Thursday, April 17 - Pine City Schools will be CLOSED.
DUE TO WEATHER RELATED CLOSURES MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2014 AND FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 WILL BE MAKEUP DAYS FOR STUDENTS.
Congratulations to Coleman Lombard and Michael Woulfe for advancing to the State Speech Meet held Saturday, April 12th at Blaine High School! This is Coleman and Michael's first State advancement and we are very proud to have Pine City Represented at this level of competition!
Speech Team advances
8 PCHS students on the Varsity Speech team placed in sub-sections at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud on Monday night - high enough to advance to sections! Attached is a photo of the group.
From Left to Right: Alyssa Olson, 8th Grade& Melissa Whittaker, 9th Grade - in the category of Dramatic Duo, Marco Hartkopf, 10th Grade - in Poetry, Genoa Gregg, 7th Grade - in the Humorous category, Coleman Lombard, 11th Grade& Michael Woulfe, 11th Grade also in the Dramatic Duo category, Front: Ashlee Martini, 12th Grade - Storytelling and Katlyn Lindblom, 11th Grade- Great Speeches. Alternate attending Sections will be Alan Rogers, 7th Grade, also a Storyteller!
The top 3 in each category at Sections advances to State. Best of Luck at Sections! Sections will be Saturday April 5th in Melrose, MN.
From Left to Right: Alyssa Olson, 8th Grade& Melissa Whittaker, 9th Grade - in the category of Dramatic Duo, Marco Hartkopf, 10th Grade - in Poetry, Genoa Gregg, 7th Grade - in the Humorous category, Coleman Lombard, 11th Grade& Michael Woulfe, 11th Grade also in the Dramatic Duo category, Front: Ashlee Martini, 12th Grade - Storytelling and Katlyn Lindblom, 11th Grade- Great Speeches. Alternate attending Sections will be Alan Rogers, 7th Grade, also a Storyteller!
The top 3 in each category at Sections advances to State. Best of Luck at Sections! Sections will be Saturday April 5th in Melrose, MN.
Congratulations to Nick Hansmann for winning Third Place in the State Free Throw Contest on Saturday, March 29.
On Thursday March 27th, with the dismal outlook for this year's spring weather, and fresh snow accumulating on the softball fields, tennis courts, golf courts and tracks just outside; the Softball, Tennis, Golf, and Track teams got a little INSANE. The group of over 150 athletes worked out with the INSANITY work out for 45 minutes raising their heart rates, increasing their flexibility, and raising their hopes that the sunshine will soon return. After their workout, the teams collaborated with some Pizza Pub pizza and Powerades to fill their tummies.
Pine City art students studied the modern and conceptual artworks of the Walker Art Museum and Sculpture Garden on March 26th. Students were able to participate in the field trip with money raised from community events put on by our students such as the "Pottery & Chili" event from 2013. Please join us in our upcoming community event "Pottery & Ice Cream" to be held Monday, April 7th from 6:00-7:30 in the 7th Grade Commons. (See poster ad for more info). The opening reception for our 7th Annual Student Art Show will also be on display at this time. Come check it out.
COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANNING RESCHEDULED
On Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 at 5:30 p.m., the Pine City Public School District will conduct a (rescheduled) Strategic Planning Session with the community. The meeting will be held in the high School Cafeteria. We will begin with a light dinner and then begin an interactive session where your input will be shared.
We will take a brief look back and we will seek your input for our future plans. We will work in small groups so that everyone has a chance to be heard. Handouts will be provided with key information and a place to record your feedback. This process is critical for the district in order to build a better understanding of our school/community needs. Our schedule of events will conclude by 7:30 p.m.
We encourage you to participate. The process is an easy and engaging way to interact and share views about our school district. All of the results will be compiled and shared with the board and community. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Click here for the session timeline. You can reach me at wgilman@isd578.org or 629-4011.
We will take a brief look back and we will seek your input for our future plans. We will work in small groups so that everyone has a chance to be heard. Handouts will be provided with key information and a place to record your feedback. This process is critical for the district in order to build a better understanding of our school/community needs. Our schedule of events will conclude by 7:30 p.m.
We encourage you to participate. The process is an easy and engaging way to interact and share views about our school district. All of the results will be compiled and shared with the board and community. Please let us know if you plan to attend. Click here for the session timeline. You can reach me at wgilman@isd578.org or 629-4011.
Ms. Brooks AWARDED FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP
Earlier in March, Ms. Brooks found out some incredible, amazing, and life-changing news. She has been selected to represent the United States as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland.
Fulbright scholarships are funded by the United States Congress, and the Fulbright organization sponsors individual research and study projects between America and almost every other country in the world. Next year, she will travel to Finland to study in Peter Ettrup Larsen's Wind Orchestra Conducting Masters' Class at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The Sibelius Academy has a great history of training world-class conductors. In fact, the Minnesota Orchestra’s former director (Osmo Vanska) studied there.
Finland currently has twelve professional military wind orchestras located throughout the country, and she will work intensively with four of them for one week each during the academic year. In addition, she will conduct at least one other professional ensemble outside of Finland, to be arranged by Professor Larsen. She will also rehearse the Kapubandi (“conductor’s band”), an elite auditioned ensemble comprised of the best instrumental students at the Academy, for four hours every week. These rehearsals will prepare for a minimum of five live concerts to be performed throughout the year.
Brooks will also travel to five different music schools across Finland to interview teachers, observe instruction, conduct rehearsals, and ultimately write a paper about the Finnish music education system. Her travels will take her to Turku, Tampere, Rantasalmi, East Helsinki, Kuopio, and maybe even Lapland!
Ms. Brooks will also have a chance to perform with premier Finnish saxophonist, Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, in his Helsinki Saxophone Ensemble. The ensemble features over twenty saxophonists playing all models of the instrument: from bass saxophone to the tiny soprillo saxophone! She is also excited to learn the quirky rules of Finnish baseball, a strange rendition of American baseball, by joining a student sports club.
So how did this all come to be? Ms. Brooks developed an interest in Finland’s education system while she was studying at St. Olaf College (a school founded by Norwegian-Americans with absolutely no ties to Finland). A brief conversation with Brass Methods teacher and Finnish brass band enthusiast, Dr. Paul Niemisto, opened her eyes to this fascinating country.
Finland, a country about the size of Montana with a population of only 5 million people, has boasted an education system that has consistently been ranked as the best in the world for the past decade. Ms. Brooks was curious to research about how their music education system stacked up with their high test scores, which ultimately led to an extensive research paper about Finland’s outstanding music education system. Her research project connected her with many Finnish composers, school teachers, performers, and professors. After graduating college in 2011, she travelled to Finland for the first time to visit friends, study conducting with Peter Ettrup Larsen, and attend a summer music camp.
These experiences and this current opportunity were simply born from a brief conversation with a professor. Her drive to remain “passionately curious” about a subject she loves will soon lead her across the globe.
A note from Ms. Brooks: As I told the administration, music department, and students last week, it would take nothing short of an opportunity of a lifetime to convince me to part ways with my job in Pine City. Remarkable as it is, this once-in-a-lifetime chance feels a little bittersweet, especially when thoughts of leaving the community cross my mind.
Pine City has been such an incredible place to teach. I'm looking forward to finishing the year strong with an outstanding set of Band and Choir Pops Concerts (the Band Pops Concert is themed around “Heroes and Villains!”). I will continue to celebrate all of the wonderful things about working in Pine City: supportive staff and administration, passionate and talented students and teachers, and a wonderful community. What an amazing place to be!
I am also planning on giving back to the Pine City community through musical performance. Zach Sander, a member of the Kaze Saxophone Quartet, received funding from the East Central Regional Arts Council to commission two new pieces of music by contemporary Finnish composers.
NOTE: One of these composers, Janne Ikonen, shared his music with the Pine City community just one year ago. Janne and his family visited the Pine City High School band several times via Clearsea (similar to Skype). The band was able to ask Janne and his family questions about his piece, “Echoes from Karelia,” and life in Finland in several interview sessions. We also had the chance to receive constructive feedback from Janne as we rehearsed his piece (“Echoes”) in preparation for the March Concert (2013). This year, Janne has composed a piece for saxophone quartet and marimba, which will be premiered in Pine City!
These great connections with fantastic composers will allow me to perform a recital that is themed around Finnish saxophone quartet music. I would like to warmly invite you to either or both of these performances to learn more about Finnish music and enjoy some excellent chamber ensembles!
Friday, April 25 at the Pine Center for the Arts in Pine City, MN (7:00 PM)
***The Kaze Quartet will premier Janne Ikonen’s “Fuente De la Passion” and perform several Finnish saxophone quartet pieces. In addition, PCHS student saxophone quartets will perform their contest piece as well as a fun and familiar piece with the Kaze Quartet!
Sunday, June 1 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, MN (4:00 PM)
***The Kaze Quartet and Blue Waters Brass Ensemble will premier a playful piece by Jukka Viitasaari called “Rabbit’s Gambit.” Come and enjoy a shared recital of saxophone and brass music with a splash of percussion!
Fulbright scholarships are funded by the United States Congress, and the Fulbright organization sponsors individual research and study projects between America and almost every other country in the world. Next year, she will travel to Finland to study in Peter Ettrup Larsen's Wind Orchestra Conducting Masters' Class at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. The Sibelius Academy has a great history of training world-class conductors. In fact, the Minnesota Orchestra’s former director (Osmo Vanska) studied there.
Finland currently has twelve professional military wind orchestras located throughout the country, and she will work intensively with four of them for one week each during the academic year. In addition, she will conduct at least one other professional ensemble outside of Finland, to be arranged by Professor Larsen. She will also rehearse the Kapubandi (“conductor’s band”), an elite auditioned ensemble comprised of the best instrumental students at the Academy, for four hours every week. These rehearsals will prepare for a minimum of five live concerts to be performed throughout the year.
Brooks will also travel to five different music schools across Finland to interview teachers, observe instruction, conduct rehearsals, and ultimately write a paper about the Finnish music education system. Her travels will take her to Turku, Tampere, Rantasalmi, East Helsinki, Kuopio, and maybe even Lapland!
Ms. Brooks will also have a chance to perform with premier Finnish saxophonist, Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, in his Helsinki Saxophone Ensemble. The ensemble features over twenty saxophonists playing all models of the instrument: from bass saxophone to the tiny soprillo saxophone! She is also excited to learn the quirky rules of Finnish baseball, a strange rendition of American baseball, by joining a student sports club.
So how did this all come to be? Ms. Brooks developed an interest in Finland’s education system while she was studying at St. Olaf College (a school founded by Norwegian-Americans with absolutely no ties to Finland). A brief conversation with Brass Methods teacher and Finnish brass band enthusiast, Dr. Paul Niemisto, opened her eyes to this fascinating country.
Finland, a country about the size of Montana with a population of only 5 million people, has boasted an education system that has consistently been ranked as the best in the world for the past decade. Ms. Brooks was curious to research about how their music education system stacked up with their high test scores, which ultimately led to an extensive research paper about Finland’s outstanding music education system. Her research project connected her with many Finnish composers, school teachers, performers, and professors. After graduating college in 2011, she travelled to Finland for the first time to visit friends, study conducting with Peter Ettrup Larsen, and attend a summer music camp.
These experiences and this current opportunity were simply born from a brief conversation with a professor. Her drive to remain “passionately curious” about a subject she loves will soon lead her across the globe.
A note from Ms. Brooks: As I told the administration, music department, and students last week, it would take nothing short of an opportunity of a lifetime to convince me to part ways with my job in Pine City. Remarkable as it is, this once-in-a-lifetime chance feels a little bittersweet, especially when thoughts of leaving the community cross my mind.
Pine City has been such an incredible place to teach. I'm looking forward to finishing the year strong with an outstanding set of Band and Choir Pops Concerts (the Band Pops Concert is themed around “Heroes and Villains!”). I will continue to celebrate all of the wonderful things about working in Pine City: supportive staff and administration, passionate and talented students and teachers, and a wonderful community. What an amazing place to be!
I am also planning on giving back to the Pine City community through musical performance. Zach Sander, a member of the Kaze Saxophone Quartet, received funding from the East Central Regional Arts Council to commission two new pieces of music by contemporary Finnish composers.
NOTE: One of these composers, Janne Ikonen, shared his music with the Pine City community just one year ago. Janne and his family visited the Pine City High School band several times via Clearsea (similar to Skype). The band was able to ask Janne and his family questions about his piece, “Echoes from Karelia,” and life in Finland in several interview sessions. We also had the chance to receive constructive feedback from Janne as we rehearsed his piece (“Echoes”) in preparation for the March Concert (2013). This year, Janne has composed a piece for saxophone quartet and marimba, which will be premiered in Pine City!
These great connections with fantastic composers will allow me to perform a recital that is themed around Finnish saxophone quartet music. I would like to warmly invite you to either or both of these performances to learn more about Finnish music and enjoy some excellent chamber ensembles!
Friday, April 25 at the Pine Center for the Arts in Pine City, MN (7:00 PM)
***The Kaze Quartet will premier Janne Ikonen’s “Fuente De la Passion” and perform several Finnish saxophone quartet pieces. In addition, PCHS student saxophone quartets will perform their contest piece as well as a fun and familiar piece with the Kaze Quartet!
Sunday, June 1 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, MN (4:00 PM)
***The Kaze Quartet and Blue Waters Brass Ensemble will premier a playful piece by Jukka Viitasaari called “Rabbit’s Gambit.” Come and enjoy a shared recital of saxophone and brass music with a splash of percussion!
Members of the kindergarten circus band show off their new caps and prepare for their Circus Program on March 21st. Performances are at 1:45 and 7:00pm
COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLANNING
On behalf of the Pine City School District I encourage you to take a minute and give us your feedback. This survey is intended to create awareness of our community strategic planning that is coming up along with an expanded survey. This data will be compiled and reviewed by the school board and administration. Thank you for your input. If you would like to participate further, please email Superintendent Gilman at wgilman@isd578.org or provide your contact information in the final question. The first planning session will be Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 PM in the 7th Grade Commons. This is a confidential survey.
Wayne Gilman, Superintendent, Pine City Schools
612-382-6028
Click here to complete the survey.
Wayne Gilman, Superintendent, Pine City Schools
612-382-6028
Click here to complete the survey.
FOR CLUB SERVES HOT CHOCOLATE TO CONSTRUCTION CREW
For the second time, the Friends of Rachel Club visited the construction site and served hot chocolate to workers. FOR Club members had a tour and donned hard hats for the event.
Pine City Students Perform in Duluth Honors Band
Five Pine City Junior High Band members were recently nominated and
accepted to perform in the 46th Annual University of Minnesota -
Duluth Honors Band held on March 4, in Duluth, Minnesota. Out of a
pool of over 700 students representing 55 participating schools from
Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Pine City 9th Grade students were chosen
as members of the final performing ensembles. Upon receiving their
music that morning, students participated in 4 hours of rehearsals and
concluded the afternoon with a public performance of their music. The
concert concluded with a world premier performance of "Due North", a
concert band arrangement specifically commissioned for this year's
event by internationally known composer and arranger Michael Sweeney,
who was present to conduct the concert.
Five Pine City Junior High Band members were recently nominated and
accepted to perform in the 46th Annual University of Minnesota -
Duluth Honors Band held on March 4, in Duluth, Minnesota. Out of a
pool of over 700 students representing 55 participating schools from
Minnesota and Wisconsin, the Pine City 9th Grade students were chosen
as members of the final performing ensembles. Upon receiving their
music that morning, students participated in 4 hours of rehearsals and
concluded the afternoon with a public performance of their music. The
concert concluded with a world premier performance of "Due North", a
concert band arrangement specifically commissioned for this year's
event by internationally known composer and arranger Michael Sweeney,
who was present to conduct the concert.
INNOVATIVE LIGHTING FOR DRUMMERS
Pine City Junior Ian McClellen-Johnson was the master mind behind
"lighting up" this year's Junior High Drumline (see above video) for
our recent concert. The combination of his love for electricity and
the desire to tinker, created a visual drumline that merged glowing
drumsticks and drums that lit-up when hit. Both Ian and Tiffany
Schmidt spent their free time building some of the lights used from
scratch (diodes, resister, wire....) and then adjusting them all to
create a wonderful spectacle of sound and lights.
"lighting up" this year's Junior High Drumline (see above video) for
our recent concert. The combination of his love for electricity and
the desire to tinker, created a visual drumline that merged glowing
drumsticks and drums that lit-up when hit. Both Ian and Tiffany
Schmidt spent their free time building some of the lights used from
scratch (diodes, resister, wire....) and then adjusting them all to
create a wonderful spectacle of sound and lights.
