Pioneer Press
June 6th, 2025
Principal's Message
Dear Pioneer Families,
Yearbooks will be distributed to students this coming Monday. This is always an exciting time of year as students look forward to sharing messages and memories with one another.
Please remind your student that a yearbook is another person’s personal property, and it’s critical that they treat it with respect. Inappropriate drawings, messages, or comments written in someone else’s yearbook are not acceptable and will be addressed as a school behavior issue.
Thank you for your partnership in helping us end the school year on a positive note.
Warmly,
JoAnne Fernandes
Principal
8th Grade Promotion
Dear Parents and Guardians of Our 8th Grade Pioneers,
It’s hard to believe we’re already approaching the finish line of another school year—and what an incredible journey it’s been! As we prepare to send our 8th graders off to high school, we’re excited to invite you to celebrate their achievements at our upcoming 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony and Dance.
Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Time: Promotion begins at 4:30 PM
Location: Pioneer Middle School Gym (ceremony) and Cafeteria (dance)
The ceremony will recognize the hard work, growth, and character of our 8th graders. After the final applause, students will head straight to the cafeteria for a celebratory dance—just for them! (No outside guests, please.)
A Few Important Notes:
Dress to Impress (but keep it comfortable):
Think job interview-ready. Students are encouraged to dress neatly and appropriately—no jeans, t-shirts, sweats, or sagging pants. A collared shirt with pants or a modest dress, skirt/blouse, or pant outfit works great. No need for tuxedos or formal gowns; let’s keep it simple, stylish, and school-appropriate.
Guest Guidelines:
To ensure everyone’s safety and comply with fire code, we kindly ask that each student brings no more than three guests. And please, no balloons—they tend to block the view for others trying to catch a glimpse of their graduate!
Schedule for the Day:
11:40 AM – 8th graders are dismissed for the day (buses will run as usual).
4:00 PM – Students return to Pioneer (please arrange transportation).
4:30 PM – Promotion ceremony begins.
Post-ceremony – 8th grade dance kicks off (for Pioneer students only).
7:30 PM – Dance ends—please plan for prompt pickup. (No transportation provided.)
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out at pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us
We’re so proud of our 8th graders and look forward to celebrating this milestone with them—and with you!
Warmly,
JoAnne Fernandes
Principal
Attendance for 8th Graders - June 11th - 13th
8th Grade Parents/Guardians,
If your 8th grader will not be returning to school after promotion on June 10th, please make sure to call the office and excuse their absence. Otherwise, your student will be marked as unexcused, and you will receive automated notifications from ParentSquare about their absence.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us at 253-583-7200 or email pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us.
Thank you!
Pioneer Middle School Office
Field Day
Field Day - Thursday, June 12th
6th Grade BBQ Lunch Served/Eating Time 10:46 am - 11:16 am
2nd Lunch BBQ Lunch Served/Eating Time 11:16 am - 11:46 am
3rd Lunch Grade BBQ Lunch Served/Eating Time 11:44 am -12:14 pm
1:40 pm - 2:40 pm tables will be set up for eating, then used for socializing/yearbook signing. Sports equipment out for play in the Sport Court and on the Field. Ice Cream courtesy of PTA will be served at 1:30 pm.
If you have any questions, email us at pioneermsoffice@steilacoom.k12.wa.us
In Social Studies
In 6th grade Social Studies students are wrapping up the semester by working on a couple projects. For the first project, students chose an ancient object or event to make a model of using cardboard or other materials. Students displayed their objects in class. So many different models were created. Looking around the room you would see pyramids, the Parthenon, ships from Greece and Egypt, the Trojan Horse, and many others.
Students will finish out the semester by creating a historical theme park poster. Students will choose various important cultural elements from Egypt, Greece, and Rome and use them to create a fun amusement park in the form of a map. This assignment allows students to review in a creative way some of the highlights of each civilization we have studied over the semester.
Congratulations to the entire 6th grade class for doing a great job this year. I wish every student and family a happy and relaxing summer break.
Mr. Madsen
Ms. Sullivan's 7th graders just finished an epic "Eras Tour" inquiry project! They analyzed how events from previous eras in Washington's history still impact our state today. Soon, they'll be embarking on a Road Trip around Washington to learn about the beauty, history, and recreation our state has to offer!
Mrs. Percefull's US History classes are discussing the events of the Civil War and the impact of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment on the war and society. They will be finishing the school year with a Personal Interest Research Project on something they are curious about from the 1850's to 1860's in the US.
Ms. Joslin's U.S. History Class is finishing up their unit on Westward Expansion. Students have analyzed artifacts from the Washington State History Museum, completed map activities, watched documentaries, and read all about this time period to prepare for their final project. Students have chosen a topic that they have learned about to do more extensive research on. They are creating a presentation from their research to share with their classmates.
Color Run Photos
Our Color Run Fundraiser was a great success!
Thank you to all those who donated and volunteered to help make this event so AMAZING!!
Summer Meal Resources
Summer Meal Program
The Steilacoom Historical School District announces sponsorship of the Summer Meal Program for children. Meals are available at no charge to any child age 1 – 18 years old, and will be served from June 16 to August 22, 2025.
- Lunch only will be served at the following locations, and children must eat on-site. Menus can be found on the district’s website at http://www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/summer-meals
** See attached flyer for more information**
Coming Up!
Tuesday, June 10th - 8th Grade Promotion - PIO GYM 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm, followed by a dance in the cafeteria
Thursday, June 12th - Field Day!
Friday, June 13th - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL! - Half day, students released at
11:40 am
Check our district calendar for more information:
https://www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/welcome-center/calendars?cal_date=2025-04-0