PES Newsletter

What a wonderful first 9 weeks it has been here at school! I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all who attended and supported our recent Grandparents Day and Parent-Teacher Conferences. These events are always such special times for our students, and your participation helps strengthen the connection between home and school. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to be involved in your child’s education!

As we look ahead, the next two months will be very busy and exciting. We’ll be celebrating the holidays with our Thanksgiving Break, preparing for our Christmas programs, and then enjoying some well-deserved rest during Christmas Break. We will also be working on our ILEARN checkpoint assessments, helping us measure student progress and guide instruction.

In addition, our 5th and 6th grade boys’ basketball season is about to begin—best of luck to our players and coaches as they get ready for a great season! Our cheerleading team will be attending games to cheer on our Panthers as well as bringing in school spirit! The Robotics team has been preparing for their upcoming 3 competitions. Stay charged and positively electric out there! Spell Bowl is also underway. Wishing you an un-BEE-lievable victory—spell your way to the top!

I want to give a huge shout out and THANK YOU to our Girls Leadership Club for helping with Live United Day. Our courtyard looks amazing thanks to your hard work. And another to the Student Council. You have been keeping school moral up with all the fun treats and incentives!

With the change of seasons, please remember that colder weather is on the way. Make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately for the weather—coats, hats, and gloves will help keep everyone warm during recess and bus rides. Also, please stay alert for weather-related announcements, as conditions can change quickly this time of year. Be sure to check for possible school delays or cancellations through our usual communication channels.

And last but not least, thank you again for your continued support and partnership. It’s a joy to work with such caring families and dedicated students. Let’s make the most of these next couple of months as we finish the semester strong!

Warm regards,

Mr. Quillen

The meals for the 24th and 25th have been switched!

Forms have been sent home with students. For a Veteran to attend, the form HAS to be filled out and returned by November 10th!

Please provide the school with any pictures of your Veteran for our slideshow by November 10th. You may send these to shidlert@pioneer.k12.in.us.

Tara Shidler has been PES's Secretary for 12 years now! Mrs. Shidler is a Pioneer grad and attended Ball State University.

One thing that Mrs. Shidler likes most about her position is that every day she gets to see and talk to so many students and staff members. She loves that each day can bring something different to her job!

When asked what her favorite memory so far is, she stated, "I really enjoyed dressing up like Mr. Berry with the office staff last year!"

Mrs Shidler has always been part of the Pioneer Community and hopes to always be. She states, "I have grown up in this community and now my kids are too. I really appreciate all the support the community gives to one another. Pioneer is so tight knit and comes with many friends that become like family."

Thanks for keeping this place running smoother than the copier on a good day — and that’s saying something!

Krista Reeser has been Pioneer Elementary's Treasurer for 2 years. Mrs. Reeser was a Pioneer graduate and has a Bachelors of Science in Landscaping Architecture from Purdue.

Mrs. Reeser states that she enjoys helping the Pioneer staff in any way she can and making their lives a bit easier. She says, "I love being part of a team that makes a difference for our students. As a treasurer I get to turn ideas into realities by managing the financial side!"

Mrs. Reeser's favorite memory at Pioneer is when the office staff dressed up as the Golden Girls and walked in the Panther Prowl together. She was Rose, Miss Shedron was Blanche, Mrs. Shidler was Dorothy, and Mrs. Ulrich was Sophia.

When asked what she loves about the Pioneer Community, she stated, "Is the feeling of being part of something. It is close-knit and genuine. You really feel like you are a part of a community that supports and encourages each other."

Thank you, Mrs. Reeser! You’re the real change-maker around here!

Betsy Ulrich has been our Assistant Food Service Director for the last 4 years. Betsy attended Trine University and has a Bachelor of Science. She was graduated with Magna Cum Laude!

Mrs. Ulrich was asked what she likes most about her job. She replied with, "Oh, without a doubt it's the interactions with the kids. Their unsolicited hugs and willingness to share about their lives is very rewarding. Being seen as a friend and trusted but fun adult certainly fills my soul."

Mrs Ulrich's favorite memories involve all the students who have brought interesting things to school, including a pet rat in a lunch box! Yikes! What a memory!

When asked what she loves about the Pioneer Community, Mrs. Ulrich says, "The family atmosphere would rank pretty high! I'm a Logansport Berry transplant that married into Pioneer country. All five of my step-children graduated from Pioneer."

Thank you for all you do! You really served up some happiness each day!

"Calan is a quiet Little Panther who appreciates the routines of the pre-k classroom. He performs his morning arrival procedures independently. Unless he is fast asleep at nap time, his imagination is ALWAYS on the move, He loves to roar like a dinosaur and enjoys playing with farm toys. He is dearly loved by his teachers and classmates."

-Mrs. Hildebrand

"Remi is a kind and thoughtful classmate who loves to help others. She takes pride in her work and always gives her best. She has a fun and positive attitude and I am so glad she is in my class this year!"

-Mrs. Manges

"Aly is such a good helper and friend to all. She works hard each day and brings a smile to everyone's face!"

-Mrs. Cowell

"Scarlett Farrer works hard and shows the Panther spirit in helping others. She is kind, funny, and a good role model for other students."

-Mrs. Sparks

"Alexandria is kind and a very sweet girl. She works really hard each day!”

-Mrs. Zech

"This month, I am excited to celebrate Raelynn Haas! She puts forth her best effort each and every day in class! When given a task, Raelynn gets started right away, stays focused on the task, and ALWAYS does her personal best to complete the assignment. On top of being a great student, Raelynn is also respectful, an amazing friend to others, and is a role model for other classmates. I'm so proud of her and I can't wait to see her continue to soar in fourth grade. Keep it up Raelynn!"

-Mrs. Roller

"Hazel has made great progress in her schoolwork and is starting to show more leadership in class. She works hard to be a better student, joining in activities and helping her classmates. Hazel shows a positive attitude and is always willing to try new things to keep improving.”

-Miss Gleitz

"Edwin has been working hard and giving his best effort each day. He has approached challenging work with a positive attitude and continues to show great progress. Keep it up!"

-Mrs. Cogswell

Girls Leadership Club was able to help our school this past month in several ways! We did trash pick up after school to assist our custodial staff, helped fund extra stone in our landscaping, and gave funding towards the library transformation for our October Author of the Month! GLC is also thrilled to announce a new grant option for our teachers to help with student engagement. Each grade level currently has the opportunity to receive $50 for materials that promote student engagement with our curriculum. This month, 3rd grade received funding for materials to support their space and Native American units, and 1st grade was able to purchase items for their space unit as well. Our hope is to be able to offer larger grants soon!

Don't forget, when your student is sent home for vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, they need to be symptom free for 24 hours before returning. Please do not send them back to school the following day!

Click on the image to find out how to make your favorite staff member's day a little better!

Click the link to access the Google Form!

Click on the image to sing up or manage an account!

Click on the image to apply!

Click on the image to be taken to the 2025-2026 PES Student Handbook!

Click the image to take you to the site!

You can still purchase a 2024-2025 Yearboook!

Please make sure to send the order form & money enclosed in an envelope!

Checks or cash are accepted. All checks can be made payable to Pioneer Elementary.

This year we are partnering with SchoolStore to raise money to help purchase tools and materials to help our students and teachers!

Click the logo to take you to the site!

Box Tops is making it easy! Download the FREE app on your phone. Buy products with the Box Tops logo and then scan your receipt on your app. Help earn money for our school!

Click the image to take you to the site!

At Pioneer Elementary School, we use a tool called Rooms to communicate with parents & guardians. If you are not signed up for this, you should have received an email and/or a text message last week. Here are guidelines for how to proceed from that email or text message.

We request your assistance supporting our students and school. We know that our children learn from adults who care about them. Giving your time, talent and ability will not only help our school, but will enhance our children's learning. Please join us in volunteering where your time allows. All volunteers must pass a background check. Forms are on file for 5 years. If you do not have one on file, or yours needs updated, a background check will be sent home with your student for you to fill out and return.

Click the image to take you to the Google Form!