ISD 255 - Pine Island

Congratulations to Maria Carter, who was nominated and chosen for the MSHSL Most Valuable Teammate award! Maria’s positivity and energy are contagious. Her encouragement of others, whether celebrating their successes or lifting them up after setbacks, shows her genuine care for her teammates. Maria doesn’t seek the spotlight; instead, she consistently puts the team first, making her a role model both on and off the court.

Bus Route Update

Thank you for your continued patience as we’ve worked through the bus routes this fall. We know these adjustments impact families, and we truly appreciate the understanding and flexibility you’ve shown.

Starting after MEA weekend, we will be making a few more route changes and will notify families who are directly affected (via the stopfinder app). While we recognize that it’s not possible to meet everyone’s needs, we remain committed to improving wherever we can. This includes continuing to look for efficiencies in our routes, ensuring student safety, and exploring ways to create more room for those on the waiting list.

Your communication plays an important role in this process. When families share questions, concerns, or observations, it helps us identify areas where we can adjust or improve. Please don’t hesitate to keep reaching out—we want to make sure we’re staying on top of the needs of our students and families as best we can.

Stopfinder Accounts
If you do not yet have an account with Stopfinder, please email Tammi Quintero at tquintero@pineisland.k12.mn.us for assistance. Stopfinder provides families with the most up-to-date bus information, including route changes due to weather or road construction.

Once again, thank you for your patience and support as we work through these challenges together.

Tammi Quintero
Director of Transportation
Pine Island Schools

Our amazing staff has been working hard all year — check out this lighthearted video we put together to bring some smiles your way.

https://youtu.be/JvTZAi3t3cA

Video credit: Ben Thornton

Shout out to the Pine Island Spirit Team- PI Trap loves our locker signs!

🎉👑 Congratulations to Our Homecoming King and Queen! 👑🎉

We are proud to announce Jayk Klusmann and Miley Hoffarth as this year’s Homecoming King and Queen!

Foods 3 enjoyed their tougher cuts of meat lab or moist heat lab making and sharing beef tips over noodles and beef stew with baking powder biscuits! Everyone seemed to enjoy the food!

Drawing 2 class started the year by working on human figure drawing. Students learned proportion and started with 1, 2, and 5 minute gesture drawings, as well as a 25 minute charcoal sketch. Final drawings used students' choice of media and pose to create extremely creative compositions.

Hello Pine Island Community!
Our 5-12 SOP ("Support Our Panthers") resource room is running low on some supplies and we'd love your gracious help!

- Non-perishable snacks (granola bars, small packs/bags of cookies or crackers, trail mix, etc)
- Deodorant for boys
- Calculators
- Computer Mouse
- Three ring notebook paper

If you are willing, please contact Cait Carr to inquire about specific donations at cait.carr@pineisland.k12.mn.us. Deliveries can be brought to the 5-12 office.
Thank you!

Students in the 2025 EcoliteracySCHOOL (Students Collaborating in Health Oriented Outdoor Learning) class are off to their first field experience of the year. Students from PIHS and University of Minnesota Rochester will spend the weekend at Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center in Sandstone, MN, where they will embark on experiential learning adventures to make connections between human health and the environment.

Assistant Wrestling Coach
Position Type: Coach
Date Posted: September 19, 2025
Location: Pine Island High School
Work day/Year: Winter season (November-February)
Closing Date For Applications: Until Filled

Compensation:
Salary per 2023-2025 Master Agreement (Page 34) 2025–26 contract pending negotiation.

Job Summary: Independent School District #255 Pine Island is seeking a coach in our wrestling program. Pine Island Schools is a growing district with over 1,500 students, and is located ten minutes north of Rochester. An online application is required. www.pineisland.k12.mn.us

Qualifications: Current Minnesota teaching license is preferred but not required. Coaching experience is preferred but not required.

Great day at the Goodhue County Fairgrounds! 9th graders connecting with Panther Crew Leaders and teachers at the retreat today.

Look who joined us for our PI School Retirees Luncheon last Thursday. It was such a special time, filled with laughter, memories, and the joy of sharing stories together.

PI Trap Team- Congratulations to Noah Hudson on his first perfect round 25/25!

GO PANTHERS!!

Pine Island Student Council is looking for 6 convertibles for our Homecoming Royalty to ride in during the parade. If anyone is interested in driving their convertible in the parade, please email kylie.stai@pineisland.k12.mn.us or gracia.pike@pi255.org. The parade will take place on September 26th at 2:00 p.m. Please arrive at 1:45 p.m. We appreciate your help!

Yesterday, these outstanding student leaders attended the first annual HVL Student Leadership Conference at K-M high school.

Eli Marsh, Miley Hoffarth, Olivia Morgan, Ellen Stapleton, Alivia Levi , Ava Pokrandt, Jaxon Hartzell, and Landon Lowrie.

Welcome!