Pioneer Press
October 31, 2025
Message from Principal Fernandes
Cell Phones & Bus Behavior Reminders
At Pioneer, we want every student to have a safe and positive school experience — from the time they arrive at the bus stop to the moment they head home.
Cell Phones: A reminder that student cell phones must remain “off and away” during the school day. Taking or pretending to take photos or videos of others without permission is not appropriate and may be considered harassment. Please help reinforce this expectation at home so our classrooms and hallways stay focused on learning.
Bus Behavior: Riding the bus is a privilege and part of the school day. Students are expected to remain seated, use respectful language, and follow driver directions at all times. Unsafe or disruptive behavior may result in bus referrals or loss of bus privileges.
Thank you for helping us keep our school and buses safe, respectful, and distraction-free for all students!
Mrs. Fernandes
News from ELA
6th Grade
Sixth graders are wrapping up their study of Greek myths and are starting to learn about The Hero's Journey through the story of Taran in The Book of Three. Spelling lessons began this week, and students will have a spelling test every Friday.
6th graders also presented their Solo Medieval WebQuest to help prepare for their journey to the 1500s in the Book of Three. In this presentation, students researched vital aspects of life during the 1500s and how they compare to today. They explored medical treatments, toys, weapons, education, socioeconomic frameworks, fashion, and much more!
7th Grade
Seventh graders have been practicing their paragraph writing skills and reading a variety of short stories throughout the month of October. Students have reviewed plot and will be learning to analyze themes and figurative language in the coming weeks.
7th graders in Ms. Stewart's class started reading the modern classic The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. Some parents will remember it from their middle school years!
8th Grade
This month, students in Mrs. Marrero's ELA classes engaged in a collaborative inquiry research project exploring the impact of the Great Depression in Washington State. Working in groups, they investigated how local economic and social conditions shaped communities during this challenging era. Each group then connected their findings to the remarkable story of the University of Washington rowing team and their inspiring victory at the 1936 Olympic Games. Through research and presentations, students developed deeper historical understanding and discovered how perseverance and teamwork can emerge even in the toughest times.
In Mr. Milton's class, we have been reading and reviewing Creepy Stories (for October), and we'll start Gratitude Month next week.
Child Nutrition Eligibility & Education Benefit
The Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits for Families Affected by the Government Shutdown
Due to the federal government shutdown, households of furloughed employees may be eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits. A furlough is a unique situation where households may not have information on the duration of the furlough or the ultimate impact on the household income. While free or reduced-price meal eligibility is intended to reflect actual annual income, applications may reflect the current household situation.
Families whose household income has been impacted by the government shutdown are encouraged to apply for free/reduced-price meal benefits for their student(s). Information on completing the application form can be found on the district's website here.
Should the economic hardship due to the furlough be remedied, families whose applications were approved should terminate or update their free/reduced price status.
Please reach out to studentnutrition@steilacoom.k12.wa.us if you have questions or need additional assistance.
Additional food resources:
Emergency Food Network
November Lunch Menu
Picture Retakes are ready!
Food Drive
Buy a Yearbook!
Sports Updates
Baseball end of season banquet:
Tuesday, November 4th
3:30 pm to 5:30 pm in the cafeteria
No transportation provided
Fastpitch end of season banquet:
Wednesday, November 5th
4:00 pm - 7:30 pm in the cafeteria
No transportation provided
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Season 2
Tryouts November 11th - 14th
Girls' Basketball
Co-Ed Wrestling
Boys' Soccer
Register for Sports in Final Forms, use the link below:
https://steilacoomhist-wa.finalforms.com/
Dance team practice schedule November & December
School Clubs
Tuesdays
Gay Straight Alliance (GSA)/Equity Club – 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 - Cafeteria with Mrs. Holyfield
Transportation:
After-school activity buses are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students attending school clubs. Click here for route information.
Coming Up!
November 5th - ACE Day - 1:40 pm release time
November 10th - Veterans Day Assembly - Pioneer Gym
November 10th - November 21st - School Food Drive
November 11th - Veterans Day - NO SCHOOL
November 19th - ACE Day - 1:40 pm release time
November 26th - Half day - 11:40 am release time
November 26th - 27th - Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL
December 9th - Band Winter Concert - 6:30 pm - Pioneer Gym
December 16th - Choir Winter Concert - 6:30 pm - Pioneer Gym
December 19th - School Winter Assembly - Pioneer Gym
See our website for more information: https://pio.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/
Important Information from the Main Office
Dropping Off Your Student in the Parking Lot
To keep traffic flowing smoothly and ensure everyone’s safety, please do not drop your student off in the parking lot without first parking in a space. Students should only exit safely from a parked vehicle and walk to school.
🚫 Handicap parking spaces and surrounding areas are strictly reserved—please do not use them for drop-off or pick-up.
Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe!
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🌐 Skyward Family Access
Families can find a variety of important information in Skyward Family Access, including:
Grades
Bus route information
Lunch account number and balance
Locker combination
Student ID numbers (used to check out library books, sign in when tardy, request counselor appointments, and more)
Use the link below to access your Skyward account:
👉 Skyward Family Access
If you need help with your login or password, please email us at pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us.
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🕒 Pioneer Main Office Hours
Our office is open Monday–Friday, 7:40 AM to 3:30 PM.
If you contact us after business hours, please leave a voicemail or send us an email. Our contact information is below:
📞 Call 253-583-7200 and leave a voicemail
✉️ Email pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us
Voicemails and emails are checked the following school day. If a return call is needed, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible—there’s no need to leave multiple messages.
