Pioneer Press

🎉 Pioneer PTA Fundraiser Kickoff! 🎉

Annual All-School Fundraiser | October 6–17

Our amazing PTA is launching this year’s all-school fundraiser—and we’re excited to get started!

💻 No envelopes—donate online instead!

💰 Or join the fun during Silver Sabotage Week!

💡 Our Goal & Impact

Help us reach our $12,000 goal!

Just $25 per student funds incredible activities like:

🎓 8th-Grade Promotion

🎉 Field Day

🏕️ 6th-Grade Camp

Your support directly enriches our students’ school experience!

🗓️ Key Dates

October 6–17: Online Donations Open

October 13–17: Silver Sabotage Week

Bring cash & silver coins to deduct points from rival grades!

📣 PTA Volunteers will be handing out flyers:

Monday (before school): Drop-Off Area

Tuesday (after school): Bus Loop

🎁 Incentives for Students

🏫 Schoolwide Goal ($12,000): Dunk Tank at Field Day!

🏆 Classroom Goal: Any 1st period class raising $500+ wins donuts

👕 Top 10 Students per Grade: Prize Grab Bag + T-shirt

🍕🍦 Winning Grade: PTA Lunchroom Takeover – Pizza + Ice Cream Party!

💻 How to Give

👉 Donate online here: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/pioneermspta/campaigns/2025silversabotage

Thank you for your generosity—every dollar makes a difference!

💙 Thank You, PTA! A huge shoutout to our incredible Pioneer PTA for organizing this event and supporting our students all year long. Their dedication makes experiences like Field Day, 6th Grade Camp, and Promotion possible!

Medical Detectives

Students in Ms. Joslin's Medical Detectives classes recently completed research on a medical career. Students took a quiz to discover careers they might be interested in, and then narrowed the results to one career which they researched and created informative posters about. Students are now beginning a unit on medical terminology.

Spanish

The students in Spanish class just completed their first exam. Among other things we looked and discussed how much of the Spanish speaking world is in the southern hemisphere and the seasons are flip flopped. What might Christmas look like when it is in the early summer and people head for the beaches? They are now beginning to gear-up for the El Día de Los Muertos holiday and fiesta.

German

The German class is working on beginning conversational phrases and is looking into the history and foods of the Oktober Fest celebration. Many are not aware that it started in 1810 and was a wedding celebration.

Art

Our 6th–8th grade artists have been bursting with creativity this fall!

The 7th and 8th graders kicked off the year by designing vibrant Self-Identity

Portfolios using colorful paper mosaics to share their unique interests and stories.

They’ve also practiced viewing and discussing artwork without judgment, learning to see art through fresh perspectives. Currently, they’re diving into realistic drawing

techniques with graphite pencils, exploring shading, value, and texture—their curiosity and talent are shining bright!

Meanwhile, our 6th graders have been on a creative adventure through the elements of art. They grew bold geometric trees, experimented with neurographic art using organic shapes and calming techniques, and are now filling the room with autumn spirit as they craft whimsical fall scarecrows with oil pastels.

The art room is alive with imagination, color, and excitement—it’s been a fantastic

season of artistic growth!

Physical Education

The Physical Education classes are all hard at work improving their health. Both the 7th, and 8th grade PE students have completed all pre-assessments for aerobic capacity, muscular strength/endurance, and flexibility.

The 6th grade classes have moved into the Health curriculum and will be working on which food choices constitute “good versus poor” nutrition.

The 7th grade classes are learning the ins and outs of the game of hockey. The

8th grade students are engaged in their pickleball unit. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US, and is a combination of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. It is lots of fun, if you have not tried it!

🎓 Attention 8th Grade Pioneer Families! 🎓

Don’t forget to purchase your Baby Ad for the yearbook!

Baby Ads are a special way for parents, guardians, and loved ones to celebrate their graduating eighth graders with a baby photo and a heartfelt message.

📸 Cost: $12 (paid directly to Mrs. Ruby)

📧 Submit:

• A digital baby photo to Dr. Pilon at mpilon@steilacoom.k12.wa.us

• A short message to be printed next to the photo

• Be sure to include your student’s first and last name when submitting

Celebrate your student’s journey and create a lasting memory in this year’s Pioneer Yearbook!

Tuesdays

• Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) – Room A101 with Mrs. Percefull

• Christian Faith Group (CFG) – Room B103 with Mrs. Vaccaro

Thursdays

• Pokémon Go! Club – Room E129 with Mrs. Elshire

• Game Club – Room A202 with Mr. Milton

Builder's Club will be starting soon! Stay tuned - more details will be shared in the coming week!

Transportation:
After-school activity buses are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students attending school clubs. Click here for route information.

If your student will be tardy or absent, please call 253-583-7205 and leave a voicemail (we receive a high volume of calls), or email us at pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us.

When leaving a message or sending an email, be sure to include:

• Your student’s full name

• Their grade

• The reason for the tardy or absence

✅ No need to call back to confirm—we check both voicemails and emails regularly.

Thank you for helping us keep our attendance records accurate!

October 15th - ACE Day - 1:40 pm release time

October 20th - 24th - Fall Conferences - Half Day release for students (11:40 am)

October 21st - Picture Retakes - 8:30 am - 11:30 am in auxiliary gym

October 29th - ACE Day - 1:430 pm release time

October 30th - Fall Social - more information to come!

See our website for more information: https://pio.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/