By Bess Markel
Pioneer Bands has created a fifth band this year. Last year they had Symphony, Concert, Varsity, and Jazz Bands; however, for this year they spilt Concert Band into Concert Band Purple and Concert Band White. The new Concert Band Purple marches with Symphony Band at football games. Band Director Mr. Leach said that splitting up the band has helped musically. “It’s balanced all the instrumentation out for everybody, so actually all four bands are almost the identical size — between 60 and 62,” says Leach. Leach added that splitting up the bands has really changed football games by giving the marching band a larger sound. “It’s allowed for a bigger marching band, and it’s allowed for easier, cleaner concert bands, so all three bands are easier to (manage) and it allows for a nice big marching band,” he said.
Pioneer has added Yoga to it’s list of physical education classes. It is taught third hour in the fitness center. Yoga is taught by Mrs. Poli — a new teacher at Pioneer. Poli teaches Yoga and one section of Health, and spends the afternoon teaching at Community. Poli was inspired to start a yoga class through her own involvement with the exercise. “I feel the wonderful benefits and effects of my own practice and believe that everyone should take yoga,” says Poli. She teaches Vinyasa yoga, and has 19 students in her class. Poli hopes to grow yoga and establish the program at Pioneer, and feels it’s great for high school students. “It’s a great stress reliever and a healthy workout that can be practiced along with a sport,” says Poli.
American Sign Language has now become a full time language at Pioneer. Teacher Mrs. McCully is thrilled that ASL is now offered five times a day. “Sign Language started out as a one semester elective and I’ve been trying for six years to make it a full time language.” McCully says. “I got my first class two years ago and there were only 18 students. It’s amazing to see it grow so quickly. The program is also offered at Skyline, where McCully used to teach, and there is one class at Community. Sign Language is offered at levels one and two at Pioneer. McCully mentions that “many level two students hope that sign language three is offered next year, but we aren’t sure yet.”
Project Lead the Way is now in its second year, and is offering a Principles of Engineering class. This is the successor to Introduction of Engineering, which Pioneer started offering last year. Science and math teachers Mr. Sanborn and Mr. Moreno have plans to further expand the program in the coming years. “We got a GM [General Motors] grant for $35,000 a few years ago. We have a three year deal and we have to offer at least three Project Lead the Way classes. We might offer even more than that,” says Sanborn. Next year, they plan to offer Engineering Design and Development. Sanborn says that “there’s a lot of work involved in getting [new classes] going and a lot of sleepless nights, but it’s a labor of love and Mr. Moreno and I are very excited about where we are going.”
Pioneer has added Yoga to it’s list of physical education classes. It is taught third hour in the fitness center. Yoga is taught by Mrs. Poli — a new teacher at Pioneer. Poli teaches Yoga and one section of Health, and spends the afternoon teaching at Community. Poli was inspired to start a yoga class through her own involvement with the exercise. “I feel the wonderful benefits and effects of my own practice and believe that everyone should take yoga,” says Poli. She teaches Vinyasa yoga, and has 19 students in her class. Poli hopes to grow yoga and establish the program at Pioneer, and feels it’s great for high school students. “It’s a great stress reliever and a healthy workout that can be practiced along with a sport,” says Poli.
American Sign Language has now become a full time language at Pioneer. Teacher Mrs. McCully is thrilled that ASL is now offered five times a day. “Sign Language started out as a one semester elective and I’ve been trying for six years to make it a full time language.” McCully says. “I got my first class two years ago and there were only 18 students. It’s amazing to see it grow so quickly. The program is also offered at Skyline, where McCully used to teach, and there is one class at Community. Sign Language is offered at levels one and two at Pioneer. McCully mentions that “many level two students hope that sign language three is offered next year, but we aren’t sure yet.”
Project Lead the Way is now in its second year, and is offering a Principles of Engineering class. This is the successor to Introduction of Engineering, which Pioneer started offering last year. Science and math teachers Mr. Sanborn and Mr. Moreno have plans to further expand the program in the coming years. “We got a GM [General Motors] grant for $35,000 a few years ago. We have a three year deal and we have to offer at least three Project Lead the Way classes. We might offer even more than that,” says Sanborn. Next year, they plan to offer Engineering Design and Development. Sanborn says that “there’s a lot of work involved in getting [new classes] going and a lot of sleepless nights, but it’s a labor of love and Mr. Moreno and I are very excited about where we are going.”