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Page THE PIONEER NEWS November 2014

T h e P i o n e e r N e w s

PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL PTSO · 2014-2015 · November · Issue Two ptsopioneer.weebly.com

from the desk of……………..…………..Principal Lowder

Dear Pioneer Families,

October was a great month of school spirit at Pioneer! Homecoming spirit week, the football game and the school dance were phenomenal events with a great show of participation from the school community.

October 31st caps off the end of First Marking Period, and we are excited for a strong academic fin-

ish by our students for the quarter. First Marking Period grades will be available in PowerSchool on November 6

th. Please review your student’s grades and attendance with them once available. The

Pioneer teaching staff will also review grades and contact parents of students who are experiencing challenges in their classes to set up priority parent-teacher conference appointments.

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, November 13th from 4:00 – 7:00 PM. This

round of conferences is by appointment only. The sign-up process for conference appointments will take place inside the A Hall (flagpole) entrance on Tuesday, November 11

th from 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM

and from 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM, as well as on Wednesday, November 12th from 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM. It

will be helpful to have a copy of your student’s schedule from PowerSchool with you when you come in to sign-up.

Other November Events:

Tuesday, November 4th: No School For Students – Election Day / Staff Professional Develop-

ment.

Thursday, November 6th: First Marking Period Grades Available in PowerSchool.

Saturday, November 8th: Opening Fall Show – Pioneer Theatre

Guild presents GUYS & DOLLS – Schreiber Auditorium, 7:30 PM

Sunday, November 9th: Opening Fall Show Matinee – Pioneer Thea-

tre Guild presents GUYS & DOLLS – Schreiber Auditorium, 2:00 PM

Tuesday, November 11th: “Nuts and Bolts of College Planning”

presentation coordinated by the Pioneer PTSO – Cafeteria Annex, 7:00 PM

Wednesday, November 26th – Friday, November 28

th: No School –

Thanksgiving Break

Have a great November!

Sincerely,

Tracey Lowder

In this Issue

From the PTSO Board

Pioneer Clean-Up Day

Conference Sign-Up

Grocery Program Update

Theater Guild Presents Guys and Dolls

NHS/Michigan Mathematics Prize

Media Center View Rights

PTSO Thrift Shop News

Neutral Zone News

Auto Advisory Committee

Pioneer Crew Wrap-Up

Sign Up for PHS Announcements

THE PIONEER NEWS November 2014

PTSO September/October The PTSO got right down to business, responding to requests from teachers and administrators to support Pioneer students in many different ways. Here are just a few of the projects PTSO funded in the first two months of school:

Purchased supplies for the Cognitively Impaired classroom

Paid for Constitution Day cake for AP Government classes

Provided gift cards to administrators to fund Honor Level prizes

Purchased a motion detector to be used in physics classes

Provided teachers with refreshments during parent/teacher conferences

Contributed money to rent photo booths and games for the Homecoming dance. Also provided gift cards to Community Assistants and Pioneer Spirit Gear to teachers who volunteered their time to chaperone the dance.

Supported Pioneer Clean-Up Day with a donation to purchase supplies and food for the volunteers.

The Board also approved providing funds to Pioneer Peer Mediators, the Pio-neer Girls Group, the media center for a wall-mounted display, the science department to purchase equipment and for the creation of a We Are Pioneer video.

PTSO hosted an informational meeting in October called The ABC’s of Test-ing and will be hosting another informative session next week (see below).

Please support PTSO by encouraging your child to shop at the store in the cafeteria and look out for opportunities to volunteer your time to support the social, academic and enrichment activities PTSO sponsors.

………………………………………………………………………………………….

Jane Stepnitz [email protected] Colleen Creal [email protected]

Sandy Wilcock [email protected] Lissa Oliver [email protected]

Maadhavi Reddi [email protected]

Karen Watts [email protected]

Don’t Miss It!

Tuesday, November 11

7:00 pm

The Nuts and Bolts of Planning for College and for Life

After High School

Pioneer Cafeteria Annex


Pioneer Fall Campus Cleanup Day!

Thanks to the over 100 students, parents, Pioneer staff and community mem-bers who assisted in the Pioneer Campus Cleanup Day on Saturday, October 25th. Volunteers weeded garden beds, divided and transplanted grasses and

planted spring bulbs donated by the Pioneer PTSO.

In all, volunteers filled 50+ bags with weeds/compost, spread 20 yards of much, and planted over 500 bulbs!

The Pioneer's Spring Campus Cleanup has been scheduled

for April 25th, 2015 from 8am-Noon. Mark your calendars now!

Can't wait until spring? Volunteer now to work in Pioneer green-house to grow plant stock for spring installation.

Email Don Packard at [email protected] to get started!

November Conferences

Thursday, November 13th

4:00 – 7:00 PM

By Appointment Only

If you are not contacted by your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment but would still like to have a conference, you must come into school during the times listed below to check for available times and sign up. The available slots are first-come, first-served. Sign-up sheets will be posted in A Hall (flagpole entrance near Schreiber Auditorium) during the follow-ing time:

Tuesday, November 11th 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Wednesday, November 12th 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM

It will be helpful to have a copy of your student’s schedule from PowerSchool with you when you come in to sign-up.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No School

Wednesday, November 26—Friday, November 28

mailto:[email protected]


Pioneer PTSO Grocery Program

Benefiting the Senior Bon Voyage Graduation Party --formerly the All Senior All Night party (ASAN)

For 19 years, the Pioneer PTSO has sponsored a graduation party for our seniors—a safe, alcohol- and drug-free supervised celebration. To ensure that this party is available every year, we need many volun-teers from all grades to provide some of their time and/or financial support.

The Grocery Program is the primary funding source for the Bon Voyage Party, and it raises money without any additional cost to you! Participating stores donate a percentage of the sales from Pioneer families to the PTSO. This can bring thousands of dollars to Pioneer--just from shopping!

You may already shop at these stores and carry their rewards cards. Here is how your shopping can ben-efit Pioneer:

GROCERY PROGRAM OPTIONS:

1. Arbor Farms Market Scrip Program. Just mention Pioneer when checking out and 3% of your purchase will

be donated to the school.

2. Buschʼs Cash for Education Program. Link a Cash for Education Card to your MyWay account at www.buschs.com and select Pioneer High School as the rewards recipient. Present card with purchases or re-load and use as a gift card. Paying with cash, debit, or check earns 5% towards school, credit card paymentearns 3%.

3. Hillerʼs Community Rewards. Pick up a Hillerʼs card and join the Hillerʼs Club at www.hillers.com and select Pioneer as the rewards recipient. You earn points based on your purchases which are converted to a cash donation to Pioneer.

4. Kroger Community Rewards. Register your Kroger Plus Card at the service desk or at

www.krogercommunityrewards.com. Organization name: Pioneer High School PTSO/ASAN, ID# 82622.You must re-enroll every year.

5. Meijerʼs Community Rewards Program. Register at www.meijer.com/rewards or at the service desk. Or-ganization name: Pioneer High School, code # 992136. After registering, you will receive a Meijer 1 Card to use with purchases. Donations are based on purchases made with cash, debit card, or Meijer credit card (no checks or other credit cards).

Cards are available at a storeʼs service desk. I also have a supply of Buschʼs & Hillerʼs cards, so if you would like me to send you one (or both), use the contact info below and let me know. Pro-vide your name, full address, and the card(s) you would like to receive (Buschʼs or Hillerʼs). Lissa Oliver 1120 Olivia Ave., Ann Arbor, 48104 email: [email protected]

phone: 734-302-0329

Thank you for your support!

http://www.buschs.com/

http://www.hillers.com/

http://www.krogercommunityrewards.com/

http://www.meijer.com/rewards



Pioneer Theatre Guild Presents GUYS AND DOLLS

THIS WEEKEND—DON’T MISS IT!

Director: Kyle Timson

Choreographer: L’ogan J’ones

Co-music Directors: Rachel Eskenazi-Gold and Barrett Riggins

Assistant Director/Choreographer: Emma Sohlberg

Orchestra Director: Tyler Driskill

Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser

Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows

Pioneer Theatre Guild starts off this season with the treasured classic, GUYS AND DOLLS. This popular show with its impressive 1200 Broadway performances is considered by many to be the perfect musical. Winning every award possible when it opened in 1950, GUYS AND DOLLS is still the gold standard for musical theater, featuring incomparable book, music and lyrics by Jo Swerling/Abe Burrows and Frank Loesser. Based on the brilliant stories of Damon Runyon and set in New York City, this show highlights the romance between two sets of main characters, Na-than Detroit and Miss Adelaide and Sky Masterson and Sister Sarah Brown. When Nathan needs money to start the largest crap game in town, he turns to Sky Masterson, a legendary gambler.. Nathan is seemingly unsuccessful in his quest as Sky makes a play for the straight-laced mis-sionary Sarah Brown. Through one iconic song after another, including “Fugue For Tinhorns,” “Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “If I Were A Bell, ” and of course the title song, “Guys and Dolls,” the characters build relationships with each other and everyone ends up where they belong!

Tickets: $10 (Students, 65+ Seniors, PHS Staff); $15 (Adults)

Reserved Seating Tickets are available in advance at showtix4u.com. General Admission Tickets will be available at the door starting one hour before each performance. All performances are in Schreiber Auditorium.

Performance Dates:

Saturday, November 8th, 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 9th, 2:00 pm (matinee)

Friday, November 14th, 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 15th, 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 16th, 2:00 pm (matinee)

https://www.showtix4u.com/boxoffice.php?submit=Search+for+Events&begin=1542968&current_client=104238100120405&ts=1351037260


Han, Hojin

Hu, Jason

Nicklas, John

Chapel, Stanley

Nayegandhi, Swaraj

Kim, Taeyoon

Shen, Eric

Jiang, Chris

Heinonen, Sanelma

Jones, Caleb

Liu, Nick

Ng, Nathan

Mathers, Stone

Newman, Emily

Song, Chenxin (Jason)

Davis, Isaiah

Yang, Anton

Lee, Luke

Lee, Michael

Motoc, Daniel

Rago, Brian

Whitaker, Avery

Xu, Richard

Batog, George

Fa, Xuerui

Hines, Jula

Janakiraman, Rohan

Xiang, Daniel

Yang, Derek

Zauel, Brendan

Bayer, Veronika

Chandru, Shashank

Sun, Siwei

Tang, Andrew

Wei, Ningrui

Madapoosi, Siddartha

Yang, Yu Chen

Xia, Shang Zhou

Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition Finalists

The Pioneer math department is extremely proud to announce that they had 38 students qualify for

part II of the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition. Part I of the exam consisted of 40 questions

and a student needed a 17 or above to be in the top 1000 students in the state invited to take the second

portion of the exam. Part II of the exam will be given December 10th and will have 5 short answer

questions. Students scoring well on the MMPC can win scholarship money. Below are the students

who qualified for part II.

National Honor Society Inducts New Members

The National Honor Society is a service organization established in 1921 to "create enthusi-asm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of secondary schools". At Pioneer, Juniors and Sen-iors with above a 3.6 GPA who personify the ideals of the National Chapter are accepted

twice a year. These are our newest members.

Lauren Albert

Apoorva Asthana

Aleyah Austin

Basil Baccouche

Gauri Bapat

Noe Barrell

Cameron Beck

Andrew Carey

Eva Caston

Celia Chagnovich

Isabella Comai

John Crawford

Mackenzie Dalton

Madeline Daugherty

Emily Dedoyard

Jack Eisentrout

Grace Erickson

Emily Frost

Claire Gottsman

Sam Greenberg

Ben Greenberg

Emily Gunderson

Darby Hakken

Sanelma Heinonen

Nicole Hocett

Kai Hoffman

Emily Hwang

Rohan Janakiraman

Megan Jung

Grant Kehn

Elle Konrad

Jonathan Lynn

Cole Magoon

Halee Mahoney

Laura Matney

Margaret Mooney

Madeline Moore

Kate Moss

Jason Orringer-Hau

Joe Riggs

Mariana Said

Eric Shen

Allison Strassburg

Jonathan Thomas

Mackenzie Weddell

Madeleine Wilson

Aubrey Wright

Nicole Xu

Kelly Xu

Alexa Zielinski


MEDIA CENTER/TEXTBOOK DEPOSITORY

HOME ACCESS VIEW RIGHTS

Students and parents may now view their Pioneer Media Center and Book Depository loan records from home. Utilizing Destiny, a web based program, and their student log-in name and student ID number, stu-dents and parents may now review at any time what items are still on loan and what fines or obligations, if any, have been applied. Please note: obligations must still be cleared from wherever the item was borrowed – either the Media Center or the Book Depository.

DIRECTIONS FOR HOME ACCESS

From the Pioneer website home page:

Click on the MEDIA CENTER link in the left navigation bar.

Click on the CATALOG link in the next webpage.

Click on the LOG-IN box in the upper right hand corner to open a new webpage.

LOG-IN using the same information that students use to access student server space. Remember that it is case sensitive.

Log In: Graduation year-last name-first name-middle initial [2012SmithJohnM]

Password: Student ID number

VIEWING THE CHECKOUT RECORD

By default, the screen opens to search the catalog of PHS Media Center. In the top navigation bar on the left side, beneath Pioneer High School, Ann Arbor MI, is the MY INFO button.

Clicking on this button will allow you to view the ITEMS OUT from both the Media Center [Library Mate-rials] and Book Depository [Textbooks].

It will also give you information on fines posted to your account. Media Center fines are 10 cents per day and max out at $1.00 for each book that is late, while text-book fines represent replacement cost for a damaged or lost textbook. Both our Media Center and Book Depository charge for lost or damaged books. Receipts are provided for payment by cash or check only. Checks must be payable to: Pioneer High School. No credit cards are accepted at this time.

Under ITEMS OUT you will see: date due; title of item; book price and date checked out. The Pioneer Media Center and Textbook Depository utilize different due dates.

Questions or inquiries are always welcomed so please feel free to contact us during the school day at the following phone numbers for assistance.


PTO THRIFT SHOP NEWS

In the 2013-2014 school year, Pioneer groups earned over $13,000 with the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop!

Don’t miss YOUR opportunity to raise money:

Promote the Thrift Shop in your organization’s program or newsletter (PDFs provided).

Schedule a Show Your Support date for your group. Make a simple poster to display in the shop and encourage everyone you know shop at the PTO Thrift Shop that week. You’ll share $1000 based on how many shoppers vote for your group! There are five Show Your Support dates still available for this school year; schedule yours today by contacting Executive Director Ann Farnham at [email protected].

Shop at the Thrift Shop on these dates and show your support for:

Nov. 2-8: Men’s Water Polo

Pioneer needs a new parent representative to the PTO Thrift Shop beginning June 2015. The position is not time-consuming and brings thousands of $$$ to Pi-oneer school groups, but these groups can’t earn any money if we don’t have a Thrift

Shop rep. Interested or have questions? Contact Ann Farnham at [email protected] or current rep Susan Farrell at [email protected].

ANN ARBOR PTO Thrift Shop

2280 S. Industrial Hwy.

All proceeds benefit Ann Arbor Public School Students!




Happening at the Neutral Zone

Poetry Night in Ann Arbor - Neutral Zone and the Helen Zell Writers Program at the University of Michigan will sponsor Poetry Night in Ann Arbor 2014 on Thursday, November 13, 7 p.m. at the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater in the Michigan League, 911 N. University Ave. The evening is a celebration of words and ideas featuring Ann Arbor's spectacular youth poets sharing the stage with nationally re-nowned writers. This year's guest poets will be up-and-coming superstars Franny Choi and Danez Smith. Tickets are $5 for students/$10 for the general public in advance; and $7 students/$12 general admission at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Neutral Zone or online at www.neutral-zone.org.

DesigNZ Studio Presents "Your Game from the Ground Up" - On Tuesday, November 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., interested students can bring their favorite cast of characters to life inside a video game of their own design at a special workshop held at the Neutral Zone. Comic book artist, Jerzy Drozd, will guide workshop participants through the character development process. They will then complement their video game character designs with sound effects, props, environments, compute coding, and green screen technology. The finished games will be hosted online for participants to share with family and friends. The workshop will be followed up by continued programming, allowing participants to build their media skills. The event is co-sponsored by Toyota and Calty Design, the Ann Arbor District Library, Game Start, and the Community Television Network. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is required; space is limited. To register contact NZ's visual arts coordinator, Mary Thiefels at [email protected] or go to www.neutral-zone.org to register online.

AAPS Auto Service Advisory Committee

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is looking for interested individuals who would like to become part of an advisory committee for the Auto Service program. If you have experience in the automotive industry and would be interested in offering assistance and recommendations for the continuous improvement of the Auto Service Technology pro-gram we would welcome your membership. Time commitment includes two meetings per school year. For more information, please contact Karen Eisley at 994-2077 or by e-mail at: [email protected]

http://www.neutral-zone.org/






Pioneer Crew finished its final race of this season on October 25th, in Columbus, OH, at the Blake Haxton Invitational. The team collectively earned five medals on this day, which is a fine showing against what is some of the most stringent competition in the Midwest. It was a tough, tough crowd to race against on a perfect day for racing, and was a great note to end a robust season on! The boats are all put away for the long winter’s rest, and the crew will enjoy a few weeks of rest before they embark on winter training. Read more about the Blake Haxton Regatta here: http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/869598431189568302/excellent-showing-for-pioneer-crew-at-haxton-invitational/

Without “rowable water” in the winter, most rowing teams spend this time building strength and endur-ance with a combination of weight lifting, core-strength building, running and of course “erging.” The erg is the rower’s name for the rowing machine; it not only allows the rower to mimic the rowing stroke off the water, but measures the strength of each stroke. Rowing machines are great for all-around, non-impact stationary exercise, but are often utilized incorrectly at gyms. Ask any Pioneer Rower how to properly use them! Pioneer PARENTS and STAFF: looking for a fun “date night” activity, where you can learn about wine and purchase great gifts for the year-end holidays? Come to the Pioneer Crew Wine Tasting and Auction Extrav-aganza on Sunday, November 16. This is always a fun and festive gathering! To purchase tickets, go to: http://www.pioneercrew.org/wine/

Again…this is an ADULTS ONLY event, please. Have a great winter, and Crew will be back, stronger and ready for the fast spring season in March!

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/869598431189568302/excellent-showing-for-pioneer-crew-at-haxton-invitational/

http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/869598431189568302/excellent-showing-for-pioneer-crew-at-haxton-invitational/

http://www.pioneercrew.org/wine/


Important Dates! Don’t Forget to Mark Your Calendar

For a complete calendar of key events at Pioneer please visit

www.a2pioneer.org

Get School Information via EMAIL Subscribe to PIONEER Announcements

and the PTSO Newsletter

The Yahoo Groups Internet Announcement Service for Pioneer families is open for sub-scription. This FREE service allows administration the ability to send out school announce-ments and other information to anyone who chooses to “subscribe” to the group. To sub-scribe, simply send an email to:

[email protected] (you do not need to send a subject nor a body to the message).

Please note that the group is for announcements and the link to the PTSO newsletter only. Replies to messages sent via the group will not be forwarded to subscribers, nor will they be answered by anyone. We are very excited about the extra benefits this additional com-munication tool offers our Pioneer families! PLEASE NOTE: To successfully UNSUBSCRIBE you must unsubscr ibe using the same e-mail address you used to subscribe. It is recommended that if you are switching e-mail carriers—unsubscribe before you make the switch.


2014-2015 PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL ptsopioneer.weebly.com

PTSO BOARD

Jane Stepnitz—President [email protected]

Colleen Creal—Vice President [email protected]

Sandy Wilcock—Treasurer [email protected]

Lissa Oliver—Secretary [email protected]

Madhaavi Reddi—Spirit Wear [email protected]

Karen Watts—Newsletter [email protected]

Pioneer PTSO news items are to be submitted via e-mail to Karen Watts at [email protected] before 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date which will be circulated each month. The PTSO sends the Pioneer News via electronic mail to all Pioneer families who have signed up. Please make sure your most time-sensitive announcements and events are submitted well in advance of your event date!

Non-Discrimination Policy: No person shall be

excluded from participation in, be denied the

benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in

any educational program or activity available

in any school on the basis of race, color, sex, re-

ligion, creed, political belief, age, national

origin, linguistic and language differences, sex-

ual orientation, socio-economic status, height,

weight, marital or familial status, or disability.

Ann Arbor Pioneer High School PTSO 601 W. Stadium Blvd Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Pioneer High School General Office: 734.994.2120

Please look for the PTSO on the Pioneer web site:

www.a2pioneer.org

From the Editor—If you spot errors and typos, send them my way :) Also, and much more importantly - please let me

know what you would like to see in future newsletters. My e-mail address is just above on the

left. Karen Watts

Athletic Booster Club

The Pioneer Booster Club’s mission is to support athletic and academic excellence in all student athletes. There are over 30 sports teams available to the students. These create smaller communities, afford a way for parents to get to know each other, and help students develop discipline and make long-lasting friends.

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