Pacific Intermediate Newsletter

Welcome to October!

We're thrilled to have our students back in the classroom for another month. As we kick off the fall season, we have several important announcements and lots of student activities to share.

Coin War Fundraiser and Dodgeball Tournament Get ready for a friendly competition! We'll be starting our annual coin war fundraiser to provide Thanksgiving baskets for families in need. The homerooms that raise the most money will have the opportunity to compete for the coveted dodgeball trophy. Let's work together to make a difference in our community!

Parent-Teacher Conferences If your child has received a D or F in any class, please expect to receive a communication from their teacher during the first full week of October. We encourage you to schedule a conference to discuss your child's progress and explore strategies for improvement.

Homecoming Mark your calendars for our Homecoming celebration on October 17th, which will feature an early dismissal. Let's come together to show our school spirit and celebrate our community. This year’s theme is Pixel Perfect!

Club Day To align with our early release day schedule on October 17th, the October club day will also be held October 17th. Students will want to make sure they are in attendance at school so they can participate in their selected clubs.

Book Fair Information about our upcoming book fair was sent home with students. Be sure to check your child's backpack for details. Don't miss this opportunity to explore new books and add to your home library. The fair runs through October 3rd.

Author Visit We are excited to announce that Pacific Intermediate will be visited by a local author on October 10th. Students will work on creating their own homeroom books during this event. More information will be sent out closer to the date of the event.

Home Football Games We invite our students to attend the homecoming home football game at the high school in October. However, please note that students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Let's show our school spirit and support our athletes!

Red Ribbon Week Get ready to show your school spirit during Red Ribbon Week, which will take place at the end of October, finishing with an assembly on October 31st. A list of spirit days will be available closer to the event.

Halloween Costume Guidelines Students are encouraged to wear costumes on Halloween, but please adhere to the following guidelines:

• No gore or weapons

• No face paint or masks

• No inflatable costumes

Let's have a fun and safe Halloween at Pacific Intermediate!

We look forward to a wonderful year filled with learning, growth, and community involvement.

Matt Agee

Pacific Intermediate Principal

📚✨ Exciting News! ✨📚

Pacific Intermediate is thrilled to host a special Author Visit with local author David Cole on Friday, October 10th! 🎉

David Cole is the author of The Math Kids series, where four friends discover the fun of math all around us—and even use it to solve mysteries! 🧮🔍

Parents can order copies of his books to be delivered the day of the visit by completing the following steps:

• Go to daveColeBooks.com

• Click the Shop link at the top of the page

• Select “Pacific Intermediate - October 10, 2025” from the dropdown menu

• Enter your child's first and last name

• Select which books you want to order

• Check out

We can’t wait for our students to be inspired by this amazing author! 🙌

Mr. Crabtree~Math

Mr. Gilcrease~Language Arts & Reading

Mr. Wengler~History & Science

Mrs. Alcorn~Math

Mrs. Strauss~History & Science

Mrs. Tandy~Language Arts & Reading

Ms. Higgins~Math

Mrs. Jackson~ Science & Social Studies

Mrs. Menley~Language Arts & Reading

Our recent focus has been personal narratives. Our next unit students will be learning about ancient civilizations. Students will be writing about each civilization to compare and contrast. This unit focuses on finding text evidence, affixes, and run-on sentences. Our reading book can be found online through Clever. Students will need to log in using their school email and password.

Dear Pacific Intermediate Families,

We are off to a great start this school year. It has been great getting to know our students and building relationships. Transitioning to a new school can be a big adjustment for many students, and it’s completely normal for them to experience challenges along the way. Please know that we are here to support both you and your child throughout this process. Clear communication between home and school is one of the most important ways we can work together to ensure a smooth and successful year. If questions or concerns come up, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher.

The Importance of Homework
Homework is an essential part of reinforcing daily learning. It gives students the opportunity to practice skills taught in class and build confidence in their abilities. Homework is also a reflection of responsibility and preparation for class. Please help encourage your child to complete and return homework on time each day. It is important to note that homework is not just “50% of their grade”—it plays a significant role in overall success by supporting mastery of skills and readiness for assessments.

What We’re Learning in Math This Month
In math, our focus for the month will be on whole digit number operations. Students will be learning about:

• Multiplication: Multiplying by 1-digit, 2-digit, and 3-digit numbers.
  
  

• Division: Dividing numbers with a 1-digit and 2-digit divisor.

• Order of operations: Following the order of operations to solve multi-step problems.
  
  

• Volume: Introduction to volume.
  
  

Once we build a strong foundation in these areas, we will move on to multi-digit multiplication and division of whole numbers. These skills are key building blocks that will prepare students for even more advanced math concepts throughout the year.

We are so grateful for your partnership and support. Together, we can make this a year full of growth, confidence, and success for every child.

Science: Students are investigating ecosystems and food chains/webs in our Web of Life unit.

History: Students are learning about Westward Expansion, conflicts with Native Americans, and the War of 1812 in our unit titled A New Nation.

Mr. Effan~Social Studies

Ms. Griffin~Science

Mr. McMahon~English

Mrs. Voss~Math

Mrs. Boling~Social Studies

Ms. Stumborg~English

Mrs. Todahl~Science

Mrs. Weil~ Math

Mr. McMahon

Mrs. Meyers

Ms. Stumborg

Language Arts
Our students are currently completing their survey projects, which involve creating charts and graphs to showcase how their classmates responded to questions about their inventions. After receiving feedback from their peers and making necessary edits, they will begin presenting their projects. Looking ahead, our next major assignment will be a narrative essay. This project will allow students to focus on real experiences from their lives. We will start the process by brainstorming specific memories related to events, objects, or people that have had a significant impact on them.

Math
This month, our 6th grade math students are wrapping up their unit on Multiplying and Dividing Fractions. They will soon begin learning about Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying, and Dividing Decimals.
Advanced math students are completing their chapter on Ratios and will transition to a new unit focused on Converting Fractions, Decimals, and Percents.
Students are provided class time to work on homework; any unfinished assignments should be completed at home to ensure they are prepared for the next lesson or assessment. Students should keep their notes and homework organized in their math binders, which they should have in their backpacks.
Please check Infinite Campus regularly for any missing assignments, and ensure your child has pencils for class.

Reading
We will be enjoying Unit 6- Hidden Truths. We will be reading "The Mouse Bride", "The Boatman's Flute", and "Prince and the Pauper". Book Reports will be due October 30th. The book reports can be accessed online.

Science
Homework Check: Please take a moment each night to check in with your child about any homework they may have. Staying on top of assignments is crucial for their success.
New Unit: We have begun an exciting new unit titled “Astronomy and Space.”
Absences and Classwork: If your child has been absent or is struggling to keep up in class, they need to bring home any unfinished work to prevent falling behind.
Supplies Needed: Some students have been forgetting to bring essential supplies such as pencils, red pens, highlighters, and colored pencils. Please check with your child to ensure they have everything they need to succeed.

Social Studies
Ancient History:

Students will conclude their study of Mesopotamia and begin an exciting journey into ancient Egypt. We will investigate the physical landscape and the development of this intricate civilization.

Hello families!

We are excited to say we are over a month into school and we are loving it! Students are settled in and are feeling good about the school year. During the month of September we were able to serve many students and families with our counseling services. It is a joy to share in the celebrations and an honor to hear their challenges. Counseling is a balance of both.

In the classrooms last month we learned about bullying prevention. While many of our students feel confident about prevention, there is an ongoing need to remind students about the risks and consequences of bullying behaviors here at Pacific Intermediate. Students should now feel confident about recognizing when bullying is happening, reporting to a trusted adult, and refusing bullying by being kind and inclusive. Parents, we can use your help to connect school and home by making sure to let us know if you hear about bullying. Please let your child know they can report bullying to any trusted adult at school or at home and give them the clear message that it is never okay to bully others. If you have any questions about our bullying prevention lessons, please let us know. Thank you for helping us make our school a safe, respectful, and caring place where everyone can learn.

This month we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 27th - 31st. This year's theme is “Life is a Puzzle, Solve It Drug Free”. The students will be watching videos throughout the week, having discussions, and learning more about making healthy and safe choices. We will be celebrating with many upcoming contests such as student art, essays, skits, videos, etc. Contest winners will be announced at our assembly on October 31st with the opportunity to present. On Halloween, students will be allowed to wear school appropriate Halloween outfits. Please note, students are not allowed to wear face paint or masks at school.

If the counseling department can be of any assistance to you or your child, please contact us and let us know how we can help.

Best,

Jeanne Diamond

5th Grade Counselor

Ally Speicher

6th Grade Counselor

Pacific Intermediate

195 N Indian Pride Dr.

Pacific, MO 63069

www.mvr3.k12.mo.us

Phone: 636-271-1425

Fax: 636-271-1465