Pacific Intermediate Newsletter
April 2026
A Word From Our Principal Mr. Agee
Principal’s Corner: April Updates
Spring is officially in the air at Pacific Intermediate! As we enter the final stretch of the school year, our hallways are buzzing with energy and anticipation. April is a pivotal month for us—filled with fine arts performances, transitions for our students, and the beginning of our state assessments.
Here is what you need to know for the month ahead:
🗓️ Important Dates & School Closures
Please update your calendars with the following schedule changes:
Friday, April 3rd: No School (Good Friday)
Monday, April 6th: No School (Professional Development Day)
🎶 Fine Arts Spotlight
Our 5th Grade Concert is scheduled for April 13th at 6:30 pm at Pacific Intermediate. We are so excited to showcase the hard work our students have put into their music. By now, you should have received specific details regarding student drop-off and start times from Mr. Johnson. Please refer to that communication to ensure a smooth evening for our performers.
🏫 Transitioning to 7th Grade
It is hard to believe, but our 6th graders are already preparing for their move to Riverbend! To help ease the transition, we have scheduled building tours:
April 21st: Otoe Tribe
April 23rd: Quapaw Tribe
These trips are a fantastic opportunity for students to walk the halls, meet staff, and get a feel for their new home for the next school year.
📝 MAP Testing: Starting April 27th
Most of our students will begin the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) testing on April 27th. These assessments allow our students to show off everything they’ve learned this year. To help your child perform their best, we ask for your partnership in the following areas:
Restful Sleep: Please help your child maintain a consistent, healthy sleep schedule during the testing window.
Morning Fuel: A hungry brain can’t focus! Remember that breakfast is free for all students.
Punctuality: Testing begins first thing in the morning. Please ensure your child arrives at school on time so they can start their session relaxed and ready.
Quick Test-Taking Tips for Students:
Read Carefully: Don't rush! Read the entire question and all answer choices before selecting one.
Manage Your Time: If you get stuck on a hard question, mark it, move on, and come back to it at the end.
Positive Self-Talk: Remind yourself that you’ve worked hard all year and you are prepared for this!
🎓 Finishing Strong
As the weather gets nicer, it can be tempting to let study habits slide. However, now is the time to stay focused! Please continue to check your child’s grades and ensure all assignments are being completed and turned in. Let’s finish this year with the same momentum we started with.
Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff!
Best regards,
Principal Matt Agee
Pacific Intermediate
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, residents of the Meramec Valley R-III School District will vote on a $43 million general obligation bond issue.
The proposed measure will appear on ballots as Proposition S. If it's approved by at least 57.14% of voters, approximately $38 million of the bond's total would be used to construct a new energy-efficient middle school with a storm shelter to replace Pacific Intermediate.
MVR-III property taxpayers WOULD NOT see property tax rates increase because of an approved bond issue.
Girls Basketball Camp Mrs. Missey
Library News Ms. Tweet
Illini Tribe
Mr. Crabtree~Math
Mr. Gilcrease~Language Arts & Reading
Mr. Wengler~History & Science
Ioway Tribe
Mrs. Alcorn~Math
Mrs. Strauss~History & Science
Mrs. Tandy~Language Arts & Reading
Shawnee Tribe
Ms. Higgins~Math
Mrs. Jackson~ History & Science
Mrs. Menley~Language Arts & Reading
Odyssey
Mrs. Burt
Language Arts
Can you believe how quickly the year has flown by? Students are finishing up Unit 4: Adventures of Don Quixote. In this unit we have learned about character traits. Ask your student to give you examples of how Don Quixote was both brave and foolish at the same time. Students discussed being idealistic vs. realistic, chasing your dreams, and friendship. This book had many great messages that you can discuss with your student. The grammar portion of this unit focused on subject-verb agreement, commas in a series, and persuasive writing. After Easter Break, we will be focusing on reading, grammar, and writing skills in preparation of our end of the year assessments. Please encourage your students to read every day!
Math
Dear Pacific Intermediate Families,
The school year has been going well. I can't believe we are already in the third trimester. It has been great getting to know our students and building relationships. Please know that we are here to support both you and your child throughout this school year. 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 allows students 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, we will start with the decimal unit. We will be operating with decimals, ordering and comparing decimals and fractions, and reading and writing decimals. A big focus this month will be preparing for the MAP test, which will begin the last week of April. We will spend time in class reviewing 5th-grade math content and getting students ready and confident for the MAP test.
Decimal Operations:
Reading and writing decimals
Adding and subtracting decimals
Multiplying and dividing decimals
MAP Prep
Reviewing 5th-grade math concepts
Identifying keywords and information from word problems
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 & History
Fifth graders will be doing one final Mystery Science unit, Stars and Planets. We will also be reviewing science skills from in anticipation of MAP testing.
Fall Cheerleading Registration
Otoe Tribe
Mrs. Beer~Science
Mr. Effan~Social Studies
Mr. McMahon~English
Mrs. Voss~Math
Quapaw Tribe
Mrs. Boling~Social Studies
Ms. Stumborg~English
Mrs. Todahl~Science
Mrs. Weil~ Math
Reading Teachers
Mr. McMahon
Mrs. Meyers
Ms. Stumborg
Odyssey Teacher
Ms. Shearin
6th Grade English: Mr. McMahon & Ms. Stumborg
We are currently working on our unit of research. Students have chosen their topics and will complete research in books and online. We will focus on selecting reliable sources, formulating research questions, and determining the best way to present the information students find.
6th Grade Math: Mrs. Voss & Mrs. Weil
Math will be learning about Mean, Median, Mode, and Interquartile Range before we start MAP review late April. Advanced math will continue with the 7th-grade skills and will cover Expressions and Percents before we start MAP review in late April. Your child may use a calculator in class, so please make sure they have one.
6th Grade Reading: Mr. McMahon, Mrs. Meyers, & Ms. Stumborg
We are reading our second novel of the year, The Unwanteds. The students are really enjoying this work of fiction. We are analyzing the learning standards of theme, plot, conflict, point of view, and citing evidence. We are also discussing dystopian societies, creativity, and individualism.
6th Grade Science: Mrs. Beer & Mrs. Todahl
Students are currently learning about Earth’s structure, including the different layers beneath our feet. We are also exploring plate tectonics and how moving plates cause earthquakes and volcanoes.
6th Grade Social Studies: Mrs. Boling & Mr. Effan
Over the next two months, our Social Studies classes will embark on a journey through Classical Greek and Roman Civilizations. Students will discover how the politics and knowledge of these ancient worlds directly shaped our modern American democracy. By exploring these roots, students will gain a deeper understanding of the powerful connections between classical history and our society today.
MVR-III Summer Discovery
Ms. Diamond and Ms. Speicher
Hello families! We are hopeful you had a lovely Spring Break. We are nearing the end of the year and wow it has gone by fast! Everyone seems to be very tired this time of year and definitely ready for summer, however please encourage your students to keep doing their best to finish strong. If they are struggling or have D’s/F’s, please contact their teacher to discuss ways that students may improve their grade.
5th and 6th graders have been making progress for next year with course registration. Riverbend now has all the information needed for the 6th graders and will be completing their schedules soon. Riverbend tours are coming up and our students are so excited to see what next year has in store for them at a new building. During the tour students will get to meet with current 7th graders, hear about different locations in the building, and eat lunch. It will be a fun day! For our 5th graders, schedules are actively being created!
Last month students in both grades had the opportunity to participate in the Children’s Advocacy Center program called “Body Safety.” This program helps students gain appropriate responses in an effort to help prevent them from becoming a victim of abuse.
This month we will be hosting the CHADS Coalition for Mental Health to present to both our 5th and 6th grade students. The 5th grade presentation is “Empathy and Emotion Management” to help students understand different emotions, and how to process them in healthy ways. This presentation is April 22nd for all 5th graders and will take the place of one of their normal classes. The 6th grade presentation is called “Signs of Suicide" (SOS) and will be offered to students on April 2nd. This is an evidence based program to help students recognize the symptoms of depression or warning signs of suicide in themselves or others, and it teaches appropriate actions they can take to get help. Please note, both of these programs are recommended by the district, but they are voluntary. Parents can opt-out their students if they choose by returning the opt-out form to school.
We will be starting MAP testing the week of April 27th for all 5th graders, and the week of May 4th for all 6th graders. Special education students could be tested earlier based on student needs. Your assistance in helping your child get enough sleep, eat breakfast and arrive at school on time is greatly appreciated. MAP scores are an important reflection of student and district progress; we truly want to see every student reach their full potential.
All the best,
Ms. Jeanne Diamond
5th Grade Counselor
636-271-1425 x 3504
Ms. Ally Speicher
6th Grade Counselor
636-271-1425 x3509
Pacific Intermediate
195 N Indian Pride Dr.
Pacific, MO 63069
Phone: 636-271-1425
Fax: 636-271-1465