Pioneer School of the Arts

⭐ALL-STAR FIELD DAY 2026 🎉

What an AMAZING day at Pioneer! Our students had an absolute blast during this year’s All-Star Field Day filled with laughter, teamwork, and nonstop fun. From musical chairs, parachute games, tug-of-war, cup stacking, relay races, limbo, and so much more, the smiles and excitement could be seen all across campus!

A huge THANK YOU goes to our incredible PE teacher, Miss Ochse, for the tremendous amount of hard work, planning, organization, and coordination that made today possible. Events like this take countless hours behind the scenes, and we are so grateful for everything she did to create such a memorable experience for our students!

We also want to thank our amazing parent volunteers who helped run stations, cheer students on, and assist with setup and cleanup throughout the day. Your support helped make the event run smoothly and successfully, and we truly appreciate you!

Pioneer students showed great teamwork, sportsmanship, and Puma pride all day long. What a fantastic way to celebrate together as a school community!

Pioneer had not one, but TWO “Principal for a Day” leaders over the past couple of weeks!

Miss X and Miss H joined Mr. Jakious and helped with all kinds of important tasks that keep our school running smoothly. From serving as crossing guards, making announcements, supervising lunch and recess, reading to younger students, running a fire drill, and even completing teacher observations and sharing feedback about all the great things they noticed in classrooms, these two stepped up in a big way!

They both did an amazing job and quickly became the talk of the school. We are so proud of the leadership, confidence, and positivity they brought to Pioneer each day.

Great job, Miss X and Miss H! 🐾

Today we celebrate someone who makes a difference in our school community every single day …

Happy Safe School Assistant Day to our remarkable SSA, Ronda Critser!

Mrs. Critser is often one of the first people our students turn to for support. Whether she’s helping a student work through a conflict, connecting with families, or partnering with teachers, she leads with compassion, patience, and care.

She does so much more than her role describes. Mrs. Critser helps keep our school running smoothly while making it feel like a place where everyone belongs. She consistently puts others first and brings a genuine passion for supporting students, families, and staff.

Our school is stronger because of you, Mrs. Critser. Thank you for everything you do!

This spring our Chess Club wrapped up a record-setting tournament with 62 students completing at least 2 games and an incredible 271 total games played!

More than just a competition, Chess Club is an amazing experience for our students. It’s a free program open to everyone where kids can stretch their brains, build strategy and problem-solving skills, and have a ton of fun along the way. Whether they’re brand new or experienced players, there’s a place for everyone at the board.

This opportunity is only possible because of the dedication of our coordinator, David R., his incredible team of parent volunteers, and the continued support of our PTA. We’re so grateful for the time and energy they pour into making this such a special experience for our students.

🏆 Tournament Results:

Overall
1st: Cooper N. (4)
2nd: Carter N. (4)
3rd: Jeremy R. (4)

5th Grade
1st: Elden T.
2nd: Huxley S.
3rd: Bella N.

4th Grade
1st: Gavin F.
2nd: Jameson A.
3rd: Grayson B.

3rd Grade
1st: Ash L.
2nd: Brooks R.
3rd: Oliver C.

2nd Grade
1st: Max B.
2nd: Jett V.
3rd: Oliver O.

1st Grade
1st: Casper H.
2nd: Sawyer G.
3rd: Troy R.

Kindergarten
1st: Rowan M.
2nd: Wesley O.
3rd: Gallagher B.

Congratulations to all of our participants for their effort, growth, and sportsmanship. We’re already looking forward to next season! ♟️👏

Today we celebrate Nurse Lisa for School Nurse Appreciation Day!

From the moment students walk through our doors, Nurse Lisa is a steady, caring presence who keeps our school running smoothly. Whether she’s helping a student feel better and get back to learning, supporting student/staff health needs, or connecting with families, she does it all with calm, compassion, and professionalism.

She handles the unexpected with grace, keeps us prepared, and is always just a call away when someone needs support. Our students feel safe, our staff feels supported, and our families know they are in good hands because of her.

Thank you, Nurse Lisa, for the countless ways you show up for our school community every single day. We are lucky to have you!

At Pioneer School of the Arts, our teachers do so much more than teach lessons. They inspire curiosity, build confidence, and create a place where every student feels seen, valued, and capable of success.

The impact they make reaches far beyond the classroom. Through their patience, creativity, and dedication, they help shape not only strong learners, but kind, resilient, and thoughtful individuals.

We are incredibly grateful for the passion and heart our teachers bring each day. Pioneer is a special place because of them, and our students are better because of the difference they make.

Thank you for all you do. ❤️🖤

Great minds think… and dress alike! Miss Jill, Miss Liz, Nurse Lisa, Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Gamez showed off some school spirit today as quintuplets. The stripes were spot on and the teamwork made it even better.

We love seeing our staff have a little fun together!

Head secretary, Jill Barton, has been a cornerstone of Pioneer School of the Arts for more than 25 years, supporting students, families, and staff in countless ways.

We’re excited to share that a special mailbox is now set up in the front office as she prepares for her retirement.

If you’d like to participate, feel free to drop off a note of appreciation. Whether it’s a simple thank you or a specific memory of how Jill made a difference for your family, your words will mean a lot.

Notes can be turned in through May 4. Thank you to those who take a moment to help us celebrate someone who has given so much to our school community.