fantastic day! 💚🤍💚🤍💚
Don't forget your ITS resources! The tutorials in particular can help with accessing, completing, and turning in assignments. (Be sure to click "turn in"!) There is also information on contacting the ITS department.
https://www.pioneerschools.org/o/pioneer-csd/page/welcome-to-its--2
REMINDERS: At the Middle School, students who engage in 100% remote learning will have access to the same curriculum as those students in our hybrid model. This will help ensure that all students have the same content information, making for a smooth eventual return to 100% in-person instruction. Students will be assigned to a homebase, so they will have contact with that teacher as well as those providing the content for each course. They will engage in the same at-home curriculum as our hybrid students do on the days they are at home. Students will not spend the equivalent of an entire school day on remote learning and will not be expected to "attend" classes in real time; this means the time of day they complete work will be flexible. Our remote students will be free to contact teachers via phone, email, or Teams. Teachers will respond back to students during their office hours or on Wednesdays. They also have a team from AP Slocum and their counselor for support. Students can expect more personalized contact from teachers on Wednesdays in particular, as our model allows teachers some additional "office hours" for that very purpose. We will adjust as necessary to ensure that all Pioneer Middle School students are engaged in meaningful learning, regardless of their location. We are recommending 20 minutes per day per subject when on remote. The difference with 100% remote students is that the need for internet access is much greater, where we are hoping to keep internet access minimal for hybrid learners.
Please contact us by phone or email with questions or concerns; comments and replies to comments can get missed. This is not easy, but together we can do it!
STUDENT PICKUP SAFETY: When you are picking students up at the Middle School, they need to enter the vehicle on the passenger side. Other vehicles could be moving by on the driver side, and we need to keep our kids safe. We will make an announcement reminding students of this as well.
THANK YOU for all of your help in making this process go smoothly. We feel so fortunate to have such amazing families!
DEVICE UPDATE: We are definitely aware that some 7th grade students have not received their tablets yet. Our IT department is in daily contact with Erie 1 BOCES regarding this. Dell is having a hard time fulfilling orders, and there is a nationwide shortage of devices of all brands. We should have more information in the next few days. In the meantime, teachers are certainly not holding students accountable for work that cannot be completed and are providing alternate materials in person to allow instruction to proceed. Thank you to our staff and our families for your patience.
100% REMOTE UPDATE:
You will receive a robocall tonight, but we wanted you to know that Middle School students who are 100% remote learners may pick up devices and materials on Friday, September 11th from 3-5pm here at the Middle School.
Please do not be concerned about what your child is "missing" while other students are here in person. The students in the building are learning our "new normal" routines, getting reacquainted with one another, and learning about expectations. Remote students will in no way be behind!
Take care, and we'll see you Friday!
For those who have commented that you did not receive high school or middle school bus information, we reached out to First Student. Bus routes are complete and calls were made. However, there were a lot of wrong numbers and numbers that would not accept voicemail. (That happens to us at school very often, too!) Staff will be in at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow, so if you need to check, please call (716) 492-1981.
I know it's difficult, but please be patient. This was an ENORMOUS undertaking completed in a very short amount of time. Our bus garage staff and drivers are doing their best, just like the rest of us. Enjoy the rest of your day--here's hoping the crazy weather has passed!
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
If you'd like to "meet" our teachers, please visit our website at https://www.pioneerschools.org/o/pioneer-middle/page/orientation-teacher-presentations-2020-21
This is on the Middle School page, under "Our School."
Also, a number of you have asked about start time. Students need to get to classrooms for homebase at 7:35, so if you are dropping a student off in the morning AND that student does not need to get breakfast, you may find yourself in less traffic if you arrive closer to the start time; once students begin unloading, the line should move quickly. Just a suggestion....
Remember, PATIENCE AND FLEXIBILITY. We'll keep working together until we get it smoothed out (at which point, requirements will change on us, but let's get through a week before we worry about that).
Can't wait to see you tomorrow!
UPDATE FOR 100% REMOTE STUDENTS:
You will soon receive a robocall indicating the day and time of device/materials pick-up. At that time, you will receive more detailed instructions; look for a letter from Assistant Principal Slocum with important details and contact information; she will be your go-to person for many of your questions while you are learning from home. Our IT staff remain available to help, and your teachers will be providing you with the content you need. We are excited to get started with our 2020-21 school year, and we are working hard to make sure that you have the same level of support as students we see in the building for our hybrid model!
Friendly reminders for those parents dropping students off at school, beginning Tuesday:
--Students may not be dropped off before 7:15 a.m.
--Please obey signs and lane markers, as well as our SRO and other staff who may be directing traffic for everyone's safety.
--Our parking lot was designed for "the old days," when most students rode the bus. Unfortunately, we have yet to discover a way to separate the drop off area from staff parking, so be aware that if you arrive early, staff will be trying to park and walk in. Keep everyone safe.
--Please keep the line moving forward.
--Please remind students to wear masks and maintain social distance during arrival.
--Students who walk home or are picked up will be released at approximately 2:20.
--Be patient with other drivers and with the process. It WILL TAKE TIME for everyone to get in the flow. Expect delays the first few times.
--We will revise procedures as needed, but SAFETY is our top priority.
--THANK YOU for your assistance transporting students. Your teamwork is greatly appreciated.
Return to Learn information from Ms. Prorok!
We're gearing up for opening! We've been rearranging classrooms, marking spaces with social distance reminders, and preparing mailings about groupings and teacher assignments, which are going out today. Please note that some information needs to be returned to us in the included postage-paid envelope.. You'll receive more details about re-opening procedures like arrival and dismissal next week, too, so stay tuned!
SUPPLY LISTS! Please note, hand sanitizer may NOT be transported on the school bus; we will have plenty here at school, or your child may bring it when transported by a parent.
PCS is looking for input from parents seeking a full-time remote learning option for their child in 2020-21. Please complete the survey at the following link; one response per household. Note that you will need to fill out all required fields, including students' names, name of parent/guardian, and contact information. Thanks! https://tinyurl.com/yyu5wu4a
The Pioneer COVID-19 Reopening committee is conducting an online parent survey to help us shape the restart of school this fall. One response per household please. https://tinyurl.com/y2clz25k
Incoming 5th graders, did you sign up for chorus or an instrument? If you missed it, here's the link! Please sign up right away!
https://sites.google.com/view/pioneermiddlemusic/home