Pioneer Family Times 10/18

“Each of us deserves

the freedom to pursue

our own version of happiness.

No one deserves to be bullied.”

- Barack Obama

Greetings Pioneer Students & Families:

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, an important reminder of our shared responsibility to create a school community where every student feels safe, valued, respected, and accepted. At Pioneer High School, we believe in inclusion, kindness, and celebrating the differences that make our community so special. Every student deserves to feel that they belong and have the opportunity to thrive.

Pioneer High School does not condone bullying in any form. We are committed to fostering a positive, supportive environment where students can learn, grow, and be themselves without fear of being bullied, harassed, or excluded.

We also want every student to know that they do not have to navigate these experiences alone. Our entire staff is here to support you. If you or someone you know is experiencing bullying, please reach out to a trusted adult in the building, your school counselor, or any member of our administrative team. We take these concerns seriously and are committed to listening, providing support, and working to ensure that all students feel safe and heard. Thank you for partnering with us to make Pioneer High School a community where every student belongs, every student matters, and every student is supported.

Be Bold! Be Brave! Be Extraordinary! Be a Pioneer!

Be Nice,

Your Pioneer Administration Team

(Ms. Claar, Ms. Roberts, Ms. Stevenson, Mr. Wade, and Mr. Smith)

Congratulations to the students that were honored in Pioneer's first National German Honor Society! Members in this organization must:

1. have completed 5 semesters (2.5 years) of German.

2. be currently enrolled in a German course.

3. achieved at least a B+ in German during the most recent grading period.

4. maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.

Fifteen members of the Pioneer Choirs were selected to the Michigan School Vocal Music Association Region C High School Honors Choir! To be considered, students submitted an audition video of them singing their part to a specific choral work, a cappella, and were adjudicated based on tone, intonation, and musicianship. The top 170 students were selected, and will perform in December.

Congratulations to the following students who auditioned for and were accepted into the MSVMA Region C High School Honors Choir:

Anna Callaghan '28, Soprano 1

Riley Dominick '27, Soprano 1

Noel Gozon '28, Bass 2

Liam Kaleba '28, Tenor 1

Caleb Kang '28, Bass 2

Noel Kotre '29, Soprano 2

Edie Kupetz '29, Alto 2

Tara Lee '29, Soprano 1

Addy Peterson '29, Alto 2

Abigail Pritchard '27, Soprano 1

Eva Rutyna '27, Soprano 2

Erik Saran '28, Bass 2

Theo Sprauer '27, Bass 2

Ella Wright '28, Soprano 2

Bowen Zou '28, Tenor 2

• 7:00 All Hallows Band Concert

Wednesday, 10/21: COLLEGE WEAR WEDNESDAYS

• Club Fair - Club Fair Schedule

• PSAT Make-Up

Friday, 10/23: PIONEER PRIDE

• 10/27: SAEBRS Survey

• 11/3: No School for Students & Staff (Election Day)

• 11/4: School Pictures (Make Up) & Curriculum Design District PL

• 11/5 AMC Math Competition

• 11/10: Coffee w/ the Principals & Parent Teacher Conferences #2

• 11/12-11/15: PTG Presents: Hadestown

• 11/17: 8th Grade Parent Night
• 11/25-11/27: No School for Students & Staff (Late Fall Break)

To access our full building calendar, please visit the Pioneer School Site and click on the CALENDAR link.

To view all Pioneer athletic events please click on the schedule below:

Pioneer Athletics Events

Pioneer Athletics Page

Follow Pioneer Athletics on X @AAPioneerSports

To the Parents/Guardians of Pioneer High School Students,

As part of our continuing efforts to support student well-being, Pioneer High School will administer a brief, universal screening of social, emotional & behavioral well-being to all students. Below, you will find more information about the screener, including how the information will be used. Please take a moment to review this information. If you do not want your student to participate, you may use the link provided to opt out.

Sincerely,

Desmond Smith

Principal, Pioneer High School

Ann Arbor Public Schools

STUDENT WELL-BEING SCREENER DISCLOSURE

Pioneer staff care deeply about our students and want to make sure they have the support they need to be successful in school. As part of this effort, Pioneer High School will administer a brief self-report screener to all students. Students will answer questions about their social, emotional, and behavioral experiences at school.

We will use the mySAEBRS (Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener), a research-validated screening measure. Information from the screener helps us better understand the needs of our student population and identify students who may benefit from additional support. The information can also help us plan supports at the school, classroom, and individual levels.

The screener will be administered at Pioneer High School on October 27, 2026, and again on a date to be determined in the spring.

A member of the Pioneer screening team may follow up with a student if their responses indicate that additional support may be helpful. A student's screening results do not mean that a student has a mental health or behavioral disorder, and the screener is not used to diagnose a mental health condition.

If you would like additional information about the screener or the student supports available at Pioneer High School, please contact Dr. Emily Sportsman, School Psychologist, at sportsman@aaps.k12.mi.us, or your student's school counselor.

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

Results of this screener will only be reviewed by district mental health professionals and shared with appropriate staff and/or parents on a need to know basis. The screener is not being used to provide a diagnosis or to treat any mental health conditions, but rather as a guide to determine the current behavioral well-being of our student population.

OPT OUT

If you have no objection to the screener, no further action is necessary, and your student will participate.

If you would prefer that your student NOT participate in this screening during this school year, please complete this form by Friday, 10/23/26. If you have multiple students at Pioneer, please complete the survey for each student.

Consent for Opt Out

The Pioneer PTSO will be hosting a Bake Sale on Friday, October 23rd outside the cafeteria during both lunches. All items will be $1 and proceeds will benefit Bon Voyage 2027. To donate baked good please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044AADAE2AA6FFC16-66776771-bonvoyage#/

School Board Candidate Resources:

The PTOC board has prepared a list of school board candidate resources for voters to review while deciding how to vote in the upcoming election. Our goal is to collect ALL publicly available forums, interviews, and questionnaires in one easy-to-reference place. We do not plan to share any endorsements or analyses in an effort to maintain overall neutrality as an organization. PTOC 2026 AAPS School Board Candidate Resources

My Future Fund:

Rise and Shine Breakfast - My Future Fund, November 10, 2026, 8:30a - 10:00 a. Morris Lawrence Building - Washtenaw Community College. Washtenaw County students grades 1st - 8th. Savings Account deposit for eligible students.

PTOC Meetings:

The PTOC meets the 4th Monday of each month, via Zoom. All are welcome to attend; this is not just meant for PTOC reps! The PTOC is also looking for volunteers to join their board and equity committee. Lastly, the PTOC has a school board liaison who will be providing summaries throughout the year. Self-subscribe to the PTOC announcement group and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Help us celebrate our amazing Pioneer Teachers and Staff! Purchase an Achatz pie to donate to our Teacher and Staff Appreciation Drawing. Every pie you buy earns $5 for Pioneer Orchestras and increases the chances of our staff winning a delicious treat!

How It Works:

CLICK HERE to purchase an Achatz pie through the Pioneer Orchestra Parents Society Pie Sale Oct 7-21. Staff will enter their names in an electronic survey for a chance to win. On October 22nd, we’ll draw winners based on the number of pies donated! Winning pies will be delivered by POPS or picked up by you on November 13.

This is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude for the hard work our teachers and staff do every day while at the same time supporting our orchestras!

For questions, contact POPS pie sale rep Jennifer Corey at jencorey22@gmail.com.

Thank you for your generous pie donation! Let's show our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them!

Students enrolled in AP courses this year, as well as students who are self-studying for AP exams, must complete the required exam registration and payment steps by Friday, October 30.

• Pioneer students enrolled in an AP Class: After you submit payment through MyPaymentsPlus, the AP Coordinator will complete your exam registration through your AP Classroom within 48 hours.

• Students who are self-studying: Use the appropriate AP Exam-Only Join Code to register for each exam and complete payment through MyPaymentsPlus.

The Exam-Only Join Code spreadsheet requires an AAPS Gmail account. Codes can also be accessed through the class description in MyPaymentsPlus.

For registration details, exam information, and the spring testing schedule, visit the AAPS Advanced Placement (AP) Testing Website.

Questions? Contact AP Testing Coordinator Anthony Lauer at lauera@aaps.k12.mi.us.

Important: Complete all required steps by October 30 to ensure your AP exam registration is processed on time.

Questions?

Please contact the AAPS AP Coordinator:

Anthony Lauer

AAPS AP Coordinator
lauera@aaps.k12.mi.us

When emailing, please include your student's name, student ID number, AP course(s), and school of attendance so we can best assist you.

Thank you for supporting your student in exploring these valuable academic opportunities.

Pioneer is getting twelve new curbside recycling bins, and they need names! Think of some good, pun-based, SCHOOL SAFE names and enter them in the Google Form in the Family Times newsletter.

Link to Google Form: https://forms.gle/dUCxfz8iwZvF8DWR7

Do you have a GPA of 3.6 or higher? If so, consider applying to National Honor Society! It's a great way to get involved in the school and community, AND looks good on a college application.

Deadline is 3pm on 10/30. Applications can be turned in to Ms. Bender via email or in room C-119.

https://tinyurl.com/pionhsapplication

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity is preparing to launch the new Youth Employment Permit Portal, a centralized online system that will modernize the state’s youth employment permit process and make it more convenient and accessible for minors, families and employers. Local school districts and nonpublic schools will no longer issue youth employment permits.

Beginning Oct. 2, employers and minors will use the new portal to complete the youth employment permit process through one statewide system. To help employers, schools, families and other stakeholders prepare for the transition, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will host a Youth Employment Permit Portal webinar on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 2–3:30 p.m. ET. For additional information and updates, visit Michigan.gov/YouthEmployment.

Remember that it is courtesy to give your recommendation writers at least a 2-3 week notice before your applications are due. The deadline to request recommendations from counselors and guarantee they are completed by November 1st, is Thursday October 15th. Please be sure to communicate with your counselor AND add their email address in CommonApp.

SENIORS: The Counseling Department will be hosting Lunch Help Sessions during the month of October for college applications. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in October, seniors can "Drop In" to the counseling office to ask questions and receive assistance on applications during early lunch. There will also be a table of counselors available in the lunchroom on Thursdays to help provide assistance and answer questions!

Pioneer Student Council is having a GoFan fundraiser to support events and activities for the Class of 2027 throughout the school year. The fundraiser will provide an opportunity for parents and families to make voluntary donations that will go toward creating meaningful and memorable experiences for our graduating class. Funds raised will help support events such as Senior Sunrise, Senior Sunset, Prom, and other senior activities planned throughout the year. By keeping the fundraiser open for the duration of the school year, families will have the flexibility to contribute when they are able, while allowing Student Council to build funding that can support a variety of class events. Our goal is to make these experiences as enjoyable and inclusive as possible for the Class of 2027, and we greatly appreciate the support of our Pioneer families.

Pioneer is kickstarting a recycling program and needs your help! We are organizing a Green Team consisting of students from all graduating classes. Any student interested in joining Green Team should contact Ms. Bender via email at benderm@aaps.k12.mi.us or in Room C-119.

The Learning Center is a safe space to complete work and get help if needed. They meet in the Cafeteria Mon-Fri during 7th Hour from 3pm-4pm. We have Tutors (Teacher and NHS Tutors) available everyday.

For questions about the Pioneer Learning Center, please contact Mr. Dresch: dreschd@aaps.k12.mi.us

The doors to Pioneer will be open at 7:20am. Please plan to drop your student off by 7:45 so they can find their way to class on time. It can easily take a student up to 10 minutes to get from the student parking lot to their first class. FREE Breakfast is served at 7:40 in the cafeteria. Doors to the school are secured at 8:00 and all students entering after that time must sign in at the welcome desk.

Every student must sign in after 8:00 at the welcome desk no matter what.

DROP OFF LOCATIONS:

• CLOCKTOWER (Stadium Dr.): This is a single lane drop off location and backs up quickly after 7:40 so please plan accordingly:

• For the safety of our students, please use the Zipper Merge method when you arrive to the first cone and use patience. This will require you to quickly drop off, then keep going. If you want more time to connect with your child or for them to retrieve their items out of the backseat or trunk, please pull up to the area beyond the cones, pull over, and pause there. The Clocktower drop off location does not get busy until after 7:45. If you arrive between 7:20-7:45 the coast is clear. The flag pole entrance is also a great place for dropping off students. Please plan your commute accordingly. Doors officially open to the building at 7:20am.

• FLAGPOLE ENTRANCE (Main St.): Best location to drop off on side of building near student lot

• BUS LOOP (7th Street): Please do not drop off students on 7th Street or in the Bus Loop. It poses a safety risk. This entrance is dedicated to walkers, cyclists, and bus riders.

We will run weekly attendance reports to monitor and we will be in contact with each student and parent as we go through the process. Each week the attendance we monitor will reset, so students do not get penalized in a cumulative manner.

Below are a sample of the incentives:

• FREE and/or discounted Homecoming and Prom tickets

• Front of the line passes for cookies & cafeteria

• Gift cards from various restaurants and businesses

• Prime Parking spots

Below is the progressive discipline process:

• 5 Tardies / 5 UNVerified Absences in a week:
• 1st: Lunch Detention
• 2nd: After School Detention (ASD)
• 3rd: Social Suspension
• 4th: Parent Meeting (In Person)

Senior Mailing: Reviewed Transcripts and Letter

Seniors should have received a mailing home from their counselor which contained a reviewed transcript and letter noting their remaining requirements needed for graduation. If a senior failed to receive this mailing, then they should email their counselor to touch base about remaining credits. It is the responsibility of each senior student to make sure that they enroll (and remain enrolled) in the needed classes for graduation.

Basic College Application Information Sheet

Seniors will need to refer to this as they begin completing their college applications. Click Here

Concerns about a discipline or academic problem and its resolution should first be expressed or questioned at the point where the problem occurred. A discipline or academic problem involving a student in a particular class should be brought to the attention of the teacher of that class. If this step does not bring satisfaction, consult the student's counselor, advisor, or principal.

Closed Campus Notice:

During school hours, students are not allowed to leave the building or campus without explicit permission. Students may not access their vehicles during the school day without prior approval from an administrator. Unauthorized departures from the building will result in disciplinary action, and repeated violations may lead to the loss of parking privileges at Pioneer High School. Exceptions to this policy include students participating in homebuilding programs, those enrolled in dual enrollment courses, and those in cosmetology programs.

Food Delivery During the School Day:

Food delivery services are prohibited by Pioneer High School. This is to better ensure the security of the school as well as to minimize disruptions to the school day. Students are NOT allowed to leave the building for any reason without permission from a parent/caretaker. Students found leaving school will be sent back to class and disciplined appropriately.

Vehicles on Campus:
Vehicles parked on school property are under the jurisdiction of the school. The school reserves the right to search any vehicle, if reasonable suspicion exists to do so. Students have full responsibility for the security of their vehicles and will make certain they are locked and that keys are not given to others. Students will be held responsible for any prohibited objects or substances, such as alcohol, drugs, and weapons, that are found in their cars and will be subject to disciplinary action. Searches of vehicles, as well as general searches of school property, may be conducted at any time if there is reasonable suspicion to do so, with or without the presence of the student. If the vehicle subject to search is locked, the student shall be asked to unlock the vehicle. If the student refuses, we will contact the student’s parent(s). If parent(s) also refuse to permit the vehicle to be searched, we may contact local law enforcement officials and turn the matter over to them.

Electronic Devices Policy:

All Pioneer students will have a district provided MacBook. Students will be required to use and bring their fully charged district MacBook to school and class daily. The district has also developed and adopted a policy for personal electronic devices and it will be shared in the near future.

Ann Arbor Community Resources

If you've ever wondered where you can send a parent or student to get help, you're not alone.

AAPS has several tools to help you guide families to resources (food, basic needs, emergency services) in their time of need.

Where to find help:

• Accessing community resources in 3 easy steps (video)
• Where to find help: Community resources overview for staff
• AAPS Community Resources Webpage, a2schools.org/communityresources

AAPS Family Technology Assistance - Students & Families - Technology Virtual Help Desk

Hours of Operation:

Monday-Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Call: 734-997-1222

Open a ticket: family_techsupport@aaps.k12.mi.us

Schedule an In-Person Appointment: call the Student & Family Help Desk

RAHS @ PIONEER

RAHS at Pioneer is a mental health site that is open Monday through Friday 8 am to 4 pm year-round which sees students in-person and virtually.

Pioneer Main Office: Naidy Cioletti - 734-994-2120

Attendance Office: Marnetta Patty

Call the Class Office or Main Office for early dismissals

9th & 11th Grades:734-994-2120

10th & 12th Grades:734-994-2120

Main Office: 734-994-2120

Records Office Site: Brenda Martinez -734-994-2120

Counseling Office: Monifa Henry 734-994-2120

Building Administration:

Eve Claar: Athletics Director/Assistant Principal

Maureen Murrett (Office Professional): 734-994-2120

Athletics Website

Keith Wade: Dean of All Students

Stephanie Roberts: Class Principal - Grades (9th & 11th)

Banu Bostanci(Office Professional) 734-994-2120

Tracey Stevenson: Class Principal - Grades (10th & 12th)

Claudia Barillas (Office Professional) 734-994-2120

Tracy Bond (Office Professional): 734-994-2120