
AP Biology students made a special visit to Pine River to teach some third graders all about Water Quality and its impact on the environment! Together, they explored the four essential elements of a healthy ecosystem — food, water, shelter, and space — and learned how water, both surface and groundwater, plays a crucial role in the health of plants and animals.
Students got hands-on with a fun activity: creating their own filters to clean dirty water, all while applying the scientific method to test and improve their designs.
A big thank you to Mrs. Crambell for organizing this engaging and educational experience!











AP Biology students made a special visit to Pine River to teach some third graders all about Water Quality and its impact on the environment! Together, they explored the four essential elements of a healthy ecosystem — food, water, shelter, and space — and learned how water, both surface and groundwater, plays a crucial role in the health of plants and animals.
Students got hands-on with a fun activity: creating their own filters to clean dirty water, all while applying the scientific method to test and improve their designs.
A big thank you to Mrs. Crambell for organizing this engaging and educational experience!











On Thursday and Friday, the 5th graders from Pine River enjoyed their annual trip to Mystic Lake. A big thank you to the 5th grade teachers and chaperones who helped make this memorable experience possible. The students had a good time canoeing, practicing archery, playing team-building games, and participating in many other fun activities!











The third and fifth graders from Pine River had an unforgettable day at Dow Diamond on Tuesday, cheering the Great Lakes Loons to victory! From the crack of the bat to the roar of the crowd, it was a day full of excitement, school spirit, and lasting memories.
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible chaperones for keeping the day safe and fun – we couldn't have done it without you!
Special thanks to Great Lakes Bay Orthodontics for generously donating tickets for our fifth grade students, and to Dow for providing third grade tickets through the Dow Student Heroes program. Your support made this fantastic day possible!










On Friday, high school students from the Peer2Peer group visited Pine River to share a special treat with a positive affirmation. They also used sidewalk chalk to write encouraging words leading up to the school entrance. Thank you for spreading kindness and brightening the day for our Pine River students!






Third graders from Pine River traveled to the Chippewa Nature Center to learn more about spring frogs. They learned about the life cycle of a frog, characteristics of frogs and turtles, frog sounds, and much more! Students had the opportunity to dip into vernal ponds, which are only filled with water during the spring. This makes them a fantastic habitat for eggs, baby crawfish, stoneflies, tadpoles, and more.











As a reward for positive behavior, students had the chance to switch places with Mrs. Gettel, at Pine River, for "Dress Like a Teacher" Day! The class had a blast dressing up in various teaching roles—complete with books, glasses, and lanyards—while Mrs. Gettel joined the fun by dressing like a student. It was a fun way to celebrate positive behavior choices!





Mrs. Holzhauer’s class at Pine River is taking on a fun STEM challenge — working in teams to design a bridge using just two pieces of paper, as they study forces. Their goal is to build the strongest bridge possible — one that can hold the most beans!



Mrs. Gettel's class had fun in music with Mr. Jerashen and wanted to share their learning with the office! They learned a fun piece called "Swedish March" and used it to explore some exciting music skills — moving to the beat, singing do-mi-so-do’ melodies, and even trying out a round!


Miss Hatch’s class at Pine River practiced their reading fluency by performing the play The Mighty Hercules. Great expression, teamwork, and fun filled the room as they took the stage!


Pine River 4th graders had a blast during Creek Week, learning survival skills like food, water, navigation, shelter, fire-building, and first aid! Huge thanks to Chippewa Nature Center for helping our young Lancer survivalists connect with nature!











The 3rd and 4th graders at Pine River had the privilege of learning about the building trades from Orvosh Builders! Students explored different careers within the trades, discovered what blueprints are and why they’re important, and even put their skills to the test by building their own sailboats or race cars. A huge thank you to Orvosh Builders for taking the time to educate and inspire our students!









We’re proud to recognize our March Pine River Lancer Superstars!


The 4th graders visited CNC for a 'Geology in Michigan' field trip. Students discussed the effects of weathering and erosion, simulated glacial activity and the landforms it creates, and built homes designed to resist flooding and erosion. Thank you, CNC, for another great learning opportunity!










Third graders from Pine River enjoyed an exciting week of hands-on learning at the Chippewa Nature Center just before spring break. During Creek Week, students explored and discovered connections to their learning about Michigan’s history and the many ways people throughout time have used and relied on nature. It was a memorable experience that brought classroom learning to life!











Mrs. Little's fourth-grade class at Pine River has been working on various reading skills—with some basketball mixed in! Each day, the students read and answer questions to improve their reading comprehension skills. Each 'basketball team' participates in a March Madness-style bracket and gets to shoot baskets to advance. They will have an overall champion and various MVPs!



🌈🍀 A big thank you to the BC/PR PTO for the decorations in front of Pine River Elementary! It was such a fun and festive way to kick off the day. All the students had a blast enjoying their Shamrock Shakes at lunch. Thank you for making St. Patrick’s Day so special! 🌈🍀









On Friday, Pine River's 4th graders took a trip to Lansing, where they explored the Michigan State Capitol. They also traveled through history as they toured the five floors of the Michigan History Museum.








The Pine River students had a great time this week enjoying a few days of sunshine, warmer temperatures, and snow. They worked together to build snowmen and horses, making the most of the winter weather.





We are excited to announce that Isabelle, Aubrey, and Amelia from Pine River Elementary have won the Great Lakes Bay Veterans Coalition Patriotic Art Contest! Their artwork stood out and earned them the most votes. As a reward, they each received a $25 gift card to Pizza Sam's. Their beautiful creations were also displayed at Pizza Sam’s for all to see.
