Student-Athlete Mentors Team Up at PA
The GJSD athletic department runs a student-athlete mentoring program throughout the school year. Members of the varsity baseball and varsity girls lacrosse teams took part in mentoring Pleasant Avenue students every Thursday for six weeks.
The students and their mentors enjoyed activities, schoolwork, project adventure games and show & tell. In these photos, PA students share something that means a great deal to them with their mentors.

Caught being Responsible
Congratulations to Chelsea Savage, Brandon Eiss, Brandon Mraz, Amia Hall, Caleb Ropeter, Cassondra Loveless, Peter VanDenburgh, John Blackwood and Keanna Williams, who were all caught being responsible. These students were honored at a Character Education assembly on May 13. For the remainder of the school year, we will be focusing on the character traits of fairness and trustworthiness.

Persevering Pioneers - April
Congratulations to our new Persevering Pioneers: Vincent Rizzo, Olivia Kilmer, Maryann Austin, Brett Donohue, Thomas Truckenmiller, Haley Case, Julia Norris, Abbi Mullins, William Phillips, Jacob DeFreest, Katherine Ammann, Lauryn Wilson, Karlee Morehouse and Jasmine Vrooman. They were honored at a breakfast on April 12, 2011. Click to see photos.

PA Students Showcase their Talent with Performances on March 24
On March 24, Pleasant Avenue students provided an afternoon Talent Show for their classmates and and evening performance for their families. There was something for everyone to enjoy - dancing, singing, instrumentals, comedy, hula hooping, and so much more. Thank you to Mrs. Toscano, Ms Poling, Ms Nasadoski, Ms Fries and Mrs. Peck for organizing this event. Enjoy these photos from the show!

Persevering Pioneers
Congratulations to our latest Persevering Pioneers: A. Ambrosino, X. Barker, J. Belknap, K. Eaton, V. Ecker, T. Flansburg, G. Forgette, J. Martelle, G. Mickel, C. Miller, T. Rosario, G. Sager, C. Savage, B. Wager, E. Wager and K. Williams. They were given awards at a breakfast in their honor. See additional Pioneer photos.

Accelerated Reader Update
The following students have made it to Level 5 in Accelerated Reader for January and February:
Reegan Wilcox, Cody Brewer, Madison Blood, Amia Hall, Thomas Truckenmiller and Sarah Flansburg

The Top Readers for the month of February are:
Kindergarten - Reegan Wilcox, Amia Hall, Talia Anderson
First Grade - Morgan Havlicek, Gigi Stefic, Patrick Ward
Second Grade - Sebastian Russo, Thomas Truckenmiller, Lindsay Lamori
Third Grade - Madison Blood, Julia Norris, Abe Miller
Fourth Grade - Sarah Flansburg, Seth Ward, Katie Ammann
Fifth Grade - Jasmine Pechtel, Tristan Zito, Cody Brewer
Sixth Grade - Laci Nellis, Jack Truckenmiller, Alex Pratt

Caught Being Good
Congratulations to the following students, who were honored at an assembly for getting caught displaying good citizenship: John Blackwood, Lane Daley, Mallory DeFrancis, Andrew Frasier, Brian Green, Jillian Martelle, Logan Nellis, Julia Norris, Bethanie Roe, Dominoque Rosario, Sebastian Russo, Alex Thiessen, Peter VanDenburgh, Ben Wager and Maddie Willett.

Read It To Win It - Minute To Win It Competition!
Pleasant Avenue students who participated in the "Read It To Win It" Parents as Reading Partners program celebrated with a "Minute To Win It" competition. Students played different Minute To Win It games that were created by their teachers. Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this program so successful! See pictures from the competition.

First Grade Cowboy Night
The first graders from Ms. Edel's and Mrs. Sepanara's classrooms had a rip roarin' good time at this year's Cowboy Night, where they enjoyed eating trail mix, riding a horse, sifting for gold and other fun activities. The first graders would like to thank all who helped to make the evening a huge success! View Cowboy Night photos.

Persevering Pioneers
Congratulations to this month's Persevering Pioneers, who were honored at a breakfast on January 14: C. Lago, C. O'Donnell, C. Davis, C. Ackerbauer, L. Lamori, M. Mraz, B. Nellis, M. Manchester, M. Delgado, A. Snell, B. VanAernam, B. Roe, M. Fregin, M. Sartin, K. Young and B. Traver. Click here for additional photos

Show Your Pioneer Pride
Student council members are asking all Pleasant Avenue Pioneers to show their pride by wearing our school colors (blue & white) every Friday for the remainder of the year. This year's student council members are: from fourth grade - Molly Lake, Kate Ammann, Ethan Wager & Noah Gordon; from fifth grade - Heidi Chamberlain, Sarah Stortecky, Ben Poitras & Jasimine Pechtel; and from sixth grade - Lindsay Fiore, Tatyana Rosario, Claire Guzielek & Jack Truckenmiller.

Pleasant Avenue Students Got Caught Caring
Congratulations to Aaron Booth, Hope Buboltz, Nate Cotton, Morgan Havlicek, Laci Nellis, Madison Matice, Brandon Mraz, Meghan Mraz, Ben Poitras,  Dominoque Rosario, Tatyana Rosario, Andrew Sitterly,  Gigi Stefic, Alex Thiessen and Keanna Williams. These students were all honored at our Character Education assembly on January 7, for getting caught caring during the month of December. The character trait "citizenship" was also presented at the assembly.

Sixth Grade holds Seventh Annual Book Float Parade
At 1:30 p.m. on Friday, January 7, sixth graders in Mrs. Swartwout's and Mrs. Hartlieb’s classes enjoyed taking part in Pleasant Avenue's Seventh Annual Book Float Parade. The students had to create a scene from a chapter book they read during the month of December, and then place it on top of a float of their own design. They proceeded to parade throughout the school hallways, to the delight of students in grades K-5, before presenting their floats to a panel of judges in the cafeteria. Students CJ Wilson, Ben Russo, and Anna Heroth received honorable mention for their efforts, while Ariana Snell, Mikalla Sartin, and Ceci Mowrey (in no particular order), were chosen as the top three winners. A great job was done by all!

Third Graders Spread Holiday Cheer Mrs. Meashaw's third graders helped to make a homebound friend a little happier during the holiday season. The students visited their classmate's house to sing Christmas carols and spread some holiday cheer.

Pleasant Avenue Has Character
Miss Manners kicked off this year's Character Education Program following the day-time Winter Concert on December 9. Each month, students will be focusing on a specific character trait and will be recognized during lunch and recess, while walking in the hallways and during physical education class, for their display of that character trait. December's focus is "caring" and students that are "caught caring" will receive a prize package and a certificate at our next assembly.

Persevering Pioneers for October
Congratulations to our Persevering Pioneers for the month of October, who were honored at a breakfast on November 16:

N. Champlin, A. Hall, M. Havlicek, J. Hayes, C. Kowalski, R. Morse, S. Russo, T. Spaid, S. Stortecky, B. Traver, K. VanAernam, J. VanAlstyne, S. Ward, and K. Young.

The persevering Pioneer Award is part of our Character Education program, and is given to students who have done an exceptional job on their homework, or who have displayed such attributes as being cooperative, showing good manners, acting respectfully or performing a good deed. Click here to see additional Pioneer Breakfast photos.

Halloween Parade
The weather broke just in time on Friday, October 29, so that Pleasant Avenue students could go outside for their annual Halloween Parade. Student costumes were very creative this year, from Dorothy and the Tin Man to a washer & dryer. Our Pleasant Avenue staff adopted Dr. Seuss characters as a theme, focusing on the story "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," with the Grinch leading our parade. See photos from the parade.
 

Fall Festival a Fun Filled Night For All
Pleasant Avenue students enjoyed a fun-filled night at our Fall Festival Celebration. The students made sticky goo, played pumpkin bowling and had their faces painted. They also ate donuts off a string and decorated jack-o-lanterns. Thank you to the PTA and everyone who volunteered their time to make this event a great success! Check out our photo gallery to see additional Fall Festival pictures.
 

Persevering Pioneers September
Congratulations to the following Pleasant Avenue students, who were selected as this month's Persevering Pioneer honorees and were recognized at an awards breakfast held in the library at 8:30 a.m. on October 13, 2010:

B. Dwyer, H. Chamberlain, L. Fonda, H. Gage, N. Hadcock, E. Hale, C. Harless, M. Lake, K. Morehouse, O. Mowrey, Z. Poulin, R. Wilcox and C. Wilson.

The Persevering Pioneer Award is part of Pleasant Avenue's Character Education Program, and is given to students who have done an exceptional job on their homework or who have displayed positive attributes such as being cooperative, showing good manners, acting respectfully or performing a good deed. Click here to see additional Pioneer Breakfast photos.

Pleasant Avenue Recycles
Mrs. Johnson's fifth grade class, with help from the Fulton County Department of Waste, is encouraging students and staff to recycle. They have distributed bottle and can collection bins to all rooms at Pleasant Avenue and will come around weekly to pick up the items and make sure that they are recycled properly.

Accelerated Reader Update
Congratulations to the following AR winners for September; they are the top three students in their grade level:

First Grade: Gigi Stefic, Madison King and Konner Mancini
Second Grade: Nicholas Hadcock, Meghan Mraz and Sebastian Russo
Third Grade: Cecelia Radalin, Rehya Zarelli, and Zada Poulin
Fourth Grade: Sarah Flansburg, Grayden Mickel and Lillian Nevins
Fifth Grade: Jasmine Pechtel, Lauren Wilson and Zachary Ropeter
Sixth Grade: Ben Wager, Jack Truckenmiller, and Jasmine Vrooman

Also congratulations to second grade – they are the grade level with the most participation.

FoodPlay Assembly
Pleasant Avenue students recently enjoyed a FoodPlay Production. FoodPlay is a national, award-winning, nutrition theater show that features a cast of colorful characters, amazing feats of juggling, hip-hop music and audience participation to turn kids on to healthy eating and active lifestyles. Thank you to Mrs. Meashaw's 2009-10 third grade class, who won the Rhymin' Richie's Reading, Writing and Rhyming Tour last year. The first place prize was the assembly for our students.