Celebrations and Traditions at Pioneer Springs
Despite being a young school we are rich with tradition. From Fairy Tale Balls to books and parades our community comes together to celebrate learning. We hope you will join us at our next event!
Fairy Tale Ball
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The first Learning Celebration of each the school year is the Fairy Tale Ball, celebrating reading and literature. Held on the last Friday of October this event is nothing short of magical. Since our very first year, we have been hosting this fall festival to bring our community together, give our students and staff a day to dress up, perform, create and dance. For many grade levels this is the culmination of their folk/fairy tale, myth and legend study. First grade will write and perform their own fairy tale. The finale of the celebration is an all community circle dance. |
Sandwich Swap

The Sandwich swap is held in the days before Thanksgiving to bring our community together.
Click here to watch our PSCS Sandwich Swap video compliments of our incredible 2017 6th grade students and insightful and thoughtful staff!! Many thanks to our most amazing founding teacher and narrator, Mary Mix. It was Mary Mix who brought this fall feast/sandwich swap to us in those first few months of our creation. We still stand strong in embracing and celebrating our differences at Pioneer Springs!
Valentine Poems

In lieu of the typical valentines that children usually give one another on Valentine’s Day, our Pioneers make handmade valentines by writing poems especially for each classmate! We realize this takes longer than buying the ready-made cards but what a special keepsake and treasure to share with classmates! It is also a fantastic writing activity, great exercise in time management, valuable practice in finding at least one good trait in another person, etc. Each grade level writes a different kind of poem for their valentine
K-couplets, 1st-acrostic, 2nd-haiku, 3rd-cinquains, 4th-diamonte, 5th-horatian ode, 6th-concrete poems
K-couplets, 1st-acrostic, 2nd-haiku, 3rd-cinquains, 4th-diamonte, 5th-horatian ode, 6th-concrete poems
Standing Os

Standing Ovations are part of the classroom traditions at Pioneer Springs. These come in written and verbal form. Learning not only to give but to receive compliments is a skill that will follow our students through adulthood. The Standing O, among other times is given to each student on their birthday. It gives their peers a chance to express their appreciation or say something thoughtful about them.
The I am Creed and Class Promise
The “I Am Creed” by Mark Scharenbroich is recited daily in each Pioneer Springs classroom. During the first 6 weeks of school classes spend time breaking down each line to reflect on the meaning.
Similarly, in the beginning of the year each class creates "Class promise", which is unique to them and also recited daily. Students are the creators of the promise and hold themselves, as well as one another, accountable to it's intentions. |
Morning Meeting

Each classroom at Pioneer Springs begins each day with a Morning Meeting. This is an opportunity to build community by creating traditions and routines, as well as by helping students learn how to communicate with one another, and most importantly, how to listen to one another. Morning meetings create a strong climate for learning by supporting the social-emotional development of students, helping each student to feel that they are a valued member of the community, and by creating a consistent start to the day. These daily meetings support curriculum, not only by giving students an opportunity to practice speaking and listening skills, but also by offering the opportunity for games to review or preview content. Morning meetings also support character development by giving students an opportunity to explore the eight core virtues and and their responsibilities to their
classroom community.
classroom community.
100th Day

What can you do with 100? Our 100th Day of school is not just another day at school. Students enjoy “100” assignments, such as dressing up like you are 100 years-old or collecting 100 items from home. Classes focus on the number 100 too, making arrays and fractions easier to understand, and much more fun!
End of Trimester Celebrations
Our end of trimester celebrations are an opportunity for students to have accountability for learning by sharing with the entire school community. Parents, family, and friends have the chance to participate in a hands on demonstration of learning.
Bare Books and Author's Tea
Bare books offer students a blank canvas to express their creativity in writing and illustration. The books are a culmination of work and knowledge on a theme specific topic. Once completed the students present their books to families at an Author's Tea.
Charlotte St. Patty's Day Parade
2018 began a new tradition at PSCS- participating in the Charlotte St. Patty's Day Parade. Parents, staff and students worked together to create an amazing float representing our school and had such a great time marching in the parade. PSCS was honored to win the best float award!